Here. We. Go. Tuesday June 21, 2011

Here. We. Go.Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tomorrow is the big day! I am feeling a lot of things about it right now, sad to be leaving this MTC that I love, sad to be saying goodbye to Sister Cochran and the rest of my district (even though some of them are coming to THE with me, it will still be different and we won't see each other all the time. Bummer.), excited to get out there and do this for reals, nervous to get out there and do this for reals, grateful that I am able to get out there and do this for reals. A LOT of emotions, as you can see. I have decided that I will call Dad since he's out of town first at SL airport and then I will call Mom from Denver at 7:30 - 7:45 ish. Sound good? That way you can sleep in a little, Mom. :]. Also, just have your phones on you always mmkay? Because if something changes I may switch that up. But I will be calling you BRIGHT AND EARLY. This is going to be so weird. But so good.


First and foremost, Padre I'm glad you had a good fathers day. I can't believe it snowed a Brighton Branch. Nuts. I'm glad you got to go see Grandpa. He has been a good Father to you. I love you and I'm so grateful for you. I'm glad you enjoyed me and sister Cochran's "From Both of Us" card. We thought they were funny.

So, I've said it before and I'll say it again Mom you were meant to be a missionary mother. You are the world's BEST. That book you sent me was so good, it made me cry haha. But I wasn't homesick, I just was like "oh, my gosh I love my mom." And then the BFF bars and slip I GOT SO EXCITED! I am loving them. Every day.

How was the cabin, mom and Jonny? I'm excited to hear about it. How was Grandma when she shipped out to Montana? I pray for her. How is everything at home? Tell me about getting ready for Trek and summer and work and everything. I want to hear.

The MTC really is so cool. I fought against liking it a little at first, but it didn't take long to win me over. We have had awesome Devotionals and Firesides and Relief Society Lessons. Some of the big names we've had are Ann M. Dibb (as in MONSON Dibb). That was cool. She had a Q/A about the prophet and it was cool. He watches Perry Mason from time to time apparently. Class act. We also have had the general Primary President Rosemary Wixom - hers was SO great! She talked to us about the song "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" and it was really great. At the end, she said "Remember that every primary child in the world prays for you." and I LOVED that. (Speaking of Wixom, tell Spencer Congrats! That is so awesome.) We also had Emeritus GA Yoshi-somehting Kikuchi. His conversion story is THE COOLEST. It was right after the end of World War II, and he and his father and his father's fishing company were on the ocean and they were hit by an enemy submarine, Everyone died except for Elder Kikuchi. It took him 2 days to drift to shore. After that, he had to go to work in the city, and he would get up at 4 am, work until 5 or 6 pm and then go to evening school til 10 pm so that he could finish high school. He got really sick after a few months of that. he was in the hospital, and the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. He prayed to God one night and asked him to spare his life. He was released from the hospital and was recovering at home when 2 missionaries from America knocked on his door. He said he was angry, because of everything that had happened to his family and Japan via America. But he said "you've got 10 minutes". And those missionaries came, and taught him and he started to accept the gospel. Soon after that he was baptized. His life, which has been so full and wonderful, could have been filled with bitterness and anger. But the gospel brought him a way to forgive and to move on. Such a cool story, I wish you could hear him tell it.

Dad asked the one thing that has changed about my testimony in the past 3 weeks. If i had to pick just one... I would say the power of prayer. I have always prayed, but here in the MTC I have realized how powerful it is. As in, it packs a serious punch with the Lord, he will do what you ask him to do for you, if it is right. I have never thought before that I should pray for what God wants me to pray for specifically - that I should listen to the Spirit and listen for what I should pray for. It comes. It's crazy, but it does come! Please pray for Sister Baldwin, she is having a hard time knowing whether or not she wants to stay and go on a mission. Also, my testimony of the Book Of Mormon has changed. I am started to understand what missionaries mean when they say "I Love the Book of Mormon". I think of the scripture that says "It beginneth to be delicious unto me." That's how I feel. It is filling, it is sweet. It is also powerful. God is waiting to bless us. That is all He wants to do, if we will just do what He asks.

The Weavers get here TOMORROW! I am so excited for them! They are going to meet the Prophet and the Apostles! Can you even imagine??? That would be the ultimate. I think about them a lot. They will probably have a time adjusting but they are going to LOVE it. I know it. They will be the best mission presidents. Every time I talk to someone goign to Tacoma, I have a minor heart attack and gush about the Weavers. I tell them you are going to have the world's best mission president and wife. And it's true. As much of a sacrifice as it is for them (and I can't imagine how it feels, it's huge) I think about those Elders and Sisters whose lives they will completely bless and change. I pray that somone in New Orleans is saying all these kinds of things about President and Sister Crawford. I'm sure they are.

Yesterday we had our "In Field Training" Day. And two of the missionaries from "The District 2" were our teachers. It was bizarre. But the whole day was awesome. James, do you remember that day? It was long, but so full of awesome advice and instruction of how to work with members, expect miracles, and contact etc etc. It was fun. the man in charge, though, was named Brother Littlefield and he looks and talks EXACTLY like Bill Murray! Seriously. It was the funniest thing. At the end, he asked for questions and one Elder raised his hand and said "Can you do a Bill Murray quote please?" and the whole place errupted. Everyone was laughing and clapping. It was funny. It was very missionary-ish, but still it was funny. James did you ever see him?? I hope so. I think you would have really enjoyed it.

Well, my time is running out. I am going to try so hard, I want you to know. I want to work every day, all day. I want to ask everyone to be baptized. I used to think that was so weird, but I understand it now. It is vital, it is important. And people will want to be baptized as we teach them and reintroduce them to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I believe that people will want the gospel as I offer it to them. It is such a blessing. I am scared a little bit. I'm trying not to be, but I'm sort of scared. We watched an Elder Holland talk and he said "This is the big time." This is the big time, family! I'm excited, but nervous because I want to do it well. NR, right dad?

Okay, I'm sorry that my e-mails are on crack sometimes. Hahah. I love you all and I'll talk to you TOMORROW!! Keep your phones on and close by. I'll give them a ring starting way too early :]

LOVE YOU!