Maybe you and Tennille will go on the same transfer!!

 

to me

doubt it, i will probably get reassigned. lowkey hope

PQCM update from Pres Koster

 

3:12 min video on learning tagalog at the MTC

 

Megan Smoot <smoot.megan@myldsmail.net>	Jun 29, 2018, 2:39 PM
to me

THATS MY TEACHER

My district and I are laughing so hard

Dad's Wearing Your Shirt

 

 aloha

To start off the week, we were extremely blessed to have all of the apostles here! Our first Sunday

 Elder Cook spoke to us. We were told that this experience happens only once a year so we were very lucky to be a part of it at this time. My district and 90% of the missionaries at the MTC right now went to choir right before and the spirit was awesome. I was getting choked up throughout the whole devotional, and to be honest, this whole week. Not because of sadness, but because everything just makes you so happy here and the spirit is so strong!! (Mom idk if this counts as being a softy, but I hope you're happy haha) i love the mtc so much. 

First Night Back Home

 

"...you're not as studious, but your social skills make up for it."

aloha

To start off the week, we were extremely blessed to have all of the apostles here! Our first Sunday

 Elder Cook spoke to us. We were told that this experience happens only once a year so we were very lucky to be apart of it at this time. My district and 90% of the missionaries at the MTC right now went to choir right before and the spirit was awesome. I was getting choked up throughout the whole devotional, and to be honest, this whole week. Not because of sadness, but because everything just makes you so happy here and the spirit is so strong!! (Mom idk if this counts as being a softy, but I hope you're happy haha) i love the mtc so much. 

The MTC is awesome, but this week definitely had it's ups and downs. Learning a new language is HARD. We have language classes for 5 1/2 hours all together A DAY. Our teachers are amazing, but it is a little overwhelming. One thing that has really helped me is what another Sister told me.

 I was explaining to her how I just felt so behind and the things I was struggling with, and she reminded me that Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses. He is going to break us down, just so he can build us back up stronger. I loved that!! One of my teachers also had me read Matthew 25. Basically, God doesnt care about how many 'talents' you have. He cares about the multiplication result, and if you put in your best effort. I'm not as good at explaining it as Bro Higgins was, so if you don't get me, I invite you to read that chapter haha. It just helped me realize that the Lord doesn't care if I am fluent in Tagalog. He only cares if I put my all into trying to learn the language and that I've progressed from day 1! The Atonement of Jesus Christ has been a huge part of my week as well. Im so grateful to know that I am not alone, and the Christ knows exactly how I feel and what I am going through. With exact obedience, comes miracles!

 Oh also, Katie being here has been a HUGE blessing to me. The other night I was having a really hard time, and she knew exactly what to say and do. ahh i love her so much. Im so grateful for her, my companion, and my district haha. My district is awesome. All of us are literally so different, but I know that we were blessed with love for each other. It wasn't a coincidence that we were all put together. Each companionship is so perfect its amazing what God can do. The best part though is that when we are all together, we laugh wayyy too much. Like, I don't think we are supposed to be having this much fun in the MTC? They are so precious and i love em all. 

 

Anyways, hope you all have a great week!! Choose the right, and if you really love me...

Sister Megan Lindsay Smoot
AUG08  PHI-QUE
2005 N 900 E Unit  97
Provo UT 84602 

xoxo Sister Smoot 

1. Sis Hardy is the cutest human being and made Sis Rob and I cute notes

2. Pic of Sis Robertson and I in SEVENTH GRADE. if that's not the gnarliest thing youve ever seen, idk what is

3. They call themselves the twins but theyre literally so funny and idek why

4. District boii

5. ok this pic KILLS me. I forgot to mention what my subject title was about in my email haha 

so the fourth elder in this pic, his name is Elder Willden. This kid has no filter hahaha. We were discussing with each other how we felt like we've known

our whole district for so long even though we've only been together for a week, and he was saying how he could already determine our personalities. 

We told him to tell us each exactly what kind of personality we have... he tells the sister before me that she was studious, then when it was my turn he says

"You come off as very social...  definitely not studious, but your social skills make up for it." HAHA thx Elder

i hope these pics work, if not ill have my mom send them again haha pasensiya 

One Week Down

 

Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:42 PM

Kumusta na, pamangkin?

How are you, Sister Smoot? Received your group email last week and it sounds like you were on a first week high! Really jealous that you can be there learning and feeling the spirit like crazy and learning and speaking Tagalog! I remember being in the MTC and the only language of the Philippines they taught was Tagalog so those were my language classes even though the languages in my mission were Cebuano and Waray Waray. I remember being in complete awe of my batchmates because Tagalog is not easy! The conjugations are complicated and sometimes their tenses do not have an English counterpart. It was familiar enough for me...I could understand it but not really speak it. So even with that, I had it so much easier. But you know what...they got it as best as they could. 

I hope you know that is all that is required of you there. Do the best you can, but don't expect perfection. The learning you do, with the language as well as the gospel teaching, is a gradual process. The language will come. But it will come like the sunrise...very gradually. And that is common. It is normal. It is a rite of passage all missionaries go through. Be patient with yourself because you know...God is patient with you. So you can cut yourself some slack. You are an intelligent young woman. You can totally do this! Have realistic expectations for yourself while you give your all. And that is enough for the Lord. It is easy to compare yourself to others who you feel are 'getting it' so much faster than you are. But resist that urge to compare. It is Satan's way!

I know that after the first week, reality sets in and you start to realize the magnitude of your calling. It can be very overwhelming. You see so many different kinds of missionaries around you. You are taught what kind of missionary you should be and it can be hard to reconcile everything. And you start to wonder, can I be that missionary the Lord wants me to be? Having served a mission, sent two daughters out on missions, and seeing missionaries out here in the mission field, I can tell you with certainty that the Lord does not expect you to be a perfect missionary. He knows your struggles, your weaknesses, your doubts. What He expects is for you to invite and include Him in every step of this journey. You cannot do all things required of you, but with Him, you can. He will magnify you in ways that will astound you. There is no reason for you to feel discouraged or overwhelmed. When that happens, ask yourself, am I looking to myself or to God? Many times, when we feel down, it is because we have lost our sight of Him. We need to always remember Him and remember that He is with us if we let Him be. 

Become the missionary you want to be. Do your part by asking Him in mighty prayer to help you become the servant He wants you to be. Ask Him for help in those things you know you are struggling in. You have many talents and gifts that bless so many and will bless the lives of those you will meet on your mission. You are not expected to get rid of your personality to fit a standard mold of the perfect missionary. There are lives that will be touched only by you and your unique personality. What the mission expects is an enhanced, better you. That comes when you have Christ as your center, your focus, in everything you do there. Not just in class or in talking about the gospel. Have Him as your center as you are doing your laundry, eating your meals, interacting with everyone and anyone you meet. When we focus on Him, all things fall into place. Your burdens and worries will be lighter. You will be happier, you will feel enough. I promise you that is true. 

I hope this email gives you hope and some light. You are enough for this work. You are more than enough. Let God be with you. Picture Him sitting by you in class, walking the halls with you. Look up, not in. You have some marvelous days ahead. It is in the midst of our struggles we come to know Him! I know He is with you. 

Can't wait to hear about your week!

Love you lots,

Aunt Cherry

mabuti ang lahat

kamusta po friends and fam!

I'm alive. Barely. I love the mtc though! It has been awesome. The only thing is that Ive been here for a whole 2 days, but it legit feels like 2 weeks. When everyone said it feels like forever the first week, they weren't kidding. I have definitely seen the Lord's hand in my life the past few days though. 

I got set apart at the MTC a few hours before getting dropped off, and it was such a great experience! President Gilbert was able to tell me where my class was, where I was staying, and who my kasama (companion) is. Once he told me who my kasama was it took everything in me to not yell/cry/laugh because its RILEY ROBERTSON!!!!!! For those of you who don't know, Sister Robertson and I have known each other since 7th grade. I was so happy and excited because the Lord definitely knew I needed her. She's super motivated and since she went to byu provo, she knows how to self discipline herself into studying hard hahaha I NEED THAT. I love her so much. Its been hard remembering to call her 'sis robertson' instead of saying "Oh hey Ry!" Something we are both working on ;) we laugh a ton and sometimes its in the wrong moments haha. Whenever we feel like we are having a small crisis we just say "mabuti ang lahat" (everything is fine.) Pretty sure we've said that at least 20 times today.

When I got here, Sister Lauren Hurst helped me get everything into my room! She's also one of my friends from high school. It's legit like a high school/college reunion here because Ive seen a ton of people I know. It has helped me feel a lot more comfortable and not as sad being away from everyone. MY BEST FRIEND KATIE CURTIS IS TWO DOORS DOWN. I am so blessed. Also, Idk if it's just me, but i seriously feel like I'm at EFY, just 1000x harder. The first day i was on 4 hours of sleep, so my eyes were on FIRE. Everyone kept asking me if I was okay because it legit looked like I had been crying my eyes out lol rip.

 My district is sick, and the elders in it seriously crack me up. Theyre cute little guys straight outta high school that me and sis rob think lowkey hate us since we laugh all the time??? Like, we're just tryin to have a good time and make the best out of it?? We will make jokes and then they just look at us and turn away?? rude. Our goal for this week is to get them to laugh and like us more haha theyll warm up to us. LOVE THEM. And today I just found out that everyone in my district is a genius. Literally, they're all going to Provo and studying something in the medical field. Then there's me :)

Anyways, yesterday we had one of our first language classes and holy smokes. By the end, I just wanted to take a nap and watch some netflix because my head was FRIED. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be considering we are learning straight tagalog for 3 hours, but I got a little discouraged, then realized later that I actually know a lot for just going to one class?? GIFT OF TONGUES. 

Okay this email was longer than planned. Miss you all, send me some love, choose the right. 

xoxo Sis Smoot

Blessing -Setting Apart as a Missionary 6/20/18

 

Charmaine Smoot <charmaine.smoot@gmail.com>	Fri, Jun 22, 2018, 2:52 PM
to Megan

I hope you can use this as additional comfort and direction throughout your mission just as you would with your Patriarchal blessing. I love you so much and so proud of you!!

Love,

Mom


Sister Megan Lindsay Smoot, by the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood, we place our hands upon your head and set you apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We give unto you all the rights, privileges, responsibilities and blessings that are associated with this call, with your assignment to serve in the Philippines, Quezon City Mission.

Sister Smoot, we bless you that you will have health and strength to carry you throughout your mission. That you’ll be strong physically to be able to take care of the physical needs and responsibilities of finding people, bring them unto our Savior.

We bless you with the mental strength, that you’ll be able to study, to learn, and understand, to gain the knowledge that you need. We bless you with spiritual strength, that through this service you’ll learn how your Father in Heaven communicates with you through the spirit of the Holy Ghost. You’ll be able to receive inspiration, revelation, directions, and blessings from our Father in Heaven.

We bless you that as you begin your missionary service here at the MTC, particularly, that the gift of knowledge, that as you study the language, Tagalog, you’ll be able to quickly learn and understand, that you’ll be able to be a wonderful missionary, being able to communicate with the people in the Philippines.

We bless you that your heart will be soft. That you’ll be able to sense, to feel, and to know and understand people and their needs and be able to teach to those needs.

We bless you that you’ll have great compassion and love, and charity in your heart and that you’ll be able to see people through the Savior’s eyes.

We bless you that you’ll be a peacemaker and a leader that other missionaries can look to you to your good way of life, to your good example, and know the things they should and shouldn’t do by following you.

I bless you that you’ll be faithful and diligent that you will be successful and that you’ll be able to find those people that our Father in Heaven has sent you to find, to teach, and bring back to his fold.

Sister Smoot, we bless you.  We bless your family through your faithful service that they too will receive wonderful blessings from our Father in Heaven, that they will be watched over and blessed as well. Make sure that you communicate with them. Let them know of your challenges, struggles, your successes, your joys, that they too might joy in your missionary service and that they can exercise in faith and prayers on your behalf and those who you teach they can pray for. And seek our Father in Heaven’s help for you and your missionary service. That all might be blessed and edified because of your service. Be faithful in following the directions and counsel of your mission president and his wife. They will give you direction in your mission that also will give you protection that you’ll be safe, that as you follow that counsel, you’ll be successful in missionary service and it will carry forward throughout your life. You will be able to draw upon those experiences from your missionary service. But you’ll be able to inspire, blessed, and help people throughout your life. This is a preparation time for the rest of your life in preparing to be a wonderful wife and mother, and sister in the gospel. This will give you great value and strength to be faithful throughout your life.

We thank you for your willingness to serve, for your preparation, your faithfulness in all that you’ve done throughout your life that has prepared you to go forward in serving this time, in this capacity. We bless you with great joy and happiness, and great peace throughout your missionary service. Remember our Father in Heaven loves those who rely upon him. Pray, and seek direction, seek inspiration, seek revelation from Him as you act upon these promptings, he will continue to bless you with greatness. It will be a great blessing throughout your life as you were to communicate with our Father in Heaven through the Holy Ghost.

I leave these blessings and any other blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for you at this time and throughout your mission and do so in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Letter from Provo MTC Presidency

 ---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Missionary Training Center <mtcInfoDesk@mtc.byu.edu>
Date: Thu, Jun 14, 2018 at 10:10 PM
Subject: Letter from Provo MTC Presidency
To: <smoot.megan@myldsmail.net>

Dear Sister Megan Lindsay Smoot,

Congratulations on your call to serve!  We are excited about your arrival at the Provo Missionary Training Center next week and are grateful for your decision to serve the Lord.  We would like to share some important information about your stay at the MTC.

You should arrive for your training at the main MTC campus (2005 N 900 E).

This will be your MTC mailing address:

Sister Megan Lindsay Smoot
AUG08  PHI-QUE
2005 N 900 E Unit  97
Provo UT 84602

Please share this address with those who may want to write or send packages to you while you are in the MTC. 

Also, please pay close attention to the following instructions:

  1. IF you will be serving in a mission which uses mobile devices: Please make sure you have MaaS360 installed and that your device is in compliance BEFORE coming to the MTC. (See missionary.lds.org for setup instructions.) You should also verify that your phone does NOT have a SIM card.
  2. Your service begins the day you check into the MTC.  Remind your family that complete separation from loved ones is part of the sacrifice that families and missionaries contribute to the work.  For this reason, you should ask your family and friends not to attempt to see or visit with you while you are at the MTC, not even during your temple walks or at other places near the MTC.
  3. All missionary mail must come through the US Mail or commercial delivery services.  These services should not be used to send pizzas, fast foods, ice-cream, or any items that will spoil if they are not refrigerated within 24 hours.  Missionaries are not called out of class to receive packages, nor do they have access to a refrigerator.  For security reasons, we cannot accept any items delivered by hand.
  4. Communication with family can be done through your missionary email account on your weekly Preparation Day. We cannot accept telephone calls for missionaries.
  5. Families and friends should not visit missionaries as they depart to their field of labor, whether at the MTC or at the airport.

Please do not reply to this email.  If you need to communicate with the MTC, please call 801-422-2602 or email mtcinfodesk@mtc.byu.edu.

Sincerely,

Provo MTC Presidency

Mission Call