Month: October 2017

I look super awkward in any picture ever taken of me but I know my mom would be mad if I didn’t send any 😂

 

   

  

Hola! This week has been incredible, and I’m so glad I’m here at the MTC.

For starters, I’ve run into a lot of my friends from BYU this week, which is so much fun. It’s awesome to know that so many of my friends are making good choices and want to share the gospel.

One other thing–I still don’t have my reassignment yet, but hopefully I’ll have it soon! The MTC president and his wife sat by my companion and I at lunch the other day, and that’s what he told me haha. So we’ll see.

I’ll tell you all a little bit more about my companion now. Her name is Hermana Baltazar. She already served for 7 months in the Philippines while she was waiting for her visa for El Salvador! She speaks 4 other languages, not including Spanish, which she is learning now. It’s really nice to have a companion who already knows so much about what it’s like to be a missionary and how to teach a good lesson to an investigator. I’ve taught 5 lessons so far, all in Spanish. It’s crazy how fast I’m learning at the MTC! I know I still have a long way to go, but just a week ago I could barely say a sentence in Spanish, and now I’m praying, teaching lessons, and having casual conversations in Spanish. It’s so awesome. I know that God is helping all of the missionaries here prepare to spread Christ’s gospel.

One incredible thing that happened this week was that Elder Stevenson from the Quorum of the 12 came to give our devotional on Tuesday. He talked a lot about Preach My Gospel and about how to develop Christlike attributes. And I got to sing in the MTC choir at the devotional, which was broadcast to all the other MTCs! Singing Hope of Israel with hundreds of other missionaries was so powerful. I think that music is a super effective way to help people feel the Spirit. There’s special musical numbers here as well, so I signed up to audition for one! I have no clue if I’ll make the cut because there’s so many talented missionaries here, but I’ll let you know after my audition next week.

So far, I love all of my teachers and all of the other sweet missionaries I’ve had the opportunity to meet here. Even though it is sometimes difficult to be thrown out of my comfort zone and to be without a lot of things that I used to have, I am certain that I’m in the right place, doing the right thing. There could be no substitute for the way I feel when I’m learning about the gospel of Christ and sharing it with others. I am especially grateful for the temple, which I have the opportunity to attend every week while I’m here.

I’d like to encourage you all to read one of my favorite scriptures that I focused on this week! It’s 2 Nephi 31:19-20. I love this scripture because it’s about enduring to the end, and it’s so inspiring. I know that if we all keep pressing forward, we will be blessed for our faith and fortitude.

Love,
Hermana O’Barr

Hola! Saturday’s will be my P-day in the MTC so that’s when you can expect emails from me for the next 6 weeks.

I got here on Wednesday afternoon, after a long morning of flying. It was a super overwhelming first day because so much information was thrown at me (mostly en Espanol). But that evening we got to practice teaching lessons, in a group setting, and all of my stress just melted away because I was reminded why I’m here and why I want to serve a mission.

It is still difficult adjusting to a rigorous schedule and having limited communication with my family, but the Spirit is just amazing here and I’m so grateful to be a missionary.

I’ve already been asked lots of questions about mi companera, but she just arrived last night from the Philippines. She has already served 7 months there, while she was waiting on visas for the US and for El Salvador. Even though I barely know her, it such a miracle that she’s here, and I am REALLY grateful that she’s my companion. I promise I’ll get a picture with her for next week!

I’m learning so much at the MTC, both about the gospel and about my mission language. It’s amazing to be here, training to be able to bring a message of hope and peace to other people. I love my district and the people I’ve met (including 5 other missionaries who are supposed to go to Puerto Rico!)

If you have any more questions you can email me today. I might be able to respond since I have an iPad while I’m here in the MTC.

Love,
Hermana O’Barr

Hey everyone, this is just a test email to make sure I have everyone who wanted to be on my list, and anyone who doesn’t want to be on here can be taken off. I also wanted to thank all of you who came to my party or came to say goodbye yesterday. I appreciate all of you so much and I’m really grateful for all of your support. And thanks for wanting to keep up with my adventure! The next time you hear from me, I will be in the MTC!

Love,
Hermana O’Barr