MTC Lovin' cont. (3)

Cream Soda Trees

Kay, so I mentioned something about people sniffing trees in my last email that I thought I should explain... But the first day we were going to the lunchroom with our zone when Hermana Bradley pointed at this tree and said "That is the legnedary tree that smells like Cream Soda." Hermana Ahlmer and I looked at each other like, "yeah okay sure" and thought it was some stupid missionary joke. But then the next day we were studying outside our classroom on this bench next to these trees when some of our zone came out for a break and started talking about the stupid trees again. We seriously thought it was some joke to get the new missionaries to look dumb by sniffing trees but we got sooo curious.

So after they left, Hermana Ahlmer and I went to this tree and we took one sniff and looked at each other with shocked faces. The trees really do smell like Cream Soda! Pretty soon we forced everyone we came into contact with into sniffing the trees and they were all just as stoked as we were. If you were shut in a classroom for 12 hours, you would be happy to be sniffing trees too promise.

We lift six baby Elephants

We somehow got stuck rolling up this giant mat on the floor to cover the gym floor after we got suckered into pushing a $40,000 grand piano into a broom closet and Hermana Ahlmer lost her Mother's pearl ring in the process... The whole thing was my fault because I ALWAYS get stuck into the wrong place at the wrong time. We helped the Japanese missionaries rolling and lifting this mat that they called "the six baby elephants" and they were all yelling and screaming in Japanese and we were generally scared for our lives. 

"I hope this doesn't hurt anybody's testimony, but that was really weird." - Hermana Ahlmer

Roberto

So like I said, we got an "investigator." His name is Roberto, he is from Argentina and speaks Castillano (Castishano) and we all feel sorry for him because our Spanish is so bad. The first lesson was a TRAINWRECK. But after that our lessons keep getting better and better. Every lesson Hermana Ahlmer and I like fight to get a word in haha but neither of us know what the heck each other is saying. I don't even know what I'm saying most of the time, and that's in English! But it's amazing to see the Spirit work in our lives, we always know what to say and it's the best feeling walking away from a lesson with Roberto knowing that we answered all his questions for the day and he understood the lesson...

EXCEPT for the fact he's not a real investigator haha. We're pretty sure he is already a member who served his mission in Argentina and he just happens to look Argentine or something. We know he goes to BYU but we caught him red handed walking out of the gym after devotional last night. We got excited and started yelling hi and waving at him and he totally said "hey" in English and got a guilt look on his face ha! But as my time here in the MTC goes on, we'll probably get real life investigators... so... pray for us haha.

It's a Special Place

There's just something about the MTC that I'm just barely beginning to understand. Everytime I said by to one of my brother's before coming here, my eyes would fill with tears and it was seriously so hard to let go. But the moment I came here all my nerves went away and I was and still am just so happy. This older sister during the welcome devotional asked us if we cried when we said goodbye to our families quoted me in her talk that I had zero idea she was giving that day totally quoted me! 

"And this one sister told me she didn't even cry!" That was me I totally said that! I got quoted in front of like 300 missionaries haha! I'm already saying things that people will always remember haha.

 I keep saying that this place feels like Hawaii, definitely not because it feels like vacation but because I just feel so warm and at peace here. I've had some major deja vu since coming here, like everyone in my zone, district, my companion, and branch president look just so familiar to me. I guess that means I'm in the right place!

Or they just went to BYU Idaho. I've met five or six people that I knew personally that went to school there. Elder Olivera in my zone and I recognized each other because we both rode the shuttle at the Ivy. And then I saw Devin Schikpah and my friend Myka from social dance. There are two missionaries from my mission prep class there, Sister Mills and this other Elder I can't remember the name of which is super awkward because we see each other allllll the time but it's chill. Oh! Sister Mills is cousins with Kaylie Mills from Stansbury!

I'm seriously so grateful that I took dance in Salt Lake, because my roommates wen to school with some of my dance friends. Hermana Timm knows Kylie Farrenkopf and Sarah Brewster! And Hermana Frandsen knows Nicole Burnside (She is coming this week eeeeek!) How fun is that? And Elder Hamblin (in our district) knew Isaac Alderidge from basketball. 

I could go on and on. But it's seriously the best. I never really understood why missionaries are so happy and seemed to be filled with light, but it's because we are! I'm seriously in awe by how strong the spirit is here and how different it feels. The moment I got set apart, I felt different. A really good different, and being here in the MTC you are basically drowning in the Spirit and you love it. It just fills the whole atmosphere and your entire body. We had this devotional last night by Elder Keetch (I don't know if you can somehow look up talks from the MTC, but if you can I would definitely recommend seeing the one from last night) and we sang "The Spirit of God" and never have I ever felt so empowered in my life. Every missionary was singing at the top of their lungs and we all just felt so unified it seriously felt like spirit of god like a fire was burning within us haha I seriously have no better way to explain it all. I just wish I could somehow share my feelings and emotions with you all so you could get a taste of what it feels like to be here. An email just does not do it justice. 

Well just thought I would let you all know how the mission life is so far, my heart is fuller than it ever was when I got a beyond glazed donut. 

The Church is True

The Book of Mormon is Blue

And I love you!

Quotes of the Week

... I hesitate in sharing some these but whyyyy not

Sister helping us after we got lost and brought us home who had been here for five weeks: "Okay goodnight sisters! Have a great first week!"

Me: "You too!... Oh wait."

(Most awkward district convo yet)

Elder Hamblin to Hermana Ahlmer: "Was your Mom like, really pretty?"

Elder McCoy and Knickerbocker: "Um, have you seen her daughter??"

*I was dying on the inside at this point*

Hermana Timm: "I bet she's like a MILF" *she didn't know what it meant! ahhhgghh*

I DIED. (If you don't know what MILF means... DO NOT ASK!)

"What do you call a Mexican made out of Rubber? Rubberto!" - Elder Knickerbocker

Hermana Ahlmer: "Yeah my brother is really skinny because he is a swimmer."

Elder Scheiss who played football in highschool and looks like a teddy bear, says sarcastically: "I have swimmers body!.. JK, I do NOT have a swimmers body."

Elder Hamblin: "I don't know, whales are good swimmers."

... Sounds rude, but it was really funny and everyone loved it, I promise!

PS.

You guys send me pictures of everyone! I'm so mad I didn't bring any because everyone is asking to see pictures of my friends and family and I only have one polariod that my Mom sent me. So pictures would be very much appreciated... Also... Remember about that dear elder thing I told you about.

Mi maestra... Cutest thing there ever was!

Elder McCoy, Knickerbocker (he was born in Grantsville!), Shiess (our DL), and Hamblin.

MTC Lovin' Cont.(2)

ROOMIES! Hermana Frandsen, Ahlmer, Hollingworth, Timm, and Keyser. "I love our roomies." - Hermana Ahlmer.

For the eighth time on Friday we said he same thing, she pointed at me and yelled "WE ARE THE SAME PERSON!" Ahh I love it and her! She is so Katie sized and it makes my heart happy. She is also our Sister Training Leader so she is the bomb!

Our classroom is literally a Funhouse

Our classroom is literally a Funhouse

It was like around eight at night on Thursday and Hermana Ahlmer and I walked into our classroom and we burst into tears from laughing so hard because we saw THIS:

Straight across from the doorway is this window where early in the morning and late at night (when it's dark) it seriously looks like a funhouse from a carnival or something. We just love it and make weird faces in it all the time. The Elders think we are weird, but we are so it's like, Super Chill, like Oh My Gosh. (Abby would appreciate this)

We had district meeting the on Sunday in our room with branch president Jackson. We had the hardest time not cracking up because Hermana Timm pointed at the window when Presiden Jackson was bearing his testimony and his ear looked like it had been stung by an entire hive of bees. I love that window so much.

MTC LOVIN'

So I already talked a little bit about my companion, she is like my new best friend. Because we are literally never without each other haha but really I love her!

Why I like having Hermana Ahlmer as a Companion

Because she is so pretty, we get A LOT of attention from everyone. All the girls stop her in the halls and compliment her hair and her shoes and so naturally they compliment mine too so I don't feel bad haha! There was this one time like on our second day we were walking down the foyer by the lunchroom and these elders yelled "HI SISTER!" And we both turned around and waved and this elder was like "Wow, look at that smile!" I'll just pretend that he meant both of us not just Hermana Ahlmer haha. 

And the most common question we get asked is... "Are you two related?" I don't know if she likes it, but it is seriously the biggest compliment in my lyyyyfe! People have told us we actually look like sisters and I love it! We were standing in front of the chalkboard in our classroom the other day practicing drawing the plan of salvation for our "investigator" Roberto when the elders in our district pointed at us and said, "It's Ana and Elsa." Hermana Ahlmer had braided her hair that day and she is nine days older than me soooo I guess we kind of are ha! But really, she showed me a picture of herself when she was little and she looks exactly like my cousin Brenda's daughter Alyse! And she has a nephew that looks just like Caleb! Who knows, we might be related!

The Food Here Hasn't Killed Me Hooray!

Hey great news! My worst fear has come true! I'm a Molly Mormon now! I hope I made G-ma proud ha! But really, being here at the MTC has really given me a new perspective on the church, and badabababa I'm Lovin' it! The moment I got here, all my nerves disappeared instantly and walking around the gardens made me feel like I was back in Hawaii, just got that really happy giddy feeling ya know? Goooood vibes here. My companion is Heremana Ahlmer, she is from Draper, went to Alta/Corner Canyon highschool, looks like Stevie Henderson, and I love her. 

Things to Know About Your First Week At the MTC

1. When you first get here, you are instantly taken away by your host. The MTC here feels like a maze (it still does, we get lost every day) but your host will know where to take you so no worries!

2. And yes what you have heard is true. You are thrown into class on your first day and if your speaking a foreign language, that's ALL they will speak in. No english period. You might question if you accidentally got put in the German speaking class, but I promise you're in the right place!

3. Get your lanyard right away! You have these ID cards you swipe to get into every building here, and those lanyards are heaven sent. Trust me on this. But make sure where you clip feels secure, because loosing your lanyard is almost as scary as first arriving at the MTC. I would know...

4. THE RUMORS ABOUT THE ORANGE JUICE ARE TRUE. Don't drink it! Warning: causes blehhness all day and super weird vivd dreams. I'm also going to add soup to the inedible list. Don't ask.

5. Eat the salads. It does the least amount of damage.

7. But if you are an elder, forget everything I've said about the food. You're immune to it.

8. The chocolate milk here is also muy bueno :)

9. Don't be alarmed if you see people sniffing trees here... It's perfectly fine. You would too if you've been sitting in a classroom all day.

10. After a couple days you'll be completely in awe of seeing cars, stoplights, mountains, anything that doesn't look like brick buildings. Soak it in when you get the chance!

11. Don't walk... RUN. You seriously spend like eight hours (feels like more the first 4 days) sitting in a classroom. My knees were KILLING me from sitting like a statue. When you have exercise time... Use it! Running saves lives! Dad, you must be proud!

12. When you can, spend your exercise time out in the field! It's the nicest change of scenery and there is grass! I would recommend playing volleyball in the sand pit.

13. BE POSITIVE. There is such a difference when you have the best attitude about everything. The day will go by faster, you'll learn things easier, you'll love everyone around you, and it invites the spirit into everything you do.

14. Make best friends with your district and roomies because they're your family now. 

15. All the sisters will want to know about your dating life before the mish so if you don't have one... Get one. Or just make one up like did/do.

15. You'll pick up the language I promise! I've only been here about a week and I'm speaking more fluently than I ever did with 2 1/2 years of Spanish in school. 

16. If you think you won't see anyone you know here... Think again! You'll run into friends from school, sports, efy, the grocery store, everywhere!

17. Join choir! There is something really special about all the missionaries singing in unison... Angels I tell you, Angels.

18. You'll be teaching the second day you're here in the language you're learning... Just prepare, use what you know, understand the first time will in the words of Hermana Ahlmer, "a trainwreck" but it will get SOOO much better after that I promise!

19. If you are like me and every (I'm not the only one dad!) sister missionary in my district and have exceeded the 50 pound limit for the bags you're checking... It's cheaper to pay for a third suitcase rather than the fee for exceeding the limit. They sell suitcases here that are 40% off for missionaries! 

20. Don't worry about the showers. They're not gross. And feel free to join into song if the person in the shower next to you is singing.

21. You will go to bed every night wide awake with either hymns or words from your language stuck in your head... I still have "Lead Kindly Light" stuck in mine since 8 last night. The other night I kept repeating "Orara?" and "Corelador es por su blusa" as I tried to sleep. Just embrace it.

22. There are extra blankets in your residence hall if you need one! (Mom, I wouldn't mind one from home though...) I would recommend using 5. It's cold in the buildings here!

23. Two words... DRY SHAMPOO. You're welcome.

24. There's this thing called "DEAR ELDER" here at the MTC where you can send letters to your missionary any day you want and they can read it that day... Hermana Ahlmer has gotten 5... another sister got 4... I'm still waiting for mine *clears throat*

25. Don't worry! You are doing an amazing work! I can't accurately describe the joy you feel from being a missionary. You would have to be one to understand, but there is just so much joy wherever you go. Heavenly Father trusts you, and all what is asked of you is to trust him. 

Well that's all for now,

The Church is True

The Book of Mormon is blue

And I Love You!

Hasta La Vista!

I can't believe the time is finally here! Thank you all for your sweet influence that brought me to where I am today! Hopefully this blog will fill you with joy and happiness as you watch my testimony grow, and hopefully your's will grow as well :)
Sister D is signing off! I'm handing off the reins to my Mom! See you in 18 months!

If you can't tell, I'm pretty psyched about this.