Last Week at the MTC...

This week was exceptionally normal, except for in-field orientation yesterday, which was basically a day of workshops learning about working with members, effective street-approaches, etc. Apart from that, I'm afraid I don't have too many interesting things to report. Actually, while we were at in-field, the two elders going to McAllen with me met a girl who just had a brother return from that mission and said that he absolutely loved it. Their family actually went and picked him up, and she met the president and said he's amazing. So... Family vacation 2016 in Texas to pick me up? ;) 

One thing that WAS cool, is that the speaker for the Tuesday Night devotional was born and raised in Colonia Juarez, Mexico. But he didn't talk about that too much, or I'm  SURE he would have mentioned that it was settled by our family and he probably would have asked me to come give my testimony, as the only descendant in the congregation. Okay, probably not, but it was fun to hear about someone who lived there. 

On Tuesday morning we had been studying for a couple hours, and then I was getting super hungry (which I usually don't in the morning) and wanted to go to the vending machines in 18M. So the 4 of us Hermanas went, and one of them got something that needed to  be microwaved, and so we went into the room with the microwave and there was a guy sitting there and we started talking with him. Turns out that he's the director of 17 languages and he goes around and trains mission presidents. As such, he has a profound knowledge of how to be effective missionaries and he talked to us for over an hour about things he's seen and what's really important in teaching investigators, it was amazing! I learned more in that conversation than almost anything else here at the MTC. He specifically talked about how technology has changed the way we process information, and that we've switched from linear thinking to what he called "google thinking," and how that results in having to teach the gospel differently since the gospel is so linear. He was reading a book that looked super cool, called "Mind Change" by Susan Greenfield (I think?) that was all about how technology is changing our minds. So if anyone is looking for an interesting read, check it out!

We have two teachers right now (Hermana White and Hermano Norton), and Hermana White's last day teaching was on Thursday and it was so sad to leave. I don't know how I'm going to survive leaving my mission if it's already this hard to leave people after 6 weeks. On Thursday night Hermano Norton had us listen to recordings of our first week teaching when we were teaching him as an "investigator." so we heard the very first lesson we gave when we had only been here 2 days, and it was pretty comical. It also gave me hope, though, because we could hear the progress that we've made, and that was cool.

One silly reason I'm excited to be in Texas is for the warmth. I feel like I haven't felt warm ever since I came to the MTC. My skin is always cold, and I am always trying to get warmer. The forecast for McAllen is between 65-90, so I'm pretty sure I'll be cured of feeling cold pretty quickly 

Okay, well I love you all!!! Make sure you don't send anything else to the MTC.. I don't have my address yet, but you can send things to the mission home until I DO get that address (mom has the address of the Mission Home and I'm sure you can find it on Google, too)

My next email will be from Texas - Hallelujah!

Much love,

Hermana Reynolds

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One More Week...

Last night our travel plans came... Aagh! I have to be at the travel office at 3:35 am on the 23rd, then my flight leaves around 8 and we get to McAllen at 2 ish that afternoon. In case you were wondering, the McAllen airport is teeny - one runway and two small buildings. It's so surreal that I'm actually leaving - this last week has kind of felt like I'm going to live here forever.. I'm getting really comfortable here (comfortable in my level of mental comfort, not physical,  ha.), which I know is a sign that it's time to do new things. but it's kind of scary! Here we have missionaries surrounding us 24/7 and our "investigators" are teachers and if we don't know a word in Spanish it's no big deal. But I really am excited to go. It's time :) There are two other Elders from our district going to McAllen, and then another Elder came to the MTC last week from Mexico, so he's in an advanced Spanish group and he'll be going with us, too. 

Even though I'm sad to be leaving everyone here, I'm also just so ready to be gone and be in Texas. Our district is struggling. In talking with my teachers they've said that usually the closer to departure a district gets, the more motivated and dedicated they become, and with that the unity increases. However, I feel like our district has been the opposite; at the beginning we were super united and progressively it's  gotten worse and worse. I'm hoping and praying that somehow this last week is better! It's not as if we don't talk to each other and there's back-stabbing, it's just hard for them to focus and work and be nice all the time. 

Spanish adventures for this week. We started into the wonderful world of the subjunctive. I know, I know; you're super jealous, and that's okay. If you want to imagine some of what that's like, it's like finding out that you're adopted and that your whole world is a lie. All I've ever learned about conjugation was switched, but only after some specific words and in some specific cases that have to be memorized. No big deal. Jk, it's not as bad as I expected, but it is definitely a stretch to my mental capacities. I had no idea subjunctive was even a thing - Mom, Dad, and Lucas, you did a good job shielding me from the harsh reality of Spanish. ;)

We got to skype with "Un Nativo" this week, and it was much better than I anticipated. They've had us practice talking to lots of members who speak spanish, but never a native. I don't know if I have a false sense of security that will be totally shattered when I get to Texas, but I'm feeling alright with comprehension. I don't know what percentage I'm understanding, but I feel like I understand most of what's being said, and can conjecture pretty well about the rest. 

We hosted again this week. That's one of the best parts of the week, because we get to be outside and the more often we do it, the more experienced I feel. Also, the weather has been super nice, and looks like it shouldn't be too bad for the rest of this week. Thank you, Utah. The missionaries that came in this past week that are English Speaking are all leaving at the same time as us - crazy! There are even some english speaking missionaries that came here that will be going with other members of my district to their missions. McAllen only has Spanish missionaries, though, so that's not the case for us. 

Oh, also, for those who have asked - McAllen isn't a mission with iPads, etc. McAllen is a pretty poor area, so I think it's not a techy mission at all. Here are some interesting facts about McAllen that I've heard:

It's #1 with amount of obesity in the nation. 38% (I think) of the residents are obese.

It's has the second most bicycles stolen of any mission in the Church.

However, supposedly it's like #7 in ranking of safe cities in the US. Maybe they just are really friendly but are kleptos? 

It's has the biggest costco, walmart, and some other stores. a TON of shopping happens there, and people come from over the border to shop there. 

That's all I know so far. 

I got sick this week, and that wasn't fun.. There were a few days where I was always cold and feverish and my throat hurt and my head was constantly in pain, and everyone was like "go to the Doctor!" I finally gave in because I felt like I couldn't concentrate or be nice because I was so miserable, so I went. And he basically tested to see if I had strep, and then when it came back negative he just told me I'd get over it. So I felt a little silly that I went, but I did get over it and feel fine now :)

Each week we sing in the choir for the Tuesday evening devotionals, and so there is  a choir practice on Sunday and on Tuesday before the devotional. The Choir director is super cool and always tells lots of stories about/relating to the songs we sing, and it's one of my favorite parts about the MTC. This last week we sang Nearer My God To Thee, and the back story is super cool. I'm guessing if you research it you can find lots more information, but the song is based on Jacob's experience of when he left his home because of Esau, and then had his dream, so I thought that was pretty cool. 

Speaking of devotionals, the devotional this week was super good! They're always really good, but this was had a lot of direct ways to apply what was taught. The speaker was a member of the 70 and spoke on the importance of the Book of Mormon. He said that only 5% of investigators feel like they have meaningful experiences with the Book of Mormon, and that most of them have a really hard time applying the lessons to themselves without help. He goes to different missions and does seminars on reading along with your investigators and helping them see connections, and he taught a condensed version of that to us. It was a great reminder that people who haven't grown up in the church don't just "get it" all the time, and that they need help. One thing he said that's pretty cool is that all 8 components of the first lesson in PMG are found in the first chapter of First Nephi, so if you want a scriptural treasure hunt you can read and find :) 

My companion's family sent us a package from Australia this past week, and she had them send us T-shirts and keychains and food - it was pretty exciting. We're all wearing our Australia shirts for P-day, so I'll send a picture later :)

Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for the valentines that I've received! You all are the best. 

Hermana Reynolds

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Empty Seas: Week 4

On Monday morning a teacher came into our room and said "you are all on week 4, correct?" and we said "no, we're on our third week." and then he explained how they count the first Wednesday - Sunday as week one, so we were actually on week 4, and that we needed to take some language assessment. What?! Where is this time going? When I realized that my heart jumped and I couldn't believe it. We only have two weeks left!  I can't even comprehend what it will be like leaving the MTC. I've finally adjusted to the routine and patterns here, and then it's all going to change. I guess that happens frequently in the mission, though, so I'd just better get used to it. :)

Speaking of which, I got half-way package and I loved it!!! Thank you to all who contributed. My roommates all think I have the coolest family, which I also know to be true. It was a much-needed pick-me-up, and I've been eating all the snacks often (probably too often...).

Spanish adventures of the week:

We learned the difference between Imperfect and Preterit past tenses, and how/where to use it. The most interesting part of that was conjugating "hablar" into imperfect and ending up with the word "hablabamos." Clearly my adventures at the MTC are much more exciting than anything anyone else could be experiencing. ;) 

On Wednesday we "hosted," which means we helped bring in new missionaries. We must have a pretty special district because we got asked to host last week, again this week, and we've been ushers/given prayers during devotionals. Most other people I know keep asking "how do you get to host, etc?" and they've been here longer than us and have never been asked to do anything. Weird, but I don't really mind :) I hosted two girls, and it was fun to remember what I was thinking and feeling on my first day. 

In other adventures, some girls have started sleep-talking in our room (they've also started snoring, but that just comes with the inability to sleep, but no interesting stories). I was awakened the other night by Sister Robison sitting up and starting to talk incoherently, but her sentence ended with "preach my gospel." Ha, I guess the immersion is getting to all of us. 

Oh! Exciting news. I was talking to Sister (Jessica) Christensen, and she said we should get together and do a musical number (you can try out and play for devotionals, etc). She said she brought the music to Savior, Redeemer of my Soul that she sang for her farewell and Brooke accompanied her. Then the next day, Hermana Wilson (who went through the temple the same day as I did and now resides in the bedroom next door) ran into me in the bathroom and was like "Hey, I hear you play piano really well. I was talking to some people and we want to do a musical number. I played Savior Redeemer of my Soul for my farewell on the violin, so we could do it and it would be cool." I was super confused and thought there were two separate people wanting to play that.. 

Turns out that her friend was in Jessica's district, and knew that Hermana Wilson played violin so when Jessica said she needed a violinist for the musical number they connected them. So I practiced a little bit and it was harder than I thought it might be, especially since I haven't been playing piano recently. And then the morning we were supposed to audition I was practicing and then heard someone in the next room over playing the exact same song as me!  So I was pretty nervous. We ran through it a couple of times and just prayed that we would be able to perform well. We went to the room to audition, and the people you audition for are the wives of the MTC Presidency. Yikes. But as soon as we started playing I was able to be calm and my abilities were miraculously increased. After the audition they said they loved it, and would put it in the "yes pile." We need to work on getting it a little bit faster so that it fits in the time restraint, and just because it's in the yes pile doesn't mean we'll for sure perform it, but they said we probably will sometime in my last week here. Yay! 

Also, we have incredible teachers. Ever since the second week here I've seriously considered coming back to the MTC post-mission to teach. Obviously I have a lot of time to decide about that, but it's been an option. The other day in class our teacher had us each get up and try teaching a concept to the rest of the class so we could better understand it, and it was so fun. I love teaching. And the things that our teachers do and the people they are are so inspirational. Also the workers who clean are awesome. Twice a week we do service, and Hermana Taukafa and I always try to get building 10M, since we've made friends with those workers. Their names are Sydney and Karl and they're super awesome, and we just talk and all try to do jobs that we can be close so we can talk while we're working. On Thursday Sydney was talking about how she'll be so sad when we leave, and then said that for their favorite missionaries she'll get money from them and then go get Cafe Rio and then we can all eat lunch together one day, so we'll be doing that soon :) yay! 

I realize that most of you have been in Utah so this really isn't news, but the weather here has been amazing the past couple of days. Yesterday we studied outside, and I haven't been having to wear my coat around. Right now it's almost the same temperature as it is in McAllen usually. Kind of crazy! It's been a little tender mercy, as I've been perishing from cold. Our classroom is like a refrigerator, so being able to thaw outside is a little miracle. 

Okay, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for interesting things to tell you know. Life is good, the MTC is great, the food is mediocre, and I'm super duper happy. :)

Much love!!!

Hermana Reynolds 

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MTC: Week 3 pics

Empty Seas: Week Three

Hola!

We got two new sisters in our room this week, which was an adventure. Each room has the capacity for 6, but most have only had 4-5. On Wednesday we all thought for SURE we wouldn't get new sisters since we already have 5, so when we came back and saw luggage in our room we all died a little bit inside. I felt really bad, we hadn't cleaned or organized to accommodate two more girls, so their first hour of rest turned into trying to clear space for them to live. They're English speaking, so they'll only be here for 12 days, and I realized that if I had been English speaking I would be gone already - wow! I can't really describe how time seems to be passing here, it's a strange mix of crawling along like molasses, but flying quickly, too. It's as if in the moment is seems long, but retrospectively it's so fast.

We had a little celebration for our 2 week mark on Wednesday, and Hermana Fowers' mom sent us balloons and candles and we had been planning on coming home and eating cookies and celebrating. In the end, though, we just made space for the new sisters and then took a picture and climbed into bed. Ha. Well, it was still nice to have a moment to acknowledge that we've survived :) We're all getting a little crazy from sitting in a classroom for many hours a day, and this week there were multiple times that people from our district would start showing off their animal noises and then the next 10 minutes is all filled with laughter and sounds like a zoo. Our poor teachers. We've also played handball in the hall during breaks, and taking any opportunity to get up and get moving. Gym time really is an enormous blessing - I don't know how I would survive without having an hour of exercise mingled in with an otherwise stationary day. 

I met an elder the other day that has a brother serving in McAllen... I'm not sure if I should tell you this, but I'm going to :) He said "yeah he loves it there! Everyone wants to feed them, though. He eats 4 dinners a night, and it's really rude to refuse so they have to throw up in between meals" AAAGGHHHH!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!! I guess I'll get good at being bulimic? Jk. Maybe it's different for Hermanas. We'll hope. 

The other district (35 C) left on Monday and we all miss them. It's amazing how quickly you can bond with people here; we had only known them for a week and a half and they all felt like family. They had this tradition of getting to class 5 minutes early and listening to "Glorious" by David Archuleta, and on their last day they all came and ate sack breakfasts with us in our classroom and just talked, and then they all sang that song to us before we had to go do service and they left to the airport. Their district was replaced on Wednesday, and that district has 4 girls in it, so now our zone is almost equal in the Elder to Hermana ratio, which definitely has a new dynamic. It's been fun to welcome in all the Hermanas and get to know them. 

This week was more dramatic than last, in that the hard times seemed harder, but the good times were really incredible. On Wednesday night I was saying my personal prayers in Spanish, and I realized I was thinking in Spanish more than I was in English! I wasn't translating anymore, but was able to think of concepts and the Spanish words would come. I can't say that I feel like that all of the time, but it was really exciting and I definitely feel like I'm getting a better grasp on the language. Hallelujah! 

On Tuesday night we had a devotional, and Elder Kacher of the Seventy spoke (He gave the talk "Trifle Not with Sacred Things" in October). Our district was asked to help usher (aka herding missionaries). I'm not sure why they asked us to help. most of the time was the man in charge telling me that what I was doing was wrong and making me ask people to move, or usually just telling them himself. I was very relieved when that hour was over. Anyway, Elder Kacher's talk was incredible! He spoke about being a consecrated missionary, and gave 3 keys for missionary success: 1 - Obedience, which demonstrates that God can trust you, 2 - Faith, which demonstrates that you trust God, and 3 - to never assume that the Spirit in automatically present, and to always invite the spirit into your lessons and interactions and let it guide. 

Our branch presidency said that in the 3.5 years they've been there, that talk was in the top 10 of all the talks that have been given (including those by the 12). 

In one of the new districts, there are two Hermanas from Tahiti, and an Elder from Brussels and an elder from Portugal. It's a super diverse group, and they all speak many languages. It makes me remember that I actually don't know all that much. Ha. But they're super great. 

Okay, I feel like at this point i'm running out of interesting information. Let's hope this week brings good stories, because you already know everything about MTC life now. ;)

Okay, love you all! Hope your week is magical and wonderous!

Love,

Hermana Reynolds

Empty Seas: Week Two

Second P-day! Time is finally starting to pick up, although it still feels so strange that an outside world exists. Whenever I see our teachers get out their cell phones I think "what madness is this? Technology? Is that from the future?" And the same with cars. It's really bizarre. And whenever we walk to the temple and see couples it's like "get your hands off of her! That's not allowed" I guess that's what immersion into the MTC does to you. Ha. Speaking of which, yesterday our DL Elder Johnson kind of tripped over me and he felt bad and instinctively gave me a hug, and then it was all awkward because that's definitely not allowed and it was in front of the whole district and our teacher so he felt even worse. Poor kid, but I thought it was hilarious.

Jessica Christensen from Logan came into the MTC this week and it was wonderful seeing her. I feel a little prideful because seeing all the new missionaries has made me feel all special for NOT being the new missionaries. There's something horribly wonderful about seeing all the new missionaries and giving them directions and feeling so cool for knowing all the tips and tricks about the MTC. Oh, I also saw (Elder) David Croney this week! I've been on a lookout for him since I knew he was here, but I also barely know what he looks like and I wasn't even sure if he'd know who I was. But the other day we were putting our stuff in the cubbies in the caf for dinner, and I turned around and saw a name tag that said "Elder Croney" and so we talked and stuff and I think he knew who I was. Either that or he was just really nice about it. 

To answer a couple of questions I've gotten.. We have a zone (that's basically our ward) and in our zone we have the capacity for 3 Branches (which is a class that all comes in and leaves on the same date). So we're district 35A, and then there's 35C which is about to leave next week and 35B just came in this last Wednesday. Each district has between 6-10 people in it.. In ours there are 5 elders and 4 hermanas, in the district that's leaving there are 10 or 11 elders, and then the new district has 2 sisters and 4 elders. We all have the same schedule and all are Spanish-speaking missionaries, and all have church/temple/everything else together. We're all sad about the district that's leaving, they've become really great friends it's going to be really quiet without them (they're all rather rambunctious..) Yesterday was the 23rd and my departure date is the 23rd of February. Wow! It's coming so fast!

We had an "investigator" that we taught four or five times, and then he became another one of our teachers. It was supposed to be a surprise, but everyone found out about it. He's AMAZING! both our teachers are great, but he's my favorite. So now we get two times a day with teachers, which is great because our district struggles with being productive without a teacher... So now Hmna White teaches us every afternoon (she didn't speak any Spanish before her mission and now she speaks like a native.. I have hope!) and then Hermano Norton teaches us either in the morning or night. We also have "TRC" (Teaching Resource Center) where we teach an investigator 2-3 times a week. Sometimes they have legitimate investigators or less actives, or sometimes they're converts, but you never know what yours is. It's HARD. Ours is named Rosi, and she's really quiet and hard to reach and every time I teach her I leave remembering that I actually DON'T know as much spanish as I sometimes think I do. There are more opportunities for being humbled here than anywhere else. It's incredible and painful. 

The first lesson that Hermano Norton taught us, he explained to us that the purpose of learning a language in the MTC isn't for us to leave being experts in the language, but for us to have a scaffolding and foundation that we can fill in once we are in the mission. That's a little scary, but also relieving. After what was said in my setting-apart blessing about learning the language, I almost expected it to be super easy and to leave knowing everything. That was a funny thought. Ha, that was funny. I know I'll get there, but it's definitely work and more work, and the progress is slow. But I am so thankful for my foundation in Spanish, and I really do feel like my comprehension has been expanded, at least when we're in the classroom. 

Here are some of the things I can do in Spanish so you all can be really impressed: I can introduce us/myself, I can conjugate just so well, (okay both of those things don't count.. I knew how to do them before I came). I can remember and pronounce the name of the Church without tripping all over myself (La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias), and I can correctly use Ser and Estar (the two forms of "to be") There are lots of other random things we've learned, like gerunds, and I can see progress. Yay! Maybe there's hope for me yet. I'm also memorizing lots of things, like the first vision and some scriptures, etc. 

M Russell Ballard spoke to the MTC on Tuesday and we got to sing in the Choir. The director of the choir is incredible - he always has funny and spiritual stories, and I love having a couple hours a week that I can do something other than classes and eating or showering. 'Cause that's pretty much all that we do. Anyway, Elder Ballard spoke about the apostasy and the reformers and about the restoration and about Joseph Smith. One of my favorite things he said was that we can't ever relate to the atonement because it's so far out of our comprehension, but we can imagine and try to relate to Joseph Smith, and in particular, think about his trials in Liberty Jail when we're feeling discouraged. This first week has definitely had discouraging moments, and a lot of pressure, so that was helpful to hear and think about. I will say that it's getting easier. Everyone says that if you can make it past the first week that you'll be fine, and I think there's definitely truth in that. 

I have no idea if this is available to the outside world, but if you can track down "the character of Christ" by Elder Bednar, watch it now! We all watched it last Sunday (Sunnday nights we get to watch talks or church videos), and it has changed my outlook on so many things. If it's NOT available, the premise is that the character of Christ is to turn outward when the natural man would turn inwardly. He also talked about if you want to really learn something in the gospel, you should get a copy of  the book of Mormon and read the whole thing marking things relating to that topic, and then write a summary of what you've learned at the end. 

All of the elders in our zone play 4-square during gym time, and we usually go to the weights gym. They finally talked is into going on Thursday since they're all leaving to Argentina on  Monday, and it was actually pretty fun. I also taught all my district about body language stuff and they ate it up. Oh, the entire MTC is going to Argentina I'm pretty sure. Okay, maybe not, but  90% of the Spanish-speaking missionaries I've met are going to Argentina, and that's not an exaggeration. I don't know if they're opening up new missions there or what, but it's crazy. I thought that would make Lucas happy though :)

We get service days twice a week, and this week I got to do "Ghost Busting," which is vacuuming the tile while wearing the vacuum on your back. Grant should be jealous. Also, Hermana Fowers cut a deal where I'll give her neck rubs when she gets headaches and she'll play with my hair and massage my hair (she's done hair school) and it's the best deal I've ever made. 

We get to do temple walks on Sunday afternoon, and we get to go to the temple on Saturdayafternoons, so if anyone wants to see me or drop me cookies... Jk. But it's fun to have the temple so close. Okay, I think that's all. I love and miss you all!

OH! One more story. I said in my last email how much I love Dear Elder and kind of selfishly thought I'd get lots. Well, I didn't get a single thing on Saturday or Sunday or Monday or Tuesday, and I was having a pity party with myself, and then Wednesday came and I had SO MANY LETTERS! I was so happy! I guess they don't print them on Sundays and Monday was a holiday (which we didn't figure out until the bookstore was closed) and they were probably back-logged so didn't print mine until Wednesday. So thanks for not forgetting me :)

Empty Seas: Week One

Hello!

I made it! I'm here, and it's wonderful. I was expecting the worst since I've heard horror stories about everything from angsty companions to gross food. I probably shouldn't advocate having low expectations, but in this case I have been happily surprised since I did. The first day here was incredible in a lot of ways. After being led around and collecting things until I thought I couldn't possible carry anything else, I was taken to my room and dropped it all off and then went to the classroom to meet our district and teacher. I didn't get one of the colored dots to tell people you're new. Everyone else had them, but for some reason I was left out of that tradition. :( although since I was surrounded by people wearing them I still got told "welcome to the MTC" many times. 

We met our teacher, Hermana White, and she only speaks to us in Spanish. THANK YOU, madre, for speaking to us in Spanish so often! One other elder and I have enough comprehension that we can understand what's going on most of the time, but the others are often clueless. Most have taken little or no Spanish, and I can't imagine how hard that would be! Hermana White will talk to us and then be like "si?" and the other missionaries just smile and nod, and then one of us who understands will translate and then they'll go "OH! okay." She's great and repeating and helping us learn, it just takes time to get used to it. 

We have four sisters and five elders in our district and it rocks socks. We all get along really well and we made district goals (of our own accord) and, when we're not crazy drained and exhausted, everything works well with the dynamics between us. We didn't get a district leader until Thursday night (he's the one who gets the mail), and so we didn't get mail until last night and it was SO great to have letters to read. I always heard missionaries say that letters were there salvation, but I didn't understand until now, and I'm sure I'll appreciate them even more when I've been in longer than four days. Ha. So Dear Elder away! Yesterday was our first day of the full 9 hours of study, and we were so drained and overwhelmed and exhausted by the end, and when we finally got our mail at 9:30 it was the best feeling to have letters to read. It was almost better than Christmas. Jk, not even close. But it was needed. Thank you to all who sent something. Those of you who didn't, "repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness." 

The first night here had a big group teaching experience, and I was about ready to strangle something. All of the new missionaries split into a few groups, and then in a group of 50 brand spanking new missionaries sat down and taught "investigators." They would have to experienced missionaries start the discussion, and then turn the time over to the rest of us to ask and answer questions. It was more than frustrating. 50 18/19 year olds who are so excited to teach the gospel trying to explain gospel principles was hilariously pathetic. They tried to cover every topic from the plan of salvation to the book of mormon to resurrection, and everything in between . Topics kept switching and left unfinished, and I'm sure if it had been a real investigator they would have thought we were idiotic. They probably did anyway, but were more understanding about it ;) It's hard because it's like simultaneously learning two languages; Spanish and the mission language. I didn't realize how difficult it is to actually teach the gospel; I have so much knowledge, but translating that simply for people unfamiliar with the church AND into Spanish is a joke. 

We have one other district in our Branch right now and it's all Elders, so there are like 15 elders and 4 sisters. I got asked to be STL and then the call was extended to my companion as well. :) Anyway, the other district is great - they teach us all the ropes, like coming to the laundry room early and eating and emailing there, and we all sit together at meals. I think they're all a little hermana-deprived, a couple in particular. They're great, though, and will always save seats for us by them at meals and they'll come in during their breaks and then the district leader will have to tell them to get out. It's funny. But they're super nice and chill and I love them all. 

We taught our first lesson to an investigator on Friday. In Spanish. Ha. If you'd like to know what it was like, imagine two gorillas trying to teach a giraffe how to climb a tree. Except Hermana Taukafa and I are probably less agile than gorillas, so it would be more like teaching a giraffe to struggle to climb a tree and still end up on the ground. Okay, it probably wasn't that bad, but it was pretty pathetic. We teach him again today, so we'll see how that goes! We also finally got gym time yesterday and it's so great! We went to the weight room, and nobody else was there, so I finally got to rejuvenate kind of. It was the closest to being alone that I've been since Tuesday. ;)

The food here is actually good, there are gross things every once in a while, but they have lots of options and lots of fruit, so I always and happy. No complaints :)

Our schedule is pretty simple. Wake up early, get ready, Breakfast, and then class time from 8:00-12 ish. Then we eat lunch, and then have instruction with our teacher from 2 ish to 5:30, and then dinner, and then class time from 6-9:30. We're supposed to follow the general schedule of an hour of personal study, and hour of companionship study, and then an hour of language study, with little breaks in between. We also will have regular gym time, but haven't so far since it's been the first week. Tow of the things that have been the most surprising is that we don't have as much personal study time as I expected. In the classroom we are pretty much studying things to teach our investigator and language, etc, and mornings/ evenings are pretty full with just getting ready for the day, etc. Oh speaking of which, these girls STRUGGLE! I love them so much, but they can not get up nor go to bed on time to save their lives. I'm sure it will get better, but that's been rough. I like to be punctual about those things, so I'm learning patience, while also trying to encourage obedience. We've started to have group prayer every night, prefaced by talking about what we've been grateful for that day and that's really built unity. We all get along really well and it's been cool to see those relationships develop.

My favorite part of the day is probably gym time, as it's the one time that we get a real mental break. It's getting to the point where I'm thinking about Spanish all the time. Last night I was struggling to sleep, and the whole time I just had Spanish words running through my head while I tried to remember what they meant and how to conjugate them, while being half asleep. Yikes. SO anyway, exercising is really great and gets my attention elsewhere. I also love our instruction time, because our teacher is great and we're learning a lot. 

My companion is hilarious. She says things like "do you reckon" and swears every once in a while (since certain swear words aren't swear words in Australia). Like, we'll be in the bookstore and realize we don't have our wallets and she'll swear and not realize it. Maybe I shouldn't think that's funny, but it makes me laugh since of all the places to swear, the MTC is probably the last place to do so. 

Wow, this has turned into a novel! We learned how to work the system to get the most of our email time, and our Branch President doesn't really care how much time we spend on email as long as it doesn't cut into our day (hence the waking up early for laundry). I'm sure there's lots more I could tell you, but you probably are overwhelmed by this already so I'll wrap up.

I'm so happy here! It's really hard, but I've always liked a good challenge. It's like being in college, but better in a lot of ways. There aren't any RA"s in the dorms, so the girls just all have to behave and monitor themselves - and they do! It's weird because we're so completely responsible for ourselves, and we're just expected and trusted to make good use of our time. And we get to learn and study all the time, and we work hard, and that's when I'm happiest so it's just perfect. 

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Reynolds