One Month Down

This week was pretty good! I'm getting a little sick of the MTC (Missionary Training Center). It's getting old and annoying. One of my friends, Ben Allred, just arrived last night, bringing me a few things I realized I should have brought, which was nice.  He is going to Uganda.  Ethiopia was part of the Uganda mission until 2020.  However, they speak English in Uganda.  So, although I have been here a month already, Ben will leave two weeks before me.

Here is a breakdown of my week (most days) 

Sep 6 

Today was really good! I feel like I am picking up Amharic very well! Still much more to learn, and that will require more work. Not a lot is going on today other than class; fast Sunday is tomorrow. This is my first Fast Sunday since being here.  Fast Sunday is a day that we skip two meals and use the time to pray and think of Heavenly Father and Jesus, as well as ask for help and blessings for something we feel is important to us and may be in need of our prayers and Heavenly Fathers guidance and help. Examples may be a sick friend or family member, someone struggling, or peace and help to get through a trial, etc.  We also take the money we would have spent on those two meals and give that to our church as a “fast offering” to help people who may need financial assistance.  This is distributed by local leaders through direction from the church leadership.

Sep7 

Sunday!!!!!!! 

The best day of the week, honestly, and one of the greatest days with my Savior Jesus Christ! Being Fast Sunday, I managed to survive it, and I have just the evening until I go to sleep.   I will be honest; this is the first time in my life that I have taken the opportunity to truly fast.  Meaning I started my fast on Sunday evening after dinner with contemplation and prayer, and ended my fast tonight, Sunday, right before dinner.  At home, I would not eat breakfast and then run home after church and eat completely famished then.  Today, this was a challenge for me.  But I feel that I have a better understanding of what truly fasting means.  The only negative thing is that I was so hungry by the time dinner came, and when I got to the cafeteria to eat, the dinner being served was TERRIBLE!  However, I lived to write this, so life will go on.  Another interesting thing that happened today is that my companion, who is from Zambia, did not have the opportunity to have his patriarchal blessing before coming on his mission.  There are several African missionaries for whom this is the case.  When we arrived, the MTC arranged for them to receive their patriarchal blessings while in the MTC.  He was able to receive his today! It was amazing and made me read mine again, and it was honestly the best time to be by myself because it made life a whole lot clearer.  I sat outside the room while he was with the patriarch. 

This video is of me and my companion practicing introductions.

Sep 8 

Today was a really good day! We took a test, and I got 19/36 on stuff we were learning.... I need to work a little harder... but other than that, it was good! 

Sep 9

Russel M. Nelsons birthdayyyyyyyyyyyy, WOW! I can’t believe he is 101; the lord is giving him blessings. Today was good and went by really fast. I am super happy with how well my memorization and Amharic are going. I taught like a 5-minute lesson today! I am loving missionary work!

Sep 10, 

Honestly, today was kind of hard, and I’m very tired. That's about it. Hahah

Sep 11

Today was good! We went to the temple for the last time while we are here! It will be closed for cleaning and will not open again until the week I leave. I doubt I will get to go that week, and that makes me sad. It was really nice! I listened in Amharic! It was hard to pay attention, and I didn’t get everything hahaha, but I will get it, I promise! I will miss the temple, though. ቻው 

Highs:

Almost halfway through the MTC experience, and I have been a missionary for an entire month!!!!!!!  I met another Ethiopian here! Actually, he was adopted like me; however, he was adopted by an Ethiopian family that lived in Ethiopia.  They then moved to the US for a few years, and then back to Ethiopia, and then back to the US.  He was called to Kenya, not back to Ethiopia like me.  It was great meeting him, and along with him, I have made a lot of friends.  I love that about this place.

Lows.... being here for another 5 weeks..... I just want to be in Ethiopia 😭😭 

And I almost broke my finger.... That’s a story of stupidity.... but I’m fine. I think I just bruised it a little. I can still move it. It is just sore, and I have a huge blood blister on my finger. It has been 5 days, and it is feeling better.

This week's Zoom photos:

Meanwhile, in Ethiopia in my mission, the FIRST EVER FSY ( For The Strength Of Youth) was held.

Sister Cowley, our mission leader, wrote:

66 Youth age 14-17yrs have arrived to participate in Ethiopia’s first-ever FSY

We are so excited for them, and so are they.

This will be a week never to be forgotten as they come closer to Christ and make new friends. Our YSA leaders are doing an amazing job, and the youth are beaming! Here are some pictures to share and a fun video.