6May2009

"Thank you, my religious needs have been met".

That's my favorite line so far that I've heard out here. Most people just say
"I'm all set" when they're not interested and are trying to get rid of us.

The highlight of the week, for me, was mission conference. Brother Stephen Allen,
managing director of the Missionary Department, and Brother Packer (President Packer's son), flew out from Salt Lake to give us training. It was very interactive and helpful. At the beginning of the meeting Brother Allen told us to take out a pen and paper, and every time we wrote down something we heard we were supposed to raise our hands. But we could only write down something we actually planned to do, or how we were specifically going to change as a result of what was said. I liked that idea. How many times do I take notes at a fireside and never look at them again? What good does it do?

Yesterday a couple we're teaching came to church and brought their six-year-old son.
After church he was showing me the candy he got in Primary. Hence the following
conversation:

"Where's my candy?"

"You don't get any!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're not a kid."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I'm not a kid? What am I?"

"You're a Mormon."


I love what happens when I try to cut slang words out of my vocabulary. Lately I've
been saying moronic things like, "Holy snot," "Holy banana peels," "Oh my
Hannah." Family, please try not to make fun of me too much on the phone.

And I have not forgotten that pictures are fun and I should send them. Here's the
dilemma: the computers at this library are beyond slow. It takes hours to upload and send two or three pictures. And I took my memory card to CVS (that's the main drugstore chain out here) to try to download/print pictures, but it didn't read my memory card. But, I will keep trying. Next week hopefully, I'll print some pictures from either my camera or Sis. Haueter's, and send them.

Missions are crazy. If my letters sound somewhat superficial, it's because there's so much more I've learned and experienced that I wish I could write about, but it is just impossible to explain through email. I'm working like crazy not just doing missionary work but really trying to be as obedient as possible and to talk to as many people as I can, learn as much as I can. For me that's the hardest part the constant sense of inadequacy. I always feel like I could be doing so, so much better. But it's not for a lack of trying, believe me.

MTC district: exaltation is exciting. Oh so exciting so exciting that apparently Elder Schumann can't keep a companion for more than 22 hours?! You are right, that story absolutely tops any of ours. I haven't heard much else from the Canada end of things. I'm wondering if Sister Jones and Elders Meyers/Byington/Lyman are still alive. Anyone heard from them?

Thanks to everyone for your letters! The Church is still true. :)
-Sister Monson