So I didn't get to say everything I wanted in my email, so I wrote a paper letter. I've had so much to do today that I just ran out of time.
I forgot to tell you that on my "explorer day" I chose to take a tour of the Conference Center since it's a tour I have to know for visitors! haha I remember I've been there before when it was brand new and watched "The Testaments" movie, but other than the ridiculously large bathrooms that spit you out on the other side of the building, I didn't remember anything.
The artwork is absolutely incredible! It's all original! I didn't know that and I fell in love with the Arnold Friberg room. So amazing! I didn't know the story behind those paintings. There were also 2 paintings of the story of Alma the Younger and I loved them both. I've decided that I'm going to have lots of artwork prints and paintings in my future home. haha.
I also toured the Beehive House and saw Clarissa Young's room! That was cool.
It is much harder than I anticipated to talk to people on the Square. I had a guy yell at me and throw out some Bible verses in my face. haha That was exciting. And it's so hard to talk to members about missionary work...especially because I have a guilty conscience because I never wanted to talk to the missionaries either! ahaha But as anticipated, it is SUPER hard to talk to people on the phone!!! ahaha But I power through it each day. One day I won't want to barf as I dial the number, right?! At least that's what the other sisters here tell me!
I am discovering a new-found love for Temple Square; it truly is an amazing and sacred place with so much history! Mom, I got to go to "Music and the Spoken Word" last Sunday morning!!! It was awesomely fabulous! I thought of you the whole time. You have to go some time! Come on up! haha
It's been very eye opening to talk to people. I realize more and more everyday just how blessed I am to have the gospel, my family, my health, an education--the list just goes on and on. I am amazed at the love I feel for everyone I talk to. If they could only understand how the gospel could change their lives! It is hard to see people reject it, but feels so incredible when you can see and feel the light come on in their eyes and in their lives. It makes everything worth it! I'm so happy to be a missionary and and be challenged and grow and learn. Thanks for letting me have this opportunity.
I love you all so much! Hugs and kisses and SCARY MONSERS! haha
Muah, Hermana "T-Square" Dalton
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Hello From Temple Square!
Hey everyone,
I suppose some of you are still chuckling about this turn of events. If there was ever any doubt that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor...doubt no longer. He does. Hence, I am here in the last mission on earth I ever wanted to be in. ahahaha And I am here with a smile, a happy attitude and a prayer in my heart for a certain visa to Spain :-)>
Sorry about the no communication. So, I found out last Friday night that they did NOT, in fact, have my visa and that they were temporarily reassigning me to...yes...Temple Square. I would say kharma, but that's not real, so it must be Heavenly Father humbling me again...as usual, since I have lots of things to be humbled about.
So, yah, since last Saturday morning I have been here in SLC at Temple Square...not in Spain. It's been a wild ride. So different than I expected and so different from every other mission...They changed everything here a couple of years ago so that sisters can teach potential investigators and referred contacts until the local missionaries take over. So time is split between walking Temple Square and the 2 Visitor Centers trying to talk to everyone when most of them don't want to talk to you...and calling people...on the phone...yes, you have permission to laugh hysterically at this, knowing me and my phobia of phones. I'm faintly remembering some quote about "out of the frying pan and into the fire?" Yes, there's Heavenly Father and that sense of humor again. Ok ok, I can't actually blame Him because this is what I asked for. Back in March of this year--the night that I chose to serve a mission--in a prayer I told my Heavenly Father what I wanted, knowing that I would receive it because it is a righteous--albeit painful--desire. I told Him that if I was going to do this, if I was going to serve a mission, I didn't want the easy way out. I wasn't going to pray for Him to make it easy. I wanted what was going to make me grow the most, to become the person that only He knows that I have the potential to be. If I was going to do this, I was all-in; I wanted the kind of mission that would change me and my life forever. So far, He's kept up His end of the bargain to the "t," as He always does.
Where does that leave me? haha Well, this week has certainly been the unexpected. haha It is different, but I am learning so much, in ways that I wouldn't have chosen otherwise, but are the best for me. My trainer, Sister Clayton, is from San Diego and is great. She is very calm and caring and seems to be best friends with every sister missionary on the Square. She has a quiet sense of humor that takes me by surprise sometimes and always keeps me on my toes. She's been out 9 months tomorrow, I believe, and training/senior companion is all very new for her...and she got stuck with me. Poor soul. She'll get lots of blessings. Neither of us is super out-going when it comes to starting conversations with strangers, so we struggle and figure it out together! ahaha Heavenly Father always finds ways to bless those who do their best to serve Him...even if they are anything but good at it.
President and Sister Holmes are amazing--so funny AND fun. I've been rather spoiled here so far in lots of ways--I got to take an "explorer day" and experience Temple Square as a visitor this week. The re-edited Joseph Smith movie is even better than the original! We get to open and close it almost every day. I watched the whole thing during explorer day, but will have the first 5 and last 15min of this movie down in by next week. haha
For Halloween, well every holiday I'm told, Sister Holmes takes care of the sisters. The Square closed early and we got to eat pizza, candy, sing a few Halloween songs...and watch not one, but 2 movies!!!!!!!!!!!!...any guesses?...Despicable Me and The Best Two Years. It was amazing and helped so much with my first week here.
Yesterday, we got to attend the Bountiful Temple for a session. Wow. It was incredible. (And it was snowing!haha) Afterwards, the Temple President and his wife, the Callisters, had a private meeting with all the sisters and it was phenomenal. SO much food for thought my brain still has not been hungry.
Today is p-day, obviously, so we are heading to Walmart after this, so I can finally get some food. I've been living off grapes, apples, oatmeal squares and grape juice that I was able to have another Sister pick up for me whose first day was her p-day. haha They gave us $60 cash and I 'dunno' how long it's supposed to last, but we'll see what I can get. I can dip into my reserve funds, too, if needed. It is nice but weird to finally be cooking for myself again. Oh, there is a Sister here from Sweden, Sister Vennerholm, I believe, who knows Landon Lane! They met in Sweden before his mission. Everyone knows the Lane's! :-) And another Sister who knows Evan Moss and his new wife...I think she and her companion know Kelsey and Ari as well, but not 100% sure. There are sisters here from everywhere! Including Spain! But I can't really talk to any of the native spanish-speakers in spanish because it is a mission rule to only speak english unless giving a tour or calling an investigator who speaks that language, which also means there's no scheduled time for language study either. Depending on how long I am here, I am VERY nervous about losing the spanish I've learned. But I wake up 30 minutes early before running to read and study spanish every morning, so I hope it's enough. Heavenly Father will bless me for being obedient and trying, right? Right.
Unfortunately, 'dearelder' along with everyone else thought or thinks I am in Spain right now, so I haven't gotten any letters or dearelders this week. I assume I'll get them when I get to Spain--not sure. But here is the address here:
Sister Clarissa Dalton
UT SLC Temple Square Mission
50 N West Temple St BSVC
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
If you sent anything through 'dearelder' this week, I didn't get it so sorry, no shout outs. But I'd love some this week or letters or emails or whatever! haha Maybe 'dearelder' would come through here if you changed my mission from Barcelona to Temple Square? I dunno. Sorry :-/
Well, that's about it. I'll write some paper letters today, too. It has truly been the best and the worst week so far--so I must be in the right place, yah?ahaha That's what first weeks are for. Thanks for your prayers and support. I can feel them even when I can't read or see them. And who knows, maybe when I get back, I'll want to talk to everyone I meet all the time and talk on the phone 24-7...and maybe not ;-) heeheehee I love you all so much!!!!
Les quiero,
Hermana Dalton
P.S. 5 of us came here waiting for visas. Pres. Holmes named us "The Forgotten Five."ahahaha And we are the "weird" sisters who have nametags in different languages and no flag attached. :-) heehee So funny/awkward.
I suppose some of you are still chuckling about this turn of events. If there was ever any doubt that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor...doubt no longer. He does. Hence, I am here in the last mission on earth I ever wanted to be in. ahahaha And I am here with a smile, a happy attitude and a prayer in my heart for a certain visa to Spain :-)>
Sorry about the no communication. So, I found out last Friday night that they did NOT, in fact, have my visa and that they were temporarily reassigning me to...yes...Temple Square. I would say kharma, but that's not real, so it must be Heavenly Father humbling me again...as usual, since I have lots of things to be humbled about.
So, yah, since last Saturday morning I have been here in SLC at Temple Square...not in Spain. It's been a wild ride. So different than I expected and so different from every other mission...They changed everything here a couple of years ago so that sisters can teach potential investigators and referred contacts until the local missionaries take over. So time is split between walking Temple Square and the 2 Visitor Centers trying to talk to everyone when most of them don't want to talk to you...and calling people...on the phone...yes, you have permission to laugh hysterically at this, knowing me and my phobia of phones. I'm faintly remembering some quote about "out of the frying pan and into the fire?" Yes, there's Heavenly Father and that sense of humor again. Ok ok, I can't actually blame Him because this is what I asked for. Back in March of this year--the night that I chose to serve a mission--in a prayer I told my Heavenly Father what I wanted, knowing that I would receive it because it is a righteous--albeit painful--desire. I told Him that if I was going to do this, if I was going to serve a mission, I didn't want the easy way out. I wasn't going to pray for Him to make it easy. I wanted what was going to make me grow the most, to become the person that only He knows that I have the potential to be. If I was going to do this, I was all-in; I wanted the kind of mission that would change me and my life forever. So far, He's kept up His end of the bargain to the "t," as He always does.
Where does that leave me? haha Well, this week has certainly been the unexpected. haha It is different, but I am learning so much, in ways that I wouldn't have chosen otherwise, but are the best for me. My trainer, Sister Clayton, is from San Diego and is great. She is very calm and caring and seems to be best friends with every sister missionary on the Square. She has a quiet sense of humor that takes me by surprise sometimes and always keeps me on my toes. She's been out 9 months tomorrow, I believe, and training/senior companion is all very new for her...and she got stuck with me. Poor soul. She'll get lots of blessings. Neither of us is super out-going when it comes to starting conversations with strangers, so we struggle and figure it out together! ahaha Heavenly Father always finds ways to bless those who do their best to serve Him...even if they are anything but good at it.
President and Sister Holmes are amazing--so funny AND fun. I've been rather spoiled here so far in lots of ways--I got to take an "explorer day" and experience Temple Square as a visitor this week. The re-edited Joseph Smith movie is even better than the original! We get to open and close it almost every day. I watched the whole thing during explorer day, but will have the first 5 and last 15min of this movie down in by next week. haha
For Halloween, well every holiday I'm told, Sister Holmes takes care of the sisters. The Square closed early and we got to eat pizza, candy, sing a few Halloween songs...and watch not one, but 2 movies!!!!!!!!!!!!...any guesses?...Despicable Me and The Best Two Years. It was amazing and helped so much with my first week here.
Yesterday, we got to attend the Bountiful Temple for a session. Wow. It was incredible. (And it was snowing!haha) Afterwards, the Temple President and his wife, the Callisters, had a private meeting with all the sisters and it was phenomenal. SO much food for thought my brain still has not been hungry.
Today is p-day, obviously, so we are heading to Walmart after this, so I can finally get some food. I've been living off grapes, apples, oatmeal squares and grape juice that I was able to have another Sister pick up for me whose first day was her p-day. haha They gave us $60 cash and I 'dunno' how long it's supposed to last, but we'll see what I can get. I can dip into my reserve funds, too, if needed. It is nice but weird to finally be cooking for myself again. Oh, there is a Sister here from Sweden, Sister Vennerholm, I believe, who knows Landon Lane! They met in Sweden before his mission. Everyone knows the Lane's! :-) And another Sister who knows Evan Moss and his new wife...I think she and her companion know Kelsey and Ari as well, but not 100% sure. There are sisters here from everywhere! Including Spain! But I can't really talk to any of the native spanish-speakers in spanish because it is a mission rule to only speak english unless giving a tour or calling an investigator who speaks that language, which also means there's no scheduled time for language study either. Depending on how long I am here, I am VERY nervous about losing the spanish I've learned. But I wake up 30 minutes early before running to read and study spanish every morning, so I hope it's enough. Heavenly Father will bless me for being obedient and trying, right? Right.
Unfortunately, 'dearelder' along with everyone else thought or thinks I am in Spain right now, so I haven't gotten any letters or dearelders this week. I assume I'll get them when I get to Spain--not sure. But here is the address here:
Sister Clarissa Dalton
UT SLC Temple Square Mission
50 N West Temple St BSVC
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
If you sent anything through 'dearelder' this week, I didn't get it so sorry, no shout outs. But I'd love some this week or letters or emails or whatever! haha Maybe 'dearelder' would come through here if you changed my mission from Barcelona to Temple Square? I dunno. Sorry :-/
Well, that's about it. I'll write some paper letters today, too. It has truly been the best and the worst week so far--so I must be in the right place, yah?ahaha That's what first weeks are for. Thanks for your prayers and support. I can feel them even when I can't read or see them. And who knows, maybe when I get back, I'll want to talk to everyone I meet all the time and talk on the phone 24-7...and maybe not ;-) heeheehee I love you all so much!!!!
Les quiero,
Hermana Dalton
P.S. 5 of us came here waiting for visas. Pres. Holmes named us "The Forgotten Five."ahahaha And we are the "weird" sisters who have nametags in different languages and no flag attached. :-) heehee So funny/awkward.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
I've Got Travel Plans!
Whoa, it is such a small Mormon world. I just got my hair cut here at the MTC and I was rocking my U of A basketball sweatshirt and the sister cutting my hair started asking about U of A...and get this Dad, she is best friends with Brooke Jackson! We talked about her and basketball for awhile and then she asked, "Hey do you by chance know an Assante family in Tucson?" ahahaha She is ALSO best friend's with Thomas Assante's wife and was like, "I just had lunch with Michael Assante the other day!" So we talked about the Assante's and how Becca is their cousin and ya, it was great. I think her name was Katie West? It was nice to talk to someone about familiar people.
Oh, hey did I mention I got travel plans Friday at lunch? Ya, flying SLC - ATL, ATL - Madrid Tuesday morning. I dunno if that means I'm staying in Madrid for a day, week, weeks or going on to Barcelona by another means of transportation. Also, I didn't have to go anywhere to sign my visa like Hna Farrell did, so I don't know if that means they are hoping my visa gets here by then, but my Branch Pres. told me to plan like it's here because I have travel plans, so I am. Ok, I can't act like I'm not freaking out right now like I have been all week-- I"M FINALLY GOING TO SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew, that felt like a certain elixir named after Felix in Harry Potter. So, yes world, I am leaving Nov 1st. Family--I get a phone call. Pres. said to keep it to 5-10 minutes. Should I call from SLC early in the morning or from Alanta later? I'm not sure what time my layover is. Shoot-- I'll have to check. Um, and I've never made a payphone or collect call before...so I don't know how to do that. Is that what I should do? Or buy a phonecard here? What do you think and what do you want me to do? I'll send you another quick email about whether I have a layover or not. I'm the travel group. Yo-- solo--ahaha. Just me SO...that should be fun--nice on the plane, but you all know how I get nervous with airport security and such. Madrid should be fun with everything in spanish...can't wait...
Oh, speaking of "it's a small world" the gentleman at the front desk of the Temple this morning thinks we are related somehow, although I didn't really understand how. He says he has Dalton relatives in Burley, ID. I think his name was...Br. Thorn? Not sure--haha. It's been a week of "not sure" with people I may or may not know or be related to. I met another Elder Dalton from Arizona. SO crazy. Someone in my zone thought it was my brother and told everyone and it was very confusing to sort it all out.ahaha
We had FHE in our district this week and I was in charge of the activity with another elder, Elder Wood. We made up PMG(Preach My Gospel) jeopardy focused around commitments. It was very fun...and very competitive--ahaha. I was so happy that I wasn't playing so it didn't get out of hand--heehee Me? Competitive? Naaaahhh...
Our 3 roomies left for the field this week, the 3 Visitor's Center sisters. Missouri watch out--Sister April Atkin is there now in the Independence, MO. I told her to ask find people I know.ahaha We'll see. We got 2 new sisters, both in the advanced spanish class and both studying at BYU to teach spanish when they get back...should be interesting. I should use this situation to my benefit and practice my spanish more.haha
It has been a great week for pondering things and learning about how/what I need to improve personally to be the person I want to be. It is hard to face and work through but vale la pena (worth the pain). This is my favorite phrase from my teacher. Completely sums up serving a mission. Did I mention how excited I am to get to Spain?!?!?!? Because I am!
So, what are the Halloween plans? Dad, don't throw too many parties!ahahaha Some sisters on my floor want to "trick-or-treat"...we'll see how that goes or if it works out--ahaha-- silly missionaries.
Well, next week I should be writing from the beautiful country of Spain! I can't wait to get there. And I am oh-so-excited to talk to my family on the phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing that is going to happen next Tuesday is getting me through the week. I love you all so much!
Con amor,
Hermana Dalton
Oh, hey did I mention I got travel plans Friday at lunch? Ya, flying SLC - ATL, ATL - Madrid Tuesday morning. I dunno if that means I'm staying in Madrid for a day, week, weeks or going on to Barcelona by another means of transportation. Also, I didn't have to go anywhere to sign my visa like Hna Farrell did, so I don't know if that means they are hoping my visa gets here by then, but my Branch Pres. told me to plan like it's here because I have travel plans, so I am. Ok, I can't act like I'm not freaking out right now like I have been all week-- I"M FINALLY GOING TO SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew, that felt like a certain elixir named after Felix in Harry Potter. So, yes world, I am leaving Nov 1st. Family--I get a phone call. Pres. said to keep it to 5-10 minutes. Should I call from SLC early in the morning or from Alanta later? I'm not sure what time my layover is. Shoot-- I'll have to check. Um, and I've never made a payphone or collect call before...so I don't know how to do that. Is that what I should do? Or buy a phonecard here? What do you think and what do you want me to do? I'll send you another quick email about whether I have a layover or not. I'm the travel group. Yo-- solo--ahaha. Just me SO...that should be fun--nice on the plane, but you all know how I get nervous with airport security and such. Madrid should be fun with everything in spanish...can't wait...
Oh, speaking of "it's a small world" the gentleman at the front desk of the Temple this morning thinks we are related somehow, although I didn't really understand how. He says he has Dalton relatives in Burley, ID. I think his name was...Br. Thorn? Not sure--haha. It's been a week of "not sure" with people I may or may not know or be related to. I met another Elder Dalton from Arizona. SO crazy. Someone in my zone thought it was my brother and told everyone and it was very confusing to sort it all out.ahaha
We had FHE in our district this week and I was in charge of the activity with another elder, Elder Wood. We made up PMG(Preach My Gospel) jeopardy focused around commitments. It was very fun...and very competitive--ahaha. I was so happy that I wasn't playing so it didn't get out of hand--heehee Me? Competitive? Naaaahhh...
Our 3 roomies left for the field this week, the 3 Visitor's Center sisters. Missouri watch out--Sister April Atkin is there now in the Independence, MO. I told her to ask find people I know.ahaha We'll see. We got 2 new sisters, both in the advanced spanish class and both studying at BYU to teach spanish when they get back...should be interesting. I should use this situation to my benefit and practice my spanish more.haha
It has been a great week for pondering things and learning about how/what I need to improve personally to be the person I want to be. It is hard to face and work through but vale la pena (worth the pain). This is my favorite phrase from my teacher. Completely sums up serving a mission. Did I mention how excited I am to get to Spain?!?!?!? Because I am!
So, what are the Halloween plans? Dad, don't throw too many parties!ahahaha Some sisters on my floor want to "trick-or-treat"...we'll see how that goes or if it works out--ahaha-- silly missionaries.
Well, next week I should be writing from the beautiful country of Spain! I can't wait to get there. And I am oh-so-excited to talk to my family on the phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing that is going to happen next Tuesday is getting me through the week. I love you all so much!
Con amor,
Hermana Dalton
Monday, October 24, 2011
Still here in Provo and lovin' it!
So I forgot to mention that last week at the MTC, they had a "special guest" speaker just for the sisters after Relief Society. It was all about wearing make-up and doing your hair every day and "accessorizing." As you may imagine, I laughed a lot and cracked more than a few jokes for the benefit of those sitting around me. In her credit, this lady was a really good public speaker and funny. The best parts came at the end when they handed out baggies of make-up.ahaha And then I saw the sister storming out and by the look on her face, she was very offended.ahahaha Silly girls.
GUESS WHAT?! For the Tuesday Devotional...Elder Richard G. Scott came!!!!!! 3 Apostles! I've been so blessed...I guess my Heavenly Father thought I needed more blessings since my visa hasn't come yet :-) He told the Elders to watch the Sisters for how to be better missionaries :-))), which made me chuckle very loudly and mischeviously...until I realized what he was REALLY saying was that as a sister I need to be an example to the Elders so that when they do look I'm not doing something childish or embarrassing...haha...ha...ya. Working on that :-) His testimony was so strong and I just wanted to stay in the room with that feeling for forever. What a tender mercy.
As a district we got to host the new missionaries arriving yesterday! It was so great...except when I didn't know how to get into one of the buildings and we had to haul her 3 suitcases up some flights of stairs...haha...whoops. But she was going to serve at the Visitor's Center in New York at the Sacred Grove, spanish-speaking! So amazing! And the other sister lives 3 doors down (yes Dad, like the band (-;haha), so I got to see her again today. It is so great to get new missionaries and to see their "greenie" spirit and fire. I hope I never lose mine...maybe just my greenie awkwardness...but I'm afraid that will never go away...*sigh*
My district is waiting anxiously in the laundry room right now because we are supposed to get travel plans after dinner. Only you RMs out there might fully appreciate the excitement of this--it's kind of off the charts. My Branch Pres. told me he is 90% sure I'll get plans to go somewhere stateside, but not to count on it. Didn't really know how to take that so I am trying to play it cool. Oh, a batch of like 71 visas for Brazil came in 2 days ago and Elder Parker Harmon got his visa! YEAH! He is so excited. We are trying to get a picture before he leaves on Tuesday.
We set a district goal to only speak spanish every day except Sundays and P-days until we leave. Some do better than others,haha. But it is amazing to me everyday when I have to talk in class or teach or talk to people during lunch that the words/sentences coming out of my mouth are spanish and people seem to be understanding, haha. It is a miracle every time!
Shout outs:
Thanks to everyone who has sent a dearelder or card--I've tried to write everyone back by hand today, so I hope I didn't miss anyone. Rahmderson's--you're next on the list!haha
Connor: I love your emails :-) I can't wait for my visa either!haha! I'm glad that Pres. Hinckley wants me there, too.Trust me--as soon as I get that visa--I will be on a plane, no worries. Keep keepin' on hermano, these really are the best 2 years (or 18 months). I can't wait to hear your spanish and for the rest of our lives--that is the ONLY language we will communicate in! Muahahahaha!haha. I love you so much! You are my favorite missionary and I pray for you, by name, every night :-).
Mom: I'm 100% sure you are doing great as the President, you always do :-) If I can put half the energy into being a missionary as you do in each of your callings, all of Spain will be baptized in 16 months.haha Muah!
GUESS WHAT?! For the Tuesday Devotional...Elder Richard G. Scott came!!!!!! 3 Apostles! I've been so blessed...I guess my Heavenly Father thought I needed more blessings since my visa hasn't come yet :-) He told the Elders to watch the Sisters for how to be better missionaries :-))), which made me chuckle very loudly and mischeviously...until I realized what he was REALLY saying was that as a sister I need to be an example to the Elders so that when they do look I'm not doing something childish or embarrassing...haha...ha...ya. Working on that :-) His testimony was so strong and I just wanted to stay in the room with that feeling for forever. What a tender mercy.
As a district we got to host the new missionaries arriving yesterday! It was so great...except when I didn't know how to get into one of the buildings and we had to haul her 3 suitcases up some flights of stairs...haha...whoops. But she was going to serve at the Visitor's Center in New York at the Sacred Grove, spanish-speaking! So amazing! And the other sister lives 3 doors down (yes Dad, like the band (-;haha), so I got to see her again today. It is so great to get new missionaries and to see their "greenie" spirit and fire. I hope I never lose mine...maybe just my greenie awkwardness...but I'm afraid that will never go away...*sigh*
My district is waiting anxiously in the laundry room right now because we are supposed to get travel plans after dinner. Only you RMs out there might fully appreciate the excitement of this--it's kind of off the charts. My Branch Pres. told me he is 90% sure I'll get plans to go somewhere stateside, but not to count on it. Didn't really know how to take that so I am trying to play it cool. Oh, a batch of like 71 visas for Brazil came in 2 days ago and Elder Parker Harmon got his visa! YEAH! He is so excited. We are trying to get a picture before he leaves on Tuesday.
We set a district goal to only speak spanish every day except Sundays and P-days until we leave. Some do better than others,haha. But it is amazing to me everyday when I have to talk in class or teach or talk to people during lunch that the words/sentences coming out of my mouth are spanish and people seem to be understanding, haha. It is a miracle every time!
Shout outs:
Thanks to everyone who has sent a dearelder or card--I've tried to write everyone back by hand today, so I hope I didn't miss anyone. Rahmderson's--you're next on the list!haha
Connor: I love your emails :-) I can't wait for my visa either!haha! I'm glad that Pres. Hinckley wants me there, too.Trust me--as soon as I get that visa--I will be on a plane, no worries. Keep keepin' on hermano, these really are the best 2 years (or 18 months). I can't wait to hear your spanish and for the rest of our lives--that is the ONLY language we will communicate in! Muahahahaha!haha. I love you so much! You are my favorite missionary and I pray for you, by name, every night :-).
Mom: I'm 100% sure you are doing great as the President, you always do :-) If I can put half the energy into being a missionary as you do in each of your callings, all of Spain will be baptized in 16 months.haha Muah!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Week #6 at the MTC, but whose counting?!?
Howdy! Thursday, October 13, 2011
Every time I sit down to write this weekly email with the counter going down... can't remember anything I wanted to say. Blah. First things first, the package was EXACTLY what I needed and the chex mix actually made me tear up a li'l bit--it was such a piece of home :-) Thank you so much. You are phenomenal. Also, everyone compliments my AMAZING detergent/fabric softener-in-one sheets. I think some elders were trying to figure out how to ask me if they could buy them from me.ahahaha Sadly, I am down to one and will have to give in and buy some detergent here.
There is a female teacher on our floor who has been coming in to help us more because her district left this week. She served in Florida , spanish speaking and had one of the most interesting missions I've heard about. Hna Keller, she always talks about actively finding out why you were sent to your mission out of every other mission in the world because of your specific talents and personality. I've been thinking about it a lot and the added dimension of why Connor and I will be in the same mission. She also remembers specific dates on her mission when things happened that will forever change her life. Well, I am kind of the same way with dates and had one such date this week :-) I know personally that prayers are answered and righteous desires we never thought we'd be able to achieve really do happen with the Lord's hand. Ok, ok, I'll share one li'l part of it--our teacher, Hno Lee, was being an investigator named "Eduardo" that he knew and taught in Colombia. We were teaching him as a district, all 11 of us, so if you didn't want to say anything then you didn't have to.haha So an Elder was teaching about repentance and forgiveness...and I was lost in thought. I glanced out the window and took in the beautiful fall leaves. It suddenly hit me that I love being a missionary! 100 percent, through and through with no reservations. I didn't want to do anything else or be anywhere else. I honestly just wanted to teach and share the Gospel. The shear amount of love I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I will never forget it and strive to live the rest of my life in a way that is worthy of the feeling that I had in that moment.
That same day, Hno Lee asked us Hnas to teach him as his investigator "Nicholas" because there wasn't enough time for the multiple appointments we had planned. We asked an Elder to come with us as a "member" and finally got Nicholas to open up about why he was holding back--law of chastity and Joseph Smith. It was really spiritual and we all ended up crying and he said he wanted to be baptized...then when we got back to class, the district told us all 8 of them were watching through the one-way mirror!!! Ok, I can't really be mad because I've done it to some of them, but seriously the whole district! Well, I'm glad it went so well. I was slightly satisfied about that.haha
Hna Longoria left early Tues. morning for...Provo.ahahaha It was hard to see her go, but I couldn't be sad/mad because that's what I want to do and I am so excited for her. She will change lives because she has already changed mine.
I got a letter from Connor yesterday and it made my whole week :-) I can't wait to get to Spain and see him!!! Patience, patience.
Oh, Mom--Guess who the speaker Tues. night was...? Sister...Julie B. Beck :-) She was wonderful and her husband was hilarious. I got to see the new "Daughters in My Kingdom" book...well from like 50 feet away.ahaha I hope they approve it for missionaries to read because I want to read it!haha. She is so amazing.
Sunday night devotional was good, but a little out of the ordinary. The President of the MTC spoke, second time he has while I've been here and it was all about...tithing. Tithing and how the 1st Presidency told him this is what the missionaries need to teach better/more clearly to improve retention numbers, I believe. He did this open mic thing...which is NEVER a good idea with 2000+ 19 year olds so, ya, interesting night. I'm definitely going to study up and get a deeper testimony of tithing though.
What else, what else...OH! Ok, you'll love this. So they are remodeling almost every building here. one at a time and they are working on something in my residence hall right now. There was a sign that said they are shutting off the power tonight and we have to get out of class early and go to bed by...8:30! I think I cried for joy! I am SO excited to go to bed early!!! It's a missionary miracle :-) ahahaha! Yes, me--the night owl--celebrating an 8:30 curfew...the Gospel must be true.ahahahaha!
Ah, I love you all so much! Thanks for the support and prayers. I can feel them here and I won't let you down. Muahs! all around.
Les amo,
Hermana Dalton
Every time I sit down to write this weekly email with the counter going down... can't remember anything I wanted to say. Blah. First things first, the package was EXACTLY what I needed and the chex mix actually made me tear up a li'l bit--it was such a piece of home :-) Thank you so much. You are phenomenal. Also, everyone compliments my AMAZING detergent/fabric softener-in-one sheets. I think some elders were trying to figure out how to ask me if they could buy them from me.ahahaha Sadly, I am down to one and will have to give in and buy some detergent here.
There is a female teacher on our floor who has been coming in to help us more because her district left this week. She served in Florida , spanish speaking and had one of the most interesting missions I've heard about. Hna Keller, she always talks about actively finding out why you were sent to your mission out of every other mission in the world because of your specific talents and personality. I've been thinking about it a lot and the added dimension of why Connor and I will be in the same mission. She also remembers specific dates on her mission when things happened that will forever change her life. Well, I am kind of the same way with dates and had one such date this week :-) I know personally that prayers are answered and righteous desires we never thought we'd be able to achieve really do happen with the Lord's hand. Ok, ok, I'll share one li'l part of it--our teacher, Hno Lee, was being an investigator named "Eduardo" that he knew and taught in Colombia. We were teaching him as a district, all 11 of us, so if you didn't want to say anything then you didn't have to.haha So an Elder was teaching about repentance and forgiveness...and I was lost in thought. I glanced out the window and took in the beautiful fall leaves. It suddenly hit me that I love being a missionary! 100 percent, through and through with no reservations. I didn't want to do anything else or be anywhere else. I honestly just wanted to teach and share the Gospel. The shear amount of love I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I will never forget it and strive to live the rest of my life in a way that is worthy of the feeling that I had in that moment.
That same day, Hno Lee asked us Hnas to teach him as his investigator "Nicholas" because there wasn't enough time for the multiple appointments we had planned. We asked an Elder to come with us as a "member" and finally got Nicholas to open up about why he was holding back--law of chastity and Joseph Smith. It was really spiritual and we all ended up crying and he said he wanted to be baptized...then when we got back to class, the district told us all 8 of them were watching through the one-way mirror!!! Ok, I can't really be mad because I've done it to some of them, but seriously the whole district! Well, I'm glad it went so well. I was slightly satisfied about that.haha
Hna Longoria left early Tues. morning for...Provo.ahahaha It was hard to see her go, but I couldn't be sad/mad because that's what I want to do and I am so excited for her. She will change lives because she has already changed mine.
I got a letter from Connor yesterday and it made my whole week :-) I can't wait to get to Spain and see him!!! Patience, patience.
Oh, Mom--Guess who the speaker Tues. night was...? Sister...Julie B. Beck :-) She was wonderful and her husband was hilarious. I got to see the new "Daughters in My Kingdom" book...well from like 50 feet away.ahaha I hope they approve it for missionaries to read because I want to read it!haha. She is so amazing.
Sunday night devotional was good, but a little out of the ordinary. The President of the MTC spoke, second time he has while I've been here and it was all about...tithing. Tithing and how the 1st Presidency told him this is what the missionaries need to teach better/more clearly to improve retention numbers, I believe. He did this open mic thing...which is NEVER a good idea with 2000+ 19 year olds so, ya, interesting night. I'm definitely going to study up and get a deeper testimony of tithing though.
What else, what else...OH! Ok, you'll love this. So they are remodeling almost every building here. one at a time and they are working on something in my residence hall right now. There was a sign that said they are shutting off the power tonight and we have to get out of class early and go to bed by...8:30! I think I cried for joy! I am SO excited to go to bed early!!! It's a missionary miracle :-) ahahaha! Yes, me--the night owl--celebrating an 8:30 curfew...the Gospel must be true.ahahahaha!
Ah, I love you all so much! Thanks for the support and prayers. I can feel them here and I won't let you down. Muahs! all around.
Les amo,
Hermana Dalton
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Fall has arrived in Provo--5 weeks in the MTC
Hola a todos, Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wow. So much to say! First things first, yes Mom, I know the other Hermana Dalton. We were in the same zone here and almost companions!!! No joke. We could have been the Hermana Daltons--how confusing.haha But there ain't no second me, so that didn't go down ;-) (My apologies for the horrific grammar.) Yes, fall is here and it is just starting to get co...oler. You thought I was going to say cold didn't you?! Oh not so. But it is freezing rain today and snow on the mountains, so I guess it is getting close. Feels good to me, though, since the A/C in our building was out most of last week and they have turned the temp up, so it's basically like being back in AZ--ahahaha (juuuuust kidding).
Oh man, General Conference was just SO amazing!!! I was talking about it with Hna Longoria the other day, (we are tight, so we talk a lot! I'm going to lose part of my mind when she goes out into the field next week--Provo, spanish-speaking. Someone find her in the next year and a half and hug her to death for me) and we both were so amazed at just how all-encompassing Conference is at the MTC. I've never gotten so much out of 2 days--so much inspiration and revelation and comfort and love. She is a convert of 3 years and rocks my socks. Her testimony is so strong and has made me want to be a different missionary. I will be. Per usual, I loved Elder Holland's talk...(shhhhh, yes, I watched the Priesthood session online ;-)...and I have a quote for you--Caleb and Chloe and for you, too, Mom. Perhaps I am overstepping my sister/daughter bounds, but, hey, I'm a missionary for la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias and I am bold....so here you go: Caleb, Chloe, Mom: "In this family, we serve missions" :-) Your turns are all coming.
I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk from the Relief Society session, Forget-Me-Nots. Now I know the names of 2 flowers--roses and forget-me-nots.ahaha The MTC moms (Presidency wives) gave us a summary of this talk on blue paper with li'l flowers on it...so naturally the next day I got it laminated! It will be forever cherished.
Sunday night devotional was...drumroll please...Chad Lewis. If you are confused, as I'm sure more than one of you are, please talk to Dad. Chad Lewis is a member, football player, RM, NFL, etc. He and his wife spoke--she played v-ball at BYU when they went to the Final Four...Wow! So amazing. He spoke about his mission to Taiwan (Yah Clark, I thought of you the whole time!) and hiking Mt. Kilamanjaro (spelling, sorry no dictionaries here not in spanish!) with some vets who had missing limbs from the war and another football star. Even had a ton of pictures, too. It was exactly what I needed along with conference after a really rough week. Due to circumstances beyond my control that night, my comps and I got stuck in the overflow (very upsetting for me) and after the opening devotional, we sang a special version of...you guessed it..."Called to Serve" where we sing very soft and get louder and interludes and then stand and belt it for the last verse. Well, while they were explaining how we would sing this hymn, Hna L and I looked at each other and we were like "We gotta be in there for this!!!" SO we grabbed Han K and booked it...flat out sprint, yes, in our skirts and shoes, to make it over to the auditorium in time. Wow, the Spirit was so strong and the tears were a-flowin'. Hna L needed this so badly because she goes into the field next week and was getting nervous and Br Lewis' talk about never losing the "greenie spirit" and having the mindset "Hey! I don't have time to lose--I only have 17 months left!" totally boosted our spirits and we were both ready to go invite the world to come unto Christ. (Which we were going to do anyway) New themes for my mission from Bro Lewis. Such an unlifting experience, evening, and whole weekend.
Hmmm, what else? We are teaching an "investigator" named Juan who said he wanted to be baptized during the first lesson after I recited the first vision in spanish and we both cried. This is my weapon of choice. No blinking while reciting this and it does wonders--ahaha. I hope you know the spirit in which I mean that, just picture...:-)...that smile...I love reciting the first vision and bearing testimony. I try to every time we teach. Anyway, he said he'd get off work to check out general conference, but couldn't "find the building" or "the conference online" (this investigator is one of our teachers). Well, the room we were teaching in had a computer, so the wild thought just POPPED into my head to show him on lds.org just how this kind of thing is done...so we did. Mind you, I know ZERO technical or computer spanish!!! And for him to understand it I turned the site into all spanish which was wickety whack trying to figure out what pages to go to and how to get the video feed working, but eventually we did and I could tell that it meant so much to him. I was so taken aback at myself and it was just a great experience of following the Spirit--I need to remember this for the field. I don't need to know what to do/say beforehand...scripture reference anyone?haha Oh, it's snowing outside, no big deal. So exciting--haha.
Oh Dad, I'm in the same zone as an Elder Baker from U of A? He took a class from you. We talk a lot and he is really awesome. I told him I'd say hi to you for him. Oh, and Sister Shaw found me as I was walking out of my building last Thursday night--she had the biggest hug and smile for me! It was great. We see each other all the time and I love it.
Well, I've somehow lost 2 buttons on two different outfits this week, so I need to go spend the rest of my P-day trying to sew them back on...if you get any calls from the hospital here it just means I somehow managed to seriosuly maime myself or someone else with the needle. No worries...OH! Speaking of hospitals and awkward things that happened there this week, I spent 3 hours in the hospital this morning with my comps because Hna K needed a...radiological something procedure that took FOREVER. OH, and she forgot to mention to anyone that she faints at the sight of needles, including the doctor, so as she was squeezing all the feeling and fingerprints off of my hand she suddenly went horizontal!!!!!! ALL OVER ME!!!!!!!!!!! Just slumped onto me and everything. Fainter. So needless to say that the rest of the scan was...interesting...because she had to hold still and lay under the machine with the IV still in her arm for 90 minutes, freaking out. I may never regain full use of either of my hands again in this life. I am typing with my elbows--sorry for any typos ;-) ahahaha. Life is just amazingly crazy isn't it? I love it.
I love being a missionary. The rest of my life and eternity will hinge on these next 17 months and I have never been more sure of "in whom I have trusted." Hermana Dalton is here to stay for a while--here in Provo, stateside, Spain--all on the Lord's time :-) I'll go/stay where he needs me. I love each and every one of you and think of you with a smile on my face. I have the best family in the world and my testimony of that grows every second of every day out here.
Love,
Hermana Dalton
Shout outs:
CALEB!!!!! Thanks for the dearelder :-) It made me really happy and laugh a ton (good one about celica). Glad to hear that v-ball is going so well, rock it man! And sorry about school. Just get through it and enjoy every second of senior year. No regrets :-) Keep on keeping on...Hey, could you email/dearelder me the lyrics to "On My Way" by Boyce Avenue? I meant to print them out before I left, but didn't have time. This song means a lot to me--spiritual experience--and I would love to have a copy of it. I'll print it out here if you can get it to me. Much love li'l guy.
Rahmderson's--a letter should be arriving shortly :-) lactate, lactate, lactate--wow, that has got to be the best story ever. I have no sassy remarks or comments or anything. I think I lost at least 2 lbs this week just from thinking about that story and the laughing that followed. I love you both so much!
Wow. So much to say! First things first, yes Mom, I know the other Hermana Dalton. We were in the same zone here and almost companions!!! No joke. We could have been the Hermana Daltons--how confusing.haha But there ain't no second me, so that didn't go down ;-) (My apologies for the horrific grammar.) Yes, fall is here and it is just starting to get co...oler. You thought I was going to say cold didn't you?! Oh not so. But it is freezing rain today and snow on the mountains, so I guess it is getting close. Feels good to me, though, since the A/C in our building was out most of last week and they have turned the temp up, so it's basically like being back in AZ--ahahaha (juuuuust kidding).
Oh man, General Conference was just SO amazing!!! I was talking about it with Hna Longoria the other day, (we are tight, so we talk a lot! I'm going to lose part of my mind when she goes out into the field next week--Provo, spanish-speaking. Someone find her in the next year and a half and hug her to death for me) and we both were so amazed at just how all-encompassing Conference is at the MTC. I've never gotten so much out of 2 days--so much inspiration and revelation and comfort and love. She is a convert of 3 years and rocks my socks. Her testimony is so strong and has made me want to be a different missionary. I will be. Per usual, I loved Elder Holland's talk...(shhhhh, yes, I watched the Priesthood session online ;-)...and I have a quote for you--Caleb and Chloe and for you, too, Mom. Perhaps I am overstepping my sister/daughter bounds, but, hey, I'm a missionary for la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias and I am bold....so here you go: Caleb, Chloe, Mom: "In this family, we serve missions" :-) Your turns are all coming.
I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk from the Relief Society session, Forget-Me-Nots. Now I know the names of 2 flowers--roses and forget-me-nots.ahaha The MTC moms (Presidency wives) gave us a summary of this talk on blue paper with li'l flowers on it...so naturally the next day I got it laminated! It will be forever cherished.
Sunday night devotional was...drumroll please...Chad Lewis. If you are confused, as I'm sure more than one of you are, please talk to Dad. Chad Lewis is a member, football player, RM, NFL, etc. He and his wife spoke--she played v-ball at BYU when they went to the Final Four...Wow! So amazing. He spoke about his mission to Taiwan (Yah Clark, I thought of you the whole time!) and hiking Mt. Kilamanjaro (spelling, sorry no dictionaries here not in spanish!) with some vets who had missing limbs from the war and another football star. Even had a ton of pictures, too. It was exactly what I needed along with conference after a really rough week. Due to circumstances beyond my control that night, my comps and I got stuck in the overflow (very upsetting for me) and after the opening devotional, we sang a special version of...you guessed it..."Called to Serve" where we sing very soft and get louder and interludes and then stand and belt it for the last verse. Well, while they were explaining how we would sing this hymn, Hna L and I looked at each other and we were like "We gotta be in there for this!!!" SO we grabbed Han K and booked it...flat out sprint, yes, in our skirts and shoes, to make it over to the auditorium in time. Wow, the Spirit was so strong and the tears were a-flowin'. Hna L needed this so badly because she goes into the field next week and was getting nervous and Br Lewis' talk about never losing the "greenie spirit" and having the mindset "Hey! I don't have time to lose--I only have 17 months left!" totally boosted our spirits and we were both ready to go invite the world to come unto Christ. (Which we were going to do anyway) New themes for my mission from Bro Lewis. Such an unlifting experience, evening, and whole weekend.
Hmmm, what else? We are teaching an "investigator" named Juan who said he wanted to be baptized during the first lesson after I recited the first vision in spanish and we both cried. This is my weapon of choice. No blinking while reciting this and it does wonders--ahaha. I hope you know the spirit in which I mean that, just picture...:-)...that smile...I love reciting the first vision and bearing testimony. I try to every time we teach. Anyway, he said he'd get off work to check out general conference, but couldn't "find the building" or "the conference online" (this investigator is one of our teachers). Well, the room we were teaching in had a computer, so the wild thought just POPPED into my head to show him on lds.org just how this kind of thing is done...so we did. Mind you, I know ZERO technical or computer spanish!!! And for him to understand it I turned the site into all spanish which was wickety whack trying to figure out what pages to go to and how to get the video feed working, but eventually we did and I could tell that it meant so much to him. I was so taken aback at myself and it was just a great experience of following the Spirit--I need to remember this for the field. I don't need to know what to do/say beforehand...scripture reference anyone?haha Oh, it's snowing outside, no big deal. So exciting--haha.
Oh Dad, I'm in the same zone as an Elder Baker from U of A? He took a class from you. We talk a lot and he is really awesome. I told him I'd say hi to you for him. Oh, and Sister Shaw found me as I was walking out of my building last Thursday night--she had the biggest hug and smile for me! It was great. We see each other all the time and I love it.
Well, I've somehow lost 2 buttons on two different outfits this week, so I need to go spend the rest of my P-day trying to sew them back on...if you get any calls from the hospital here it just means I somehow managed to seriosuly maime myself or someone else with the needle. No worries...OH! Speaking of hospitals and awkward things that happened there this week, I spent 3 hours in the hospital this morning with my comps because Hna K needed a...radiological something procedure that took FOREVER. OH, and she forgot to mention to anyone that she faints at the sight of needles, including the doctor, so as she was squeezing all the feeling and fingerprints off of my hand she suddenly went horizontal!!!!!! ALL OVER ME!!!!!!!!!!! Just slumped onto me and everything. Fainter. So needless to say that the rest of the scan was...interesting...because she had to hold still and lay under the machine with the IV still in her arm for 90 minutes, freaking out. I may never regain full use of either of my hands again in this life. I am typing with my elbows--sorry for any typos ;-) ahahaha. Life is just amazingly crazy isn't it? I love it.
I love being a missionary. The rest of my life and eternity will hinge on these next 17 months and I have never been more sure of "in whom I have trusted." Hermana Dalton is here to stay for a while--here in Provo, stateside, Spain--all on the Lord's time :-) I'll go/stay where he needs me. I love each and every one of you and think of you with a smile on my face. I have the best family in the world and my testimony of that grows every second of every day out here.
Love,
Hermana Dalton
Shout outs:
CALEB!!!!! Thanks for the dearelder :-) It made me really happy and laugh a ton (good one about celica). Glad to hear that v-ball is going so well, rock it man! And sorry about school. Just get through it and enjoy every second of senior year. No regrets :-) Keep on keeping on...Hey, could you email/dearelder me the lyrics to "On My Way" by Boyce Avenue? I meant to print them out before I left, but didn't have time. This song means a lot to me--spiritual experience--and I would love to have a copy of it. I'll print it out here if you can get it to me. Much love li'l guy.
Rahmderson's--a letter should be arriving shortly :-) lactate, lactate, lactate--wow, that has got to be the best story ever. I have no sassy remarks or comments or anything. I think I lost at least 2 lbs this week just from thinking about that story and the laughing that followed. I love you both so much!
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