Week 3 -- Extended...

NOTE:  Brie is in the MTC choir that will be singing for the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, so watch for our favorite redheaded Italian missionary!!!!!!

I am praying so hard for your health, Mom!!!  And I think D&C 31 promised my folks back home lots of blessings so get ready to receive them.

This week has been another week.  We got literally the worst news ever 2 days ago -- we have to stay here for another week and no one can even tell us why.  I've heard a rumor that it's because the mission presidents have a conference so they won't be there.  But that was rough.  Our district literally cried.  It's okay, though, everything happens for a reason.  I can't remember what happened so I will just answer your questions.  Maybe I'll remember later.  I FOUND MY TOOTHBRUSH in the pocket of one of my jumpers (I have only started repeating pieces).  AND I LOVE THE RAIN -- definitely a gift from God. 

1.  I ordered cookies for you last week from Chip -- did they ever get delivered???  If so, how were they?

YES!!!! I got them yesterday and 3 BOXES???? I shared with my district and another district.  We are only halfway done with them - so we will eat them again tonight and probably share again with more districts!!! I love them and they remind me of literally maybe every Friday night of last semester. THANK YOU also for the cinnamon rolls!!! Everyone got treats this week so we have literally had treats like every day (in the future you don't need to send that much, honestly just for me and maybe my room of 6 girls).  I appreciate you and I love you.

2.  What's the happiest thing that happened this week?

Yesterday just in class we taught through the entire first lesson with another sorella acting as an investigator - so first I was the investigator and we like really had a conversation and I asked a lot of questions, and then I got to teach and the spirit was so strong that I didn't even have to think about what I wanted to say next or how to say it!!! It was seriously awesome. Like I know that my grammar and everything was horrible but I'm not the real teacher, the Holy Ghost is, and that just reminded me of that.

3.  What made you laugh this week?  What was the funniest thing that happened?

The night we found out we have to stay another week I just reached the brink of emotional instability so I think things are funny all the time and Sorella Blandford thinks my laugh is really funny so when she laughs at that it's funny. Also yesterday when we were eating the cookies, the anziani were like "let's sing a Christmas song" so they started singing and everyone joins in and then someone starts beatboxing and one of them starting dancing. super random and dumb but it was fun.

4.  What was the most fun experience you had this week?

One of the anziani was supposed to leave 2 weeks ago but instead he had broken arms so literally just left this morning - so yesterday as a last hurrah (in the drizzle) we played volleyball and it was SO GOOD.  We like actually played, and since the sand was hard and the sun was out it was so much easier SERIOUSLY SO FUN.

5.  What is your favorite Italian word/phrase that you've learned this week?

Offa (yikes) (hopefully that's how you spell it)

6.  What has stuck out to you in your studies this week?

This is something I just keep coming back to -- the mercy of the atonement.

7.  What have you learned about yourself this week?

I have been super doubtful that the atonement works for me. I know it works for other people and I know Christ atoned for me, but I really struggle accepting it for myself, I don't see myself worthy of it. So our devotional was from Elder Koch of the Seventy and he talked about making sure you were clean, and I freaked out (had kinda had that doubt before slightly, but I had prayed to know how God saw me and I felt so good the next day) but then he just kept drilling it and so I freaked so I emailed my branch president and he told me to meet with the district president, and I did and it was so awesome. He was like, you are clean. You need to stop doubting, and you never need to bring any of this up ever again. Stop reminding God. So now my studies will be on trusting in the atonement.

8.  What have you learned about the gospel or the Savior this week that has strengthened you?

I studied the phrase "mercy claims the penitent" this week a little, and the idea of claims just so stuck out to me. It just makes me feel like I walk 2 feet out, and am carried the rest of the way, kinda like swiped by a shepherd's crook. That doesn't make any sense but its what is in my head.

9.  Who did the fireside/devotional this week and what did they talk about?

Sunday was Elder Koch - 3 things basically 1. Be clean 2. Be humble 3. Be diligent, and then the Martinos gave a really cool devotional about Peter, which I have been studying ever since you sent me the thing from Elder Duffy (shout out!), but apparently we were supposed to have an apostle and then at the last minute it was cancelled for some reason (the other MTCs had been planning on it) and it's just amazing how incredible that devotional was even though it was apparently last minute - wouldn't ever know. The Martinos are called of God, let me tell you that.

10.  Have you found the big map yet?

Yes- we took pictures in front of it but I don't like the picture so I will go back and take another one.

11.  How has someone shown love or kindness towards you this week?

Sorella Blandford is maybe the most loving person besides my main peeps that I have ever met. She is incredible. She is constantly just trying to understand how we feel and she literally feels what we feel. Talk about mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort - she is incredible.

12.  How have you served someone this week?

Fratello Harbin challenged us to show love and charity to our companions every day for ever. Like make an effort. Which I do, I try to share and get things for her and help her

13.  What are you doing for P-Day today?

The usual - choir, temple, laundry, email, volleyball, study (my companion has a medical appointment so I am also serving her by spending my precious p-day nap time in an office) and then class.

14.  Have you guys finished pulling out the flowers on the MTC grounds?  If so, what do they have you doing for service now?

Yes, and then we planted, and now we don't know (this week choir was during service so I guess we will know next week).

15.  Have you found ways to blow off steam and get out your frustrations?  Do you have someone in your district that you feel comfortable talking with?

Yes and no - I think the main way is just praying really hard all the time when I get frustrated.

(I asked Daddy to come up with some questions for you and he is not being helpful...LOL)

16.  Have you found any foods there at all that you like to eat, or that aren't gross?

Rice and soy sauce - my body is also getting used to the food so it's not as bad anymore.

17.  Did you find out if the store there has the phones that you can use then throw away for the airport?

No, there are not.

18.  Is there anything you need or want that I can include in the box that I'm going to send with your shoes?

Yes - black rain coat I left at home. 

19.  Are you finding it easier to get sleep at night?  Are you sleeping well?

Yes, because I am exhausted from waking up 30 minutes earlier for choir.

20.  Do you know how much I love you?

YES

It rained so we all ran out and were playing a little ball in the storm -- here is a pic.  

Just the pretty views from our classroom...

With my companion in front of the big map...

In front of the big map...

Me with three boxes of Chip cookies!

Some of our zone who usually play volleyball.  The kid who had to stay is on the top row, 2nd to the left.  The kid below him looking down is named Anziano Eden and is the zone leaders and is from the UK and is the funniest kid I've ever met.

We airdrop each other funny pictures in class and this was the best for this week.