Week 5 of MTC

Hola!!

First off and most important.....HAPPPPPPYYYYY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!  My dad is the most incredible, loving, supporting, wise, and kind man I know!  He has taught me how to work hard, be wise, and never give up!  I remember when I was young we would have a specific part of the orchard and garden that we would have to hoe the weeds.  My dad being wise, tried to teach us that it is a lot easier and enjoyable to wake up and do the work while its cool in the morning rather than sleeping in and having to work in the St George Heat.  This took me a LONG time to learn.  Some days he made us get up early, but mostly i remember him counseling us, then letting us make the decisions.  I remember the first day I woke up willingly and completed my chore before the sun came up, I worked quicker, I was happier, and i had plenty of time to play later.  This can be applied to any situation in life, and my dad taught it to me.  The gospel teaches that the home is the most important place for living, and my parents did a pretty dang good job!  Thank you for everything dad!  Especially over the last year in nursing school and supporting me on my mission!

I hope your birthday is an amazing day!

Lets just say, understated chaos!  This week has been insane!  We were visited by Elder Villar (Area 70), Elder Bragg (Quorum of 70), my district spoke 100% Spanish (or punished with push-ups), and weve been preparing to leave the CCM!

Elder Villar spoke about the power of "Doing" and working hard to receive an education.  My favorite thing he said was, " There is a lot of power in working hard and receiving an education.  Our only limitation is our own heads making up excuses as to why we "Can't". Where there is a will, there is always a way!!  I am so proud of my mom receiving her nurse practitioner, Whitnie getting into pharmacy school, Zak/Janelle opening a business, and Ali working hard in college! My family is such a motivating factor for me and I am so proud of all of you!!

Elder Bragg spoke a lot about missionaries and our purpose.  He emphasized that "You are called of God through revelation."  It was really cool for me to listen to him speak and explain the authority that i have as a missionary to preach and teach the lords plan to His Children!  I leave the MTC next Tuesday morning and I am so excited to be in the field!  I am excited to share this beautiful gospel and learn from the people of Chile!

What is the most important thing we should be doing right now? As answered by Richard G Scott, "Learn to recognize the power of the atonement and then use it".  The atonement is not a punishment, it is a hope filled path back to a loving heavenly father!  I get the beautiful opportunity to teach this.  And I have spent so much time in the scriptures learning of the atonement.  So my challenge is, whether you think you know a lot or a little.....STUDY THE ATONEMENT!!

So this week Hermana M------ and I work out together in our room, do sit ups, wall sits, planks etc.  She is so cute and it is so fun!  She is from Argentina and in Argentina they pronounce the double "LL" like "sh", so when she says my name she calls me Hermana Sushivan....it is so cute, we taught her the correct way, but she thinks it's funny so that's what she calls me!

With the new missionary daily schedule changed, E--- (the last Nurse for Chile Santiago South) emailed me and told me that my mission was part of the pilot program and has been using the change of schedule for a couple years.  So basically I'm going to a pretty legit mission!  Kinda cool little fact.....Also one of my teachers live in my mission boundaries and she came to me at lunch on Monday and said, "I passed some sisters missionaries on my way to work, and they asked about Hermana Sullivan"  She asked how they already new me and they said, "She is going to be our nurse and we are sooo excited".  So this week I have been incredibly excited.  Santiago south is the most poor part of Chile so I guess they have a few more health problems than the other missions, so hopefully I will be able to put my skills to good use!

Last night we had a "Health and Safety" class in preparation to leave the CCM.  I want to emphasize the blessings the lord has promised me as a missionary.  In D & C 84:88 it says, "And whoso recieveth you, there i will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  How incredible is that?!?!  I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I am safe, through the help of the spirit and the Lord.

Also for my mother, in 1 Nephi 5:8, Sariah (Nephis mom) was really worried about her sons going to get the plates from Laban and when they returned she said, " I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons.....and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them."  So mom, this is what I want you to remember, and when I return home, we will re read this scripture together!

Also Everyone go read Mosiah 14:3-7 but when the word "He" appears, switch if for the name "Christ" and when the word "We" appears, switch it for "I", it completely changes the meaning and is very humbling!  It was one of my favorite scriptures this week!

Welp that's it for now!

Love you all!

Hermana Sullivan

Ps. Picture are of my new roommates in the CCM and my companions and I.