Veselé Vanoce! (Merry Christmas!)
Dobrý den!
Today is my final email from the MTC. That is so bizarre! I
feel like maybe I have been here for my whole entire life, but at the same
time, maybe I just arrived last Wednesday. We laugh a lot at English speaking
missionaries who complain about being here for "so long." We were
passing someone in the hallway the other day who was singing a song about being
almost 2 weeks in and so I copied his song and sang 8 instead. I think he very
nearly died of shock.
MTC companions... Staršís Chadwick & Pickett
Significant things that happened this week:
- In-field orientation was on
Wednesday. We have watched the giant poster they set up every week and
this week it was finally for us! What a great moment. We also learned some
important things about goal setting, finding, missionary purpose, and
working with members. Overall it was just a great experience, presided
over by the husband of our teacher Sestra Godfrey
- Two of our teachers, Sestra Godfrey and Bratr Knapp left last week. That was a very sad moment. All of you who are about to enter the MTC, just know that your teachers will be amazing and will pretty much change your life. I'm sure they have lots of spiritual and language requirements for being a MTC teacher, but they also have to pass an interview of awesomeness. Every one of them.
Saying goodbye to our excellent MTC teachers!
- I am emailing a voice recording of my companion and I doing our favorite phrase from TALL (our online learning program). It means "God prepared a plan so he could help us return to Him." When other missionaries in the MTC ask us where we are serving and what language we are learning... then they ask us to say something in Czech. This is what we say! (I can’t attach this… but if anyone wants to hear it, let me know!)
Best Zone in the MTC!
District birthday celebration for Starší Marcucci
Zone Elders- Czech, Slovak, Polish, Northern Adriatic
pictures courtesy of Starší Brad 's card reader!!
- Really not too much happened
this week. We still don't have confirmation on Visas from the church
travel office for any of us. But we're packing today. So that is an
interesting adventure for everyone.
(I got confirmation from the
travel office that Brad’s visa has come.
I couldn’t wait for once a week information, so I took care of that
myself! Thank goodness, I would be
stressing right now!!)
Here is our District wearing matching Christmas scarves that Sestra Heap's boyfriend sent to us all!
- Travel plans. We report to
the Travel Office at 8:30 AM on Monday. We fly from Utah to Dallas/Ft.
Worth Airport. One hour layover. Then to London, that is our overnight
flight. We arrive 9:30 in the morning. 1 hour layover and then fly to
Prague. Travel British Airlines. 50 pound limit for all bags, including
our carry-on plus side bag. We have a scale in our residence hall closet.
It will all fit. Probably.
- We have lots of fun Christmas
things that will be occurring tomorrow, including a special devotional,
meal, watching "A Christmas Carol" and other various things.
- Our final gym time occurred
on Tuesday, December 22, 2015. It was a glorious and terrible day. Also
this was the final day of service for us. We will dearly miss those
toilets that we cleaned.
- We have a cool devotional
tonight (Christmas Eve) that I am sure will be great fun. I believe
we will be having a Nativity presentation by some Elders and Sisters.
- The MTC gets to call home on
Christmas this year! I get to talk with my family, which is good, because
I only have 2 different 1 hour layovers in US airports on Monday.
- We are all so excited to go
to the Czech Republic on Monday, and also just a little terrified. But
only in a good way. (It will be GREAT if all the visas come
through, then they will travel as a whole District of 10 missionaries plus 2 Slovakian Elders!)
The Czech District!
- Spiritual thought for the
week. During our devotional, the member of the 70, Elder Nielsen who spoke
talked about getting called as a member of the 70. And he said that he did
not have anything to do for the first 2 days, and on the 3rd day he was
called in for an interview. He asked when the training would happen and
was told "Go to your office and become. And we will let you know
later when the training begins." What an interesting insight! It also
goes along very nicely with my last week thought about a "to-be"
list. We should seek to emulate, and to become like Christ. I add my
testimony to the numerous ones that have already been born that He is the
Savior of the world. That because of Him, we can all live with our
families in a state of "never-ending happiness," as the
scriptures say, after this life. So as you celebrate this Christmas,
remember that the real reason to celebrate is because of the birth of
Jesus Christ.
Love you all, thank you for the support, letters, and
packages! Lisa Dalton sent me another letter that was very nice. Also, the
Hollands sent me a Christmas letter with some Czech writing. And Lindsay and
Alan sent Christmas stuff. And Dave and Karen and kids. Lynette Wilie sent me
some fun DearElders also.
I am off to the Czech Republic on Monday!
-Starší Pickett
That was from our small group performance of "Come Thou
Fount." These pictures were taken during a practice. We also had a violin and piano
accompaniment. Myself, Elder Burnett (Croatia/Serbia) Sister Demordaunt
(Polish), Sister Rougeau (Croatia/Serbia) are the singers.
Sweater Saturday
(We sent Starší Brad a new sweater for Christmas but told him to open it early... for more options!!)
This sunset was from
a few weeks ago, top floor of our classroom building looking out a window.
Christmas Day update from our 30 MIN PHONE CALL:
- Elder David A. Bednar and his wife spoke at the MTC today, with 12 other MTCs from around the world linked in to a Q&A. Starší Brad reports it was awesome!
- When asked about what he loves about the MTC, he reported everything. But narrowing it down, he said the amount of time he has dedicated to studying the scriptures.
- His favorite part about being a Zone Leader is taking the time each night to pray for every missionary in the zone by name and ask for guidance to know what is needed.
- Starší Brad bore his testimony of Jesus Christ in Czech and we loved it.
- He reports that thanks to the Sestras in his district (sister missionaries)... they actually get things done! He loves his district and zone so much.
- The missionaries are getting all packed and ready for their Monday flights.
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