First Week in MTC

Wow! What an incredible first week.

Wednesday was total immersion. Our first class was taught entirely in Italian. My district and I all just looked at each other like, "um what is she saying???" But it was awesome. Each class is taught that way. It's super helpful. I had super bad stomach pains all day... Non bene... But oh well! I survived. All of the new missionaries had the opportunity to teach a few investigators as a group and it was a really special experience. We all felt the spirit so strongly and it was a great first day. 

Thursday felt like a marathon. I've never studied so much in my entire life. It's insane!! I've never heard so many languages before either, except in Disneyland. (Also I apologize ahead of time. I'll probably have a milion spelling errors. I'm typinga s fast as I can, And my mind is in italian spelling mode.. So.. be warned.) But anyway. I know I"m supposed to be here. I love my district a ton! Our teacher is awesome. She served her mission in Rome and got back about a year and a half ago. She speaks beautifuly and is so helpful. 

On friday, my companion and I taught our first investigator (he is a member, just acting like an investigator to give us good practice.) Sorella Quinten and I are super different. We see things differently and want to teach in completely different ways. I think we compliment each other well as companions because we both can learn a lot from each other. She is super cute and so nice. Our "investigators" name is Simone. He speaks beautiful Italian. He also pretends that he doesn't know english so we have to do our best to understand and speak the language. It was so intimidating during that first lesson. But we did our best to teach with the spirit and we asked God for help. I feel like I am progressing in the language a lot faster and a lot more than I thought I would or could only 5 days into it. I know that God is answering my prayers and is helping me. I am just so in love with being a missionary and everything that I get to do here. 

I need more endurance now than I  ever have before in my life. We are either studying, learning, teaching, praying, eating, or sleeping. And the eating and sleeping don't last for very long. hahah. It's a very very rigorous schedule. I'm exhausted, but I have been richly blessed by feeling the power of God in my life and feeling the spirit every single moment I've been here.

I haven't gotten any mail yet, and everyone else in my district has... 

MOM AND DAD; PLEASE ask Brynn about Dear Elder. It's awesome. 

Sorella Quinton and I taught Simone again on Saturday and it went super good!! We spoke and understood so much more than we did the day before. 

Meal times are super fun because we sit with our district and the other people going to Italy. Our district leader is Anziano Diego. He's hilarious, has a strong testimony, and is a really good leader. His companion is Anziano Sorrdes, he's from france and has a thick accent. He's super tall and skinny and has really big glasses. We always ask him to say things with un accente americana. He attempts, and it's always a good laugh. Sorella Lawrence and Sorella Johnson are the other two sisters in our district. lawrence is insanely sweet, kind, and weirdly reminds me of aunt jojo. Sorella Johnson is super athletic and has really big eyes and has a great sense of humor. She's so fun to be around. Sorella Quinton and I share a room with them. Sorella Q is tall, skinny, has short blonde hair, and is super sweet. I'm so grateful that she is my companion. 

I have never had to rely on my savior more than I do right now. This is hard. But it is also incredibly rewarding. I know I"m supposed to be here, and I know that this is waht God wants me to be doing right now. This experience is like nothing I've ever done before... But it's so amazing. The days take forever here, but the week has gone by super fast. 

Sunday was incredible. I was so spiritually fed. I recieved so much personal revelation as to how to be a better missionary, how to be a better companion, and how I can be a better family member and future wife. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. My testimony of its truth has grown and been strengthened so much in the past five days.

Today got to go to the temple. It was awesome. One of the elders in our zone was going through for the first time and it was so neat to be there for that. On our walk back to the MTC, there were protesters outside of the gates. They yelled at us and told us we were going to hell and that our church is an abomination. We just smiled and continued to walk back and enter the MTC campus. I don't know about you, but sharing thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in that way isn't very Christ like in my opinion. God wants us to share the gospel and share our testimonies with love and conviction, not with malice and hatred. Anyway. Overall it's been a great week. 

I think the best thing I learned this week is that this mission is not about me. It's not for me. It's not my time. This mission is for my God and for my Savior Jesus Christ. I want to serve them with all my heart, might, mind and strength. I am out here for them and to glorify their names. I am out here to be a tool in their hands to bring their gospel to the people of Italy. I love you all. Thank you for your support and kindness. It means so much to me. 

MOM and DAD- you're amazing. Thank you so much for your examples to me of how to live a righteous life and how to love others. 

Quinten- I love you so much. I fully support you in your desires to finish high school and become a successful person. 

Nicholas- You're amazing.... I love you. Continue to be a good example to the family. 

Kelly- I love you sweet girl. Stay strong right now. I care about you and can't wait to hear from you soon!

I pray for all of you every day. I love you guys. 

Until next week,

Sorella Tokarski