Week Four - Visitor Center Training

FAMILY!

So first I want to say thank you for all the packages that you sent me. I've received a lot of letters and packages yesterday for my birthday and it really made that day special for me. Being at the MTC is really hard and when you get letters it really makes your whole day turn around. Tatay thank you for all the chocolates and manon! I pretty much died when I saw it because I was really  craving it the other day! Way to listen to the spirit Tatay! :) Also can you please relay a message to Jacqueline. Tell her thanks for my birthday package as well. We weren't able to open the sparkeling cider, but we are going to open it before we leave for the field. Also I got a cookie cake from the Flores family in the card they mentioned seeing Tatay at the CES convention last month! Thanks Kuya for the cupcakes. I went to get my mail and all the Elders around were all "Whoa Sister you need help eating that?" haha I gave some to my district and my Branch Presidency. Ive seen Sister Wright a couple of times and her and her comp are going to come and grab a cupcake too. I still have a ton left over even after I gave some away. So needless to say my 22nd brithday was great. The only thing is that I got so much sweets I dont know how I will be able to eat them all!

So I just want to let you know the events that has happened in this last week. My district left on monday morning for New Mexico. The night before they left we all had a testimony meeting and all the Elders gave Sister Hillam and I a priesthood blessing. All of the Elders are 18 or 19 and are all great missionaries. When I first met them I was so annoyed because all they did was goof off. Marjoity of them are really immature and just messed around. It was so hard to get the spirit into our class the first week. Eventualy I can see the change in all of the Elders. I'm really not doing justice on how they really changed, but I really grew to love each and everyone of the Elders. That night when they gave us blessings I couldn't stop crying. I have such a hard time saying good bye to people and especially since I know I will probably never see half of them again. Elder Bowman gave me the blessing and I really felt the love that God has for me, but I also felt the love that the Lord has for those men. It was a really great experience and I wish I was eloquent enough to really describe to you how it was. Just know that it was really hard to say goodbye.

Since our elders left it was only sister Hillam and I as a district so the until wednesday we combined with the other girls that are going to Visitor Centers. Then on wednesday we were put in another district full of just sisters. everyone in our district are either going to Temple sqaure, San Diego, Washingon D.C., or the Winter Quarters. There are 13 of us and we get more training as missionaries. On wednesday we actually got the opprotunity to go to temple square and have a tour from one of the sister missionaries there. On saturday we are going to go back there and we are going to go on splits with missionaries there and actually have our tours with real people. At the MTC we do a lot of role playing so all the teaching opprotunites Ive had are ones that were made up. So it will be so awesome to actually go there and get a taste of what Ill be doing for the next 17 months. The visitor center trianing is amazing. We have THE best teachers here in the MTC. I have learned so much in the last two days than I have ever learned in the last three weeks Ive been here. It is so wonderful and challegning. I know a lot about the gospel but I have never thought that it would be this hard teaching it. I think that Im doing pretty well as a missionary and with all the fundamentals that they have taught me, but there is definitely so much room for improvement!

I only have 5 mintues left before my time is up, but I want to let you all know that I love you all so much. I pray every night that you all will be okay. I really worry about you all the time. But in this last devotional that we had, our speaker said "If you worry about some elses (family), then the Lord will have someone worry about yours." That really hit home for me because I just want the best happiness for you all and I know that the best happiness that you can ever have his through this gospel. I know that ALL of you know that! I know you all have a testimony like I do! So please DO NOT PRETEND that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father arent there for you! CAUSE THEY ARE! Please know will all the bottom of my heart that I have a testimony of this gospel. I love Jesus Christ and for everything that he has done for me.

I love you all,

Sister Opeda

P.S. Kariza can you please do me a favor and get everyones birthdays for me? Also you can post all the letters that I send to you on my blog. I really don't have any time or the talent to write two meaningful letters in 30 mintues. So you can post all of them!

P.S. You do know that the Spanish call was a JOKE right?! Hahah Goodness Ive had so many Dear Elders and letters from so many people congratulating me on going Spanish speaking. I'm speaking English, and if I had to speak another one I would DEMAND Tagalog!