4-11-12

Guess I'd better get this e-mail up here, before her next one comes :)

Hey all! Thanks so much for your emails! I loved reading them! Sister Zibetti and I were talking last night and wondering if Cristina was engaged...I'm so excited she is! Amber leaves this morning for Nauvoo so keep her safe travels in your prayers. Life here is super crazy! The first day I got here I didn't think I would ever really figure it out but by the next day I was pro. I did see Elder Archuleta, his classroom is in the building next to mine so I have seen him a lot. No big deal, he's just another missionary here to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ just like the rest of us but I know you guys (Natalie) were wondering if I've seen him, also tell Dawn. I can't believe how much I have learned since I got here. My testimony grows so much each day it's ridiculous! I love it! My companion is sister palmer and she is from preston idaho and she's pretty much awesome. I learn a lot from her and we work really well together. The other people in my district are Sister Harnish (who is Shei's fiance's sister) and who is so great! She's from Wyoming and so it's fun to have someone from home with me. Then there is Sister Worthington from Bosie. Both of them are going to Atlanta Georgia North. Oh, Sister Palmer is going to Utica New York. Then the elders. Elders Herzog and Beverly are so funny. They were such 19 year old boys when we got here but the growth I have seen in them is amazing. Elder Herzog was called as the district leader and I can't believe how much he has changed since he got that call. The Lord is truly with him. You know how people ask why we send out 19 year old boys? Well, I've figured it out. They have the ability to learn and grow so much. I don't see them as 19 year old boys (except in gym). They truly are powerful priesthood holders with the power to change with world! I decided that they wait to send the sisters until we are 21 because we need those extra years because we can't change and grow in the amazing way they can. Then there are Elders McMichael and Castro and they are both pretty quiet but have really amazing insights. And all 4 of those Elders are going to Columbus as well. finally there is Elder Cook. He has been here for 5 weeks. His district left a while ago but he had to stay for medical reasons. He finally got approval to leave so he will leave sometime this week. The people of Philedephia just don't even know what is going to hit them. although we were sad for him that he had to stay for extra weeks Sister Palmer and I both feel that he was here for our district. His insights and testimony of the gospel of amazing! On Sunday President Packer came and spoke to us in a MTC wide sacrament meeting. I was humbled because there was President Packer this amazingly spiritual man who has such a deep personal relationship with God taking the sacramanet with us, a bunch of crazy kids trying to figure this mission thing out. If the sacrament is so important to him, an Apostle of the Lord how much more important is it for me? I wish I could really describe how amazing Sunday was. It was our first Sunday as missionaries, Easter Sunday, fast Sunday, and we had that awesome sacrament meeting. We all sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives together. All 2500 missionaries. That was so amazing, I could just feel us all really testifying that we know that our Redeemer lives. The feeling in that room was so incredible. 2500 testimonies being raised in such a beautiful song. We had a branch sacrament meeting after that which was awesome and then a musical devotional by the BYU Men's chorus (It was SOOO good to hear them again! They sang La Cacuracha with little mexistaches on...it was helarious.) Then we watched the talk that President Bednar gave to the MTC at a sacrament meeting like the one we had but on Christmas Day. It was all about the character of Christ and turning outward instead of inward. I decided that the atonement is like the ultimate steroid. Guaranteed to make you stronger. Side effects include loving your fellow men and losing your self (If you lose yourself you will find yourself). So I drew a cute little pill bottle that had that on it... "Oh the cleverness of me." That talk was amazing and I wish you all could watch it but it's a MTC devotional so I don't think you can. I have honesty never felt my testimony grow SO MUCH in a single day in all my life. My heart feels like a balloon here. My testimony is increasing and I can't believe how much love I feel for the missionaries in my district as well as for the investigators we have. We teach every single day and it's such an incredible learning experience. You really can't do this without the spirit. Sister Harnish loves to sing. and I love to sing. Consequently we sing a lot. We love to sing "Sisters" from White Christmas, but we changed some of the lyrics so it totally fits us! and we sing a lot of Disney. One time we were walking outside and singing "I'll Make a Man out of you (Mulan) and these Elders joined in and it was great! we randomly burst into song all the time. Sister Worhtington likes to give me random words and see what song it triggers because I always have one. It sounds like everything is going good there. send me lots of pictures of everything! Mail them I get them faster (funny huh) also, send me letters on Dear Elder.com because then I can get them throughout the week. It makes me feel loved and it also gives me more time to email you guys. But send emails too! Do both! write lots! We love getting letters! OH! Sister Harnish has a tshirt that has.... GUY ON A BUFFALO on it! how awesome is that!? I have a picture so I'll send it, but I forgot my camera today so I can't send any pictures. Maybe I'll print somelater today and mail them to you. Challenge for the week: Read 1 Nephi 1:8 where it says "and he thought he saw God" think about what that can teach you (the whole revelation) and let me know. When you tell me your answers I will tell you mine. I had this awesome learning experience with that this week! Well that's all the time I have so I love you, the Church is TRUE! never doubt it. Read your scriptures. They are filled with the most incredible information! Don't forget to send that stuff please. and write me lots! Love you!

Annie