Week 7

Another week down... just two more to go in the MTC.  Keep the prayers and letters coming!  

~Danielle

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

 

So another crazy week at the MTC!  First of all, I forgot to tell you about something that happened last week that was just oh, so exciting.  Last Sunday morning we were awakened by the fire alarm!  We evacuated very quickly and calmly (only a little groggy because we were blessed to have it wait until 6:15 to go off, instead of it happening in the middle of the night), and only a few of us forgot our nametags....  Then after we sat outside for a few minutes watching the crazy Halloweeny lights flashing inside the building, my companions needed to find a bathroom so we snuck into the building where gym and all the devotionals are held to use their facilities and by the time we were coming out, everyone else was coming in.  Apparently they didn´t know how long it was going to take before we could go back inside, so they were letting us wait inside where it was warm.  My companions and the other hermanas from our room went to the foyer of that building, where there are couches, to wait/nap.  After a while some sister in the main gym started to play the piano and then everyone else started singing along.  Loudly and not necessarily in tune.  You know that it really means something when I do not want to participate in singing (though there is also this "shower choir" that takes place every night in our dorm and I also have no interest in that because I shower after gym, and I can hear it just fine from my room, thank you).  Eventually we found out that the alarm was set off by a dust mite in the system or something like that, and they were just waiting for the technician to come and reset it.  No fire.  We got back to our rooms about an hour after the evacuation, which meant that we only had 15 minutes left of our personal study time after we got ready.  But it was an adventure, and it made that day different from the last.  That´s what Hermana Frandsen is always saying is the key to survining the MTC - making each day at least a little bit distinguishable from those which surround it.

 

Next adventure, on Thursday we went off-campus again to the dermatologist.  Nothing too scary, they said it is something called "lichen planus."  They don't know exactly why it happens, just that some people have it.  They didn't have a pamphlet for me at the doctor, so Mom, if you want to do a little research on it and let me know if there's anything important I might be missing out on.  The PA said really it wasn't preventable nor could I have caused it, but it is treatable.  So they gave me 25+ shots of steroids - one in each of the "lesions" (I call them "spots," but that's not very clinical) and told me that it should be sufficient to heal them, but I have a follow-up again in two weeks just in case there are any friends wanting to linger.

 

We discovered the second gym this week, in the basement of the bulding with the post office and bookstore, and my companions are totally sold on it because we can use headphones to watch the Mormon Messages channel or the Joseph Smith movie while we ellyptical.  There are also free weights, which I appreciate because the arm machines in the other gym are definitely built for men and don't adjust well to my shorter height and arm length.  But there is nowhere to run in that gym, which I find disappointing because I usually spend my gym time running around (and around, and around, and around - 10 laps to a mile) the track in the other gym.  So I miss that but we'll probably take turns.

 

Another really awesome thing that happened is that we got a baptismal commitment from one of our "investigators," Bonni, who had really been dragging her feet.  She didn't want to commit until she "knew more."  Well, we had a really, really great lesson with her the other day where she finally realized (because of the Spirit and some awesome verses in the Book of Mormon) that in order to be able to use the Atonement in her life, she needed to get baptized.  It's so hard to describe, but even though it was just my teacher pretending to be an investigator, it was like she was really coming to know the Savior for the first time.  I hope whenever the mission gets really hard that I am able to think back on the look on her face when she finally came to that realization, because it was just filled with light and joy and I pray to be able to see many others come to know their Savior once I am in Chile.

 

Our companionship gets to sit on the stand tonight in devotional, Hermana Frandsen is giving the closing prayer, so of course we're hoping the speaker is someone really impressive because then we would get to meet him.  But it really doesn't matter who speaks, we always love devotional and learn a lot.

 

Well, the time has run short.  Just one more quick thing - we are expecting our travel plans this week and we are walking around in this stupor of sheer terror.  We really need to get out of the MTC (like, so badly - things are getting really ridiculous.  The other day the elders spent 10-15 minutes measuring each other's "wingspans" on the whiteboard and my companions and I thought it was so great.  That would not have happened 8 weeks ago.  We're regressing into middle-schoolers because we just need SOME kind of an outlet!), but we DON'T feel ready to just move to South America.  Not at ALL!  But it's happening.  On November 12 I will be in Chile (got an email from someone in my mission office saying they were expecting to see us in Concepcion that day) and I'm soooooo scared.  Also, I really don't speak Spanish!  AAAAAAAAHHH!

 

Anyway, I've really got to go.  Love you all.  Keep on writing to me!  Read your Book of Mormon every day, and remember that Heavenly Father loves you!

 

Lovelovelove,

 

Herman

Six weeks down and 3 to go!  Sounds like she and her companions may be getting a little stir crazy as evidenced by the cereal antics you will read about.  Thanks for writing to her and keep the letters coming!

Danielle

¡Hola!

 

So, this week was just another week at the MTC.  Not too much to report, actually.  Maybe I will give you all a little glimpse into my life at the MTC, day-by-day.

 

Tuesdays are our favorite day!  (For you Likin´ Hikin´ Ladies, I have been insired by you to celebrate P-days with an MTC rendition of the "Friday" song!)  We have P-Day, then devotional, then District Meeting where we re-cap the devotional.  Last Tuesday´s devotional was another great one from Shayne M. Bowen of the 70 (spoke in Conference about losing a child).  I always love Tuesday devotionals!  Another thing we love about Tuesday is that, since it´s P-day, if we have extra time between dinner and devotional we get to watch Mormon Messages.  We also change our sheets, take long showers, go to the TEMPLE, visit the bookstore, and write as many letters as we possibly can!  (I am very slow at writing letters, so my companions usually get at least twice as many done as I do each P-day.)  Sometimes we eat at the temple, or take a little nap, or find other diverting activities (which are appropriate and all within MTC rules, of course).  TODAY was a VERY SPECIAL P-Day, because we finally acquired all the ingredients we needed for making Rice Krispies treats, and so this afternoon we were able to make them!  It was a very exciting moment.  I can't even tell you how many miracles have occurred which have allowed for us to pull this off.  Like, Hermana Frandsen's mom sending us a stick of butter in the mail without us even asking for it (she also sent bread, but I mean, she couldn't have known that we were really wondering how we were going to get butter for this project)!  And Anna's package of marshmallows arriving on a day when I really just needed a win.  People may have written US on their lists of "Things That Are Weird About the MTC" (we are even going to write ourselves on the list - we've gotten a little weird, here) when they saw us carrying several paper bowls of Rice Krispies out of the cafeteria, but that didn't matter to us because we had a VISION and we saw it through!  And the final miracle - we found a Gladware in the free box right before we started to make them, so we had something the perfect size for mixing and storing them. (Don't worry, we washed it first!)  Heavenly Father really loves me.

 

Wednesdays are one of our least favorite days for a couple of reasons:  1. It's the furthest day from P-day, and 2. All the new people come and even though we love new people, watching them getting dropped off at the curb kind of breaks our hearts a little.  We try not to watch, but it's actually "real hard" (an Hermana Frandsen saying) to avoid.  But tomorrow WE are going to be HOSTS, which means we will meet new sisters and take their bags to their room and take them to the Bookstore to get all their supplies and show them their classroom, etc., etc.  It means we will get out of class for a few hours.  I need to be sure I pray really hard to be able to be positive and excited for them, because they are probably scared silly and likely having one of the worst days of their lives.  But being hosts also means we are old, and that we will be leaving soon - AAAAH!

 

Thursdays we have a morning class and gym in the afternoon.  This Thursday my companions and I are going on a field trip to my follow-up appointment with the Dermatologist.  It's going to be really exciting.  We'll leave morning additional study a little early in order to eat lunch, then catch the shuttle to the doctor, and who knows how long we'll be gone.  It's gonna be great.  Then we'll have class again in the evening,

 

Fridays are great because they are almost the weekend and that means it's almost Sunday, which is almost P-Day!  We have personal study at 7, then breakfast, then gym.  Then we go to the TALL lab and learn Spanish using the MTC's language learning software.  Then we have more study time, then lunch at 12:30.  Then we have more study, class from 2:30 - 5:30, dinner, and class from 6:30-9:30.  Mondays and Wednesdays follow this schedule as well.

 

Saturdays are great because we have workshop in the afternoons and there we get to practice teaching in English.  We have morning class and afternoon gym again on Saturdays, and then the week is almost over!

 

Sundays we love.  We get to watch Music and the Spoken Word, have Relief Society (this week it was Sister Ann M. Dibb - 2nd Counselor in the General Young Women and President Monson's daughter), and then go on a walk to the temple.  Then we have District Meeting (Sunday School), and then Sacrament at 3 PM.  Sacrament is in Spanglish - Spanish hymns and prayers, and two short talks in Spanish from missionaries who are called from the congregation with no warning (though we are expected to write a talk each week on that week's assigned topic).  This week I sang a musical number - Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd, in Spanish - and Hermana Frandsen got called on to give a talk.  She did great!  Then at night we have Fireside (This week it was awesome because this MTC District President and his wife stood at the pulpit and taught together.  They were so sweet and it was a really effective way to teach.), and then we watch Church movies or old devotional talks until it's time to go back to our rooms.  We watched The Testaments again this week.  It's just too good to pass up!

 

Mondays are also awesome because they are almost P-Days!  Nothing too special about them except for that.

 

Anyway, that is my week.  This week was another hard and good one.  I cried a lot and prayed a lot and learned a lot.  I need to work harder on speaking Spanish ALL THE TIME (new rule in our district on Mon, Wed, Fri) and on being more humble and teachable.  I am not sick anymore, so no worrying.  I love you all.  Please write to me and know that I love you and that the gospel is true!

 

Lovelovelove,

 

Hermana Burgess

Half way through the MTC!

Over half way through the MTC.  It sounds like she had a kind of rough week.  It's been crazy busy around here, so this is the first chance I've had to post her letter.  Keep the letters and the prayers coming!

Danielle

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

 

This week was a VERY interesting one at the MTC (to say the least)!  First of all, Tuesday night for devotional there were lots of rumors flying around about who was coming post-Conference.  Most of the talk was that the members of the choir had it on pretty good authority that we were getting Elder Bednar.  When I told Hermana Frandsen this, she said, "That's a pretty good rumor!"  I love her.  Anyway, we were indeed graced with the presence of Elder David A. Bednar and his lovely wife.  He gave a very good lesson on how to study and apply the teachings from General Conference (and why they are important).  The formula he shared is to look for the DOCTRINE (and principles), the INVITATION, and the PROMISED BLESSINGS in each address.  He even kind of workshopped it with us, showing us clips from this most recent Conference and having us practice finding those things in each of the clips.  It was a really great meeting.  There was so much excitement to have an apostle in the room.  Some missionaries were boucing in their seats, others were crying.  I learned a lot and was so grateful he was able to come.  Oh, and he said that he loved hearing all the speculation about why there was a change in the missionary age requirement. He called it "Apostolic Humor" to hear what people thought were going on in the meetings he was sitting in on.  But he said it has been changed because, "the Lord hastens His own work in His own time."  So there you have it!

 

After that, the week started to get very interesting.  Before I left, I had a rash on my hands and feet that was treated by a dermatologist, but it never did go away.  I was going to stop worrying about it, but I noticed it had spread a little and so I went to the MTC Health Clinic to have it looked at.  They decided to send me to a dermatologist, so after getting approval from my mom (I had to sit silently and watch and listen while the MTC lady talked to my mom on the phone.  It was murder.), they arranged for me a FIELD TRIP and I and my companions got to go off-campus for like, three whole hours on Thursday.  The PA there was sure that it was NOT what I had been told by the doctor in Logan, and pretty sure of what it was instead, but since he's not the dermatologist, they did a biopsy (punched a hole in my forearm and then closed it up with stitches) and I have to go back next week for results and treatment.  So really I get TWO field trips into the bargain.  I lose study time but my companions love it, because they sat in the waiting room and studied, but there was MUSIC, and a different VIEW, and we were practically in OREM.  It was very, very exciting.  And I have my first mission war-wound (kind of).

 

Then the week just got even better.  Saturday afternoon/evening I started to get a migraine (not unusual), so I took some meds and thought that would be the end of that.  Boy, was I wrong.  No pain or cold or wellness meds I tried did anything to alleviate the pain.  It took like three hours to get to sleep Saturday night and then all Sunday I was still hurting, even though I insisted on going to all the meetings all day long.  (And good thing too, because Sister Linda Burton, Relief Society General President, was our speaker in Relief Society and I got to briefly meet her and her husband afterward - I told them "Hi" from you AnnMarie.)  But it was like this giant halo of pressure all the way around my head and nothing was making it better.  The only time I wasn't hurting was when I was asleep, and it was hard to do that.  Sunday night we skipped the movie and went back to the room right after Fireside (a good one from someone from the mission department about using a bird's-eye view to help with missionary work, I have more thoughts about that but they will have to wait), and Hermana Frandsen gave me some earplugs and Hermana Dalley (who has a bachelor's degree in Nursing) got me all drugged up and they gave me a cool cloth for my forehead and sent me to bed.  Monday I was not better really at all, so my sweet companions got me a sack breakfast and insisted on skipping class so I could sleep some more.  I went back to bed for a few hours, took a really long shower, and then we went to the Health Clinic (again) after lunch.  They were full and couldn't get me in with a doctor, so I got sent out on ANOTHER field trip to the BYU Health Clinic (like a half-block from the MTC).  The doctor there (no kidding, his name was Dr. Bloink) listened to my symptoms and did some neurological tests, like making me walk in a straight line and stay balanced with my eyes closed or whatever, and said he's sure I don't have a brain tumor and from what he could figure I had a headache.  (I hadn't noticed.)  He didn't call it a migraine, though, because I didn't have any nausea, so he treated it with a shot (in my hip, first time in my memory I've had that) of some kind of super-strong anti-inflammatory and they left me to "nap" in the exam room for a half hour or so to see if it worked.  I still didn't have any relief, so he prescribed a few Loritab (he told me not to drive, operate heavy machinery, or make important decisions while I was on it - apparently he's not real hip to what goes on in the MTC) and told me to definitely take some when I got back just to try to "kick it" and then I'd have a few more left over in case I ever had any other cases of extreme pain with a headache.  Anyway, eventually I think the shot started to work and I took some Loritab before evening class and then we left when it started making me feel weird (which was a couple hours, I am pretty resistant to like those sleepy-ish meds) and then it was time for one more before bed.  I felt a little better this morning and have been able to function today, which has been nice.  Of course, now I am two days behind in studying, but I really wouldn't have gotten anything out of class if I'd been there, so it was good I went to bed.  And tomorrow I bet I'll be even better and I'll learn so much Spanish and gospel stuff - so no worrying about my health because I promise you, my companions have totally got it under control!

 

Speaking of which, I wanted to take a second to tell you a little more about Hermana Dalley.  You've heard a lot about Hermana Frandsen, simply because she's always saying things that I find hilarious.  But truly, Hermana Dalley is amazing!  She's really good at connecting with people. even in Spanish, and she's so sincere.  And really in tune.  Both during our temple walk on Sunday and on our way into the temple today, she noticed a sister sitting alone and felt prompted to go over and talk to them (in fact, today we were half through the doors of the temple when she insisted on going back), and we were always glad we did, because it turned out they were needing advice from and praying to see sister missionaries to talk to, and Hermana Frandsen and I probably wouldn't have even thought to go over to them.  I know this is a skill that will come in really handy in the mission field for her.  She is going to be great, down in the South Pole with penguins for companions (that is our favorite thing to tease her about - she's going to Chile Osorno).  Anyway, she rocks and if I had more time I'd tell you more about her, but I don't, so I'll try to fill you in some more later.

 

The two districts ahead of us are both leaving us this week for the field, making our district the "oldest" one in the zone - aaaaaaah!  We are not ready for that kind of responsibility - we don't know enough Spanish yet to be the "most advanced!"

 

Something weird about the MTC - reading the dictionary gets to be really fun.  And we're pretty certain we wouldn't know if a war broke out.  Would somebody mind letting me know if one does?  Or like, maybe inform me how the presidential election turns out or something?  There's just really nothing here.  We don't even have access to the weather forecast (though Hermana Frandsen put a suggestion in the suggestion box that they should include one on the information screens scattered about the campus, I hope that comes through.)

 

One last thought, since I am WAY overtime - today a sister who is a friend of Hermana Frandsen's, and who came into the MTC only last week, was saying how she had been having a really hard day yesterday and was feeling really overwhelmed, and then in their evening classes they addressed all of her issues and she felt so much better.  And I was thinking, being on a mission is kind of like living the law of consecration.  I know people say that a lot, but I hadn't thought about it in this way before.  I mean, we give up spending time with family and friends, we give up music and movies and all that, but what I mean is if we REALLY give everything we have to the Lord, He WILL give us EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED in return.  Isn't that amazing?  Now, I just need to really give everything I have so I feel a little less like I'm drowning all the time!

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

 

This week was a VERY interesting one at the MTC (to say the least)!  First of all, Tuesday night for devotional there were lots of rumors flying around about who was coming post-Conference.  Most of the talk was that the members of the choir had it on pretty good authority that we were getting Elder Bednar.  When I told Hermana Frandsen this, she said, "That's a pretty good rumor!"  I love her.  Anyway, we were indeed graced with the presence of Elder David A. Bednar and his lovely wife.  He gave a very good lesson on how to study and apply the teachings from General Conference (and why they are important).  The formula he shared is to look for the DOCTRINE (and principles), the INVITATION, and the PROMISED BLESSINGS in each address.  He even kind of workshopped it with us, showing us clips from this most recent Conference and having us practice finding those things in each of the clips.  It was a really great meeting.  There was so much excitement to have an apostle in the room.  Some missionaries were boucing in their seats, others were crying.  I learned a lot and was so grateful he was able to come.  Oh, and he said that he loved hearing all the speculation about why there was a change in the missionary age requirement. He called it "Apostolic Humor" to hear what people thought were going on in the meetings he was sitting in on.  But he said it has been changed because, "the Lord hastens His own work in His own time."  So there you have it!

 

After that, the week started to get very interesting.  Before I left, I had a rash on my hands and feet that was treated by a dermatologist, but it never did go away.  I was going to stop worrying about it, but I noticed it had spread a little and so I went to the MTC Health Clinic to have it looked at.  They decided to send me to a dermatologist, so after getting approval from my mom (I had to sit silently and watch and listen while the MTC lady talked to my mom on the phone.  It was murder.), they arranged for me a FIELD TRIP and I and my companions got to go off-campus for like, three whole hours on Thursday.  The PA there was sure that it was NOT what I had been told by the doctor in Logan, and pretty sure of what it was instead, but since he's not the dermatologist, they did a biopsy (punched a hole in my forearm and then closed it up with stitches) and I have to go back next week for results and treatment.  So really I get TWO field trips into the bargain.  I lose study time but my companions love it, because they sat in the waiting room and studied, but there was MUSIC, and a different VIEW, and we were practically in OREM.  It was very, very exciting.  And I have my first mission war-wound (kind of).

 

Then the week just got even better.  Saturday afternoon/evening I started to get a migraine (not unusual), so I took some meds and thought that would be the end of that.  Boy, was I wrong.  No pain or cold or wellness meds I tried did anything to alleviate the pain.  It took like three hours to get to sleep Saturday night and then all Sunday I was still hurting, even though I insisted on going to all the meetings all day long.  (And good thing too, because Sister Linda Burton, Relief Society General President, was our speaker in Relief Society and I got to briefly meet her and her husband afterward - I told them "Hi" from you AnnMarie.)  But it was like this giant halo of pressure all the way around my head and nothing was making it better.  The only time I wasn't hurting was when I was asleep, and it was hard to do that.  Sunday night we skipped the movie and went back to the room right after Fireside (a good one from someone from the mission department about using a bird's-eye view to help with missionary work, I have more thoughts about that but they will have to wait), and Hermana Frandsen gave me some earplugs and Hermana Dalley (who has a bachelor's degree in Nursing) got me all drugged up and they gave me a cool cloth for my forehead and sent me to bed.  Monday I was not better really at all, so my sweet companions got me a sack breakfast and insisted on skipping class so I could sleep some more.  I went back to bed for a few hours, took a really long shower, and then we went to the Health Clinic (again) after lunch.  They were full and couldn't get me in with a doctor, so I got sent out on ANOTHER field trip to the BYU Health Clinic (like a half-block from the MTC).  The doctor there (no kidding, his name was Dr. Bloink) listened to my symptoms and did some neurological tests, like making me walk in a straight line and stay balanced with my eyes closed or whatever, and said he's sure I don't have a brain tumor and from what he could figure I had a headache.  (I hadn't noticed.)  He didn't call it a migraine, though, because I didn't have any nausea, so he treated it with a shot (in my hip, first time in my memory I've had that) of some kind of super-strong anti-inflammatory and they left me to "nap" in the exam room for a half hour or so to see if it worked.  I still didn't have any relief, so he prescribed a few Loritab (he told me not to drive, operate heavy machinery, or make important decisions while I was on it - apparently he's not real hip to what goes on in the MTC) and told me to definitely take some when I got back just to try to "kick it" and then I'd have a few more left over in case I ever had any other cases of extreme pain with a headache.  Anyway, eventually I think the shot started to work and I took some Loritab before evening class and then we left when it started making me feel weird (which was a couple hours, I am pretty resistant to like those sleepy-ish meds) and then it was time for one more before bed.  I felt a little better this morning and have been able to function today, which has been nice.  Of course, now I am two days behind in studying, but I really wouldn't have gotten anything out of class if I'd been there, so it was good I went to bed.  And tomorrow I bet I'll be even better and I'll learn so much Spanish and gospel stuff - so no worrying about my health because I promise you, my companions have totally got it under control!

 

Speaking of which, I wanted to take a second to tell you a little more about Hermana Dalley.  You've heard a lot about Hermana Frandsen, simply because she's always saying things that I find hilarious.  But truly, Hermana Dalley is amazing!  She's really good at connecting with people. even in Spanish, and she's so sincere.  And really in tune.  Both during our temple walk on Sunday and on our way into the temple today, she noticed a sister sitting alone and felt prompted to go over and talk to them (in fact, today we were half through the doors of the temple when she insisted on going back), and we were always glad we did, because it turned out they were needing advice from and praying to see sister missionaries to talk to, and Hermana Frandsen and I probably wouldn't have even thought to go over to them.  I know this is a skill that will come in really handy in the mission field for her.  She is going to be great, down in the South Pole with penguins for companions (that is our favorite thing to tease her about - she's going to Chile Osorno).  Anyway, she rocks and if I had more time I'd tell you more about her, but I don't, so I'll try to fill you in some more later.

 

The two districts ahead of us are both leaving us this week for the field, making our district the "oldest" one in the zone - aaaaaaah!  We are not ready for that kind of responsibility - we don't know enough Spanish yet to be the "most advanced!"

 

Something weird about the MTC - reading the dictionary gets to be really fun.  And we're pretty certain we wouldn't know if a war broke out.  Would somebody mind letting me know if one does?  Or like, maybe inform me how the presidential election turns out or something?  There's just really nothing here.  We don't even have access to the weather forecast (though Hermana Frandsen put a suggestion in the suggestion box that they should include one on the information screens scattered about the campus, I hope that comes through.)

 

One last thought, since I am WAY overtime - today a sister who is a friend of Hermana Frandsen's, and who came into the MTC only last week, was saying how she had been having a really hard day yesterday and was feeling really overwhelmed, and then in their evening classes they addressed all of her issues and she felt so much better.  And I was thinking, being on a mission is kind of like living the law of consecration.  I know people say that a lot, but I hadn't thought about it in this way before.  I mean, we give up spending time with family and friends, we give up music and movies and all that, but what I mean is if we REALLY give everything we have to the Lord, He WILL give us EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED in return.  Isn't that amazing?  Now, I just need to really give everything I have so I feel a little less like I'm drowning all the time!

 

Anyway, I love you all and hope you have a good week.  Keep writing to me - if you share blood with me I want you to write on your calendar to write me at least once a week.  (That means you, Colin!)  Otherwise I start to wonder if you are still alive....  Thanks for the package, Mom Cannon, the taffys were a huge hit with the elders in our zone and the brownies and cookies aren't being shared with the elders because the sisters in our room are really enjoying them!  Thanks for finally writing Eric, and thanks for pretending to be Eric, Anna.  ;)  And thanks to everyone else who wrote, even if I didn't mention you by name.  It means a lot and really makes my day - I always need my day to be made!  Read the Book of Mormon, pray, and remember that God loves you and so do I!

 

We crossed our HALFWAY POINT this week - October 12!  Our departure date is approximately November 12, so we are on the DOWNWARD SLOPE.  WOOHOO!!!!!

 

Anyway, I love you all and hope you have a good week.  Keep writing to me - if you share blood with me I want you to write on your calendar to write me at least once a week.  (That means you, Colin!)  Otherwise I start to wonder if you are still alive....  Thanks for the package, Mom Cannon, the taffys were a huge hit with the elders in our zone and the brownies and cookies aren't being shared with the elders because the sisters in our room are really enjoying them!  Thanks for finally writing Eric, and thanks for pretending to be Eric, Anna.  ;)  And thanks to everyone else who wrote, even if I didn't mention you by name.  It means a lot and really makes my day - I always need my day to be made!  Read the Book of Mormon, pray, and remember that God loves you and so do I!

 

Lovelovelovelovelove,

 

Hermana Burgess

Week four.

Week 4!  Jordanne entered the MTC 4 weeks ago today.  It sounds like it was an exciting week at the MTC, with General Conference and such.  Have a look at what she had to say... then write to a missionary - they can help you!   ~Danielle

Hello All,

 

Today marks the end of my fourth week at the MTC - Aaaah!  But still 5 more to go....

 

I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out how Conference went here at the MTC.  So I have to say that there are really not many places it could have been better to be for that Conference than here at the MTC.  When President Monson announced the change in the missionary minimum age requirement, there were literally elders jumping out of their seats and cheering.  It was amusing, though I was a little annoyed that it interfered a bit with my ability to hear what the prophet was saying!  I am only a little disappointed that they didn't do this 7 years ago - because I was so stoked about missionary work then, I totally would have gone when I was 19 and then I would be all finished now!  In fact, my MTC teacher, Hermano Piperato said that he was watching Conference with his fiancee and the first thing he said after he heard it was, "Oh man, Hermana Burgess is going to be so mad."  But there is a quote (don't have it here with me or I'd write it out properly and tell you who said it) that says that "Faith in the Lord means having faith in His timing as well as His purposes" or something like that.  And it's not so much that I don't have faith in the Lord's timing, I just don't really have very much appreciation for it.  So my faith just isn't really all that strong in that respect, I guess.

 

I thought the overall theme for Conference was CONVERSION.  What it is, why we need it, and how to go about it.  I especially liked the talks by Elders Holland and Bednar and President Eyring.  Oh, and Elder Nelson's, of course.  "Ask the missionaries.  They can help you!"  We are betting that becomes a marketing campaign for the Church pretty soon.  But we are also a little concerned about him going around making all those promises about things we are supposed to be able to help people do (in Spanish, no less)!

 

Downside to Conference at the MTC - no pajamas!  The elders were even required to wear their suit jackets at all times during all 5 sessions.  I felt very bad for them.  I brought a sweatshirt, and Hermana Dalley brought a towel, to sit on/against in the hopes of not being miserable from sitting in those crazy-uncomfortable bleacher seats for 10 hours, but it didn't do much good.  We were so tired of sitting we would lay on our stomachs on our beds, and our hands were SO CRAMPED from taking so many notes.

 

Upside to Conference at the MTC - all classes were cancelled for TWO DAYS.  We could do basically whatever we wanted before, after, and between Conference sessions, as long as we still completed our daily personal study and stayed on campus (and like followed basic mission rules and stuff).  Temple walks were allowed, but we didn't go because it was cold and we preferred naps.  And on Saturday night we watched the Relief Society general session (we didn't get it last week because they wanted us to do it in tandem with the Priesthood session for the elders) and after it was over the MTC Presidency LET US GO BACK TO OUR ROOMS.  AT 7:30 PM!!!!!  It was really like an MTC miracle!  That meant we had 3 FULL HOURS to write in journals, write letters, take showers, etc., and we even went to bed like 15 minutes early because we had everything done.  If you have not been to the MTC you cannot understand this, but if you have, you can probably appreciate what a wonderful gift it was.  But after that our meager one hour to prepare for bed just flies by now!  Bummer.

 

Everyone read 3 Nephi 13.  It has the verses about considering the lilies and I was very inspired by it this week.

 

We have three new sisters in our room/branch.  So far we love them despite the tight fit in our dormitory.  They are all headed to Costa Rica and think we know SO MUCH SPANISH (this is NOT the case).  Their names are Hermanas Ogletree, Workman, and Hamblin.  Hermana Hamblin and I are kindred spirits, as she almost exactly one year older than me, so we can relate on the being old thing.

 

One more thing about Conference - remember the awesome talk the Elder Echo Hawk from the 70 gave about the Book of Mormon?  Well, just a few weeks ago we were sitting in the courtyard studying and along comes a member of the MTC Presidency with Elder Echo Hawk and his wife, and they call us over to meet him.  He said he was nervous about his Conference talk, and it was cool to get to watch it with that in mind - because I thought it was really great.  We also got to meet one other member of the 70 and his wife that day, but I don't have his name on my right now.  But you know, just another day at the MTC, meeting 70s.

 

So, if any of you get bored or are having a bad day, I have a suggestion for you:  write a missionary!  It will make your day and their day better.  And if you already wrote to me that day/week, our elders are really not feeling the love.  They never get any mail and it makes us sad.  So especially if you are a single young woman and you want to write to an awesome missionary, our elders would love to here from you (or anyone else, really).  Mailbox number is the same, I don't know the mission code for three of the elders, but if you use DearElder that shouldn't be a problem.  The elders going to Chile Concepcion with me are Andrew Archibald, Peter Morgan, and Rickey Shumway; and the other three, Chase Kunz, Tyson Andersen, and Jacob Stephens, are going to Madrid, Spain.  So write a missionary - they can help you!

 

I have been reading the BOM from the beginning, and I am trying to read all the footnotes (including all the scriptures listed in the TG topics for each footnote) in every verse!  I've been working on it during at least half of my personal study time for at least a week now and so far I haven't even finished 1 Nephi 1:1.  But I think it is a cool project and hope to actually complete it in my lifetime.  :)

 

Time is almost up - just want to tell you that I love you all and that this gospel is true and it is SO AWESOME!  Please read the Book of Mormon every day, attend the temple whenever you can (baptisms too, for those without endowments), and PRAY ALWAYS.  The Lord loves you and wants to help.

 

Something weird about the MTC is they get really creative about food here.  It is so obvious sometimes that instead of actually following any kind of a recipe for what it is they are claiming to serve for that meal, what they do is just kind of use the leftover ingredients from other meals and call it good.  Sometimes they randomly put like two pieces of unseasoned bowtie pasta on top of your spinach salad.  It's very odd.

 

Anyway, email time is up.  Write me

 

Lovelovelove,

 

Hermana Burgess

 

P.S.  To anyone who is wondering or trying to help - what we REALLY want is to be able to make our own Rice Krispies treats.  (We like to control the things we can, you know!)  If you want to send us pre-made Rice Krispies, we will love you all the more and eat them with much gusto!  But we have managed to acquire a stick of butter (an awesome story for another day) and think we can get the cereal from the cafeteria.  So all we are missing now is marshmallows.  Anyone up to the challenge?  :D  Love you all!

Week 3. 33% finished with the MTC!!

Here is Jordanne's letter from week 3!  She sounds like she's doing fine and being blessed.  Keep the letters pouring in!  -Danielle

Hello Everyone!

This week was another hard and good one.  Last Tuesday after I sent my email, we had a really great devotional from Christoffel Golden of the 70.  I felt the Spirit so strongly and learned a lot.  In devotionals, firesides, and other such meetings, they have taught us to draw a line down the center of the page, writing notes from the meeting on one side and the things we learn by the Spirit on the other.  The line I draw is imaginary, since my journal isn't very wide and I don't want to waste space, but I do write notes from the far left edge and spiritual promptings starting more towards the center.  I invite all of you to try this (if you do not already do it), because I have learned that when I do it I really do learn more and feel the Spirit more strongly.  So we have devotionals every Tuesday night, and firesides every Sunday night.  About 15-20 minutes before the meeting starts one of the music directors leads us in some prelude hymns.  This is really fun because not only is it some of the only music we hear all week (I don't know how recently this changed, but NO MUSIC is allowed at the MTC.  It's pretty awful.), but also because EVERYONE participates.  It's very powerful to hear thousands of people who are dedicating their lives full-time to the Lord singing His praises.  The Spirit is wonderful there, even if we do usually sing the same missionary hymns over and over.  On Sunday we sang "A Child's Prayer," which usually gets me even on a good day, but when the elders sang, "Pray, He is there.  Speak, He is listening.  You are His child, His love now surrounds you," I really could feel Heavenly Father reaching out and giving me a great big hug.  I was so grateful for that tender mercy.

Hermana Brewster and Elder Biddle from our district are leaving us this week for foreign MTCs.  We're really going to miss them - they added so much to our district.  And Elder Biddle is from Australia and headed for Spain, which means it's unlikely that any of us will ever see him again and he is truly a favorite among the district members.  This means that Hermana Brewster's companion, Hermana Dalley, will join Hermana Frandsen and I in a trio.  We love her and are excited to have her, but we're worried about the adjustment for all of us, just having to build a new companionship "vibe."  We are also getting a new district in our zone this week with (drumroll please...) three new sisters!  Which means, I will have more than just the four of us to coordinate, but not too much more.  We are very excited to not be the "new district" anymore.  We are a little less excited about the fact that all three of the sisters are moving into our room, which means it will be completely full and a very, very tight fit.  I have spent most of this afternoon trying to "condense" my stuff down into half of the space I was using so that there is "plenty" of room for the new sisters.

I saw Elder Christensen (youngest brother of Trevor and Arica, who used to live in our ward) in the lunch line the other day.  He is headed to Paris in a week or two.  I also crossed paths with Elder Carter (John and Karen's) in my first week before he went to the field, and just this last week I met Sister Ackerman (Katie, Neil, and Jenny's sister), who is headed to the Alpine mission in Germany/Austria/Switzerland.  Hers was the weirdest because I didn't actually even know she existed (for some reason I never knew they had any kids younger than Jenny), but she looks exactly like her family and when I saw her name I asked if she was related to the Ackerman's from Logan.  She was like, "Yeah, I am one."  Anyway, the MTC is a very small world!

Another edition of:  Things You'd Only See at the MTC (AKA The MTC Makes You Weird).  There is an elder in our zone/branch (who is leaving next week) who plays the piano beautifully and can improvise almost any song by ear if you can give him the tune.  Apparently he has opened for John Schmidt....  Anyway, he gives these "concerts" on Sundays between sacrament meeting and dinner and it's totally awesome.  The weird thing about it is that truly NOWHERE ELSE is it cool for two dozen 19-year-old boys to sit around listening to another 19-year-old boy play hymns on the piano.  (Okay, so they're not ALL hymns.  But "Come Thou Fount" and "We'll Bring the World His Truth" are always requested.)  Something else weird about the MTC is how exciting it is to watch "The Testaments" on Sunday after fireside, and then how absolutely quotable it becomes!  "You are a specter from the Gods!  Walk with me." and "Is the place of records far?" and "Don't disappoint me!" are the favorites of my companionship this week.

Hermana Frandsen is really funny.  Something else really great she said this week is that when we were receiving spiritual gifts and talents in the pre-existence, she didn't get any patience because "the line was too long."  Hahaha.  I can totally relate to that!

Well, there is really so much more to say and no more time to say it in, so I will adieu for now.  Keep on writing, writing, writing on Dear Elder or by snail mail and sending your love and support my way!  (Hey, almost brother-in-law, why haven't I heard anything from you?  Did you think Shannon would write for you?  Because she's not.)  Thanks to everyone who wrote this week - it's really such a blessing and I feel so loved.  I am doing my best to respond - if it's slow coming or short, it's not because I don't love you!  I love you all!

The gospel is TRUE!  If it wasn't, I seriously wouldn't be doing this.  Heavenly Father loves you, and He loves me, and He loves the people in Chile and for some reason we need each other.  I don't know any more than that but I have a testimony that only God knows my real potential, so I should stop trying to second-guess Him.

I hope all is well and happy with you all.  I LOVE YOU!

Lovelovelove,

Hermana Burgess

P.S.  In one of the Dear Elders I received this week, there was a typo, and it was addressed to "Herman" Burgess.  It was pretty much my favorite thing ever.  My fellow missionaries and teachers and such are not allowed to refer to me by nicknames, but if any of you feel inclined to address me as "Herman," it will make me laugh.  :)