I made it!! Sept 19th Letter

I"M ALIVE!!! I survived my first week in the MTC!! :) Our P-Days aren't until Friday so I haven't had a chance to email until now.  Ahhh I can't tell you how good it was to see everyone's emails in my inbox.  I feel so loved.  I miss America like crazy.  There aren't very many Americans here.  Mostly Samoans and Filippinos and some from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, or Thailand.  I am the only American sister in my Disctrict.  So that is kind of different.  Most of the Samoans here like to speak Samoan to each other so about 75% of the time I have absolutely no idea what is going on.  We literally have rice for every meal.  I'm trying to be brave and try the food even if I can't tell you exactly what it is.  Every so often they give us ice cream so it helps keep us going.  I finally found some salt and pepper and now I feel like I could eat all the rice in the world! ..as long as I have my salt and pepper.  I couldn't stand it the first day here because I didn't know what I was doing at all, I just had to wander around like a lost little puppy.  Not fun.  My kasama (companion) and I were called as Sister Training Leaders so that made things even more difficult, adding another responsibility that I didn't really know how to do.  But thankfully some of the senior Sister Training Leaders here are good at giving us advice and hints.  I think that the highlight of the MTC so far was our devotional this last Tuesday.  Elder and Sister EchoHawk came and spoke.  It was so powerful.  I have been feeling the Spirit so strongly everyday, but at that devotional it was like electricity.  Elder EchoHawk told us his experience of going to sit in on a general authority as he assigned mission calls.  He explained the set up with the two computer screens and how each call is inspired, but then he went into a little more detail.  He was observing Elder D. Todd Christofferson and how he was so deliberate in each movement and word he spoke.  An application came up that showed the profile of a young man who was more than capable of serving anywhere in the world.  He had leadership skills and was physically strong, he had all the right qualifications.  Surprisingly Elder Christofferson slowly reached out and pointed to the United States.  Specifically,  the Des Moines, Iowa mission.  He looked at Elder EchoHawk and said, "This young man will be disappointed when he opens his call.  But he will be faithful and he will serve.  And someone that he will baptize during his mission will prove to be very influential for the church in these Latter days."  He said that was one of the many little prophesies that Elder Christofferson gave as he assigned calls.  I know that I was called by God.  I know that there is a reason that I am here in the Philippines and I know that I was supposed to come to the Philippines MTC instead of the Provo MTC for a reason. Even though sometimes I may or may not wish that I was still in America.  I will go forth and serve the mission I have been called to serve because I know that why I was called and I know how I was called.  I do not know what the fruits of my labors will be, but I know that I have a responsibility to work and to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.  I wish I could sit here all day and tell you all the little details of my time here so far.  I am learning so much already and I have hope that I will be able to master this language sooner or later! We have already learned how to bear testimony, say a prayer, get to know someone, extend commitments, and teach through the scriptures.  We have gone through some role plays with "investigators" and even though I know that the person is already a member of the Church I know that I have been inspired and the Spirit of God has helped my kasama and I to teach what that person needs.  I am just trying my best to be a worthy vessel of this message and teach with that Spirit.  The gospel is being taken to all the earth! I am so excited to be a part of this work here in the Philippines.  I do not doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God.  I testify that the Book of Mormon is true.  I love you all and miss you so much.  Please keep the emails coming, I don't know what I would do without them.  Love, Sister Larson :)