Week 2 Elder J is My Sister

Week 2- Elder J is my sister

This week's subject is brought to you by a great thing that happened the other day. Brother Elg (teacher) picked high on the mountaintop for the opening hymn, and so I told the district that Joel Johnson is my ancestor, and Elder J got like unreasonably happy and was like, "we could be related!" And holds out his hand for me to go shake it. And as we shook hands, he gets this very celestial expression in his eyes and whispers, "we're sisters" and that was the last thing I heard before I died.

Anywayyyy....

Hey there my lovelies!
I hope Christmas was amazing! From what I heard it was super good. I'm curious though: what the heck do you mean when you say that I sound like a missionary? I sound like I smoke a pack a day. Despite all that, though, I am so happy to be here in the MTC. It's so much fun, every single day. I mean it.

My cold is tons better now, mostly because of some stuff that happened this week, plus I've been taking my meds and such, so there we go. I am good on probiotics and I will call home on Tuesday before boarding one of my flights. I fly to Atlanta first and then to South Carolina.
This week has been full of miracles! Wednesday we did laundry and stuff, just kind of hung out, studied, and in the evening we taught Jayson again. Ugh, it was so great. Side note - our teacher Brother Elg plays Jayson, who is his real dad, who is really a nonmember, and it's so wonderful because we teach Jayson and it helps Brother Elg know how to help his dad. How sweet is that? It's really touching for Brother Elg; he cries a lot in the lessons. So anyways, we taught Jayson about the plan of Salvation and I basically cried through the whole thing. I bore my testimony that the plan is the reason for everything, (in a whisper because I STILL COULDN'T TALK) and my companions nailed the rest of the lesson with little help from me because my voice was gone. That night I had a little mental breakdown because I was frustrated by my inability to talk but also my "weakness in speaking". I talked with Brother Elg about it and he told me that I shouldn't be frustrated with myself and shared Ether 12:27. So hopefully someday, God will help me arrange the words coming out of my mouth into an order that is powerful and eloquent.

Thursday we had class on teaching people, not lessons. That's a forte of mine, mostly because they say that we should be bold in telling people what they need. There is a plus side to my bluntness! Wahoo! Just need to find my balance there. But it was a fabulous lesson. We taught Kurt for the last time, and we did what we should've done first, and invited him to be baptized. He slammed us. He said noooooooo. Which was fine and we addressed it but still. We did not do a great job of explaining to him the need to be baptized and commit...ah, well.
Friday was great. We cleaned the bathrooms, round 2. I guess I need to build character or something. After that we went to the weight room and worked out to a movie about Joseph Smith; appropriate, because it was his birthday. We had our last lesson with Jayson. It was unreal. We told him that we wanted him to pray at the end of the lesson, and I remember so clearly the feeling in the room as I testified, "Jayson, God is telling me to tell you that He loves you and He wants to hear from you." It was palpable. I am glad to say that I was made worthy by God to be his mouthpiece in that moment. It was truly powerful.
Saturday was Christmas Eve! My voice got lots better, but I felt just awful. Like, all day. Brother Elg is a saint and came and taught us that afternoon, plus gave us all treats and a note (that he stayed up until 4 am putting together) AND since Elder P hadn't received a single package from home, he brought him a Christmas package with cool socks and food and stuff. Sister Jacobsmeyer (other teacher) also got us all gifts too, lotions for the sisters and candy for the elders, but she gave those to us on Thursday because she went out of town Friday. We are seriously blessed with the best teachers in the whole MTC. They are so wonderful. Brother Elg got his dad a set of scriptures engraved with his name and gave them to him when he went home that night. His dad promised to read them, so hoorah! That night we had a devotional but I was so sick that I coughed through most of it. I asked Elder C for a blessing and he very kindly obliged, blessing me that I would be patient and that my mind would be calm so that I could be able to sleep. I really needed to hear everything he said, it was so awesome. It was also his very first blessing! He's so cool. And the blessing totally worked. I slept so good.

Christmas day was great.

Christmas Eve PJs

Christmas morning

Socks Sister Pew's family gave the sisters.

This elder is sporting the tie Sister Pew's Granny gave him--she gave each of them a tie but he wanted to show that he wore it on Christmas.

I did tell you most of what went on. I think my favorite part was Sacrament meeting. We had it all combined with Elder Oaks and his wife. It was so peaceful and the sacrament itself felt so sacred. Elder Oaks was so cute and grandfatherly and he spoke so well. After I called, we had a devotional with *drum roll* David Archuleta! Ha. All the sisters and Elder J screamed. He was really good and very human. He didn't really follow any script or anything, he just talked to us. And Elder J had a great moment after the devotional was over. David wanted to be able to greet the missionaries, so there was this huge line that I didn't want to wait in, and neither did Sister Janke and Sister Cordon, so we didn't, but Elder J did. He and Elder C2 went down to shake his hand, and when he actually made it up to David, he said, and I quote, "oh my gosh, you're David Archuleta, oh my gosh, I'm so honored to meet you!" And he apparently wouldn't let go of his hand, so someone had to sort of drag him away, and as he was leaving, he yelled back to David,  "I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE MY DAD!" And that is the story of how Elder J told David Archuleta that he's his dad. We took some photos of our Christmas look which I will send in a separate email.

Monday Monday Monday!  Sister Jacobsmeyer and Brother Elg returned and we had class. We learned a lot about using the scriptures to help investigators, and we got to make up our own investigator for the others to teach. My investigator is Saren and she's a hairdresser who grew up here after spending the first 6 years of her life in Florida. She's pregnant. It's pretty fun to play her. That night, I had a very spiritual experience just reading the Book of Mormon.  My desires literally changed and I felt it. I realized that the only thing that really matters is a relationship with God and with Christ, and as long as you focus on those relationships, everything else comes naturally and how it's supposed to. It was awesome. I loved that change. We also started teaching TRCS which are the real investigators here at the MTC. We taught Jessica, who is way fun and wants a relationship with God. We taught her the first lesson.

Yesterday was great too. We had a greaaaaat lesson with a different TRC investigator named Melissa who is so cute. We explained to her how the spirit works, which was good. She also committed to baptism, so yay! Brother Elg was watching and he said we did really well. A cool thing from yesterday: I had to be put in the hot seat and Elder C,  Elder P, and Sister Cordon helped me to overcome a lot of negative stuff I was feeling by using the scriptures. Right after that, I felt very strongly to just grab a pen and paper and start writing. I did, and what should come out but a detailed list of spiritual gifts for each member of the district. It was so cool because then that night Elder Arnold of the seventy came and talked to us about figuring out our spiritual gifts. He was so funny and awesome.

Today we are giving the elders facials. Hopefully we get pictures of this experience, because yeaaahhh...

Also today we get 4 new sisters and 8 new elders in our zone and ... I'M A SISTER TRAINING LEADER WAHOO! So my "priestly duties" start today. We already put a note and a bunch of those star sticky notes you sent me, mom, with cute things like "Heavenly Father loves you!" Written on them. And we left them a bunch of extra candy from Christmas. It was fun, and I hope that they like it and that they feel welcome here. We (meaning my companions and Elder C2 + Elder P (who are the zone leaders)) have to do orientation tonight instead of class, which I'm a little mad about because class helps me a ton, but it is my duty! So I shall do it! And I shall do it with cheer!

Some quotes from District Kun Long this week:

"I don't want to be musty asparagus!" -Me

"I don't have beans!" -Sister Cordon, after being told to calm her beans.

"Calm your kid's knees!" -Sister Janke (she was trying to say kidneys, which also doesn't make any more sense than kid's knees. it was a really weird night)

"I am Elder Swaggy Noodle, and this is my companion Elder Lit Cookie" -Either Elder B or Elder C at any given time of the day, usually to the tune of Called to Serve or Make a Man Out of You from Mulan. Gosh, these two.

"I get darker, but I don't tan" -Elder B, who 1) is black, and 2) has a fundamental misunderstanding of what getting tan is

A quick testimony: I invite you all to commit to reading the Book of Mormon and applying what you learn every night. We are promised in 1 Nephi 15 that if we do so, we shall have eternal life, and that the fiery darts of the adversary will have no power on us. What an excellent promise! I am also committed to making 2017 the most Christlike, most loving, most diligent year of my life so far. I hope you'll join me in that. I know the reason it doesn't really feel very hard here is because the Gospel brings so much happiness to life. It provides clarity and purpose. Wearing this nametag is so special. I feel the prayers and the blessings. I know I am a disciple of Christ, set apart from the world to preach His gospel. I love Him, more than anything. And I just really want to be like Him.

I love you all! Don't let the muggles get you down!

Sister Musty Asparagus, AKA Sister Janke Chicken Cordon Pew, AKA Sister Pew, who loves  you all very much and hopes your new year is the best year yet.

More photos:

Doing laundry, dramatically

Sister Janke and a Sister MTC teacher who was filling in that day.

Christmas at the MTC

Sister Pew and her companions, aren't they darling?

The district Kun Long

Sister Pew's brother sent her mud mask from NuSkin and her whole district tried it out!

week 1: I'M ON A MITCHION

week 1: I'M ON A MITCHION

Alternative email titles include: This is WAY more fun than any of you made it sound, we drank the orange juice, and no, Mom, I am not in love with any of the elders. (This is Rachelle, I did not even ask that!)

Hello, everyone!
In answer to the overwhelmingly popular "how are you?" I respond with an enthusiastic, "I am just happy to be here!"

I have like zero time so let's dive in.

Wednesday was the weirdest day ever. Once I arrived here the first hour was a blur. We had some difficulties with the whole tablet situation but all is well. Then, I met my companion and my district, aka the best companion and district ever, aka District 36 C aka District Kun Long aka the GOAT, as Elder B likes to call us.
I'm pretty sure that this district and my companion are the main reasons I was supposed to delay my mission. Let me tell you about them, starting with my companion, of course.
Sister Cordon! She is from Ogden (south Weber, actually, but whatever), and she and I are already like sisters. She's a lot like Abi Rice, for those of you who know Abi. Her first name is actually Tiffany,  so now I have 2 BFFS named Tiffany;) She is very good at communication, which rocks. We get along really well and she balances me out because she never cries, but I do, like all the time. She's a huge tease. It's lots of fun and I love her.

Now, the rest of the district:
Sister Janke and Sister E: Sister Janke is actually also in our companionship. Sister E experiences severe anxiety so she went home on Monday night. They are both the sweetest ever. Sister Janke has the best jokes. They're the "so bad they're good" kind. Which is my favorite kind. I love her so much.  It's been a bit of an adjustment to try and make sure she feels like we love her. We do. She's basically greatest ever.
Elder C and Elder B: Elder C is our district leader and he's incredible. His brother in law took his own life five days before he entered the MTC. He has had to balance leading us and dealing with lots of problems at home, and he's killing it. The first day, he introduced a Tibetan philosophy to us. It's Kun Long, and the essence of it is the idea that if our thoughts and desires are pure, our actions will in and of themselves be pure. It's our mantra. Anyway, he's doing a great job and is very humble. He likes rock climbing and has climbed 21 desert towers. His companion is Elder B and he's a riot. Sometimes literally.  He's also hilarious and looooooves basketball. He says his spirit animal is Harambe, and he makes the best faces. They're going to Alabama Birmingham and I'm TICKED OFF that they aren't coming to the superior mission, aka South Carolina Columbia. I love 'em.
Elder P and Elder C2: they are the only elders in our district that are going to our mission. Elder C2 doesn't say much, but the things that he does say are like *mic drop*. He LOVES hunting and is from Herriman. He's a secret country boy. We tease each other a lot. It's fun. Elder P is the sweetest ever. He found out that I am lactose intolerant and he is always making sure that I'm taking my pill. So, mom, you can thank Elder P for my good digestive health. He likes playing lacrosse and has a scripture for everything.  It's great.
Elder J and Elder H: Elder J is a lot like me but a boy. He loves Les Mis and musical theater. He comes from Sparks, Nevada and loves baking as well, he's really cool and says hilarious things. Elder H is from AF! He's very direct but I love that. He likes my singing voice...
Which brings me back to my week. I felt a little homesick the first day, but since then I've been mostly fine. Wednesday night we got to do a Lil thing called people and your purpose. McKelle Cahoon helped teach it. We got to talk to real investigators in a big group. I got to bear my Testimony to one of them, named Sam, about the truth of eternal families. It was wonderful and during that time,  my homesickness vanished. I still cry every day though. My district thinks my tear ducts have a leak.

Thursday we taught for the first time. Our teacher, Sister Jacobsmeyer, portrayed an investigator named Kelly. It was so fun! Kelly believed in God and prayed all the time, so we mostly started with building her knowledge of Christ. She didn't really understand the need for a Savior because she felt like God could forgive us without Him. We didn't get how to answer the question she had, so we just showed her the Because of Him video and testified of Christ. Loved it.

Friday was fabulous. Sister Cordon and I had a moment of tension but we resolved it and I knew we were going to be BFFS because we handled disagreeing so well. We taught Kelly and felt like we sucked, but apparently we did not, because she accepted our invitation to be baptized, and we did answer her questions about the need for a Savior more thoroughly. That night, we did a district inventory, and we created a district prayer list. Sister E was feeling really anxious, so we agreed to fast for her starting Saturday afternoon. 

The next day, I got your package, which was nice except for that we were all fasting, so I had to give the donuts to another district, but Elder H and Elder J and Sister Cordon did have one before we gave them away. But thanks for the package! I looooooooooooooved it. I've definitely had more mail than almost anyone except Elder C. We taught Kelly our final lesson and felt like it went well.

Sunday the Elders discovered that it's really easy to use my last name as a pun. So, the whole morning while we should have been eating breakfast, they were making jokes about it. It was pretty funny, except for the fact that we could have been studying...but I guess they were just really hungry. Whatever. Anyway, we went to choir practice and I realized that I was losing my voice. It is now completely gone (thanks for giving me your diseases, mom) but oh well. We sang a song called Where Shepherds Lately Knelt. It was gorgeous. The whole day I was kind of feeling inadequate though, it was pretty rough. But God knows me perfectly! By the time we were all gathered for devotional, I felt crappy, mostly spiritually,  but also physically. And then who should be there giving my first MTC devotional but the Piano Guys. They were so fun and said some things that I really needed to hear. Afterwards I got to go talk to them. They totally remembered me and were so stoked to find me on a mission. It was so great. (Sister Pew met the Piano Guys here:Piano Guys Face to Face    After the devotional we watched the character of Christ by Elder Bednar.  It was perfect and I loved it, because it was pretty much the exact thing I needed to hear. So that was a nithe one.

Mondayyyyy. We got a new investigator named Jayson and another one named Kurt, played by our teacher Brother Elg  (who is the coolest ever) and another teacher (but not our teacher) named Brother Farrales. Jayson is actually Bro. Elg's real dad so that's pretty emotional for all of us. We had a really spiritual experience with him, where the Spirit completely took me over and I bore my testimony that no matter who comes and goes in our life, Christ is always there. I seriously had no idea what I was even saying. It wasn't really even me saying it. Afterwards I was really exhausted! It was awesome. I loved it. We have another lesson with him tonight. Sister E had actually gone home earlier that evening, so our lesson with Jayson was our first in the trio. Sister Cordon started feeling insecure because she's always the uncomfortable third friend, and she felt like she didn't contribute a whole bunch to the lesson, but thanks to the openness and honesty we already established, she was able to resolve her concerns with Sister Janke and I.

Yesterday we had district inventory, which is basically a fancy term for, if you have beef with anyone in the district please say it. I may have gone down in history as the first sister ever to be told she was a little bit too direct and brutally honest. They want me to beat around the bush a little more, haha. Oops. I love my district, but I guess I have a bit of a problem with accidentally sounding rude. It was good though, because now I've got something to work on. No one was able to say a single bad thing about Sister Janke and Sister Cordon, though, so it just proved that I have the best compañeras evah! We also had devotional last night with Elder Zwick. He kept thanking us for joining him, which felt cool. He also talked a lot about the importance of selflessness in missionary work. Super good.

Today I'm pretty sick. Please pray for me to get better. I can't share my talents if I am this sick, and it's frustrating in ways I didn't anticipate. I miss being able to sing. I'm going to the doctor soon.
Things you probably shouldn't do at the MTC:
-call Elder C2 a turd ball for dissing Lone Peak
-exclaim "nuggets!" Whenever you drop anything
-talk to your teddy bear because you are an ADULT,  FOR GOODNESS SAKE
-watch with bated breath as your district leader drinks not one, but two glasses of the orange juice (after he had been warned about the explosive consequences)
-say anything about bowel movements to any of the elders,  because they WILL take it as an invitation

People I know who I've seen so far:
McKelle Cahoon, Alyssa Johnson, Josh Bailey, Jared Pflueger, Jake Nilson, Keenan Kelshaw, Ben Lopez, Gunner Miller (who actually walked in with me, and has class like 2 rooms down from me), Claire Moderzitski, Chuck Scholls, Andy Àvila's sister Marissa who is married and verrrry pregnant, and Tiffany's dad, twice, but not because I needed a counselor,  so no worries.

Yes mom, I like jojos. The food here is not as good as the food back home, but I'm eating it.

I'm learning a lot. This is WAY easier than being stuck on a couch unable to walk. I know I'm supposed to be here. I'm helping people every day and I love everyone I meet. I am full of joy joy joy. I love the MTC. It's work, for sure, but it's work I believe in, and that I truly want to be a part of. I testify that God's love extends beyond the easy times. He's there, and He sent the Savior, because He wants us to have joy.

Love you all! Don't let the muggles get you down.

Sister Pew and her companions and teachers--they all match

With all my love,
Sister Pew

Ps I have been taking photos but I'm not sure how to send them. As soon as I figure it out I'll send some.

Second short email:

Some news!

I'm not actually leaving the MTC Jan 3, I'm leaving the 10th. They changed it for some reason. Also, last night we were told we are the new Sister Training Leaders in our zone, so that's cool too.
OK I'm done with news now. 

Glimpses of life in the MTC the first couple of days

An amazing person texted this picture to her dad, Tim. So fun to see her happy and "cleaning". 

Here are a couple of lines she sent via email:

Hi mom, it's Emily.(from her companion's email the first day because she didn't have her ipad yet)  I am alive. I have only cried 24 times.
love you ! p day is Wednesday.

Sister Pew 

Hello mommy!
I am doing well. I have permission to email you because I actually do get to call home for a half hour on Christmas. I will most likely call Dad's phone. 
Love, Sister Pew

Saying goodbye!

 Only Gwen and Taran could come so she said good bye to the others earlier in the day, Timo the day before after the setting apart. Gwen was the hardest to say good bye. We didn't get any pictures of us parents saying good bye. It's an exciting thing so we were tender in our goodbyes but so happy later dropping her off. She's going to do great things!

 Yeah I am finally here!

Getting Set Apart

We believe that men and women “must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel” (Article of Faith 5). When a priesthood leader lays his hands upon the head of a missionary to give him or her authority to preach the gospel, we call it being “set apart” (see D&C 68:14 and D&C 107: 74).

Every missionary should be set apart by their stake president before they depart for the missionary training center (MTC). Only in rare circumstances would someone besides the stake president conduct the setting apart. The setting apart of missionaries should take place as close as possible to his or her departure date. Once the young man or woman is set apart, he or she is a missionary and is expected to obey all the mission rules and standards.

President Arnold gave her an amazing blessing after he set her apart.

Our whole family was there but Zane who had a hip hop performance later but needed to be at the school early.

All the grandparents were there as well, a very special night!

My "farewell" talk December 11, 2016

No Less Serviceable

3 Nephi 11:41 says:

41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

Over the past six months, I have submitted my papers, received my mission call, and watched as pretty much all of my friends left on their missions - with a few notable exceptions. I've always been proud of my friends, but now, as I watch them all obey the Savior's command to preach the gospel found in 3 Nephi, it's a little overwhelming. I'm very excited to follow in their footsteps, in the footsteps of my exceptional older brothers, and in the footsteps of my parents, both of whom served missions themselves.

On December 14th I will enter the MTC. From there, I will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, where I will spend the next 18 months preaching the gospel to people I don't know, but have already come to love. To an outsider, this might seem psycho, and I understand why: I'm going to leave home for eighteen months, move across the country by myself, and experience nearly daily rejection. That's absolutely crazy - if that's how you want to see it.

But let me reframe your mindset for a second. Look at the things I'll be doing for the next 18 months at face value, and it seems a little insane. But if you leave the individual out of the equation and focus on a larger scale, things seem a little clearer.

Young people, kids really, some of them fresh out of high school, are sent to remote and unfamiliar places to partake in the most unselfish work during the most selfish years of their lives. In a time of life where most people are taught to look out for themselves and focus on individual happiness, LDS missionaries learn every day that true happiness comes from being in the service of others, which, as we're taught in Mosiah 2:17, is only the service of God. We are expected and desire to choose God over everything, including hormones, college, jobs, and other various opportunities or temptations we're presented with. Taking care of His mortal children, and loving them, does Him a great service, and that should be the core desire of missionaries - to serve.

This is how I see it: when I boil it all down, missionary work isn't about me, or about the missionary at all. It's all about Jesus Christ and God the Father, and that is equal turns comforting and humbling.

Humility is, coincidentally, what I consider, for me, to be the name of the game. It's something I've had to constantly practice, because as many of you know, aside from giving public speeches, I love being in front of people and performing. It's hard not to be arrogant when, just because of the nature of my hobby, I receive some amount of attention. I try to be more like my dad, who recently made it into the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and who probably hates that I bring it up at all, let alone from the pulpit. He's constantly doing good things, and is very reluctant to be recognized for it. I imagine my dad was a really good missionary - but I wouldn't really know, because I wasn't there, and because he downplays pretty much every good thing he's ever done, giving all the credit to whom it's really due - to God and to the Savior. I hope I can adopt more of my dad's humility into my personal life.

But anyway, although being involved in theater in high school may have created a bit of an attention issue in my personality, it also taught me a very valuable lesson that relates to what I'm trying to speak on: you can never measure the depth of an actor's talent by what role they play, only by how well they perform the role they're given. A good actor isn't necessarily always landing lead roles; rather, they are doing wonderful things with any role they're assigned, in the spotlight or out.

This pattern will continue on my mission, just translated into gospel language: you cannot gauge the success of a missionary by what leadership role they hold, how many baptisms they've had, or how many appointments don't fall through. The best missionary isn't the one who is constantly in the spotlight - the best missionary is the one who's not focused on the spotlight at all, but on loving and serving their companions and the children of God they will meet in the field.

This is really the question to ask if you're looking for success on your mission: where is your focus? If your focus is inward, you're going to give yourself a very hard time. If your focus is outward, God will not necessarily make it easy for you, but He will give you peace and joy. Missionary work isn't about me - for me, it's about everyone else, especially the people in South Carolina. They are so important and so loved, and so many of them don't know how to feel the happiness that only the gospel brings. Anyone with a knowledge of the gospel would be anxious to tell them all about it.

I may not be the most eloquent, well-spoken, well-dressed, perfect missionary, either. I am a simple girl, with simple faith. But it comforts me to know that God will take my simple faith and turn it into something that can change lives. That is why I'm going to serve a mission: not because I think I'll be the best missionary, or baptize all my investigators, or be a great leader. It's because I want to give everything I have up to God. I want to be His, and I want everyone else to be His too. It truly doesn't matter what leadership positions I hold, or how glamorous my life is, as long as I use what I have been given to serve God and bring His message of hope to everyone that knows me.

*Bear testimony and probably cry*

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.