Week 2 - Mission Mom

Well people, I have officially survived two weeks at the MTC! This week has been a lot easier now that we have gotten into a rhythm and are used to the schedule. The days are still super long but the weeks go by pretty fast-ish.

I have become the designated beautician/mom of the district and it's been pretty funny. I have painted nails, popped blackheads, given makeup and hair advice, given health tips, introduced everyone to the art of the mini steamer, and am the designated candy dealer. And all between the hours of 9:30-10:30 pm Haha. We have to have some fun with all the hard work and spiritual concentration! 

My parents told me to share some of the hard things, too, so here you go. Honestly I've been doing really well--the homesickness subsided after a week or so, but it's hard to sit still and concentrate for so long every day.  Sunday's are ROUGH. We have classes and meetings from 7 am to 9 PM with only meal breaks and we have to get up early so I'm so tired--I literally nod off the entire day! We had some drama in the district over some inappropriate behavior that caused me a lot of stress for a couple days but we had a good chat Wednesday and things have been SO much better. 

Our classroom window overlooks 
the Provo Temple!

This pic doesn't do the colors justice--
it's a beautiful view!

This morning our district attended the temple with one of
my awesome MTC teachers, Sister Willey.

Our district with our other awesome teacher who is leaving us!

One of my jobs as an STL is to welcome the new missionaries in our zone! Our new district is super fun and I've loved getting to know them. One of the Elders is Australian and we all enjoy laughing about the culture differences way too much--it's hilarious. Our MTC teachers are FANTASTIC.  It's crazy how lucky we are, but they're both LEAVING US this Wednesday and we're so sad (I guess there is a lot of teacher turnover at the end of each semester). Also I've been working out every day AND eating a salad with every meal, so I basically feel like 20 pounds lighter, haha. 

Just little old Sister Potts!

THE SPIRITUAL: How do I choose just a couple things?!?! Let's see. I've come to really appreciate TRC, or our practice teaching assignments. It was rough the first couple days, but it's amazing how much just practicing can help. Our first girl was super sweet and she just wanted to come to know God. Every lesson we'd tell her how much we could feel God's love for her which is so crazy. We taught the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration and even though it was rough and we tried to teach too much I think she felt something. We got our new one Saturday and he's super cool. We had a great lesson because I really focused on HIM and feeling God's love for him instead of worrying about myself and what I was doing. The lesson went great and we really felt that he was touched as we talked about how God is a loving Heavenly Father. There's an amazing video on the media library about Earthly Fathers and Heavenly Fathers and it's so great--everyone go watch it now! Two of the big focuses here at the MTC are Christ-like attributes and personal revelation. In chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel there's an attribute activity which helps you figure out which of Christ's attributes you can work on, and I challenge everyone to go do that! We've had so many people testify to us that there's no better way to grow closer to Christ than through striving to become like him. We watched a devotional with President Bednar from December on Personal Revelation and it was awesome! He talked about how so many people are waiting for their angel appearing experience like Alma the Younger had, but you should be GLAD if you don't have that because it means you are receptive to the Spirit enough to not need it! I had never thought about it that way before. 

Well, in one week from today I'll be flying out to Rochester! I love you all and I can testify to you that I know God loves you infinitely more. I am so grateful for this opportunity I've had to grow so much closer to him in the last 2 weeks. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the fact that we can apply nearly every single verse to anything in our lives. READ IT!!!

Love, Sister Potts

The MTC is so gorgeous right now!

Week 1 - SISTER POWER!

Well everyone, after 5 months the day finally came! I don't think anyone can truly be completely ready for something like this, you just have to jump in with faith that you're ready enough. 

I'm finally official . . .

badge and all!

First we met our companion and our district! My companion is Sister Schley (pronounced like sly with a sh at the beginning) and she's from Rigby, ID. She's really cool and chill and we get along well. We actually have an ALL FEMALE DISTRICT! I Guess it's pretty rare. Also we're all going to the same mission! Everyone's really energetic and outgoing which has its pros and cons definitely but overall it's good. My companion and I were called as the Sister Training Leaders for our branch which will be exciting. 

My companion, Sister Schley, and me

Our district is made up of ALL SISTERS going to the same mission--8 of us!

We spend a crazy amount of time learning. I have never sat so much In my life. We have workshops and six hours of class a day, then 1-2 hours of personal study. Friday and Saturday we finally got gym time which was great to stretch and relax. I actually played BASKETBALL-- be amazed . The food is good enough, but the only GREAT food is the dessert so you can imagine how that's going for me haha. 

our SIStrict with one of our teachers whose last day was actually Monday

I was definitely blown away by the incredible spirit here. If It's gone for more than like 5 minutes I start panicking.  I hope that never leaves! Also from the first day here I have felt love more than I ever have before! For everyone we teach, for all the missionaries, you just feel how much Heavenly Father loves them. And I have been so excited to share that! We already have our first practice teaching assignment, and she's super sweet. We don't know if they're actors or legit interested people (the new correct term for investigators) but we love her tons and can't wait to teach her more. 

Easter at the MTC definitely wasn't what I was expecting. We were in meetings from 7:15-4 and we were just DONE with them haha. They did try to make us a nice ham and funeral potato lunch though! We had a devotional with Brother Bruce C. Hafen and his wife which was awesome. I got to sing in the choir, too.  They talked a lot about not letting the little questions we have completely destroy the facts we know with all of our hearts. Next we got to watch the Character of Christ devotional which was SO POWERFUL. It's only available at the MTC but I have literally never been impacted by a talk more ever. It really answered my prayers from this week. It talks about how the character of Christ is to turn OUT when anyone else would have turned IN. And how we can find true peace and happiness and come to know him when we strive to do the same.

NEW YORK obligatory map picture :)

It's been a whirlwind but I love you all! Have a great week and know that GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH. So much that he sent his SON to suffer inexplicable pain just so we could be with him again. Never forget that!

Love, Sister Potts

We just really like taking selfies apparently

District selfie!

Sister Potts' First Letter Home

April 17, 2019

I'm here!  I survived (though lugging my suitcase up 5 flights of stairs nearly did me in) and Sister Harmon was the one to check me in! I've met my district and my companion and everyone seems great. Also just so you know my p-days are Tuesdays! 

Love you so much don't cry too much or anything ;) And give my kitties a good snuggle for me

Love, Sister Potts

***NOTE FROM MOM:  Sister Shannon Harmon, a dear friend and ward member (and Emily's former YW President), texted me this afternoon after her shift at the MTC to say that she had gotten to be the one to greet Emily when she arrived today!  She sent some fun pictures (the first ones showing her wearing her missionary name badge!).  

Then I got a Facebook notification from another mom in the NY Rochester Mission group that her daughter had just sent an email telling her that Emily is her companion:)  Her name is Sister Janet Schley from Idaho (Yay Idaho!)  Here she is: 

Things are looking great!

Arriving at the MTC

Welcome to Sister Emily Potts' mission blog!  She received her mission call 5 months ago (Nov 20, 2018) to serve in the New York Rochester Mission with her primary assignment to serve at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center and surrounding church history sites.   

She surprised her mom & dad by coming home for Thanksgiving Break from her second year at BYU with a wrapped gift for each of them.  She presented her mom with a small box that contained a necklace that said "Missionary Mom," and her dad with a tie tack that said "Missionary Dad." Her parents, wondering if this meant she was ready to begin the application process, responded enthusiastically, and were then blown away to be presented with an envelope that contained a copy of an email she had received that day from church headquarters saying that her call was ready to view in the online missionary portal.  Wow!  She had spent the previous 6+ months attending to all the details of the missionary application all by herself--doctors/dentist appointments, health evaluations, ecclesiastical interviews, attending missionary prep classes, technical glitches with the missionary application portal, etc.  She had wanted to surprise us, and that she did!  And doubly so, since she had previously made all indications that she felt she wasn't supposed to go on a mission but instead pursue her education (she is a Microbiology Major and hopes to attend medical school eventually).  It turns out that she wrestled with the decision to serve a mission her entire freshman year at BYU.  She did NOT want to go just because most of her friends were!  She says she had to overcome a lot of pride and fear in order to make this decision--and to have a lot of faith that this decision wouldn't hinder her ability to pursue her educational dreams as well.  

She had hoped to leave quickly and was surprised to see that her date to report to the Missionary Training Center wasn't until April 10, 2019.  Then, a few weeks later, she received another notice that her date had been moved a week later to April 17, 2019 instead (just one week shy of completing another semester at BYU).  However, she set aside her studies, and we have enjoyed having her at home for the past few months again.  Her dad talked her into going to work for him in his optometry office since they were short-staffed, and she has been able to serve in the Mount Timpanogos Temple as an ordinance worker (on the same shift as her dad) since January.  The time has flown!  

Emily officially began her missionary service last night as she was set apart by our Stake President, Blair Kent, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She reported to the MTC this afternoon at 12:45 pm.  We were able to get a few pictures at the temple before going to the MTC and then had a delicious lunch at one of her favorite places, Cravings Bistro in Pleasant Grove.  We weren't quite prepared for the emotional roller coaster of dropping off our first-born and only daughter, but we are so proud of her.  She has so much light and love to share!  It was a gorgeous sunny day with beautiful spring flowers and trees blossoming!

We'll post her emails and updates here each week (which should be much shorter).  Thanks everyone for your support!