Our First EMail from Sister Goodpaster

Dear Family,

First week at the MTC, complete!! Can't even explain how exciting the last week has been. And by "exciting" I mean "exhausting," "challenging," and "mind-blowingly humbling." The MTC is hard, y'all. I've never been so tired before in my life. I didn't realize that I'd be sitting and filling my brain with knowledge for 16 hours a day, every day. This cranium can only hold so much, people. I cope by praying, a lot. A lot. While it's the busiest I've ever been, it's the most fulfilled I've ever felt. We're training to help people feel closer to God, to be happier, and to have hope. The rest is just details. Awesome details, but details nonetheless.

I could explain lots of minutia to you about how the last week has been (i.e. how the cafeteria food is and what my companion's like - she's the perfect partner for me, p.s. - but this ticking clock only gives me 30 minutes and I'm already down to 23. Let's get down to business.

What I really want to tell you is not to worry. God's with me constantly, even when I don't realize it. I'm thankful to not have to learn a second language, because learning all this stuff in English is hard enough. My days are filled with experiences that teach me that I'm not here for me. I'm here to serve others. I'm here to forget myself and go to work. I want to reassure that I sleep well, eat well, and feel loved pretty much every second of every day. Surprise of the century: I don't miss television, Internet, or iTunes. All of those things are pieces of heavenly technology, but they're not what makes life meaningful. Hold me to this statement in 18 months when I burst through the office doors at home and proclaim, "sweet merciful goodness! An Internet connection!! Praise be to God!"

As I sit and write I realize something: I need questions! Me just sitting here and bleeding out my random thoughts (the MTC will make you forget what day it is, p.s.) probably won't give you all the juicy details you want, so give me 3-5 questions to answer. I welcome questions from both family and friends.

Second random thought, the only letter I've gotten whilst at the MTC is from Gary Beemer. You peeps are slacking and I'm calling you all to repentance. I know your lives are busy, but you can't really know the joy of getting mail until you're here in this spiritual compound. I know stamps are pricey, y'all. But I refuse to look like the loser with no friends when my entire district (4 sisters and 8 elders) gets piles of mail, and lowly Sister Goodpaster is left with an empty desk. Womp womp. Off soapbox.

P.S. I'll give credit where it's due. I feel your prayers. You may ask, "Really? How can you tell?" I'd answer by saying that this entire week, I've felt pretty incompetent. Scratch that: GROSSLY incompetent. But there are moments when something bigger than me reminds me that people care about me enough to think about me while I'm gone. Apologies for the run-on sentence. The point is that while I'd adore correspondence, I know you guys love me. I can feel it in my heart. And I thank you.

Potpourri time. All 4 of the sisters and 3 of the elders in my district are flying to Seattle on 13 December. When I first got here that date seemed like FORREEVVVEERRR away. Not even kidding, now it seems like it's coming up too fast. Truth: when we commit ourselves to an important cause, God qualifies our menial (meanial? they already know me as the grammar/spelling Nazi here, no surprise) efforts. One foot in front of the others, friends. One foot in front of the other. Also, sharing a room with 5 other women is...interesting. Estrogen runs rampant like lions at feeding time. Scary.

Write to me! Email me! (carlyn.goodpaster@myldsmail.net) Pray for me!

I love you all, even if you're just stalking the blog because you have nothing better to do with your time. I was you not too long ago. I understand. :)

Peace and blessings and so much love,

Sister G