WEEK 3: Status Update

Hello!

We're jumping right into where we left off last week, so buckle up. I sent my last email in the morning-ish, so I'm starting this one by finishing up last Pday!

Thursday afternoon:

We went to the gym and played volleyball and basketball as a district, and then we grabbed lunch. There were a few difficulties getting lunch and it quickly became very chaotic (multiple salads were dropped, soda was spilled, etc) but it tasted delicious and we all sat outside and talked and hung out for a few hours. We ran into a trio of ASL elders, and it was so cool! One of them is deaf, so the other two were translating our conversation and it was incredible! At 3pm we went up to the activity field which is just below the Provo temple and plays spikeball and kickball! Anyone who knows me knows that I have not a single athletic bone in my body. But regardless, it was still a lot of fun to bond as a district and let out some energy in the sun. After that we had dinner and met with the Branch President, who presides over a few districts of missionaries for Sunday services. It was great! We met with the wives, who stopped by all the residence halls later to check in on us. They are so kind! They want us to tell our mothers that we're not lacking in receiving mothers' hugs, as they hug us every chance they get!

Friday:

Today I ran into 2 SVU friends! Elder Leger going to Canada and Sister Vestel going to Ogden, UT! It's so fun to find people who I know, especially from SVU. Today was the first full day of in person classes, and it went well! I really enjoyed the last 2 hours of the afternoon class, because we had the chance to really dive into some more philosophical-type questions regarding certain doctrines. We went outside and were given some time to do our own study, and talk a little bit in small groups. It was a really enjoyable experience, I loved getting to discuss deep, specific things that aren't part of the every day discussions in church. There was a really great energy in the group, and having time to dive deeply into difficult topics was wonderful. I loved hearing everyone's discoveries, thoughts, opinions, and making connections! After dinner, Sister Long and I had personal study and then went for a walk around campus. We stopped and got ice cream at the Creamery, and then went up to a lookout that has a nice grassy area, as well as some benches. She and I sat and had some time comp time, and watched the sunset. It was a lovely way to end a great day. I also finally had time to take a picture with Sister Willmore from my home ward, going to Everrett, Washington!

Saturday:

We studied the Plan of Salvation and practiced teaching it in class today. It was fun, but Sister Hope likes to challenge us to teach all 8 principles in 4 minutes, 2 minutes, and then in 1 minute. It's difficult but fun to practice teaching in those amount of times. We went to the gym as a district in the evening, and started off with a game of Lightning. After a few rounds, everyone split off and a game of basketball was started, and a few people joined a volleyball game. Sister Poulsen and I are the dancers of the group, and are less athleticly coordinated than everyone else, so we stayed on the side and jump roped together before stretching for a few minutes. It was fun to talk to her and to people watch, as the gym was packed full. After the gym, the sisters grabbed ice cream from the Creamery and sat outside together. We talked until 9pm before heading back to the dorms.

Sunday:

Sunday was a longgg day. Church was really good, and after we did the Go and Do Experience, which is where we are given 2 hours to study individually. I was really looking forward to having quiet time to be with my own thoughts and journal/study. When the 2 hours were up, we met back together as a district and discussed our experiences. It got emotional pretty fast. A lot of people shared very personal things, and it was so powerful. President Spendlove is the president of our little church congregation here at the MTC, and he came into our group's room to moderate the discussion. Everyone was pretty emotional by the end of it, and at dinner we were all exhausted. There was a devotional by the MTC President and his wife after dinner about how to come to know the characters of God and Jesus Christ. Our district was assigned to take down all the chairs after, so we hung out and discussed our thoughts before cleaning up all the bleachers and chairs.

Side note: I've found 2 more SVU friends here! I ran into Elder Ford going to Iowa City, and I got recognized by an Elder Thompson this week, and he's going to Ecuador!

Monday:

Sister Long and I had a teaching appointment today, but we got stood up. *cue sad violin*. Awkward. Anyway. We scheduled with a new person, and thankfully our lesson plan is pretty similar so we won't have to create an entirely new lesson to teach. A lot of the missionaries in our district also had teaching appointments at the same time, so we all gathered together at the outside courtyard/overlook where we like to hang out and had a discussion, led by Elder Niu. We talked about how to create a stronger feeling of unity in our group. This group of people has become so close in such a short amount of time and there's so much love and encouragement. In summary, we've got a great district!

Tuesday:

Luna the cat haunts the MTC campus for pets from all the missionaries. She has a little tag that says "I am not lost. I just wander", and she just lounges in the rosebeds and waits for people to pet her. She is so precious!

We've had a substitute teacher this week because Sister Hope is sick. Her name is Sister Isaac, and she is a gem! She likes to get us up and moving, and has many creative ways of getting us to practice in different ways. She's so much fun!

My family sent a package this week!! I was not expecting any mail, but opened it and had notes from a lot of my cousins and extended family, as well as a beautiful watercolor of Christ! Also included was a hand towel that I completely forgot to grab before exiting the car while being dropped off. Shoutout to my mother for sending it to me, and for getting family to write such sweet notes.

There was a devotional tonight from Elder and Sister Funk. Elder Funk is part of the Quorum of the Seventy, one of the General Authority leaders of the Church. A lot of our district participated in the choir, which was a lot of fun!! Definitely recommend to all future missionaries going to the MTC. The devotional was really great, and we met as a district after to discuss our thoughts about it. Once again, shoutout to Elder Niu for being such a great district leader! He is such a great leader and leads so naturally and gently, and testifies so powerfully. Sister Long and I are lucky to have him and Elder Jensen going to Vegas with us!

Wednesday:

Yesterday was a more chill day. Sister Poulsen is auditioning to have a musical number for the Sudnay devotional, and I offered to be the pianist. I'm no Mozart, but she's been really sweet working with me and it's been a lot of fun to play the piano again! Honestly I don't remember much of what happened today, it was just a normal day. After dinner most of our district went to the gym together. I spent most of the time on the track and machines that wraps around the top of the gym, so I was watching people play while walking around and it was very exciting. We also have a new Elder who joined our district this week!! Elder Falepapalango is currently waiting for reassignment, which is why he's with us for the next few days!

Thursday:

Today is our temple day! The Provo Temple is closed the entire time our district is here, so we got bussed over to the Mount Timpanogos temple to do a session.

That's all for this week! I'm not sure when my next email will be, because we're heading to Vegas next Tuesday. So it might be a few more days, but I'll try to send something as soon as I can! Much love to all of you!

Love,

Sister Malmstrom

Pictures:

Post-kickball last Pday

The sisters

Vending machine run bc sometimes dinner is at 5pm and then we've starving by 9.

Picture with Sister Willmore!

The sisters pt. 2

Sister Allen & I matched on Sunday!

The district!

Campus is SO PRETTY.

District pictures at choir