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
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
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