I don't have much time (that's the truest statement of missionary life, I swear.) and it's stressing me how much I have to tell you, because every day is so jam packed, but I am just so exciting to be writing the people I love!!!! Also, these keyboards are the worst, so we'll see how fast I can write and hope there aren't too many typos. :)
First of all, the MTC is incredible. I love everything about it--even ten hours of class a day is great! (Crazy, I know.) I have never felt the Spirit so strongly and so frequently as I have here. It is the most wonderful feeling and I never want to be without it. I love that we have that tool to help us teach, because without the Holy Ghost, we would not be nearly as successful or happy!
My companion is the most darling child and we had to have known each other and chosen each other for MTC companions before we came to Earth. We are so similar and we get along better than I could have ever imagined. I don't know why we haven't been best friends all our lives. Her name is Sister Call and she has been the biggest blessing to me. She is such a light and example and she makes me laugh like never before. We have so much fun together, but we definitely do our work. We work so well together, and it invites the Spirit so much. I can never say how grateful I am for that and for her.
My district is fantastic and they are such examples to me! We have so much fun together, but we also learn so much from each other's testimonies. Class with them is definitely a treat. We have Sister Gillespie, Sister Lefevor, and Sister Squire all going to Nashville, TN, and Elder Eldridge, Elder Harper (our District Leader), and Elder Smith all coming to Eugene with us! Yes, Sister Call and I are the only companionship in a district of tripanionships...how crazy!
And our teachers are remarkable. Their testimonies are so strong and they teach me more than I ever thought I would learn. And I've only been here 9 days! We have Brother Bettylion and Brother Stanley as our main teachers, and then Brother Call, Brother Littlefield, Brother Jensen, and Sister Turnbow are our main helpers. They are gems, to be sure.
And my zone...oh my goodness. We're with the ASL district, and that is such a treat. We have Sister Turley and Sister Phillips (who were our Sister Training Leaders when we got here--That's basically a girl Zone Leader), Elders Maughn, Tracey, and Gilson (Elder Tracey and Elder Gilson are our Zone Leaders), and Sister Munson, Sister Flake, Sister McNeill, Sister Ingram. Two of our elders are hard of hearing, one sister is hard of hearing, and one sister is completely deaf. It's so cool to watch them sign and to learn signs, especially since Sister Call already knows sign language! (Really, I'm blessed.) These are incredible people and they crack me up every single time I'm with them, even for five minutes. We all play volleyball together at gym, and we all have our own table at the cafeteria. Speaking of the cafeteria, the food is actually really good. Which is why we all gain weight. Hahah. I saw my girls Emma (roommate) and Jaymie (folk dance) working there already, and that was so neat. I love them.
Our schedule is so crazy, we literally don't even have five minute breaks. We leave our residencies at 7am and don't go back at all until after 9:30pm. But I love it. All the hours of studying, the 25 prayers we say every day, the ten hours of class, the investigator lessons we teach...it's all beautiful and it is making me so much closer to my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I am eternally grateful for them and all that they have done for me, and I am so glad I get to be out here learning about it and preparing to teach others of it.
Speaking of investigators, we have one that's called a PI (progressing investigator) that is one of our teachers acting as an investigator he taught on his mission. He's been pretty rough on Sister Call and I because even though he's really nice, he has a hard time accepting what we teach into his life. However, we have kept up hope (except for a couple minor experiences...prayer and companions are a beautiful thing.) and he finally prayed with us last night! Our other investigator for something called TRC is super awesome. He's way easy to talk to and he always says "I'm your canvas. Just throw all your paint on me." And he always takes notes during our lessons. It's been such a treat teaching him, and having someone so open to our glorious message is refreshing.
On Sunday, Sister Call and I were called to replace Sister Phillips and Sister Turley as Sister Training Leaders! It's such an honor to have this responsibility, and it has already been so fun and such a blessing. I LOVE our girls! We have a golden zone and I have already found lifelong friends 9 days in. YAY :)
The best part of being an STL, though, is when we got new missionaries in our zone on Wednesday! We got an entire district of Sisters (6--going to Wichita, Kansas and Ogden, UT) and an entire district of Elders (6--going to Fort Collins, CO and Wichita, Kansas). They are so lovely and I really love getting to know them. We loved them so much before we even met them and having them come was like Christmas. I am so blessed. (Have I mentioned that yet? ;))
OH! We found out that we are leaving Wednesday instead of Monday. At 6am. ...ew. But I'm so very excited to go to Oregon! We continue to hear wonderful things and hear about new people to watch out for (even though I can't remember them all....haha)
A funny thing that happened: (disclaimer: I think it's funny...my friends thought it was funny...I can't guarantee how you'll feel. Haha.) We were reading the white missionary handbook of rules to each other while we got ready in the morning, and Sister Gillespie was reading about cameras..."Make sure you never look like a terrorist. --TOURIST. Make sure you never look like a TOURIST."
I don't have time to write emails to everyone individually, although I so wish I could. I love you all more than you know and I miss you every day. It's so nice when I see someone from home or get to talk to someone about Mesa. I miss that sunshine....lots. Since I don't have time to write individual notes, here are some included notes to people:
Sydney: I met Sister Oberfield and I see her often! She is a doll and I love her yellow peacoat. I also see your grandparents at least once a day and that is so much fun :)
Mom: I met Sister Kilpack that you met at work and she almost tackled me with a hug when she read my name. I see her often and it's fun to have another new friend. I also was able to sneak down to see Gloria at the temple! It was so great to talk to her and it felt like a hug from you. I cried. Of course. Haha. I also saw Elder Allison that you met at work that I went to Poston and Mountain View with, which was funny, because I had just been telling Sister Call the story about all of that literally five minutes before. (We also became good friends with a girl in his district while we were microwaving food one night...she's darling. Sister Cavaness.) I also saw Mr. Keck during choir practice! (we got to sing for the MTC devotional on Tuesday at which Gerald Causse and his wife Valerie spoke. It was wonderful and I am mildly obsessed with the song. If you can find it, get it--Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer.) I also got all my pictures from Sam's Club and I love to look at those and to show them to people :)
Erika: Sister Blood is one of our new sisters! She said she did color guard with you in high school and she loves you. (But not nearly as much as me ;)) Love you roomie! Microwave those brownies! And watch some frozen ;)
J & R: Thank you for your package! I am so excited to listen to the CD and I loved your sweet note. You are so thoughtful.
Haley: You are my favorite. I adored your letter and I adore you. I'm so glad Jerusalem is so wonderful and I will write you a real letter soon. You are #laurenapproved
Vera: Stay strong in devotional. I will join you in a year and a half :)
Payton: Thank you for your little notes! You make me smile :)
Payton: Thank you for your little notes! You make me smile :)
I LOVE THAT for Jacob and Brianne. CUTEST couple and he will be so good for her. They are so perfect together. The only problem is that their children will make everyone else's look ugly because they will be too darn beautiful. Haha. Tell her congrats! I would love to see pics. I'm sure the ring is gorgeous.
I have also seen a couple other friends from MVT and classes at BYU and from my previous wards. It's so neat!
I am surrounded by such an amazing group and I love to feel the unity and Spirit that we have together. This is a wonderful place and I would not rather be doing anything than be serving this mission for my Father in Heaven!
My favorite quote from my learning so far: "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." -- Brother Bettylion. (Which is pronounced similarly to the word battalion. Not betty-lion. Weirdly. Haha.) This could not be more true in missionary work or even just in real life. My teachers are wise and God is good.
I love you all more than I can say! I will try to send pictures next time, but I'm over my time limit for now. Thank you for everything you have done for me and the examples that you are! You don't know how much you mean to me! SO MUCH LOVE AND SO MUCH GRATITUDE!
Sister Partridge (now that's just crazy...)
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