What is it Like in the MTC?

What's it like at the MTC? 

Here's a run-down for what my life looks like now until I fly to Germany:

6:30 - arise, pray, prepare for day

7-8 - daily planning and study

8-8:30 - breakfast

8:30-9:10 - gym

9:50-10:50 - personal study

10:50 - 11:50 - companion study

11:50-12:50 - language study

12:50-1:30 - lunch

1:45-5:45 - Additional study with Teacher - language study, missionary training

5:45-6:15 - dinner 

6:30-9:30 - either additional study, Devotional, teaching a practice Investigator, etc.

On Mon. and Sat. we give 75 minutes of service to helping keep the MTC clean. 

On Wednesday we have our "P-day" aka day to prepare for the rest of the week. (laundry, email, temple, etc.)

Sundays are my favorite days. Church! :) 

Yes, I study a lot. Yes, I'm tired a lot. And yes, I'm completely, 100% happy! This is exactly where I am supposed to be. This Gospel is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I have felt the power of His Atonement everyday here in the MTC.  I can change because of Him. 

To my family and friends: You are all in my prayers and in my heart. I love you all and I am so grateful to have you in my life. :)

Sister Helmick

Three Elders From my District (called a Trio instead of a companionship).

This is a Thai-English Dictionary for when we get discouraged about learning the German language.

Missing my family and friends.

I'm in shock about the German scriptures! Over 600 pages in Das Buch Mormon.

Picture of my classroom. This is where I spend 10-11 hours of my day

My roommates.

My room. Where I sleep. Not where I live. The classroom is my home. 

                                                                                    Missing my Grandma

Missing my Mom.

Missing my Grandpa.

First Week in the MTC

The MTC...Wow. This place is pretty cool. The Provo Missionary Training Center is like a whole new world. Everyone is a Missionary, everyone has the same goal, and everyone here is so happy! I love it here. What I love most about the MTC is the unity that I feel among the Missionaries. No matter where a Missionary is serving - from Figi, the Philippines, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, or Germany - we are all apart of the Lord's work. He wants His Children to come back to Him.

It is impossible for me to sum up my experiences in a blog update. So much has happened this last week. And oh my goodness, I am learning SO MUCH GERMAN. It is pretty incredible. I know that where I am right now - in the MTC, is exactly where I am supposed to be. In five weeks I will be in Germany. That's a crazy thought! 

Once I am out in the field I will have more time to write an update, but while I am here my time to email is pretty tight. So I'd just like to share with you all something that has helped keep me going this week. The first three days in the MTC, I was feeling a little discouraged with learning German. I was thinking about what the next 18 months of my life will look like. How each and every day will demand the best of me. And not just with learning German. Every morning I wake up and I put on a name badge. In bold letters it reads "JESU CHRISTI" (Jesus Christ). I am a Representative of Jesus Christ. As such, I am striving to love people the way Christ loves us. I am learning to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news of the Savior's Atonement. I was thinking about that this week...how these 18 months aren't really a sacrifice after all. This time that I have to serve others is SO SHORT. When I think about what the Savior did for us, it fills my heart with so much gratitude. What I am doing right now is not a sacrifice, it is a privilege. 

Ich liebe dich, family and friends! 

Sister Helmick

The time has finally come for me to head off to the airport and start my new adventure! For six weeks I will be in the Provo Missionary Training Center where I will be studying the German language, attending devotionals, studying the scriptures, etc. Basically, I will be learning how to be the best missionary I can be. :)

I am going to deeply miss my family and friends. But, as the Germans say, "Bis bald!" I'll be back in 18 months. While I'm gone, please feel free to check my blog each week for updates.

I love you all!