Hello Everyone!
Just a heads up I only have 30 minutes before the computer kicks me off, so we will see how this goes.
I don't really know how to start this letter, other than I am extremely grateful this week. My companion is... Sister Maiurnikova? Does that ring a bell? It's my Ukrania friend! The Lord works in mysterious ways. Two things she told me that really stood out were:
'If I am not 100% obedient, I am going home.' 'Sister-- you are not just keeping your room clean for your apartment, you are an ambassador of the Lord!' (All with a russian accent). This basically sums up her personality. She has been an amazing companion.
The week started out horrible, I was beyond sick from traveling and I got a nasty bug, but through faith in the Lord, I went through it in 3 days. The first day I had to just go to bed as soon as I woke up, but in Leslie fashion, I drugged up and got to work.
That is one thing I am extremely grateful for-- my whole entire life I have been taught to work hard. I am grateful I learned to work 16 hour shifts 6 days a week, or working 30 hours a week and school full-time--i has made the difference. So that is what I am doing. Honestly, I am on fire. If they would let me out of here yesterday I would be gone. I just have such a testimony of missionary work and really what I am doing here. I am so thankful for all of my past primary teachers, sunday school/young womes, seminary, and BYU professors who helped me understand true doctrine. I am so thankful for the knowledge and preperation I have had. Everything in my life has summed up for these next 18 months. I am so EXCITED to start knocking on doors and getting rejected!!
So about the MTC? There is actually only 36 missionaries right here now so it is very personal. The food is DISGUSTING, but I am learning to eat Salads and breads ALOT, but thank goodness I will only be here for 2 weeks! Thank you family for the treats, they definetly helped keep me satisfied. I am in the Ammon district and we have many nationalities here. We do have a lo of fun though. What else? As for me wanting to get a Briish Accent, it will prove more challenging because there are at least 6 differet dialects going on here and they are all a little different. But we will have to see!
Today we went to the temple and it was absolutely beautiful. It was such a neat experience to sit in a crowded session of Just missionaries. This really is the Lords work.
As for my feelings about this whole thing? My testimony has never been stronger. Either the Book of Mormon is true, or it is not. Either I am wasting a lot of money and 18 months of my life, or this is the Restored Church and I am a part of something bigger than all of us. I am-- Jesus Christ is the only way we can return to our Heavenly Father and he loves us with everything he has. If any of you are wondering if our Heavenly Father is really there? Pray about it, if you ask with a sincere heart, you will get an answer. Moroni has promised that, and you can take that to the Bank!
I am so grateful to be on a mission and the reality of my call is actually pretty daunting. People's salvation hangs on the line if I don't measure up. But I get a lot of confidence from the fact that I have the Savior on my side, that this is his work, that he has called ME, and that with his help, I can do anything.
Thank you all so much for all of your letters, I hope that I can respond to them all, but if I can't right now, I really do love you all. Also, sorry if this letter is pretty scattered, I will send part 2 after it logs me out and I log back in.
Continued...
I have really learned a lot being here at the MTC, a lot about really recognizing people's needs because I am not here to preach, I am here to invite and to teach, and to help others feel the love of our Savior. My heart is so full of gratitude to the fact that I am one of the few to be born into this church. I have a lo to be thankful for.
The MTC experience here is a lot different than I expected, but I know that I need to be here instead of in Provo. I have already been a witness to things that were specifically for me.
Tomorrow we are actually going into the city to do some real street contacting and I couldn't be more excited! It was interesting because we have stress management classes and the teachers are always reminding us about how much of a sacrifice we are making and how hard it must be to be away from home and what a big change this must be. I have quite the opposite feelings. I feel sad I ever made comments about not wanting to serve a mission because being a missionary is happiness at its fullest. I am diving into the work and I don't feel the sacrifice at all. I feel empowered and excited. I miss you guys, but at the same time, you will be there when I get back. These 18 months are not mine, they are the Lord's and I am to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.
I hope this first letter has been okay, I am surprised at how much time I don't have anymore! I Promise I will write you all soon!
PS- I hope you like the pictures. (My companion was sick for some of them so she is not in them.) If pictures are worth 1000 words, I just gave you a really long letter! :)
Love,
Sister Leslie
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