Dani from Jamaica - Number Uno!

August 24, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello and welcome to Africa... wait, I thought I was supposed to be going to Jamaica on my mission! What is this? Um first of all, Family, I love you. But speaking of E-MAILS! I had like 15 in my inbox and I can't read all of them!! Sorry! I tried skimming them, but I definitely didn't get everything. I only have an hour to e-mail on p-days so please make sure you're only sending necessary stuff in my LDS.com e-mail and use Dear Elder.com for all the other letters. The mail only comes here like once a month or less...so....yeah. I would love to get mail but I won't hear from you very often.   But packages and everything get here fine, I just don't get them till a month or two after you send them.

We had to take four flights to get out here. SLC to Dallas to Atlanta to Miami to Jamrock. It was a very long day on Saturday.  But I'm very grateful for Elders Montgomery, Ostberg, and Randle. I really do love them. They are like brothers to me! And guess what?? So we got these pass-along cards to hand out and I handed out three on the way over here! And I taught this guy the first lesson on the plane and he gave me his address so that we can send the missionaries to him. He commited to come to church and learn more. Sweet. And there was this little girl on the plane who is about Gabi's age. She's a Seventh Day Adventist .... those ones are difficult to teach.  But she was so sweet. And she wanted to e-mail me but I just gave her your e-mail address mom.  So if she e-mails you, please forward it to me! Anywho. That was fun. I've been so ... anxious to work. It's the best feeling in the world. I just want to go work myself to death. Seriously. You know how I always talk about Brother Laubaugh? Well we have "Laubaugh's Laws of Efficiency." And one of those Laws... I think it's number 3 or 4 is to "Not waste a single minute of your mission." Cause I'm on the Lord's time, not my own.  I want to be efficient and effective every second I possibly can. Thank you Bro Laubaugh! Haha we talk about him all of the time. Me, Randle, Ostberg, and Monty were talking about him the whole way here. We do "Brother Laubaugh" jokes instead of "Chuck Norris" jokes. He's legit. And truly he has affected me in every aspect of how I do/want to do missionary work. And I hope I stay that way my whole mission. 

Sunday we went to church in Kingston. GREAT sacrament and awesome sunday school lessons. I loved it.  I love it all. And it's beautiful here. Seriously. GORGEOUS. They drove us up on the mountain. It's all jungle and just amazing. And yeah, everyone thought I was going to this like island paradise, but it is exacty like Africa here. It's beautiful, but it's so poor. Our apartment has roaches and rats and spiders all over. But I'll get to that.

So Sunday was good. Dinner at a member's house. I LOVE jamaican food. It's like... GOOD! Not like Ugandan food! Yummy! I love it.

I hung out with a wonderful senior couple, Brother and Sister Flake, and we went and taught some British guy which I don't really have time to talk about, but it was amazing. He was this crazy guy who lives in this jungle house with his Jamaican wife. Oh and btw again, there are no white people here haha. But it doesn't seem weird to me at all. Elder Montgomery is suffering a little culture shock, but he's loving it too! Tell his mom that! Will you mom? He's doing so great. And his companion seems cool. He's definitely shocked, but I can tell he's going to do so so so great here. He's awesome.

Oh I forgot to tell you that I accidentally stole from the MTC bookstore a few days ago while we were still there. BUt don't worry I went back and paid, I just didn't realize that I had taken a water bottle out with me haha. I went running back in... "I'M SO SORRY!!!"

My allergies are way bad here. They are terrible. One night I went to bed with red puffy eyes and i couldn't see or breathe haha. But i'm taking my stuff you gave me and I'm doing better now.

Um... so Monday is transfer day! That's why p-day is on Tuesday, but normally it'll be on Monday! Mom, I'm sorry if you're freaking out cause I haven't e-mailed you yet, but yeah. Today is p-day.  Um.... let's see. Oh yeah so the AP's pack us in the bus and they drive us to Spanish Town. It's the most ghetto part of Kingston. The apartment the elders live in there is terrible. Not as bad as it was in Africa, but there are definitely mice and roaches and big ones too. YUuuuuum.

Then after waiting for like two hours, my new companion comes to pick me up. Her name is Sister Speakman. She is so great.  She is from Mesa, AZ and came out here with Sister payne. We are actually in a trio. Our other companion is Sister Campbell, a Jamaican. But she has something in Kingston so she can't be here till Thursday. But yeah, I love Sister Speakman. We've already had some really good heart to hearts. She's amazing.  I was a little nervous cause she is my trainer and yet I've learned a lot of things that she had not been taught in the MTC. I guess they're trying to implement this whole new thing and they started training us in the MTC cause there is a whole bunch of stuff she had not heard before. Or maybe I was just trained really well. Thank you Brother Laubaugh. And Brother Winder and Sister Thomas. I had the best teachers at the MTC. Serious.  Sister Speakman has been in this area for 5 months now. She was trained here and has been here the whole time with the same companion, Sister Wilkinson. They have a car here and they use it  A LOT. It's a big area.

 

Oh by the way, I'm in MONTEGO BAY! Haha. Yeah don't worry. People write songs about this place. Awesome. So they have this car. It's only us sister missionaries and one Senior Couple in the area. (The Sorensen's. Love them. I'm at their house right now).  But yeah so from where we live, the area goes about an hour south of here and an hour north of here. It's really hard to get people to come to church cause it's so far away. The sisters drive like every day. The concern I had is perhaps we could make better use of our time right now. Even just WALKING AROUND is doing more missionary work than that because you're a walking billboard for the church (That's what President Hendricks calls it).  If we spend all our time driving around and teaching people that live so far away from the church they can't even afford to get to church.  My comp and I talked about how we could easily spend like 3 hours with one family each time we teach a lesson.  Which is great if we are serving a mission to build relationships with people in Jamaica. But I'm here to serve a mission to help people build relationships with the Lord. I'm just an assistant on that step up there. I am usually a very open person with my opinions even if they are blunt...strong...honest...uh... I don't know. Anyways, so I sat down with Sister Speakman. I said, I know I haven't been here long...like hours. But I really feel like we could be more effective if we just pounded the pavement. Sure it's nice that the car has air conditioning. It's so blessedly wonderful, but we're on the Lord's time. Brother Laubaugh's Law..."don't waste a single second."  It's not my time to waste. We're talking about people's salvation here. The Lord promised that he prepared people for me to come down here and teach and I want to find them. I don't want to waste my mission in an air-conditioned car. The humidity is terrible.  Not as bad as Uganda though, haha. Thank heavens. But almost that bad.  Anyways so Sister Speakman was like, "I agree with you and I've been feeling that way for a long time, ..."  She is so awesome!  Yeah. Anyways, We're very open with each other. This week we're going to focus on weeding out investigators.  We're going to find the ones that really have a sincere desire to come closer to Christ. We can't support them in the church the rest of their lives.  They need that relationship. It's so important. And if they're not willing to act on it, then we need to move on to others who are willing. There are many here who join the church just cause we're white girls. Serious. Why should it matter where you're from or what skin color you have? Anyways. I've already learned a lot from Sister Speakman and I really love her. She's ready to work hard too. So today We're gonna get stuff done like grocery shopping and stuff and then be pounding the pavement once gain. We're going back to the handbook and really making sure that we're following with exact obedience. Oh and my apartment is pretty gross.. I won't talk too much about it. Not as bad as the one in Spanish town. But all the missionaries say that the apartment we have is the nicest in the mission. Lovely.

 

Well, that's about all I have to say!! You are all wonderful! Thanks for the love and support!

P.S. I CAN e-mail anyone. So friends, Fam, e-mail me! But PLEASE make it like very short.  I would LOVE to continue to hear from you also through "DearElder.com"  remember it is FREE.  Just sign in and go to write to: Jamaican Kingston Mission and write in my name.  So easy and you can write longer letters.  Seriously I LOVE to hear from you.   I may not have time to respond to you for a few weeks. I love you all so much! Keep me in your prayers please! I need it!!

 

Love, Sister Israelsen

Dani from the MTC - Numero Dos!

August 19, 2010

Hey everyone!

 

So yeah I'm just chillin here at the MTC.  Last week I had a list of like 15 things to say and this week I have zero. No list. Except MOM! Thanks for everything!! The day I got those laminated thingys I used them in one of our activities (without it I would have failed, so thanks :) )!! And I love everything else. I am excited to get your box today.

 

To clear up the confusion, Last Friday I got my flight plans and it said I was leaving on the 23rd. And it said that I was going BY MYSELF.  I've flown to Africa and back by myself before so I don't know why I was so freaked out, but I did not want to go by myself.  And none of the elders going to Jamaica with me had their flight plans. Then the travel office was closed all weekend. Also, I saw Chris Page and told him to call mi madre to tell her what is up.  Hey Chris. You'd better come say hi to me before I leave cause tomorrow's my last day (317 or something like that).  So Monday I went into the travel office and said to this sweet brazilian girl, "I AM NOT FLYING BY MYSELF." And she said, "Oh, there's been a mistake." Awesome. So they changed all of our flight plans and instead of me leaving a week from then, I am now leaving SATURDAY! And I'm very excited about it. Before I got my plans changed I was not very enthusiastic about it. But now I have a better attitude and I'm packin up and gettin ready to get out.

 

I'm hungry.

 

We went to the temple this morning. Mom, I don't know if you can find this out, but there is a picture of the Savior in the Celestial room of the Provo Temple that I've seen before. It is my favorite picture. If you ever get the chance, could you look it up and send it to me? If not, don't worry about it. Just a thought.

 

Let's see. Okay so when I got here, my teachers were Sis Thomas and Bro Winder. Then Sis Thomas decided to get married, so over this past week, her replacement has been Bro Laubaugh. I love both Sis Thomas and Bro Winder a lot. They're amazing teachers like I said last week. But Bro Laubaugh is the best teacher I've ever had. He is incredible. He puts us in these crazy teaching situations that really get me thinking. He is one of the most humble and Christlike people I've ever met. I really want to be the missionary he was. I like don't even know how to describe him. He's very strict. Everyone's scared of him.  The first day of class, he walks in and tells us all to get down and pick up all fo the little pieces of paper on the floor.  Then he has each companionship stand in front of the class while he asks you questions (accountability---I learned a lot about that in the temple today and I'm starting to realize it more and more each time I go how important it is).  Kinda crazy! But AWESOME! Then he always gives us some amazing lecture that makes me feel terrible.  Haha that sounds so bad. But it just always really humbles me and makes me want to be better! I love it! Last night he talked about how we have this incredible opportunity right now to develop our Christlike Attributes.  There is no other time in life where we can do it to the extent that we can do it now. So awesome. And I think I said last week how I've been really working on humility. And despite my mom's warnings, I prayed for it. And let me tell you, I have been pretty humbled this past week. There's still a long ways to go.  But Heavenly Father has definitely shown me how weak I am.  He has shown me how imperfect I am and how many weaknesses I have. And this is good! It's not good to put ourselves down, but it's good to realize our weaknesses so that we can learn to depend on the  Lord.  I know that the next 18 months are going to be the most difficult 18 months of my life thus far. There is no way I can do it without my Savior. I love that picture in the temple of Him. I just keep thinking about it. He has His arms open waiting to receive me. And I know that He's going to be with me every step of the way. Do you realize how blessed I am to be a part of this work? How blessed each one of us missionaries here is? It's incredible. We are all so weak.  These are 19 year old boys for goodness sake. One of the most immature times of their lives ;) And then there's me! And Jesus Christ trusts me enough to take this sacred message to some of our brothers and sisters, children of God. Wow.

 

Brother Laubaugh. He's so great. Sister Borrows and I kind of treat him like he's a celebrity. We have "Laubaugh's Law's of efficiency." I'll share them sometime I'm sure.  But he does not waste a single minute. Last night when we were "daily-planning" (what a joyous thing it is), we got done kind of early. And Bro Laubaugh comes in and says, "You have 5 minutes to memorize 2 Nephi 31:21." On our breaks we take, we go on a walk around campus. It's amazing. He knows that we are on the Lord's time and we have to use every single second of it.

 

So this last weekend I was feeling a tad overwhelmed.  I was so nervous about Jamaica.  The three elders going with me are Elder Randle from Cali, Elder Osteberg from Clinton UT, and Elder Montgomery, a hick from Idahurl. None of them have been out of the country. I like try to explain things to them about Africa and they just don't understand. And I know it's going to be a complete culture shock for them when tehy get there. I'M even going to have culture shock haha. But yeah. Anyways, so they are very chill about everything. And I was just feeling so nervous and anxious and not feeling ready to go.  I was sitting on the floor in the hallway (which is illegal by the way, they won't even let me sit on the floor! haha) and I opened my scriptures to read John 14:26 while I was working on one of my lesson plans. And I just kept reading. I read John 14:27 and as I read it, the district in the classroom next to mine began singing "Master the Tempest IsRaging." I just felt so much peace come over me. Going on a mission is difficult.  Bonnie, gird up your loins. Cause you're gonna need a lot of courage. All of us missionaries do. But when I think of the Savior and how much He loves me and all that He did for me, I just feel so much peace and I know that He is with me. 

 

At institute a few weeks before I came in, the teacher gave an incredible lesson that helped me so much. I went up to her after to talk to her and she said, "Just remember that nametag. Whose name is on it? He's going to be with you all the way." I love looking at my name tag. It's right over my heart. And my Savior is everything to me right now. I'm giving Him my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole everything. And I hope I can be a Bro Laubaugh as I serve my mission (except not a man. That's impossible. And I dont' want to be a man).

 

Lastly, really quick, a shout out to Britt and Kyle. They sent me a whole case of DIET PEPSI yesterday. I am in heaven. Serious. I love caffeine. No I'm not addicted mom. I just really wanted some. I think every one needs caffeine in the MTC. Haha I am a happy girl.

Thanks Bonnie and grandma for the packages! And thanks everyone else for the letters! I'm going to try and write you all back today!! And I'm sorry if they're short! Remember that you can write me for free when I'm in jamaica on dearelder.com  ( instead of MTC Provo scroll down to Jamaica Kingston) and put the address on it that you want me to write to. Once I am in the field, I will have more time to write letters so they'll be longer. But I Love you all!

 

Dad & Mom, thanks for everything.

GABI AND JESSI I LOVE YOU SO OOOOO MUCH!!

Dani from the MTC - Numero Uno!

August 12, 2010

Email numero uno!!

 

Jk I don't speak spanish. Haha. So so so glad I'm speakin english. Okay this will be short cause it logs me out right at thirty minutes and no one is allowed to make fun of my bad typing or grammar skills. Just so you know. So the MTC is AWESOME. Lovin it.  First of all, my companion is Sister Borrows from Vancouver Island, Canada! She's going to Pheonix.  There are twelve missionaries in my district. Four sister and eight elders.  Three Elders and ONe sister are going to Jamaica (I'm the one sister in case you didnt' figure that out) and the rest are all going to Pheonix, Arizona (also english speaking). Okay my companion is SO AWESOME!!! We get along like BFF's seriously. I am so blessed. I couldn't have gotten through this last week without her and she is amazing. We are like complete opposites so we do things very differently, but we work so well together. Oh and Mommy, you can keep everything in here that I write when you forward it to everyone! Hey everyone! Haha. I'll write anything else you need to know in my letter but that won't get to you till probably Saturday or Monday.  So...I know like five zillion people here. Seriously. I'll just name a few that I've seen.  Garrick STephenson, Tay Benson (he is in my mealtime so we see each other like multiple times a day haha, it's good to see him... Traci!! He's an awesome missionary! You should be proud of him!!), Zach Leichty, Billy Hagee, David Oleson, Ethan Janis, Austin Sisneros, Derrick Flake, Landon Russon (Also, I saw the Stice's and the Gale's from our Provo ward...they are in the branch presidencies here. I also saw Elder olson..drew olson? Do you remember the olsons from that ward? and landon is in my zone in the classroom next to me so I zee him a zillion times a day), Elder Monson (can't remember his first name...the one who had President Monson come to his farwell?), Jordan Lee, Michael Meads, Kari Tanner, Beca Lopez....and like so many others!! These are just a few I can think of.  Oh...I am pretty sure Glenn is on this e-mail list. GLENN! GUESS WHAT? A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE ELDERS IN MY ZONE JUST LEFT FOR EDMONTON!! So you'll have to look out for them! My zone leaders are Elder Hallet and Elder Merrell and they are two of the coolest elders you'll ever meet. You and Elder Hallet will hate each other, but then be best friends. I just know it. Amazing guys. I just want to say, I LOVE MY DISTRICT too!! Haha do I sound like an enthusiastic freak of a sister missionary? Well I kinda am.  It's  amazing to me how spiritually mature these little 19 year old guys are... Like there HAS to be some major help from Heavenly Father up in here cause you look at these boys outside of class and they're just normal guys messin around and being immature, (not unlike me...i'm workin on it), and then you put them in this situation or watch them teach or hear them bear their testimony and it is incredible! So many times they ahve brought tears to my eyes because the spirit they have is so strong and so ready to preach the gospel and serve the Lord. Incredible. 

 

Oh major news! My departure date has changed. Firstly, my new address is

JAM-KIN 185-0821
2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

 

So write to that...haha they keep putting red pen on all of my boxes and letters cause everyone gets it wrong.  But that's not your fault! But yeah, so send stuff there. This also means that I will be leavin the MTC next saturday (8/21)! I know! I just got here! THey're already kickin me out! And I like it here! Haha.  Anyways, yeah if you wanna send me anything make sure the last day you send it is Thursday of next week. If you want me to get anything for my birthday (wink wink) then send it before then too. Oh and I have been WASTING the district in most mail received! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Everyone for sending me letters and packages and notes and dearelders!! I love them and they are so uplifting and make me so happy! My companion hates even talking about home cause it distracts her, but it is so comforting to me to know how many people love me and care about me and etc. !! !!!! So thank you!!! I am so so so appreciative! And remember that you can keep writing me for free when I'm in the field if you do it through dearelder.com and just select my mission.

 

I'm already getting the missionary voice. Y ou know when guys come home and they talk so weird and you just want to slap them? Yes. I have it.

 

I had to get tested for HIV yesterday... so hopefully that goes well, haha.

 

These are just all of my random thoughts that I'm trying to put together. And trying to say everything cause I have only 13 minutes left! Everyone in my district thinks I'm like really girly. Like everyone thinks I'm the kind of girl that would walk around with a fluffy little dog in her purse. Seriously. I don't understand it. When have I ever been known as a girly girl? Watch me eat a meal. It's disgusting. I have the worst manners ever. But whatev. I like it, haha. Oh I want pictures from people! Before I leave the MTC! Especially you bonnie claire! I only have pictures of Tay and my fam so I need ones from others who want to send me some!! Otherwise I'll probably forget you. Just kidding. Maybe.

 

So finally I can talk about spiritual stuff. They have you take this assesment on Christlike Qualities your first few days here. It's in the back of PMG and I would recommend everyone try it and work on those that you fail at! I knew this was going to happen even though I didn't want to admit it, but my lowest score was Humility. So I have really been working on that the last week or so.  I have been reading some stuff in Alma 5.  And just learning all through the scriptures about humility.  Cause there is a quote..I think it is from President Benson who said SOMETHing to the effect of, "Studying the scriptures will change a behavior faster than a study of behavior will change behavior." Pretty cool. So that's my method. And even though you told me your story, Mom... (She prayed for humility and right after broke both of her legs, seriously), I am praying for humility. I need that as a missionary. And over the last week I have realized that even though throughout my life there are many times when I though, "Whatever, I can do this by myself." I have realized that I need the Lord to help me through this.  This isn't something I can do on my own anymore. And I'm grateful for that.  I am so grateful taht I get to learn more dependance on the Lord. It's hard here, there is NO independence whatsoever. And even though I've lived close to home the past three years, living away from home you learn a lot of independence and I've really learned to love that. But first of all, you have to be held accountable for EVERYTHING here. It's like...they check if you cleaned your room and stuff...seriously. Or if you ahve kept your goals. And you can't even go to the bathroom without your comp coming with you. And second of all, you can't do anything without the help of the Lord.  This work is hard! It's rewarding, but definitely difficult! And I'm so glad I get the opportunity to learn how to be more dependant on the Lord and to learn from him and rely on him. 

 

I love teaching. I'm not very good at it. It's hard to stick to the lesson AND follow the spirit at the same time.  You have to find a balance. But tuesday we taught this sweet Samoan lady named Salafaia and her spirit is just beautiful! I learned more from teaching her tahn I'm sure she did from me and Sister Borrows.

 

I really do love sister Borrows. Like I can't say that enough! She's so great.

And my teachers are incredible too.

And I love the temple!

Everything is great.

I'm happy mom, so stop crying :) Oh and mom, I might be able to call next saturday at the airport...more news coming.

 

Oh and by the way, one of the sisters in my district (sister burton and sister briggs are also in my room that I sleep in) had a nightmare about spiders last night cause I told them alla bout your hilarious experience waking up the whole neighborhood.

 

Oh to everyone who wrote me this last week...AGAIN, THANK YOU! I can't express how much it means to me! And I only have a few hours left of p-day so I'll try and write everyone back, but I can't guarantee it'll be this week!

 

 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! So much!!

Okay I have to go!!

Spread the gospel!

Love,

Sister Israelsen