Week 1: The Beginning!

Abbi's first week at the MTC was crazy, to say the least! She dropped off her bags in her room and they put her to work right away! She taught her first lesson in Tagalog the morning after she entered the MTC.  She is learning so much about herself, the Tagolog language, and what it means to become a disciple of Christ.  Her perspective has changed so much in the short (I'm sure she doesn't feel that way) week about the opportunity she has to serve a mission isn't for her.  "I am here to learn to teach, understand, and speak the best Tagalog for the people in the Philippines so that they will come closer to Christ and that they will be able to find peace in his rest."  It's pretty amazing to hear about everything Abbi's learning!

Highlight from Week 1:

One of the teachers introduced himself in Tagalog and then showed me to my books and told me to learn... I think.

Goodbye for a year and a half!

 

I love seeing this girl wear a missionary name tag!

Roomies!

Hello Family!!! (and friends) :D
Mahal po kayo! I love  you all!!
So I found out this week that the rule for e-mail has been changed and missionaries can now e-mail whomever they would like, as long as they do not live in their mission boundries, the rumors are true!! Cool right??  Sorry if this e-mail is spastic, we only have 30 minutes to write and I'm trying to hurry because I have so much to say! :) 

So mom and dad, you dropped me off at the curb side and an elder took me to a sister who took me to a room and they handed me a bunch of papers and then the sister helped me with my bags and took me to my room, left my bags there and then escorted me to my classroom, dropped me off with my "teachers" who were not speaking English, and then left. One of the teachers introduced himself in Tagalog and then showed me to my books and told me to learn... I think. 

I then met my Kasama (companion) who's name is Sister Greene, she is SUPER cute, from Long Beach California and loves her Family. She just found out that her boy friend back home has committed to baptism and she can't hold it in right now. But basically, I was thrown into the Tagalog language and I have been struggling to learn and understand but I know that as I trust in my Savior and turn to him, it will all come in due time. I already love my MTC district, they are so supportive. 

We taught a lesson in Tagalog Thursday morning. Talk about nerve wrecking!! But it was all good, his name is Romvi and we taught him by just reading from the book and then felt like crap for doing it so then next lesson on Saturday we prepared a lot better and were able to ask questions and respond in the best Tagalog that we could. The spirit was definitely a lot stronger and we learned a lot more from the second lesson we taught. 

So needless to say, this has been a very stressful week and I have learned so much about what Heavenly Father has in store for me. I know that I am here at the Provo MTC to learn Tagalog, but not for me. I am here to learn to teach, understand, and speak the best Tagalog for the people in the Philippines so that they will come closer to Christ and that they will be able to find peace in his rest. 

This last Sunday was Easter, What a treat it was to be able to be in the MTC on Easter Sunday! The talks were all amazing and no joke, they all quoted Mosiah 3:19 because that is our goal to give up our natural desires and passions and come unto Christ and become more like him, because none of us will be able to live with him again until we have changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  So, Sunday morning Sacrament meeting is very hard to put my emotions into words but i will try, There were over 3000 missionaries in the building and in the over flow, who got the sacrament. The power that is in that many disciples of Christ being in one room, is unfathomable I wish you all could have been there to feel the presence of our Savior with us as we partook of the sacrament. 
Then, Bishop and Sister Causse from the Presiding Bishop spoke to us on the true meaning of Easter and how the Savior's sacrifice is essentially our message that we share as missionaries. We are invited to GO and SEE Jesus and the promise is that we will KNOW that he lives. The Savior has the ability to love everyone perfectly because of the Atonement which he endured for our sake. I know that we can know for ourselves, what the Savior did for us. Bishop Causse said that Love is the most motivating principle in life. It was inherited through living with Heavenly Father before this life. I think we have all felt that in our lives? From family and loved ones as they love and take care of us but just imagine how much more love the Savior has for each of us.
OH! Sister Sheri Dew came for the Sunday night fireside as well. She is a very powerful speaker and she also testified of the Savior as well. I know that if we find out for ourselves who the Savior is and what he did for us then we don't have to wait around and hope for second chances, we can take our only chance through the Savior and become knew through him. 

This week, I learned the hard way that we can not face this life and trials alone and if we try, we will be sorely disappointed. I have come just a little bit closer to my Savior this week through the challenge of learning Tagalog. I love this gospel and I know more than ever, that it is true.
Sorry again if this email is a mumble jumbled mess but know that I love you all and I think of you often. Thank you so much for your prayers and letters of love and encouragement. It helps more than you will ever know!
Love, Sister Rossberg!