June 17, 2009

Before you read the letter Roo asked me to remind people to make sure and put 0708 in addition to the #112 on her letters/packages. The full, correct address is on the right column of this blog, so you can check that to make sure. Also, we (the fam) would love to have any comments to these posts if you have them. Just click on the link below the post that says "0 comments" or whatever number is there. Thanks so much!
-Andrea


Hello All!

I only get half an hour to type this, that's why so many missionaries lose their emails. Lame sauce. Well, I love you and I love it here! Part of me wants to live here forever and part of me wants to just get out into the field! It's been a stressful day, but good. If you want details of this week, read on:

Thurs- I found my friend Michael Adamson, from my Institute class and we took a photo where we switched nametags, so I got to be "Elder" Adamson for a minute. It was fun! But I won't get the photo for a while, unless someone can get me his address... (April? Facebook, yeah? It's Jessica Adamson's little bro.) My fav scripture of the day was Sam 15:22... "To obey is better than to sacrifice." I'm still trying to figure out the balance between planning for the day and getting ready and then finding time at night to write in my journal and read the scriptures on my own. Pretty much impossible! We're so busy! But busy is good.

Fri-My companion Sis Card and I were talking about how when they talk over the intercom system they always call Elders to the front office. Then they're like "Would Sis Sheresa Adamson come to the front office?" Ahh! They said we were getting a new companion, a sister Jennifer Johnson from Sandy Utah. She just got her call this week and had an MTC date in July, but her mission Pres (Nauvoo, IL Visitor's Center) needed her like...ASAP. She would be coming tomorrow. Sis Card starts jumping up and down. They are friends! Woohoo! She would be our roommate and in our district. Alas, they called us down again and said, "Just kidding. She'll come in next week." Can you imagine having to get ready for a mission in like 3 days. It took me 6 months! So now she will not be our roomie or our comp. Oh well! We get to see her today!

Sat- I'm 22! Just being around Sis Card and my roommates and hearing their testimonies makes everything so awesome! We had gym time at 6:30am. Sis Card and I walked around the track. Yay! I did some yoga (can I hear a "woot woot"?) For breakfast, I had blue powerade!! I love my life. Oh yeah, and like bacon and stuff. Dinner=like four meals. I got over the whole "just eat salad" thing and have started getting multiple meals :) It's free! Well, your tithing is paying, so thank you. Also cheesecake and ice cream! It's as if they knew it was my birthday. I knew I had packages (you get a slip from your district leader), but could not make it to the post office until like 9:30pm. They close at 2pm. The nice man there grabbed my packages! Tender mercy! OK, does life get any better than black bottom cupcakes, pin the tail on the donkey and a LIVE gerber daisy in the mail? Oh my goodness, and the strwb'ry NesQuick from the Keyes family...wow. I am so loved! Plus a little film canister to bring a few tablespoons in my pocket. Sheesh! Thanks guys!

We have one elder in our district that was a bit rough to get along with on the first few days. Sis Card and I are making leaps and bounds in our goals to love him/serve him more.

Sunday-Wow. I wish words could describe how I felt. It was such a wonderful day! We got to walk up to the temple and take photos. It was rainy, but it made for fun shots! I'll get those in the mail as soon as I can. PS, they don't make it very easy to get digital copies to you. I am going to print them out and mail them. We got to watch the Joseph Smith video, which sure, I've seen before, but this time, I got a very strong witness that he is a prophet. He absolutely restored all the truths we need. His suffering allowed us to live our lives with so much joy! I owe him so much! It's weird. They transform the gym (where you play bball and 4 square) into a big auditorium. I was impressed!

Mon-Our elders are so darling (sis Card's favorite word). They have been encouraged to stand when we come to sit down in the cafeteria. They wait for us to sit before sitting themselves. It's so cute. We are all best friends! We did have some drama with one elder who was getting so discouraged, but he figured it out.

Here are some funny quotes from our district:

"If you eat a wagon full of lettuce, you get high."

"Whatever you do, remember to ask the oriental [instead of orienteering] questions at the beginning of the lesson" "Do you enjoy fortune cookies? No hao?"

Pointing to the "meat" in the sandwich they tried to feed us-- "Do you know what that is? A bare naked chicken nugget. Patty of death."

"I love my children"-investigator. "Me too" -Elder Orr

After I opened that teddy bear, one elder said, "Well, since we can't shake hands or hug around here, I think we all need a lil som'in som'in to snuggle."

Ahh! 2 mins! I love you. This is HIS work. I am so happy to be here! Thanks for all you do!

Love, Sis Roo :)