20 June 2013

 Hola,

They moved up my p-day to TODAY [Thursday],  so you get to hear from me a day early. Because of all the Mission Presidents coming in they moved our in-field orentation to tomorrow and to the Cougar Chapel by the stadium so they moved our p-day up a day.

This week has been amazing. My testimony has been strengthened even more and it has just been so great. Most days have been pretty normal. We didn't have too much excitement at the end of last week. A little more about my teacher leaving - he is studying at BYU to be a Special Education teacher and so now he student teaches every morning. He doesn't officially teach us. He is still around but not as our teacher. So, the short story is that we have had a few substitutes over the past few days.
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Sunday was a really wonderful day. Relief Society was amazing. Sis. Neill F. Marriott of the Young Women General Presidency spoke to us. She was amazing. At first I was a little suspicious of a Young Women leader talking to us Relief Society Sisters, but it was truly amazing. One of her great pieces of advice is to truly turn your heart = might mind and strength - over to the Lord and that if you are getting distracted you need to get right back in line and keep doing the work 100%. The other sweet thing was that she told her conversion story. It was really great and so inspiring to hear the power we have as missionaries to bless and change the lives of others. Then her husband got up and said a few quick words. The ones that touched me the most were " No matter how low you get you can always turn to the Lord". I really needed those words not because I was low, but to know that the Lord always, no matter what, wants us to turn to Him.
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I almost forgot about Music And The Spoken Word. It was Fathers Day themed and it was soooooo good. They had these cute clips of kids talking about their fathers. My favorite song was " Who will Buy" from Oliver. [See the arrangement HERE.] It was this gorgeous arrangement and it was just such a wonderful experience. Then we had devotional which for the the first time, was broadcast from the other campus. It was Stephen Allen again and he showed old Church commercials. They were funny and sweet.  It was nice to have a lighter evening. Then, for our last opportunity to watch a "movie". We decided to watch Testaments. It was amazing. I had forgotten how powerful the story of Christ is intermingled with the saints in the Americas. By the end of the movie, when it says that Jesus came and will come again, all of us Sisters were sobbing really hard and everyone else turned around and looked at us. We just start laughing.  Really the story was so powerful and perfectly timed for me to remember what Christ did on this earth, the power he has and sacrifices he made.
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This video made such an impact on me. In the part where Christ is in the Garden I just started balling because I really realized all the pain he suffered just for me and for all of you. I realized that all the pains I feel, especially on a mission, that I have created for myself have been things that he felt. In a moment it made me feel guilty for not realizing and using the Atonement more when He knows how to succor us personally. It is SO amazing. I know that Christ suffered and died for us to enable us to return to live with God after this life and because of the sacrifice, we as a family can all be together forever as long as we follow the doctrine of Christ and do what God has asked of us. I also know that He lives today and administers to us, but usally only when we ask.
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Monday, if you can believe, was even better. In the morning we had another substitute. He was amazing. He was full of life and really fun to learn from. He was understanding and just great. After some language study he started to have us practice teaching the first lesson in the 5-minutes-or-less. We all really struggled with it and then he asked, " Do you really get what this lesson is about?". He turned to Moroni 10:3-5 and read to us. What he made clear is that God loves us and because God loves us he has helped us throughout time to be better, to be happy.  After the people rejected His only begotten Son, he still came to the earth to restore the gospel once more. This simple fact made the whole gospel shift for me. We all realized that this was now the point of this first lesson. Not apostasy or dispensations, but the love of God. It really envelopes the whole gospel. Now I understand what the basis is and then I can build on the need for every individual investigator and member from there. It was amazing. We all just finally understood what our teachers have been trying to teach us. Afterwards we found out that he is the boss of the teachers who teach Spanish and it all became clear why he was so good. It was such a wonderful experience.  It was just great. That evening we had more class that was also really good.
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On Tuesday we had a substitute again.  He taught us even more about focusing on the investigator. He said that teaching is the last thing we do and not the first. We need to be able to love them and realize that we are teaching a gospel that they need  We are teaching them as an individual not as just a lesson. Then we had our devotional on Tuesday which I call the "cherry on top"! The first thing he said that I liked is that to Preach is the invite. It is not to throw a lesson in their face, but to invite them to find for themselves. Another thing that I liked that he said was teaching with the spirit means to understand the investigator, which means asking inspired questions. The Spirit is so essential in missionary work. It is the only way for us to be truly effective teachers. We are young adults and we don't know what we are doing, but the Spirit does, so all is well.
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Wednesday we had two interesting things. We had our first class with our new teacher and our last class with our old teacher. In the morning we had our new teacher Hermana Arbon. That is right an Hermana teacher. She is so friendly and nice. We only have her for a few days, but she seems great. It is a little odd to get someone new, especially our woman teacher when we are use to men.  I am sure she will be wonderful. The sad thing was that we said goodbye to Hermano Ferguson. It was kind of a little sad for me, since it has felt like a lifetime since we have been here and he has been with us the whole time.  The nice thing was that he was full of wisdom. The other sad thing was that it was our last time teaching his investigator Pablo. It was such a spiritual lesson and he committed to baptism in a few weeks because he feels so peacful when he reads the Book of Mormon. It was so great. I almost cried a few times though. The piece of adivce that I loved the most was that we need to desire to work hard for the Lord.  We need the Lord to help us fulfill our desire. He talked about how much his mission changed him.  It made me finally understand that the changes I have made here at the MTC are just the beginning. There is so much more work to do and so much more fine tuning for me to do in it all. The sweet thing was that he came to our session at the temple this morning and it was such a sweet expeierince to say goodbye to him in the Celestial Room.
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Today is the start of packing. I can not believe it is the time for me to really go out into the world - well Santa Rosa - and teach the gospel in Spanish. I am so excited to go out there and continue this wonderful process of sharing the gospel. It has been a rougher road, but I am now ready to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord.

So - a little about my travel plans -  we leave this coming Tuesday the 25th. The rough part is that we have to check in at 4:30 in the morning at the travel office here at the MTC. Our flight is not until 8:36 and we arrive in Oakland California at 9:38. Man, am I glad that I don't have to fly all around the world. I am so excited to finally be in Santa Rosa.

It is going to be such an exciting journey.  I am so excited to just go and do it even though I have no idea what it is going to be like. Next time I write you it will be from Santa Rosa California. Ahhhh - It is so weird, but I am so excited. I love you all so much and can not wait to be able to tell you my tales as a missionary out in the field.

Love ya,

Hermana Cornwall

p.s  By the way, for the broadcast on Sunday,  I will be wearing my royal blue collared shirt [see below] and Hermana Vance will be wearing light turquoise shirt. Also Hermana Whitely will be wearing bright pink and she will be next to us too. I am so excited to see if you see me!

Sister Cornwall and Sister Lemmon

The Sisters in my Zone

Our District in Class

Our District at the Temple this morning

14 June 2013

Hola,

I can not believe that I have been in the MTC for a month. So much had been accomplished that it feels like much longer and then at other times it feels like I was just with you all a few days ago.
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Life here at the MTC is as grand as ever. It feels so momentous to be a missionary at this time. My last week has been wonderful. I got my huge package last Friday. Everyone gave me really funny looks and asked what it was and it was really fun. Also, thanks for everything it was like all the things you sent were brand new and it is so nice to have fun shampoo and conditioner and body wash.
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Classes have just been wonderful this past week I couldn't ask for anything better. Then, on Saturday I got the packages of trail mix. Man that stuff is good and my class was very appreciative. Saturday was just an average day and it was great. It is so fun to learn how to teach better. We mess up a lot but it is nice to grow and develop while we are here. Sunday was amazing. After church I went to the meeting with all the district leaders, zone leaders, and the branch presidency. It was sure odd to be the only sister in a room of all men but it worked out. Then we had Relief Society and our speaker was Anne Clegg. She was amazing. She talked about being a mission presidents wife in Spain and had some really wonderful advice for us. During my study later in that day I was was reading a conference talk and looked up one of the scriptures in the talk to gain more understanding  in the footnotes. The scripture was Luke 5:23. I encourage all to look at the footnotes for the scripture because it really cleared things up for me. Then we had choir practice. It was such a fun experience. There were so many people because it was the first practice for the upcoming broadcast. So, to let you all know I will be in the choir for the broadcast [on June 23rd] so keep your eyes peeled. The director is hilarious and we spend half the time laughing, so it was great. That night we had a devotional with Richard I. Heaton who is the administrative director here at BYU. He testified strongly about the investigators and their needs and how divinely created Preach My Gospel is. It is truly the words of modern day prophets and it is the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we watched an old devotional by Pres. Utchdorf, which was about how his wife joined the church and what a blessing missionaries are. It is really amazing how we can touch the lives of so many people. The sad part of the night was saying goodbye to the only district older than us. I had become good acquaintances with one of the Elders and as we shook hands he gave me some advice and I just started to ball. It is such a wonderful experience to be around worthy holders of the preisthood. I was sad to see them go, but I know all of them are needed in their missions in Mexico.
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Nothing amazing really happened on Monday.  But Tuesday at the TRC was awesome. We taught two couples and they were so sweet and helpful. It is fun to think of inspiring message for other members of the Church. I truly feel endowed with power to teach and speak when we do TRC. It is always a wonderful experience. In class we learned the importance of making goals. Goals help us to gage how we have been, how we are and what we can become. They are often hard to accomplish, but they are great. Tuesday was a very momentous day because we had our devotional at the Marriott Center it was a little weird to go to place I been so many times before but at the same time it felt normal. I was also in the choir for the devotional and it was a choir of like 2,000 missionaries.  It was awesome. Elder Arnold of the 70 spoke and my favorite thing was that we need to know our purpose. No matter our stage in life we need to know. As missionaries we are to Invitar a las Personas a venir a Cristo (Invite others to come unto Christ). We say it everyday in class and yet sometimes I forget it. Whenever I am focused on that goal the work gets easier, I teach more effectively and I miss you all less. It is amazing so find your purpose and keep to it.
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Then on Wednesday we got to host the new missionaries coming in. Our job is to welcome them, tell them they have a few minutes to say good bye and lead them through a few tasks and then get to their classroom. It was amazingly crazy. 800 missionaries came in this Wednesday and so it is a big job. I hosted three sisters and it was so fun to welcome them and a little sad too. We stand right there and watch them say goodbye to their families and at one point I was at the same station I had got dropped off at, but it was still wonderful. I did see Hermana Moore, which was fun and I have also seen many other people I know as well.
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The work is really moving forward and I love to be a part of it. The funny thing with class that day was that one of our teachers got a little harder on us. He talked to us about our investigator and he was really direct on the things that we needed to improve on. I am glad to learn because they are necessary changes but it just feels like things are getting down to the wire. Then in the evening I welcome the new Sisters in our zone. We got two new districts and I got 6 new sisters to watch over.  It was wonderful
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Thursday evening we were with the new districts again and it was so fun to learn more about them. We were able to teach them a few things and I got to bear my testimony in Spanish to them. It was so wonderful. Then I got released afterward and now my companion is the new Sister Training Leader, so I will show her all of the ropes. It was so wonderful being the leader, but I don't think I am going to mind having my time back.
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I have loved my experience at the MTC and I can't even imagine what it is going to be like in the field. I know I still have over 2 weeks, but it is coming very quickly. Well, here is my second to last sign-off from the MTC campus. I know this next week will be amazing. Happy Fathers day to all the fathers out there that have been key in my life, most especially my own. I know this gospel is true and it is so important to share it with others because they need it even if they don't realize. The Lord loves us all and wants us to return to be with Him again. This work is so important and I am glad that I get to help it along.

Love ya,

Hermana Cornwall

Getting the "Big" Package Mom and Dad brought up when they came to Hannah's blessing last week.

Service

Service, service... service

District That Left

My Zone

Roses At The Temple

My Zone

The Sisters of my Zone

New Roomates

Switching And Wearing Each Others Clothes

Package Goodies

07 June 2013

Hola,

Wow I can not believe that I have been the MTC for 3 weeks. Time has really been flying now and I can't believe that I am over half way. Hermana Lemmon said, "like, we are in the teens of how many days we have left". The MTC is amazing. Everyone from the President to the custodians are just wonderful. I am so grateful for all that I am doing and learning. Mom has been asking me to write a little bit more about what it is like to be in"the wave" and I don't have a very good answer because I am in "the wave" and don't know what it is like to not be in it. All I know is that there are a lot of missionaries here at the MTC and it is just wonderful. The thing that is unlike the past is that the split of number of Sister and Elders is almost 50/50 which is a really big deal here at the MTC.

The big news this week is that I was made the SISTER TRAINING LEADER in my zone. They use to be known as Coordinating Sisters but now the name has changed. I told you last week that a district was leaving and there are no Sisters in the other district in the zone so all of us Sisters knew that it was going to come from the four of us. I was surprised that I was honored with such a calling. It has been the most amazing expereince. I have been given even more power from the Lord to help me in this new calling. It has been one of the most amazing weeks but I will get into the details a little as I talk about the week.

Mom has also asked that I am an little more specfic with my average days so here is a little more detail: 

Last FRIDAY I did initiatories with the other Hermanas in my district. It was so empowering to hear that ordinance. Every Friday morning we go to the temple first thing. It is our p-day but it is so nice to have the opportunity to go. Then we eat breakfast at the temple. The food is soooo good and it has become a fun little tradition. Then we come back do some missionary assessments and then write our families. Ta-da! Then we have a time slot to do laundry which is always needed every week. Then we have personal time and then dinner. After dinner we have our 3-hour class (all classes are 3 hours) and then have additional study time and then plan for the next day. After that we return to the residence and get ready for bed. Each night is exactly the same so I will not talk about it much more.

Then we have our SATURDAY schedule where we do personal study and then a service assignment which usually invovles cleaning showers and then we have gym. Gym is fun because it is full of so many activities. You can play a few indoor sports, run on the indoor track, use the machines or just do a personal work out. I like the variety and it is fun to interact with other missionaries as you do it. Then we have lunch and then we have back-to-back classes with dinner in between. Classes are amazing. Every time out teachers come I am so uplifted and strengthened. They are amazing and so dedicated to helping us be good missionaries.

SUNDAYS are also wonderful. We don't have scheduled class but we do have a lot of study time and somehow the day just flies by. We have church at 7:30 and then a break until we watch Music And The Spoken Word and have Relief Society. This past fast Sunday, and every fast sunday at the MTC, they do a Mission Conference with the MTC Presidency where they speak to us for 2 hours. It was fun to have that extra time to be taught. The coolest thing that the President told us was about the MTC missionaries who serve right here at the MTC. Most of them have disablilities and their call is to respond electronically to investigators of the Church. I have seen them here and been very curious about them. They are so sweet and kind and some bore there testimonies and it was so sweet. Man, Fast Sundays are very long here at the MTC, not that I will have anymore but it all turned out to be wonderful. Sunday is when I was called to be the Sister Training Leader. My objective is to love the Sisters and lead with a Christ-like attitude. It has been quite an experience to re-adjust to MTC life with a slightly new schedule, but it is just wonderful. The coolest thing was the Devotional on Sunday. Ted Gibbons portrayed the life of Joseph Smith through the life and eyes of Willard Richards. It was so powerful and interesting to hear him speak. I loved it because I love Joseph Smith so much.  It was a wonderful experince. Then after the Sunday Devotional we watch a spiritual "movie" of our choice. It is things like The Testaments, Legacy or old devotionals from the MTC. We watched one by Elder Holland and it was just wonderful. Then, I had my first leadership training meeting with all the other leaders in my zone. Of course I am the only Sister and it was so odd to be away from my companion even for a short time. In the meeting our Branch Presidency helped us to become better leaders.

MONDAYS are more of a regular day. After breakfast, right away we have class. It is nice to just start the day on a good note learning and progessing. These are the times were we teach investigators, who are our teachers. It is just a portion of class and if we don't teach them we have language study. This week I have really felt the Spanish coming and I love it. It is amazing to speak another lnaguage for the Lord. He helps you so much and this week I have just felt really good about it and it has seemed pretty easy. I understand amazingly well and I can basically talk back most of the time too. Again, our teachers are amazing, even the ZRTs, who are not our teachers, are amazing. They really have the best and the brightest here. The odd thing is that I went to school at BYU with all these people like 2 months ago! Then we have personal study time, lunch, gym and then companionship study. Our study times are so amazing. It is so great to just have so much dedicated time to study for yourself but mostly for your investigator lessons. I am learning so much about the gospel and every day just gives me more. Then, we have language training on TALL which is a computer program that helps us learn and practice grammar principles. Then we have dinner and then class at night which of course are always amazing.

TUESDAYS are a little bit different.They start with personal, physical exercise where you can workout in the residence or outside and it is nice to change it up occasionally. Then we have personal study, Tall lunch and companionship study. Then we have a block of classes. Tuesday are different because we go to the Training Resource Center. This is always the highlight of my week. The people we teach are members of the Church who speak Spanish and we just come and talk and teach with them for 20 mintues. Though I get really nervous before I always feel amazing after because we do it without a plan. We are able to just speak the language. It is amazing. My Spanish and teachings skills always grow in confidence on those days.Then we have dinner and have study time until the Tuesday devotional. This week we had Tad Callister and he was great. He talked about the Blueprint of the Church of Christ. Something I sure dad would have loved. It was very informational and nice. They did make one bigger announcement. If you have heard anything about the conference on the 23rd you probably know more than me. What they told us was that they needed missionaries for the choir for that meeting and so if you will be here til the 23rd which i will be you can sing in the choir. My companion and I are totally going to do it and we are very excited. The one downfall to my calling this week, which it really wasn't that bad, was my situation on Tuesday night. There was one Sister left from a District that was leaving.  I had to sleep in her room so that she wouldn't be alone. I had to wake up with her at 2 am to make her 3 am call time at the front desk of the MTC.  It was an odd expereince, but it is still nice to be able to serve.

Then on WEDNESDAYS we have the exact same schedule as Monday (so see that one for information). This last Wednesday was amazing because we got a batch of new missionaries in our Zone. The best part is that I got to welcome them their first night with the zone leaders as part of my new calling. There are 6 new Sisters and 4 new Elders. It is so fun to have new people coming into our Zone. The next big news is that we are getting two Districts next week and I will still have my calling, so I will be able to welcome them as well. The new Hermanas are so sweet and kind and ready to be missionaries.

THURSDAY is the same the as Saturday, but no service assignement (so see Saturday for that). It was a pretty average day this past Saturday, but then it the evening we had a big meeting with the Branch Presidency for the new District. The scary part about it all is that I had to bear my testimony in Spanish to the whole group. It wasn't to bad but I was a little worried about it. The sad thing was that I had to miss class. It all worked out for the best. It is so fun to be the little helper to these brand new Sisters. Even though I have only been in the MTC for 3 weeks it really makes a big difference in the long run.

So there is my average schedule. Everyday we learn and practice so much to help us be better teachers out in the field. The preparation for the work is awesome. Feel free to send off questions and anything really. I hope that this gave you a good idea of what life is like here at the MTC. These place is amazing and the Lord truly qualifies you for the work you are doing. The Lord loves all of you! Each and everyone of you, no matter what you have done in the past, or the mistakes you might be making now, no matter the size, Hhe Loves you so much - as do I as his servant. Thank you all so much for the love and support. You all are the reason why I am here. Thank you for your loving examples.

Love ya,

Hermana Cornwall 

P.S.

My mission advice this week is the read the Book of Mormon and preach my gospel everyday. They are amazing especially if you are preapring to serve a mission there is nothing better! The book of mrmon is the medicine we need everyday so don't forget to take it.

Hello all,

Happy Friday or Saturday when ever you get this! It has been another crazy but wonderful week here at the MTC or CCM as us spanish speakers like to say. So much happens daily and weekly here that if feels like lifetimes before I write to you all again. Thank you so much for all of your love and support and I am so grateful for those outside my immediate family that have taken the time to write me. It is so Wonderful. Thank you espeically to Janice and Sis. Terrill. I love you all so much and it means so much to me that you support me while I am here.

So, A little bit of my comings and goings: Thise week has been so great. Last Friday ended with a substitute teacher that was actually one of my previous Home Teachers at BYU. It was so fun to see a friendly face. He is the one in the picture that I sent the first week. His name is Hermano Vargas and it was fun to kind of change things up a little. I felt so smooth in Spanish being able to understand and speak on a basic level. I feel so blessed to have the gift of tongues but it is easy to lose the gift as well. The next day was a good old Saturday which always tends to be a peak of being tired and stressed. It was a good day but ended with a lot of frustration with the language because it was 8:00 at night and we all just felt like we couldn't do it anymore. I think it is the Lords way of telling us that we are limited and that we need to be ready and alert for all that comes or we won't be worhty of his help. We also have to ask for it all the time because if not he could just take it away. One of the most stressful things on Saturdays is preparing our talks for Sunday for church in Spanish. It is defintely not something that you can just wing and be okay and we are all worried about the day that someone in our district actually gets picked.  

Sunday was great as normal. I love the opportunity we have to receive revelation at anytime. All of Sacrament I was scribbling thoughts that the Lord had given me to really help me feel good about serving a mission: 

• If I can ask myself everyday. "Have I done all I can today to progress?"  If I can give a shaky, "Yes" then I don't have to feel discouraged about the work I am doing
• Once I can do this work comfortably then nothing can stop me
• Humbling does not equally being broken apart and giving up
• If I have a testimony how can I not share it
• I have to enjoy this or it is going to be miserable
• I have some unknown purpose in the next 18 months and the Lord knows what I can handle and his hand is in everything
• I tend to put my whole heart in things and so if I put my heart in this work completely it will be natural to accomplish everything and do my best.

It is so great to have the Llord on my side to love, support and help me constantly. I also learned that being 100% keeps the focus. That 100% is impossible by ourselves, but it is completely possible with the Lord. I talked a little with a member of the branch presidency about a few things, like we do every Sunday and he gave me this wonderful advice of three things that if we have will make life and the work easier. Those three attributes are Peace-Tolerance-and Forgiveness. These were exactly the words I need to here and I am so glad that I have discerning leaders who are able to help with what I need.The church is so perfectly organized it is wonderful.

For our Sunday night devotional we had Stephen Allen and his wife speak to us. At the beginning of his talk he came to the pulpit and told us that he was not going to speak on what he had prepared. He was leaving his notes aside and was going to speak to us for 40 minutes on whatever the Spirit felt like we needed. It was amazing experience to be so nourished for the exact things we needed. He said some great things, but the most impactful part was when he brought up the song Come Come Ye Saints. He said that it is a perfect missionary hymn and I would have to say that I agree. What he had us do was to first watch the MoTab Choir sing and then the second time we would sing a long. The song was so powerful with just the choir but when hundreds of missionaries sang aloud the second time it was amazing how the words touched and I was amazed by the comfort that came when we sang the words "All is Well, All is Well". After that we watched Sister Monson's funeral. It was so nice to really be able understand what was going on and see her memorial services. What an amazing lady. We were all a little worried about President Monson and there are a lot of prayers coming his way from the CCM. I know it is weird but I have always liked funerals because they are a celebration of life and make us really contemplate the happiness that comes with Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful to be a part of this gospel and understand our purpose here.

Now on Monday I had a companionship break-through. It is funny how easy it is to get a little off at each other. Not to be mad but not to be happy either. This was such a day, but it was amazing how when we truly said our feelings it made all the difference. Hermana Vance is amazing. She has done so much for me and is so supportive and helpful. I love her with all my heart and I wouldn't have it anyother way. Each day our relationship grows more and more. We learn the language we teach the investigators and everday brings us closer together. It is amazing and I am so grateful for all I have already learned about companionship. Also, I have the nicest Elders in my Zone. They really care about us Sisters and are always there to love and support us in our role as a missionary no matter what we are doing or where we are. We are seeing off another district this next week which is sad but I am excited for them to do the work out in the field. We have not gotten any new districts but we hope to next week.

Back to Monday - in the evening Hermana Vance and I met a new Investigator Pablo. He has a  belief in God but does not believe in one church having the truth. The amazing things was that Hermana Vance and I both had the same impression to share that this Gospel of Christ has the fulness of the truth and we are so excited to teach him more about it in our next visit.

Tuesday was good day. We have this program called "Tall" that are grammar lessons for the language and I jist love. I love being able to gain more knowledge about the language. Later in the day we participated in the Teaching Resource Center where members of the church come to volunteer and we teach them whatever message we feel they need to hear in Spanish. They are fluent speakers and it was so nice to just be there and let the spirit guide us. We have no preparation and we only have Spanish scriptures, but it was amazing. I felt so blessed by the language and also very directed by the spirit. It was a wonderful and strengthening experience. Our Tuseday devotional was with Elder Zwick. He is a very powerful speaker. He was able to give the love of the 12 and First Presidency and he talked about building Christ-like attributes. It was wonderful as always. Then afterwards we had a testimony meeting with the district. They are so awesome and I love being surrounded by them everyday.  

Wednesday was an amazing day because I got my package. It felt so good to get some home-baked cookies and love from home. Thank you! Also, I love the Hermanas in my district they are awesome. We love to hang out and it is so great. We got two brand new Sisters in our room and it was fun to welcome them and be the experienced ones with answers. They are speaking Spanish as well so it will be a fun little adventure.  

On Thursday I had another interesting day. First it started out with a mini salon session. The other Sisters love that I can braid and do hair and they are taking advantage and it is really fun. Also I have learned that you always need to write impressions down. I get impressions for our investigators daily and hourly and if I don't write them down I can't use them. Also we have two investigators now, Julio and Pablo. We have only taught them once so there will be more to come in the future.

 I must say that the work gets hard sometimes. I was feeling relly discouraged on Thurday about not being as good as I could. Some of my fellow district members were having fun singing  and it just made me want to be better and have complete dedication to the Lord.  It is easy to get discouraged with yourself when you want to be perfect. When one gets discouraged about anything Satan starts working really hard. He likes to make me doubt being here and miss you all lots. So, some days are harder than others to be here because I love you all so much. So, I encourage you to keep to the faith because it is the only true and righteous way.

I love you all so much and here is a little Spanish for you.

(I can't write accents so it may be a little off but I just wanted you to see a little of what I do everyday)

Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro salvador y mi hermano. Yo se que el sufrio y murio para usted y para me. Yo se que Jose Smith was un profeta y que el restaurado el evangelio de Jesucristo en la tierra. Yo se que Presidente Thomas S. Monson es un profeta y el profeta. Estoy agradecida por la oprtunidad estar aqui a ensenar le evangelio. Gracias por todos su aman. Yo se que la iglesia es verdadero. En el nombre de Jseucristo Amen. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Cornwall

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Model Missionaries at the MTC Laundry

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District Temple Trip

New Sisters

Birthday Card for An Elder

The Traditional Pointing-At-The-Map Photo

Hermano Hepworth...

The View From Our Window

Guess Who I Ran Into? (Rachel's old companion Erin Petersen)

24 May 2013

Mail & Package From Jeff & Reesa

Well, I have officially completed a little over a week here at the MTC, but it has felt like much more time due to all the changes and developments I have made in this time with myself and those around me. It has been quite the roller-coaster, but all is wonderful - great even. I definitely was feeling tired after my p-day, ironically. The schedule is intense and I was definitely noticing it start to effect me. It is funny because you go to sleep every night exhausted and you kind-of wake up exhausted. It is hard, but now after a week I have really gotten used to the schedule.

We taught our first "investigator" on Friday after I wrote you. It was a crazy experience to teach someone about a gospel I don't know well in a language I don't know at all. It was hard, but my companion and I really tried to speak from the heart. It was amazing how the gift of tongues would just work on us. Now, I must say my perception of what the gift of tongues does compares to what it actually is is very different. I always assumed that the language would just come in the midst of my studying, but the problem is you have to put the work in for it to work. It does not just come and it definitely doesn't come immediately. Well, back to our "investigator" his name is Tito and he is very spiritual, but not very religious.  He knows and prays to God but does not agree with organized religion. It is amazing to really hunker down and focus on teaching this person. From my last letter you could see that they were definitely teaching us to focus on the investigator and that is what we tried to do. My companion and I combined all these different ideas and tried to make a cohesive lesson. It definitely took work. We also were the first ones to teach Tito, which we volunteered for, but we just did it and it went ok. We struggled really feeling the Spirit let alone communicating our thoughts. It was a good experience, but I realized that I had a lot of work to put in.  

On Saturday I was still tired and we had to teach Tito again. I was feeling horrible about this next lesson. I was frustrated on what to teach, I was frustrated on trying to have unity with my companion. Then right before the time we had to teach we decided to play rock-paper-scissors as a zone to decide who goes first. Of course I lost and so we had to just go and teach him. I did not have the right mind set and I was too worried about me to really have a good experience. Needless to say the lesson did not go so well. I felt like I didn't talk at all and that I couldn't do it. I talked to one of our Zone Resource teachers, who is a teacher that comes to help us when they don't have a district of their own, and he said that we, as a companionship needed to practice. I was so excited because this was the hope I had been needing. That there was something I could do to feel more confidence.

Then Sunday came - I was told it was a very enjoyable day and they were right. The weirdest thing was the schedule. So, to keep with our missionary time we had church at 7:30 in the morning. It was so weird to have it that early, then after Sacrament we had breakfast, then we had study time, then we had Relief Society which is for all the Sisters at the MTC. Sacrament was interesting because a lot of it is in Spanish and we all have to prepare talks for every Sunday because we could be called on to speak.  Relief Society was wonderful because they have guest speakers come to speak to us to teach our"lesson". The cool things was that the week before Janice Kapp Perry came to speak and she introduced two more verses to As Sisters In Zion and she actually changed the title to The Sisters In Zion. They are very missionary oriented and we got to sing them in the meeting and it just made me feel empowered to be supported through song as a missionary. Then we just have study time, doing anything we want and it was nice to not be pressured to do anything in particular. The evening was filled with two powerful meetings - the first was the Devotional. Mary Ellen Edmunds spoke to us and she was so funny and spiritual.  She has served on the RS board and has served 4 full-time missions. She was the perfect person to talk to us. She made us all feel really optimistic and to try to be optimistic about our missions and that Jesus is the perfect boss. Then we watched a talk from Elder Bednar on Christmas from here at the MTC about the character of Christ. I wish I could give you every detail but the summary of it was that we should be focused outward not inward. Our natural man wants us to focus on us when we are out on a mission, but in order to be a better missionary we must be like Christ and focus on others and what they need. That is the definition of Christ and it will take a long time but it will be worth it in the end. The best part is that he helps us to be better and so he just helps us all around.

We taught again on Monday and it was amazing. We felt the spirit and spoke the language to the best of our abilities and just felt great about it. The whole day I had just felt empowered that I was doing well. Then we had the lesson that night with Hermano Ferguson. After it I felt discouraged and Homesick but I talked it out with my companion and it was so nice to let her know what I was feeling and she was so understanding and empathetic. Companionships really are divinely instituted and I definitely got one of the best ones out there.  

On Tuesday I was charged and ready to go. We had an amazing class with Hermano Ferguson on the doctrine of Christ. It was in English and it was so nice to be able to understand what was going on and to be able to say my thoughts. Most days I don't feel like the oldest girl in my district but I am definitely one of the few people that are willing to bare their soul in class. It has taken me all three years of college to be able to comment on what is going on so I don't blame others for not being as talkative about things. The lesson was amazing. I really felt  encouraged by it all. Then we had a devotional by Elder Nash of the 70 and his wife and he spoke on the doctrine of Christ. I wish I could write everything he said because it was amazing but my general thoughts of the whole meeting were that the Lord knows what I am doing even if I don't and that I would feel incomplete if I didn't fulfill my personal call to serve. The talk was amazing and I truly needed it. Then we had a district testimony meeting that was so sweet. After that, by request all of the Sisters got blessings from the Elders. Each one of the Elders gave one of us a blessing and each of them were in the circle for ours. It was  such a powerful and wonderful and bonding experience. I am so glad to be surrounded by worthy priesthood holders and to be able to partake of the blessing of the priesthood.  

Wednesday was more of down day. Our lesson with Tito went well but we didn't improve in any way and the language was hard again but all was well. Then yesterday, Thursday, we had a wonderful class with Hermano Ferguson and a little surprise for our evening class. We got a new teacher. His name is Hermano Hepworth and it was one of the best lessons yet here at the MTC. Probably because most of it was in English.   I am so excited to work more with him. He helped us out so much with really using our time and resources and building our testimony. 

Life here at the MTC is amazing. Everyday brings ups and downs, but it is truly the perfect preparation to be out in the field. I realized on Thursday that I am so excited for the next 5 weeks and I am so excited for all the things I am going to learn. Thank you for all of your love and support. You all are the greatest. I think of you all every day and cannot wait until we are all reunited again. 

Love you with all of my heart.

Hermana Cornwall

p.s.   Thank you for all of the notes and emails, especially Jeff and Ressa for the package

Girls in our Zone - 4 of them left this week and it was really sad for all of us even tho' it was a short time

My District

Girls in our room - 2 left this week

 

Friday, May 17. 2013

Hermana Vance & Hermana Cornwall

Dear Family,

Hello from the MTC! Wow it has just been wonderful! Everything has been so great! 

So, now I will tell you everything I have done in the past few days. The first I did was to get wisked away by another missionary and taken to go get my missionary tag, key and all the little things that I would need. They definitely have the system down of how to get everyone's stuff out in an efficient manner. It was amazing how I instantly forgot all the sadness I had been feeling all day and that I just jumped in with both feet.Then we went ot drop off my stuff in my room. I was the first one there, besides two sisters who were already living in my room, and so then we went to go pick my big bag of materials. It has all the books and papers I need to be an effective missionary in Spanish. 

I then went to my classroom and met my teacher. His name is Hermono Ferguson. He served his mission in Uraguay and he is amazing. He spoke in Spanish right off. When I say spoke in Spanish I mean everything so we have been truly immersed. The first day of class was so great. Spanish slowly started coming back and it was just empowering. The one thing I really loved was our phrase SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE. It means to, as much as possible, speak in your assigned language. I am really excited to do it. It has definitely been the best part. The language is awesome, I love it. 

By the time we finished class my companion still had not come so I joined with the other sisters. To describe my district - there are four hermanas, all going to Santa Rosa and four elders all going to different places. Two are going to San Bernardino, one to the Tallahassee Florida! (Jeff- if you have any tips let me know) and the other I can't remember. Than we went to a meeting with MTC mission presidency and they gave great council and it was very fun to be in a room of brand new missionaries all on our first day. Then we had dinner which was very fun and then we just had personal time. All of us sisters decided to make our beds and unpack. By the way, I did not need my sheets yet either. Then low and behold my companion walked in. Her name is Hermana Vance. She is so wonderful and kind and truly is a strength to me all ready. She is from Alberta, Canada and is 20 years old. By the way, I think I am the oldest sister in my zone so far, but it honestly doesn't feel like it. 

My companion is great and I am really excited to get to know her even more. After our free time we had the Wednesday experiences of possible investigator situations that we could be put in. I was grateful for the opportunity to gauge how I would react because it gave me confidence that I am on the right track with how I teach others. 

Then we came back and tried to unpack. We met the other two sisters in our room - one is named Sister Singh and she is from New Zealand. They leave next week but it is still fun to get to know them. Then we met our zone leaders and they leave next week as well but they were really kind and helpful. All of my zone speaks Spanish so it is so nice to be able to ask them questions. The funny thing is that they seem so much older even though they aren't. There is something about your experience at the MTC that really makes you seem experienced. 

Then yesterday [Thursday], our first full day was great. We had some study time and then a workshop on people and your purpose. It was really nice to focus on the investigator, if that it is the one thing I have learned it is that the investigator is key to it all. Hermana Vance and I are really well matched and are pretty similar in wants and needs.  It is all working out really well. Then we had gym time and then we had more class. I love class because I just love my district and teacher. I get excited in class rather than discouraged. At times it is very hard to understand but then it all works out in the end. 

Then they told us that we would need to teach a lesson in Spanish today, Friday, to Tito, an investigator. All of us got very nervous and it is a lot of pressure but Hermana Vance and I have faith in our abilities and understand our weaknesses. Then, we met our Branch President and his counselors and they all seem really kind and generous and I am thankful to have such leaders. 

My companion and I are committed and determined to speak our language as much as possible. We are doing pretty good and I am glad for the experience. The more I speak it the better it gets. Then today was obviously my p-day. The first thing we did was go to the temple as a zone. I really enjoy being with them and we did an endowment session and it was nice to be able to just be peaceful in the temple. For fun afterwards we went and ate in the temple cafeteria and it was just fun to be with all the Hermanas. We took a zone picture but it is on my companion's camera so I will get it to you another day. 

Then my companion and I prepared for our lesson with Tito tonight. We are really trying to focus on the spirit of the lesson rather than the Spanish, but I am trying to do a little of both. In the temple today Spanish really flowed freely through my thoughts and it gave me confidence in my abilities. I am one of the few in my class who actually have experience so I really try to use that to my advantage. 

I must say, overall it has been a very enjoyable experience. The Lord truly blesses those that try to serve him. It is hard but it is wonderful. I am so grateful for the spirit's influence in my life and the blessing it is to have him constantly around me. I am filled with the spirit and ready to serve in anyway I can. I love you all so much and I hope that everything is going well in your families. My time is running out, but I love you all so much. The Church is true and I am thankful we all get to enjoy it's blessings together. I have faith that this is the place I am supposed to be and I am glad that I am actually doing it. I hope I get better at writing letters, but I will write a few by hand this week. Also I hope I answered all of your questions from 'Dear Elder' and thank you for all of the letters!

- Hermano Cornwall 

P.S. The transition has been great, it has been pretty natural and easy to conform to the missionary schedule so far but I am still it will have its ups and downs.

P.S. To Mom:   Mom: I love the MTC, it doesn't even feel like I am in Provo. I love, love, love, Hermano Ferguson.  He is so awesome and I have learned so much already. I am so excited to have him for 6 weeks...  The food is good. . Spanish is going amazing. I learn so much everyday. Until next time!

. .

Sister Cornwall's District  Hermanas - Whitely, Lemmon, Vance, Cornwall

Hermana Vance with Hermana Cornwall

Hermana Lemmon

Hermana Whitely

Hermana Cornwall's District

Hermana Cornwall with "a boy I know who teaches at the MTC"

Sister Cornwall Lands

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Sister Cornwall's sister, Katie Anderson (and family) picked her up at the Salt Lake airport.  She had a nice lunch which included Sister Cornwall's brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Reesa, at Jeff's school. Then Katie and family dropped her off at the MTC.  It was a fun experience for the kids to understand what the MTC (Missionary Training Center) is.  Katie said, "Elizabeth and I cried and cried as we drove away.  I explained to my kids that sometimes the things that Heavenly Father asks us to do are hard and we are so proud of Sister Cornwall for doing exactly what Heavenly Father wants her to do."