Dievs Tevi mil!
Latvian.
This week started out with a secret combination at the MTC. (GASP!) A secret combination to the MTC visitor center training room, that is. It's a classroom with a Flatscreen and a collection of every movie that every visitor center has, with instructions to watch them before we get to the field... the Elders in the room next door are so jealous (they tried to sneak in the other day, but we crowded them out... there are 33 visitor center sisters being trained) We also have all of the kiosks that the visitor centers have because they want us to press every button and watch every clip. I am a little afraid of the Book of Mormon one because the volume is a little off it starts off at a normal volume, but it gets loud really really fast so it feels like the computer is screaming at you by the end of a segment.... I guess they want us to remember what was told to us in the clips. I must admit that it is very nice to be 'forced' to push every button on the displays. I think that I can finally put my curiosity to good use.
The sisters are numerous and amazing, of the 33 of us 2 are going to Omaha Nebraska, 5 to the Mormon Batallion historic site, and 26 to Temple Square. What amuses me is how much these sisters have gone through as they came to accept their calls... only two were particularly pleased with their calls and one of them is from Australia. There are several foreign sisters who are glad to finally be leaving the MTC after 8 weeks of English training. Mongolia, Hong Kong, China, Norway, Switzerland, Finland... all over the place. We are so large that our class room instruction is in the same rooms that we had our LGM training in (Large group meeting rooms because we are the largest district in the MTC.) We also have to have two rooms to hold practice tours in. Did you know that if you went to the TRC on a Thursday or Monday night that you get to have tours from the visitor center sisters? It would be so cool, I am doing it as soon as I get back because we only had one person in our tour and it wasn't as much fun as it could have been.
We are also going to temple square tomorrow for proselyting... weird, especially since we've only had one tour and two full days of class, and I had to miss it for the temple square enhancement class where they give us more make up because it is REQUIRED to wear make up on temple square. It is also required to wear professional shoes so my favorite brown shoes have been retired to P-day attire :( My shirts and coats have some back from alterations (finally) so now I am ready to look sharp with tailored coats and shirts.
We also get an expanded library full of church history books and packets so we can learn about the early saints in the Salt Lake Valley. I am a little sad about the choice of books because I already know most of the information in them because a certain Grandfather of mine.
That's all I can think of to report, except to say that I am leaving the MTC WEDNESDAY!!!! I can't wait to go from one bubble to another. ;)
Sister Pielstick
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
MTC Week 3
Shun ai ni!
Chinese for God Loves you according to an elder going to Houston, Texas Mandarin speaking. Life at the MTC is business as usual. This week we learned about how to direct talkative investigators to asking questions that move the lesson forward. When we did our practice we found out that it is really hard to control a talkative investigator AND a talkative member.
I have met so many amazing people here at the MTC, but my personal favorites are the senior missionaries... they have lived so much and have so many amazing stories. I wish they weren't so wary of talking to the younger missionaries. They have so much to add. I met one gentleman while I was waiting for my companion who went Navajo speaking on his mission. I was so impressed. Some are going humanitarian to foreign countries, some are employment specialists and a lot are CES teachers... they are opening up South America to CES teachers now so one elder and sister I met are actually in charge of setting up the institute program in Peru as soon as their visas are in. WOW!
I can't wait to start sister missionary training for visitor centers next week. We have a secret coded room on the top floor of one of the bigger buildings. I've been looking forward to it ever since the Kirtland sisters went in for theirs, they get to watch ALL of the visitor center video clips before they leave so they can learn how to attach the videos to the gospel. They even have a replica of the Christus! We also get to train at temple square for a whole day, so next Saturday I'll be at temple square :) I can't wait to go and talk to so many people at there... and yes, there are office sisters. Hopefully I'll get a little time to talk to other people if I get called there (and I don't lose everyone's appointments because of my absentmindedness).
Another exciting piece of information is that the sisters are getting a new dress code this Sunday, fresh from the first presidency. I'll let you know about it next week, but we get to wear shorter skirts and we don't have to wear nylons which is awesome. They have some of these skirts for the missionaries to purchase at the store so I might grab one later today because it is very hot outside.
Life is good at the MTC, and I can't wait for the next devotional... everyone is just what I needed/wanted.
Sister Pielstick.
Chinese for God Loves you according to an elder going to Houston, Texas Mandarin speaking. Life at the MTC is business as usual. This week we learned about how to direct talkative investigators to asking questions that move the lesson forward. When we did our practice we found out that it is really hard to control a talkative investigator AND a talkative member.
I have met so many amazing people here at the MTC, but my personal favorites are the senior missionaries... they have lived so much and have so many amazing stories. I wish they weren't so wary of talking to the younger missionaries. They have so much to add. I met one gentleman while I was waiting for my companion who went Navajo speaking on his mission. I was so impressed. Some are going humanitarian to foreign countries, some are employment specialists and a lot are CES teachers... they are opening up South America to CES teachers now so one elder and sister I met are actually in charge of setting up the institute program in Peru as soon as their visas are in. WOW!
I can't wait to start sister missionary training for visitor centers next week. We have a secret coded room on the top floor of one of the bigger buildings. I've been looking forward to it ever since the Kirtland sisters went in for theirs, they get to watch ALL of the visitor center video clips before they leave so they can learn how to attach the videos to the gospel. They even have a replica of the Christus! We also get to train at temple square for a whole day, so next Saturday I'll be at temple square :) I can't wait to go and talk to so many people at there... and yes, there are office sisters. Hopefully I'll get a little time to talk to other people if I get called there (and I don't lose everyone's appointments because of my absentmindedness).
Another exciting piece of information is that the sisters are getting a new dress code this Sunday, fresh from the first presidency. I'll let you know about it next week, but we get to wear shorter skirts and we don't have to wear nylons which is awesome. They have some of these skirts for the missionaries to purchase at the store so I might grab one later today because it is very hot outside.
Life is good at the MTC, and I can't wait for the next devotional... everyone is just what I needed/wanted.
Sister Pielstick.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
MTC week 2
Bouge Lubit Vos!
The phonetic Russian for God loves you. The Russian elders thought I looked Finnish for some reason, but I love the harshness of the language it's muffled and rugged at the same time... like a lichen covered rock. The Kirtland sisters are leaving Tuesday :( I am sad to be losing them. They were so much fun to talk to, they have to memorize all of the history of their place and they have a secret training room that is key coded and locked. I looked in the other day and saw a life size poster of the Christus and several kiosks for the sisters to see what are at the visitor centers. I can't wait to start my visitors center training. I also met some Chinese sisters going to my mission... they were so sweet and I can't wait to see them.
I still love kickboxing, but I didn't get to try the aerobics class because I was sick for two days with a cold that has been going around out district (aka people that we have classes with and go to church with on sunday) The Sunday devotional is pretty awesome... we got a violin concert from Elder Oaks youngest daughter. He waved to us as we passed and my companion yelled at him "we'll see you at Temple Square". He didn't answer though. I don't think he could hear through the car window.
I'm much better now... and I got your care package. I loved the socks, I am wearing them right now and they keep me from getting blisters on my feet, so that makes me happy. I met some Finnish sisters and they were really nice. I can't believe that I've been here for over a week, the boys in our district are leaving in ten days... so next monday at 3 AM. WOW. that is really early, especially since they don't have time to pack before hand. I hope they can get everything done (apparently elders have to have all of their suits and shirts dry cleaned before they leave for their mission.... make sure Dagan has money to do that when he goes tot he MTC) I am not to worried... we leave on a Saturday so we have p-day to pack.
Classes are pretty cool, but yesterday we had a substitute teacher Brother Warner and I learned so much. Did you know that you could teach a lesson only asking questions? I didn't think it was possible, but by the end of the class we had taught the plan of salvation with only questions. I've never thought so much in my entire life. My other teachers are very talented, but they can't control the 'wiggles' that my class seems to have. (After meals I tend to have the 'sleepies' rather than the wiggles, but oh well) Brother Warner just sort of looks at the Elders and they behave. It was a miracle.
I also enjoy the devotionals on Tuesdays. We got the mission president of the Oslo Norway mission (or the old one Halverston I think was his name). He was AMAZING. He taught us so much about how life on the mission works, how you need to love the people before you can teach them, and to not waste a minute of your time. I wish that I could have video taped it for you so you could hear it.
I wish you all the best,
Sister Pielstick
The phonetic Russian for God loves you. The Russian elders thought I looked Finnish for some reason, but I love the harshness of the language it's muffled and rugged at the same time... like a lichen covered rock. The Kirtland sisters are leaving Tuesday :( I am sad to be losing them. They were so much fun to talk to, they have to memorize all of the history of their place and they have a secret training room that is key coded and locked. I looked in the other day and saw a life size poster of the Christus and several kiosks for the sisters to see what are at the visitor centers. I can't wait to start my visitors center training. I also met some Chinese sisters going to my mission... they were so sweet and I can't wait to see them.
I still love kickboxing, but I didn't get to try the aerobics class because I was sick for two days with a cold that has been going around out district (aka people that we have classes with and go to church with on sunday) The Sunday devotional is pretty awesome... we got a violin concert from Elder Oaks youngest daughter. He waved to us as we passed and my companion yelled at him "we'll see you at Temple Square". He didn't answer though. I don't think he could hear through the car window.
I'm much better now... and I got your care package. I loved the socks, I am wearing them right now and they keep me from getting blisters on my feet, so that makes me happy. I met some Finnish sisters and they were really nice. I can't believe that I've been here for over a week, the boys in our district are leaving in ten days... so next monday at 3 AM. WOW. that is really early, especially since they don't have time to pack before hand. I hope they can get everything done (apparently elders have to have all of their suits and shirts dry cleaned before they leave for their mission.... make sure Dagan has money to do that when he goes tot he MTC) I am not to worried... we leave on a Saturday so we have p-day to pack.
Classes are pretty cool, but yesterday we had a substitute teacher Brother Warner and I learned so much. Did you know that you could teach a lesson only asking questions? I didn't think it was possible, but by the end of the class we had taught the plan of salvation with only questions. I've never thought so much in my entire life. My other teachers are very talented, but they can't control the 'wiggles' that my class seems to have. (After meals I tend to have the 'sleepies' rather than the wiggles, but oh well) Brother Warner just sort of looks at the Elders and they behave. It was a miracle.
I also enjoy the devotionals on Tuesdays. We got the mission president of the Oslo Norway mission (or the old one Halverston I think was his name). He was AMAZING. He taught us so much about how life on the mission works, how you need to love the people before you can teach them, and to not waste a minute of your time. I wish that I could have video taped it for you so you could hear it.
I wish you all the best,
Sister Pielstick
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sister Pielstick and the MTC
Hola!
This seems to be the most common greeting at the MTC here. There are so many Hermanas in my hall. I love talking to them, they teach me the lessons and some cool phrases in their languages. Dieos los amos. God loves you. They like to practice the lessons in their language on you. So far I've had lessons in Spanish and Portuguese and a contact in German or Hungarian (couldn't tell which). I have them teach me a phrase or two in exchange for my personal study time. They seem to appreciate it. My companion Sister Nelson is very nice and from southern California. She loves to exercise so I'm either going to be very ripped or dying by the time I leave the MTC. The sisters get to have special exercising classes early in the morning, my favorite so far is the kickboxing class. It's so hard, but as close to dancing as we can get here at the MTC.
I love to sing here, I sing all the time: every time someone reminds me of a musical I end up singing it. I feel a little bad, but I am working on trying to attach these songs to church songs. I get to be in the MTC choir. I am so excited to be able to sing and work on Sundays. We open everything with a song.... even eating. I LOVE it.
My classes are all about teaching to the investigator. Tailoring the lessons to the people I am teaching, I love that emphasis. People don't want lectures on the gospel, they want conversations about themselves. We've not covered long lessons yet, but we've covered one minute lessons. Those will be really useful to my mission. I am also excited about learning about how to contact people, I want to be able to talk to everyone everywhere about the joy of the gospel. There are actors here who pretend to be real investigators instead of the typical TRC experience. We have tried our luck with several, but the hardest is the Eternal Investigator. I hope we can make headway with him before I leave, there are going to be so many people like him where I am going.
I just took off my beginner's 'Dork Dot' but I feel like I just got here yesterday. As it happens, I am only going to be here for four weeks. And I am leaving my mission December 18th 2011. It's going to be such a short mission. I am sad I don't get two Christmases at Temple Square, but it will be nice to see everyone again. There are 28 sisters who are going to temple square the same day I am (August 4th). We have other visitor center sisters in my zone (three districts of peeps) but they are going to Kirtland. I love meeting so many different people here.
Regardless of the bumps and inadequacies, I feel very much at home here. Everything seems to be going so fast here. I feel like time is falling through my fingers. I just want to have a time turner and have more time to be here and on my mission, but it'll be very fun all the time. I am grateful for my time here and I can't wait to see what will happen next ( good or bad).
I love all of you and wish you the best.
Sister Pielstick
This seems to be the most common greeting at the MTC here. There are so many Hermanas in my hall. I love talking to them, they teach me the lessons and some cool phrases in their languages. Dieos los amos. God loves you. They like to practice the lessons in their language on you. So far I've had lessons in Spanish and Portuguese and a contact in German or Hungarian (couldn't tell which). I have them teach me a phrase or two in exchange for my personal study time. They seem to appreciate it. My companion Sister Nelson is very nice and from southern California. She loves to exercise so I'm either going to be very ripped or dying by the time I leave the MTC. The sisters get to have special exercising classes early in the morning, my favorite so far is the kickboxing class. It's so hard, but as close to dancing as we can get here at the MTC.
I love to sing here, I sing all the time: every time someone reminds me of a musical I end up singing it. I feel a little bad, but I am working on trying to attach these songs to church songs. I get to be in the MTC choir. I am so excited to be able to sing and work on Sundays. We open everything with a song.... even eating. I LOVE it.
My classes are all about teaching to the investigator. Tailoring the lessons to the people I am teaching, I love that emphasis. People don't want lectures on the gospel, they want conversations about themselves. We've not covered long lessons yet, but we've covered one minute lessons. Those will be really useful to my mission. I am also excited about learning about how to contact people, I want to be able to talk to everyone everywhere about the joy of the gospel. There are actors here who pretend to be real investigators instead of the typical TRC experience. We have tried our luck with several, but the hardest is the Eternal Investigator. I hope we can make headway with him before I leave, there are going to be so many people like him where I am going.
I just took off my beginner's 'Dork Dot' but I feel like I just got here yesterday. As it happens, I am only going to be here for four weeks. And I am leaving my mission December 18th 2011. It's going to be such a short mission. I am sad I don't get two Christmases at Temple Square, but it will be nice to see everyone again. There are 28 sisters who are going to temple square the same day I am (August 4th). We have other visitor center sisters in my zone (three districts of peeps) but they are going to Kirtland. I love meeting so many different people here.
Regardless of the bumps and inadequacies, I feel very much at home here. Everything seems to be going so fast here. I feel like time is falling through my fingers. I just want to have a time turner and have more time to be here and on my mission, but it'll be very fun all the time. I am grateful for my time here and I can't wait to see what will happen next ( good or bad).
I love all of you and wish you the best.
Sister Pielstick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
