I decided that each week I will be sending out a family letter and then a friends letter as well with personal emails to family members!
So first I will give you a quick run down of what my daily schedule is usually like
6:30 Arise and get Ready
7:00-7:40 Study
7:40-8:10 Breakfast
8:10-11:10 Classroom instruction (98% of which is in Samoan)
11:10-11:45 Study
11:45-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:30 Prep for exercise
1:30-2:30 Gym (Volleyball, Sand Volleyball, Spike ball, Basketball)
Obviously I dominate in all the Sports!! Jk that is prideful plus it's and MTC rule that we can't be competitive. I'm completely Okay with that rule but it is seriously so funny to see Elder's get so competitive in a friendly game it always makes me laugh.
3:00-5:00 Classroom Instruction
5:00-5:45 Dinner
6:00-9:00 Classroom instruction
9:00-9:30 Daily Planning
10:15-10:30 Quiet Time
10:30 Lights Out
So, it is a super full day. Usually one of the classroom instruction's is P.C.L.'s which stands for Personal Study, Companion Study, and Language study!
There have been a lot of lessons and reminders of how important it is to be exactly obedient so Elder Bethea and I have really being trying to follow the rules and be where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there and I can already see the importance of following the rules. God truly does Bless us if we do what he asks of us!
*Story Time*
On Sunday they gathered all the missionaries and played a video by David A. Bednar titled "Character of Christ" and apparently you can only see it in the MTC. Anyway it was sooooo GOOD! The main message was about how When we as individuals would usually turn in (Be Selfish) Christ would turn outwards and that is the difference between us. It honestly made me really think of what it means to obtain Christ-like attributes. THEN GUESS WHAT?!?!?! Everyone stood up after the video ended and I was kind of confused and we all just stood for a minute and then we all sat down and President Burges who is the MTC President stood up and said "Well, Elders and Sisters it's not very often that this happens but, an apostle just showed up unannounced." Next you thing you DAVID A. BEDNAR is talking to us!!! I was only like 10 rows away from him! It was so crazy to see how quickly the spirit changed. It just felt more clean and clear I guess. I have never really felt the spirit like that. So, that was super cool. He just had a Q&A with all the Sisters and Elders and it was really neat to hear him speak. Really, Really cool experience.
I've only been here for about a week and a half and I can already feel a change within in myself it's crazy how much you can change in such a short week being fully dedicated to the Lord. He really does love ALL of his children. Also, all of the Elders in my residence have now been introduced to Ping. I just couldn't help but bring him out he was dying to say HERRO! Everyone likes him though. They all just laugh. So it's good to know that they accept Ping.
Also, My district is so sick! We all get along so well and we are all pretty much on the same page! There are just a few kinks we need to work on like making sure all of the Elders are ready for bed and in bed by 10:30 and making sure we stay focused during P.C.L.'S. So I think once we can stay committed and exactly obedient we will receive even more blessings from the Lord. Hopefully, the Gift of Tongues!
Last thing, I would like to challenge you all to pray on your knees every morning and every night. I use to think that there wasn't a difference from praying sitting in my bed compared to kneeling and I testify that there truly is! I don't know what it is but it really does make a difference! So my challenge to the family would be Get on you knees and just pray. Talk with le Atua (God) It shows him more respect and love and I think it's a really good challenge. I will be asking next week on how well you guys did! hahaha! I love you all so much and am seriously so blessed with you guys as my family! You are in my prayers every single time I pray! Until next Week! Alofa Atu Aiga! (I love you Family)
Elda Patoni
(Elder Barton)
