Monday, February 21, 2011

Week 2 - Monday, February 21st, 2011

Dear Family,
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I love hearing from you! Yes, I got your valentines day package - my whole district was jealous! Thanks. :) And I'm doing fine right now. No need for more money, I haven't gotten my hep-a shot, I will this week though. And I did get the singing card. Haha I'm leaving on the 1st of March at 4am!!!! Most of our district is going - at least 5 of us from our district and then 7 others from other districts who are going to San Diego as well. Oh, and I'M the travel leader! Meaning I'm in charge of making sure everyone gets what they need, checks on their baggage and gets on the plane. It's intense. Thank heavens it's Southwest airlines though. We will have a lay-over in LA at 7:00 in the morning and then we should get to San Diego at 9am or so. I'm so nervous. I'm trying to take every advantage of the MTC as possible. I'm actually in the choir and we just learned an amazing song. Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer, I think that's what it's called. It's really good.
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Other than that, I have not found the other cafeteria. I'm wondering if it exists... I love everything about the MTC. Especially gym - the only time we get to do anything active. I jog a few laps every now and then and the other day I sprinted a lap. It felt so good to sprint, until the next day when my legs ached. Other than running I always play 4-square. It is my new favorite sport and I'm not too bad at it. ;)
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Well the food is adequate - the best so far is the lettuce wraps you get personalize at lunch and sorry Dad, I haven't been eating Lucky Charms - if it was just marshmallows that would be another story entirely. ;) No, I usually have Cap'n Crunch w/ berries.
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You two are going to have sooooo much fun serving as 4th year girls camp leaders! Mom, I know you'll love it - no need to worry - just get used to sleeping in a tent that'll probably be really dirty. You can do it! ;) And good for you guys making missionary work a goal. I never realized how important member missionary work is. People may know the truth and want to follow it but unless they have a friend who'll be there, it's usually hard to continue going to church. I know you guys can do it! And dad we haven't had a general authority here yet. I'm praying for one on Tuesday bc technically that will be my last Devotional here. :(
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I'm loving the MTC! And I'm kinda nervous to leave it but I know I'll have fun out in the field as well... just not as much fun. ;) Oh and dad I never took a drivers course bc I never needed to.
Well for my updates: I kinda need Chelsea's address at BYU. She forgot to give me a return address. If anyone wants to mail me soon they should do it by this Thursday bc all of my mail that comes after I leave I believe is thrown out. And mom can you send me those pictures of the outfits - it's nice to have a reminder, sometimes I forget what goes with what. Oh and while I'm still in the MTC you guys can send me dearelder.com mail. They print it off the day you write it, it's no charge, and it'd be nice to get little letters/notes from the girls my last few days here.
I'm sending a letter home that has more stuff I wanted to write you. I really have no time at the computer! I've learned so much - like the Plan of Salvation! That was a remarkable lesson. It's amazing how much Heavenly Father wants us back home, and he asks for so little in return. I'll have to explain the lesson more later, but it was pretty much awesome. My testimony has grown so much in the two weeks it's crazy. I Know the Book of Mormon to be true, I Know Heavenly Father is there and He loves me and I know how much He loves all of you and wants the best for Every one of His children!
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When it comes to lessons. I've taught more than half of them already. We converted Drew who was an athiest - he's "getting baptized" the saturday before we leave. We're teaching a girl from China who has absolutely NO religious background so we have to teach her Everything! And then we do lots of first lessons with random volunteers. It's been great and I've learned a lot from it. With this new program we don't teach the lessons word for word we "teach people not lessons." We invite the spirit and figure out what the investigator needs and go from there. So we follow a rough outline and thats it. I personally love it more than just reciting something even though Preach My Gospel is Amazing. You should all read it as a family together and study it - especially with this goal you have!
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Well I love you all! I hope to hear from you soon! Keep reading, studying praying and drawing closer to the Savior and Do that missionary work. I love you and I'll talk to you soon!
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Love, Sister Maureen Davis

Monday, February 14, 2011

Week 1 - Monday, February 14th 2011

Mom!!! I love you soooooo much!
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Honestly, the mintue you and dad dropped me off and I was standing on the curb I was ready, and I couldn't wait to get started! Good thing we went to the Temple first for hugs. :) I'm so grateful for this experience! And it's only been 5 days but it's felt like 3 weeks! We are learning so much every day that it's crazy how much I feel like I know. I'm still not very knowledgeable with my scriptures though... I'm getting better, reading about 10 chapters a day now! I just read in Alma yesterday and now I love Alma 48:17 - Me and one of my companions, Sis. McCloy, decided we're going to give it our all on the mission!

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Oh My companions!!! They're superb! I was intimidated by Sis. Mitchell at first (I'm in a trio) because she's very forward, but now I absolutely love her! And tell Danielle that the girl she was talking about, Chelsea Mov-a-something? That's my other companion, Sis McCloy. She is usually quiet but she has come out of her shell so much, and when she talks, she has the most profound, clear wisdom! I love it! Ok, in my district there are 4 elders and the 3 of us sisters. Elder Saager and Elder Strommer are also going to San Diego ( and so are my companions) So we'll all be there together and then Elder Galliher and Elder Iverson are going to Ohio.

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We are an awesome district and the first to be in the Advanced pilot program. In other words we teach 22 lessons as opposed to the 3 they used to teach at the MTC. At first I was nervous but on saturday we taught a man named Drew. (he's really our teacher Bro. Lords just acting). It was the most amazing experience I had. He doesn't believe in God but he wants to believe there is more to life. So we taught him and bore testimony and Sis Mitchell and I were in tears afterword. Bro Lords told us he really wished he could hug us, it was That good. :) I love the MTC!

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I know i'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm so grateful for it. I saw Spencer Frame the other day - he says hi to Maddy, and I saw Laura Bayles! I was so happy to see her, we've both been eagerly searching for each other in the MTC. Well I don't know what else to write. I love everything and I'm getting used to waking up early and going to bed early. I'm almost used to saying a prayer before pretty much Everything, oh and having people follow me everywhere. It's kinda strange asking the other sisters permission to go to the bathroom, but we all accept it as normal now. In fact it's strange when Sis. Mitchell gets pulled out for meetings.Oh and the showers here are insane. The first day they were freezing cold, and today they were boiling. It makes it a little challenging, but being from AZ i'd rather have boiling water. ;)
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Well I have 10 min left. Our P-days are on Monday and we only have 30 min to read and write an e-mail home. But I have the rest of the day to write letters. I can't wait till I get all your notes. Tell everyone I love them!

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Tell Aunt Diana I don't know where the other cafeteria is, she'll have to tell me.

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Tell Maddy I love her so much and that she should seriously consider a mission! It's the greatest thing there is, those other ladies we knew weren't kidding! :)

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Tell Erin that she should read Alma 48:17 and that she should strive to be like what my MTC president calls, Princess Moroni. :) I love her and want her to be the best girl she can be!


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Tell Emmy, I'm surprised but I miss her "emmy hugs" she should just remember to ask to give them first. ;) I love her and miss her cheerfulness so much!

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Tell Olivia I love her and she should consider a mission... when she's older. ;) I miss her funny stories and jokes (she should send some) and tell her, "pinky toe"

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Dad- I love you and I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me! I'm so glad you are a worthy priesthood holder, I respect the priesthood so much right now as Sis Mitchell needed a blessing this morning and Elder Saager gave a beautiful testimony.

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Mom - I love you and I don't want you to be sad that I'm gone, be very happy! I love you and I miss you all! Be excellent member missionaries - we need you! Agh! 5 min! ok I love you all, oh yeah, I'm senior companion... strange.... I love Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon and my testimony has grown so much in the past 5 days it's amazing!

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I love you all! see you next monday!