Week 3.5: A Mid-week interlude

So I am interrupting the normal flow of this blog to add a little update.

As we all know, Brooke (I mean Sis. Ketchum!) left the MTC on Tuesday night.  I guess the normal course of events is to spend the night in the mission home getting to know the mission president and his wife and such...not having served a mission I don't know much about the "such" but hopefully Sis. Ketchum will share in her next update.

But here's why I am updating the blog.  My Dad and Stepmom got a text (email?) from a couple they met in Smolensk, Russia.  In fact they were the couple taking Dad and Kate's place when they finished their mission there.  Bro and Sis Hansen, who happen to live in Orem, UT.  Their message said:

The Mission Home two doors down did not have a enough sleeping quarters for all the sisters who are entering and leaving the mission tonight. So we were selected by President and Sister Killpack to bed down these for cute and enthusiastic sisters. What a sweet, attractive granddaughter you have. We can already tell she's going to make a great missionary and leader! We hope you folks are all doing well. We love and miss you two.

 And they sent pictures!

So that's where my sweet girl went at least for a day.  What a nice surprise to get an update when I was not expecting it, and what a small world!

Thank you Bro. and Sister Hansen for giving my favorite missionary a place to stay and a launching pad for her mission!

Week 3...Done with the MTC!

Well today is the day everyone! I am about to leave the Mission Training Center and travel to the real world

The dangerous world of Orem Utah. XD

To be honest I am super excited to leave.

All of our district, except my companion and I, have already left here and on there way travelling to where they are serving. It was a little hard cause we all felt kind of like family, but I know they are going to be amazing!

Here at the MTC, I'm not going to lie, I really did struggle here sometimes. It was overwhelming, stressful, and over all kind of difficult. I also had a lot of emotional ups and downs.

It was hard.

But I think I have felt my love for this gospel grow tremendously. I have truly learned how precious and amazing the Book of Mormon is  and felt how amazing it was to learn more and more from each chapter.

I have learned how through the spirit, my quiet voice can be powerful.

I learned more of the Atonement

I also learned to see how the Lord has helped me in my life.

I learn how I can be the sounds to the Lord's words.

There was one time I needed to say something that would help my companion.  I was trying so hard to figure out what to say to her because I didn't really have a lot to go off of.  I prayed really hard for something but I couldn't really think of anything.  It wasn't until after she said something she was prompted to tell me, I was able to open my mouth. It was really strange because I don't remember all that I said. I felt if words were coming out but I wasn't in control of the words. I know that this what the Lord wanted me to say though and it was almost the holy ghost speaking through me and it really helped her. It was an incredible moment and I would never trade that experience away.

I want to testify, that I know that I will struggle. I will have hard times, I will have doubts, and there will be times I will want to go home.

But I know that Heavenly Father is watching over me and he will help me through those times. He will always be by my side, if I be the best I can be and he will strengthen me.

I know God loves and cares for me.

I also know that he loves and cares for you also no matter what.

From here on out I will be on my mission and I cant wait for the people I meant to meet.

I care for you all and I cant wait to report about my mission when ever is my next p-day is...Monday?

Sincerely,

Sister Ketchum 

Two is Through... Second Week of the MTC

Hey everyone!!

So it's my second week at the MTC and that means I'm almost done! I'm leaving August 16! It's crazy! It feels like I've been waiting for this for a long time. O-O  

My week has been kind of emotional rollercoaster ride this week but It's been good! Though all of it is good here now but the only problem is that I haven't been able to sleep all that well. My goal is to get dark tired circles so it will turn into a beautiful eye shadow/eye liner. XD

So here at the MTC, I've had a lot of wonderful spirit to it but its really stressful. Wednesday we got 815 missionaries - the largest amount of missionaries at the MTC!  But it makes the cafeteria super crowded! There are so many people!

My favorite thing at the MTC is the TRC! I love teaching/talking to the investigators! It makes me feel like I can do it! My companion and I actually taught and actual new investigator who just join the MTC and as we talked she said, "I wish I had faith like you do." We told her to pray to know that God loves her and she can have faith like us.

I love how I feel the holy ghost and I can speak! One of my teachers says that I speak with the tongue of angels where she can really feel the spirit with each time I speak.  Which is very comforting to know because I'm just trying the best!

Anyway its been a very wonderful experience here at the MTC and we are getting 2 sister missionaries in our room which is exciting!

Anyway talk to you guys later!

Sincerely, Sister Ketchum

(Note from her editor:  For some reason she's having trouble uploading photos, and no handwritten letter this week ...yet I hope... so no new pictures.  Looking forward to ipads when she gets out to her official area so I'll be able to share photos easier.)

One is Done! First week of the MTC

Week 1!

Hey Everyone!
How are you all doing over where ever you all are?

I'm doing pretty well at Utah!  It's a little stressful with all the rules and the learning/teachings and stuff, but I love it!

I also love not having the humidity of Pennsylvania, so the summer here feels cool and warm.  I love this type of weather!  Although my companion, Sister Dixon, she is from Southern Georgia, misses the humidity.  She says it's not natural here.  I think it's pretty hilarious!  XD   I guess I just prefer heat where you feel like you are losing all your moisture and could actually die. XD  So I guess that's wonderful to know about myself!  It feels like I'm back in Washington State, except probably worse!

Flying over here was really cool!  I haven't really flown in a long time so it was so cool to look out the window.  I think I am getting less afraid of heights...maybe.  Although, I could do without flying through thunderclouds.  It is really cool thinking about how it looked now, but it was terrifying at the moment.  So now I have seen how it looks and I never need to be in an airplane and see lightening all around me again! O-O

I love it here the Missionary Training Center!  I have an awesome District here!  We are the only district here at the MTC where we are from all over the country of the USA, but all serving missions here in Utah.  We even have two elders from Alaska!!!  How cool is that!  We are all getting along with one another pretty quickly (although I'm still kind of awkward and quiet. XD Just me!)

I have sort of become our district artist because I drew little chibis of all the people in our district on our dry erase board.  (I am doing my studying Mom, don't worry!!!  It's just my small break.) Everyone really loves it and Sister Guffrie told me that people from other districts have said that they would pay me to draw everyone in their district too.  So I guess I don't have to worry about paying for my mission.  Just kidding! XD

Originally I drew the sisters in my letter to my mom and the sisters loved it and got all excited to see their chibi selves.  Elder Meili (one of the Alaska elders) said that guys are usually very critical of themselves being drawn...too squared and stuff, so I showed him my drawing/letter and he responded, "That's pretty cute!"  I'll send it to you all when I get the chance.

I am having a lot of cool spiritual moments here and I know I need to be here!  I am really happy I came and I know the Lord has a plan for me.  But, I really miss all of you!!  It's kind of hard being out here all by myself, but I know the Lord is watching out for me!

I'll be sending emails every Tuesday, unless it changes, but I can't wait to hear from all of you!!
Sincerely, Sister Ketchum

PS: I am wearing my last name with pride and I have had quite a few people comment about it. XD It's amazing!!

The pics of her companions: