A Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope your Christmas has been magical. Not Harry Potter magical. Or even Santa Clause magical. But magical because of our Savior Jesus Christ, and because you get to spend Christmas with friends and loved ones.

I used to think that being a missionary was the best gift I could give to Heavenly Father for Christmas. After all I am giving literally my whole life for the purpose of serving Him and His children. But I'm beginning to see that being a missionary is not a gift that I give, rather it is the greatest gift I have ever received. I feel so blessed to be able to wear this name tag every day that not only says my name, but also says the name of Jesus Christ. This incredible holiday is all about our Savior. How humbling it is to literally be a representative of Him.

For a missionary every day is like Christmas, because every day we get to give the greatest gift. We are a link for other people to eternal life. The message that we have for the world is that the Heavens are open still. God still talks to His children on the earth. Christ's church has been restored in it's fullness, with everything that we need to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The gospel blesses us in this life and also in the next. The true message of the restoration is that we now have complete access to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The gates are open for us to use the Atonement in it's fullness. We need to be good receivers of this precious gift.

Christmas/Christmas Eve here at the MTC is a lot like it was during Thanksgiving time. They do a lot to make things special. Last night we had a special Christmas Fireside, and then we got to watch "A Christmas Carol" (The one with George C. Scott). This Christmas morning we got to hear from no other than Elder Russell M. Nelson. It was magical. Tonight we have a Christmas Talent Show/Program and then we get to watch "It's A Wonderful Life." And we get lots of neat stuff in between. Unfortunately they don't let missionaries call home on Christmas here at the MTC, but they do let us all email home. My thoughts are defiantly on my family, I miss you guys terribly. But I'm also happy to be where I am.

I'm excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

Love, 


Sister Abish "I'll be home for Christmas, but only in my dreams" Curtis

A Typical Day

No day in the MTC is typical so my title my subject line is a little misleading, but I just wanted you to know what I do all day. So here goes:

All missionaries everywhere are to be up and awake by 6:30. But since we have to be to class by 7:00, we usually wake up closer to 6:00 so we have enough time to get ready. There are 4 sisters to a room, and 11 rooms in a hallway. There are two bathrooms in a hall, but still that's a lot of Sisters with a limited amount of showers so sometimes it's crazy.

We are supposed to be in our class by 7:00. There is no teacher, just us missionaries with our district leader in charge. We have an opening song and prayer (in Tagalog) and start planning as companions for the day. There is some time to fit some studying in before breakfast at 7:45.

All meals at the MTC are great. They make the best food and you can eat as much as you want, so that's great. The cafeteria is also a great place to see all the missionaries that you know. I see my friends from before the mission there a lot and I love that so much! Me and my companion either sit with our district, or with the other sisters in the zone. I love it.

Then every morning we have three hours of class time with a teacher. During that time we teach our "investigators" or have companionship study. We have language instruction and also English parts were we learn how to teach and just be awesome missionaries.

Then the teacher is gone and we are left by ourselves for an hour of Personal Study time. I study The Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, or I prepare for lessons I will soon be teaching.

Then what do you know, it's lunch time!

Not every day is the same, but every other day we have gym right after lunch. Not the best timing, but still pretty great. There is a track upstairs for running, and workout machines and stuff. Not my cup of tea. I prefer the lower level where missionaries play volleyball, basketball of four square. I must admit I still have not tried four square, I'll occasionally play volleyball, but the majority of the time you will find me with a basketball in my hand. Me and Sister Latimer will sometimes play in the three-on-three games, but lately we have been playing a lot of knock-out (speed, lightning, bum... it has a lot of names). I actually gotten way good at shooting those free-throws, and all the Elders are afraid to be in front of me because I keep getting everybody out :) It's lots of fun and I've made good friends.

Everyday we have an hour set aside for language study. No teacher. Just us studying it on our own. We also have an hour almost everyday to go to the computer lab and use the language program they have here.

There is some additional study time stuck in here and there between other scheduled things. Again, most of the time there is no teacher.

Before you know it, it’s dinner time. I love chocolate milk. I just thought you should know that. They have it here and I have it probably more than I should :)

In the evening we have another three hours with a different teacher. Class time is separated similarly as in the morning. It's pretty great.

9:30 is when we head back to our residences. Quite times starts at 10:15 and then lights out at 10:30. This time always goes by way too fast!

Okay I know this was not the best description of a day because I gave you the general outline, but there is so much that happens during that time I could not possible have enough time to write it in the super short time I have to write each week.

Highlights of the week include: Preparation Day- our "weekend" kind of. We don't have any classes. Instead we get to walk up the hill to the temple, do laundry, write letters and email and just kinda chill. It's way nice, but goes by too fast.

Every Tuesday night is a devotional. They are always soooo good!

Sundays are a favorite of mine. For Relief Society all the Sisters in the MTC gather and have cool speakers. This week it was Linda Reeves (General Relief Society 2nd Counselor). We have District meeting (like Sunday school), Sacrament meeting. We get to walk to the temple and take pictures and stuff. There is also a fireside every Sunday with awesome speakers. We are so lucky here at the MTC!

Have a Merry Christmas! Remember Jesus, He is the most important part of this great season.

I wish I had more time, but I don't. Love you all!!! Write me please!

Sister Abish "Mahal ko kayo" Curtis

 

Climbing a Mountain

I can't believe I've already been here three weeks. Time is so funny here at the MTC.

I don't feel like I've learned three weeks worth of Tagalog. How am I supposed to learn an entire language in 9 weeks?!?! When I compare myself to where I was yesterday (when it come to language and also just personal growth) it's hard to see the difference. But that is where my title comes in: It's like climbing a mountain. Most of the time you are just so busy concentrating on climbing, focusing on the things right in front of you. But then, you turn around and suddenly realize how high you have gotten and how much more you can see. It's hard to see the difference from where I was yesterday, but when I look at where I was and who I was when I first started I can defiantly see the change.

It's true compared to the missionaries who are about to leave to the Philippines, I am more illiterate than a two year old. But even two year olds more than infants. I am slowly learning the language. Because teaching about the gospel in Tagalog is so important, they already have us doing it. We have 'investigators' that we are working with now. Me and my companion can successfully get to know someone and teach them basic principles. We both feel pretty inadequate, but that is perfect because then we turn to the Lord.

The MTC is just the best. We have so many opportunities to feel the spirit so strong!!! Also I love having fun and that is also something that you can do at the MTC. I am so grateful for all the people who act as angels in my life.

Love you all!!!!

Sister Abish "Hiker" Curtis

 

This is the sign that a lot of Filipinos do in their pictures.  It means guapo good looking