I'm Alive!!!

Ahh, FINALLY I can email you guys! I've already decided that a short email once a week is not nearly enough time to tell you about all the amazing exeperiences I'm having here.

First things first: My comp is absolutely amazing!! She was acutally on the same row as me, but across the aisle, on our flight from Phoenix. I didn't talk to her at the airport (she said I looked like a missionary, but I was usingm y phone, so she was super confused, haha) but then I walked into class & we both said, "she was on my plane." Thankfully it didn't take long for us to figure out that we would be besties. I'm confident in saying there is not another sister at the MTC I would be more happy with. I was also thinking that it kinda sucks that I started off with such an awesome comp I get along with so well b/c how on earth am I supposed to go up from here? We laugh...a lot. We were practicing teaching some random elders we saw yesterday & afterwards they said, "we've never seen 2 sisters as happy as you two!" haha, but I have so much to learn from here. 

At first I was kinda freaking out b/c I have no idea how I am supposed to teach ppl, but she's so confident and always knows what to say, & now that I'm "senior" comp, she always makes me start the lessons, which is good, b/c I definitely need the practice! & we have the same opinions about our goofy elders in our district. Oh, so my comp, Sis. Robbins, is going to the Oakland/San Fran mish, & she's a VC sister too, all the guys in my district are going to Alabama or Jacksonville, FL. I finally met an elder going to Auckland b/c I saw a guy who teaches here & he was in my ward last year, so he got on the comp & looked up the elder he taught (this elder has been here longer for visa/health problems I think) & told me his name was Elder Florence, & then I saw an Elder Florence in the cafeteria, so I just asked him if he was going to Auckland even though I felt like a creeper, haha. I'm thinking maybe if more elders are going with me, they'll get here next week since I'll be here an extra week for VC training. & the sisters in my room/branch/zone, 3 are going to Rochester, NY VC & one is going to Alabama. They're fun roomies, but not as fun as Sister Robbins. 

Also, one of my teachers was in my ward last year, kinda funny, and my other teacher actually just got back from Auckland on his mission. & he keeps scaring me about getting fat!! I was thinking how he looks pretty skinny & so it looks like he didn't gain weight, but I guess he's been back for a while b/c he told me he gained almost 100 lbs!! No bueno! Especially since he prbly weighs like 130 now, haha. He said tracting in South Auckland is: knock on the door, have them feed you a meal, then they'll tell you they don't want to hear the gospel, knock on the next door, eat a meal, have them reject you. 

So the elders in my district are...well, they're typical 19 year olds, but I really have come to love them over the last couple of days & they're crizazy quirks and habits. They're quite amusing, & most of em love us & are taking pics of us all the time, but there is one who asked why we're studying PMG if we're VC Sisters & then said maybe proseyting missions are too hard for sisters & my comp & I almost lost it, but we're trying to be nice to him, learning to just deal with his...attitude, haha.

Nuff about everyone else, I am so happy to be here! I was freaking out the morning I left (just ask mom & dad) But the second I got here, I felt so much more calm. I have learned SO much in the last week. I am just learning to rely so much more on the Spirit, praying like crazy, & slowly getting more confident. Teaching one of our "investigators" yesterday, I caught myself smiling b/c talking about the gospel just makes me so happy. I feel like I wasn't even reading the same Book of Mormon before I got here b/c there is so much amazing stuff in it, even in 1 Nephi 1, that I never noticed. I'm having a hard time deciding what chapter I wanted you guys to read....but I think I'm going to go with 1 Nephi 10. It's Lehi (I think) testifying of Christ and I thought it was so good!

PMG is awesome too, I wish I had read it some more before I got here, but it's all good b/c I have plenty of time to study it here! Well, I should prbly go, but just wanted to let you all know I have never been happier in my life. It is so fulfilling studying the scriptures so much and coming closer to Christ. Sometimes in class I feel like my chest is going to explode with happiness and love. I just want to run down the streets screaming about the gospel & have everyone read the Book of Mormon & pray about it, no options! B/c it's so true and has and will bless my life so much! I am so ridiculously glad I decided to come here b/c I've already met so many wonderful ppl. 

Even studying as a district last night, I was so happy. I never expected to come to love and learn so much from dorky 19 year old boys! haha, well I love you all so much! Write me on dearelder, getting letters def give me a boost in my day! I love you guys, read 1 Nephi 10, & I'll e-mail you next week!!

-Sister Mullen