Letter excerpt 2-1-2015

Today was a pretty great day. We had a lot of meetings but they were all pretty good. And my fast and prayers were answered. Our testimony meeting was so good. And our district musical number was really good and really spiritual. We're all really sad to be leaving each other. But I'm glad 5 of us are all going to Canada so maybe we'll serve together at some point. I hope so. I love them. I shared in my testimony that going on a mission and leaving my family had been the hardest thing I have ever done and I've only just started and that kills me. But I have never felt God's presence more strongly in my life than I have in the past 2 weeks and that's what gives me strength to do the hardest thing. And it's really true. I have gotten so many answers to prayers and so much comforts almost instantly when I pray and that's the only reason I'm still here, because God wants me to be here.

Letter Dated 2-2 & 2-3 2015

Today was a pretty great day. It was our last day together as a district. We just had a lot of fun and spent time together visiting and singing hymns and playing piano. It was fun.

Today we were supposed to meet with our (practice) investigator Patti for the last time, be they overbooked her se we just got to say bye real quick and take pictures. I was sad, I love her so much and don’t want to leave her and we were gonna commit her to baptism today! So that was sad. We also met with Nikki for the last time. She has made so much progress. Her baptism is in 18 days so that’s exciting. It’s funny how I talk about her like a real person, but she’s really just my teacher acting as an investigator, but it feels so real too and it’s sad to leave her.

It’s funny how the closer it gets the less I want to leave the MTC, when all I wanted just a couple days ago was to get out of here. I think it’s just ‘cause I’ve grown comfortable here and used to it and I’m scared to leave. And I’m going to miss my district.

So tonight when we were saying bye to the half of the district that was leaving tonight we all stood in a circle and sang “God Be With You ‘Till We Meet Again.” #Typical haha. But it was actually really amazing we've all grown so much together and bonded so fast and even love each other so much and it was really sad saying bye. I’m just glad a lot of them are coming to Canada with me.

Well it’s the last day at the MTC. I’m mostly all packed. It’s funny because everything seems to fit in my suitcases better than it did the first time. I FOUND MY PEARL! (Maddy lost one of the real pearl earrings her mom gave her for graduation.) God does answer prayers. I really hope you have been getting my letters. I am not very excited to leave but I am excited that I get to call you. Someone said it takes like a month for the mail to get from the U.S. to Canada. I hope that’s not true. That would be sad ‘cause I like writing you every day. I love you bunches and I miss you.

Love, Maddy

Airport Phone Call

 

Maddy caught her plane to her mission today. She got up at 4 am and had to spend some time waiting at the airport for her 9 am flight. She was able to call her Mom and talk for awhile. I was out of town for work and Tracy used her cell phone to conference me in on the call. It was great to hear her sweet voice. I miss her and I know she misses us.

She said she will be glad to get into the field. She is tired of MTC food and role playing. I remember feeling the same way.

She said she was in a "trio" in the MTC because one sister missionary (from Ghana I think) had her whole MTC district go into the field about a week and a half before she could get out to her mission in Florida. 

When we asked her what she liked the most she said she enjoyed singing in the choir. The choir director has great practices and they performed for a devotional. (She also loved the banana bread in the cafeteria.)

Her companion is from Alberta Canada and has been telling her about the country. Apparently large Canadian bills smell like maple syrup! Awesome.

I know it's tough for missionaries and their parents to miss each other during this time. We adore her. I know that she is in the service of the Lord and will have a great mission experience. When she gets to spend time in service to the people and her companion I know she will fall in love with Canada.

-Dad

MTC Drop Off

Here is our first born leaving us at the MTC drop-off.

She reported on Wed January 21st @ 1:00 pm.

Painful happiness.

Goodbyes stink!

Dear Family and Friends,

Not gonna lie, the MTC is HARD. It is pretty fun at times, I've made a few friends, especially my district, they are awesome. We laugh a lot together but we can also be super spiritual and that is awesome too. The teachers here are amazing. The food however, not so great. Kinda hate it haha. But thank goodness for salad and cereal cause you can't really mess those up. Except the milk does kinda taste funny too. The first morning I grabbed some hard boiled eggs and guess what, they were hot. Eww. Apparently other people like them hot. NASTY. So I was a bit disappointed with that. Another slight problem is that our room always reeks of feet haha. Its pretty gross and the window doesn't open so we don't really get to air it out. I'm pretty sure our room smells worse than any elders room at the moment and that is a shuddering thought. 

So my first day in the MTC my companion didn't show up for about 6 hours. So that kinda sucked. But eventually she came and turns out she's from Canada so she's been giving me the Canadian lowdown so I'll be prepared. 

The next day, my first full day, was pretty difficult. We have 2, 3 hour block classes everyday and dinner is like 4 hours earlier than I'm used to. We got up an hour early to go to a yoga class. It wasn't bad, not really into yoga though. I saw Elder Erik Mullen a few times. I usually see him 4 times a day it seems. It's nice to see a familiar face. Homesickness is hard. I miss my family a lot, I feel like I'm missing everything and I know everyone keeps telling me, "You're not missing a thing, its just boring everyday life here at home." But I am missing it, I love everyday life with them and I'm missing all of that and it's really hard on me. But I'm trying to be happy, faking it till I make it at least.

Friday, I didn't cry the whole day! haha. What an accomplishment. We taught our first investigator lesson today. It was great! She committed to baptism and prayed with us so she's progressing really quickly. I finally saw my cousin Hayden, we still haven't run into each other with our cameras so no pictures yet, sorry Aunt Tami.

Saturday, it didn't feel like Saturday. Just like every other day. Studied, taught, laughed, prayed. So we do these role plays and they have us pray in them and it's kinda weird like a real prayer for a fake person haha. Idk but they do help so whatevs. 

Sunday was a great day. We have combined relief society with all the sisters in the whole MTC. It was really good. Sacrament is weird 'cause it is just our zone so like less than 20 people. But I enjoyed it. My companion and I went to choir practice and that was way fun. The choir director is awesome: super energetic and he tells a lot of great stories and spiritual thoughts throughout practice. We also got to attend devotional, which was wonderful. I don't remember the speaker's name but he was so funny and inspirational. Then after that we all got to pick one of 4 church movies or talks to watch on the big screen like at the theater. It was fun. We watched a talk by Bednar called Character of Christ, but I think it's only available to missionaries. Too bad because its amazing and I think everyone would benefit from it. 

Monday we met with another amazing investigator. She's an atheist but because of her son's death she's been looking for some better answers and so she decided to meet with us. Her name is Patti and she is awesome, I already love her. She's so open and accepting and I think the gospel has given her a lot of peace in learning some answers to her questions. I just love her :)

Well, a few more days have passed, much like the days before and here I am over a week into the MTC and less than a week from going to Canada. Thank goodness, God know me well not to send me anywhere other than English speaking cause he knew I wouldn't be able to handle much longer than 2 weeks in the MTC. It's great and all but I can't wait to get out. I think Taylor would LOVE the MTC. And I think I'm gonna be kinda lonely when I just have my companion and not all my district to hang out and talk with. But I guess we'll see. 

Well I probably won't be able to email again for over a week, till Pday in Canada. 

I love you all and I miss you all. 

Sister Martin

Some pictures from the first emails sent

This is Sister Martin (Center) with her two companions on their walk by the Temple on Sunday, Jan 25th. Sister Miller (Right) is her first companion. A bit later they became a trio with a third companion. Don't know her name yet.

Sister Martin's words, "These are my roommates, the girls in my district. Don't mind the big black spot on my face, its from the filter. awk."

Sister Martin, "All the people in our district going to Winnipeg next week. My face is killer, it was so bright I couldn't keep my face normal and my eyes open haha"