In the Field

Holy Crap a Moly! I'm a missionary- for reals. hahah doesn't feel real at all! I keep looking at my tag and keep thinking "what the heck is that doing there?" haha. Okay so I'll give you a quick run down- I do have a few funny stories to tell.

So the last week in the MTC FLEW by! I can't even believe how quickly it went. We completely lost track of time and didnt' even know what day of the week it was half the time...yesterday I had to double check that it was still May. 

Anyways... So we woke up at 2AM on Monday morning to leave the MTC by 3AM- LONG DAY! As soon as I got on the plane to Texas I got a full can of Diet Coke- best can of coke in a long time! hahah after not having any for 12 days!...minus that bit of Dr Pepper from that Elder haha. I was the travel leader for our group at the airport-  i'm so sorry I didn't get to talk to you longer, Mom! I tried when I got into Texas but by then my calling card had used a ton of money just to call to canada that I didn't have sufficient funds. But I'm still super glad I got to talk to you for the 30 seconds that I did.

Once we landed in Toronto the humidity hit me like a brick wall- hard to breathe! It's been crazy humid and hot! The Mission Pres and his wife picked us up- sooo nice! they are wonderful! Then we had dinner etc-slept in a nearby hotel and got assigned to our trainers the next day. My new companion and I got straight to work as soon as we drove into town. I didn't even see the apartment until 9:30 that night! Let me tell you- Laying down, finally in bed was the best feeling ever! We did go visit a less active lady, and she was so happy that my name was Sister Allred- because a sister Allred was the one who converted her! so awesome!

The different cultures here are amazing! There are 7 different language missionaries here! The one Elder, who came with us got switched to Farsi speaking! He just found out because there is no program at the MTC for it- so he gets to start learning now! that would be so awesome but sooo hard! I've been feeling pretty awesome, definitely overwhelmed with trying to remember who everyone is but really excited to get to know everyone.

OH and WE HAVE A BAPTISM ON SUNDAY! Pretty awesome way to start it off right! She is amazing! she blows my mind with her insights and her desire! She is a senior in highschool and just totally knows what she wants in life and has found so much comfort and peace through it.

My trainer is awesome. She is from Orem, Utah. Super bubbly and VERY smiley. - oh AND we drive a subaru...no big deal. The country is gorgeous over here- soo so green.  

I love you all! Muah!

Sarah's MTC Experience

Here's Sarah's first letter (and only letter) from the MTC. She flies out to Toronto tomorrow morning!

 

OH MY LANTA!  I FINALLY GOT A PDAY!  I've been looking forward to today since SUNDAY! It's been driving me crazy not being able to talk to all of you! and i'll apologize if this email doesn't have great grammer and such as i'm trying to type as fast as my little fingers can go! I don't even know where to start !

First- I made it to the MTC- and I"m alive, with perhaps a few pounds added...the chocolate milk is pretty stinking tasty :) hahah The first two nights/days were pretty intense! I felt like Mom would be coming to pick me up any time...and then she would ask me if I like boot camp and we would just go home and drink Coke together hahah....but that never happened! Everyone just told us to make it to SUnday, make it to SUnday, and it was soooo true! From Wednesday to Sunday I felt like I had been here an eternity!!!!!!! hahah but it is already Thursday and we leave on Monday morning at 3 AM!  (Mom and Dad- I'll be calling you from the airport in SLC that morning.....sooooooo please answer the phone and pretend to be happy to talk to me at like 4 in the morning, your time :). Oh and PDAY for next week will be wednesday so I'll be emailing you then!

I have learned so much since being here! I'm defnitely gained a better understanding of how to teach people and not lessons- though it can definitely be a struggle! My eyes have also been opened to how everything within the gospel is inorder for us to acheive eternal life!

So my district is pretty awesome- there are 6 elders, and 6 sister. 5 of the elders are going to Cali, 1 elder is going to Toronto, thne 4 sisters are going to toronto and 1 elder is going to toronto. 

oh funny story:

So in our room there are 3 sets of bunk beds...and between sister D's bunk bed and mine (we both sleep on the top) our shelving units are between the two...creating a kind of bridge haah so last night after we had turned off the lights and we were all giggling and cracking jokes...I snuck across the top of the shelving units and scared the crap out of sister D! hahahah oh greatest accomplishment yet!....okay not really...haha and then I scared Sister H. today as well! :)

OH and then I have to tell you about Elder W.- Abigail you might fall in love with him hahah he talks about all kinds of literature, writes with like this old fashion pen that you have to refill with ink, seriously talks like he has been studying the scriptures for like 30 years- like I don't know where he pulls some things out, plays the piano...just barely turned 18 (hadn't even been to ELders quorum before the MTC) AND he is our district president! Pretty crazy! THough, he definitely needs to loosen up a bit- little too intense sometimes lol he is the one Elder that is oging to Toronoto with us.

Oh and I'll tell you about Elder B.- he is the big huge guy from Payson...like totally redneck...but I think he has been the one who has grown the most while we have been in the MTC.  THough, we have definitely butted heads a little bit- I don't think he is used to a girl who is quite so stubborn, or who an such strong opinions...we might have gotten on the subject of hand guns the other day...(Don't worry Dad, I held strong...'Mericans, they're crazy).

 first night/part of the first day. I was just sooo overwhelmed with thinking about 18 months! hahah but it's all good. I've realized just how important this work is- even more so than I saw before. and I know that I just want to give myself 100% over to the Lord. OH AND!!!! Elder Nelson spoke to us on Tuesday :) It was amazing :) super awesome :)

So bottom line- I love this work, and though it's hard I just have to lose myself and totally hand myself over, and work hard!

I love you alll soooooo much! I"M doing great! My foot has been a little swollen but I got a blessing today so it's all going to be better :)

Mom and Dad...Monday morning- i'm calling you :) Don't forget!!!!

Oh and Abby- that camera totally doesn't work...so i'll have to buy one when I get to Toronto. These pics are from Sister H's camera- I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!

Sister Allred

Oh and I have to tell you a funny story I forgot about in my other email- So I haven't had Diet Coke for about 8 days now...well one day as we were walking to class...a bunch of elders had Dr Pepper- REAL DR pepper...with Caffeine! and so I commented and then an elder turned around and asked if I wanted it....so I did....I took the Dr Pepper from a stranger...it tasted pretty dang good :) hahah Desperate times call for desperate measures!