The Time is Just Flying By

July 27, 2013

Dear Family,

This week went by the fastest, it seems like I was just barely emailing, but this week was so good.  In our mailbox was a notice for our district saying we have been asked to be hosts for the 31st!  It should be really fun and I am so excited.

On Tuesday we went to choir again, and the director shared the coolest thing.  He gave us some numbers (you might have to check them) but he said roughly 100 billion people have lived on the Earth.  If you were to take that number and divide it by the number of missionaries currently serving, the ratio would roughly equal 1 in 100,000.  Meaning each missionary represents 100,000 other people.  When he said that, my stomach fluttered a little bit, and then I felt this overwhelming obligation to do my best for the other 100,000 people I theoretically represent.  Lots of responsibility, but I know I can do it.  For choir that day, we sang Mack Wilburg's arrangement of Praise to the Man.

This week I also learned how influential the Book of Mormon really is.  I believe that the Book of Mormon combined with the Holy Ghost is the most powerful tool or instrument the Lord has given us to convert, both others and ourselves.  Missionaries are on the front lines, taking plenty of metaphorical gunshot wounds for the church,  but no worldly weapon can win against the Book of Mormon and the Spirit. When joined together, they serve as the strongest sword against wickedness and simultaneously bring people to a true conversion.  I have learned the best way to slay Satan's influence in the world is with the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost, and kindness.  Nothing I ever say or teach will ever matter unless I teach with the Spirit and apply the Book of Mormon to investigators.

Thanks for figuring out all of the medicine stuff.  I have 34 pills left, and keep me posted on the phone bill from international phone calls.  I'm quite curious!

And I have an idea to fix the fire alarms....just smash them with a hammer.  No one needs those things anyway, right??? (:

The story of Curtis nearly burning the house down has kept me chuckling all week.  Hahahaha, soooo funny.  And also him going under the dock like a fish and coming back up for air.  Ha.  What memories.

I'm not sure what mail got here what day, because Pioneer Day messed everything up.  All of the mail people had the day off.  Every where else in Utah Pioneer Day brings barbques, sharing pioneer stories, and bearing testimony of the gospel......at the MTC Pioneer day meant we sang all of the hymns about pioneers at least twice because there are only so many.....and also no mail.  Sad.  We didn't even have pioneer food that day.

There is an Elder in my district who is really good at singing.  He wrote a song about missionaries, and played it for us....and it is so good.  He said it is on YouTube.  His name is Tyler Barton and the song is called Through Me, maybe you can find it.  It was a cool song.

The orchestra thing sounds kinda fun, how come Valerie and Lauren hate it so much?

In Provo "Mormon Standard Time" is an epidemic, and most church meetings started a little late.  Here at the MTC, everything starts super early.  For all major meetings, we have to be in a seat 20 minutes early.  It's crazy!

On Sunday we sang the primary song "We'll Bring the World His Truth"  and it was so amazing.  Having a room full of literally thousands of missionaries, learning who knows what language, preparing to cover the globe to spread the truth, and all gathered together to sing about it was incredible.

Thanks for the package!  I got it on Saturday. 

During the week my companion and I walk laps on our classroom floor, on floors beneath us, and around the MTC.  We review Spanish words, phrases, and grammar.  It's so nice to get up, moving, and some fresh air while still being productive.

And who is related in the branch???  I need to know these things!

I really have nothing additional to tell the ward.  I think I email and tell you all everything.  Maybe you could just pick and choose parts of our letters each week that seem "ward worthy" and send that?  That way Chad and I aren't wasting email time thinking of what to say to the ward or copying and pasting parts of previous letters?  I don't know.  It's up to you guys I guess.  For this Sunday would that work? Then you can just keep me posted if it worked or not and what would be best for the future.  Thanks!

I'm glad to hear you held your ground with the car....you paid for it.  I truthfully imagined old mountain man Curtis and the guy with all the guns sitting in the back of the car, telling weird stories and then following you around in the mall while you went shopping.  Hahahaha es comico, no?  Glad you take care of your kids before going of to help the world.(:  Sister Velliux (??? what a name!)  will be just fine.

I keep forgetting to tell you, I broke my shoes in when I first got here and they are the best purchase we made for my mission.  They are sort of manly, but they are so comfortable.  Also all of the skirts that I though I hated, are the ones  I wear the most.  Thanks for being so wise momma. (:

When my companion and I have gym we like to go to the bikes and look out the big windows.  The view is awesome.   You can see Utah Lake in the distance, the big Wasatch mountains, and the BYU campus with lots of trees scattered through it all.  It is so pretty.

And just to double check....you are editing my letters right?  I want to write and tell you everything but sometimes I get scared that you are just going to put the whole letter up there......please edit them (:

I love you more than all of the Spanish words I have learned,

Hermana Withers

Week 3 coming to a close

July 21, 2013

Hola!

 

This week has been crazy!  Last Sunday we had our first sisters meeting since our first Sunday here was a fast Sunday, and it was amazing.  We got to watch music and the spoken word ( and it was amazing to hear music because they don't allow us to listen to it except at church and devotionals).  Then we had a guest speaker, Carol Mikita, and her talk was so good.  Her message was about the importance of missionary work and that its okay to not always see the fruits of your labor, because it may not always be visible....but if a missionary is following all of the rules and working as hard as possible, then seeds are being planted.  It was a cool message.

 

On Monday we taught our first TRC lessons, which is when people from the community come volunteer at the MTC as investigators.  Our lessons are all in Spanish, and despite our broken Spanish the spirit was still very strong and it was amazing to know that the investigator got the message from the lesson.  I have learned that  if someone goes into something with the Spirit, and eager to learn, that they will get the message that they need to hear.  The message we had prepared wasn 't what she took away from the experience, but she was prepared and took with her what she needed to learn.  Cool.

 

Tuesday was like the best day ever.  My companion and I reached the conclusion that it would be infinitely better to join the choir than to try and study with distracting Elders...so we did!  We walked to the Marriott center with all of the other vocally inclined missionaries, and tried our best to make it look like we knew what we were doing and had sung the song before.  We had no idea, and accidentally placed ourselves in the first soprano section with all of the other girls who can sing high.  Whoops.  It turned out okay, and it turns out that half of the MTC is in the choir too, because its a fun hiccup in the sometimes monotonous schedule.  When we got there, the director and camera people told us to get our last drinks of water and whatever because this broadcast was special....they were going to  broadcast it to all of the other MTC's!  My heart skipped a beat, and I sort of said a prayer that my companion adn I could be on the screen so Chad could see me.  The devotional was good, Elder Richard G. Hinckley spoke, and then our district met back up to discuss the meeting.  When we get in there..... the Elders told us taht they saw us on the screen!!! I was so thrilled.  I know Chad has been struggling to adjust, but if  Chad was paying attention he probably saw me.  Such a miracle, I didn't make it on that thing for nothing.  Thousands of missionaries are in that choir, the fact that I even agreed to sing in the first place is amazing, and I also was faking it until I could make it because our part was so dang high.  A miracle really. 

 

After the devotional, their was an MTC picture taken...with all of the MTC presidency and Elder Hinckley.  They said it was only the 3rd picture ever taken of an entire MTC group, so yay!

 

I went and had my blood drawn by a nurse who was nice, but accidentally popped the vein...so now its bruised adn ugly, but the results should be sent to Dr. Eck.    Thanks for doing that, hopefully you can figure out how to get online and see them.  I have no idea what any of the passwords  are...good luck.

 

There are pictures on nearly every square inch of the walls here at the MTC, and on the bigger walls they have big beautiful paintings.  My two favorites, are the Standard of Truth painting with Joseph  Smith.  And my other favorite is the one we have in Boise, with the older brother helping his little brother cross the  River.  the MTC's copy is huge, and its  so fun to look at.

 

I think I am going to give up on keeping up  with Dear Elder letters.  I love hearing from you all every day, but I can't get back to you untilSaturday with email, and for snail mail we have to rely on government people.  Sorry.

 

My companion and I have been called to be music coordinators here in our little branch at the MTC.  All it means is that we get to pick out the hymns and musical numbers on Sunday, but it is still fun to have a calling (:

 

To be honest, this has been a fairly uneventful week, just meals, classes, studying, and sleep.  Then repeat.  Ha last night, one of the districts in our zone sang Christmas songs because it was P-day eve because it apparently felt like Christmas Eve.  I have to agree though, P-day is one of the best days of the week.  The other best day is Sunday.  In our district we call Thursday P-Day Adam and Friday is P-Day Eve.  Haha its stupid and cheesy, but its sort of fun (:

 

I got Chad's email, and he sounds good!  I totally relate to the distracting, annoying, and immature Elders thing.  The other night my companion and I had just finished a lesson, and we were back to studying and cleaning out under our desks for the cleaning check the next day.  We decided to take a quick picture just to document the day, and asked an Elder in the district to take it.  I gave him my camera, he took the picture, and all was well until he had to look at the picture, scrunch his nose and say that  my companion looked like Yoda.  As he was snorting his nose in mockery, a big, nasty, booger bright red with blood flew out and slimed his collar and shirt.  It was quite possibly the most hilarious and the most disgusting thing I have seen in a long time.  Can we just say Karma?  Moral of the story...never tell a girl she looks like Yoda. 

 

I really do love my district, but I think being in the same little room with the same people for  12 hours each day starts to take its toll.  I'm so glad Chad is trying his best to study.  My companion and I usually leave for study  time and go to a study room, and return for class....just for the sake of peace and quiet.  It works great!

 

Thanks for all of your love and support.  It means the world to mean.

 

Quote of the week: (don't put on blog, for immediate family entertainment only)

 

My compaion: "Elder (the same one who struggles with respecting girls and who had to clean up a blood stain) what were you like in high school?"

Elder: "Fat"

My companion: "No, like what did you do?"

Elder: "Lunch"

 

Hahahahaha....maybe it is one of those things that you had to be there for, but it was soooooo funny. 

 

 

I love you all more than the number times I have resorted to eating ceral for dinner (because everything else is highlyyyyy suspect),

 

Hermana Withers. 

 

P.S. It should be noted that the pictures of Chad's food is horrific.  I would have cereal all the time too if I were him.  I tried to figure out how to print his pictures them here and I don't think I can.  When you get the chance, can you print of his pictures that have him in it or anything worth putting in my album and send them to me, and do the same for him with mine.  Gracias!

 

P.P.S: time is of the essence with emails, so I don't take time to check for spelling or grammatical errors.  You probably already fix them, but I'm just making sure you fix them before putting them on the blog.  Thanks!

Spanish!

July 13, 3013

Hola!

 

This week has been amazing.  I have learned how to say a prayer, bear my testimony, and teach a lesson on the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and Life of Jesus Christ without notes.  The gift of tongues is definitely real, and I am learning so much.  If you asked me for directions or how to order something on a menu, or any other life skill in Spanish....I could carry on in Spanglish, but not Spanish quite yet.  It´s coming, but at least I can bear my testimony!

 

I can´t believe you finished the mickey mouse puzzle...I remember that thing being a monster.  At least you are all staying occupied! And I can´t believe all of the accidents that happened at reunion...glad to hear you all made it out okay.  Was the 4-wheeler totaled? 

 

My first Sunday here was cool.  It was fast Sunday, which means missionaries go without food for 24 hours, and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.  We had an MTC fireside, and listened to some amazing talks.  I just sat like a sponge trying to absorb it and write it all down.  Then we went to  sacrament meeting, and the MTC president was there!  Everyone was really excited about it until we realized that the branch president was being released.  Apparently in an interview with an Elder, the president told him that he seemed very feminine and that if he hadn't known him he would have thought he was gay.  The missionary is in our zone and he was sort of emotionally ruined for a few days.  He was so offended and seriously considered going home.  It's not even true, and it was really sad to watch him struggle so much.  Everyone tried to rally his spirits and he finally came around, but the president was still released. 

 

I run into Parker Dial all the time.  In fact one time he saw me in line for breakfast and yelled "Hermana Withers, how did you sleep?"  Ha it was sort of weird and lots of people heard it because I was a ways behind him in line.  My district gives me crap about it all the time saying, "Hey, how did you sleep?"  It was weird at the time I guess, but now it is funny to look back on.  (Make sure this doesn't go on the blog).

 

And did Sam really get through security with a knife?!?  Nice goin TSA.  Glad you made it through without getting arrested, but if Sam did it how many other creeps can do it?  Scary.....

 

I'm glad Chad is doing well.  He didn't send me his email.  I think I am sending mine to him, but if he says he isn't getting mine can you just forward them to him?  And forward his to me?  Cool to know he had a gospel conversation with a teenager on the way to Mexico.

 

I am staying at the "real" MTC.  There are about 4500 missionaries here, and roughly 1000 at the West Campus MTC.  We actually never interact.  They operate as 2 separate MTC's for class, sleep, and food.  The only time we are in the same place is for Tuesday night devotionals. 

 

My district has a total of 10 missionaries.  6 of us are going to Rosario, and the other 4 are scattered.  I'm glad I'm in a district with a majority.  There are some weirdies in the bunch (like an Elder who is deferred from mortician school) but we all get along and are very good friends.  Someone has already started to plan a reunion barbecue actually! (:

 

So when do I need to get my blood drawn.  I was in the health clinic with my companion so she could get a hep A shot and while I was there I asked about blood draws.  They said I need an order from my doctor for the blood draw, and then I can just go in whenever and they will be happy to do it.  You can call for more information too if you want, I was a little rushed when talking to them and might have missed something. 

 

You might be amused to know that out of the 6 elders in my district, and 5 of them can't roll their "R's"....I still can't believe it.  5?!?  What is this world coming to.  Teachers here have said that it helps to put a pen on the top of your lip and make a kissing face so the pen doesn't fall and to teach your tongue to roll....but I have never tried it.   Who knows.

 

On Wednesday I watched all of the new missionaries come in and it was crazy.  They get them in here so fast, and rumor has it that last Wednesday was the peak number of missionaries for the summer.  Is that true?

 

And crazy news.  Two hermanas in my zone left for Argentina last week.  They went directly to Argentina without a reassignment.  I have learned that if your visa status says it will take more than a month, then they reassign you.  If it says it will come in a week or two, then you extended to stay at the MTC.  And a rare few get their visa right on time.  I didn't even know that happened, but I'm glad to know its possible.  If I stay on schedule I could be out of the MTC in a month....say what??

 

There are a lot more elders here than sisters, and it has everything to do with the age change.  The MTC saw a surge in sister missionaries almost immediately, and now the surge in Elders is coming as high school graduations have come and gone.  There are so many missionaries here you would flip.  There are lines to almost everything, but somehow the MTC keeps up with everything.  One thing I have learned here is that the church knows how to be organized.  This place runs like a machine!

 

Every day before lunch our zone sings a hymn in Spanish, which is really cool.  There are only 4 hermanas (the ones in my district) and everyone else (about 30) are elders.  Its cool to hear songs like called to serve and battle hymn of the republic (our favorites!) in Spanish.  It also helps with learning Spanish.  My companion and I also read a chapter in The Book of Mormon every day in Spanish, its long and arduous but the book is starting to make more sense in Spanish.  Which is amazing!

 

The MTC food had been good.  It keeps me nourished, and that's all I care about.  The fruit here is guaranteed to be amazing (pineapple every meal!) and they pull strawberries out every once in a while.  And if any dinner turns out to be gross, makes you feel sick....they have the best cereal bar in the world.  So cereal is always the backup plan, and I'm staying healthy!  I haven't gained or lost any weight (ha - the other hermanas in my district have been gaining weight...yikes!) so I will just keep trying to eat good. 

 

In the morning, one of our teachers takes us on a walk around the MTC every 2 hours to stretch our legs and to take a break.  While walking we all take our little notebooks, and we write down vocab words that we see around us in Spanish.  Ha we look like we are all on a nature hike and trying to learn tree species or something...but we are really just trying to learn Spanish.  Its way fun to go outside though, and one of the days it was raining so we got to walk in the rain and it smelled amazing! 

 

The view of our classroom window is so great.  It is on the 4th floor, so its high up.  We can see the mountains, lots of trees, and through it all the Provo temple steeple peeps out and you can see angel Moroni and the temple.  It's perfect!

 

My bags made it here wonderfully.  All the zippers were zipped and everything accounted for.  The Dear elders are a pretty slick way to get mail.  You can just send your response to this email through dear elders, and I will respond as fast as I can with paper to keep in touch.  All left over and remaining questions, stories, and adventures I will include in the weekly email. 

 

Sad to hear you are all getting annihilated with mosquitoes....at least they will all die soon right?  And also glad to here you are leaving a substantial and noticeable dent in that little town.  No leaving until your stuff passes inspection is an excellent motto, no pain no gain right?  And who are the merry maids?  You had them clean our house?  I like the way you think!  The messages on fb are from that missionary group "Many are called but few are chosen"  To be honest, you can just exit that group.  It was sort of helpful when preparing for my mission, but now that I have left you can leave the group.  It really is just a bunch of high maintenance sisters asking for advice on how to say goodbye to their boyfriends and what to do because they are going through a lot of trials. 

 

I cant believe the water went down so much.  That's good to hear though!  And thanks for the talk in Spanish, muy (awesome? - haven't learned that word yet...)

 

And......because you went to all the work of putting that puzzle together....you should definitely glue it and frame it!  What else are you going to do there.  It could be a token of your undyin affliction for Minnesota....or something like that (:

 

This letter is all over the place....since my thoughts are all over the place, but I just tried to write as much as I could in an hour.  I hope you are all doing marvelously and have a good week!

 

I love you all more than the number of letters that come and go through the MTC,

 

con amor,

 

Hermana Withers

 

PS:  I am trying to figure out how to send pictures on this computer.  I will send them in a seperate email if I can figure it out...but if not know that I love you all!

First Letter

July 6

Dear Family,

 

I arrived at the MTC safe and sound.  My plane landed around 7:30, and at the SLC airpot I met up with two others Elders from Boise also going to the MTC.  One of them is also going to Argentina Rosario, which is awesome.  The shuttle picked us up, drove us to the MTC, and then tons of nice volunteers and people snatched us up and took us all over campus.  I now have an official tag in Spanish with my name on it....right next to the Savior's.  The first day was crazy.  I met my district, and we are all just best friends now.  I went to lots of classes and firesides, and got to experience the MTC food.....which isn't bad.  It isn't world class, but if you stay away from the chunks of meat and the questionable beans, it's just fine.

 

 When I entered the MTC I was told that a total of 841 missionaries, including me, entered that day.   The record for the Provo MTC is over 900.  But before the age change, people said that an average Wednesday saw roughly 350-400 missionaries....which seems so few now!  The work is definitely moving in a forward direction.  The one thing that seems to be slowing the work in Argentina is the consulate.  Argentina has one guy who does all of the interviews for visas.  He has been on vacation for a month now and no one knows when he is suppose to get back.  Everyone says he is coming back soon, but its all uncertain.  Praying that he hurries.  Yesterday my companion and I watched a district open up their reassignment calls...crazy to think I might be there soon. 

 

So my companion is Hermana Haynes, the same girl I had met through Facebook from Rupert Idaho.  She is so awesome and I am so glad we are companions.  We have so much fun.  We sleep in the newest, nicest, biggest, and most air conditioned building.  I am so grateful.  My host just kept telling me how lucky I was, and I didn't really know why until I saw the other buildings.  Such a blessing.  There are six Hermanas in my room, which equals 18 pieces of luggage, but the obstacle course is a fun adventure in the morning. 

 

So my district is great.  There are 10 missionaries total, and 6 of us are going to Rosario.  My companion and I, as well as 4 elders.  The other 4 missionaries are going to Oregon, LA, Paraguay, and Chile. 

 

On the 4th of July we went to classes and seminars as usual, but then in the evening their was an MTC fireside.  We sang patriotic hymns for about half an hour and then watched 17 miracles.  After the movie, we went outside to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks (which were awesome) and we were handed a magnum ice cream bar.  It was such a cool day.  Also for dinner they served us turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and pumpkin pie.........little confused but at least they attempted to celebrate a holiday right?

 

So my P-days will be on Saturday, and I will get to email either in the morning or early afternoon.  The Provo Temple closed July 1st for its yearly deep cleaning and isn't opening again until August 12....I pretty much missed it but if I stay another week while waiting for a reassignment I might get to go at least once.  So because there is no temple time, it just turns into more personal time. 

 

Yesterday we taught our first investigator (Luis) in all Spanish.   He is actually our teacher, but we also get experience teaching him first.  He doesn't break character and the Spanish language barrier is sometimes frustrating, but we are learning and doing the best we can.  I have already learned more Spanish than I have ever known.  Actually in the first class, our teacher covered all of high school Spanish in about an hour. 

 

Our zone has a retirement home schedule and we eat dinner at 4:10  SO EARLY.  We try to eat a little extra then so that by 9:00 we aren't famished. 

 

Sorry I wasn't able to get you a letter when I got here....I knew the Minnesota PO Box, but I couldn't for the life of me remember the zip code.  There was no mail on Wednesday because our district hadn't received the padlock code to get the mail yet, and then it was the 4th of the July and all of the mail people were off celebrating America, and so I didn't get anything until Thursday.  Ha all of the Elders were wagering fruit snacks, mints, and whatever to see who had the first letter.  We couldn't get our mail but we could see one in there on the first day.  I saw that my first letter was post marked for June 24th.....so I WON.   I didn't take any of their junk, but I am maintaining bragging rights.  Thanks for the letter and the package.  They are awesome, and now I have the address's.  You can also use dearelder.com.  Our district is allowed to pick up the mail at 11:10 and 4:10 (lunch and dinner) so if you get a letter sent before then I should get it.

 

I love the MTC.  Everyone told me it would be hard....but its a different kind of hard.  Its a satisfying, intellectually challenging, and most spiritually strengthening kind of hard that makes this place awesome.  I hope all is well with everyone and that you had fun at reunion. 

 

Could you forward this email to the Little's and then tell me their emails so I can send letters to them in the future?  Thanks.  I will also start sending hand written letters.  I am going to try and figure out how to upload pictures on this computer, but if I can't get it in time I will send extra next week. 

 

Thanks for all of your love and support.  I love you all more than the number of meals served here at the MTC. 

 

Amor,

Hermana Withers