MTC Experiences: The First Two Weeks

Sister Ryan has been in the MTC for two weeks now, and she is loving every minute of it! She's emailed us some fantastic experiences, all of which she's asked to share with you:

ARRIVAL:

Hey There!!!!!

So I'm finally in the PROVO MTC! After so long waiting, I'm finally here!

The first day was extremely amazing! I've learnt so much already and I'm only on my second day! 

P-Day will be soon, so I'll email more about my week then, but I'll tell you know that the spirit is amazing here! The food is just as awful as they say it is and I've already met some incredible people from all over the world, I haven't got my companion yet, that is later today, still doesn't feel overly real yet, but maybe it will when I have a companion. I love it here so much! It's going to be an amazing 3 weeks! again, I learnt lots and I've had so much fun! Can't wait to tell you more! I'm well I'm safe, I'm so so so happy! This is the best thing ever! It is such a blessing to be here! Most people struggle to understand my accent, today alone I had to repeat myself so many times because she just couldn't understand, hahaha, it was pretty hilarious!

So I'll email more when I have more time, I love you all! Hope everything is amazing in Aussie Land. 

I love you all!! Thankyou for everything, chat soon!

Love, Sister Ryan! (Finally in the Provo MTC) xx

WEEK ONE: 

Wow, where do I even start?

Monday: The flight was incredibly boring and not much sleep was had and I sat next to this terrifying body builder who wouldn't speak at all! Going into LA I saw the most beautiful sunrise over the mountains, it was beautiful, no words can describ the beauty I saw that morning (Time Travel for the win!) Our 7 hour stop over in LA was long and tedious and hey! I even got a pat down going through security! hahaha. they cleared me and said must have just been a mistake, hey, as long as they are doing their job right? We finally got on the plane (which was smaller than a jetstar plane to Tassie) and I sat next to this woman who was a recent convert, so that was pretty cool. Looking out the window I saw all these wonderful mountains and sights, just wonderful. Got into SLC and was picked up my Glen and then we went to Del Taco before going home, drove around Orem and there are chapels everywhere here! Saw 3 temples and it was awesome. 

Tuesday: I woke up to SNOW! it was the most incredible thing, got ready and we were off to the MTC, got here and got my badge and we jumped straight into lessons, had lunch (and everyone is right the food is seriously as bad as they say it is), more lessons and I learnt so much! After that the internationals were put into temporary districts, mine was so awesome! They were great and so helpful, we (Sister Worthen and I, she is from NZ, also going to Temple Square) had dinner with them and then personal study, then we went to the Tuesday Night devotional with Don R. Clarke (of the 70) with them and then had district meeting and before we knew it the day was over.

Wedesday: TODAY IS THE DAY I GET MY COMPANION! lessons, and all that and then all the official stuff happened! except... everyone had a companion and we met our dictrict and everything but my companion didn't come... so I stuck with Sister Worthen and her companion (Sister Anderson) and then at dinner my name was announced over the loud speaker to come to the front desk, yep. it happened I got my companion! Her name is Sister Kruse from America Samoa (didn't even know it existed before then) and shes beautiful, I love her so much!!! We also had our first teaching experience which was amazing, I spoke a few times and my heart was beating out of my chest until I did, it was like the spirit was like "Speak now!! Do it!!!" haha. 

In my district we have Sister Worthen , Sister Anderson (Utah), Sister Kruse, Myself, Elder Bean, Elder Petersen and Elder Smith. They are all amazing :)

I am also Senior Companion as well as the Branch Music Coordinator! (Surprise, Surprise!) 

So other then that it's been all classes and learning but the spirit here is so amazing! I love it here so much, everyone is so beautiful and so wonderful! So I'd like to share with you all a few things that have meant a lot to me while being here. 

"Obedience brings blessings, Exact obedience brings miracles"

"Diligence is more important than intelligence"

Never before has our purpose as missionaries been so important, We are to INVITE others to COME unto Christ by HELPING them RECEIVE the restored gospel. We are called of God to do the work, what would we do, say, teach if the Lord were our companion?

I have learnt so much! and I cant even type it all because there is just WAY too much, but know that you are all children of God and that he loves you! You are incredible and amazing and I love you too. Heavenly Father answers prayers and through Christ all things are possible.

I love the MTC and I'm so excited to see what else is ahead of me! Only a few weeks and I'll be on Temple Square!! yay!!!

I have to go now, I'm sorry I didn't send photos, I couldn't figure out how to send them, but when I do, I'll send some. I love you all!!! Thankyou for being so amazing and supportive.

Love, Sister Ryan xx 

PS, I didn't proof read, sorry. 

WEEK TWO: 

This week has been incredible!

Funny story of the week:

I can't even remember what day it was, but we had all just come from gym, and all the sisters needed showers, so we were like cool yay! let's do that, well we just brought what we needed and a towel type thing and go back to our room to get changed, haha we went back, and we had locked ourselves out of our room, none of us had our keys! so I had to get into my dirty gym clothes and then Sister Worthen got her clothes on and she had no shoes, and I only had my thongs, and we had to get Elders/Sisterd along the way to open doors for us etc, so we could make it to the front desk to get a spare key, hahaha. Yep, it was hilarious!! We laughed basically the whole time. Happy ending, we got back into our room without too much embarrassment :)

also another one!

Sister Anderson (from Utah, going to San Diego, Mormon Battalion Visiting Center Mission) taught the Restoration in her sleep, one night I woke up in the middle of the night and I heard her sleep talking (because shes the only one with a distinct American accent) and teaching the Restoration in her sleep, haha. When we told her about it in the morning, it was hilarious! She almost didn't believe us, but I kid you not, she really did!

This morning we went to the temple and it was incredible! But I was so silly and forgot my recommend yep, I was that tired and stupid this morning, and so we had to run back and get it and we JUST made it into the session, but we got there! and it was amazing, it is so beautiful! And I understand why Jayme almost got lost, I almost did too, pretty hilarious. We went at 7am, so the sun wasn't even up yet and when we got out it was a beautiful day!

We just get back into the MTC grounds and we see a gold tagged person (investigators we can set up appointments with and teach in the little spare time we have, its an awesome experience, I love it). He asked us a few questions (all 4 of us sisters) and then we went to his "man cave" and we taught him a little and we are seeing him again next week! YAY! 2 lessons 1 pday, that's right!

So I've turned into one of those missionaries that go teach on their Pdays, you know what? Don't even care, Sister Kruse and I just got back from the best lesson we've ever had, we were teaching a guy named Lance, it's incredible and we taught him over Skype which was awesome (didn't even know you could do that in the MTC), he is super open to the gospel and wants to learn more, is so lovely and I feel like we have a lot to offer to help him come closer to Christ, we are meeting again over skype Monday night and then Tuesday we are meeting with him to give him a Book of Mormon (if we don't see him around on Monday).

Tip for future missionaries going to PROVO MTC: The food isn't that bad, when you know what to pick! Just go around to all the different options (especially the salad bar area) and find out which is better, create your own salads and stuff, so grateful I now know! :)

This week has been hard, I won't lie, there has been some instances where I have found it difficult to teach and to understand what our investigator needs and how to gel well with my companion when we have completely different approaches, it's hard, no matter how much you love your companion, it's not always going to be easy. It's been weird not being able to relax and get rid of stresses the way I usually do (reading books, music, etc.) or even being able to say an out loud prayer to Heavenly Father because well you're always with someone. It got to the point I locked myself in the toilets (with my companion outside the bathroom doors) and got on my knees and said the most meaningful prayer I have said in a long time, I couldn't deal with this alone, I needed him by my side to walk with me hand in hand, to guide in which direction to go because I was lost! I had no idea... then, when I closed my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, I stood up and felt instant comfort! I felt my saviors love, I felt his comfort and guidance and I then knew, what I needed to do.
HEAVENLY FATHER ANSWERS PRAYERS! I can not stress that enough, I know he does, because he has answered so many of mine in the past week, its crazy. He knows me, he knows me by name, he knows Jennadene Ryan, as he knows you! He knows you personally and he knows you better than you know your self, He wants to help you and bless you, but you must turn to him! He knew what I needed to become stronger and to overcome the things that were going on. I know that if you pray with real intent and pure desire, you will feel that also, and you will know that he loves you! and he will help you when you need it most. Check out the Jospeh Millet story, it's incredible, it was shared at this Tuesday Evening's Devotional, it completely changed the way I see my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father.

We has in-feild orientation this week, which was weird, because all the missionaries are leaving next week, but us Visiting Center sisters, have another week ahead of us, because of Visiting Center training, it was an amazing day! I learnt so much! As one does in the MTC, but it was super cool and interactive and we also got to semi meet two of the missionaries from the District 2, which was awesome! And I've also said hello to one of the missionaries from the District 1! :D

ALSO! one of my teachers, Brother Mitsvotai, name sounds familiar?! THATS BECAUSE HE SERVED IN THE MELBOURNE MISSION! And not only that! but he served in the Ballarat Ward! CRAZY RIGHT!
We always have a good chat about Australia and I gave him some Australian stickers, he thought it was the best thing ever :) He also spent a lot of his time in Tasmania in the Devonport stake, so hey! Look at that!

I feel like I'm forgetting stuff, but I have no idea...

Please write to me! I want to hear from you! PLEASE Dear Elder me or something! I really want to hear from you all!

also, SHOUT OUT TO LAUREN P FROM PROVO!!! FOR SENDING ME THAT AMAZING PACKAGE! THANKYOU SO MUCH! IT WAS INCREDIBLE AND AMAZING, I HAVE THE BEST INTERNET FRIENDS, YOU'RE THE SWEETEST AND IT WAS DELICIOUS AND THE PENS ARE AMAZING AND BEING PUT TO GOOD USE! (whoever reads this please make sure she see's this on facebook or something)

Okay, I have to go now, but thankyou for those that have sent me dear elders! I really appreciate it and please keep it up! to those who haven't, please even just one, and that would be amazing! I love reading them and hearing from people. I'm going to do my best today to write physical letters to those that have asked questions and stuff, Love you all so much! Have a great week! Remember to smile bright and that the Lord loves you!

Love you!

Sister Ryan <3