Week Two

Hey! It's crazy to think that it's already been two weeks! Days are weeks and weeks are days! It's so great though and I wouldn't trade it. What we're learning here is amazing and getting to teach others is an amazing experience as well. If I came home today, I'd be a totally different person, I've changed so much already.

This week has been good. I got the package! Thank you so much! There's still a lot of cookies left but I loved it! It made my day!  Haha I forgot to bring my journal so I'll be going from memory now hahaha.....

Sister R** and I are still getting along. I've decided she is the yellow version of me. You know how you all were joking about how I would kill my companions wanting to exercise? Well she's the one pushing me! She has run a marathon before! There was one particular day that we would do an exercise then run a lap. Not my jogging run haha, her run! It was definitely working me out! I loved it though.

The days are pretty much the same. Breakfast, class, study, lunch, exercise, TRC (teaching an "investigator") planning, study, prepare for class, dinner, and class. This week we have a TRC in the morning as well.  TRCs have been going well. Sister R** and I loved our first one. Her name was F** and she was great. This week we have K** and K**. They are both so cute. We teach them again tomorrow. K** is a little harder because she is so knowledgeable about the church because her husband and his family are LDS, but she is very logical and smart so she is a little prideful. She listens with her ears instead of her heart so Sister R** and I are praying to know a way to help her hear with her heart. 

Oh and Tuesday Devos!!! Guess who came this past week! M Russell Ballard!! It was a worldwide MTC devotional and we got to sing in it. He was good. He talked a lot about goals. One thing I really like that he said was "we can be what we are willing to decide to be" Just think about it. 

The film (pretty much just a past MTC devo) my district watched was by Elder Bednar called "One by One". It was all about how the Savior and the Lord work one by one. Never by a group of people, always by individuals. I don't mean preaching or sharing the gospel, but helping a person. They help each person individually because we are all different and all so important to the Lord to not be recognized as one. For example the parable of the ONE lost sheep, the parable of the woman who is searching for her ONE piece of silver out of ten, the parable of the prodigal son, the Savior blessing the children ONE BY ONE, the Savior healing people ONE BY ONE. I think that is such a powerful and comforting message, to know that the Lord will help ME instead of helping us all at once.

Sunday Devos and films are definitely a favorite. This week the head guy of the media stuff (ads, videos, campaigns etc.) for the church came and spoke to us. It was super interesting of how they do everything and how many people it reaches through the whole world. You know the Light the World campaign? They are doing one for Easter called Learn Principles of Peace from the Prince of Peace and we actually got to see the video for that. It's so cool!

Oh I have my flight info. We leave the MTC Monday at **am. We fly to LA at **am and from there to Santa Barbra at **. We land in SB at **. So I'm assuming you don't want to be up that early? I can call either before I leave UT or during my layover, so just let me know. There are a bunch of little things that remind me of you guys that are specific to each person so that's nice to have during the week. Dad, I love that you found a bobby pin! ha I gotta leave my mark I guess! Mom, with the iPod, just put whatever you have time to put on. I like GC talks, but also talks that I won't get bored or fall asleep to, and any music is fine. With the dress, it's the length. So the way the material is when I sit down, it's too short and doesn't cover my whole knee. I only wore it for half a day because I had to keep pulling it down and couldn't move without it going back up, which is fine, I'll just wear it when I get home. No, I have not sent it yet. With my shoes and cardigan, will you also send my thin white belt that's in my closet, no-show socks, and more pairs of KB socks? I only brought two pairs haha ya I'm stupid. Thank you! 

I'm sending more pictures. I don't remember what ones I've sent but the other short brunette is my companion. The blonde is Sister D** and the one with really long hair is Sister L**. We have so much fun together. The two elders in front of the temple were our zone leaders who left this week. Sis R and I had a lot of fun with them and related a lot with them. DAD-the teeth are mine. The gums look super low so I was worried. I'm sending another picture today and just wanted to know what I should do about it? I can look at my email during the week I just can't respond.

I don't know when I will email next week because I will be in CALIFORNIA! Sis R and I can't wait!

I probably forgot stuff knowing me. Oh I didn't get Jacob's email for whatever reason so JACOB - you have a letter coming in the mail. 

Anyway. Have a great week and don't do anything stupid!!

"If we don't understand the WHYS then we are living the commandments just because"

"ANYTHING that holds us back from leaping from the water and performing miracles is the adversary, no matter how valid you think it is."

xoxo-

Sister G

Sis L**, Sis R**, Sis D**, Sis Groneman

Zone Leaders

"I took a knife so Sis r** and I could eat her mangoes that her family sent to her hahahaha"

First Week

The first week is done and over! It's so crazy to think that it's already been a week. Time goes by so slow, but at the same time so quickly. The Spirit is so strong here though. It feels like there is nothing wrong.

So ya I'll just go through my week. I was greeted by Kyle's mom when I walked in and she was the one who put my tag on and everything which was nice because I didn't feel like I was walking into something completely new. After we got all my stuff, I dropped my bags off and went to classes. It's literally classes all day, but for the most part you don't realize how much time flies by because you are always doing and learning something.

My companion is my favorite person. Her name is Sister R** and she is from Holladay. She is 21 and was a senior at the U studying nutrition to become a nutritionist. We are the same height and almost the same exact personality. She has more yellow in her than I do though. We both love to exercise and like to be healthy. I couldn't have asked for a better companion. We are both going to the same mission as well so we're hoping to be companions again at some point. 

The first few days were a little overwhelming, but not stressful, if that makes any sense? It was a struggle in the sense of I knew what should be happening and how we were supposed to teach, but it wasn't happening and I didn't understand why and what I needed to do in order for it to happen. It was its worst mostly Saturday morning, but by that evening I was fine and have been since.

Saturday night I decided that I was going to stop thinking and I prayed and told Heavenly Father that I had been trying my hardest with everything that was being asked of me and that I thought that I was trusting Him, but I just told Him that I was going to say whatever was in my head and that I was trusting Him to put the things He wanted me to say in there. Sister R** and I were role playing during class and afterwards she confirmed to me that my prayer had been answered as well as hers. She had really felt like she was the person we were role playing for and that as I was talking, she felt that Christ was actually talking to her instead of me. The same thing happened later in the class except I was the investigator. This role play is another story like it, but a little different and I won't go into details, but THE ATONEMENT IS REAL. In class after these experiences, we talked and understood that we are able to feel a little part of The Atonement during these experiences, being able to feel what someone else feels so we are able to help them. But it is all through Christ. Without Him, none of this is possible.

After Saturday the days have been good. My district is great. We have another pair of sisters going to Canada, a trio of Elders going to Texas, and a set of Elders going to California San Fernando. Everyone is so unique, but we get along very well and everyone brings something different to the group. It's been so fun. 

I'm sorry I wasn't there for Roy's funeral and won't be there for Becki's. I feel sad about everything going on. What a blessing to know about the Plan of Salvation though and that we will see them again. 

Umm.. anything else? OH happy Valentine's Day haha :P I haven't gotten the package yet, but am excited for it. Thank you!! Oh Sister R** had a boyfriend too, but he was actually here at  the MTC! We saw him a lot and he is very nice. He left today. I have a picture of all the wardies too with Elder S** in it as well that was taken last night! I'll send it! 

Hope everyone is doing well. Oh I will be sending some clothes home including the striped dress because it doesn't meet standards. Also, will you send my solid coral cardigan and my white sneakers? 

Oh and I have to get the booster for the TDap today so that will be $59. and since I'm sending that dress home and maybe a blouse, I will be buying one from the store. Lucky me. Oh well, obedience right?

Oh one last thing before I go. My district gets to be host missionaries on the 22nd! We found out today so we are pretty excited!

Hope you all have a great week! I had a quote I wanted to share but I don't have time. Sorry for all the typos as well, it's a crappy keyboard and I'm trying to type fast. Talk to you all next week!!

xoxo -Sister Groneman

Wardies!!

Wardies!

Arriving at the MTC

February 8, 2017

Sister Groneman is ready to begin her new adventure! We dropped her off at the MTC early this afternoon and she was so excited!

Hey. They told me I could send a quick email as I did my question thing, so hey!

I'm about to go to class. That's pretty much all I know. Everyone is super friendly and happy. There is nothing negative here as far as atmosphere. Kyle's mom was there right as I walked through the doors and she was the one who put my name tag on. It was good to see a familiar face in all the people who were helping.

My Pday is Tuesday (that's what they told me so I'm trusting that). So I guess I'll email Tuesday. Have a good week!

-Sister Groneman :)