Hey Dad!
How are you? I was just about to write you a hand written letter, because those are way better than these e-mails so maybe if I have time, I'll do both. I am only allowed to write to you on P-Day so it takes awhile to get mail. Sorry. But, I just wanted to say, that I didn't get the letter about Sparks until after I wrote you, so I just wanted to say, that I love you and I hope you're doing alright. My district and my roommates are all thinking of you and hoping the best for you.
Well, I just wanted to say thank-you for the package. It was totally a surprise. I recieved the raincoat the first day I was here in the MTC, but I haven't gotten the boots yet. So, Mom sent the package in a Cabela's box and I just assumed they were the boots. So, thank-you very much. And my district LOVED the cookies. They usually get the chocolate chip cookies, but the unnatural ones with tons of preservatives are a favorite among missionaries.
And Christian and Jace went skydiving?! Wow, they have to tell me all about it! Tell them to write me! I don't have their addresses! Can you give me Christians physical address? I would really like to write him a letter.
But, I got a letter from Grandpa saying Grandma had an MRI for her shoulder??? What? Why?
Oh, and I bought a tape recorder so that you can hear my lovely little voice when we finish recording it--I haven't started it yet, so don't get all antsy expecting a package! But, you have to hear my district sing "Nearer my God to thee" it's so good.
As far as the language is concerned, of course it is only getting harder and harder... And on Tuesday we are going to teach the first discussion in German plus more. Crazy. Time seriously flies here. Soon, my transfer is going to be the oldest and we are going to be going to Germany. I am so excited to be able to do this. And things with my mitarbeiterin-companion are still going strong. We both communicate really well with each other. But, yeah, I love her and her knowledge of the gospel is amazing. She is my little topical guide!
Well, i best get going! But, will you have Mom tell Maya I say hi and I love her and I think about her all the time. The group of 13 Russians left and now there won't be any Russians in the MTC for a while. But, the were so amazing and one gave me her sweater that say's Russia on it. I love them so much. Oh, and random fact-there will only be one elder going to the German mission during the summer verses the 30 of us here now. Oh, and will you tell Grandma Wright that I did meet the Elder from her ward that is going to Iceland--he is actually the only one so he was easy to find. He say's he loves Grandpa Wright and that he is a crackup. I was proud to be able to say we're related! Welp, hope you are doing great with all of the vacation planning and junk! I love you so so so much! Have a fantastic day! Love Emily!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
May 21, 2009
One of the things about going on a mission in which you speak a foreign language is that you start to speak before you really know what you're saying. In Emily's last email she ended with this statement:
Ich weiss dass heute eine Propheten haben und er ist Thomas S. Monson. Ich bin dankbar fur meine mitarbeiterin und fur missionaren sein konnen. Ich liebe Ihr!
I translate it on google as this:
I know that today a prophet and he is Thomas S. Monson. I am grateful for my fellow missionaries and for his can. I love you!
So when I emailed Em I told her that she should not be looking at anyone's can! And she replied, "Oh, and good translation of my German! Haha, I wrote I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today--the order of words is different and the second sentence was something like I am happy I can be a missionary." So apparantly she wasn't looking at anyone's can! lol
Oh, my goodness, I can't believe Sparky is gone. She has been a member of the family almost as long as me. Tell Dad I'm sorry and give him a big hug from me. Oh, speaking of which, the Elders hug ALL THE TIME! My companion and I are like, we don't need to hug that much, but I do love you.
Well, I just thought I'd give you more detail about what is going on. So, on Wednesdays we go to the Referral Center and I got 4 people to have the missionaries over and 2 people accepted the Book of Mormon! It was amazing. I get to bear my testimony SO much. Oh, and Tuesday's we go to the Teaching Resource Center (TRC) and practice a task in German and then teach in English. Soon, I will have to teach the whole thing in GERMAN! AAAHHHH!!! But, we had to get to know the person and follow up on the commitment of reading the Book of Mormon in German and I actually knew what was going on the whole time and talked. Sometimes I feel good about the German and then sometimes I don't. But, we have this cushion in our classroom that travels around to the person that learned the most and my class voted on me unanimously the first time. I personally didn't agree, but I guess I pray completely in German now and I didn't know any of that before I came. My teachers are so supportive of me and always make sure that I know what is going on. They ask me directly, "Do you understand what is going on?" And sometimes I say yes and a lot of time I say no. But, my class is very patient with me so that is nice. Well, my awesome district is going to sing this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. I don't know if I can do it. It is a Motab song, "This is the Christ" and you have to sing a high F. What?!
So, anyway, things are going great here still. I have a challenge for you as well. Will you read 3 Nephi 11? It is an amazing chapter that I'm sure you are familiar with, but I challenge you to read it together and pray about it. I know that you will have a peaceful feeling. I promise that if you read it together your relationship will only be that much stronger. Well, thank-you for everything! I love you much! Love Emily
I'm sure Emily meant for everyone to read 3 Nephi 11 and pray about it with their significant others or families. She would love to hear your experience if you take her up on this challenge.
Well, until next week! Good bye...
Ich weiss dass heute eine Propheten haben und er ist Thomas S. Monson. Ich bin dankbar fur meine mitarbeiterin und fur missionaren sein konnen. Ich liebe Ihr!
I translate it on google as this:
I know that today a prophet and he is Thomas S. Monson. I am grateful for my fellow missionaries and for his can. I love you!
So when I emailed Em I told her that she should not be looking at anyone's can! And she replied, "Oh, and good translation of my German! Haha, I wrote I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today--the order of words is different and the second sentence was something like I am happy I can be a missionary." So apparantly she wasn't looking at anyone's can! lol
Oh, my goodness, I can't believe Sparky is gone. She has been a member of the family almost as long as me. Tell Dad I'm sorry and give him a big hug from me. Oh, speaking of which, the Elders hug ALL THE TIME! My companion and I are like, we don't need to hug that much, but I do love you.
Well, I just thought I'd give you more detail about what is going on. So, on Wednesdays we go to the Referral Center and I got 4 people to have the missionaries over and 2 people accepted the Book of Mormon! It was amazing. I get to bear my testimony SO much. Oh, and Tuesday's we go to the Teaching Resource Center (TRC) and practice a task in German and then teach in English. Soon, I will have to teach the whole thing in GERMAN! AAAHHHH!!! But, we had to get to know the person and follow up on the commitment of reading the Book of Mormon in German and I actually knew what was going on the whole time and talked. Sometimes I feel good about the German and then sometimes I don't. But, we have this cushion in our classroom that travels around to the person that learned the most and my class voted on me unanimously the first time. I personally didn't agree, but I guess I pray completely in German now and I didn't know any of that before I came. My teachers are so supportive of me and always make sure that I know what is going on. They ask me directly, "Do you understand what is going on?" And sometimes I say yes and a lot of time I say no. But, my class is very patient with me so that is nice. Well, my awesome district is going to sing this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. I don't know if I can do it. It is a Motab song, "This is the Christ" and you have to sing a high F. What?!
So, anyway, things are going great here still. I have a challenge for you as well. Will you read 3 Nephi 11? It is an amazing chapter that I'm sure you are familiar with, but I challenge you to read it together and pray about it. I know that you will have a peaceful feeling. I promise that if you read it together your relationship will only be that much stronger. Well, thank-you for everything! I love you much! Love Emily
I'm sure Emily meant for everyone to read 3 Nephi 11 and pray about it with their significant others or families. She would love to hear your experience if you take her up on this challenge.
Well, until next week! Good bye...
Friday, May 15, 2009
HEY! I LOVE P-DAY!
Hi!
Sounds like things are going great. Well, they are going fabulous here. The language is getting harder, but we study so much it isn't too stressful, and people are kind no matter how bad you are at speaking! And when we pray, its in German and I'm pretty sure everything I say is incorrect. Oh, well. And, my comp and I are going to send pictures soon. It takes three days for them to print and I don't know the rules of when I can write a letter. Everyone has a different opinion. Well, I just wanted to also tell you that we have gotten to see two general authorities in the short time of being here--Elder Ballard and Elder Nelson.
Katie sent me a package and it was a wonderful surprise. Oh, and before I forget, I found my temple recommend--in that white sweater I tried on right before we left... Haha. Oh, well. And, one of my roommate's Dad worked for NASA/works for an aeorspace corporation! Isn't that amazing! I don't know if I really have any more stories, just that I am having a great time and my comp and I are still getting along very well. She makes me cry when she bares her testimony.
Um. What else? I'm not really sure as for me. But, I wrote Katie a letter. It is faster, will you tell her Happy Late Anniversary for me! I was totally thinking of her on Tuesday, but couldn't do anything about it. That is probably the wierdest part of being here, is that I know it is SO easy to get a hold of you.
And, my teacher's are Sister Jone's from Draper and she served in the Frankfurt mission. She is beautiful and she radiates the gospel. Her happiness inspires me so much. And, my other teacher is Brother Blewitt and he served in Berlin! He is so excited that our whole district is going to serve there. Oh, and we learned the Berlin song, but, of course I don't remember it. But, it has to do with Bar-lein (said Bear-line) so if you want a break from wedding plans, just look that up. It's a good song.
And tell Christian I say hi and love him very much. And that I think and pray for him often. I wish only the best for him and Karley. And tell Joseph I say hi and that the MTC is awesome. Oh, and Katie was wondering how I could be Senior Comp, the first day I was here, the Branch President interviewed our district and assigned us. That's it.
I am so proud to be able to serve this mission and put on the name tag that says that I am an official representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no higher calling in the entire world. I know that the church is true and that the Lord's hand is in everything. There are two situations that come to mind--Grandma's phone call while we were in the MTC saying goodbye and the fact that there is a man in our Branch Presidency who was a mission president in China and when he was called to the German Branch he was really confused because he doesn't know German. Then, to everyone's surprise, my companion showed up not speaking very much english and there is suddenly a need for his Chinese skills! How amazing is it that we are here doing this work. Ich weiss dass heute eine Propheten haben und er ist Thomas S. Monson. Ich bin dankbar fur meine mitarbeiterin und fur missionaren sein konnen. Ich liebe Ihr! Good luck translating that! Love you!
Sounds like things are going great. Well, they are going fabulous here. The language is getting harder, but we study so much it isn't too stressful, and people are kind no matter how bad you are at speaking! And when we pray, its in German and I'm pretty sure everything I say is incorrect. Oh, well. And, my comp and I are going to send pictures soon. It takes three days for them to print and I don't know the rules of when I can write a letter. Everyone has a different opinion. Well, I just wanted to also tell you that we have gotten to see two general authorities in the short time of being here--Elder Ballard and Elder Nelson.
Katie sent me a package and it was a wonderful surprise. Oh, and before I forget, I found my temple recommend--in that white sweater I tried on right before we left... Haha. Oh, well. And, one of my roommate's Dad worked for NASA/works for an aeorspace corporation! Isn't that amazing! I don't know if I really have any more stories, just that I am having a great time and my comp and I are still getting along very well. She makes me cry when she bares her testimony.
Um. What else? I'm not really sure as for me. But, I wrote Katie a letter. It is faster, will you tell her Happy Late Anniversary for me! I was totally thinking of her on Tuesday, but couldn't do anything about it. That is probably the wierdest part of being here, is that I know it is SO easy to get a hold of you.
And, my teacher's are Sister Jone's from Draper and she served in the Frankfurt mission. She is beautiful and she radiates the gospel. Her happiness inspires me so much. And, my other teacher is Brother Blewitt and he served in Berlin! He is so excited that our whole district is going to serve there. Oh, and we learned the Berlin song, but, of course I don't remember it. But, it has to do with Bar-lein (said Bear-line) so if you want a break from wedding plans, just look that up. It's a good song.
And tell Christian I say hi and love him very much. And that I think and pray for him often. I wish only the best for him and Karley. And tell Joseph I say hi and that the MTC is awesome. Oh, and Katie was wondering how I could be Senior Comp, the first day I was here, the Branch President interviewed our district and assigned us. That's it.
I am so proud to be able to serve this mission and put on the name tag that says that I am an official representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no higher calling in the entire world. I know that the church is true and that the Lord's hand is in everything. There are two situations that come to mind--Grandma's phone call while we were in the MTC saying goodbye and the fact that there is a man in our Branch Presidency who was a mission president in China and when he was called to the German Branch he was really confused because he doesn't know German. Then, to everyone's surprise, my companion showed up not speaking very much english and there is suddenly a need for his Chinese skills! How amazing is it that we are here doing this work. Ich weiss dass heute eine Propheten haben und er ist Thomas S. Monson. Ich bin dankbar fur meine mitarbeiterin und fur missionaren sein konnen. Ich liebe Ihr! Good luck translating that! Love you!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
I Heard From Em!
I got an email from Emily. I think it's okay to post her email address although handwritten letters are better because they are usually longer and can be read at any time. Plus she has limited time on the computer. So here is a portion of her latest email to me!
Well, I can pray (almost completely) in German now. And, we speak the language a lot. The other sister's that got here before me say that our class is really fast. Everyone else has taken German before, so I just have to push myself really hard. By the way, my class of six is fantastic. I love going to class and being here at the MTC. We are literally up all day and BUSY BUSY BUSY. We wake up at 6:30am and then go to bed at 10:30. When I wake up, it feels like it has only been three minutes. Well, I love it. On Tuesday for devo, we got to see Elder Ballard. He is just amazing and a super nice man. Oh, my class (to finish my previous thought) of six is all going to Berlin, very rare, and we as my Branch President says are very special, "There is just something about this group." I love them. We sing a lot and the boys can harmonize! I have a hard time concentrating on reading the words AND singing, but it is getting better. I will take pictures soon, but they have so many rules, I just don't know when I can take them and be okay. But, I want you to see my companion. She is precious. She is from Taiwan and graduated with a degree in German. As Senior Companion I have to lead her around, and I was told to teach her more English. We can't speak Mandarin. However, at the huge meetings she gets a headset and we sit with all of the other people from across the world. So, I get to sit with a whole bunch of RUSSIANS! I get so excited to see them. They know me pretty well by now and one of them was so excited to tell me that she got to go to the temple. I forgot that they don't have one, so, it is probably very rare for them to even get a chance to go. Um, the girls in my room are going to Munich and are so nice and usually happy. They cry a lot too... Hehe, from the spirit, to wanting to be home. Sister Richardson is the most like me and defiantly (on accident) wears a coldplay shirt on p-day even though band logos aren't supposed to be allowed.
Well, I can pray (almost completely) in German now. And, we speak the language a lot. The other sister's that got here before me say that our class is really fast. Everyone else has taken German before, so I just have to push myself really hard. By the way, my class of six is fantastic. I love going to class and being here at the MTC. We are literally up all day and BUSY BUSY BUSY. We wake up at 6:30am and then go to bed at 10:30. When I wake up, it feels like it has only been three minutes. Well, I love it. On Tuesday for devo, we got to see Elder Ballard. He is just amazing and a super nice man. Oh, my class (to finish my previous thought) of six is all going to Berlin, very rare, and we as my Branch President says are very special, "There is just something about this group." I love them. We sing a lot and the boys can harmonize! I have a hard time concentrating on reading the words AND singing, but it is getting better. I will take pictures soon, but they have so many rules, I just don't know when I can take them and be okay. But, I want you to see my companion. She is precious. She is from Taiwan and graduated with a degree in German. As Senior Companion I have to lead her around, and I was told to teach her more English. We can't speak Mandarin. However, at the huge meetings she gets a headset and we sit with all of the other people from across the world. So, I get to sit with a whole bunch of RUSSIANS! I get so excited to see them. They know me pretty well by now and one of them was so excited to tell me that she got to go to the temple. I forgot that they don't have one, so, it is probably very rare for them to even get a chance to go. Um, the girls in my room are going to Munich and are so nice and usually happy. They cry a lot too... Hehe, from the spirit, to wanting to be home. Sister Richardson is the most like me and defiantly (on accident) wears a coldplay shirt on p-day even though band logos aren't supposed to be allowed.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
She's Off!
Okay, so Em handed over the blog to my inexperienced hands. She has requested that I keep the fam and friends updated from time to time. So I will also use this a mother's journal of what it's like to have her baby out on a mission.
Last week we dropped her off at the MTC after shopping for most of the things still on her list to take. We had waterproof boots and a cool rain coat shipped to the MTC from 2 different catalog retailers. Funny story--when we got to the MTC Brian turned the ringer off on his phone. Inadvertantly, he also dialed his mom at the same time. She heard us talking about luggage and when he didn't respond to her hello she realized that we were dropping her off right at that moment and decided to listen just for fun. She listened to the whole program conducted at the MTC. As soon as the program was over, just after we hugged Em and said good-bye the phone connection was severed. She called us later and expressed such hoy to have been able to be there without actually having to make the trip. We don't always remember to include those we love in every milestone in our lives, but it helps when technology takes over makes the call for us!
Emily will be at the MTC until June 29. For those who would like to write an old fashioned letter her address is:
Sister Emily Jean Turner
MTC Mailbox #135
GER-BER 0629
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793
Last week we dropped her off at the MTC after shopping for most of the things still on her list to take. We had waterproof boots and a cool rain coat shipped to the MTC from 2 different catalog retailers. Funny story--when we got to the MTC Brian turned the ringer off on his phone. Inadvertantly, he also dialed his mom at the same time. She heard us talking about luggage and when he didn't respond to her hello she realized that we were dropping her off right at that moment and decided to listen just for fun. She listened to the whole program conducted at the MTC. As soon as the program was over, just after we hugged Em and said good-bye the phone connection was severed. She called us later and expressed such hoy to have been able to be there without actually having to make the trip. We don't always remember to include those we love in every milestone in our lives, but it helps when technology takes over makes the call for us!
Emily will be at the MTC until June 29. For those who would like to write an old fashioned letter her address is:
Sister Emily Jean Turner
MTC Mailbox #135
GER-BER 0629
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793
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