Being Bold

To save some time, this week I sent Sister K a list of questions...these are her answers -

"Sister trainer" what does that mean really?   

Yep, I am a sister training leader. I just look after the sisters, answer questions, try to be supportive and report on their progress each week. Sometimes these newbie sisters don't always follow the rules exactly, but they listen and respect me when I ask them to fix something. I'm gaining a lot of confidence in myself and I am definitely more direct and bold. Something I needed to work on for sure! Yes! Having a 24/7 companion is hard, even if you love them like crazy. Things do get on my nerves, but I have come to the realization that my comp is not the one that needs to change. I am. I pray for love and patience and I change my attitude.  My new found boldness is shining bright because I am learning that if there is a true issue, I need to talk to her about it (in a loving way of course) and we work it out. I guess this comopaniship thing really is a lesson for the future.

   Tell me more about singing in the choir.

     Singing in choir is so much fun!   I sing a lot around here.  It just makes everyhing more enjoyable. I guess we won't really find out until next week if we get to sing during conference or not.  Cross your fingers for us!   If we do, it will be in one of the Saturday sessions.  

 How many sisters are in the MTC right now?

The Provo MTC is at a low point in population right now. There really isn't that many people actually here.  I forgot the number exactly.   There is going to be a flood of missionaries coming in this summer for sure. The choir teacher said that Elder Holland gave a talk the other day and just that morning he had made about 300 calls. CRAZY! The Lord is serisously hastening the work. It is great! I love missionary work. I love my purpose in helping others come unto Christ. I was reading my patriarchal  blessing the other day, and I never really realized how much it talks about missionary work and my purpose as a missionary. It was just another reminder that I am in the right place, doing the right thing. 

  Have you had many teaching opportunities?

I actually have a REAL investigator that I get to teach!  I am teaching this one in English so it's a little less intimadating. But I am super excited to really start helping people. The investigators that I am normally teaching right now are my teachers who pretend to be some of the investigators that they had one their mission. It is cool how it all works, but I'm excited to teach a real investigator. 

   Are you a tired of the MTC yet? What's the food like? Exercise? How are you sleeping? etc

Although I love the MTC, I really want to get out in the field and reallly start. I am SO excited to get flight plans this week. I can't believe that it has already been 4 weeks and I only have 2 weeks left here.  I know I am in the right place doing the right thing. MTC food is really not all that great, but at least it is something. They always have salad here, so that is good. Everyday we get gym time. We all play volleyball as a zone together so that is fun. AND (not too tight) yoga pants are allowed!! Sisters do not have to wear ugly boys basketball shorts!   I've been sleeping pretty well. Falling asleep is not really a problem for me. But waking up at 6:30 and sometimes 6:00 is hard. 

I think I got all of your questions!  ....and I am out of time. 

Love you all!!!  Have a great week 

Sister Koncurat

To all those I haven't emailed back, one hour just goes way too fast!!  I will get back to you as soon as I can! 

Half Way There!

I can't believe I am already at my MTC half-way mark! I know it has only been three weeks, but in the same amount of time I will be getting on a plane going to the Philippines!! I am so excited to just really get started. The MTC is teaching me so many things and we are always asking our teachers about the area. It gets me so pumped! One of my teachers told us a story the other day about how in his first area he was spending the night at his Zone Leader's house. There were 2 sets of missionaries in this small room and in the middle of the night, this American elder wakes up screaming, jumps over my teacher and lands on top of a Filipino elder, and so he jumps on top of the American elder as well. The reason why he was screaming was because this HUGE rat was crawling around on his face. The next day they get up and  find three other rats and they jump out at them. Each elder chooses had a different weapon of choice. 1 with a broom, 1 with a pile of books, and they other 2 with a plungers. One by one, the rats would jump out and one elder whacked the rat with the broom, as if it was a baseball, it hit the wall and died. Anyway, it was a really exciting and in the end the elders took care of all those rats. But after he was finished sharing the story, my teacher said despite all the nasty stuff that we would come in contact with, there will always be a special place in his heart for the Philippines. I know that I will too, even if they do have cobras, huge spiders and giant rats, and so many other nasty things. ; p

One of the most exciting things that I keep hearing is that the choir gets to go to conference this year! My whole zone decided that we all wanted to do that, so we have made it mandatory to go to choir. How cool would it be to sing at conference! I'm so stoked for that! The other day, we got to sing this beautiful song that was recently published in the Ensign. It was really cool to get to be a part of it. It was called Come Unto Jesus, but not the one that is in the hymn book. So be looking for me!

Oh I wanted to thank you all for all the letters! I got a bunch from Mark and Cathy's family. I got one from Grandpa and a package from Liz. It made my week!! Liz those cookies were super good and my whole district appreaciated it! :)

Mahal Kita!

Sister Erin Koncurat

Masigla!!

I love it here in the MTC! I love my quirky district and my zone! I was sad to see most of the zone leave this morning! We are down to six people today-myself included. We actually got a sister from a different zone switched in with my zone today. She is my new companion, and we are getting a new district this week! My new comp is Sister Woodruff from Colorado and she will be heading out to San Pablo pretty soon. And the new district has 4 new sisters all coming in tomorrow and wednesday! I can't wait to meet them all. 

Although I love everyday here at the MTC, I have to say Sundays are the best! And of course Mondays because I get to hear from loved ones! I love the Branch Presidency that we have here. They are all super sweet old people :) The other day, they even brought us all Chik-fil-A sandwiches. Seriously the best! Every time President Howard walks in the room he just yells Masigla! Meaning excitement or enthusiasm. He is so funny. Sunday nights we have a little devotional. It was really cool to have everyone start off the meeting singing Called to Serve! We sang a little bit of a different rendition of it.  It made it super cool! The feeling in the room was so powerful and by the end of it everyone was standing up singing the words. 

Fridays are always the longest days here. We wake up earlier than normal because my district has early morning service at 6:15. But by the end of the day, I was reflecting back, while writing in my journal. I had the thought that right now, everyone was probably doing something fun. It's a Friday night and they are probably hanging out with friends, or something, and I just felt happy. I don't miss it at all! I love where I am and I love what I am doing! 

Hope all is well for everyone else!! Until next week...

Mahal Kita! (Love Ya)

-Sister Koncurat

Mabuti!

Kumusta!
I am doing well! The days are long, but the week is going by so fast. I can't believe I have already been here for 5 days! I love it and the spirit is seriously so strong. I didn't realize how much of a distraction phones, TV, and basically everything is. I am studying harder than ever before, and I actually don't mind doing it. I love this work, and I am so excited that I get to be a part of it.
So on the first day, I found out that I am a solo sister, meaning that I have a companion, but she is in her 5th week here and in a different district. It was a little lonely at first, but by the second day I grew to like it. There are 3 other elders in my district and that is it. SO SMALL, but we all get to know each other pretty well. They are all a little awkward and quirky, but funny. I have so much love for everyone here, even though I barely know them. In the other district there are 3 sisters that I room with, one being my companion. I love them all and they have helped me so much already. I'll be sad to see them leave next week. They are all going to Cavite City. I can say that this is probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but they keep encouraging me that it gets better, at least here at the MTC. Yesterday we had a mission conference where everyone gathered together. Sister Hacking, one of the wives of the MTC presidency said something that really helped. She said,"The moment we feel we are the weakest and are about to quite is the moment right before a miracle will happen." In the Book of Mormon. It talks about the Lord sending the weak to do His work because those are the ones that are the most humble. I know that I am not very good at this whole Tagalog thing yet, but I have faith that it will get better.
By the end of the first day, I was able to say a few basic get to know you things. The next day, we learned how to say a prayer, and by the third day, I could do all of that and bare my testimony all in Tagalog. It was simple, but I can do it! As I said before, the Kaloob ng mga wika (the gift of tongues) is real!!
Hope all is well at home! Mahul ako tayo (I don't really know if that was the correct form of saying it, but it means I love you all.)



--Sister Koncurat

Note from mom--Remember she'll be in the MTC until April 7th. She needs letters!!  You can email or send letters on DearElder.com.