8/28/14

I am sending a super long email that says everything. How are the sisters? Dad? Grandparents? Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins? My prayers are like an hour long because I pray for EVERYONE!

Family!!

I miss and love you too! The MTC has been crazy exhausting but my testimony grows everyday. I is so wonderful to hear how camping went. That's awesome that Steph went on a ride with you! How is grandpa? Is he doing okay? Wow there is so much to say!
The first day was a blur of craziness. We got our stuff, dropped it off in our room then headed to class. There I met my companion and my District (I met my zone later that night). My district is all Hermanas!! crazy right? My teacher will only speak spanish to us which at first was scary, but now I love it only a week later. My companions name is Hermana (Sister) Hendley. She is really nice and we get along fine. We were in class ALL day and then had to go "home", unpack, and go to bed. Like I said it was crazy. Our second day SECOND DAY we had to teach our first investigator. (They're not 'real' investigators they are returned missionaries who play and investigator that they met on their mission. Again, all spanish. I completely understand how some missionaries forget English. I haven't thought 'yes' since I have been here it has only been 'si'.
I love it here. It is chaotic but I am getting the hang of the schedule and I really do love it. Yesterday Jessica came into the MTC and I am hoping I get to see her today.
Do you remember when you said there was a main and west MTC? I am on the West. It is dedicated for spanish speaking missionaries only. I love it there we aren't nearly as crowded as the Main campus and we get to go outside. Plus there is only spanish which helps.
My days are so full there is never time for anything. It's like if you take a second to breathe you miss class, lunch, and gym.
I wake up at 6:00 every morning get ready and go to class by 7:45. (There are 5 girls and 1 shower). Then we are in class with a teacher for 3 hours, then we go to lunch, then we have gym for an hour (I have been playing volleyball and I am killing it), Then you have 1/2 hour to get back into missionary clothes and be back to class. The next 3 hours we split into 3 sections. First, personal study, next companionship study, and last language study. Then we go to dinner. After dinner we go back to class and spend the next 3 hours taking turns teaching investigators and studying inbetween you turn. yeah... 9 hours total. Pure studying. My brain died 5 days ago. After that we have 1/2 hour of preparation for the next day, then we go have a prayer with our zone (there are Elders in our zone) and the Elders walk us home and we all say goodnight then it's time for bed. That is my day. Everyday but Sundays, Tuesdays, and P-Day (Thurs)!! Sunday was amazing! We have relief society first, then lunch, then sacrament. They do sacrament a little different here, Everyone is required to write a talk and they just call on two people on the spot to give their talk, so you never know if you're going to speak or not. Then we go on a sunday walk, then dinner, then choir, then devotional, then a church 'movie' (character of christ). Fast sundays are similar except EVERYONE has to bear their testimony in Spanish. Tuesday is a pretty normal day except for instead of teaching investigators we go to a devotional. This last tuesday I sang in the choir (600 people) and I was in the front row :).
I love it here. Except I have realized that there is far too much to do. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. The days are so long but still there is never enough time to do everything!
I love you all! I am so happy to be here and I know I am meant to be here but I miss y'all terribly.
Thank you for the letter and the food... I have gotten 3 packages of food so far so it's okay if you don't send anymore but please don't forget about letters. They brighten my whole day and I can't wait to read them at night.
I can't wait to hear how y'all are doing!

All my love, Hermana Eardley

To the MTC. . .

Missionary Pictures

Temple Day

  

Mission Call... Party In Panamá

"Dear Sister Eardley:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Panamá Panamá City Mission. It is anticipated that you serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 20, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary."