Getting in the swing of things

I'm in love with being an MTC Teacher.

(and have I mentioned my over-the-top thoughtful amazing roommate?)

Each day, I am more and more profoundly grateful for this opportunity. I have been stretched and pushed to reach deeper and farther than ever, into the depths of my testimony and ability to teach and lead like the Savior.

I have such a long ways to go.

But I am patient as God is tutoring me.

I got my first district this week. I have an all-Elders district--8 of the finest missionaries in the MTC, lucky me (:

I feel like a proud mother. I can't even begin to describe how much I love each of them, and how happy it makes my heart to see them succeed and learn and grow.

They are just precious! I learn from them probably more than they learn for me. Doesn't it always seem to work out that way?

 (Don't mind me, just re-living my MTC experience)

I literally could write a novel about my experience there so far, despite my relatively short employment.

But it's sufficient to say that I am humbled, grateful, and over-the-top joyous to be at the MTC.
(Why am I getting paid for this???)



Aside from the workforce--life is grand.

I am still learning the ropes. It is randomly really difficult adjusting sometimes.
I miss my mission.

There are struggles I'm facing, but who isn't? I think being home is just a uniquely beautiful journey for each return missionary. No one could have prepared me for it, and that's ok. It's life. God continues to lead me through it all.

I had my homecoming talk, accompanied with a wave of emotion and nostalgia for the people and places and experiences I hold closest to my heart.

It was a joy being reunited with so many family members and friends. I was spoiled with love and support. (and cookies.)


Classes have been going well. The homework is starting to catch up with me.

Still working to find my niche in school, work, and the social world especially.

I've started to have more of a schedule, which is immensely beneficial for me.
Having a schedule keeps me grounded and balanced.
I thrive on it.

My wonderful father came for a visit (:

Sure do love him.

Today I had this for lunch:

In case you can't tell, it's chicken and waffles (: It's a Southern thing apparently?

I might need to move there...
'cause I'm hooked.

Mmm good.


Alright. That's enough random facts about my life. I better post this before I get swept away in another item from my 'to-do' list. Thanks for the read (:

Sister Bishop is Back.

STORY TIME.

While I was on my mission, I applied to the MTC via video submission.

Last Thursday--2 long months later--they called.

Friday, I went in for an interview.

I was so nervous. Ask my mom.

I go in and discover that an Elder off of "The District" missionary training DVD's was one of the two interviewers. 

I just spent the last 18 months of my life watching him teach, and then all of a sudden I found the tables had turned, and he was the one watching and critiquing me teach. 

Cue an added amount of nerves.

It was a group interview, and one by one the four of us took turns teaching a 10 minute lesson.

I left the interview feeling good about my efforts, and clueless as to what would happen.

Monday during class, I missed a phone call.

Monday after class, I called the number back.
Monday, I got offered a teaching job at the MTC.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (:

To say I'm excited is an understatement. 

The rest of Monday was a complete mess. It was the add/drop deadline for classes, and I had to drop and add four classes in order to align my schedule with my work shift! That brought a whole host of tasks--buying new textbooks, selling old ones, emailing teachers, trying in vain to get caught up to speed on the week I had missed, and the list goes on.

My brain was running a million miles an hour.

When 6 PM hit, I finally breathed for a second and realized I was shaking, and hadn't eaten since 10 AM. Whoops! 

My cute roommates bought ice-cream, and we had a party to celebrate. <3

Tuesday, I went in to fill out paperwork. Can we admire my blindingly white "employee" sticker for a second? (:

 I went and worked at The Wall after, doing the booth. I have really gotten the hang of the booth, and have come to love it! I have the greatest conversations with people, and it's so fun.

Sadly, it was my last day. I will be working 20 hours at the MTC and have to quit The Wall :(

My boss was really cool about it though, which was a relief.

My roomie Lauren reminds me all the time, and has been just as ecstatic as me (:

I have experienced a    w  i  i  i  i  i  i  d  e   range of emotions.

I feel completely inadequate and overwhelmed, but in a sense that brings me to my knees and to the feet of my Savior.

I'm immensely grateful for such a humbling experience, and am eager to rely on God in a very, very heavy way. 

It blows my mind how everything just lined up perfectly for me to work here. It could not have gone better. 

God needs me at the MTC, for one reason or another. 

And because I am confident of that, I am also confident that He will qualify me and continue to prepare the way as I am humble and reliant upon Him. 

I don't think I've been qualified on my own to do a single task He's asked of me, but with His help, it all truly works out the way it needs to. 

I am completely in love with being an instrument in God's hands.

GOD IS SO GOOD.

I'm eager to be "Sister Bishop" again (: I get a new name tag. I work 6 days a week, every day but Sunday. So I will be in missionary attire 7 days a week, once again haha.

It's going to be quite the adventure learning to be a part-time 'missionary' and full-time student. Can't wait to walk down this path and see where it takes me!

Aside from all the MTC job excitement, things are going well (: loving every second. I'm blessed far, far beyond what I deserve.

 Had to share this from on campus:

I love BYU. I want to hug the clever person who did this. Made my day!

Stay tuned for my coming adventure! Operation: MTC Teacher starts tomorrow (:

And Life Continues.

I'm home from my mission!! Can you believe it? I hardly can.

So life resumes. This blog will get some attention. And everything carries on.

It's weird how much you change on your mission, but then get home and realize just how very little everything else changed.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude thinking about my mission. It's a little strange being a "return-missionary." It's a big title that I'm still trying to figure out how to wear, like one of those awkward oversized chunky sweaters that never seem to fit right.

Well, I'll just dump some pictures to catch up for the last 3 weeks (feels like a year but 1 day all at the same time)!

 

 The airport scene. It was wild. So many emotions.

 My mom is so talented. Look at this 'welcome home' banner--to die for!

 Look who came to see me that night (:

 My cute trainer, Mariah, was in cahoots with my mom! She surprised me at Temple Square while I was there with my mom and Corb.

A week after getting home, I flew back to California--this time to my dad's house!

 Cute Kennedy Lynn--she loves taking "sister pictures"

 Had a cool surprise one night! A limo picked us up from dinner and we drove through neighborhoods decked out with Christmas lights. Too fun.

 Then this happened:

 It's a lighter brown now! Especially in the sun. I'm very happy with it.

 Family pictures! These two are just from someone's phone.

 A very unflattering picture of me giving my first homecoming talk in CA. Went great!

 Cute Charlie just lays on you like a furry pancake.

 

We went to a new theater where they serve you dinner during the show. Neat!

Got to skype with Jana McQueen, my New Zealand companion (: I almost cried when I saw her. Such a happy occasion! Adore her.  She changed my life.

 Came back to Utah! Went on a double date with a friend from the mission, Chad.

 Aquarium and pizza at "The Pie Pizzeria" after, so fun!

 The things my mom does to me...

 They wrapped me up for our New Years card family picture haha.

 Moved back to Provo!

 I had fun with my apartment decor (:

 First day of school!

 Ran into Jess and Shannon, both from my mission (:

That's it for now.

I'm living at The Elms, which has been the greatest blessing. I am in Genevieve's building (she's the one who got me a contract here!), and the ward is absolutely amazing. My roommates are to die for. I'm convinced they're perfect.

I am back working at The Wall--woohoo! Sterling hired me again (: This time though, I'm assistant to the event coordinator. The main bulk of my job is doing booths on campus, handing out flyers, hanging up posters around campus, and selling tickets at our events. I couldn't be happier! I got to choose my hours, and it's doing something I love and am very used to--talking with everyone and shoving cards at them. I can do that (; Now I'm just getting paid for it!

My first day of classes was just peachy. I keep running into old friends, cousins, people from my mission, etc. and it is SO FUN! I love being here. And serving in a YSA ward the last 6 months of my mission immensely benefited me, seeing as I learned how to be normal. It's made the transition a ton easier, I can't even imagine how I would've been without my Northridge YSA ward!

Once again, I just feel overwhelmingly blessed.

More to come.

(: