First week in MTC

We received two letters from Brittany this week...the first in the mail, and then one by email on Thursday. Her prep-day is Thursday and so that is when we will expect emails. Because I haven't been able to cut and paste her email, I will include excerpts from the letter and email here. If you would like to receive emails of her letters, please let me know. I have included me email in an earlier post. She would also LOVE letters from you. Her address is included on the right or letters can be sent through http://dearelder.com.

October 31, 2010
...My feelings with the MTC varies every once in awhile, but I'm still hanging in there. It doesn't really feel like I'm on a mission ... all we really do is eat, go to class, eat, go to class, etc.
My companion is Schwester Peltier from Vernal, Utah... Also sharing our room is Schwester Browne and Schwester Smith. Browne is from Ireland and we are so much alike, not to mention her awesome accent. She is a convert of 20 months. We all entered the MTC on Wednesday and are all going to Berlin. We sure do love to laugh. In fact, someone who spoke on Wednesday said "if you're not laughing, you're doing it wrong." ...
I've just finished my fourth day and I'm so overwhelmed. I'm trying to understand a learn German, but it's not coming to me. Our teachers spend a lot of time just speaking German and I never know what's going on. ...I'm just so lost right now and keep praying that this language comes to me. ... Hopefully today is much better. Everyone says that once you get to Sunday things get so much better. Anyways, I miss y'all and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I really do need a hug.
Always,
Schwester Brittany Anderson

Nov. 4th, 2010
Guten Tag Familie,
...Can I just say I love dear elder ... (http://dearelder.com) ...so Mom you should spread that around to people, maybe on my blog.
So I guess I'll begin this letter starting with Sunday and oh Sunday turned everything around here at the MTC. I was having a hard time and was too overwhelmed that I kept praying that things will get better and I can have the spirit with me always. Sunday we had church and yes, it was in German. ..I was so glad Pres. Curtis did not call me up to give my talk I had prepared. Every Sunday we have to have a talk prepared in German and we don't find out who is speaking until after the Sacrament has been passed. ... I was still having a difficult time with the language and so Pres. Curts talked to me privately. He told me that the best Sister missionaries that go to Germany and can't really speak German never fail because they know the true reason why they are out there and that is to invite others to come unto Christ and we put our trust in Christ that we may speak by the gift of tongues ... he told me that everytime I see him I need to say something new in German to him. I have made it my goal this week to bear my testimony in German by Saturday to someone. I know the Lord will bless me with the gift if I do my part in practicing and studying the gospel every day.
... We played san volleyball for gym and it was a blast... I have drank the chocolate milk and it is very good. LOL ...
Tuesday the spirit was so strong I conducted my companionship inventory with my companion and she and I grew to understand one another ... I feel more confident with the language, but it is still pretty difficult and everyone is amazing ... Tuesdays we have firesides and guess who came!!! Elder Ballard ... it was so amazing when he walked in because we all stand when an apostle of the Lord walks in and we were in the middle of singing Praise to the Man watching an apostle of the Lord take his seat before us. The thing that stood out to me the most was when he said "your smile is your most powerful tool".
Anyways, I love y'all and bear testimony to y'all that this is the True Church of God and I know that I will grow from serving him everyday ... I love that it is just gospel 24/7 here and I am so honored to get to listen to Elder Ballard that is blessed us missionaries with the gift of spiritual communication ... I know Jesus Christ loves us ...
Please write me. I do love letters and only get to check this (her email) on Thursdays...
I love y'all,
Sister Anderson

Nov. 4, 2010 (paper letter)

So I sent y'all my first email today ... Sorry, 30 minutes is actually not alot of time ... Normally we get on, print the letters to read later and then start typing ... but nobody even sent me a real letter on the email. So, going back to Monday... Brother Lehnert is from Germany and is also a counselor to President Curtis. He came up a few times this week to help me with my German and I think it has helped some. In my distsrict we made it a goal that we will only speak German during lunch, so I feel like that is helping alot. Ha! Sorry, Sister Risenmay is making fun of my laugh since I snort ... Yes, she is the one from San Antonio and we are so much alike! Love it! Also, Elder Davis in my district says my laugh or my ("chuckle") - that's what he calls it, makes our district the best.

So, on Sunday, David's brother played the cello, that big looking violin, during the fireside. Also, did you know that John from 1st ward in here at the MTC ... so cool. Talking a little more about Elder Ballard's talk ... a smile towards others is what brings people closer to Christ. After his talk/devotional all the elders and Sister Peltier and I in my district bore our testimonies about what was spoken and I feel that our district has grown so much closer.

So, with this letter combined with my email, pretty much sums up everything so far ... Ha! Sister Browne just cracks me up ... she's the one from Ireland ... Too too funny! Anyways, I love y'all and keep writing.

Love, Sister Anderson

First letter

Excerpts from her 1st letter which was mailed to us ...

October 31, 2010

Familie,

First off Happy Birthday to Dad today and happy Halloween. My feeling with the MTC varies every once in a while, but I'm still hanging in there. It doesn't really feel like I'm on a mission really ... all we really do is eat, go to class, eat, go to class, etc.

My companion is Schwester Peltier. She is from Vernal, Utah and no she does not know the Matthews. Also sharing our room is Schwester Browne and Schwester Smith. Browne is from Ireland and we are so much alike, not to mention her awesome accent. She is a convert of 20 months. We all entered the MTC on Wednesday and are all going to Berlin. We sure do love to laugh, in fact someone who spoke on Wednesday said "if you're not laughing, you're doing it wrong". There are 7 of us sisters going to Berlin, three are leaving in a couple weeks .. Schwester Reisenmay, Stewart, and Wickfield. I've just finished my fourth day and I'm so overwhelmed. I'm trying to understand and learn German, but it's just not coming to me. Our teachers spend a lot of time just speaking German and I never know what's going on. The Elders in my district seem to know quite a bit. I'm in District F and Branch 19. My branch president is Kevin Curtis. He seems really cool and yesterday I got called as the Senior companion, but it's hard because Schwester Peltier isn't as outgoing and talkative as I can be so when we teach our investigator/teacher Stephan, I'm doing most of the talking. In fact, we just taught him the whole restoration. The Elders in my district are Elder Birth, who is our district leader and Elder Harris, Elder Myers (he always seems to have a trick up his sleeve), Elder Richards, Elder Davis, Elder Healy, Elder Marshall (a know it all), Elder Bullera, and Elder Krieger ... They are definitely 19 year old boys. Us sisters have to keep them on schedule.

Only my district is doing a new teaching method. We have a video camera in our room for that and we are the only ones. So far I don't like it because the new method isn't getting me anywhere. It seems like the other German districts are learning more German than we are. I'm just so lost right now and keep praying that this language comes to me. All day yesterday I just felt like breaking down and crying and finally in our last class with Brother Zeibti, I just started crying when I was supposed to bear my testimony in German... I'm just so overwhelmed and lost. ... Well hopefully today is much better. Everyone says once you get to Sunday things get so much better. Anyways I miss y'all and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I really do need a hug.

Love always,

Schwester Brittany Anderson

On Her Way

Brittany and I (mom) flew to Utah a few days before Brittany would enter the MTC.

Highlights of our trip and a number of firsts for Brittany:

• The mountains (canyon) with Aunt Charlyn. Unbelievable fall colors and fresh mountain air!
• Temple session at Timpanogas temple. Brittany's friend, Tiffany Duty, was receiving her endowments. She will be married next month.
• Music and the Spoken Word with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and spending time on temple square.
• Seeing special friends and family: Karen and Paul Wiscombe, cousin Brooke, Aunt Charlyn, cousins Jeni, Julie and her husband, Aaron, and Aunt Dixie. We apologize for not being to see everyone. We really wish we had more time.
• A record day of shopping. Since neither Brittany nor I are big shoppers, this was a real task -- we shopped from 9 am til almost 8:30 pm! But, we accomplished all we needed to and so it was good.
• Lunch at In and Out since many of her friends at BYU-I swore by it.
• Brunch at IHOP before entering the MTC. Brittany had never been and since missing out on this with Emily Christian, she really wanted to go. And, because she was entering the MTC the same day, they even gave her meal for FREE!

Brittany entered the MTC at 12:45 PM on Wednesday, October 27th. She has looked forward to this day for over half her life (since she was 10 years old). It was a bittersweet, emotional day for me (and I think her too), but I know she is doing what the Lord wants her to do. Now we just wait for the first letter. (There are some pictures on Picasa if you click the link, but I haven't figured out to include them here yet.)

Her address is posted for the MTC. She would love to hear from anyone and everyone! You can send these by mail, or through http://dearelder.com/ When sending through Dear Elder, you will need to input her MTC address too. They print out the letters each day at noon (weekdays) and deliver them the same day! And, it's FREE!

I will try to post her letters and any pictures here, but if you would like her letters emailed to you, please let me know. Post a comment here or send an email to mamajo5t7@yahoo.com.

Mission Farewell Talk

Here is the talk I gave Sunday in Sacrament meeting. . . it's not completely word for word what I said, but close enough!!

MISSION FAREWELL TALK: OCTOBER 17, 2010
President Monson told a story of his grandson during the Priesthood session of the April conference: “Twenty years ago I attended a sacrament meeting where the children responded to the theme ‘I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.’ These boys and girls demonstrated they were in training for service to the Lord and to others. The music was beautiful, the recitations skillfully rendered, and the spirit heaven-sent. One of my grandsons, who was 11 years old at the time, had spoken of the First Vision as he presented his part on the program. Afterword, as he came to his parents and grandparents, I said to him, ‘Tommy, I think you are almost ready to be a missionary.’

He replied, ‘Not yet. I still have a lot to learn.’”

I was just a year younger than Tommy when I decided that I was going to go on a mission . . . my motivation started when I watched my oldest brother leave on his mission. Then Four years later I watched yet again another brother go. And the following year at age 15 I watched my sister go . . . every time I was still eager for my turn.

Still having lots to learn I would have to say this was the age that Heavenly Father gave one of my biggest trials in order to prepare me. We were preparing to move here to San Antonio. Being at the end of my 9th grade year I felt strongly that I needed to receive my patriartical blessing. . . I felt the spirit so strongly and I knew without a doubt that I was to serve a mission at the age of 21. A month later we made the move.

As many of y’all know I did not want anything to do with anyone here. There was one girl my age in the ward but soon after she moved out to the Kerrville ward and I ended up being the only Laurel with the next oldest young woman being two years younger than me. I remained the only Laurel for the rest of high school.

I was very gratefully for the preparation tools that the church put out for the youth at this time. President Monson mentioned the For Strength of Youth as one of those tools in his talk. This pamphlet helped me remember to be all that I can be and lead me to want to be an example to the younger girls in young women’s. Another tool in helping me prepare came to me when I turned 16. . .I was given Preach my Gospel. Being new and all and not really having a whole lot of friends I was reminded of the goal in which I set as a 10 year old and that was to serve a mission. . . I began to dig right into this new tool placed before me.

My friend Ruby and I who attended Clark high school together immediately showed enthusiasm for our beliefs by taking pass along cards and sneaking them into everyone’s backpacks during lunch period and hall passing’s. Still struggling with being in a new place I found opportunities to be a missionary.

Junior year came and I was more comfortable with things as far as being here and was given the opportunity to share with my English class what I believed and taught them about how the first vision for a whole class period. My teacher showed much interest in learning more about my faith throughout the year. I was given many opportunities to share this gospel with those I played Varsity soccer with.

Senior year I decided to place my first Book of Mormon and prayed the first day of school that I would find someone who needed it. The very last day of senior year and High school came and I gave my close friend Anthony my prized possession knowing that if not now maybe later he will read it and know for himself. I still pray for him especially as he is stationed in Afghan right now.

Finally college. . . President Monson said that this is the time that the preparation really comes into play as marriage and missions come to be our biggest decisions at this point. I attended BYU-Idaho for the last two years and received callings that I feel were there to prepare me for this mission such as Relief Society 2nd counselor, FHE Mom, and Gospel Doctrine Instructor. I was also faced with challenges to possibly stray me away from going on my mission at 21. . such as boy friends who were returned missionaries and would ask me often if I’m still considering a mission and would always bring up marriage topics. I was always comfortable saying yes I’m still considering a mission though at some points these boys would make me really question it. But I never did feel any comfort in talking about marriage stuff to any of these guys.
I chose at this point to still keep a mission as a goal, but to prepare for the temple no matter what happens.

President Monson closed his talk in saying, “Clean hands, a pure heart, and a willing mind had touched heaven. A blessing, heaven-sent, had answered the fervent prayer of a missionary’s humble heart.”
I want to close in saying that I know that this is the true Church of God. The Book of Mormon is true and if anyone here has not read it yet, please go home and read and ponder the words to know for yourself. Joseph Smith is a prophet just as much as Thomas Monson is one today.

I close in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.