MTC Week 3! Almost there!!

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. This is my last p-day at the MTC! My next letter will be coming to you from Oregon!!

The theme for this week would have to be "the refiners fire". I tweked my neck last friday and couldn't even look left without feeling a lot of pain, that lasted a couple of days but its better now. On wednesdy I started getting sick, I caught the imfamous "MTC" cold that's just constantly going around. So my head feels like a bowling ball, i'm sneezing and snifilling and coughing every few minutes but I'm still going to all the classes and activities, and I think i'm getting better slowly

On top of being sick we also got a new teacher. His name is brother Jolley (holy jolly christmas was stuck in my head the first day we met him.) but sadly he doesn't live up to his name. He is a very take no crap, my why or the high way, tell you exactly what I think, kind of teacher. Its not bad, its just very different from our other teachers who have been super gentle, go with the flow, talk about feelings, "everyone close your eyes and on a scale of 1-10 tell me how comfortable you are with this" type teaching. Like I said, refiners fire.

Again, choir was amazing. We preformed Nearer My God To Thee for the devotional. So before choir practice and the devotional the rumor that elder Holland was going to be the speaker was being spread around. Sister Unferdorfer and Sister Hill were so excited, I tried not to get my hopes up but during choir practice we found out that the arrangement we were singing was made just for elder Holland so we were all pretty much convinced that he was coming. Sadly it wasn't Holland, but it was a member of the presidency of the seventy Elder Kearon. He was a great speaker and had an amazing brittish accent so that was good.

We had new TRC's this week and one of them never showed up to any of the appointments so really we just had one TRC this week. Her name was Daryl. Yes HER name was Daryl. So all we get to know about these people is their name and we were so sure before we went it that Daryl would be a boy, it was quite a shock. She was pretty obviously a byu returned missionary mormon girl. But she as an investigator didn't know anything about religion or God. It is so hard to teach people with no religious background. But we did get her to pray with us by the last lesson so we are considering that an accomplishment.

We also had "in-field orientation" this week which was kind of disappointing actually. We basically went over planning, finding people, and including members. Which we have already talked about a lot. The only fun part was in including members when they put on a "Play" it was really cheesy, had no conflict whatsoever but it was also fun to take a break and just watch a "play". NO ONE ELSE IN MY DISTRICT HAS EVER REALLY SEEN A PLAY (except for one elder who knows some, his favorite song from Hamilton is say no to this... so ya.)

Ok I've realized that I haven't really told you much about my companion and the other sisters...

so Sister Unferdorfer is my companion. She is from Fairview Utah? I think. She is coming to Salem with me. She has been working as an athletics trainer at snow college the past year since graduating. She comes from a big family, and is very money conscious. We will go to the bookstore and she won't buy a book she needs because its 5 dollars. thought sister Johnson has been loosening her up and gotten her addicted to buying pens.

Sister Hill was the other sister in our companionship but because Sister Johnson's companion never showed up they split us into two. Sister Hill is from Orem, she says she can see her house from the top floor of the new building. She is going to the Portland Temple Visitors Center, so she has to stay an extra week to have special vistors center training. We're all sad to have to leave her here alone, she is the only one going through the training that week so she will be a solo missionary for a while.

Sister Johnson is from Mesa Arizona, she is also coming to Salem. Sister Johnson is a sarcastic, movie quoting, star wars/harry potter nerd.

I should also probably mention the Elders in our district. Ok so there are four elders coming to Salem with us; Elder Heaton (the most talkative.) and Elder Dehart (from Texas, loves chocolate milk.), Elder Dunn (he is very quiet but knows everything and always has the best insights) and Elder Spencer (hes from the country and killed a cow with a rock once...) Then there are five others who are going to Alaska. Elder Lot (he's a lot... best way to describe him.) and Elder Hedges (also very quiet), Then there is the trio (because one of their companions had to go home.) Elder Poulan (our district leader, the Hamilton guy, very good at art always doodling on the whiteboard), Elder Bell (quiet, but always has a smirk on his face) and Elder Yearsly (from the south and can't stand the cafeteria food because it has no flavor.)

Lets see.... Its been kind of rainy the past week (just preparing us for Oregon). I got to sleep in until 9 this morning instead of going to the Temple because I was feeling horrible, but that extra sleep really helped me. The showers didn't have hot water for a couple of days so when it finally came back on there were shouts of joy (including from me) Then everyone started harmonizing and singing the parts to a childs prayer in the shower. It was great. We have been having a debate about what scones are within our district. Those from out side of Utah think its baked like a biscuit. But those from Utah know it's fried. Right? Its hard not having google to settle debates.

Ok spiritual experience of the week. The thought thats really been sticking out to me this week is that Heavenly Father loves to give us gifts, and he misses us. Think about it, everything we have has been given to us from God. He gives us prayer so we can talk to him. He give us family so we don't have to be alone and so we can remember what it was like to be with him in heaven. He gives us prophets and scriptures so he can talk to us and guide us through this crazy life, he gives us all the good qualities that we can learn how to develop, faith, hope, love, charity, joy, everything good comes from God. I think sometimes we take for granted how much God has given us, how would you like to never be thanked for a gift you gave someone, and they never even acknowledge that the gift came from you? I know I wouldn't be very happy, but no matter how ungreatful we are God will never stop trying to give us blessings.

I've been thinking recently about how my dad acted the couple of days before I left. He wanted to give me so much advice that I could hardly take it all in. Of-course I was overwhelmed with the fact I was leaving, but I didn't really think that maybe he was overwhelmed as well with the worry that he wouldn't be able to tell me all the things he needed to. I imagine this is what it was like before we came to earth. I imagine Heavenly Father pulled us aside and tried to give us advice even though he knew we wouldn't remember it all. He must have told us that it would be hard, but that it would be worth it, and that he is only a prayer away if we need to talk. I love my father :) and my Heavenly Father! I'm so greatful for both of them.

I love this scripture because I can feel already that it is going to be so relevant in the mission field. Its Alma 26:27
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said; Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will GIVE unto you success."
When we are feeling down, or just not having the best day remember that you have a Heavenly Father who wants to send you gifts to help you, and all you have to do it be willing to hold out your hand.

Love you all! Have a wonderful week! See you in the mission field!!
-Sister Anna Peterson :)
Doing laundry last P-day​​

Going off campus to take Sister Unferdorfer to the eye doctor. It was weird leaving the bubble of the MTC but really the only people we saw was the eye doctor and some other MTC missionaries.​​

It rained last P-day which made us super excited for Oregon! plus we all love the rain :)​​

Some pics of our daily planning as a district... (and just the beautiful new buildings...)​​​

a beautiful sunset from our building

and me and the other sisters emailing right now!