First Letter

Hello!

Missioning is such a great adventure. And I learned right off that the Lord knows what we need. My friends pulled up to drop me off, and the first person I saw was Sister Natalie Martinez! I got to have her as my host missionary :D She's been in the MTC for 4 weeks and is learning French to serve in Vanuatu. She showed me to my place and then to my classroom and then said good-bye. It was really great to see her.

The work starts right away. And it's great. But it's A LOT of sitting. There's so much to learn though. I feel like everybody is chucking clay pidgeons (<-- is that the right kind of pidgeon?) in the air and I want to shoot all of them, but there's just too many O_o

The really push calling each other "Elder" and "Sister" instead of "guys" and it's a lot harder than I expected. I ran into a companionship that look like they could be related and I said, "You guys look like you could be sisters...oh wait...you sisters look like you could be sisters...sorry, that sounded super awkward."

The MTC is a strange, strange place. It's really great too. I didn't realize before that they purdy much take care of all of your needs so that you can focus on the work. And it is work. But not really the kind of work I'm used to I s'pose. I expected to have to sacrifice everything I had--time, friends, money, even my thoughts--to be a good missionary, but I didn't expect to at the same time if that makes sense. They really do ask for a lot, but I am prepared to give. It's kinda funny 'cause usually at night is when I'm much more likely to feel daunted and overwhelmed, and then feel better in the morning, but here it's the opposite. I feel really good about things when I go to bed, and then wake up thinkin' What've I gotten myself into! There's nothin' quite like waking up at 6:30 and thinking to yourself Self, you've only got to do this for 5 billion more days. And then you can sleep in. But I figure if I think it's 5 billion more days, I'll be pleasantly surprised when I get to sleep in after only like 500 and somethin' days ;)

My district is purdy great. There are six Sisters and 4 Elders. My companion is Sister Roundy from Aurora Utah. She knows AJ (as in Carrie's husband), or at least his family! She's really great and I really like her. Which is good, 'cause we're ALWAYS together :) Sisters Colten and McKendrick are also from Utah and are both going to Indiana with us. The other Sisters (Coons and Roseman) are also from Utah, but they are going to Arkansas. Sister Roseman was an RA in Wyview this past year, so she knows Jill and Matt :D The Elders are also going to Arkansas. Elders Matangi and Allred are both from Utah, and Elders Fredette (who is distantly related to Jimmer) and Udall are from Arizona. It's a good group of missionaries :)

I've been keeping an eye out for Ashley wherever I go, and I finally saw her last night! We didn't really have time to talk because my branch was taking a tour, but it was really great to see her.

The work is hard, actually maybe not hard so much as copious, but it really is sweet. And I hope I can keep it up for 18 months O_o 'cause I really want to be a great missionary. It'll be a good adventure for sure!

Love,

Sister Allie Bowen