Sister Eveland: Week 2 in the MTC

We got another letter from Sister Eveland Today.  Looks like we should get one every monday.  This is her p-day.

Kumusta, pamilya at mga kaibigan.

The things people have said about the MTC are true. The Days are long but the weeks go by fast. The food is alright, I pretty much stick to the soups and salads, they aren't too bad. The Spirit is the strongest I have felt it in a very long time, and it is only by the gift of tongues that we are able to learn a new language!

This week was mostly spent working on Lesson One: The Restoration of the Gospel. Also working with my kasama and helping her on her teaching skills and how to ask good questions when meeting with an investigator. I am so glad I had all that practice with Sister Gainer and Sister Stradling. I feel like I am a bit a head of the game which is really good, because this way I have been able to help my kasama out a lot and help her get over come her quietness. We had our first Wika(language) Task this week. I totally blew it, I forgot everything in Tagalog that I had learned about getting to know someone and testify to them. But I have worked on it and it is coming now. We also taught our first 30 minute lesson on the Restoration (in English), I think Sister Brown and I did a pretty good job. I was proud of her because she used some of the techniques we had been working on during companionship study. We have to teach the same lesson on Thrusday and I think in abuot three weeks we start teaching 30 min lessons in Tagalog. It's still kind of crazy to think that I am going to become fluent in this langue. I am so glad I took Spanish last semester at BYU-Idaho, the two languages are similar and it has helped to have a basic knowledge of spanish.

Sister Schardt got back from isolation on Weds, I'm not going to lie it took a bit getting use to going back to just the two of us. It was a bit rough for a day or two, but things are looking up! I had an interview with my Branch President yesterday, he gave me some encouraging advice and shared a story with me from his mission. He is a great man. Everytime I see he tells me, "Sister Eveland, you just shine". Everyday when I get out of bed I hear those words and I try to live up to them.

I love this work, I love learning another language. (Dad that little quote you put in one of my letters this week. I needed that the day you sent it!)

Nothing really exciting happened this week that I can think of. We are growing closer as a district, we have a lot of fun together. It's neat to hear everyone's stories about coming on a mission, and where they are in life. We have one Elder in our district who will be turning 23 in May. I have met a lot of Elders that are older, it is really cool to me that are here now. It just goes to show that they are here because they want to be!

Well I love you all, I hope you had a great week!

Napakahalaga ng mga pamilya sa Diyos. Alam ko na babibiyayaan ang mga pamilya ng ebanghelo. Alam ko na puwede walang hanggan maga pamilya sa pamamagitan ng templo. Totoo an ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo at ang Aklat ni mormon. ( Families are very important to God. I know that the gospel blesses families. I know that families can be eternal through the temple. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon are true.) These phrases are simple but I know with out a doubt that they are true!!!

Love,
Sister Eveland
Please write!!