(Week 1: Aug 24-30th 2016)
I've made it through my first week here at the MTC and yes, the chocolate milk really is as good as they say. I absolutely love my companion and roommates and my district is to die for. We all adore each other and have grown so close in such a short time.
My first day was a blur of being whisked from building to building while smiling sisters held my bags and doors for me and I got my very own name tag which I wear proudly. I still get giddy whenever someone calls me "Sister Petty". Sister Padgett is my very first companion, she is from Yucaipa, California and is the sweetest most caring and endlessly patient Sister ever. My room mates are essentially my additional companions, as we all go everywhere together. Sister Day is from Tucson, Arizona and is a livewire. She's a bombshell and has a boyfriend that she writes letters to and adores (So does Sister Padgett, but Sister Day is much more vocal about it). Sister Staten is from American Fork, Utah and is soft spoken and kind. All of us are going to the Florida Orlando Mission except for Sister Day- she's headed toward the Brisbane Australia Mission.
My district is 12 people, us 4 Sisters and 8 Elders. I won't give a lengthy run down on the Elders, although I totally could, but just know they are amazing. (Elders Doerr, Carpenter, Campbell, Toller, Johnson, Williams, Cahoon, and Hansen.) When we aren't crying from feeling the Spirit, we're crying with tears of laughter.
I've been learning so much and am in class most of the day, but there is no where else I'd rather be. I've been so blessed to have great health while I've been here, both mentally, emotionally and physically. There's been a nasty cold going around the MTC that plagued Sister Day for most of last week and has recently claimed Sister Staten. So I'm popping that vitamin C and pumping hand sanitizer like I work in a hospital. However it can't all be wedding cake, saturday was a little difficult and sunday was brutal for me emotionally. I was just feeling a little emotionally exhausted due to the long days and little downtime. I had some homesickness during the weekend too but it was brief and manageable.
But overall the experience has been tremendously uplifting and I love being here. as Sister Day says, it's like "EFY on steroids". Getting letters and packages brings us more joy than you would believe, so write me peeps. DearElder.com is amazing because it's like sending an email but they print it out and give it to me same day. I also check my email daily but I can only respond on P-Day (Tuesdays) so know that whenever you write I see it.
When we first met our Branch President, President Switzler, everyone in our district briefly introduced themselves and said why they are here serving a mission. After I did, President said he had a scripture to share with me and read D&C 31: 1-7. Replace Thomas' name with mine and it's a little on the nose. I highly recommend you look it up and cry. I would copy and paste it but I can't on this computer and I don't have time to type it out myself.
I love being here and I love being able to learn more about the work I am doing for the Lord and learning how I can best serve him and spread the Gospel. Don't worry about me, I'm doing fantastic. But also don't forget to write.
be good,
- Sister Olivia Petty
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