Week 6 June 26, 2015

I AM DYING. I can't believe I have 3 more days... 3 more days in the US, 3 more days in the MTC, 3 more days until everything gets real. A week from right now ill most likely be walking the streets of argentina! the anticipation is KILLING ME!! Its crazy how fast time has gone! I am on my 7 week as a missionary and to think that time is going to continue to fly! 

This week has been crazy!! we have the new mission presidents seminar, we have been enjoying the last week with our teachers, our last week somewhat understanding the spanish... ahhahaha but I am really going to miss this place. Although im sick of the food, and sitting in class all day long.. I love the people I am with! I am so grateful for the experiences that I had while I was here!!! 

its sooo crazy that every week as missionaries leave we head all over the world to share the gospel! i love it! we are all doing it together!! but Im trying to think what has happened this week!! ummmmmmm.... oh yeah!! sooo monday tuesday and wednesday were about the same... class and spanish and more teaching, AMAZING devotionals... they moved all of our activities out of the main building and into the gym where GUESS WHAT?!! sooo for about 9 months now ive been eating BYU catering... ok it doesnt seem that bad.. but trust me I AM SOOO SICK OF IT. I am soo lucky to have you mom to send me treats and diet coke and one of the girls that I have gotten really close to here, hermana holt (I SERIOUSLY FOUND A KINDRED SPIRIT IN HER, PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT HER.) has taken care of us with swig cookies and black licorice homemade suckers!! hahahahah anyways... thank you to everyone for the treats!! hahahahah and healthy foods #questbars. but lets just say that thursday was the best day ever!!!! WE HAD TACO BELL..... AND..... SUBWAY.. i hate subway.. but Ill tell you, it was really good!!!! hahahahahha but anyways..

 Travel Plans

 Fun Sisters-Thai sisters and Sister Squires

 Tired sisters

 Sister Pitts and Sister Peterson

enough with the excitement of something good to eat, thursday they did this new thing where a mission president gets put with a district of missionaries and we get a lesson from them and get to talk to them! ours were from uruguay... it was a serious wake up call!! I understood next to nothing... and i feel like I have been trying my best with spanish these past few weeks... oh well hopefully, well im sure... hahhah ill figure it out after a few weeks!! but it was really neat! they were super nice but we had no translator and they spoke 0 english... It makes me a little more nervous about the language.. but the anticipation is what is killing me!!! this fear of the unknown! but I know that its an adventure!! I love everyone's words of encouragement that they send me! that enjoy every second and take things as they come and learn from them!! I love that!!!

Keeping the faith is everything!! we have to trust that heavenly father will take care and watch over us... that he doesnt give us anything we can't handle!!! I am so grateful to have a family that loves me and supports me! you guys mean so much to me and i miss you everyday!! but I am excited for the adventure to come!! next time i write home ill be in argentina!!!! CRAZYYYYYYYYYYY... 

I KNOW IM NOT ALONE! KEEP THE FAITH!!!

XOXOXO hermana pitts 

Week 5 June 19, 2015

HOLA FAMIlLIA! 

HOW HAS THIS WEEK BEEN??? 

The mtc is just flying by! we get our FLIGHT PLANS TODAY!! I can't even believe it! 

There's not much new in my life.. just continuing to learn spanish and teach A LOT. But This week has definately been a humbling experience! I have been doubting myself and my abilities to teach alot.. but heavenly father knows each one of us personally and the experiences we go through! 

I've learned soo much.. this week. I know that the mission is hard and its satan trying to pull us down each and everyday! we have soo much good and are soo capable to help others and change ourselves.. but satan doesnt want that! I have definately felt discouraged this week but I know that prayers are answered!!!

SOOOO GUESS WHAT?!? Im going to share one of these experiences! So wednesday and thursday were rough! me and hermana fox were both feeling discouraged about teaching and about spanish and feeling like we werent measuring up to the expectations that we had set for ourselves.. but we right before lunch yesterday we were scheduled to teach our "investigator" (which was really our teacher Hermano Oslter..) but anyways we were very last to teach and everyone had gone over. we only had about 7 mintues until lunch... we decided that we would just share a short message and then ask him to read 2 nephi 31 in the book of mormon.. (because we meant to give him that last time, it was about baptism.. but we gave him the wrong chapter... soooo we seriously had nothing to talk about and had no plan for the lesson whatsoever) but anyways we knock on the door and he tells us that he has a few minutes... after we sat down I seriously had no idea what we were going to say and it seems like hermana fox didnt either. but we just started teaching and I HAVE NEVER FELT THE SPIRIT SOOO STRONGLY. It was exactly what I needed to feel... I dont remember what we talked about but I remember that the whole time I kept having this thought pop into my head to invite him to be baptized... but I kept brushing it aside because we hadnt talked about the Book of momron yet, or the restoration or anything about the gospel! but at the end hermana fox (was the brave one) and followed the spirit by asking if he would follow the example of christ... and then I was able to help him select a day for his baptism! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH HEAVENLY FATHER KNEW THAT WE NEEDED THAT AND THAT WE NEEDED THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE HIS INSTURMENTS AND THAT HE IS AWARE OF US!!  

after the lesson usually our teacher will stay in character until we leave the room and then he comes and talks to us about how we did... but he couldnt wait! as soon as we said amen... he jumps up and says that was impressive! that was the best lesson that I have ever had being an investigator!!! and he told us that he was soo proud of us and how far we have come!! 

then me and hermana fox look at each other and start crying!! its was amazing!! and an experience that I will cherish forever!!!!

The mtc is hard... its tough... emotionally, physically (hahahha maybe not soo much LOTS OF SITTING), spiritually! but this experience has changed my life and its only been a few weeks! It has strengthened my testimony of how much heavenly father is there and that even though he is trying to push us into being more christ like!  he wants us to be happy!! thats what I want everyone to feel! and that is why I am on a mission to help people realize that we dont have to do this alone!! We have a heavenly father that wants to bless us more than anything.. and a savior that understands each one of us perfectly!! 

Im so grateful for this experience! thank you everyone for packages and letters!!! thanks katie neeleman for the treats!! I love them!!! you guys are the sweetest to think of me!! but I love you guys and miss you everyday!! youre always in my prayers!! 

I love this gospel and love being a representative of my savior!! I love seeing soo many friendly faces here!!! I have one of my friends from the dorms in my zone (Jacob Curtis ) and then I have seen Kenzie Peterson, ellie arnold, will taylor, and sooooo many friends from the dorms!! But Its soo fun that we are all doing it together! and they all seem soo happy as am I!!

I love you HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

NEXT STOP ARGENTINA!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhh I cant believe it!! 

xoxox Hermana Pitts 

 Selfie

 MTC DORM

Week 4

June 12, 2015

It ties in perfectly with our devotional. Linda K. Burton came this week and talked about what it means to be a disciple! it was amazing!!!! WE MUST BE BOLD, WE MUST LISTEN TO THE PROMPTING SOF THE SPIRIT, WE MUCH MINISTER TO THOSE IN NEED... JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST!  My favorite thing she said is that she tied it into the atonement... and that the atonement is what gives us the strength and the power to become a disciple of jesus christ! We have to recieve the enabling power in order to stand out and to be true to who we are as sons and daugthers of our heavenly father... 

Fast sunday here was soo cool.. we were able to share our testimonies in spanish.. although they were simple.. they were so powerful! I have such a testimony that this is god's work and we are working in HIS vineyard! he needs us to work as diligently as possible because there is still a lot of work to do!!! 

The rest of the week has gone by same as the last... although WE GOT TO HOST THE NEW MISSIONARIES AGAIN!!!

I was able to get 2 of my best friends from high school!! I am so grateful to have MADDI BISH AND TISSE HERE!! It feels like home back at the dorms with them!! and Siera Squires also came in! I love seeing familiar faces!! 

The MTC is amazing... I am just enjoying every second that I get! 

Keep writing fam! I hope all is well at home!! I love to hear even just the little things.. they mean so much and I feel your love soo much when I read your letters soo thank you.. I wish I could just give you a big hug of gratitude!!!

You guys are the best! Claire I hope that your first babysitting job went well!! hahahah and Cam Hope cheer is going well!! Rpitt and Tgneit keep the love!! 

I love you guys and am so grateful for the family I come from!! 

i pray for you guys every day!! and Know that one of the reasons I am out here is so that I can help other people realize that we can be with each other forever which is what I want more than ANYTHING!!! 

keep the faith... when times are rough and when times are smooth! Its all about having faith and knowing that heavenly father wants us to be happy! thats what we teach our investigators everyday!! 

I love that saying.... KEEP THE FAITH.

xoxoxox

hermana pitts 

On Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 10:08 AM, Alison Pitts <alison.pitts@myldsmail.net> wrote:

wow. a week from today we get our travel plans, and then a week after that we head for argentina! 

Its soo crazy! but I am still loving it here!

This week hasnt changed much but I can't believe how fast time is flying by! it feels like I was just writing home a couple days ago, but what do you know another week has passed! but spanish is coming along somewhat... nothing new just continuing to teach and to feel the spirit! 

We have 3 investigators that we are teaching right now.. each has such a special place in my heart! I think I learn more about the gospel when I teach them than i do any other way! There are lots of ups and downs here, sometimes I am sooo frustrated with teaching and not feeling like I am connecting as well as I could be... that I am not being led by the spirit... and other times I am on an ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL HIGH... But I love being a missionary! 

Our teacher gave us the coolest lesson about how we need to understand where power comes from... its not from our spanish, or from how eloquent we say something, its not even from the spirit. its is from understand the nature of our call and who we are.. WE ARE CHILDREN OF HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE HAS GIVEN US DIVINE HELP TO DECLARE HIS WORD. 

Week 3

On Fri, Jun 5, 2015 at 9:50 AM, Alison Pitts <alison.pitts@myldsmail.net> wrote:

HOLY COW! I made it another week here in the MTC! and next week i am half way done! its CRAZZZZY! but I hope all of you are doing well! I miss you guys but I am doing soo good here! the spirit is so strong and heavenly father is so prevalent in my life! I seriously spend my entire day praying here! we counted one of the first days and we think we counted like 19 times in 1 day!! it was crazy! and now its even more cause we are in class soo much! 

I am going a little stir crazy.... sitting in class is harder than you think. I never take that gym time or eating for granted! I need it desperately! but let me think what happened this week.... its all such a blurr! ahahahah but 

sunday was church and I was able to plan a lesson for relief society (dont worry it was in english..) but I love the girls in our zone! acutally I love our entire zone! we always talk about how we are family! and seriously they all leave in about 10 days and we are soo sad... Its going to be a hard day! but then sunday night for devo we had Janice Kapp Perry come speak. I have never laughed so hard. Her and her husband were singing their family song.... I WAS DYING! they were dancing and singing all around the stage. SO FUNNY. 

Monday was same old, sit in class, eat, sit some more, eat, then sit some more. stress out because we dont know spanish... and then teach some lessons but its awesome!

tuesday we had class and then devotional! We had ANOTHER APOSTLE!! Elder Christofferson came and talked about "questions from the field" the spirit that comes from an apostle is amazing! i think that is the last apostle we will get but i am so glad I got to experience that while in the MTC! its so unique here! every time they speak they express how much they love the missionaries!! you can just feel there love for us!! 

Wednesday was by far my favorite day!! we got to host the new missionaries!! this week there were about 300 coming in and this next week it doubles to over 600 new missionaries!! its going to start getting crazy!!! but I was able to show 2 cute sisters around the MTC! i thought it was going to be so tender and hard, but it was amazing!!!! the best part of the day was when I thought that hosting was over but around 1 i thought I would walk up front one more time to check to see if there was anyone else!! I was so grateful I did cause I got to host Bailey Wilson!! It was amazing!!! I got to show her around and it turns out that she is in the same building as me!! It was seriously such a tender mercy!!! I love her!!! 

Thursday was the same old stuff... sitting and eating hahahahha I am sooo sick of sitting!! but our zone got into a hard core kick ball game... ITS A GOOD THING WE WON! there were some hard feelings... but we got over it quickly!!! hahahahaha but everything here in the MTC is great! I really like it here! it seems like i have been here forever... but Its also going by so fast! TIME IS SO WEIRD HERE!!!! but I love you guys and love getting your letters!! I never have tons of time to email but send me dear elders! I would love to hear how you are doing and I can read them whenever and then, I can write you back! but I love you guys! and I miss you!! but I know this is where I am supposed to be! Whenever it gets hard i just remember everyone that is there cheering for me! 

I am constantly laughing when I mess up! I know that its a learning experience, and in order to learn we must make mistakes... but I can be the best missionary that I can be by loving and serving those around me! that is my calling and that is my purpose as a missionary! to love and to serve god's children and help them to come unto christ! I am excited to begin the adventure in argentina, and feel of god's love for them!! I THINK WE GOT OUR VISAS!!!! I was told that they havent been having any problems with getting visas to argentina!! Cross your fingers and pray!! hahahahaha I want it soo bad!! but I love you all!!! 

i pray for you everyday!! and can't wait to see what the next 16 months hold for me!! 

I am doing sooo good! and I love hearing from everyone!

xoxoxoxo 

muchas amor

hermana pitts

WEEK 2 May 29, 2015

that i can be!! I love this quote that I found in my mission prep manual, it says that "i am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation isnt cheap" I firmly believe that. We are here and its hard but its sooo good!! i love my investigators and I love teaching!! 

enough with the serious stuff! hahah this week i have had a few laughs. Some mistakes that are too funny not to share. its all happened to me when i was being dumb and trying to speak spanish and not really know what I was saying hahahaha we were teaching hugo (our investigator that we have found out will soon be our spanish teacher) and I was trying to explain the spirit. hahahahah I was telling him about feelings that come to your heart when you feel the power of el espiritú santo. anyways, I was talking about feelings of happiness and comfort and peace that come to your heart, but didnt know the word for peace. so I tried to make it up. I told him sentirá los sentimientos de PES in su corazon. He looked at me and started laughing, and I had no idea what was going on..... he then asked "en el auga?" and I just said no no se, and went on. come to find out when I walked out of the lesson that I had just told hugo that when he felt the spirit.... HE WILL FEEL A FISH IN HIS HEART!!! we laughed for seriously a half hour. I could not believe that I had just told him that! luckily I later reviewed those feelings in another lesson and made sure I used PAZ. hahahahah sooo funny!!! and then another time, I had asked him what he thought would happen in his future? like where do you want to be in 20 years... and he didnt really know so i gave him an example of where I wanted to be. the only thing I could think of was, quiero los hijos. he just stared at me like what the heck did you just say..... hahahhaahhaahha i just told him I wanted children. I guess Hermana Pitts might be baby hungry! hahahahahha but it was sooo dumb! i couldn't believe I had said that but when silly things happen like that, I was embarrassed but hermana fox is really good with just laughing it off with me!!! its so great!! this work is soo great!! 

I know that heavenly father loves me and I LOVE YOUR LETTERS AND DEAR ELDERS!!!! they are amazing!!! seriously thank you so much, they mean the world to me! when I get discouraged all I have to do is pull out a letter and know that you guys are all cheering me on!! 

Oh! one more thing! that kind goes along with this hahahah, on sunday we had the missionary manager, i think his name was elder allen come speak to us for devotional and he talked about those that have come before!! we sang COME COME YE SAINTS!! and how we all have our specific trials and paths that we take, but there are so many out there that have gone before us as missionaries and know exactly what we are going through!!! I am so grateful to have a mom and dad that both served and an older sister!! I think of you guys often in the times i am feeling down! and know that you know what i am going through! Elder allen explained that if they can do it! we all can do it! that YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! that combine with elder hollands devotional were exactly what I needed to hear!! I am so grateful for the lord's work and to be apart of it right now!! I am a missionary of the last days!! Preparing the way for christ to come again!! The field is white and its ready to harvest! 

Rach i watched the character of christ!! Its exactly what I needed this first week out!! I love you all soooo much when much is given much is required!!! and when much is required much is given!! we will all be blessed for our faith in jesus christ!! 

KEEP THE FAITH!! ( i never really understood that until this week) I NEED THE FAITH!! hahahahhahahahahhahahhah I WOULDNT BE SURVIVING THIS WHIRLWIND WITHOUT IT!!!

BUT there is no place I would rather be!!!!

I love you all soo much!! keep writing!! I love it!!! you are all my greatest examples!! 

Xoxo

Hermana

On Fri, May 29, 2015 at 10:47 AM, Alison Pitts <alison.pitts@myldsmail.net> wrote:

AHH HOLA COMO ESTAN?!? 

Time is such a weird thing here in the MTC! I feel like every week I get a week older! our zone always jokes about it, that every week it feels likes we were born into life as a missionary!! but the spirit here is amazing!!!!! 

GUESS WHAT!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!? 

ELDER HOLLAND CAME ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! he talked about how our only weapon of offense in the amour of the lord is the sword of the spirit! we have to open our mouths to speak! satan wants us to stay silent, not share the gospel because when we bear testimony of truth the spirit can touch hearts and change lives! so even though I dont know spanish and I may not be perfect through teaching, I can use the power of the spirit and it can touch people! he talked about how when joseph smith was in the sacred grove while he was praying the adversary couldnt touch him but he did the next best thing that would stop joseph from this miracle, and the 2nd most important event on the earth after the birth life and atonement of our savior; and that was to bind his tounge!!! it was such a powerful experience.... Changing my whole perspective on missionary work!! We HAVE to open our mouths and like enoch the lord will give us the words to say, the spirit will guide us, and the holy ghost is the ultimate teacher!!! I love that!!! ahhhh sooo amazing!!!

but anyways!! these past few days have again been such a roller coaster. We have now taught 8 lessons and they have all been IN SPANISH!!!!  its crazy how ill say something and hope that they understand and our investigators get it!!! I love the spiritual high that I get everytime I teach someone!! it strengthens my testimony so much! i love to feel the spirit in spanish!!! its AMAZING!!! but I know that heavenly father is mindful of me and my circumstances, I am so grateful for prayer and the comfort that comes from it! 

The MTC is definately hard sometimes, hey a mission is hard sometimes (so i have heard) but i know that its those times where I feel the spirti whether through studying or through teacher that i know this is where I am supposed to be! and I know that this church is christ's church and that I am experiencing a small piece, a microscopic piece of what christ went through. I shouldnt even compare it to that ahahahaha but im going to be brutally honest for 1 second... hahah this is the hardest thing I have ever done. but I know its for my benefit. that I am learning and growing and that i can do anything with the lords help!! we have the atonement for a reason!! its crazy but every time I am almost at my end. where I feel defeated! heavenly father sends me a tendermercy, a pickme up!! he keeps giving me little experiences that help me to feed that fire and to continue having that desire to be a missionary and share my testimony!! 

i hope those argentines are ready cause I am praying for them! hahahahah and I am ready to get down there and use all the preparation that I am making right now to be the best HERMANA PITTS 

 Hermanas in my District

 My Cute Companion Hermana Fox