Wow what an amazing ride and adventure it has been here. Sorry if this email is a little unorganized.
I got here wednesday and I love it. Taking pictures with my fam was awesome and I miss you guys.
I'm exhausted because I've gone from getting 10 hours of sleep to
getting between 5-7. I didn't sleep the first night. The beds were
hard at first but then I realized they got more comfortable as I got
more tired.
My collega (companion) is Sorella Jackman from Highlands Ranch
Colorado and I love her sooooo much! We got along from the minute we
met. She is blonde, beautiful, a cross country runner and has the most
beautiful spirit. I've learned sooooo much from her. She is soo good
at teaching with the spirit and is helping me understand how to really
trust in the Lord. I've had two massive crying sessions while I've been
here and she has been there for me to give a shoulder to cry on and
words of encouragement. Love her soooo much.
My roommates are sorella taylor from SLC, sorella Arnold from
England (yes she has the best accent ever), sorella Beaumont (the most
annoying sister in the world), sorella warnicke (pronounced Vanka...
she's from Hamburg, Germany so I get to practice my german with her and
help her with her English), and me and sorella Jackman. We all get
along really well. It's hard to get to bed on time because we all stay
up talking and learning about each other's lives and countries. I've
learned so much about Europe and different cultures. In our building
it's cool because there are vending machines full of junk food. there
are bins where sisters can put extra stuff they can't take with them
when they leave the MTC, like lotion, shampoo, body wash and there's a
table where extra food is left to. I've gotten my supply of chocolate
there.
Our district is our classroom and it's me and my collega,
sorelle warnicke and beaumont and then two Anziani (elders); anziano
smith from Michigan... yeah he lived across from Chicago... a wee bit
jealous. and anziano Gardiner. Gardiner has a twin and we met him and
he is awesome. These Anziani are sooooo patient with us as we are
learning. Gardiner is our district leader and it is awesome watching
him lead us in singing, lessons, prayers, etc.
I've also met two Italiano Anziani. One from Milan and one from
Swiss Italy. They are amazing and talk to us in Italian. Every morning
they greet us with a loud Buongiorno with Italian hand gestures. They
tell us about Italy and every time I talk to them I get more and more
excited about going to Milan. I've also met some Anziani from New
Zealand. they have the best accents Ever! They're super nice. When me
and my collega were outside and I was crying for a while, they walked
past us and sincerely asked if we were ok. All the anziani here are
such gentlemen.
Our zone is the Italian missionaries and the Romanian missionaries.
Half our zone left to go to Italy and Romania on Monday. It was so
sad to watch them go but I learned sooo much from them in just the three
days I knew those wonderful people. Can't wait to see them in the
field.
The food here is... ok. Let's just say I was sick for three days
while my body adjusted to the food. I'm fine now but am very much
looking forward to Italian food. I eat tons of salads, fruits, wraps
and some soup because mostly everything is greasy college cafeteria
food. But the desserts are delicious. They also provide sack meals for
P day which is super convenient. Meal times are my favorite part of
the day because we just get to hang out, talk with everyone and relax
for a while. And the best part is that usually people will leave meals
after they're done and go play on the pianos while we're walking down
the hall. Hearing the music is so comforting. Also I'm happy to report
that I've lost weight since being here. With all the walking to and
from classes, exercise and eating more veggies, I feel better, I'm
stronger and it's a motivation to keep working out. Hopefully I can
keep it up. I'm trying but thanksgiving and christmas goodies may
sabotage that plan.
Personal study is awesome. I feel like I'm able to delve into the
scriptures, preach my gospel and other sources. right now my biggest
challenge is teaching with the spirit. It's a little confusing but I'll
get it eventually. Companion study is amazing. Sorella Jackman and I
learn from each other and it's fun to bounce ideas, opinions, insights
and experiences off of each other.
Exercise is amazing. they have a gym and a fitness center. The
gym is used for basket ball, volleyball, four square, weight machines,
elipticals and the track. I spend my time running around the track in
my toe shoes to keep my running up. I also do tons of plyometrics and
then lots of Krav and shadow boxing. I got to teach some sorelle Krav
which was awesome. I'm the only sorella in the whole zone who does MMA
and there are a couple Anziani. It's fun to talk about MMA with the
Anziani. Everyone thinks it's either really cool, really freaky or
really weird that I do Krav. But I love it and miss it a ton. I miss
my family, friends, music, Krav and dancing. But When I keep focused on
the work those thoughts go away for a while.
Most of the day we're in classrooms studying the language. I
testify the gift of tongues is real. I've learned more Italian in a
week compared to learning German for three years. It is a beautiful,
simple, magnificent language. Every word just rolls of the tongue and
it's easier to speak fast Italian than fast English. All the words of
the Gospel are so beautiful. I'm so glad I studied Italian for a couple
months before my mission. It's definitely given me a head start on the
language and allowed me to be a teacher and a help to my district. Our
teachers are amazing. They speak only in Italian so we have to learn
how to understand them. the first three days that was frustrating but
now it's a magnificent challenge.
I'm part of the MTC choir which is about half the size of the
MOTAB. We've sung Jesus once of humble birth and are working on Hope of
Israel for thanksgiving. Whenever the Anziani sing it gives me
goosebumps. Choir helps satisfy my craving for music and the spiritual
experiences I've had there are one a kind. The conductor is hilarious
and all the girls in my district are there so we just sing and enjoy the
beautiful atmosphere.
Sundays are crazy. we have sacrament meeting, one big relief
society with all the sisters in the MTC in one room, devotionals and we
just enjoy the day. It's a day of rest from language study but it is
not a physical day of rest.
Overall, this has been the hardest and best week of my life. It's
the best because everyone here is so sweet, so nice and courteous. the
anziani open the doors for the sorelle, and everyone is doing their
best. If the whole world had the culture of the MTC, it would be a
magnificent and much more productive world. Everything is neat,
organized, clean and scheduled to the T. The Spirit is so strong.
There are so many times where I've just been bursting with excitement,
enthusiasm and happiness. I have so much energy here which doesn't make
any sense because I'm sleeping less.
It's hard because the longer I've been here the more I've realized
how important this work really is. It is absolutely necessary to study
tons, teach by the spirit and be exactly obedient. All of which are
extremely hard to do. My testimony has been tested and strengthened.
Yesterday I uttered the words I never thought I would say, "I can't do
this anymore." but my collega was there to help me understand that God
is truly watching over me and the 80,000 + missionaries in the field.
I bear my testimony that this work is true, important and grand.
We are 80,000 + strong and we are the army of Helaman bringing the
world the truth. Love you all and Happy Thanksgiving!
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