Sister Abby Fillmore - Oregon, Salem Mission: Week 1 - Gosh guys, it's the best in the MTC!

Oh my heavens!

Guys it's almost been a week! Tomorrow will mark my first week of being here. How fast and how slow it's gone Haha. But I would not change anything! This week has been full of humility, diligence, relying on the Holy Ghost more than ever, knowing who the Holy Ghost is to me, knowing that this mission is NOT about me!! Knowing how I can turn out word instead of in word during hard times. Its been a struggle but the best thing ever! I seriously can't believe I get to teach and learn about the power of this gospel and the importance of a relationship with Christ to people here in the MTC (not going to lie...its scary) and in Oregon (I CANT WAIT).

My teachers are the best! Brother Henderson and Brother Tripp have taught me so much about teaching in the right way and understanding doctrine. The first full day of class was the best! I could actually understand what was going on in scripture verses!! My whole life I have had trouble understanding what certain verses mean in certain topics and stories. But today that all changed! That was definitely a tender mercy. It made me and Sister Green (a sister in my district) so excited! We got so excited that a teacher helper noticed and called us out and said, "It makes me tear up seeing the fire and excitement in you sisters. Because that's how it should be. The Gospel is the path way home!" That's a big thing that I learned the first couple of days!

DISTRICT!

Such a stellar district! Not joking. We have 2 Sister companionships and 5 Elder companionships. So 14 of the best missionaries you will find...just kidding ;). Its so nice being in a class where we all want to share and have awesome insights. It feels like I'm in institute/seminary on steroids!!

My companion is the best!!!

Her name is Sister White and she's the cutest! She's from Loa, Utah ;) if you don't know where that is, your not alone...I didn't at the Beginning. It's by capital reef. She is so nice, sweet and so in tune with the spirit and has amazing insights. It's super easy to plan lessons with her.

Gosh guys it's the best in the MTC!

I feel a little more meek, loving and motivated as a missionary. Temptations aren't as troubling as they used to be. My mind doesn't wonder during class like they did during school and I'm not wanting to be looking at my phone. It's such a relief.

Food is ok ;) miss my moms cooking for sure. Don't worry I am eating healthy, luckily I have a companion who is a healthy person.

For fast Sunday I was hoping they would have my moms roast and mashed potatoes. It wasn't my moms but they did serve roast and potatoes (dad your potatoes are WAY BETTER) They could learn a thing or two from your mash potato skills ;)

The schedule is good! I haven't had a hard time waking up early. I love class, teaching people is so fun and SO SCARY!! I have had to really rely on the spirit more then I have in my whole life here in the MTC!

I have seen so many people from school and family. It's the best.

I have seen Elder Jeppson (my cousin, Hunter)

Sister Cooper (friend from HS)

Sister Cummings (a close friend of mine when I was 4-5 years old from way back in the day when we lived in Gig Harbor. Small world. )

Sister Hacking (friend from work)

And some other friends from school and EFY.

Grandma and Grandpa Fillmore, I have yet to find Mike and Char. Still on the look out ;)

Fun/funny moments

Well let's just say, it's pretty hard not saying guys to every one and saying elders. I can do sisters...cant do elders. I am working on it of course. But most funniest thing that has happened so far is calling an elder a sister. Yep it happened and he called me out on it (in the nicest way possible), hehehe.

The Elders are so funny. One of the Elders on the first say was introducing him self and said "I am king of the nerds" he was so confident it was the best. He's so awesome.

Me and Sister White forgetting our keys to our room and being locked out of our room and every building. Not joking we prayed and had faith that some one would be there to open the gym doors for us. AND THERE WAS!! It was so cool to see that even in those small moments you think are dumb God is totally there.

TRC TIME IS THE BEST TIME!!

Teaching has been the greatest blessing. I have learned so much. It's so much fun and scary all at the same time. We taught our first TRC Monday which is some one who comes into the MTC looking and interested in the church. They could be acting or a real person seeking to know more. Our TRC is Elizabeth! She is amazing. She's tough to crack but has so much love and desire I can tell! ;) so the first time we met Elizabeth was a little rough. We were excited to see her and meet her but the invite and lesson was a little rough. So me and sister white prayed and planned as much as we could for Monday's lesson. Well Monday's lesson went a little crazy. We were excited but nervous. We told her basically about Christ and our relationship with him/atonement/God and how he loves us. By the time we left me and sister white felt a mix of emotions. I was feeling like it went ok, by the end it got better. I felt like we talked about to many topics and she didn't really understand. Well fast forward to last night. We have to take a survey about how she (Elizabeth) thought the lesson went. We had hope and put the most reasonable answers we could, Haha. Well 20min later we got an email comparing the 2 answers between us and E. Holy cow! Her thoughts were way higher in a positive way. She actually felt closer to Jesus christ more than we thought. She learned and understood more than we thought she did. How amazing is that?! That moment testified to me that God had all control over everything. He will put the words we say to their understanding! For me this was a huge success even though it was small. Little by little. 2 Nephi 31:3 is so important to understand.

Any ways long story. But it just touched my heart and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we got to watch this amazing video. A video that basically all missionaries watch in the first week of arriving here. It's called character of christ. I couldn't wait to watch it because I was told before my mission about it. Gosh it was the best. I learned. I was humbled and so ready to work harder! My mission isn't about me, it's about him.

I learned that I can not and will not live off of borrowed light.

I learned That everything Christ did while here on this earth was for others. Not him. When the natural man turns in, he turns out.

Brothers and Sisters I really challenge you this week and for the rest of your life to work on that. Work on turning out ward when life gets tough and when we want to think about our selves. Don't, don't do it.

We want to become like Jesus. Then do as he did. Turn outward. Don't worry about what you want and need. Worry about what others need. Be a proactive server.

We need to be converted. Having a testimony is so important and great. But the most important and the thing God worries about is that we are converted unto him. Not the church. Him. The difference between testimony and conversion is having the knowledge and believing in Christ. (Alma 23: 5-6) shows that the people not only had knowledge of Christ but they believed in him. That's conversion.

When we are converted we will not fall away from the church. Elder Bednar promised. And I could feel the spirit tell me that.

Hearing that, this past Sunday really stuck out to me that I am suppose to be here. That without becoming a missionary I would have never heard that message. And I needed that message. Not only for being a missionary. But for living life after the mission.

This message I get to teach isn't only for those I get to teach here and in Oregon. It's for everyone. Including me. We invite ALL to come unto christ. Not just investigators. everyone. That's why we aren't aloud to call those people we are teaching investigators. Because we are all invited to come unto Christ.

I love you all

Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.

Good luck with everything you do this week. Remember to involve him in the things you are doing. Its will make it a bit easier. Trust me...it works;)

Love you,

Sister Fillmore