Wednesday, August 20, 2014

A day in the life at the MTC plus Q&A


Another bonus post this week… Hermana Hansen answered a few questions and also includes a few insights for those heading to the MTC.

Also, we've heard rumors that she was spotted on Front Runner (chatting with Reno Mahe) this week. So, if this is true (and she decided not to make a break for it) we’re hoping that means she was heading to SLC for her VISA!

Our favorite study spot.
What is your schedule like at the MTC?

6:30am – Wake-up
7:00 - Breakfast
7:30 – 10:00 - Spanish Class
10:40 – 11:30 – Gym
Noon – Lunch
12:45 – 4:30pm – Class (sometimes teaching investigator)
4:30 – Dinner
5:15 – 9:00 – Study (in and around class room...1 hour personal, 1 hour companion, 1 hour language)
9:00 – 9:20 – Plan
9:20 – Zone devotional
9:30 – 10:15 – Personal time and companionship prayer
10:30pm – Lights out


Most surprising thing about the MTC you did not expect?

We learn Spanish a lot differently than I expected.  Instead of learning the alphabet & the general grammar rules we learn according to what we teach our investigators. 
Duck Faces

Day 1: Introductions
Day 2: How to pray
Day 3: How to testify

I guess they just expect us to grasp the grammar and conjugation along the way… Also our teacher speaks in ONLY Spanish!  I can understand him pretty well though.  He always teaches with the Spirit and is so encouraging.  We learn Spanish everyday except for P-days and Sunday (even on P-day we study).

So glad you had the foresight to take French in middle/high school… How did that work out for you?

 
I mix French with Spanish a lot here.  Suddenly all my French is coming back to me!  NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR FRENCH!  My biggest regret?  Not taking Spanish in High School…..




What were you glad you knew that helped you before arriving?

I’m glad I knew I would be on the MTC West Campus…  It’s more intimate and less overwhelming for me.  I’m also glad I studied Chapter 3 of Preach my Gospel. 

(Spanish speaking missionaries are located in a completely separate location from other missionaries.  They are located where former Raintree Apartments and Wyview Family Housing is located.   A bus shuttles them back and forth to main campus 2 or 3 times a week).   


What are the 3 big bubbles next to the MTC West Campus (off of Freedom Blvd) and what goes on in there?  (the top theories we were considering on drop-off day included cafeteria, Friday night missionary dance parties, medical experiments and/or missionary brainwashing…..)

 
The 3 big bubbles are for the gyms – one for basketball, volleyball and weights.  (glad that mystery is solved…)

Tip on sending photos from the MTC

On her first P-day, Jordyn was one of the few that was able to easily send photos from the computer – she ended up sharing her Memory Card reader (a USB /SD card adapter) with the other sisters.   She bought a pretty basic model at Walmart for $10 and it has worked great – lots of photos via e-mail.  We’ll see how well it works in Mexico–hoping for the best!   They do sell adapters at the MTC if you don’t arrive with one.  

Same day MTC Packages and  Letters

There is the most magical place for super-cheap, same-day MTC delivery in Provo and Orem. It's called Postmart. And for 2 bucks you can send any size package to your missionary..krispy cremes, cakes...I even saw a Macey's paper bag sitting on the MTC-to-go shelf. They also do same-day FREE delivery for letters to your missionaries...no stamp needed. (I plead the 5th on how many packages I've sent her in the two weeks since she's been gone...)