Last Week at the MTC

This is my district, it is impossible to get all of these boys focused on the same task at the same time. Sorry you can't see all of them.

This is my companion Hermana Erickson; she is from Boise Idaho (not the farming side she is quick to point out). She curled my hair for Gen. Conf. it was fun!

Well, I would say I am now officially used to the MTC and all of its strange ways just in time for me to fly out on Thursday morning (3AM)!

The MTC has become exponentially more fun since Brother and Sister Tollman arrived. I love looking for them and even just seeing them for brief moments. It is nice to feel loved by someone.

One of the all time highlights I think I will remember of the MTC is the most intense travel meeting and modesty talk of my life! I have never been blasted like that before. The travel talk was excessively basic and rather long. That's all we'll say about that one. And the modesty talk was anything but basic. We delved into the nitty-gritty details of whether it is acceptable to leave shirts untucked, laugh loudly and unprofessionally, or wear flowers in our hair. ( I am dead serious.) Sometimes I think we get too caught up in the details of life. I think the most important thing for any of us to focus on now, is inviting others to come unto Christ. If we strive to do that, all other things will fall in line. However, this week I also listened to a great talk by Stephen B Allen. I believe he works for the church in the missionary coordinating office. He helped write and edit PMG. I loved his talk, because it was unlike everything we have heard. Rather than try to pump us up with adrenaline and excitement he focused on the idea that it is ok if we are struggling. It is normal for us to have a hard time. That concept had never been address before. We talked about Alma 26:27-28 when Ammon and Aaron talk about "how hard their mission was". That was so comforting to realize that even those wonderful missionaries also felt overwhelmed and inadequate at times. I really appreciated that we finally acknowledged the fact that life happens and its not easy. I really felt inspired and more motivated and focused as a result of reading that scripture. Because that is what life is really about--not the trivial details, but overcoming the hard things that just happen.I have really been learning and growing so much here.

I can see my study habits improving so much and gradually I am learning how to really interpret and learn from the scriptures. Previously I always had the attitude that the scriptures where "just for the those smart, intellectual people who are just gifted with book learning". But I am beginning to see that they can be accessible to anyone. We don't have to just rely on life experiences to teach us.

Speaking of new experiences... I played volleyball on Saturday. I know it is absolutely inconceivable. it was sunny and nice outside and the elders have been begging me for weeks. Anyone who really knows me and my history of sports will understand that I really love those elders! I have 15 younger brothers and they are so much fun! However, lets not get too carried away. I am still eager to hop back on my elliptical tomorrow!

Sister Erickson and I had a great experience teaching in the RC. that is the place where you can make outbound calls to see if customers have received their orders of Book of Mormons or DVDs. Sister Erickson started talking to a lady named Stephanie and we got to call her back yesterday. It was amazing to me how much she didn't know. We are so blessed. We challenged her to read and pray last night, so we will call back tomorrow to see if she did and what she learned. We are so blessed to have so much knowledge.Well, I am so grateful that I have been allowed this opportunity to serve and so grateful for the things I have learned!

I love you all.

Hermana Morgan Palmer

PS. Thank you for the Projest Runway pics!!! So awesome!

PSS I am flying on October 15 and will have chance to call between 9:35-11:30 in Dallas or 5;00-7:20 Miami. Let me know if those work (keep in mind time changes.)

PSS I will send my call!