Four weeks in the MTC already! I should get my travel plans sometime this week and then I'm set to leave for Africa two weeks from today! With every week that goes by, time seems to run faster and faster. Last Monday I found myself in disbelief it was already Monday, this week I'm incredibly suspicious as to what happened to all the rest of the days of the week and why I've just had two Mondays back to back ;) But seriously, it's insane how fast time has gone by here. But the growing relationship we have as a district is a testament of all the time we've spent together. Although the Elders have been late to meet us or just haven't showed up at all on multiple occasions this week because they take naps without setting alarms, we give them a pass because they're all still eighteen and "young-uns" need there sleep, after all they're all still growing boys (or at least they hope so because they're all still shorter than me).
The thrills of leadership are not actually all that thrilling. It usually just entails a lot of people thinking we know more/ are more capable than we actually are. Because our STL "phone" looks like something from a history museum, we've had an exciting time learning to operate it. The first time it ever rang, Sister Forsyth had a proper heart attack and opened the phone exclaiming "flip me" (it's a Scottish thing), of course she didn't realize that opening the phone answered the call, so there was a very confused secretary on the other end. Luckily, there's been minimal bumps in the road and we've figured things out along the way, for example: if you are attending your first week of Branch Council, you may be asked to give a thought on a scripture you've never read. It's a good thing my high school experience involved a lot of winging it so I'm nearly a pro at it now. Also, we finally know who our Zone Leaders are, or were- they were released so now we get to teach some new Zone Leaders the way of orienteering. Strange how at the MTC, a single week of seniority somehow makes you the "experienced one".
The idea of being in a trio is intimidating, I always figured I'd prefer just one companion and that three people would be too difficult, especially based on some of the stories and opinions of others I've heard. But being in a trio is actually pretty nice, it makes teaching way less stressful. We manage each other really well so that we stay focused and actually make it places on time. Also, Sister Goldrup is practically my private tutor; she spoke Spanish fluently before coming so she caught onto the Portuguese way fast. She is very charitable and helpful to the less fortunate (me). My language skills are improving, as slow as that improvement may be. Still, it's a miracle I can teach and testify at all, plus understanding has become a lot easier too. So I'm not fluent, but that's what living in a third world country without English speakers is for.
I have found my calling in life. When I return home, I plan on being the first ever Olympic Four Square Gold Medalist. I'm kidding of course, but that is an Olympic sport I would totally watch! I probably haven't played four square since the sixth grade but I was sick of embarrassing myself at volleyball, so I've entered into the very serious and competitive world of Four Square. I was King for like seven minutes today so I guess you could say I'm ready for the major leagues. But in all seriousness, it's nice playing a sport where my own lack of ability/ talent doesn't bring down a team and it's hard for people to get angry or overly competitive when you're literally playing a game selectively found on elementary school playgrounds. Of course, that doesn't always stop people from getting a little haughty/ smug. The title of this email is, in fact, inspired by a comment given by Sister Howell to our old Zone Leader who got a little too prideful of his skills and celebrated with some dance moves that were so 2016. But it was all in good fun, believe it or not we have fun sometimes here at the MTC (it's mostly fun tbh).
Finally I will leave you with a couple of my favorite things I heard this week:
-When we endure to the end, we don't just go around and around obeying the same commandments and renewing our covenants, we progress and become more perfected in Christ every time, so really it's less like a circle and more like we are spiraling/ coiling upward.
-People don't remember what you say to them, they remember how you make them feel.
-Happy Always, Content Never
-"You don't light a candle to look at the candle, you light a candle so you can see the world" -Elder Wilson
-Matthew 19:26
-Teach a person not a lesson.
-Obedience is the first law of everything.
-A testimony of the Book of Mormon is the foundation of a testimony for the full Gospel because the entire Book of Mormon testifies of Christ.
-When we endure to the end, we don't just go around and around obeying the same commandments and renewing our covenants, we progress and become more perfected in Christ every time, so really it's less like a circle and more like we are spiraling/ coiling upward.
-People don't remember what you say to them, they remember how you make them feel.
-Happy Always, Content Never
-"You don't light a candle to look at the candle, you light a candle so you can see the world" -Elder Wilson
-Matthew 19:26
-Teach a person not a lesson.
-Obedience is the first law of everything.
-A testimony of the Book of Mormon is the foundation of a testimony for the full Gospel because the entire Book of Mormon testifies of Christ.
Whelp that's it for today, I'm probably forgetting something, but that's cool. Anyway, I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week!
-Sister Bradley
This mornings Temple Trip.
"Sister Bradley can take it, she has like selfie sticks for arms"~ She who selfies, always looks the worst (a haiku about my life).
Just gaining that few extra pounds before I go to Africa and sweat out twenty percent of my water weight.
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