How to Survie the MTC?

The MTC always seems to get an array of opinions ranging from "the prison" to "the most fun I ever had!" 

The MTC is a very special place but it can be tricky at first. This is the place where you will last see your family. The place where you will learn what it is like to be with someone 24/7. The place where you will first feel homesick. The place where you will sit for 10 hours a day in a classroom. The place where you will struggle with learning a foreign language and the ways of missionary life. This is also the place where you will constantly feel the spirit. The place where you will get to hear the Apostles and General Authorities weekly. A place where you can go to the temple weekly. A place where you will learn so much about yourself and your Savior. The MTC is the start of your mission experience and it is what you make it!

Here are some ways to make the most of your MTC experience

1). A week before you enter the MTC try to live the missionary schedule of getting up at 6:30 and going to bed at 10:30. Yes, this sounds hard but it will be worth it when you are not sleep deprived.

2). Make a list of goals you want to accomplish before going into the MTC, like read all of Preach My Gospel before leaving. Memorize the first vision. Read the whole Book of Mormon. Try to only speak in my assigned mission language. Serve my MTC companion every day.

3). Be Positive! You will never have an opportunity like this to be among so many missionaries!

4). Take NOTES!!!! You will have weekly devotionals where many general authorities will give you advice that you wish you would have written down. I looked back at my MTC devotional notes at least once a month and they always gave me a desire to work harder and be better!

5). Speak your mission language as much as possible. Your teachers will ask you to do this and it won't be until you get to your first lesson in the field where you realize they were RIGHT!

6). Now with that being said, it's important to learn as much as you can but to also realize that you are not expected to know everything in the 11 days to 9 weeks that you are in the MTC. Don't be too hard on yourself and realize the language is only a small part of what you need to be a great missionary. Learn, work hard, but enjoy the spiritual atmosphere that you'll never experience again in your life.

7). Any missionary will tell you that they had a companion or two they really wanted to strangle at one point or another. It might be hard, but if there is a  companion you should get the best along with it should be your MTC comp. You both are terrified and excited together. You can really strengthen each other. You will share a bond that you won't with any other companion.

8. Early morning Sisters only gym! Okay, this might sound crazy but getting up a half hour early and going to the Sisters only gym saved me! They have an instructor come and do kick-boxing, the step, Zumba, yoga and a bunch of other great aerobic activities. I loved it because I was really stressed out in the MTC and although they give you gym time, it was so nice to wake up each morning, get moving, and take my mind off of the language and stress.

9. LOVE your district! Just like your companion these 8-10 people can become your best friends! You are all going through the same thing and it's important to do all you can get to know them and learn from them. You might be going to different missions and countries but these people can be one of your biggest support in the MTC and you'll most definitely want to keep in touch!

10. My last week in the MTC I read a talk my friend sent me called the 'Fourth Missionary." This talk not only changed my mission but my life. After I read it I made goals in my Preach My Gospel of all the things I wanted to achieve on my mission. I set a goal for how many baptisms I wanted to achieve, goals for the Spanish, goals for how many times I'd read Preach My Gospel, the Book of Mormon, and the Bible. I looked at these goals every day and it motivated me to be my best. You will learn as a missionary without a vision in mind, you will not achieve all that you can. Preach My Gospel says, "meaningful goals and careful planning will help you accomplish what the Lord requires of you.... goals reflect the desires of our heart." Do not leave the MTC without letting yourself and the Lord know what you want to accomplish as his servant.

 Here is the link for the Fourth Missionary

http://oysmf.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html