May 5, 2009

 I only have 30 minutes and it starts to count down as soon as we open the window, logging on and loading take like 5 minutes, so that leaves me with only 25 to write and read.  So, the Elders said we will not be calling home until we leave for the airport.  That's okay, it's only 10 weeks away.  Every day but today (Tuesday, preperation day) and Sunday are exactly the same.  Well, I guess they do their best to make it a little different.  We have RC on monday - we call out to make sure people received the videos or whatever they ordered.  Or people call us to see if we can send them something.  I haven't had any "inbound" calls but I've made a lot of outbound.  We call at a pretty bad time so I probably got about 30 answering machines.  BUT, I had two amazing experiences!  One lady ordered a Book of Mormon and has been reading it every night!  She is from Mississppi and is a cute little black lady (don't think I'm horrible, she told me herself!)  She was also willing to meet with the missionaries!  So, I'm trying to get a hold of her again.  Her grandkids live with her so she is pretty busy...(you might now something about that Grandma!)  I hope the missionaries go to see her.  The other man is from NY.  We couldn't talk much b/c he was  in the middle of something, so he said to call back.  

We have three amazing teachers.  Sister ...uh...I cannot even say her last name yet...so I'm not going to even try typing yet.  She is the best teacher in the whole entire MTC, according to her statistics in preparing missionaries for the field.  We are spoiled, not very many people have teachers who are native.  So, that is helping us a lot.  Our other teachers are of course RM's (younger even then I...) and I don't feel like I learn as much with them.  They keep us entertained though.  They are still growing up if you know what I mean.  My district is the best.  I love my branch.  We welcomed two districts from Russia and Ukraine last Week.  I am even more blessed to have more native speakers who make fun of my accent and help with pronunciation during lunch, dinner, and laundry!  This morning is our temple day and as you know the first temple in eastern Europe has not been dedicated yet (yes, it's in my very mission!!) so many of them had not been before.  So, although they were set-apart we had a huge RUSSIAN!! session for about 8 Elders and 4 sisters!  Can you imagine how amazing our temple day was today!  Then we had a district breakfast in the Cafeteria in the temple.  They had a pears!!  The Ukranians are amazing saints and I cannot wait to serve among their people.  

We had an amazing testimony meeting last Sunday.  Many of them got up to tell us their stories and of course how excited they are for us to go to their country.  The Ukrainian elders said that Ukraine was the most beautiful country, that it was like a piece of buttered bread.  We'll see if we can find a better English analogy.   

MTC food is pretty good.  I'm still getting used to it.  I don't like the meat, it's always too salty.  So, I pretty much eat salads and soups.  Sister Howell thinks I'm boring!!  But, they have a different Salad every day.  Tonight we have another devotional.  We never know who it's going to be but, we sure enjoy guessing.  My guess...it's totally the Prophet.  Actually, Every missionary guesses the prophet, and we are always wrong.  There are a few bolder ones than I who say next week Christ is coming! 

We have hardly any free time, and I love it.  I'll have to write to you and tell you the amazing compliment I got from the counselor in the branch presidency on Sunday.   Oh, no times running down.  LOVE YOU!!

CECTPA Murphy!

Happy Mother's Day,

Thank you for everything!