Monday, July 25, 2011

I can't pull the wagon

Hey Ya'll!

We've been learning Nebraskan in our classes. I almost have it down. I can pray and recite the first vision in Nebraskan. So it's coming along really well. Just so you know, I only have 30 minutes to read all of the emails and then write to you. So it is probably best that you ALL send me handwritten letters or dear elders and then I can respond with a regular letter or just do a little bit of email. Also, becuase i have so little time, i am going to be less concerned about spelling and typos.
I absolutely love it here!!!!! It is such an amazing place. My district is so much fun. Our branch president told them to all stand up whenever we enter the room and when we sit down at the cafeteria. They are going to be amazing men when they get back. They are a lot of fun to be around. I know everyone probably says this, but I think we have the best district here. We haven't had any problems and we all get along well and are progressing very well with the teaching.

On Friday night, I think, we had our first lesson. It was a mock investigator and our teacher played him. But we treated it like it was real. It was the coolest thing ever. We were so worried about what we would say and we kept running around in circles. Finally I read my companions D and C 84 I think verse 85. Where it says not to take thought of what to say before hand and that the spirit will prompt you. So we studied what we thought we should know, but didn't have a script. Then we got there and we let the spirit lead the lesson. He was a media referral who wanted a BOM so we gave it to him, and told him to read it and why it was true and experiences we have had with it. Then we talked about God's love for him and I ended up saying a prayer with him asking God to help him feel his love. It was really cool and I was totally bawling. We comitted him to baptism. The elders were really impressed. Then our teacher came up to us afterwards and said that the whole day he was fasting for something special and that night in our lesson with him, he said the spirit that we brought was so strong that he was able to get an answer to his prayers. He helped us to know that even if we aren't saying the exact right things, if we have the spirit with us then the spirit can teach them what God would have them know. That's the cool thing about missionary work. It's not like anything else in this world. We are God's missionaries and he will help us in everything that we do to progress his message along. Really cool.

We had a fireside last night with someone from the Misisonary Department. He works for the Homefront commercials and so he showed us all the classic "Mormon" commercials. They were SO SO funny I loved it. Then at the end, he had us all sing along with a recording of MOTAB singing come come ye saints. It was amazing. He told us how we were all pioneers, since we were sacrificing for God. and that we would all return home honorably. On the last verse we all just decided to stand up. No one directed us to. It was so so powerful. I don't think there was a dry eye among the 2006 of us there. It was amazing. I honestly don't know how anyone could leave this place with all the experiences you get here. It really is a special thing and something that I will always cherish. I am already sad that I only have 3 1/2 weeks left.

After the fireside, we watched Legacy. I haven't seen it in a while and I could NOT stop laughing. The part where she says I can't pull the wagon. "If we ever meet again it will be Zion to me! and then the best part... where there is the oooing choir in the background music and David is slowing the horses down and it looks like he is singing with the music. ahahhahaha classic. I loved it. You guys should watch it again.

I got called to be the Coordinating Sister on Thursday night after we met with our branch president. Apparently I just work with the Zone Leaders, but I'm just over the girls. I'm excited and it will be a fun way to get to know the girls in our branch when they come on Wednesday. Right now it is just me and my two companions.

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting I played the piano. They haven't had piano players in there for a while and so they were all so happy to have me there. Everyone here is really really nice. All the Elders open the door for us, let us cut them in the lunch line, and are just not your normal 19 year old boys. It's really great. I like it alot. I think every boy should come here. They will become better men and they will learn to respect women. It's awesome. I also feel like in the 5 days that I"ve been here that I have already grown so much. I feel the spirit so strong in my life. I recognize the love Heavenly Father has for me and for his children.

Yesterday we watched Music and the Spoken word which was all about pioneers. It made me and sister ford and sister belka SO excited to serve in Winter Quarters. That is going to be amazing. We don't start that training until the last week though.

Thank you for all of your letters! Today was the first day that I didn't get at least 1 dear elder.
P days are awesome. and you can take naps. that's really really great. Waking up early hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. But I wish I would fall asleep faster. I just think about everything I learned in class and then scriptures start popping into my head. Which is really nice, because then i can use them, but it's annoying when I'm so tired and want to just sleep.
I'm still getting along great with my companions. I really do love it here. I'm excited for Jared to get here, He will do great.

I would love to hear more from all of you!!! Please write me more letters, they really do help out a ton. They are just a nice pick me up for the day. I like that a lot. I will send you a handwritten letter later where I can write you more about what I have done this week. I know you probably think this is enough, but there is just so much that happens here. plus I have to use that cute paper at some point.
I love you all very much. I miss you, but it helps a lot to be here and to know that I have your support. I am so glad that we are a family and we have the gospel in our lives. That is a such a huge blessing. Well, the time is flashing, so I better get this sent off.  I love you all!

Love,
Sister Proctor

Monday, July 18, 2011

Dear Readers

Dear Readers,


This is my last blog post for 18 months. I'm getting set apart Tuesday night at 8 p.m. and that means no movies, no cell phone, no facebook and no blog for 18 months. It's gonna be good, and I am so excited. My blog will continue to be "Sincerely Martha" however, it will be my letters from my mission, as my mom will be posting them on this blog. 


I am so excited, I mean look:




Who wouldn't be?


I know it's the exact place I need to be and I can't wait to start this next chapter of my life. 


Feel free to write me, I would love to hear from you. I also have really cute stationary that I can write you back on, so that's reason enough! Here is my address:


MTC:
Sister Martha Proctor
MTC Mailbox # 252
NE-OMA 0816
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793



We will update it with my other address once I get to Nebraska after my 4 weeks in the MTC. 


Also, feel free to use dearelder.com. It's super easy, and it's free! Also, they print them off the same day and I get to read them. So for all of you hard core writers, you could write everyday :)


Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone who is supporting me. It means a lot. I'm excited to go, but that doesn't mean that I won't miss everyone here like crazy. I look forward to hearing from you and then seeing you all in 18 months!


Sincerely,
Martha