November 29th Email Excerpts

"I can't believe I have been here for over a week! So my district is actually staying WAY longer than most english speaking missionaries. We are here for an extra week. So I leave for California at 2:30am December 9th. But yeah they sent us here a week early because they didn't want us coming the day before Thanksgiving...weird. But anyway. It is a little overwhelming but I am getting used to it."
"I'm not perfect obviously but I am happy and a lot less stressed now that I've started relying on the spirit to teach! I study and write a lesson plan with my companions and then teach with the spirit."
"So yup...it's been great. Teaching has been hard with two companions because we aren't on the same page yet but last night it finally clicked that I was right so maybe tonight it will go better with our teacher as our investigator."

Brooke had talked about how sister missionaries sound but...
"Sorry but when I teach I do sound like a sister missionary but hate to say it...that makes me happy cause it means it's not me talking...it is the spirit. I promise. I love it so much!"

 These are the sisters going to California Bakersfield! (from left to right: Sister Apelu, Me, Sister Barder, Sister Wille, and Sister Marshall in the white.)

 My mission on the famous MTC map :)

 A hideous picture of us doing service! We packed dry ingredients for meals for hungry kids in Utah. It was so great!

 At the temple with my companions!

 My name tag!

 Sisters in my zone visiting the temple.

November 22nd Email Excerpts

"There was over 840 missionaries that entered the MTC the same day I did. Crazy. That's not normal. This is my third day here and my love for the gospel has already grown! I have never been more nervous in my entire life than the beginning of the 20th and then I got dropped off at the curb and (yes everyone was right) it went great from there! I went off with the sister that was helping me, she was from Arizona. She took me and my bags and showed me where to sign in. When they put my badge on I almost lost it. I was crying a little because I guess it finally hit me that I'm actually here and I'm officially a missionary!"
"I found out I was part of a tri-companionship! So, I have two sister companions. The whole classroom has two girl companionships and two elder companionships. They are all going to the California Bakersfield Mission the same time as me...so, they all arrived the same day as I did. My companions names are Sister Apelu who is from Hawaii and Sister Barber who is from Boise, ID. I already have a great love for my first companions!"
"So, my diet can be scary but they have a dietary room where they have Gluten-Free food we can just go in and get it whenever! I seriously feel so spoiled!"