Saturday, September 21, 2013

Second & last week at the MTC!!

I can't believe how fast this week has gone by!! I'll be leaving to Argentina Monday if all goes well! This week has really been a spiritual week for me. We had TRC's on Wednesday, Friday, and today. On Wednesday we had the chance to talk to the same investigator as last week. This time it actually went very well. Mainly because we weren't in a hurry or anything. We said a prayer before entering for guidance in what to teach our investigator. Spirit was with me at all times throughout the lesson we had with our investigator. We got him to pray about the Book of Mormon and he seems really interested in the church.

Today's Investigator was a Non-member. we gave him like a mini lesson of the Restauration. With him it had been a little bit difficult and we didn't really have a lot of time to teach him. We definitely tried to feel for the spirit and It was there I could feel it, but in a way I guess we weren't really prepared as we should've been. We got him interested in the church and he's told us we could come back anytime we wanted. So I'm hoping everything has gone well.

Our Thursday Investigator, okay this one was different. Instead of doing it as a district we did it as companionships this time. We each were assigned and investigator. Hna Berriman's and I were assigned to Gabriel who was an inactive member. We really didn't know much or what to teach him so lets just say we were really nervous! We said a prayer before entering the room for the spirit to be with us and to help us know what to say. As soon as we went in everything went well. I could seriously testify that the spirit was with us at the moment. Gabriel our investigator was going through a hard time in life. His parents are getting a divorce and he's alone here at the United States while his parents are in Mexico and he just felt completely alone. He was having hard trials here but we were able to listen to all his problems. He actually opened up to us completely and honestly the spirit and our Heavenly Father heard our prayers because we knew exactly what to tell him. Words were put into my mind and mouth. The spirit was so strong in that room. We were able to teach him about the Love of Christ for all his Children. I gave him a picture of Jesus Christ that one of the Hermana's in my District had given me last week and it had helped me so much and I just felt this strong impression that I should give it to him and I shared my testimony along with it. Looking at that picture I had felt so much love from my Heavenly Father and Savior that I just knew I had to give it to him. The picture is called the Prince of Peace, it comes with a testimony from the artist that I would definitely advice you to look up and read. We showed him how to pray again and had him do the closing prayer. As we finished I looked into his eyes and I could definitely feel the Love of our Savior for this man. It reminded me as to why I am here to share this amazing gospel to all these people who have either lost their way or have been searching for something to fill their lives.
Thank you everybody for all your love and support! I'll be leaving Monday to Argentina if all goes well early in the Morning! I love you!
Love 
Hermana Valenzuela

First week at the MTC. :)

Hey you guys!!!

Okay so the MTC is amazing!! It's a lot of work. we hardly ever have time to do much free time. We're always studying or practicing with investigators or planning lessons. This week was a pretty hard yet fun experience. So my district and I have all gotten really close. They're pretty awesome people and all have their own sense of humor haha! Hermana Berriman who is my companion have gotten pretty close. It feels so weird not having my companion by my side. Okay so back to this week, Hna Berriman and I had the chance to teach our first lesson with Jose (Hno Sanchez my teacher). It went very well but we really need to work on getting to know the person a little bit more at the beginning. Our second lesson was with Adrian (Hno Bell 2nd teacher). His was a little bit difficult because he's atheist but his whole family are members. Well lets just say we kinda got kicked out haha but mainly cause we had little time. Later that day we had our first TRC but nobody told us anything about it. TRC is a chance to teach either a real investigator or somebody who volunteers. Anyways so we're lead to this room and the elder that lead us there didn't tell us anything so we just walk in and say hi to the investigator but he kicks us out because we just walked into his "house" and so we're all standing outside trying to have him let us in but he wont budge. He said he was a catholic and didn't have any interest in any other religion. Well he finally let us in after 5mins later. he told us we didn't have a lot of time so to just get on with our message. Well we tried but it didn't work out so good. We all kept bringing up different topics and didn't really exactly work together or try to listen to the spirit. I seriously felt like just crying along with all the other sisters in my district. Hna Berriman shared an experience with him about her life that related to his wife so we were able to catch his attention on that about blessings so we're gonna be able to visit with him again wednesday so tomorrow. It was pretty hard afterwards my district and i all gathered around and listed what we all did wrong and what we could all improve on together. Well on the bright side Hna Berriman and I had a chance to teach Elder Rios & Alonso during Zone teaching and to say it was quite interesting haha! On sunday we had a devotional by Ron Tanner one of the directors of 17 Miracles and Ephraims Rescue! we got to see a little clip of Ephraims Rescue but he left it at a CLIFFHANGER!!! Ugh so now I have to wait a whole year and a half to see it! haha I definitely advice you guys to see it ;) after this devotional we had the chance to see a recorded devotional by David R. Bednar. called the Characteristic of Christ. That was a very heart changing devotional. It really had me thinking. so this week my goal is to see everybody the way Christ would see them and what great things they could do for the church. I'm also planning on studying more about the Priesthood because I just realized I don't really know as much as  I thought I did. OOh also the room Hna Berriman and I use has one way mirrors haha so we get to spy on people the other side meaning our district Haha! Anyways I love you all and here are a few pictures!! Also I had the chance to go to the temple today It was amazing! Love you all!

Love 
Hermana Valenzuela