For most people, Preparation days or Sundays are their favorite. I do appreciate P-days, and Sundays are still my favorite days, but the days we get to be in class with Bro. Mickelson are my favorite because that's where I learn the most about my purpose here and get a better handle on the language. Plus, three hours go by like nothing when Bro. Mickelson teaches because of his enthusiasm for the gospel, language and love for us really shows.
Last Wednesday I accompanied an Elder singing the piece "My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee" for the 400 new missionaries coming in. It went really well and I found it SO hard to give the music back to him because of how much the message became a part of me. I didn't even consciously listen to what he said, but now I sing it all the time to myself, it's such a great song. Now I'm practicing with an Elder in my zone for a cello/piano arrangement that's also gorgeous. We'll probably audition for an MTC performance as well as perform the musical number at church it's simple enough to be ready by then.
During the week we are given a certain subject to study and prepare because on Sundays our Branch presidency will randomly select two missionaries to share what they learned/prepared for 5 minutes before the next speakers. It's suppose to help prepare us to be ready to "give a reason for the joy that is in us" and, I have to admit it's really effective. But my first Sunday I was so nervous they would pick me I didn't really enjoy the sacrament until after they called out an elder and sister to talk before I could breath normally again. This past Sunday's topic was on recognizing the Spirit so not only was it a topic I really liked but I found a lot of material on it and wrote a really nice outline. Between my preparation and desire to be more calm during Sacrament meeting I felt unusually calm as we waited for church to start. In fact, I actually wished they would call me so I wouldn't have to worry about them calling on me in the future, although they still want you to prepare so there's still a remote chance you may be called on, but they want everyone to have a chance. That said, they still have the first group of missionaries to finish calling on so I wasn't sure they would start calling up my group of missionaries (ones that just arrived). Still, when my name was announced over the pulpit I whispered to my companion "I knew it, I knew it!". It went really well and even though the chances I will be called on again are remote, I wouldn't be surprised if I got called on again to prove that you still need to prepare every Sunday, even though they want to give everyone a chance to speak before you leave.
Overall, compared to the first four days here, this week went by in a flash and I hate to say we're theoretically in our 3rd week. In truth we just finished our 2 week mark, but the MTC counts from the beginning of the week, so we'll be starting our "4th week" on Sunday. Most people rejoice at the prospect, but I don't want it all to go too fast. I love my zone, my district, my teachers, and I want to get the language down before I set foot on the plane. My teacher promised me during interviews yesterday that if I worked hard I would get the language down before I left. It's a simple and seemingly obvious promise, but I felt the power behind it that helped me choose to listen to a General Conference talk in Cambodian and do my own exercises while others watched Mormon Messages when we found out the computer program for our language wasn't working. It was awesome and eyeopening to hear how many words I recognized! So while it's a little slow in progress, I'm getting somewhere. :)
Love you!
- Sara Dunster
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