Natalie May 7, 2013

Me and my travel plans

My dear family,

Wow it's hard to believe another week has past. I loved all of your e-mails and letters and about DIED when I read Logan's news! I got the shivers. haha (Yes I'm 90) I told my district and there were a lot of tears shed and shivers felt. Loge I don't know if you realize how cool this is. I'm sure you do but literally everyone that I tell her starts to cry.  We feel the power of missionary work and you are an example to us all.  It is a testimony to us that you are willing to put the Lord first.  And we're all hoping you can proudly where your tag when you walk that stage! Will they let you? I sure hope so. What an incredible memory. I want tons and tons and tons of pictures.  I don't know if you remember me chatting with President Nally at Hobby Lobby before I came in here.  I framed a picture for him and he was soooo nice.  He's incredible here! He'll always come eat with us and he and his wife are so kind and caring.  I am going to find him this week to tell him thank you for what he is allowing you to do.  That's just insane. I can't get over it.

This week has been so incredible! So it sounds like you already heard, but I got to host this week! I was at the perfect place at the right time and I was able to host Jess. So I was the missionary that met them at the car grabbed their luggage, helped them say goodbye and gave them a hug and left. Pretty cool huh? So I saw the Carlson's car and ran down the hill to be there.  IT was pretty incredible to see them all! Especially Jess and Shan. Just was even on the phone and I got to yell in it. Hope ya heard it J. But it was pretty symbolic and a cool experience to be on this end of things.  I got to give her the tour of the MTC, help her get her books and stuff and take her to her room, and her first class.  We had a lot of fun and it was a great memory. So then I ran back to the line to take my next sister. I was looking for the Squires because I knew Jen was coming in.  So I looked down and saw Jen with her luggage.  Another sister had already taken her.  Jen was crying and pretty sad to say goodbye.  I gave her a huge hug.  Then the host takes the luggage and the missionary goes and gets their tag and stuff like that.  So her host was taking her luggage after she left and I begged her if I could switch her.  So i took her luggage and surprised her on the other side.  IT was really fun. haha She was shocked.  But I hung out with her for awhile and tried to take her mind of her fam.  We had a blast! I showed her all the secrets of the MTC and did the same for her as I did Jess. It's so fun. I see them around and they're both doing incredible.  Tell Stacey that yesterday I was sitting behind Jen at a devotional and she didn't see me. I was watching her and her comp and they were laughing and smiling and getting along.  They were planning a lesson in spanish and my heart was full! She was in her element and was a missionary.  It made my day.  Jen will be incredible.  We have an incredible ward.  I'm excited for Dani and all the other girls to come in.  I think Dani comes in the week after me. I've been thinking about her! Tell Wendy to tell her hi for me;)

So I hit my one month mark this week! Crazy right? i also got my travel plans. Woot woot! Paris here I come! So I have a direct flight.  It's  Delta flight #89 I believe.  We leave at 4:50 pm on Monday ( a week from today ) and it's direct (YES!) So we leave the MTC at 1:30 to go to the airport.  I bought a calling card with like 500 minutes and will be able to talk as long as I can.  Will any of you be home? I can't call on mothers day :( miss it by a day. sorry mom. But hopefully we can all have a chance to talk then. Is it still early out so you'll be home? Let me know:) I'm excited to talk to you. I will probably e-mail you that morning too if I get a chance.  I'm starting packing today I believe.
So you may be wondering why I was wearing the hideous dress in the above picture...well let me tell you a little story. so that dress has been passed on from generation to generation of french speaking sisters. it's so ugly! But every sister in your district wears it one day of the week and you don't tell the elders. haha it was really funny.

We all wore it though and it was so funny! The elders died when we told them.
So the devotionals this week were incredible. On Tuesday Elder Packer's son came.  We sang Precious Savior Dear Redeemer in the choir and it was so incredible! The spirit was strong.  There was also a special musical number of This is the Christ.  The guy who conducted got up to start the meeting and with tears in his eyes told us that Elder Moody (the man who wrote that song) was in the congregation going on his mission! He stood up to wave and we all died. He reminded me of dad.  It was pretty cool though.  That's one of my favorite songs.
Chad Lewis came last night and blew us all away. He's incredible and it felt like he was just giving us a huge pep talk.
So this past week i've noticed a lot of improvement in my comps and in my district and it was a little frustrating because it's harder to see improvement with my french and the language because i knew everything we have learned here. I was feeling a little discouraged and had a feeling to write down everything that I've learned in the MTC and had a cool experience.  Loge I've been thinking about you a lot and the next couple of weeks. 
Here are a few lessons I've learned from being here and some advice people have given me:

• My mission isn't about me- "lose yourself in the work.  Giving up insecurities and fear of leaving your family will help you focus on why you're here.  If we leave  all of that behind, and humbly do His will, He'll let us."  President Nally.  Each day focus on your investigators in the field and what their needs are.  You'll learn to teach people not lessons.
• Sacrifice and Obedience bring forth the blessings of heaven- "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that very moment God will give you power"  As you consecrate every moment in the MTC and your mission miracles will happen. 
  
• We're learning 2 languages-French and the language of the spirit.  The moment you realize the language of the spirit is more important, you'll be able to speak french