I'm so excited to go to Italy! I can't believe it's only a week away! I remember those first two weeks and it felt like an eternity. Not in a bad way, the days were just really long because we had so much to do each and every minute of everyday. But now time is flying! I'm actually kind of sad . . . I love my teachers and our whole district has all talked about stuffing them in our suitcases and bringing them to Italy with us! But of course, that wouldn't fly with the government or our mission president :) Though we were in the MTC this last week, we did experience quite a bit of that nasty weather. One of our teachers, Fratello Silva, was unable to come to class all last week because of the weather and than family things. It was really strange going that long without one of our teachers when we see them just about every single day. But it was great cause it was yesterday that we saw him for the first time in a week and he brought us Christmas presidents. They are these crazy little beads from China that you put in water and they grow! We all tried them out and their pretty sweet. He told us you can buy them in Italy too . . . something to think about :)
The language has grown a ton this last week. It's absolutely insane. Our other teacher, Fratello Stubbs, has been having each companionship practice teaching a progressive investigator. He has selected someone he taught on his mission and everyday we go in and teach him a lesson and try and find out more about him. It's definitely been a learning experience. In the TRC the volunteers always readily accept any invitations we give and are always accepting of the message we share with them. But this investigator, Giuseppe, isn't so ready to welcome us with open arms. In fact, it's been two lessons and he still doesn't know if God exists yet. But it's been really good. Our last TRC visit was yesterday and it was by far the best we've had. We taught a girl who's native to Sicily and goodness gracious! She speaks really fast! But the greatest thing was I was able to understand just about everything she said. That's what I've had the hardest time with. I can usually communicate my own thoughts to people when I speak in Italian, but if you don't know what they ask or say to you, it's a little difficult to know how to respond. So I've prayed for a lot of help with that, to understand and really listen and allow the spirit to help me. And wow! I've gotten so much help!
And you will all be so proud of me! So it may come as no surprise to you that before my mission I have never gotten up in church to bare my testimony. I've always been far too terrified to even think about it. But I did it for the first time on Sunday! And it was in Italian! Yay! I've not NEARLY as big of a scardy cat anymore. It's actually quite crazy. Yes I still get embarrassed every once in a while and I'm almost always uncomfortable but I've finally realized it doesn't matter. My entire mission will be full of awkward experiences so what's the point of getting worked up when it makes no difference? The MTC is truly a special place that allows the spirit to be constantly present. I'm almost afraid to go back into the real world. Just walking to the temple on Sundays and Tuesdays I can feel the difference. The world is so full of distractions and confusion and I forget being here for so long.
I did see Sister Perkins the other day. She was in front of me in one of the lines during lunch and I'd seen her a couple of times and was pretty sure that was her. We made eye contact for a second and she smiled and said "So you're a LeCates right?" I laughed and told her my mom had seen her and asked me to say hi. It wasn't a long conversation but it was fun seeing someone I knew in Alaska. So again I'm going to be so sad to leave the MTC! I love my district and it's weird to think that once we get off the plane in Italy we won't be together anymore! Seeing the same 7 people every single day for 9 weeks and then not knowing anyone again isn't a happy thought. No worries, I'm good with change. But we've all gotten in the mind set that we'll spend our entire mission together. Then we remember that that's not the case. But it'll be okay because three of the elders and my companion are serving in my mission so we'll possibly see each other a couple times in the field and at mission reunions when we get home.
We have a new roommate! She's great! Her name is Sister Wegener. Because our other roommate, Sister White, left for Brazil her companion, Sister Jones, got a new companion. Sister Wegener has such a dry sense of humor that really makes life before bed awesome! We I always have to end up running around to get ready for bed because we talk for so long. But it's nice to have another friend. She also is from Sandy so we'll be friends when we get home!
So yeah, nothing really new. Still loving the MTC, feeling the spirit and learning and growing each and every day. It's incredible how intense the learning curve is. I think I've figured someone out and then the next day the knowledge just triples. Looking back I have no idea how I would be able to survive my whole life without this experience . . . I'm sure I would have learned the same things in time, but a mission for me has been essential. I will carry my testimony throughout my whole life. I will always love and study the scriptures for they truly are a treasure in our lives. And most of all my love of my Savior and Heavenly Father. I'm just now discovering how intimate of a relationship we can have with them if we just allow it. It's all on our side. The door is always open, it's just whether we see it.
Grazie Famiglia for all the love and support! I wouldn't be here on a mission without you!
Sorella LeCates
