So, sorry if this email is shorter than the others. I had to write a lot of individual emails this week, and it sort of took a lot of time. but let me get to the good points with the time I have left!
This week was wonderful! I have never been so spiritually uplifted in my entire life. Christmas day was amazing here. Of course, it was a little rough being away from family, but the MTC does a good job at making it a special day. And quite honestly, it felt amazing to be right at the very heart of the meaning of Christmas-giving to others!
Okay, sorry I am writing so fast right now! Sorry if it doesn't make sense! So sunday was so funny. Each sunday for sacrament meeting, our branch president calls on two missionaries randomly to give a talk. We are notified of the topic during the week, and all of us just have to be prepared in case we are called on. So, I had a feeling it was going to be me (I'm psychic and all-and yes Nat, more psychic than you! haha, jokelang!) Anyway, but I also had to play the piano! We don't have a piano player in our branch! what? I thought everyone played the piano? So I piped up and told them I would be our pianist in church...they were upset that I kept quiet haha. :) So I though to myself..."Okay, I will be playing all the hymns and speaking?" This is funny because it seems every time I have been called to speak in my wards, somethings weird happens and I end up speaking, giving the closing prayer, AND teaching a lesson in Relief Society (when it rains, it pours for me when it comes to sharing in church, haha no joke) so anyway, Sacrament meeting comes about and I play the piano, then after the passing of the sacrament I go to take my seat, and the counselor says, "oh sister wright, don't even bother sitting down, you're speaking now." haha every one laughed! Then I told them how I knew I was going to speak because when I participate every ends up asking me to do everything.... Anyway, I spoke about the Book of Mormon. I think it actually went really well. I promise all of you that you're lives will be blessed if you read from its pages DAILY. Treasure the words of Christ! Okay, also, what's funny is at the end of the meeting the counselor came to the stand and also announced that I originally was supposed to give the closing prayer too! WHAT? haha!! wow, what's with that? but they chose someone else :)
Another cool experience. It may not sound very cool when reading it, but I can promise it was one of the coolest experiences. So, all the missionaries in the MTC were in the gym for a devotional (TONS OF MISSIONARIES), and then we stood to sing "As the Army of Helaman" WOW! I got the CHILLS! Everyone should go listen to that song right now. but see, as missionaries we change some of the words. Instead of singing, "We are as the Lord's missionaries", we sing "We are NOW the Lord's missionaries, to bring the World His truth. What an amazing experience to sing with a thousand missionaries! so wonderful, the spirit was so strong.
Okay, I finally got to go on a temple walk! The temple is still closed, but at we just walked to the gate! It was so refreshing to see the snow falling so gracefully! It was also wonderful to see the mountains. I miss them. Every evening at 5:15 pm I try to look out the window at the beautiful sunset. It's beautiful from our window. I miss the beauty of nature. That part has been rough, because the MTC is so enclosed that you can't see the outside world. Of course I don't care about the cars, and streets, and people....but the beauty of the temple against the mountains and sky is something I had missed! I was so grateful that it was snowing when we went too. It really was sort of a tender mercy. I was starting to feel kinda cooped up. I can't wait to be out in the Philippines! Oh yeah, wait lets see...I LEAVE IN 2 WEEKS! Ah! so crazy that I'll be on the other side of the world-literally.
Times up! Love you all!
Love,
Sister Wright
Me and Sister Erickson (the other STL) by our Senior Door picture! We'll pass it on to the next oldest district after we leave.
Opening my Christmas stocking!
Mom I LOVED my necklace! Made me cry!
Our Manger Scene
Me and Sister Butler loved our Santa hats! Thank you Emilee, Dal, Kenna, Kaela, and Dylan!
Me and Sister Butler on our temple walk, what a beautiful day!
Me out on the temple grounds!