Day 23 MTC

Oy! Kamusta-man?! (Hey, how are you?)

This week went by SUPER fast. The days go by the like weeks and the weeks go by like days here. I can hardly believe it's almost July!

How did you all like the Sunday Broadcast?? It was awesome! My district was exhausted afterwards and didn't really have much to say about it, but I was really inspired by it. The choir was there for about 5 hours! But we got to sit in the blue comfy chairs ;) I was sitting kind of near the front, but on the far left (if you're facing the choir). I was wearing a collared cream shirt and my black glasses (I don't think you can see me in any of the videos, though). I almost didn't get to sing because so many more people showed up to sing in the Broadcast when they hadn't come to any of the practices.

It was really cool to directly behind the General Authorities and members of the Quorum of the Twelve. Robert D. Hales looked so small and weak when he walked onto the stage! And Elder Bednar looked as young as ever. (While I was studying outside the next day, I saw Elder Quentin L. Cook drive away in his car!). It was interesting to watch the teleprompter and what the speaker actually ended up saying. I thought it was funny when Elder Holland wasn't able to say the Spanish he had been practicing for the video call. Even though their talks were written, you could tell they were still following the Spirit.

Remember the story Sister Neill Marriott told in the video? She told that same story in our RELIEF SOCIETY the week before. No biggie. We get the opportunity to have speakers come several times a week--Tuesday devotionals, Sunday Devotionals, Relief Society, etc. etc. etc. Oh since the choir had a different schedule on Sunday, we had a HUGE sacrament meeting together in the gym where we have devotionals. There were five sacrament tables with at least 4-6 priests at each.

So there's yet another flu epidemic here at the MTC. If you get sick, the doctor gives you a shot that knocks you out for 24 hours, haha. I have yet again been blessed with health, although both my companions are sick. :/ The nice thing about being in a tri-panionship is they can stay in the residence hall while I go with the sisters in my district to class. It was nice to be on splits while teaching. I taught investigators twice that day and it was cool to see what things they do differently while teaching.

Last P-day, I had an awesome experience in TRC. Instead of teaching our teachers, we teach RM volunteers as themselves (they weren't pretending to be investigators). We had no idea that we were going to be teaching members, not investigators until 30 minutes beforehand. We scraped together a lesson in Cebuano with no time to really practice or memorize the vocab we wanted to use. We taught two different lessons about prayer. The first lesson went ok, but the second time was AWESOME. Our Cebuano was still baby talk, but we were more engaged with our member, DJ. The Spirit was SOOO strong during the lesson; it was incredible. As I relied on the Spirit, I was given words sufficient to barely get my point across, but nothing more than what i needed. During the lesson, DJ asked us to pause for a moment while he wrote down "padayag" (revelation) he received. It was really cool to see how our simple lessons were able to teach him--an RM who also taught at the MTC. At the end of the lesson, he told us that even though he is an RM and a teacher, we--as full-time missionaries and representatives of Jesus Christ---have been set apart and given power to touch and change lives. That hit me so strong!

I know that if I'm trying my hardest to do my best, God can work with my inadequacies and consecrate my work for His purposes. It was so comforting, reassuring, and empowering to hear the effect I can have as a full-time missionary.

Tuesday night, Janice Kapp Perry spoke to us! During the devotional, we got to sing an arrangement of Primary songs she wrote. The words to those songs are really powerful--I had forgotten. We also sang the missionary version of the EFY medley: the new verses to As Sisters in Zion with the Army of Helaman. It was sweet, especially when we sang: "We are NOW the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth."

I'm so happy to heat Braden and Brooklyn are back in Utah!! Tell them hi for me!!! :D (and write me letters/pictures!)

Send me pictures if/when Dad finds his Cooper's hawk! :) And I want to help think of a name again, haha.

How long is choir tour? And what have you been doing with the Taiwanese guys? I wish I could meet them!

Tell people to write me back *cough cough* ALEX *cough cough* :)

I love you all! Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang ebanghelyo ni Jesukristo. Nasayud ko nga mapalanginan mo sa Dios samtang magtudo ko.( I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know you will be blessed by God as I teach.)

Thanks for all your support and prayers. I really appreciate all the advice and spiritual thoughts you share with me. It helps a ton!

Kinasingkasing (sincerely),
Sister Amanda Smith

P.S. I have my purpose and the First Vision memorized in Cebuano!! What.