"Called to Serve"

This week was looonnnnggg but it was good. First, I will start off by telling you about Hermana Whipple's story. So we took her to the doctor on Monday again and they told her that it was most likely mono and that she would have to go home if the test came back positive by Friday (which is today). Obviously that is the worst thing ever to hear when you just got here. She was in bad shape and realllly lathargic and you could just tell she was super sick. So that night we asked a few of our elders to give her a blessing; I think I told you guys about that last week. Anyways, today was her follow-up appointment and she cancelled it becacuse she feels 100% better!! It is so amazing because she really would have had to go home if she still was feeling sick and the doctor was pretty positive it was mono! So other than that...

Church on Sunday was fun, its kind of different here you have sacrament meeting with your zone and then a break in- between and then Relief Society with all the sisters in the MTC. It was different this past Sunday because it was fast and testimony meeting.

Monday, we had our first TRC! That's where we go and teach an investigator (who is just someone from the outside world who volunteers, or it could be an actual investigator who heard about the MTC). Scary right? Not really. First I had to "contact" this guy names Napoleon. Contacing is just where you tell them you're a missionary and tell them your message, ask if we could come back another time, and then ask for a referral--ALL in espanol. So I did that and I told him we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ, and that we had a message about families. I went on for a little while and then totally went blank and looked at my companion and she like shrugged her shoulders like she had no idea what I was supposed to say next. Then Napolean breaks character and goes, "I LOVE MISTAKES!" haha it was pretty funny. But then we had to teach an actual lesson to another girl named Lea. We got through the whole lesson pretty well then went back 10 minutes later for a "follow-up" lesson.

Tuesday, Elder Bruce C. Hafen came and gave a devotional about testimonies and it was SOOO good!! Seriously, if you can look it up and read it please do it it will help anyone with a struggling testimony! Before devotional we have to sing for like 15 minutes, and one of the songs was "Called to Serve"... I thought the roof was going to explode off of the building! Honestly, the elders were literally yelling!!! I was laughing for most of the song; it was awesome. Also, I am a part of the MTC choir now; mainly because you get the best seats for devotional (FYI for people coming to the MTC soon). Oh funny thing... its super dry up here and so all these elders get bloody noses (I am sure hermanas do too, but they are more private about those things) but elders just stick a wad of toilet paper up their noses and go on with the day! I was sitting eating dinner and I would just see an elder walk by with his tray full of food with a wad of toilet paper stuck up his nose! OH also, the food here???? WHO told me the MTC food would be good?? i am sure it was a boy. For boys it is, there is anything fried, cookies, donuts, and at every meal they have a few choices and usually the healthiest is the salad bar. BUT the salads here usually consist of iceburg lettuce with a handful of cheese, a handful of meat, and a few tomatoes. It's insane, so Jenna you should probably just pack your suitcases with food instead of clothes because you will hate MTC food. I am already sick of it!

I got a letter from Megan today so i will try to answer all her questions. Our classes are like 3 hours in the morning and usually 3 hours at night, and in-between those times we have personal study, companion study, and then language study. Its pretty intense but its also so hard to focus because the elders are so insane sometimes! But the classes are a mix between learning about how to be a missionary and the language. Spanish is pretty hard because we don't learn with pictures and that's how I remember things, but it's okay I will get it someday. NO high school Spanish does not help at all...well, maybe a tiny bit because I know how to say "what's up?" in Spanish but that's about it. I will be so happy the day I am fluent.

OH FAMILY....I heard there were more earthquakes in Chile on Saturday. Will someone PLEASE Dearelder me and give me the deats??? I am dying to know and I asked our substitute teacher last night and he was like, "Oh yeah, there were, but it's not on the news as much." I said back to him, "THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME?? I can't watch the news or get any info and really thats all?? I have friends down there, I would really like to know!" But he was all smug about it for some reason, I dont really understand. But anyways please Dearelder me with any news or anything and tell me if all the missionaries are okay. They will probably tell us on Sunday or something, but still.

Okay well, I am running out of time but i love you all! Write me letters i love them! PS I need addresses so mail some to me whoever!