Congrats! You're sick with an uncurable virus

October 7th 2015

Quick note: THANKS FOR THE LETTERS!! I absolutely LOVE getting mail!! Like looooove it! I can't always respond to all of you because of the short time I have online, but I LOVE YOU ALL!! If you've been thinking about a missionary lately, write them. No joke. I got four letters and two packages (plus the awesome emails I got to read today) since I've been here and they've come at times that I've desperately needed them. Being a missionary is tough work, and sometimes you forget the powerhouse of people that you've left at home rooting you on. So I'm speaking for all missionaries, if you have a missionary in your life, write them. I love all  the short little letters just telling me about your lives and whatnot and that there actually is a life outside the MTC. hahahaha sometimes you forget. Today mi companion and I saw a bird and flipped out. It was an actual bird! So cute!! You don't have time to see that sort of thing nor do you remember it. It's so weird! Anyhoo... write your missionaries! 

So yesterday I had to go the doctors. Yuck. Basically I'm sick with what's going around here because the MTC is a petri-dish. Yeah, disgusting. And there's no drugs to take. Advil has failed me for the first time in my life. My poor companion ended up taking a three hour nap because I did and she couldn't leave the room. hahaha so gross. But whatever, gotta keep going. I sound like an intense smoker. Maybe that'll spark a conversation with our investigators, why a missionary sounds like a chain smoker.... 

Besides that life is AWESOME!! I will probably say I love my mission for the rest of my life. It's just a fact. Here's my life so far: joined the MTC Choir like forever ago but we didn't sing at Conference. eh. Met Elder Costa of the Seventy, met Vocal Point: and specifically Bryce Romney who is in fact related to Mitt Romney but he served in Salta, Argentina and he's in Vocal Point. Uh... HUGGED Sis. Burton, the Relief Society General President, yeah basically we're besties. Don't get too jealous my friends. She hugged me and was pretty adorable in her bright yellow peacoat. Respect. Yeah I'm meeting all sorts of famous people. Go Provo!! Never thought I'd say that, but it's so cool! Plus it's just so uplifting meeting these awesome people. Saw and hugged Mckell Sundrud who went to Ukraine with me! Highlight girl, you were a huge freaking highlight!! I'm sorry I cried. hahahah it's what happens at the MTC, everyone cries at everything. I kinda hate it. hahaha I cried the second night here because I felt the Spirit so strong with my district. Yeah... Heavenly Father and I have had a long chat. I'm not okay with this tearing up over feeling the spirit. Not okay at all. And then of course... GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!

What was everyone's favorite talks? I loved them ALL! But I specifically loved Elder Hollands talk, because he's just awesome frankly. But three new Apostles! Dang!! Honestly one of the coolest moments of my life to all stand with the missionaries around me as the Prophet of God walked into the room (walked on screen), and when we all sustained him and the other General Authorities. It's kinda amazing to be the missionaries that they are talking about. And I know that they really do pray for us every night. Never have I met them, yet I know they pray specifically for me. Don't forget to not only pray for the new Apostles and their families because whew that's a big job, but also to the dear apostles families who we just lost. It's bittersweet gaining three while Heavenly Father gains three also. Yeah but defs let me know you're favorite talks! I like to hear what messages people got out of conference. My main message from Conference was to simplify. To hold fast to the pure and precious truths of the Gospel. If anyone can find that phrase "plain and precious" in 1 Nephi you get a imaginative cookie. I already know the answer. I had been studying 1 Nephi this past week and then when Conference came it hit home. Simplify your life, your testimony, and your faith. It never has to be complicated. That's the beautiful thing of this gospel, you don't need to be a profound speaker or writer, the eloquence of a testimony doesn't bring truth. When you simply just bare your whole heart, without worrying if it's pretty enough or will be quoted for centuries. Who cares? No one ever remembers what you said, but the feelings they got from it. I have learned that as the only testimony I can bear is the simplest but most direct. When I speak Spanish, I know that Heavenly Father is with me, because I have been here for two weeks and I know that what I'm doing is enough. Through my Span-glish I can feel the spirit if I focus on what the investigator needs, not what I know how to say or want to say. To say learning a new language is humbling is the absolute truth.

Hmm... I don't even know. All through the week as I read letters and go through out the day, I think about what I want to write on P-day. And then I sit down and this keyboard and it's all gone. hahaha my life. 

Things I've learned from the MTC: Fast friends are the best, yell Hola at everyone and sometimes do it in a British accent, love everyone just seriously freaking love them all, stop bad middle schoolish vocabulary (I've stopped calling the elders and sisters dudes, so that's improvement), pray for everyone, write down hilarious moments to make you smile later when you need it, don't take life too seriously yet put your whole heart into everything you do, you're going to screw up so bad just cry eat a gluten free, sugar free, dairy free cookie and move on (yeah my companion is allergic to everything... people help me. She counts how many cookies I eat a day. hahahaha No shame! It's usually three BTWs), and love God with all you've got because he really is there for you, he loves you so much and understands everything EVERYTHING you're going through. Him and Christ just get you. Don't doubt it. I love the MTC, but I really really love all of you. 

My roomates that we surprisingly got last Wednesday after being told repeatedly we wouldn't have any and then walking into our room and tripping over luggage.... Hna Connelly, Hna Clyde, Hna Calel, Hna Hume and then my bestie companion because she has to be because she literally can't leave my side ;) Hna Jarvis. hahahaha talk about a party! Oooh They told me this week, well not my companion hahahah but the hermanas told me that I'm literally the funniest person they have ever met. Boom! hahahaha I just love them. So I might come back with a really big head. They were also all convinced this morning in the Temple that Heavenly Father and I have pretty awesome/hilarious conversations. I don't know about that... I mean I guess. hahaha so weird! Like just why? 

Yesterday after the devotional my district lost two Elders. The Dominican Republic MTC gained two new elders as their visas came and they had to leave us. Literally heart broken. Elder Green and Elder Hawkes are the best of the best of the best. Such sweethearts. We took their chairs out of classroom and literally had so much space because 12 missionaries crammed in the room (we have the biggest district ever), but it was so sad. Ugh DR you got some good ones.

Okay, I think I'm done rambling... hahaha 

My verse that I'm Ponderizing this week is: 

1 Corinthians 14:15

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

This scripture is so awesome. If anything, I've learned that who cares about the language if you don't have the language of the spirit. And when you pray to God asking him for understanding when you have also put in the work, miracles happen.

What's your verse?

Love you all!! Keep on writing! Pray for missionary experiences! You guys rock! Hope this email makes sense and that I finally got everyone! <3

loving the work!

Hna Bower!! 

Adios