Sister Rebecca Cate: Week 2 (3/13/18): We have a starfish in our trashcan

Meet Jeffrey Star Holland. We are the ninth generation of sisters to have him. The picture really doesn't do him justice. And apparently we have to read the Book of Mormon to him every night.

For those of you wondering if it's possible to get sunburnt in Provo in the winter, the answer is yes. We had class outside yesterday, and my left arm got sunburnt... But it doesn't hurt at all, so it's fine. But because it's only the left arm, I've gotten a couple weird looks and people asking me if I'm okay.

This week has gone by so fast!! Last Tuesday night, Elder Ballard gave the devotional and did a question and answer session. The Spirit was so strong! I feel like that's the theme of my whole MTC experience.

And then Sunday night, President and Sister Gilbert (he's the first counselor in the MTC presidency) spoke about loving enough to lift. They shared stories from when they were mission presidents in Japan or Korea about how their missionaries lifted each other. And I love that part of our purpose is to lift others. We watched David A. Bednar's MTC address "Character of Christ" and he talked about how Christ's character is to turn out in compassion and love when the natural man in us would turn inward. And that's so true. And as we try to turn out like Christ did, we become more converted to Him.

Sister Servoss and I have had a great time. She's definitely a louder personality than I am and, as Robert can attest, she's kind of crazy, but it's never dull! And she has such a genuine love for people, especially our investigators, and it comes through so clearly. I really lucked out!

Something the MTC choir director mentioned is that in Jacob 5, the last time they care for the vineyard, they call for more servants. And that might be referring to President Monson lowering the mission age. It's so cool to be fulfilling prophecy. There is nothing like being a missionary!! I definitely have a lot of growing still to do, but I've come so far in my confidence in sharing the gospel.

This week, our zone didn't get a new district. So tomorrow, after the old district leaves and before the new district gets here, we'll be the only people in our branch! But some of the new missionaries we're getting tomorrow are going to be serving in the West Virginia Charleston Mission!!! I'm so excited that I get to meet them (and tell them to say hi to my family for me!) Of course, because our district is pretty much our branch, we've got all the leadership roles. Sister Servoss and I are the technology sisters and the branch music coordinators. The number of times we've tried to get Salt Lake to fix our online training...

I love being able to go to the temple every week. It is such a blessing to have that time each week to focus on the fact that baptism isn't the end goal for the people I'll be teaching. They need to make it to the temple to receive all the blessings God has for them. And the peace in the temple is so needed after the craziness of the week! I'm so glad there is a temple in Fresno.

I already have my travel plans, and it's finally feeling like I'm not just going to stay at the MTC for the next while, but that I'm actually headed to Fresno!! And my mission president is either the brother or brother-in-law of the second counselor in our branch president's wife! She sent a picture of us and says that he is excited to meet us! And I'm so excited to get there!

Love you all!!

Sister Cate

PS (And FYI, the starfish is fake. It's made of foam. :)