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!!
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