Week 5: Over the hump

Ah sweet family, we write again.

I sure do miss you guys! I was realizing the other day that it's been over a month now since we've talked live, and that I've got 17 more of those to go.

:(

But it's okay cause it's gonna fly by! And getting letters during the week is the best thing ever.

So this was a good week!

Have I mentioned before how I want to be a teacher here at the MTC when I get home? The idea has come to my mind so many times and every time I think about it I get super happy and excited and feel prompted by the Spirit that this is a good goal I should strive to achieve. A teacher has their own district for the whole 9 weeks that the district is here and every day they teach the class the language, how to improve teaching, and the gospel. There's probably about anywhere from 8-12 people in each district, including elders and sisters, and you're in the same little classroom with your teacher every day. It's awesome, you become like a little family. Right now we have two teachers that switch between the morning and night shifts. Their names are Brother Harvey and Hermana Arroyo. They are the absolute BEST teachers I could ever ask for here, and I know that they were made my teachers for a reason. Our personalities are so similar and I have learned sooooo much from both of them. I want to be just like them. So I can't wait to apply when I get back! That's my plan so far.

Um did you know that when I fly on the plane to my mission I get to call you from the airport??!?! Neither did I until a few weeks ago! So I'll keep you posted about the exact time and day that I will call so that you can be home!

Did you know: in Spanish, the expression for "childbirth" is "dar luz," literally translated to mean "to give light."

Mom and Dad: do you remember the Haderlie family from Colorado Springs? Their son Garrett is in my zone. He's awesome. We reminisce about the Academy ward all the time. And remember the Martin family? Their daughter Katie (she was best friends with Ana-Lisa Clark, who is still on her mission in Japan)? She's here as well. I ran into her and we caught up for a bit. Elder Haderlie has always known her better than I did. I can't tell you how many connections I've had throughout my life from that Academy ward! It's insane! I'm convinced I'll have those connections for the rest of my life!

Lisa Bearnson sent me a care package this week! It was chocolate peanuts, nut mix and lip gloss in a gold glitter box. It made my whole day. I had been having a rough day and a simple act of kindness from someone, showing that someone thought of me, made me feel so bad for being negative. It changed my whole attitude and I was so grateful for that generosity.

Okay so remember how I said my companion and I were having a hard time finding unity in teaching? We had a companionship inventory, which we do once a week to discuss challenges, conflicts, strengths and goals, and we talked allll about this problem. We got everything out on the table about how we felt about it and resolved to listen to each other and do whatever it takes to have unity. Our teaching has been AWESOME ever since! I realized that even when I think she's wrong, I try out her ideas anyway and try to not throw my own out but implement them into an effective lesson. I realized that whenever I feel defensive, it's because I want to do things my way and assume that her way is wrong. Changing this attitude and perspective has brightened my entire MTC experience! I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father loves us enough to let us experience trials, confusion, frustraition and suffering to make us learn and grow and gain experience and conquer our weaknesses.

Did I mention how much I loved Daddy's Spanish letter? I could really only tell what about half of it said haha, but I thought it was so awesome that we could now communicate in Spanish. Just when I think I know so much I find out that I really hardly know nothing at all! Language is harder than I thought! But it's still coming along just fine. I mean, learning how to speak another language in two months? That's pretty sweet.

I had to speak in sacrament meeting yesterday. Everybody is given the topics beforehand and expected to prepare a talk, and then they call someone up randomly during the meeting and ask them to deliver what they've prepared. Good thing I'd finished my talk! I spoke about the Atonement. I thought it was so bad but people told me afterwards it was one of the best they'd heard in an MTC sacrament meeting! So hopefully that means I'm at the level I should be at this point in time with Spanish. I LOVE speaking it. We have a district goal to speak nothing but Spanish for 24 hours, 3 days out of every week. I love it. It's the only way to get you to start naturally thinking in that language and makes teaching so much easier. Did I mention that literally since day one we've had to teach all our investigators in Spanish?

So I've met more Wadsworths this week!!!! That makes about 6 now. They are from California Sacramento area and Las Vegas. I've heard tons about these Vegas Wadsworths from other people over the past few years. I got the contact info of these Elders for after the mish and one said that his mom was super into family history. This is the beginning of my family history journey!

One of the branch presidency wives gave a talk yesterday about how your attitude is everything. She told a story about a traveler who comes across 3 men doing the same job. She asks the first what he's doing. He replies, "I'm cutting stone." The next replies "I'm earning 3 pieces of gold." The last man says "I'm helping to build the temple of the Lord." They were all doing the exact same job, but their different perspectives shed certain light on their tasks. I realized that anytime I feel like I'm struggling and that it's "just one of those days, and there's nothing I can do," it's totally my attitude. I can choose to let things affect me or I can choose to let WHATEVER happens completely brush off. This has made such a difference in my days so far even since hearning this yesterday. Having the correct perspective is what life is all about. You can handle ANYTHING that is thrown at you when you keep that eternal perspective, and you escape the deception of the adversary.

Well family I love you dearly and pray for you daily! Remember who you are and bring the world his truth!

Love you!

Hermana Wadsworth