*I would like to preface this email by requesting that you listen to "The Best Day of My Life" song by American Authors while you read this...I'm hoping that's the song title...I don't exactly remember--sign #43545 I've been in the MTC too long*
Dear all,
I get to be, like, a real missionary now.
Let me repeat:
I GET TO BE, LIKE, A REAL MISSIONARY NOW.
REAL. MISSIONARY. NOW.
IGAZ. MISSZIONÁRIUS. MOST.
MISCODA.
WHAT. THE. MIRACLE.
Seriously, though. This time next week I'm going to be writing you about real people, who really speak Hungarian, who I really get to talk to, who really aren't going to understand what I'm saying, but it doesn't even matter because I'm going to have a real trainer who has achieved "real missionary status" long before I have who will help me and I will be the padawan to their jedi and they will be the Batman to their Robin and CAN WE JUST GET HYPED, PEOPLE, I'M FINALLY GOING TO HUNGARY.
(Seriously, though, when you see your old roommate who came into the MTC two months after--you know it's time to say "szép napot, MTC, it's been real, see you never again!") Speaking of which, I saw Jenna on Wednesday! Literally the first person I actually really know. In two months. And it was the best. And I made her hug me approximately 37 times.
Anyways:
1.) Our very last Tuesday night devotional in the MTC--Elder Richard G. Scott came! We were three rows (approximately fifteen feet) away. COOLEST. THING. EVER. If you want to know all the mind-blowing goodness he talked about--you should write me a letter, because then I get a letter and you get the words of an Apostle of God, and we both win! :)
2.)This week we went back over our old investigator logs. I proclaim the best log to be by a companionship in my district after the very first lesson (two days after we came into the MTC). It said: "We didn't prepare or teach well enough for her to understand anything we said--but somehow we got her to pray, so that's a start."
3.)Trying to speak Hungarian all week was basically me trying to retrain my brain to think in a different way, right? My brain really didn't like that so it gave me really big headaches all day, e'ry day AND really vivid nightmares including (but not limited to): my parents disowning me because I know longer knew how to speak English and "no daughter was better than one who didn't speak English", a dream wherein the people of Budapest told me that I can speak English all I want but I will "NEVER BRING HONOR TO MY FAMILY" followed up by a really strange mash-up of songs from Mulan poorly translated into Hungarian (which really, I only have myself to blame for because I insist on singing "Reflection" in Hungarian all the time...) and one really sad dream where Krystal pushed me off a cliff. So, yeah, Public Service Announcement: you should all NOT do those things because a.) that would not be very nice and b.) I need a place to live when I get home. Also, c.) seriously, Krystal. Please don't push me off a cliff. ALSO, I'm using this as evidence that I'm losing it in the MTC and definitely need to head out to the field. Like, really badly. When I asked Rada Nővér if she felt ready to go out into the field she just said, "Yep. Put me in, coach. I'ma ready." I echo that sentiment.
4.) So---zero sugar coating--I've had trials here in the MTC. It has not all been daisies and roses and BYU chocolate milk. BUT--I'm really glad that my Father in Heaven loved me enough to teach me even before I made it to the field that rarely does God lessen burdens--he pretty exclusively just strengthens people.
"For you receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." --Ether 12:6
If there's something I've realized, it's that the comfort of Christ is right there. Right there.
Motra Davis shared with our zone a quote and I want to share a piece of it with you. It's about Peter as he walked on the water with Jesus--"In those sinking moments, you must remember what happened to Peter. 'Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him.' Where was the Lord? Within reach. Not on the shore shouting instructions or within the safety of the ship giving directions. He was in the water. With Peter. Reminding him not to doubt. Don't let doubt keep you from your potential...He will calm the wind. Welcome the task that takes you beyond yourself. Step into the water."
So. Am I frightened? Absolutely. Is the language difficult? Absolutely. Do I have faith that my God will not forsake me? Absolutely.
I want to hasten the work--
I'm ready to step into the water.
As always, I love you all aaaanndd--
Tudom hogy a Mormon könyve igaz!
Szeretet mindig,
Carle Nővér
P.S. I finished an entire 500 piece puzzle by working on it ten minutes a day every day. If that's not evidence that anything is possible if you just believe, I don't know what is.
Dear all,
I get to be, like, a real missionary now.
Let me repeat:
I GET TO BE, LIKE, A REAL MISSIONARY NOW.
REAL. MISSIONARY. NOW.
IGAZ. MISSZIONÁRIUS. MOST.
MISCODA.
WHAT. THE. MIRACLE.
Seriously, though. This time next week I'm going to be writing you about real people, who really speak Hungarian, who I really get to talk to, who really aren't going to understand what I'm saying, but it doesn't even matter because I'm going to have a real trainer who has achieved "real missionary status" long before I have who will help me and I will be the padawan to their jedi and they will be the Batman to their Robin and CAN WE JUST GET HYPED, PEOPLE, I'M FINALLY GOING TO HUNGARY.
(Seriously, though, when you see your old roommate who came into the MTC two months after--you know it's time to say "szép napot, MTC, it's been real, see you never again!") Speaking of which, I saw Jenna on Wednesday! Literally the first person I actually really know. In two months. And it was the best. And I made her hug me approximately 37 times.
Anyways:
1.) Our very last Tuesday night devotional in the MTC--Elder Richard G. Scott came! We were three rows (approximately fifteen feet) away. COOLEST. THING. EVER. If you want to know all the mind-blowing goodness he talked about--you should write me a letter, because then I get a letter and you get the words of an Apostle of God, and we both win! :)
2.)This week we went back over our old investigator logs. I proclaim the best log to be by a companionship in my district after the very first lesson (two days after we came into the MTC). It said: "We didn't prepare or teach well enough for her to understand anything we said--but somehow we got her to pray, so that's a start."
3.)Trying to speak Hungarian all week was basically me trying to retrain my brain to think in a different way, right? My brain really didn't like that so it gave me really big headaches all day, e'ry day AND really vivid nightmares including (but not limited to): my parents disowning me because I know longer knew how to speak English and "no daughter was better than one who didn't speak English", a dream wherein the people of Budapest told me that I can speak English all I want but I will "NEVER BRING HONOR TO MY FAMILY" followed up by a really strange mash-up of songs from Mulan poorly translated into Hungarian (which really, I only have myself to blame for because I insist on singing "Reflection" in Hungarian all the time...) and one really sad dream where Krystal pushed me off a cliff. So, yeah, Public Service Announcement: you should all NOT do those things because a.) that would not be very nice and b.) I need a place to live when I get home. Also, c.) seriously, Krystal. Please don't push me off a cliff. ALSO, I'm using this as evidence that I'm losing it in the MTC and definitely need to head out to the field. Like, really badly. When I asked Rada Nővér if she felt ready to go out into the field she just said, "Yep. Put me in, coach. I'ma ready." I echo that sentiment.
4.) So---zero sugar coating--I've had trials here in the MTC. It has not all been daisies and roses and BYU chocolate milk. BUT--I'm really glad that my Father in Heaven loved me enough to teach me even before I made it to the field that rarely does God lessen burdens--he pretty exclusively just strengthens people.
"For you receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." --Ether 12:6
If there's something I've realized, it's that the comfort of Christ is right there. Right there.
Motra Davis shared with our zone a quote and I want to share a piece of it with you. It's about Peter as he walked on the water with Jesus--"In those sinking moments, you must remember what happened to Peter. 'Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him.' Where was the Lord? Within reach. Not on the shore shouting instructions or within the safety of the ship giving directions. He was in the water. With Peter. Reminding him not to doubt. Don't let doubt keep you from your potential...He will calm the wind. Welcome the task that takes you beyond yourself. Step into the water."
So. Am I frightened? Absolutely. Is the language difficult? Absolutely. Do I have faith that my God will not forsake me? Absolutely.
I want to hasten the work--
I'm ready to step into the water.
As always, I love you all aaaanndd--
Tudom hogy a Mormon könyve igaz!
Szeretet mindig,
Carle Nővér
P.S. I finished an entire 500 piece puzzle by working on it ten minutes a day every day. If that's not evidence that anything is possible if you just believe, I don't know what is.