England MTC

February 8, 2016                        

                       

Hello everyone!!                            

This is my first email of the good ol mish and coincidentally, the first time I've seen the sun longer then an hour in the English countryside!  No, I'm not stuck in prison, it is just really cloudy and rainy here.  Yep.  Apparently when people say England is always cloudy, they weren't lying.  But, it is still beautiful!

I miss you all so much and am realizing more and more everyday how wonderful you all are!! I am literally so blessed to know all of you--and I can't wait to go home so I can tell you all of this info in one breath.

I'm so grateful for all of you and your love and support--it sure means a lot!  This mission has only been a week thus far, but let me tell ya, it's quite the adventure.  And I have no idea what to tell you!  I would love to tell you about the stunning Preston Temple I just went through with my district, or the delicious (mostly healthy) food here, how I have improved tenfolds with my British accent, or how about I'm leaving the MTC IN ONE WEEK (NO WAY this is not a joke.  somebody help the poor people who run into me), how there are ONLY 29 missionaries at this ENTIRE MTC (what the), and so much more.  But I've decided to tell you about the people I've met here.  I think that would be the best way to capture what a mission is to me thus far......

1.  Meet Sister Brito.  She is one of my two companions (I am in a trio companionship). She is 33 yrs olds and joined the church 5 years ago.  She is originally from Africa (a small island off of the west coast called Capeford) and found the church in Portugual.  None of her family are members and they don't understand why she is here.  Her English is really good too--super helpful.  (Although I am totally picking up her Portuguese accent)  From the little snippets of her life that she has told me, she has had a very hard life.  I could go into all the details, but let's just say it is incredible, absolutely incredible that she is here and happy.  I wish you all could meet her.  She is the sweetest, most hilarious (I have fallen over 7 times from laughing so hard with her--also not an exaggeration) down to earth, humble, loving person you will ever get to even hear of in your life.  She has taught me so many things you wouldn't believe it.  Plus it just goes to show how blessed we are to grow up in such a wonderful place!!!  Also I've tried to explain jello and cinnamon toast crunch to her.  If that's not the hardest thing ever than I don't know what is.  AND she has never seen snow.  So strange!!!  

2.  Meet Sister Paongo.  She is the other of my two companions!  Oh how I love her.  The best way to describe her is our first encounter.  Sister Brito and I went down to the cafeteria to find our new companion.  SIster Paongo was chatting away without pausing for breath to the poor elders next to her.  We quietly sat down, and she nearly screeched and gushed out the words, 'AH my new companions!!! Wow I am SO SO excited to work with you!  Aren't missions just the best??"  Honestly I am SHOCKED you can't feel her excitement all the way in Salt Lake.  Sister Paongo is from New Zealand and she is Tongan.  And she has taught me some Tongan words--oh man she talks a mile a minute it is so hilarious and fun.  And she absolutely loves it when I say "Cheehoo!!!!"  (okay I don't shout it cuz it's not the place, but whispering it gave the same effect.)  She is incredibly loving also.  She always says, "Oh sister soulier!  I sure love you!"  right after I am doubling over from laughter at some genius joke I or Sister Brito concocted.  Wow we have too much fun sometimes.  She is 22 and has been working for the past 4 years to save up enough money to go on a mission.  And she had to wait for 6 months to get her call my goodness that's a long time.  Her sister just got home from a mission yesterday and Sister Paongo wasn't able to see her, but yet is still so happy to be here and just has a pure love and enthusiasm for this good work.  Also she has NEVER HEARD of cinnamon toast crunch--oh my heart hurts for these poor souls. And her dream is to see snow and go to General Conference!  \wow so many things to fix.  

3.  Meet Wilma.  I met Wilma on the plane ride over to Manchester.  She is Irish and VERY proud of her heritage.  From everything to her offering me brandy to stay warm when I was cold to announcing she needed to go to the loo, I loved every minute meeting her.  Long story short, after 6 hrs on the plane I finally mustered up the courage to talk to her about the church.  We ended up just talking about God in her life and basically not too much about the restored gospel   But hey no worries-- just next time!! (That's what my two week training is for)

4.  Meet a cash register girl whose name I don't actually know...shoot...but I kept going up to her to buy oranges (eating healthy plus who doesn't LOVE oranges??)  The third time I went up to this cute girl I said, I'm a missionary....and then gave her a card with Jesus Christ on it and told her that Christ loved her!  Turned out she was a true southerner and loves Christ!  So I reaffirmed what she already knows.  That's a success right?  Answer: YAS.

5. Meet Sister Barnjak and Sister Metpendennign....(something like that)  They are both learning English.  Sister Barnjak is French and Sister M is from Belguim.  Sister Barnjak informed me I was very active (always moving) so I'd say mission accomplished.  Oh and I taught them the word Ma'am so every time I see them.  They say, "Hello Ma'am!" With huge smile stretching to both ears.  Oh and Sister Haung (idk how to spell it) is from China and is trying to grasp the English language but no matter what I can always hear her saying to the other missionaries, "Be happy!  Happy."  She's adorable.  

6. Meet President and Sister Preston--my MTC President's and true English people!  Hahaha you can always guarantee at least 4 weather jokes a day from President Preston.   the jokes are always about how great the English sun is (keep in mind I've seen it once in a full week) and then he laughs whole heartedly and smiles down at his confused missionaries.  Oh man it is grand.  

Bottom line, this people are literally amazing and I am so so blessed to meet them.  They have taught me things about myself and what I can become in SO many ways.  ugh can't wait to meet more people!

Anyway, I could go on and on, but unfortunately time is precious!  Few last things....

    A week feels like a day, and the days feel like a week.  Honestly so true.  It's 16 hr days of working toward being a successful missionary and let me tell you time flies by but honestly I've learned 7 weeks worth of things.  They sure know what they are doing over at the MTC.  And don't worry--I spend at least 7 of those 16 hrs cracking jokes and laughing.  

Tomorrow we are being released to the streets of Manchester to preach the good word!! Wow if I wasn't exhausted I would not sleep a wink tonight from excitement/fright.  

Exercise is the greatest thing ever I hope you people appreciate it.  Literally one of my favorite parts of the day is when I can play volleyball and beat all the elders.  So fun.  

I have about 4 accents swirling around in my head, but my language is changing every now and then.  Yes literally is used about every other word here.  

I love prayer--it brings a breathtaking, sacred power in the room.  Oh man it is just amazing.  We really get to talk to a God who knows our name.  

The Book of Mormon brings crazy amounts of revelation.  I learn tons and tons from the words--and each word is so amazing within!!  I LOVE the Book of Mormon.  It's THE BEST thing to read.  

The spirit of the Lord is a powerful, powerful thing.  It leads in such a way that I can't put into words, but just makes the situation incredible.  

I really love Moroni 10:3-5 because it tells us that if we ourselves ask the Lord if something is true He will manifest the truth of it unto you.  That promise is incredible.  I can't believe Heavenly Father gives us that opportunity.  We just have to do the action.

Love you all so much---

Cheers Sister Soulier

CHEEHOOOOOOOOOOO!

oh boy oh boy oh boy next week I'll be heading to the field!!! GAH I hope I’m ready