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!
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