We dropped Lexi off last Wednesday. It used to be that the family would go into the MTC with the missionary and have a meeting and a longer farewell. These days, there are just too many missionaries to do that. We went to lunch as a family and then took pictures at the temple. Then, at her assigned time, we drove up to the MTC, mom and dad were able to give her hug goodbye...
and we watched her walk towards the MTC escorted by missionaries.
The last few days have been quiet. We are unable to contact her in the MTC. But this morning we got our first letter! Read and enjoy! (Leave comments and I'll copy and paste them into her next letter.)
HOLA FAMILY Y AMIGOS!
WOW! I can't believe that it's only
been a week! Can you? I feel like I've been at the MTC for so much
longer because so much has happened!
Lets start at the beginning:
-First of all, sorry no pictures this week. There are only a few
computers at the MTC that can upload pictures and they are CONSTANTLY
being used.
- Sorry if this is short, we only have 30 minutes to work on our emails! AHHHH! better get going....
- My companion is Hermana Law. She is 19, tiny, blonde, and from
Gilbert Arizona so she is always FREEZING. She will be serving in the
Santa Rosa, California Mission (right north of the oakland mission!!!)
so it's fun to tell her the little i know about Northern California.
- I am the only Hermana going to Costa Rica in my district! It crazy! My district:
Elder Barnes and Elder Sorenson both going to Torio (?) Mexico
Me and Hermana Law
Hermana Thompson and Hermana Fredrikson both going to Santa Rosa with Hermana Law
And a Trio of Elders- Whittacre, Cloward, and White. Elder
Whittacre is going to Santa Rosa, and Elders Cloward and White will be
going with me to Costa Rica!
I love my district! We are
getting along so great! We are starting to sit with eachother at meals,
which makes it fun to talk and get to know one another. They will be a
fun group to have for the next 5 weeks!
My Zone is also amazing, and seems really close. Our zone just sent
out a group going to Nicaragua and Chile-Conception that were the last
of the 9 week programs (ICK) so there were beyond ready to get out of
here! But the spanish is BEAUTIFUL (well..... at least to me). Our
Branch President and his wife are amazing! They even spent some time
living in Costa Rica! (I need to ask if they were mission
presidents....) They already love us so much!
I will be honest. The two days were pretty brutal. I
was unexpected to me because I was so excited to get here. I thought
that life would be perfect in the MTC because the spirit is so strong,
but it is not. Even though the Spirit is super strong, I know that Satan
is working extra hard on the Lords army of missionaries. We constantly
doubt ourselves, worry about home, and feel like we should just give up
at go home (which is something I NEVER thought I would say). Satan is
THE WORST. Hate him. We all seem to be gaining confidence and it is
getting much better so please do not worry. On Thursday I woke feeling
super discouraged and overwhellmed with everything that was being thrown
at me. I was pleading with the Lord all day to please help me get out
of my funk, stop thinking about myself and start focusing on the Spirit
and missionary work. At some point in the afternoon I ran into Melody
from Retreat for Girls, who I thought was already in the field. Seeing a
familiar face that I loved so much snapped me back into the game and
was just the tender mercy I needed. The Lord knew I needed to see her,
and since then I have been doing great!
My spanish is going.... well. I need to say well. I
have only been here 6 days and I already am speaking better spanish then
I have in my entire life! Of coarse, it's hard not to compare ourselves
to other districts that seem practically fluent, but we are learning to
be patient with ourselves, and not letting satan make us feel
inadiquite. I can't wait to see how much more I learn and grow this next
week!
It's so fun to have so many friends in the MTC with me!
This week I have run into Melody (RFG), Elder Vanbloom a couple of
times (who leaves for the field.... today?), Sister Lamb, Sister....
Hancock.... Hannnen? (Stephanie Stallings friend Lily) mulitple times.
All seem to be doing well! I hear that Sister Peterson will be joining
us tomorrow! I can't wait to see her!
Thank you to all for sending me letters and packages!
They all seem to come at the most appropriate times when I am feeling
down! PLEASE keep them coming! Some missionaries get more homesick when
they get letters, but I get homesick without them! Thanks for the
Package mom! It was such a great suprise! And Lauren for the Dear Elder
and Cupcakes! YUUUUUUUM!
I am almost out of time! I wish I could spend hours
just updating you all on everything! It's almost easier for me to
recieve regular letters or dear elders because I can write back at any
time and give more details!
I love you all!
Please keep me and and all the Missionaries in your prayers!
Hermana Patterson
Here is the link to Dear Elder she referred to. It is delivered daily while she's in the MTC and weekly in Cost Rica.http://www.dearelder.com/
