Sister John Arrives!

She arrived! - Safe but probably very tired. We got to talk with her from the airport for about 40 minutes. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, she left her pillowpet, "Pip," at the MTC. I've called and they are on lost and found alert. I hope I hear from them. She was quite attached. Pip has been through a lot with her. 

Her mission has a blog, http://frankfurtmission.blogspot.de/. Feel free to check it out. They don't seem to post frequently, but there is a lot of useful stuff on it.

Her challenge to her family and friends is to "attend the temple." So, I thnk we will. Don't know when we will hear from her next, but I guess we just wait. Thanks for all the support from family and friends as we share this adventure. 

Debbi

I Testify That Tom Brady is Throwing True Passes

She is leaving for Germany on Tuesday, the 27th. Time is flying, at least for me. A member of her branch presidency sent the picture of she and her companion out on Sunday. She really likes getting mail, so feel free to contact her via her mission email address; sierra.john@myldsmail.net. Also, if anyone reading this has video or pictures of the AF Marching band show that they can send to her, she would love it. 

Have I ever mentioned that I love MTC devotionals? They're kind of the best. First off, my entire zone is singing in the MTC choir and it's fantastic. We practice on Sundays and Tuesdays before devotionals, and then actually sing in the devotional on Tuesday. It's super cool, and I really like it. Then, we always have fantastic speakers. Sundays speaker was this guy named Chad Lewis. He played for BYU and then for some NFL team, I think. You know me and football. But it was super cool because he was telling us about all of the cool stuff he has done for the NFL because he served his mission in China. He got to be a sportscaster for China the first time the Superbowl was broadcast there. Which was great, because he told them he only knew missionary Chinese. Which is where the comment, "I testify that Tom Brady is throwing true passes." came in. It was super great, and even though I don't like football, it was amazing. I love devotionals.

This week has been..... really rough. Really, it hasn't been bad at all, but Sis. Bakker and I had one investigator named Doris who has been giving us a really tough time. She didn't understand why we need Jesus Christ. If God is perfect, why can't he just forgive us of our sins? Why do we need a middle man in the whole process of forgiving?

It was a really good question. And we didn't quite know the answer to it.

After a lot of frustration, prayer, and study (there's a lot of that here at the MTC), we had an answer. Which was great, because we had a lesson with Doris about an hour after we had that answer. 

Basically how that lesson went in a nutshell is that we taught about the Law of Justice. In German.

Holy heck. That was tough. 

But it was so good! And it was as good as our lesson with Yang about prayer and it was amazing and if I could just live in the warm feeling of happy lessons forever, I would be happy. But it doesn't work like that, so we'll just have to keep teaching good lessons.

Not that much has happened this week. Elder Clemente has offered to teach me Spanish after our missions so that I can be tri-lingual, which would be cool. But we're all already convinced that we're going to have to learn Arabic on our missions because of all the refugees going into Germany. We're walking in on an interesting situation. Angela Merkel (the president of Germany) isn't too popular right now, and with all the refugees who don't have visas and can't get jobs, it's not too hard to figure out why. But it's really an interesting situation and I'm really excited to see how it goes with our teaching and service opportunities. It's going to be so good. I'm really excited.

Speaking of Germany, I'm going there! In 6 days! AHHHHHH!!!! We report to the MTC travel office at 6 am, leave and go to Salt Lake, get on an airplane and leave at 11 am, and then fly straight to Frankfurt. No layovers, no stops (as far as we're aware). 13 hours on a plane. Yep. Elder Van Dam said that he can't sleep on airplanes so I'm hoping we're sitting kind of close-ish so we can talk to each other when our companions are sleeping. Sis. Bakker has already assured me that she will probably be comatose, and Elder Smith will be very strict about figuring out what time it is night in Germany and then going to sleep then. I'll just stay awake in my insomniatic state and call it good. We arrive in Deutschland at 8:30Wednesday morning, and our first lesson is Talking to People on Public Transportation. We don't get a nap, we don't get to take a minute to freak out, we just jump right in. It's going to be fantastic.

Anyways, I still have to respond to other emails, and go do laundry, and pack, and do so many things! There is never enough time on P-Days here! Basically P-Day ends after Lunch because we go straight to the temple and today especially we're hanging out in the Celestial Room for a long time because it might be a year and a half or two before any of us have the opportunity to go again. It will definitely be interesting today. And super busy. Too many things, and not enough time. I think that's every missionary's motto, though. So I guess I'm on the right track. 

I love you! And I hope you have a fantastic day and even better weeks!

Love, Sis. John

ALL THE BAND

I told her last week I wouldn't post this picture because I didn't think it was appropriate for her to be sticking her tongue out at the camera. This was her reply, "...you can, and you should. Besides, that is my personality." You can't argue with that, or the Guard Girl.

It is actually really good timing for her to be in the MTC right now. She loves band and guard and it is nice that she can sort of be connected for William's last year. And for reference, AF Marching Band had a competition at BYU on Tuesday night, the night before her P-day and this letter.

WE HEARD THE BYU MARCHING BAND WHEN THEY DID A PARADE ON SATURDAY AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

When Sis. Bakker and I went to our classroom the Elders were already there and the first thing Elder Clemente said was, "Sister John did you hear it???" And then we geeked out and it was good. Elder Van Dam and I compared marching styles on the way lunch later and then last night we all made a trip to the fence to see if we could hear AF. We heard the announcer, and we heard part of the drum break. It was so good. You couldn't really hear any music, but I knew you were there and that was pretty cool.

This week has been a little bit rough. We got slammed with grammar lesson after grammar lesson and it was a struggle to try and master one before learning the next one the next day. That was a bit rough. But then we had a review day instead of learning more grammar and we diagrammed the sentences and it actually helped a lot. Elder Clemente (who could have gotten fast tracked but didn't) has been super helpful. He already knows German so well, and is doing a great job at explaining things to Sis. Bakker and I when we don't understand them. He's amazing.

You know who else is amazing? Anziano Dohms. He's an Elder in the Italy Milan mission and he is a convert to the church. Yesterday he told us his conversion story at dinner and he said it wasn't very good but he is wrong! He is so amazing. He is my new hero this week. Seriously. Also, we have plans to play Halo together after our missions. So yeah. That's a thing. I also have to teach Anziano Marriucci how to play League of Legends after our missions. But he's from England. So that will be fun. There are just so many cool people here! AH!

I honestly don't remember which pictures I sent last week, so sorry if I send some repeats. I'll try not to.

It's been a crazy week. First off, I SAW SOLEI!!!!! She was living on the same floor of our residence hall as me and Sis. Bakker, so we hung out sometimes. She left yesterday, but she is going to be such a good missionary. I'm so excited for her. :) Before she left, she made me a balloon animal. It's a whale, and he now resides in my classroom hanging from the ceiling. His name is Gilbert. But he's not a polygamist like Elder Smith's grandpa. yeah. 

Saturday was pretty normal, and Sunday we had a devotional. I love devotionals. They happen everySunday and Tuesday evening here and they're always spectacular. Sunday's speaker was Sis. Burton, the General Relief Society President. She was so cool. I left my notebook in the classroom, but she talked about how important it is that we know how to condense what we say and make it simple. It was really good. Then last night we had Elder Whitney L. Clayton from the seventy come and speak. His wife spoke first, and I swear it felt like she was the mother of every missionary there. She was so loving, and talked about how that morning she and Elder Clayton had attended a conference for the new temple presidents and she felt like the talk she had prepared wasn't the right one for us missionaries to hear. So she changed it. It was so good. I'll write more once I have my notebook.

After she talked, Elder Clayton spoke and he talked about how important it is that we work hard as missionaries because we are the reason the stone is rolling forward to cover the whole earth. We are right in the middle of the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. How cool is that? Missionaries are so cool. I don't always feel like the best one, but I know that I am one now and that is pretty darn cool.

So Elder Clemente is about Brian's height. He's not super short, but he's not excessively tall, either. It's because he's spanish. Which he is. His big problem is that he'll forget a word in German, but he's also forgotten it in English and only remembers it in Spanish. His life is so hard knowing three different languages. Everyone in our district feels so bad for him. Not. But we love him. He always has the best joke to make us all feel better.

Elder Van Dam is SUPER muscular. Holy heck. Sis. Bakker and I went to the smaller gym here because the Elders said we just needed to watch him work out. Holy crap. No. That kid is crazy. He's the shortest one in our district, but the things he does and can do and just NO. If for whatever reason, a fight breaks out at the MTC, I'm picking the side that Elder Van Dam is on.

Sis. Bakker and I have become best friends with the Sorellas (the Italian sisters). Sorella Tolosa is from Spain but speaks perfect English, and Sorella Workman is from Idaho Falls. I love them both so much. We get along really well and they always have a kind thing to say to Sis. Bakker and I. The four of us don't get into any real trouble, but we do get into some very serious laughing fits. I'm going to have a six pack by the time I leave here from all the laughing we do.

Speaking of leaving, I am! We leave the MTC on October 27. And yes, I can call home that day, and I will. Sis. Bakker and I are actually going to go get some phone cards from the bookstore today. I'm also buying a sweatshirt. It is a little colder in the morning times over here. I do not like it. But I will have a hoodie and all will be well.

The Elders in my district are amazing. I didn't know I could love someone who wasn't in my family so much. But I do. Those young men are fantastic. They have such different personalities, but we get along and love each other, and they are such great examples to me. Sis. Bakker got sick this week and Elder Smith asked if there was anything the Elders could do to help. Sis. Bakker said yes, of course and then they gave her a blessing after class. All we told Elder Smith was that she was sick and wasn't feeling well. But the blessing he gave her was so much more than a blessing of healing. He blessed her with everything that she had been needing without even knowing or suspecting. My goodness. I almost cried. I love my elders. They are absolutely fantastic and I really, really want to never stop being friends with them.

My goodness. I need to go switch my laundry. I'll keep writing after I do that though. I love you! I hope you have a fantastic day, and an even better week. :)

Love, Sis. John

I'm including this postscript, even though it is to me, because I'm hoping William will read it and respond. I know he is getting the letters. Maybe peer pressure will move him to action. Prodding from mom hasn't done it. As for photos, I think she would like actual printed photos to carry with her.

P.S. Mom, can you please send me some photos? And poke William for me. I've sent him a few letters but he's not responding. Is he even getting them? Ask him to read Alma 60:6, please. Then have him write me a letter. I need to know how band is going for him.

Love you! Have a great day!

Best Lesson. EVER..

Editorial note: Sierra's MTC Address as written on her snail mail letters:

Sister Sierra Marlene John
OCT 27 GER-FRA
2007 N 900 E Unit 13
Provo UT 84602

I hope her writing continues to be as prolific once she leaves the MTC, but she has said that she is starting to have problems switching from German to English, especially when she is stressed or anxious; she speaks German! The miracles of the MTC! 


Yesterday Sis. Bakker and I taught a lesson to one of our investigators named Yang. Yang is from China but moved to Germany to go to university. He's studying Biochemistry. He's super smart. But he wanted to know more about God so we decided to teach him. Yesterday we read the story of Ammon teaching King Lamoni. He teaches King Lamoni that the Great Spirit is God. It was so cool to see Yang read that story and then be able to apply it to himself. After we read the story and talked about it a bit, we taught him that he could talk to God through prayer and asked him if he'd be willing to pray to know that God is real. He was kind of nervous at first, but we reminded him that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and he wants us to talk to Him. We thank Him for the blessings He has given us, and we can also ask Him for things that we need. Then Yang got this look on his face and said, "But I'm so small. God is the Great Spirit, right? He's everything. And I am so small. I don't think I can ask Him for help because I'm not important enough." 

My heart melted. 

Sis. Bakker and I just looked at each other and then I got to tell him that God DOES love him. He is our Father in Heaven and He loves EACH and EVERY one of us. It was such a cool moment and it almost couldn't have gotten better. But then I said a prayer and then Yang said one of his own afterwards and it was just...... Meine gute it was so cool. This is why I am so glad to be a missionary. The lessons that Sis. Bakker and I have taught to our other investigator, Doris, haven't been going so well. But that one lesson with Yang made up for everything. I am so happy every time I think about it. I know every lesson won't be like that, but I want them to be. I now have a very clear and defined goal and I am so excited to work towards it.

So, other than miraculous lessons this whole week has been pretty good. Sis. Bakker and I have gotten really close to the Italian and Romanian sisters. Which really isn't that hard to do because they're AMAZING. I love them so much. But we played basketball with them the other day and it was so much fun! We can technically play with the Elders, but Sisters have to block Sisters and Elders have to block Elders. And with how short my companion is, it's not fair if we're the only sisters playing in that game. So we haven't played at all. But this week we did and it was so much fun. Then I got hit in the face with a ball because two of the elders were being inconsiderate and shooting at our hoop that we were playing at. I was a little bit less than happy. But it's all good because they left after that and I didn't break my glasses and I didn't have a bloody nose so it was all good. 

Conference was so good!!!!!!!!! There were a lot of talks about parenthood and it was really cool because as missionaries that's kind of how we have to act for our investigators. We get to be their "parents" and teach them and love them. Especially love them like a real parent would. And the talks about women were FANTASTIC. I really liked them because I've been struggling with thinking that I'm not good enough and that maybe I really don't belong here and why did I think I could be a missionary in the first place? You know, the usual self-doubt that I carry around every day of my life. But after those talks, and our district discussion (which I'll talk about in a moment), I just felt so much love from my Heavenly Father that, I'm okay. I'm not perfect but I don't need to be. I'm doing my best and that's all that matters. That's all he really cares about because He doesn't call the qualified, but He most certainly qualifies the called. That's something that I really know now. (bold added by mom)

So. District Discussion. We had one Saturday evening after conference and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've had here at the MTC. Which is pretty impressive considering all the spiritual experiences that happen every day. Really, we didn't do anything other than just share our thoughts and our feelings about Conference. Elder Smith pointed out to me that I am amazing. Elder Clemente shared his personal testimony on how blessed he thinks our district is to have sisters and that we're amazing examples to him and all the elders in our district and zone. Elder Van Dam shared him testimony that we are angels and that we love people so much more easily than the elders and that we will teach people they could never get through to. Basically, it felt like the entire discussion was about how I needed to look up and stop thinking that I'm doing it wrong. Because I'm not. And my goodness gracious, I love those Elders so much. That night is my most favorite memory I will take with me when we all finally leave here.

Speaking of which, we're officially over the hill! 20(ish) days and counting and then we'll all get on a plan and leave for Germany. I'm really excited, but also really sad. I love my district family so much. Which is another thing that I've learned here: I never knew I could love anyone as much as I love my district. They're all such amazing people. There are only six of us, but it's great and I love each and every one of them. Elder Fugal is amazing and his tech savvy is something that I admire. Elder Smith has some really great insights and never skips a prompting to share them. Elder Van Dam always has a smile and is such an example of faith. Elder Clemente is always able to make us all smile with just a few words and has such a strong testimony. And Sis. Bakker is my awesome companion and is able to make friends so easily. 

Every one of my district family members are so special and so bright. I don't want to leave them. I almost wish we could stay together in the MTC forever. Almost. But Elder Clemente would go crazy and then we would all follow suit very quickly. But really. I want to do my best to make sure I stay in touch with all of them as best I can for as long as I can. Because they're just too cool to not know.

I have to go finish laundry now, but I'll try and send some pictures later. Elder Fugal said he would help me figure it out later today so hopefully we can do something. Until then, he's set up a flickr account that he's posting all of his pictures to and sending us all the updated the link so I'll put that below. Elder Fugal has red hair, Elder Smith has blonde. Elder Clemente has dark hair, and Elder Van Dam is the one with brown hair. And then Sis. Bakker has curly orange hair. And I'm me. Hopefully you can figure out who everyone is from that.

I love you all, and I miss you. But I know that the Lord is watching out for you because I can feel it every time I think 

about it. Please re-read the conference talks and really think about them. They're truly amazing and they come from the prophets that have been called of God. And that's pretty neat.

Love, Sis. John

Forgot the link to the pictures. Heh. Sorry. Here it is.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskkMPspj

Just a few pictures

 The day she went in the MTC was rainy and difficult, but happy. Can't you tell? And now she is past the halfway point in the MTC. Wow!

So, apparently the Elders in her district found the butterscotch tree, and they are trying it out. I don't know, but definitely Sierraish.

I didn't get any explanation with this, but Sister Eliza Garlick was in our ward and went to Frankfurt Germany on her mission just a couple of years ago.

Leaving the country - October 27

So, last week Sierra said she was going to be leaving the MTC for Germany on October 27th. Her mission address in Frankfurt is:

Sierra M. John
Kirche Jesu Christi
Corneliusstraße 18
60325 Frankfurt am Main   Germany

She will receive letters from Ernie and I, and whoever else, as part of her orientation packet, so I suppose if you were to get something in the mail, quickly, she would get it.

The time is going so quickly, and so slowly. I know a lot of you know exactly what I mean. Thanks for everyones support and words of encouragement.   Debbi