Ahh, the dawn of another Preparation Day, almost literally. I'm sure I told you all last week that we get to start the morning at the temple, as a district. This week we did Initiatories. The blessing promised in the temple are so much more powerful as missionaries.
Mom got what must have been one of the scarier phone calls of her life yesterday morning. I've been plagued with a brutal toothache, courtesy (I suspect) of an old root canal gone bad, so yesterday morning we went to the Health Clinic to get a dentist appointment. Imagine my surprise when the clerk picked up the phone and suddenly said "Hi, may I please speak to the parents of Sister Chelsea Turvaville? This is the MTC Health Clinic. (pause) She's fine". NOT FAIR for either party. Imagine that you're a missionary in incredible pain, and without warning someone is talking to your mom (scaring her half to death, I'm sure) three feet from you. Everything worked out, and I'll be going to the dentist this morning. I hope to return sans one VERY PAINFUL TOOTH. Mom, I hope that you receive no more phone calls like that.
On a brighter (much brighter) note, WE GOT OUR FIRST BAPTISMAL COMMITTMENT THIS WEEK!!! Sort of. Role play is one of the most effective tools they use here at the MTC. Our teachers pose as investigators that they taught on their missions, and we teach them as companionships two or three times a week. I take the role play very seriously, since this is the program devised by the Brethren to prepare us for the mission field. Sister Messer and I have struggled with, prayed for, studied for, prayed for, and prayed for Elaine. We also prayed for her. Last Thursday we were stumped as to what we should teach her; none of our lesson plans felt right. We found a couple of passages that we knew we wanted to share, but we didn't know how or when. We prayed again, and when we went in to teach the Spirit took over. We knew what to say, how and when to say it. I finished with Mosiah 18: 9-11ish, which asks "What have you against being baptized?". Elaine felt the Spriti, too, and she finally accepted our invitation to follow Jesus Christ. We still have some big hurdles with her (she lives with boyfriend, for one), but she has a testimony. And yes, this is all pretend, but the Lord wants us to be good missionaries, so He allows us to practice now teaching by the Spirit.
All work and no play makes missionaries a little loopy, and as our district gets closer (it's bizarre to think that we've only known each other for a couple of weeks) we also goof off a little more. Gym time = play time; MTC four square is where it's at. Our District Leader, Elder Thompson, regales us with all kinds of horrible puns and knock-knock jokes. Here's one of my favorites for the men folk out there. Roll up your tie all the way to your caller. When you drop it, which part will reach the bottom first, the skinny part or the fat part? Let it go.... It's a tie! Hilarious, right?
Grrrrr there's too much to tell and not enough time to tell it in. Many thanks to every one who has sent me letters this week. I can't express how much a letter or note can bouy you up (I can't spell, sorry) at the end of a long day. I'm glad to hear that Linnea is doing well at Anasazi. Can I send her snail mail? Dad, thanks for my GRE scores! I think I might take it again for the sake of my quantitative reasoning score.
We fly to Toronto next Tuesday at 5 am- I don't know if I'll be able to call from airport or not, but I won't be able to send email next week. I love you all!
Sister Turvaville
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