A little about what is happening at home... and let's hear from Sharlee "Make it to Sunday"

Hello everyone,

My name is Josie Durfee. I am Sharlee's sister. I am very excited to say that I will report next year for a mission. I have been able to go on mini missions that the church has every year. They are kind of like a real mission, but only for three days, and you are not a real missionary. You just help out the missionaries, and kind of get a feel for what it is like in the mission field. I have been able to go an two mini missions and they were what really made me want to go on a mission. I was able to serve and think about others, and was able to be the most like Jesus Christ during those times that I went. I really hope that I will be able to go this year, however with all the changes that are being made due to age, and boundary changes in missions I may not. If that happens that is okay... because I have been able to go for two years. Anyways, enough about me let us hear from Sharlee about her wonderful mission!!!

Sharlee's letter:

 

"Make It To Sunday" That's what everyone says here! And I can tell you that it is so true! AND I've made it passed that! I'm going on my second week! Another thing they say is, "The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days!" That too, is a true statement! Now I only have 5 weeks here instead of 6(:

The first thing that is on my mind is the food. I am not a fan. My companion knows me well enough to know that I probably will just say, "Meh" if she asks me how the food is. I just don't enjoy it very much. We eat so close together. Breakfast at 7 a.m., Lunch at 11:40 a.m and Dinner at 4:40 and we are in class all day, sitting all day! I get the feeling that they want me to get fat. O.o hahaha There is gym scheduled into our day about everyday of the week but being who I am and never liking exercising I find myself just playing volleyball each time. Actually I really love it!
I find myself struggling at the language and often times I feel like I should just be put into the beginners class. I have to constantly remind myself that I am where the Lord wants me to be. He knew that it was going to be hard for me to pick up the language. It will strengthen me. The same day that I wrote my last email, My companion and I taught our first lesson to an investigator (an actor) IN SPANISH! It was so nerve racking and like I already said the language isn't coming as fast as I would like. We have taught four lessons since and slowly but surely I improve. One thing we (my companion and I) need to focus on is to not get nervous! Another is to stop giving so much background information. My companion likes to explain every detail in our lesson before we get to the main points. Eventually I told her if we are to get our points across we need to be more precise. We practiced with one of our teachers last night and she commented how good it was that we kept to the basics.

My companion, Hermana Snow, is wonderful. Our personalities really fit well together and we are able to strengthen each other's weaknesses. There have been times where she makes me a little frustrated but that's in every relationship.

 The best thing about the MTC is my Branch President, President Tyler. (I am pretty sure I mentioned him in the last email). I have learned so much from him! Whenever he talks, and I really mean whenever, I always get a paper and a pen out to take notes. Another thing I learned is from one of my teachers, Hermano Monroe, If we love our investigators we WILL invite them to be baptized the first lesson. That concept seemed so foreign to me. I thought we should help them and teach most of the lessons before we ask them to get baptized. It was a real eye opener. We don't teach another investigator till next Monday (it will be a first lesson) but when we do we will start off with the invitation to be baptized.

This email is kinda short and I apologize. Next week will be better I promise! Don't forget to write letters! It is so nice and helps so much! Use dearelder.com! It's free while I am here at the MTC!

Much Love and hugs!

Hermana Durfee

Picture 1: Those are the other sisters in my District! and they room with us also!

 

Picture 2: My companion and I(:

 

 Picture 3: That is my district! I have to say its the best district here! We all love singing! And now we are singing on Sunday for sacrament meeting!