Finally in Colorado

Yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero!

Apparently I am learning Spanish now or whatever. But I'll get to that later. So much has happened since my last P-day in the MTC. I'm just going to have to start this! 

The MTC was one of the best experiences ever! There are too many funny things that happened and too many testimony-builders to count! I saw Elder Bridge ALL THE TIME because we had class in the same building. My tripanion Sister Beck was a treat. She was hilarious. We're not sure if she ever actually left because we left before her. She "hurt" her foot and was on crutches most of the time we were tripanions. 

On Monday morning at 4:30 am we left the MTC. I was sad to go but I was also pumped beyond measure to get here! We piled on a bus, drove to the SLC airport, and flew on a tiny plane to Denver. There were 36 missionaries that came to Denver. WHOA. I sat next to Tom on the plane. He was reading a Duck Dynasty book so that was a good conversation starter. When we got to Denver we were greeted by our mission president and his wife. They are the best. We had to get up super early so we were all pretty much delirious. Then we all piled into mission vehicles and headed to the church with the mission office in it. We had lunch, had a lot of trainings (which I slept through), played lame unity building games with the APs, and had interviews with President and Sister Murdock. They are honestly the best. After that, we headed to the mission home, where we ate dinner and had a fireside. That night all 22 elders slept in the basement. The sisters were spread out in nice homes around the neighbourhood. We got star treatment. It was fun to have one last hurrah with the sisters from my district and especially my companion, sister Gregerson, who I am now best friends with. We again had to get up at 4:30. At 6:00 we headed back to the church for transfer meeting. In my interview the day before, President told me I was going to be in a tripanionship and one of them spoke Spanish. I sneakily looked at the board with all the missionaries and areas and I figured out that I was going to Steamboat Springs. Well I was correct! After transfer meeting we shipped out so fast I could barely say bye to my people, and we were on our way to Rifle. At Rifle, we met up with all the other missionaries who were over the mountain (metro=Denver, over the mountain=everything else) and went our separate ways. My two companions and I then drove to Steamboat Springs. (I still laugh every time I hear that name). So that day I drove another 5 hours. 

Companions

Sister Moser is from Idaho. She has been out 6 months and is so sweet. She knows Spanish (or at least religion Spanish). She is 20. 

Sister Remington is from Cali and her Great Grandpa is the Remington Carriage Center man. Woot, Canadian connection! She is 19. She is incredibly bold and enthusiastic and I love her for it! 

Steamboat Springs is a very strange place. It is a resort town, so it is very transient.There are more condos than houses. On Sunday we had about 15 actual members of the ward there and the rest were visitors. Right now we are spending most of our time in Dream Island, the best trailer park in all of Steamboat. It is literally a dream. This last week from Tuesday to Sunday we taught 39 lessons. We are very busy but having so much fun.
Also we live in a double-wide trailer. Haha. It's really huge and we don't even know what to do with all the space.

Sister R has been here for one transfer and her companion was Sister Diane Bennett! I saw her at Rifle when I first got here. She is great! and the people here really loved her so it's hard trying to fill her shoes. Before them, Elders were here. It's really sad the amount of people we come across who say the Elders used to come over to their house and "hang out". The ward isn't particularly fond of missionaries for that reason so we're working hard to repair the damage done.

In our first lesson with an investigator, we invited him to be baptized and he said YES! I hope it really happens and I have faith that it will! 

We are also teaching quite a few lessons in Spanish, hence why I am trying to learn at least something so I can understand a little. Most of the time, this past week I have accidentally fallen asleep during our lessons in Spanish because I have no idea what's going on. Whoops. I'm tired all the time. Every night as I write in my journal I fall asleep and my companeras laugh at me. 

The people here are interesting. It is honestly like a soap opera. It's actually quite hilarious. Oh, the drama. Our ward mission leader is Fred. Fred is hilarious. He is thin as a rail, 70 years old, and yesterday at dinner told us that if you let a dog lick your wound, it will heal faster. I wish I could describe him better. He just got a new ipad and is just getting the hang of it. Yesterday he had to show us some sweet yodeling videos. HAH. Also he ate the rest of my corn on the cob because I didn't finish enough. Fred is the strangest (in a good way) man I have ever met. Oh, Steamboat. (That's what we say a lot of the time here.) 

A big part of our work here is retention so we're trying to focus on having members at our lessons. President just raised the standards to 10 members presents a week and this past week we got nine so we're on our way. It really does make a difference to have a member there. It's so great for investigators to see how the Gospel blesses real people. We have a baptism coming up as well! Jamie is getting baptized on the 25th and we basically get to reap the benefits of Sister Remington and Bennett's work and enjoy the baptism. Woot! She is an awesome person and so fun! We love going to her house for dinner. We are fed supper every night by a member of the ward too! Good thing I brought elastic waist skirts! One night we even made our own sushi! 

Funny story: We just happened upon a less-active in a park. We got to know him and asked him some questions. I wasn't sure if we was all there and then he told us he had the ironic priesthood and he went to church when Brigham Young was the prophet. It took all the self-control I could muster not to bust up laughing. We've talked to some inebriated or high people here and it's a treat. Let's just say I'm not too fond of the smell of marijuana. 

We had Zone Conference on Thursday in Craig and let me just say how grateful I am for my companions. We learned a lot and had fun driving through all the beautiful country! 

Seriously though, I have already seen so many miracles here. In fact, every day is. I am learning so much from my companions and I feel the Spirit so strongly all the time as we are able to teach and testify. It's hard work, I'm tired all the time, I'm recovering from a nasty cold I got at the MTC, but I couldn't be more excited to be here in Steamboat! I have prayed more here than I ever have in my life. There is an incredible amount to do but I am just trying to take it one day at a time by being as committed and obedient as I can to the work! The Lord truly is hastening his work. Our mission is getting 32 more missionaries this week! We already had 208! I can't believe I've been in the field for a week! It's crazy! Mission time is so weird. It's feels like I've always been here and that the MTC never happened. But I guess that's what happens when you're so busy you barely have time to think! (and that's a good thing). 

Sisters Moser, Remington, Turner

First Week Down!!

HERRRRRO!

Oh, where to begin! It feels like I have been in the MTC forever judging by how many things have happened. Being dropped off was great! Sister Lloyd was there  to help me every step of the way and I was late to the first meeting of my district so I was privileged to miss all those awkward first intros.

My companion is THE BEST! Sister Gregerson is from Cali, went to BYU last year, and laughs at all the same things I do. Lots of time we have to leave the classroom during personal study to get a hold of ourselves. Plus she can put up with all my weirdness and even sometimes thinks it's funny. It's too good. My district is all going to Denver South and there are 10 of us: 4 sisters and 6 elders. Most of the elders are 18 (BLAKE'S AGE, although some of them look 12) and I've convinced some of them that I am 29. Eighteen=gullible. Also I've convinced some that I know French. You know how good I am at pretending to speak other languages. We are so busy all the time here and I thrive on it. We are expected to do a lot! Every day is chockful of places to do, things to study, lessons to attend, devotionals, firesides, classes, appointments...Sister G (as I will refer to her here on out) and I have really found the stride in our companionship. We are just loving it because we work together like CHAMPIONS. We have taught four lessons: three to our "investigator" Bob Nash (who is our teacher Brother Lester who is an amazing actor pretending to be his friend) and Ivelisse, from Venezuela. Our first two with Bob were not so hot but we really found it yesterday while teaching Ivelisse. We relied less on our planning and more on the Spirit. It's really hard to find the balance between planning and teaching by the Spirit and also how to incorporate my rather sarcastic personality into our lessons and not be a missionary robot. But we are getting better each time we teach. With Ivelisse we taught by the Spirit. I felt it so strongly. We invited her to be baptized. She said no but she did say she loved us coming and the happiness we brought into our home so just give us time and it will happen!

I have seen Sister Jardine (who left yesterday to Wisconsin), Sister Wells (my freshman roommate), Sister Van Wagenen (from my ward), and, of course, Elder Bridge. I see him ALL THE TIME. We have class in the same building on the same floor and his comp looks identical to Michael Freeze. We always have such a good time when we see Elder Bridge (I am dying that I have to write that and not Peter). It's so fun to see people I know!

 I've drank way more chocolate milk than I ever have in my entire life. On that note, the food is not great but it is not horrible. So I'm staying full at least from chocolate milk.

I have even received some mail! Janie and Sarah sent me letters and Auntie Jo sent me a box of baked goods today!!!!! How sweet is she? Don't worry I already wrote her a thank you letter.

My district has four sisters. Me and my comp and Sister Noakes and Sister Duprey. Sister Noakes is from Washington State. She is 19 and so nice! Sister Duprey is from North Carolina! She has the best accent! They are both so good and we all get along great! We all share a 6 person room but there are only four of us so we have all the room in the world! One of the others sisters from our zone was ill and her district is leaving the MTC today so she is staying with us to make sure she's well enough before she leaves. So Sis G and I will now be in a tripanionship with Sister Beck. She is a riot. One other district in my zone is going to Denver South and the other to Provo, but they are leaving today. An Elder in the DENS district is from Calgary and is Verla Wilde's grandson? How are we related to her again? Anyways I figured we were related somehow so I told him and it's great. We get to welcome a new group on Wednesday! They are going to Denver North and Tampa. Sis G and I were called as Sister Training Leaders so we get to welcome, teach and help them. Missionary work is pretty stressful but honestly I would be lost in the field without all the things I am learning here. We had an amazing fireside on Sunday night with Jenny Oaks Baker, Dallin H. Oaks daughter! She is a diva and the best violinist I have ever heard! It was so incredible! There are just too many things to write about, you know? Also this email is incredibly disjointed.

We ship out next Monday to Denver at 4:30 AM!!!!! This is going just way too fast. There are so many funny moments. Elder Welck in my district is identical to Will Arlett and I love him for it. Elder Matson gets way stressed out over the littlest things and it is hilarious. It's pretty hilarious being around such young (read:immature) Elders. I hear the strangest things. We were talking about an investigator named K'min and one of the elders goes, doesn't that sound like gay man? And everyone said no way! He goes, "why does it sound like that to me then?" I said, "Because you are 18!" It was perfect comedic timing and we busted up. Elder Goff in my zone is cousins with Bailey Fletcher too! So many connections everywhere. I always got taught by one of the Elders from the district. Say what?! haha

One of the most important things I've learned is that we really need to be continually converted unto Christ. It's not just enough to have a testimony and it's not enough to be converted to RS, or church activities, or hometeaching. It's Christ who we should center our lives around. Here at the MTC, we have a lot to be obedient about but it really does all bring blessings. Lights out at 10:30 hasn't been too hard. A couple of nights I have woken up at random times but it's been all good. Sis G and I have even gotten up early and gone to the exercise classes that are just for sisters! Woot! We have the best time in gym becuase we all pretend we know how to play volleyball really well and we walk around the track while everyone else runs. On sunday we had a great walk around the temple in the scorching heat, a great testimony meeting, and I got to play the piano!  

Cool experience I had:

We were roleplaying and I was being Bob Nash, our investigator, before we actually met him. Well as Sis G asked me questions I answered them how I thought Bob would answer. Turns out I got a lot of things right, like he only sees his kids every other weekend, he loved the lesson of fatherhood in priesthood meeting, and that he had been divorced about a year. It sounds just like happenstance but I really felt that missionaries can receive revelation for their invesigators to receive the Gospel. Everyone is prepared we just have to help them come unto Christ.

Other funniest story:

We were in class and Elder Matson talking to the teacher goes, "So if  we go this one direction..." Then he pauses, starts chuckling and says, "One Direction!" It was too good. We busted up laughing and could not control ourselves. Now we love that he will forever be the One Direction Elder of our group.

Well my time is up! 

Sister Gregerson, Sister Turner, Sister Duprey & Sister Noakes

two Denver districts 

Raymond Peeps and their companions!

sis Turner and her companion

The branch president's wife and their matching glasses!