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
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