Wacky Week‏

Zdrastvuitye!

I cannot believe I only have 3 and a half weeks left in the MTC! I still have so much to learn and that's a little bit scary to think about. It makes me so excited to think that I'll be in Russia in a month. Crazy! I'm not really sure why, but this week had quite a few funny experiences. Heavenly Father is probably trying to compensate for some hard times that I have experienced over the past month. Believe me, those random hysterical moments are 100% necessary to stay sane in the work that we're doing. There were lots of rough patches this week, as expected, but it was great for the most part! 

Funny story time! When we were teaching one of our investigators named Galeena, we got into the subject of baptism in our lesson and she wanted to know how we are baptized in our religion. She talked a little bit about how in the Russian Orthodox religion, they are baptized as a baby by having water sprinkled on them by a Priest. I tried my best to explain how we are baptized in water, but I didn't know how to say "baptized by immersion" or "dunked in water," so I decided to draw a picture on the board. It started out okay, just two stick figures standing in a little pool of water. Then when I tried to draw what it looks like after the prayer is said in the font, it totally looked like the guy stick figure was drowning the girl stick figure. I could not control myself after that. I was laughing so hard for a solid 3 minutes after everyone had already moved on. We eventually got our message across, but that was priceless.

Embarrassing story time! So, after every Sunday devotional, there's a plethora of movies and talks that we get to choose from and watch as our weekly entertainment. When Cectpa McKell and I found out that Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration was one of the options for the night, we planned out exactly where we were going to sit in the devotional so that we could get out of the gym and into the movie as fast as possible. At the conclusion of the devotional, Cectpa McKell, Cectpa Kim, and I sprinted out of there. Not even exaggerating... we literally ran. Almost immediately outside of the gym exit is a somewhat tall ledge that separates the grassy area from the sidewalk that I was on. Cectpa McKell hopped over it like it was nothing, so I figured I would be able to heave over it with no problem. The start was pretty seamless; I jumped up and successfully planted one foot on the ledge. However, I underestimated the lack of stretchiness from my pencil skirt and struggled to get the other leg up. Mind you, this all took place in a matter of 3 seconds, so it was not as drawn out as I'm making it sound. Anyways, I was hardcore teetering at this point and was unable to steady myself. Probably as ungracefully as possible, I let out a pitiful little shriek and fell backwards in front of about 25% of the the congregation that was behind me. Also, as I was falling, one of the Elders that was behind me couldn't decide if he was allowed to catch me or not (he's not), so he just stood there with his arms straight up in the air like a criminal when I awkwardly glanced at him after I fell. Oober embarrassing.

Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us at the Tuesday devotional and it was amazing! He spoke about prayer and how meaningful prayer should be to us in our missions. I love Elder Scott. He teaches so patiently and intently. You can't help but feel God's love when he speaks. Literally every sentence in his talk was a power statement. I spent most of the time frantically trying to write down everything that he said, which isn't a good note taking strategy by the way. The spirit was so strong! I will cherish all of the notes that I have taken at the MTC for the rest of my life.

The rest of the week was pretty average. Lots of studying and teaching as usual! Everyone has been super tired in my District and a few people are starting to get sick. Hopefully that doesn't get around to everyone else. Being sick is never a fun experience and I definitely don't want to experience that here. Too much to learn, too little time to be bothered with illness.

Our choir director told us that it is very possible that we could be singing in Conference. He doesn't know for sure and he hasn't promised anything yet, but he thinks it is likely that we will. If we do get to sing, they are going take the people who have had previous choir experience first, and I don't know how they're going to determine who else will sing. So I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it even if the missionaries do get to sing in Conference. I'm really excited for Conference either way! It'll be interesting to see how that will play out in the MTC.

On Sunday, we get to participate in the Ogden Temple dedication. They're broadcasting it to the MTC and we get to take part in that! I'm so excited!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember to make sure that prayer is a priority in your life. Seriously though, I have seen the blessings that come from sincere prayer and I know everyone will benefit from it. Stay strong and keep smiling!

Do Svidanya!

Love,

Cectpa Megan Wagstaff

 This is a picture of a picture of a Baptism in Russia. They had to cut out the ice!