29 March 2010
Hello all!
So, I'm in Sweden. It's finally hitting me that I'm actually in Europe. It was all surreal the first few days, but the different architecture, food, and language not to mention the fantastic public transportation system are starting to sink in. Everyone told me that Stockholm was one of the most beautiful, clean cities they'd ever seen and that the entire country of Sweden followed suit, but what I found when I got here was a gray, grimey place with just as much litter as in similarly grimey US cities. It came as a shock, but after a few days I realized these were effects of the still-clinging winter and my companion says they clean up all the gravel and junk when winter is over. I started trying to imagine what it would look like when everything is green, and I can say that I'm very excited for the summer to come.
The darkness is normal now. It's light by about 5 in the morning I believe and gets dark about 6:30 or 7, so that's not too much different yet. The sun has only been out half of the time, but they tell me it is also sunnier in the summer more often. I came at the end of the worst winter they have had in 40 years, so I'm very grateful for the timing. On our last Sunday in Utah it was beautiful! I swear it was in the 60s, sunny and clear. A lady came up to us and enthusiastically let us know it was going to be like that all next week. We told her we were leaving the next day for Sweden. Oh the irony! It's been in the 30s when it's cloudy and the 40s when the sun is out, so I've just been wearing a jacket another sister left in the apartment. There's a huge bag of clothes in the apartment that I'm going to sort through today and see if there is anything worth the wearing. I'll save my big coat for next winter. It will be perfect!
So, the 11 of us going to Sweden plus 2 senior couples going to other European couples had an overnight flight to Paris. The airport was lovely and we all bought something French to eat, so we would feel like we had officially been there. I got a stamp in my passport. It might just be an exit stamp, but it's a stamp nonetheless. I got to see a bit of England and France, though it was mostly clouded over, but on the next flight, it was fun to fly over what might have been Denmark. Lots of lakes. I sat next to a lady from Scotland who's lived in Sweden for many years. She was nice when I actually had the nerve to talk to her since she looked so severe at first. The food they served was the prettiest airplane food I'd ever seen. French airplane food! I wish I'd taken a picture, but I felt silly.
So, president and sister Anderson met us at the airport and were very kind. We spent a couple of nights at the mission home getting acquainted with the country and the culture. We did a session at the temple all in Swedish and went contacting in Stockholm later that day. Not a good experience, but it's gotten better :) We went to the young adult center they have in Stockholm. I didn't know about these, but they are like institutes with a missionary focus and have lots of activities. They have them all over Europe and have been really great for the young single adults here. I didn't realize that Elder Kopishka (sp?) is the Area President for this part of Europe (all of Europe?). Cool. You did say that you were on good terms now, right, Dad? Also, Sis. Anderson was your mom's visiting teacher for years, Aubrie, and they said their son climbs up mountains with your dad. Ted, you really should try that new-fangled-emailing-missionaries thing. It's awesome.
Well, we got our assignments on Thursday with the usual pomp and circumstance. They have you read a letter with your assignment and trainer, but the trainers don´t have their nametags on when they come in. The goal is that you´ll go and talk with each one in Swedish to figure out who it is. Luckily for me, we had met my trainer on Wed when we did contacting and she had accidentally revealed her true identity then, so I just went and gave her a hug. We all then had kebob pizza (i.e. pizza with kebob on it. So good!)
So, I'm now in the Jakobsberg area which is the northwestern part of Stockholm. It's the Järfälla commune. I live in Barkarby specifically. I think that's ok to say. Our area is fairly large and we take public transit everywhere, so half of the day is spent traveling it seems. Swedes don't talk to each other on the bus, so mostly we've been striking up conversation with people who don't look Swedish. Half of the ward is Spanish speaking, so I should technically be able to speak spanish to them, but I now have a problem speaking all Spanish and not mixing in Swedish. It's very distressing. Anyway, I should wrap this up. I love the ward. They are all such wonderful people. There are about 30 people that come and about 200 or so on the ward list I think, so we have a lot of inactive finding and visiting work on our plate as well. There is also one investigator with a baptismal date. He is way cool. Also, we are starting a Swedish class for people who've just moved here, so we've been putting up a lot of posters for that. It's very exciting, and we're hoping to have a great transfer!
Oh, and my companion is Sister Wood from Cedar City, UT. She's outspoken and very nice. Also very patient. I hope feeling like dead weight will soon pass :)
This email is far too long, but I am feeling great. I am getting less and less self conscious about my clothes, and more and more excited to share the message of the restored gospel with those that are ready and willing to hear it. I have so much more I could say, but I should probably save it. Love you all. Pray for the members here. They need it!
Syster Maxwell
PS Jet lag is not too bad. I feel like I did all through school.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Week 8
Hello All!
So, many thanks to everyone that has written me during my time at the MTC. I want to write to everyone before I go, but I may not be able to and it's really expensive to send a letter from Sweden, but I'll try! Ted, I found a scripture for you this week: Luke 2:23 and Exodus 13:2. I guess your ok after all. Also, thanks to Penny, Renee, Carter and Berkeley for the Easter basket! I love grown up Easter! Also, I shared with all the elders and they were VERY grateful :) They confiscated the light-up spinning egg toy and have been fascinated ever since. They will periodically take it out and stare at it. Probably not good for the eyes. We've been in a white cinderblock room too long. I think. Also, I got the bag Lisa! Thanks, Mitch! We had our training with Bro. Gruber and after that I completely understand the purpose of the first night activity. They were supposed to use the skills from "How to Begin a Lesson" in Ch. 10 of PMG. That's what was missing! We were all a lot happier about our role in this. Oh, 3 companionships from our district are being the missionaries that demonstrate getting to know an investigator for the new missionaries the first night. We think it's because we were awesome (we hope it wasn't because we are a bad example :)). Miriam Deaver is also in the group that is doing it. Mom, I saw Sarah Hite. She recognized me even though my hair was wet, my skirt was on sideways and I was going back for my name tag which I'd forgotten. It wasn't a good day for me ;) So, I had a break down on accident again this last week. Everyone was being really rude to me partially because I had been ornery all day. Fancy that. So, I was all contrite and going to say I was sorry and then they were really rude to me again. Imagine me when I was 8. 9? 12? One of those classic dinner scenes where I ran to my room crying. Really embarrassing. The only difference was that no one was laughing at me when I left. They all felt really bad.
So, we got our travel plans this week. We are flying through Paris. We go straight there from Salt Lake. It takes all night. Then we have a 6 hour layover and then go straight to Sweden. We get there at 6:30. So, Sweden is supposedly 8 hours ahead of Salt Lake, but there was some confusion because of daylight's savings here and there (they have it at a different time), so it might only be 7 now. We get to the airport here about 2:30 I think. So, I'll probably call around 3-3:30 our time, so 5-5:30 your time, mom and dad. I'll call until you answer. Ok?
Also, I was sad to hear about Uncle Ray dying. Mostly because he felt like the patriarch of the maxwell clan and it's the end of an era. I'm so grateful I got to meet him last year. And turns out Grandma Maxwell was right.
All our prayers were answered yesterday when Quentin L. Cook came to speak. Every week we'd say, "this week it will be an apostle. We just know it!" So, we were so grateful we got to hear from one our last week. We sang "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands" in the choir. I remember when we sang it in the ward choir (right, mom?). I think that was one of those where you sobbed through it, right? I understand a little better why now. It has such a powerful message. So, what Elder Cook said answered so many of my prayers and concerns and questions. It was amazing! I knew it was for me. And everyone else felt the same way. It was so cool how it was so personal yet for everyone. Kind of like the atonement, yeah?
Well, the MTC has been great. We have loved it. There was a protester here yesterday. He's a paid protester who came all the way from England. I hope he's there today so we can see him when we go to the temple. We tried to go listen to him yesterday, but he was already gone. We won't talk to him, of course, but it's always interesting to hear.
Well, any last MTC words? It's like girls camp, but better because these are friends that we'll have forever. I will miss all the powerful speakers and meetings and my district, but they tell me the miracles haven't even started yet, even though it seems like they have. I love you all. The church is true.
Amy
So, many thanks to everyone that has written me during my time at the MTC. I want to write to everyone before I go, but I may not be able to and it's really expensive to send a letter from Sweden, but I'll try! Ted, I found a scripture for you this week: Luke 2:23 and Exodus 13:2. I guess your ok after all. Also, thanks to Penny, Renee, Carter and Berkeley for the Easter basket! I love grown up Easter! Also, I shared with all the elders and they were VERY grateful :) They confiscated the light-up spinning egg toy and have been fascinated ever since. They will periodically take it out and stare at it. Probably not good for the eyes. We've been in a white cinderblock room too long. I think. Also, I got the bag Lisa! Thanks, Mitch! We had our training with Bro. Gruber and after that I completely understand the purpose of the first night activity. They were supposed to use the skills from "How to Begin a Lesson" in Ch. 10 of PMG. That's what was missing! We were all a lot happier about our role in this. Oh, 3 companionships from our district are being the missionaries that demonstrate getting to know an investigator for the new missionaries the first night. We think it's because we were awesome (we hope it wasn't because we are a bad example :)). Miriam Deaver is also in the group that is doing it. Mom, I saw Sarah Hite. She recognized me even though my hair was wet, my skirt was on sideways and I was going back for my name tag which I'd forgotten. It wasn't a good day for me ;) So, I had a break down on accident again this last week. Everyone was being really rude to me partially because I had been ornery all day. Fancy that. So, I was all contrite and going to say I was sorry and then they were really rude to me again. Imagine me when I was 8. 9? 12? One of those classic dinner scenes where I ran to my room crying. Really embarrassing. The only difference was that no one was laughing at me when I left. They all felt really bad.
So, we got our travel plans this week. We are flying through Paris. We go straight there from Salt Lake. It takes all night. Then we have a 6 hour layover and then go straight to Sweden. We get there at 6:30. So, Sweden is supposedly 8 hours ahead of Salt Lake, but there was some confusion because of daylight's savings here and there (they have it at a different time), so it might only be 7 now. We get to the airport here about 2:30 I think. So, I'll probably call around 3-3:30 our time, so 5-5:30 your time, mom and dad. I'll call until you answer. Ok?
Also, I was sad to hear about Uncle Ray dying. Mostly because he felt like the patriarch of the maxwell clan and it's the end of an era. I'm so grateful I got to meet him last year. And turns out Grandma Maxwell was right.
All our prayers were answered yesterday when Quentin L. Cook came to speak. Every week we'd say, "this week it will be an apostle. We just know it!" So, we were so grateful we got to hear from one our last week. We sang "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands" in the choir. I remember when we sang it in the ward choir (right, mom?). I think that was one of those where you sobbed through it, right? I understand a little better why now. It has such a powerful message. So, what Elder Cook said answered so many of my prayers and concerns and questions. It was amazing! I knew it was for me. And everyone else felt the same way. It was so cool how it was so personal yet for everyone. Kind of like the atonement, yeah?
Well, the MTC has been great. We have loved it. There was a protester here yesterday. He's a paid protester who came all the way from England. I hope he's there today so we can see him when we go to the temple. We tried to go listen to him yesterday, but he was already gone. We won't talk to him, of course, but it's always interesting to hear.
Well, any last MTC words? It's like girls camp, but better because these are friends that we'll have forever. I will miss all the powerful speakers and meetings and my district, but they tell me the miracles haven't even started yet, even though it seems like they have. I love you all. The church is true.
Amy
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Week 7
Subject: 12 Days.
Hello All!
We get our travel plans tomorrow. Supposedly I get to call home from the airport. We'll see what they say. I'll let you know next week mom. We are all hoping to go through Paris. That's what they normally get to do.
Things are still really good. I asked Mitch to pick up the backpack for me, Aunt Lisa. Turns out we are going to be staying overnight for two nights at the mission home and they mentioned an overnight bag. I sure don't have anything like that and I don't want to carry that blue plastic bag they give you on the first day through the airport. If you don't have it anymore, I will borrow a bag from Sis Sumner. Thanks!
So, Melissa wins the prize for first letter from someone in my immediate family writing me. And she wrote me an email! Dear me! So, thank you Melissa, I was really excited to get your email. I've been reading your blog, and things sound great (except for you all being sick all the time...ok, mostly the butterflies and other adventures sound great).
So, we had Bruce C. Hafen come and speak to us yesterday. It made me think of Grandpa Maxwell since Elder Hafen was the one who was made Dean of Ricks when they went to Brazil, right? I had the overwhelming feeling that Grandpa would be proud of me and is. I don't know how much interaction people who have gone before have with the spirits who are waiting, but I've always felt a special connection to Grandpa, so I felt really touched by that. Elder Hafen shared some amazing remarks about having a 3 legged testimony built on reason, spiritual feelings, and the test of experience. He related gaining a testimony to falling in love. :) Overall, it was fantastic and I wish I could write more about it, but the point was, give your testimony time. I love how all of the speakers who come are reflecting back to when they were 19 and just as unsure about things as the elders are now and we can see the fruit of their life long dedication to the Lord. It takes a life time for us to sometimes see the fruits.
I shared that yesterday in the district meeting we have after devotional where we discuss everything. I shared how cool it was that they look back on being our age, but in my mind I thought, "No. Your age." Decided not to say it. It's funny how my age will come up and surprise me every now and then. The sisters are all exactly Brian's age which I often forget. Sometimes they call me mom. Oh well. That's just part of my personality I guess.
So, I've been thinking. I want to collect conversion stories on my mission, so if you feel like reflecting on that, please, send me your personal conversion story. A lot of what we do is to guide that process, and I'd love to understand it better through all of your experiences, so don't forget that dearelder.com is free until I leave!
Ok, love you all, you are amazing!
Amy
Hello All!
We get our travel plans tomorrow. Supposedly I get to call home from the airport. We'll see what they say. I'll let you know next week mom. We are all hoping to go through Paris. That's what they normally get to do.
Things are still really good. I asked Mitch to pick up the backpack for me, Aunt Lisa. Turns out we are going to be staying overnight for two nights at the mission home and they mentioned an overnight bag. I sure don't have anything like that and I don't want to carry that blue plastic bag they give you on the first day through the airport. If you don't have it anymore, I will borrow a bag from Sis Sumner. Thanks!
So, Melissa wins the prize for first letter from someone in my immediate family writing me. And she wrote me an email! Dear me! So, thank you Melissa, I was really excited to get your email. I've been reading your blog, and things sound great (except for you all being sick all the time...ok, mostly the butterflies and other adventures sound great).
So, we had Bruce C. Hafen come and speak to us yesterday. It made me think of Grandpa Maxwell since Elder Hafen was the one who was made Dean of Ricks when they went to Brazil, right? I had the overwhelming feeling that Grandpa would be proud of me and is. I don't know how much interaction people who have gone before have with the spirits who are waiting, but I've always felt a special connection to Grandpa, so I felt really touched by that. Elder Hafen shared some amazing remarks about having a 3 legged testimony built on reason, spiritual feelings, and the test of experience. He related gaining a testimony to falling in love. :) Overall, it was fantastic and I wish I could write more about it, but the point was, give your testimony time. I love how all of the speakers who come are reflecting back to when they were 19 and just as unsure about things as the elders are now and we can see the fruit of their life long dedication to the Lord. It takes a life time for us to sometimes see the fruits.
I shared that yesterday in the district meeting we have after devotional where we discuss everything. I shared how cool it was that they look back on being our age, but in my mind I thought, "No. Your age." Decided not to say it. It's funny how my age will come up and surprise me every now and then. The sisters are all exactly Brian's age which I often forget. Sometimes they call me mom. Oh well. That's just part of my personality I guess.
So, I've been thinking. I want to collect conversion stories on my mission, so if you feel like reflecting on that, please, send me your personal conversion story. A lot of what we do is to guide that process, and I'd love to understand it better through all of your experiences, so don't forget that dearelder.com is free until I leave!
Ok, love you all, you are amazing!
Amy
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Week 6
Subject: Heysan! Jag kan (inte) Svenska!
Hey all,
So, we have started doing English fasts this week. We had our first one on Friday plus a food fast, so that spelled disaster. No food plus inability to communicate creates a very distressed Sister Maxwell. It was fine though. I got over it. Today is P-day (of course) and we decided to do another one except we can write in English to you all and when we go to the temple. Aldste Bloomfield is down the table from me entertaining some English missionaries with his Swedish. We don't even speak to other people (non-Swedes) in English. I think it was a bad idea to do this today. It's hard to run errands when no one else speaks what you are speaking. I guess that will be how it is when we get to Sweden :) So this week went by incredibly fast. We only have 3 weeks left. Am I ready? I don't know. Probably.
So just a few choice tidbits for this week. So in the MTC you can buy t-shirts with your destination country or state. I chose not to purchase one because I don't think I'll wear it either in Sweden or when I get home because it has a huge gaudy Swedish flag on it. I prefer something classier :) So, the rest of my district bought their Swede shirts and wear them to gym each week. Sister Page wanted to start doing a district 1/2 mile run around the track to start gym and foster unity in the Swede shirts, but we all nixed that idea because it was silly and would look too much like a gang. We already look like a gang when we all play volleyball.
So part of the purpose of my letters is to capture a little of what it is to be in the MTC for those that haven't been here. I was incredibly shocked when I got here and hadn't heard about most of the things that go on here, so I apologize if there are any returned missionaries that think this is dull.
Someone told me before I left that Sundays are the best days at the MTC. Turns out that is true. We get to go see Music and the Spoken word in the morning which seems to have double the cheese than I remember from times I've watched it before Conference before. There was a choir from China this week. They were so good! And so cute (they were children--that's important to note). I ate it all up, but some of the other missionaries thought it was weird. Especially the instrumental numbers. We have Relief Society meeting after that. This week Pres. Monson's daughter came and spoke to us. She was really good. Had some different insights for us. Also, she told us Pres. Monson's favorite color is yellow and one of his fav scriptures is Provs 3:5-6. I had a dream we met him the night before. He was very personable and made a thumbs up sign to Sis Page :) We have sacrament meeting after. We all have to prepare talks each week and they randomly call 2 of us up to speak. I already spoke, so there's less pressure every week. Then we have another lesson with our district, then we go to the temple and then we go to choir and then we go to dinner and then we go to a fireside. The fireside on Sunday was the director of the missionary department. He told all these stories about disobedient missionaries that ended up going home, in jail or dying, etc because they didn't follow the rules. All of us sisters agreed that we didn't want to listen anymore. It was a bit of a downer. They aren't all like that though. Then we get to watch a movie or talk! We watched Mountain of the Lord this Sunday. I am glad that LDS cinema is slowly but surely improving. That's all I will say.
I had to put out a fire this week. The District Leader has been mean to us sisters, telling us to be quiet when the other elders had been loud just a few minutes before. The sisters didn't like being so unjustly called out and embarrassed. So, I had to talk to him. He actually was rude to me when I went to talk to him, so I was a little sterner than I was planning on being. He's a great elder, though, and we worked it out. They have started treating us with more respect now and we are trying to be quieter and more on task.
Mom, I liked your thought yesterday. Covenants I think also mean nothing anymore because we don't really value keeping our word anymore. A verbal commitment has no weight. We also can't often see immediately the effects of breaking covenants in their full force.
Well, can't think of anything else to start with two minutes. I love you all. I love the gospel. My love and understanding is growing every day. Thanks for the letters! Keep 'em coming.
Amy
Hey all,
So, we have started doing English fasts this week. We had our first one on Friday plus a food fast, so that spelled disaster. No food plus inability to communicate creates a very distressed Sister Maxwell. It was fine though. I got over it. Today is P-day (of course) and we decided to do another one except we can write in English to you all and when we go to the temple. Aldste Bloomfield is down the table from me entertaining some English missionaries with his Swedish. We don't even speak to other people (non-Swedes) in English. I think it was a bad idea to do this today. It's hard to run errands when no one else speaks what you are speaking. I guess that will be how it is when we get to Sweden :) So this week went by incredibly fast. We only have 3 weeks left. Am I ready? I don't know. Probably.
So just a few choice tidbits for this week. So in the MTC you can buy t-shirts with your destination country or state. I chose not to purchase one because I don't think I'll wear it either in Sweden or when I get home because it has a huge gaudy Swedish flag on it. I prefer something classier :) So, the rest of my district bought their Swede shirts and wear them to gym each week. Sister Page wanted to start doing a district 1/2 mile run around the track to start gym and foster unity in the Swede shirts, but we all nixed that idea because it was silly and would look too much like a gang. We already look like a gang when we all play volleyball.
So part of the purpose of my letters is to capture a little of what it is to be in the MTC for those that haven't been here. I was incredibly shocked when I got here and hadn't heard about most of the things that go on here, so I apologize if there are any returned missionaries that think this is dull.
Someone told me before I left that Sundays are the best days at the MTC. Turns out that is true. We get to go see Music and the Spoken word in the morning which seems to have double the cheese than I remember from times I've watched it before Conference before. There was a choir from China this week. They were so good! And so cute (they were children--that's important to note). I ate it all up, but some of the other missionaries thought it was weird. Especially the instrumental numbers. We have Relief Society meeting after that. This week Pres. Monson's daughter came and spoke to us. She was really good. Had some different insights for us. Also, she told us Pres. Monson's favorite color is yellow and one of his fav scriptures is Provs 3:5-6. I had a dream we met him the night before. He was very personable and made a thumbs up sign to Sis Page :) We have sacrament meeting after. We all have to prepare talks each week and they randomly call 2 of us up to speak. I already spoke, so there's less pressure every week. Then we have another lesson with our district, then we go to the temple and then we go to choir and then we go to dinner and then we go to a fireside. The fireside on Sunday was the director of the missionary department. He told all these stories about disobedient missionaries that ended up going home, in jail or dying, etc because they didn't follow the rules. All of us sisters agreed that we didn't want to listen anymore. It was a bit of a downer. They aren't all like that though. Then we get to watch a movie or talk! We watched Mountain of the Lord this Sunday. I am glad that LDS cinema is slowly but surely improving. That's all I will say.
I had to put out a fire this week. The District Leader has been mean to us sisters, telling us to be quiet when the other elders had been loud just a few minutes before. The sisters didn't like being so unjustly called out and embarrassed. So, I had to talk to him. He actually was rude to me when I went to talk to him, so I was a little sterner than I was planning on being. He's a great elder, though, and we worked it out. They have started treating us with more respect now and we are trying to be quieter and more on task.
Mom, I liked your thought yesterday. Covenants I think also mean nothing anymore because we don't really value keeping our word anymore. A verbal commitment has no weight. We also can't often see immediately the effects of breaking covenants in their full force.
Well, can't think of anything else to start with two minutes. I love you all. I love the gospel. My love and understanding is growing every day. Thanks for the letters! Keep 'em coming.
Amy
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Week 5
Hello all,
I'm going to go ahead and express my thanks at the beginning of the letter since I never get to at the end since I'm usually out of time. Thank you Mike and Shelley and fam for the valentine's package. It was really fun! My comp, Sis Page was happy to get the other treat. Also, thanks to the Utah gang for sending me letters. It made my day so wonderful! Tell Kirsten I'll write her when I get a chance. Promise :) And thanks for everyone else supporting me and being wonderful. I wrote a letter to Katy Lang, but I got a letter from Cris Castellon that would suggest that she didn't get it, but you never know... just throwing that out there. Thanks to the Lee's too! I shared what Bro. Lee wrote with all the sisters in my room. We all appreciated it because we respect the elders we are with very much. We always try to encourage them to be their best and it often ends up that they have to put us in our place or tell us to stop giggling or singing :) Oh, there is an Elder Winters here who is in our zone, going to Norway who is from Pocatello that says that Bro. Lee taught his mission prep class there. Cool! He says it was awesome :) Which reminds me, the Norwegian elders came in this week. There are two of them. Also, all the sisters left from our branch to go to the field (Oregon). We are getting five new sisters today who are going all over the place (English speaking). We are going to break into their room later and make their beds for them and write them a welcome note. Turns out sisters are still girls here and do that kind of thing. The coordinating sisters meetings are interesting. Lots of complaining about other sisters being too loud or airing grievances. Not sure if I wrote about that last time.
So we hit our month mark this last week. On the 20th we had Karleksfest which means love party in Swedish. It's a joke because we sang "Come ye Disconsolate" one day at my prodding and one of the lines says roughly "come to the love party" or karleksfest. Everyone started laughing included Bro. Killian, our teacher. I felt bad about it until it became a joke and now we have karleksfest everyday! Karlek is also the word for charity in the scriptures, so it's all appropriate loving :) So, the language. We love the fun phrases and the elders love making things like, "You are so nice" to sound like insults. They will shout at each other, "You are so nice right now!" and storm out of the room. We try to get them not to shout in the cafeteria since we get in trouble for that, but one of these days I'm afraid there will be a whole scene. We also love the phrase, mumsfilibaba which means roughly, scrumdiddlyumptious. We also were teaching one day going around in a circle each saying one line of a lesson and sister Gotberg, instead of continuing on about Joseph Smith say, "Hur smackar det?" or how does that taste? We cracked up! She was on the wrong page :) Also, when we don't know the Swedish word, we will say them in a Swedish accent so at least we pretend we are still speaking it. Sis Page said something in English the other day when we were out in the hall and then said, "I had to say it in an accent so they wouldn't know what I was saying" (meaning the other Scandinavians). It was funny. Maybe you had to be there.
Also, I got a letter from Karina that said when she was in the mtc the rumor was to stay abour (that’s what she wrote – away?) from the orange juice. I'm pleased to report that is still the rumor today and we heard that on our first day here. She was year a few years ago. I wonder how long people have been passing that down :) Ted, Jeff, Scott? Comments? Oh, and yes, no more "tree of life" in the showers I suppose I should let you all know the miracles that I've been seeing since coming here. I just want to bear testimony that the gift of tongues is real. I feel the blessings of the Lord pouring down upon me every day. I don't feel sad. Ever. Miracle.
Love,
Amy
I'm going to go ahead and express my thanks at the beginning of the letter since I never get to at the end since I'm usually out of time. Thank you Mike and Shelley and fam for the valentine's package. It was really fun! My comp, Sis Page was happy to get the other treat. Also, thanks to the Utah gang for sending me letters. It made my day so wonderful! Tell Kirsten I'll write her when I get a chance. Promise :) And thanks for everyone else supporting me and being wonderful. I wrote a letter to Katy Lang, but I got a letter from Cris Castellon that would suggest that she didn't get it, but you never know... just throwing that out there. Thanks to the Lee's too! I shared what Bro. Lee wrote with all the sisters in my room. We all appreciated it because we respect the elders we are with very much. We always try to encourage them to be their best and it often ends up that they have to put us in our place or tell us to stop giggling or singing :) Oh, there is an Elder Winters here who is in our zone, going to Norway who is from Pocatello that says that Bro. Lee taught his mission prep class there. Cool! He says it was awesome :) Which reminds me, the Norwegian elders came in this week. There are two of them. Also, all the sisters left from our branch to go to the field (Oregon). We are getting five new sisters today who are going all over the place (English speaking). We are going to break into their room later and make their beds for them and write them a welcome note. Turns out sisters are still girls here and do that kind of thing. The coordinating sisters meetings are interesting. Lots of complaining about other sisters being too loud or airing grievances. Not sure if I wrote about that last time.
So we hit our month mark this last week. On the 20th we had Karleksfest which means love party in Swedish. It's a joke because we sang "Come ye Disconsolate" one day at my prodding and one of the lines says roughly "come to the love party" or karleksfest. Everyone started laughing included Bro. Killian, our teacher. I felt bad about it until it became a joke and now we have karleksfest everyday! Karlek is also the word for charity in the scriptures, so it's all appropriate loving :) So, the language. We love the fun phrases and the elders love making things like, "You are so nice" to sound like insults. They will shout at each other, "You are so nice right now!" and storm out of the room. We try to get them not to shout in the cafeteria since we get in trouble for that, but one of these days I'm afraid there will be a whole scene. We also love the phrase, mumsfilibaba which means roughly, scrumdiddlyumptious. We also were teaching one day going around in a circle each saying one line of a lesson and sister Gotberg, instead of continuing on about Joseph Smith say, "Hur smackar det?" or how does that taste? We cracked up! She was on the wrong page :) Also, when we don't know the Swedish word, we will say them in a Swedish accent so at least we pretend we are still speaking it. Sis Page said something in English the other day when we were out in the hall and then said, "I had to say it in an accent so they wouldn't know what I was saying" (meaning the other Scandinavians). It was funny. Maybe you had to be there.
Also, I got a letter from Karina that said when she was in the mtc the rumor was to stay abour (that’s what she wrote – away?) from the orange juice. I'm pleased to report that is still the rumor today and we heard that on our first day here. She was year a few years ago. I wonder how long people have been passing that down :) Ted, Jeff, Scott? Comments? Oh, and yes, no more "tree of life" in the showers I suppose I should let you all know the miracles that I've been seeing since coming here. I just want to bear testimony that the gift of tongues is real. I feel the blessings of the Lord pouring down upon me every day. I don't feel sad. Ever. Miracle.
Love,
Amy
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week 4
Hello everyone!
Another week, another breakdown. Just kidding! All is well in Zion... I mean at the MTC. Ack! Missionary humor. It'll kill ya, or at least your social life.
So I loved Brian's news about the Provo Mission split. We actually had the new mission president of the new NM mission come yesterday. His wife spilled the beans in her devotional talk to us. It's Elder Spencer Jones of the 2nd quorum of the 70. Funny.
Oh, happy anniversary Mom & Dad and Jeff and Melissa. Sorry I missed your birthday, Jeff. I thought about you on the 24th! I swear I did!
In other news I was called as coordinating sister this week. I get to go to lots of extra meetings and be the high and might enforcer of the rules :) Oh and make people feel happy and good about themselves. The Norwegians left this week, which is why I took Sis Bergren's spot for that. Elder DeCosta, the previous zone leader recommended me for it, he said. He told me once that I should be a school teacher because I looked nice. And he thought I was a genius because I've already graduated. We took pictures with all the scandinavian missionaries and their flags on sunday before they left. It's a lot quieter around here now, but our missionaries focus more, so that's a plus. Another result of their leaving is that we are now friends with the Dutch sisters. We thought they hated us and they thought we didn't like them. The Norwegian elders put a wedge between us because they weren't allowed to talk to them anymore because they had started flirting a lot, but they would talk to us. That's what Elder DeCosta said anyway. He liked the rumor mill.
Last week, I got my mascara stolen while I was in the bathroom. My comp had been out there and said it was probably the short haired sister going to the SL Visitor's center who never smiles because she was the last one there. I asked her about it and she said she didn't have it. A few days later, I saw her bag of stuff and she had two mascaras! Sure enough, a few days later, I found it neatly waiting for me by the sink. Mystery solved! It was quite the scandal :) I ran into Miriam Deaver this week. She is a coordinating sister too. Turns out we are next door neighbors and we had no idea! It was really fun to get to know her a little better. She talked about how Dad put her at ease the night before she left. It's always fun to talk to people who know your parents too. It's also nice to know that people don't find Dad scary ;) So, a little bit about gym. The elders love 4 square. It is their passion and they would come in every day reveling in how long they were king or who got who out. Funny. 4 Square. I also had an elder ask if I was a marathon runner this week. He said it was because I am always running laps when he comes. That is true. I run almost the whole time (I've started memorizing scriptures while I run. It's great!), but it's only about 30 minutes--far from a marathon. I was flattered nonetheless. Also, I ran into an elder the other day on the track. He was standing in the way, I moved, but he moved and we collided. I hit him pretty hard, and was really embarrassed the rest of the time. It's amazing how much more awkward things are here. Any talk or show of anything boy-girl, related and it's a big deal. Oh dear. I feel like I've gone back 10 years. In the TRC me and Sis Page taught two recently returned Elders. That was awkward. Probably the worst lesson we've ever taught because we felt so self conscious.
Also, the other day, there was a cacauphony of hymns being hummed in the shower after gym. Then, out of the chaos someone started singing Beautiful Savior and a three part harmony broke out. Anyone's humming is fair game in the shower and we often get little anonymous choirs going. It's fun.
Ok, times up. I love the gospel. I love the Lord. I'm glad I'm here. I love you all. Don't forget Dear Elder.com :)
Love,
Amy
Another week, another breakdown. Just kidding! All is well in Zion... I mean at the MTC. Ack! Missionary humor. It'll kill ya, or at least your social life.
So I loved Brian's news about the Provo Mission split. We actually had the new mission president of the new NM mission come yesterday. His wife spilled the beans in her devotional talk to us. It's Elder Spencer Jones of the 2nd quorum of the 70. Funny.
Oh, happy anniversary Mom & Dad and Jeff and Melissa. Sorry I missed your birthday, Jeff. I thought about you on the 24th! I swear I did!
In other news I was called as coordinating sister this week. I get to go to lots of extra meetings and be the high and might enforcer of the rules :) Oh and make people feel happy and good about themselves. The Norwegians left this week, which is why I took Sis Bergren's spot for that. Elder DeCosta, the previous zone leader recommended me for it, he said. He told me once that I should be a school teacher because I looked nice. And he thought I was a genius because I've already graduated. We took pictures with all the scandinavian missionaries and their flags on sunday before they left. It's a lot quieter around here now, but our missionaries focus more, so that's a plus. Another result of their leaving is that we are now friends with the Dutch sisters. We thought they hated us and they thought we didn't like them. The Norwegian elders put a wedge between us because they weren't allowed to talk to them anymore because they had started flirting a lot, but they would talk to us. That's what Elder DeCosta said anyway. He liked the rumor mill.
Last week, I got my mascara stolen while I was in the bathroom. My comp had been out there and said it was probably the short haired sister going to the SL Visitor's center who never smiles because she was the last one there. I asked her about it and she said she didn't have it. A few days later, I saw her bag of stuff and she had two mascaras! Sure enough, a few days later, I found it neatly waiting for me by the sink. Mystery solved! It was quite the scandal :) I ran into Miriam Deaver this week. She is a coordinating sister too. Turns out we are next door neighbors and we had no idea! It was really fun to get to know her a little better. She talked about how Dad put her at ease the night before she left. It's always fun to talk to people who know your parents too. It's also nice to know that people don't find Dad scary ;) So, a little bit about gym. The elders love 4 square. It is their passion and they would come in every day reveling in how long they were king or who got who out. Funny. 4 Square. I also had an elder ask if I was a marathon runner this week. He said it was because I am always running laps when he comes. That is true. I run almost the whole time (I've started memorizing scriptures while I run. It's great!), but it's only about 30 minutes--far from a marathon. I was flattered nonetheless. Also, I ran into an elder the other day on the track. He was standing in the way, I moved, but he moved and we collided. I hit him pretty hard, and was really embarrassed the rest of the time. It's amazing how much more awkward things are here. Any talk or show of anything boy-girl, related and it's a big deal. Oh dear. I feel like I've gone back 10 years. In the TRC me and Sis Page taught two recently returned Elders. That was awkward. Probably the worst lesson we've ever taught because we felt so self conscious.
Also, the other day, there was a cacauphony of hymns being hummed in the shower after gym. Then, out of the chaos someone started singing Beautiful Savior and a three part harmony broke out. Anyone's humming is fair game in the shower and we often get little anonymous choirs going. It's fun.
Ok, times up. I love the gospel. I love the Lord. I'm glad I'm here. I love you all. Don't forget Dear Elder.com :)
Love,
Amy
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Week 3 - Tired
Hey all.
I couldn't sleep last night until about midnight, so today I am tired and grumpy. the missionaries sitting here around me as I type are being loud and getting on my nerves. Mostly tired-ness related. I think.
So this last week was fantastic. Don't know where to start.
Alright, I've seen quite a few people this week. Carter Chung came into the mtc on Wed (friend from Berkeley ward). I got to see him on Thurs. and we have meals at the same time, so I get to see him all the time! It's fun. I also saw Jordan Milot in the Bookstore and called out to him. He wasn't as excited to see me as I was to see him and at first I didn't even think he remembered me. Turns out Kendrick Turner was right behind me in line, so it was all three of us chatting for a couple minutes until E. Milot left. Fun! Also, Sis. Jones is Cammi jones from Grandma Win's ward. More about her later. Also, I forgot to mention that there was a meeting about proper dress and grooming the first sunday we were here, and guess who was one of the good examples? Lindsey Meyers, one of my friends from Sophomore at BYU! That was fun.
So I feel bad for Sis. Jones. Last night when I couldn't sleep I found her out in the hall too. She said that her roommates are really good at gettting the lights off at 10:30, but then they laugh for another hour or so. I'm exhausted with my 7 hours of sleep, so I'm grateful for roommates that want sleep too. It's been hard to sleep in the mornings b/c the other sisters will get up early to get ready or go to gym, and they always slam the door when they come in and out. Yuck! So, I've been falling asleep in class. I fell asleep yesterday when Sis Gotberg and Sumner were teaching us in Swedish. Sis Gotberg saw me and said she almost started laughing.
These elders are driving me crazy!!!! Stop shouting across the laundry room!!!!
Oh, I'm grumpy. :) So, I picked hymns this week like "Rock of Ages" and "Come Ye Disconsolate." All the elders started making fun of me saying that I only picked obscure hymns that no one knows. I argued that they needed a musical education, so we compromised that I could pick every 4th hymn. They like the easy songs so we can sing in four parts and out sing the dutch and norwegians (they aren't very good even with an Osmond) I felt this week like I had no one to talk to. How do you get out your angst when the people that are part of the problem are the only people you can talk to (the other sisters). It was great that Mitch came to lunch. I was able to talk to him about some concerns about things that some speakers had said and just release a little. It was great! Thanks Mitch!
So, we love movie quotes. That's how we get our entertainment. We relive movies every day. We also have started making up our own scenes. We have an MTC musical in the works which may or may not include Donny Osmond, John Stamos with an eye patch and peg leg, and a song about P-day and the TRC. We might just have to perform our p-day song in the laundry room before we leave here.
Well, devotional was fantastic yesterday. We heard from Elder Grow. He inspired all of us to get to work and love it! I get more excited every day. I think this will be better than I imagined :)
Much Love,
Amy
P.S. We always slip when we refer to ourselves in the third person. Still don't think of myself as sister maxwell.
I couldn't sleep last night until about midnight, so today I am tired and grumpy. the missionaries sitting here around me as I type are being loud and getting on my nerves. Mostly tired-ness related. I think.
So this last week was fantastic. Don't know where to start.
Alright, I've seen quite a few people this week. Carter Chung came into the mtc on Wed (friend from Berkeley ward). I got to see him on Thurs. and we have meals at the same time, so I get to see him all the time! It's fun. I also saw Jordan Milot in the Bookstore and called out to him. He wasn't as excited to see me as I was to see him and at first I didn't even think he remembered me. Turns out Kendrick Turner was right behind me in line, so it was all three of us chatting for a couple minutes until E. Milot left. Fun! Also, Sis. Jones is Cammi jones from Grandma Win's ward. More about her later. Also, I forgot to mention that there was a meeting about proper dress and grooming the first sunday we were here, and guess who was one of the good examples? Lindsey Meyers, one of my friends from Sophomore at BYU! That was fun.
So I feel bad for Sis. Jones. Last night when I couldn't sleep I found her out in the hall too. She said that her roommates are really good at gettting the lights off at 10:30, but then they laugh for another hour or so. I'm exhausted with my 7 hours of sleep, so I'm grateful for roommates that want sleep too. It's been hard to sleep in the mornings b/c the other sisters will get up early to get ready or go to gym, and they always slam the door when they come in and out. Yuck! So, I've been falling asleep in class. I fell asleep yesterday when Sis Gotberg and Sumner were teaching us in Swedish. Sis Gotberg saw me and said she almost started laughing.
These elders are driving me crazy!!!! Stop shouting across the laundry room!!!!
Oh, I'm grumpy. :) So, I picked hymns this week like "Rock of Ages" and "Come Ye Disconsolate." All the elders started making fun of me saying that I only picked obscure hymns that no one knows. I argued that they needed a musical education, so we compromised that I could pick every 4th hymn. They like the easy songs so we can sing in four parts and out sing the dutch and norwegians (they aren't very good even with an Osmond) I felt this week like I had no one to talk to. How do you get out your angst when the people that are part of the problem are the only people you can talk to (the other sisters). It was great that Mitch came to lunch. I was able to talk to him about some concerns about things that some speakers had said and just release a little. It was great! Thanks Mitch!
So, we love movie quotes. That's how we get our entertainment. We relive movies every day. We also have started making up our own scenes. We have an MTC musical in the works which may or may not include Donny Osmond, John Stamos with an eye patch and peg leg, and a song about P-day and the TRC. We might just have to perform our p-day song in the laundry room before we leave here.
Well, devotional was fantastic yesterday. We heard from Elder Grow. He inspired all of us to get to work and love it! I get more excited every day. I think this will be better than I imagined :)
Much Love,
Amy
P.S. We always slip when we refer to ourselves in the third person. Still don't think of myself as sister maxwell.
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