Hi everyone, this is Annie I'll be running Danielle's mission blog, so posting her letters basically :) Sorry this one is from Tuesday November 8th, sorry it took so long to get it up here! So read it fast because we will have another one tomorrow! Enjoy-
Hi family!!!
Oh I am so excited to get to write you finally. The MTC is great. Crazy. But so great. The first few days were pretty hard, to be honest. Jumping head first into studying 12 hours a day and having little time to get between all my classes and activities is super crazy and stressful. Also, our teachers only speak to us in Spanish haha. I understand almost everything, it's really amazing. I'm surprised at how much I remember and at how quickly I am learning. I am working hard, but I know that the Lord is helping me so much. I guess something kind of cool, one of my teachers recommended me to move up to the intermediate Spanish class. I thought about it and prayed about it, and I feel good about staying where I am. My companion struggles with the language and so do a few others in my District, so I'm able to help. Also if I were to move up I'd have to change dorms, districts, zones, everything. And I know it's only been 6 days but I seriously LOVE the people I'm with. My companion is from Salt Lake. Her name is Hermana McKay and she's a vocal performance major at BYU. She knows Holly Starr! She is super sweet and funny. I really like her. At the beginning I was a bit worried that we weren't going to get along super well, but we have really gotten into the groove of our companionship and are doing great together. We pray all the time and that has helped us so much to be united and on the same page. I love it. So there are ten of us in our disctrict. 4 Hermanas and 6 Elders. We have sooo much fun together. We spend just about 14 hours a day together with class, language study, companion study, personal study, gym, and eating three meals a day together. Not to mention temple walks, devotionals, and church.... Haha yeah, we're pretty tight. Love them.
I looove getting the DearElders. They seriously make my day!!! Thank you to Mom, Dad, Erica, Megan, and Alison for sending me some this week!! I want to apologize in advance if you don't hear back from me ASAP. We are super duper busy here at the MTC and even on P-Day we don't have tons of time with all the other stuff we need to get done. But I really do appreciate you thinking of me and I will write back as soon as I can! The Moneys sent me a package too, with some cookies and notes from little Caroline and the fam, and a little shoulder purse and some travel-sized toiletries for the plane. They are awesome. Mom, thanks for your package as well. The vitamin C was a good call... I've been sick almost every day since I've been here. The first couple days I had really bad headaches and shoulder/ neck pain. I think just from the stress. Then I was good Friday and Saturday except for a bit of a runny nose. Oh and I got a bad bloody nose Friday :( Sunday I was okay but it was fast Sunday and I got a bit of a headache... Then Sun night I got yet another bloody nose... This time I got a Priesthood Blessing and I have not had any problems since! I have the faith that I will not have any more bloody noses. I've had some congestion and yesterday an upset stomach, haha this sounds awful when I write it all out. But really I am okay. I have been eating healthy. They have really delicious salads and soups. And with being in class all the time, there's no time to snack (we're not allowed to have food in class). We get an hour for gym every day and I run a mile or two on the indoor track every day. Yeah I know, a mile is pretty weak. But it takes 10 laps to do a mile so it's just so boring! I also do some weight lifting stuff and stretching... A lot of people gain weight at the MTC... but guess what? I've already LOST 6 pounds!! In 6 days! I'm so stoked. And kinda surprised cause I haven't been working out as much but it's probably the tons of concentrating that's making my brain burn calories, also it's cold here so I'm sure that helps.
Anyway, what else? We've been teaching our first investigator. Her name is Kimmy and the first time we taught her (en Espanol) was Friday! Our third day here! It was hard because we don't know much Spanish. But we prepare as best as we can and the Spirit helps us so much. Honestly there's no way we could teach a 20 minute gospel lesson without the help of the Lord. It's amazing. When we work hard and pray we can accomplish soo much more than we could on our own. Okay so I left my journal in my room so I don't remember everything I wanted to write about! But I will tell you more about my companion. Hermana McKay is super fun. She had some problems earlier in the week with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. She was having a hard time with the language and trying to do everything that is required of us. It really is a lot. But she has some anxiety problems so that was pretty difficult for her. I was a tiny bit nervous that she would be overcome by it and have to go home or something. But she is doing SOO much better. She's taking it easier on herself and doing her best. I have seen so quickly how her Spanish and confidence have improved. Oh, something funny... She reminds me so much of Caroline Mulvihill! Her voice and the way she talks and laughs and stuff. It's so funny.
Parents, I'm sorry I didn't turn around after being dropped off Wednesday! I honestly didn't even realize that was the last time I'd see you for 18 months :( I think as soon as I walked away from the car I just didn't even think about turning around to say bye one last time. I so hope you're doing okay and feeling my prayers for you and recognizing the Lord's blessings in your lives. Mom already told me of some little miracles but keep telling me about them! I love to hear that you are doing well. Dad, I'm glad your truck is doing okay. I love you both so much. I can never tell you how much. I appreciate you and all you do for me more than you will ever know. And supporting me doing this? Being on a mission? It's just amazing. You guys are incredible. I pray for you all the time.
I am learning so much here. And having a great time. It is hard work. Very hard work. But I know this is the Lord's work and He helps His missionaries accomplish what He expects of them. I love being here and being a missionary. I definitely cried the first time they put my missionary tag on. It is such a blessing to be a representative of the Lord and to wear His name over my heart each day.
Well, I have only one minute left so I should probably wrap up. But know that I am doing well and I love you so much. I know that the Church is true and that the Gospel blesses our lives so much. More than we can even imagine. Heavenly Father loves us more than we know. Mom if you could send a few more of those MTC return address stickers that would be awesome :)
I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!
Until next Tuesday,
xoxoxo
Hermana Anderton
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