Week 8 - On the 52nd Day of Christmas, Still At The MTC

(That title is to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas... We've actually been at the MTC for 52 days. I can't believe it. I remember counting down since I first got my call, and seeing numbers like that. WOW.)

It's been two weeks, and I still don't speak Tahitian - patience is a virtue of course, but I'm guessing so is practice. And with 10 days before our scheduled day to leave, how am I supposed to focus on anything else?? (Also, Christmas is coming, in case any of you didn't know. This missionary is pumped beyond belief.) But, for a little bit of Tahitian know-how this week, I'll share two things:

1) The names of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are so cool, and honestly I think they fit even better than our language, or even French. In order, they are:

-te Atua (tay atooah)

-Iesu Mesia (yehtoo mehteeah)

-te Varua Maitai (tay vuhrooah mytie)

2) Tahitian began as a spoken language, and so sometimes they have weird things in their language to convey what we use in our writing, like exclamation points and question marks. So, a lot of the time when they ask questions, they say "anei" which literally is like them saying, "Question mark?" I love it.

Sunday, we had the most amazing musical devotional by Brother Eggett and his Institute choir, which was huge but stunning. They sang some beautiful songs, but my favorites were Be Not Afraid and Peace Like a River in my Soul (if you can look them up, definitely do). It was all about the Christmas story, and each character's devotion and commitment to God. The Spirit was so strong, and by the end of the devotional I was a sniffly mess. It was just so wonderful!

Also, in my scripture study this week, I've been studying repentance. It's one of my favorite topics, but this week, I've been studying it in french, and have found a beautiful new joy in reading about it. Mosiah 5:2 talks about the people of King Benjamin after his teachings. It reads: “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” I am so grateful for the Atonement and for the mighty change it has wrought in me to do good!

We got the opportunity to host this week, and it was so much fun! This means that, on Wednesday when all the brand new Elders and Sisters come in, we walk up to their cars and help them out to get them started. We take pictures for their families, and then together carry their luggage up a bunch of staircases and help them to their rooms and then to class. We're basically an escort for them. It was fun to do, but also nerve-wracking and nostalgic. Nerve-wracking because I wanted this brand new person to feel comfortable at the MTC and not worry... Nostalgic because being in the parking garage where we all got dropped off, seeing people drive in with their whole families in their cars, feeling the excitement and the anxiety all  in their hearts... 

It's a crazy moment to go back to, even after 8 weeks. I can't believe how much has happened since then! I'm a different person, in the best way possible. I love this gospel, and I love Jesus Christ, and I love being a disciple of Christ more than ever.

The temple is closed for now, but instead we got invited to help clean it! So we all brought our tennis shoes, and all the sisters got to go to the upper floors of the temple and clean the chandeliers. It was soooo beautiful, and felt so good to just be in the temple! Plus, the chandeliers were so beautiful. It was a pleasure to give our time to the House of the Lord.

It’s grapefruit season, and I have had a grapefruit everyday this week. I even brought one back to the room one day, as you can see in this picture.  

We also learned a really great song this week about prepositions. It’s a chant with words, and was super funny to learn. Even after eight weeks, we're the same goofy bunch of kids, who just know a little more French and Tahitian than before (but not that much more).

The most love from Provo! It won't be long before I'll be sending it from Tahiti.

Na na!

Sœur Sperry