Temple Square- First Week

Okay, it has all been kind of crazy!I've been at temple square since Wednesday, and it's been great! Last night was the first time I wrote in my journal since I got here since we've been running around like chickens with our heads chopped off from the first morning on, so I don't have some of the experiences written down from a fresh perspective, or at all.

So our first day, we left the MTC, we were told that we were supposed to be at the bus area at 6 am, but we got a call via the intercom thingy saying, at 5:15 that we were supposed to be there 15 minutes ago and that the travel office got it wrong. None of us were ready, so we just got there at 6 any way.After the chaos of getting on the bus, we had an uneventful ride to the airport to drop off the many elders and couple sisters who were going elsewhere on their missions. From there, we were taken to our apartment (top secret, very hush hush... but seriously, they don't like us giving out that information 'cause apparently some sister's have acquired stalkers in their time at Temple Square.) Where we dropped off our luggage, then were hauled to the basement of the south visitor's center and were given a ton of info. Including finding out the super secret way of how to get the flags to stay on our name tags... which is with a very high tech piece of tape... :P jk it's just clear packing tape that's placed on the back of them. It's kinda weird to have a flag at times.

We did a few things, took a tour type thing, then met our trainers. I'm with Sister Williams who is just an inch or two shorter than me, and much slimmer (is any one seeing a pattern here? :P) blondish (dirty blond) with super cool eyes (a yellowish brown in t he middle and bright yellow/blue green on the outside)

We talked for about 5-10 minutes, then she had to hustle to Welfare Square so we weren't able to talk much more.Sister shurtliff and I were companions for a little bit longer while we returned to our apartments and unpacked our things in our separate apartment (we're on the same floor, but on the other side of the hall from each other. it's kind of weird seeing her with another companion).

We got most of our stuff unpacked, when we all skeedaddled to Walmart to get some bare necessities, so we could have dinner that night, and breakfast the next morning (since both our companions were out and about until about 9 pm or so)

After walmart (which was a two storied one which had a little thing that hauled the cart up to the section where the parking lot was... it was kinda nifty... maybe I can take a pic of it today when we go for Pday)

we went home, put things away, and continued unpacking.Eventually our companions came home, and we were separated.Sister Williams and I finished gathering the last minute stuff from her old apartment, then rushed through planning and eventually got to bed.

The next morning, I started out wearing a green shirt (almost corrected myself and spelled that shurt... haha) but because I was putting something together in t he crock pot for lunch/dinner later, I got something oily on it, and had to change. My purple shirt was the next one I was planning on wearing... but my companion was also wearing purple. So we were twins for the day. We both were wearing purple shirts, black skirts, tan nylons and black shoes, so everyone we passed by commented on our matching-ness.

I don't remember many details of t hat day... we did a tour after training at the southgate, then went to the beehive house and did three tours in a row. It was a lot of fun. Amy, I think you'd love the Beehive house! the first tour, I just testified about different things, and sister Williams just did all of the informational talking. Second one, I did a bit more, and third, we did about half. I feel that the lord is really blessing me and helping me to learn things faster so I can be more effective and more helpful to my companion.

The last tour we gave at the beehive house was given to a family, parents and two kids. they were so wonderful. If they hadn't asked so many questions about the church, I would have sworn they were mormon. You could tell they had really close family relationships and the parents would use something in each room to teach the children. That being the case it took us about 40 minutes to do a 20-30 minute tour, but it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately they didn't ask for the missionaries to come speak with them, but they were going to temple square after, so hopefully they'll be moved to learn more. I know that the gospel can bless them even more than what they're doing now.

The next morning we had a meeting about cleanliness before everything, etc.Then we were in the South Visitor's Center, just kind of standing around and greeting people. One couple we greeted had a little dog that they carried. Our policy, as far as I know is that if it's not disturbing people and not bothering any one and they're carrying it, then it's fine, or if it's a service dog, but the security guys (who just tend to pop out of nowhere) were thrown for a loop. They kept coming up to sisters and asking if they had said anything about the dog. They kind of reminded me of bees who's nest had just been hit by a small stone. After that, since no one was around really, sister williams and I did some role playing with two other sisters to pass the time.
Once we were done with that Sister Williams and I had 16 people in a tour, 12 of which were from places like Puerto Rico, which was so cool. They loved learning about the different things and several referred. The rest was a family, and they were all nice. sister Williams tried to give me more responsibility on the tour, and I stumbled a bit, but made up for it as we went along.The tour after that consisted of one man, who knew a bit about the church and had bought a triple combination book of Mormon earlier that day as he went on two different tours (which was kinda funny since I'd forgotten the pass-along hard bound book of mormon that we usually have with us constantly, so I had my triple with me) so we were able to use that as a teaching tool. He was very interested in learning more, but it was mainly a casual interest, but because he had the triple we challenged him to read Joseph Smith History, and chapter three in Enos, which he said he would because he had a long flight the next day.

We actually got home before it was dark! A miracle! SO we did personal study, etc.

now we get to today! We had training again (this time I didn't almost fall asleep many times, just once...) and it was on Welfare Square and the Humanitarian society. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to serve at Welfare Square on Wednesday sometime... I think that's when we're going... I'm not sure. Any way. And then we did Companion Study, and now I'm writing to you all!

After this Sister williams and I are going to the Lion House (which I've never eaten at...) then to Walmart, then I'm writing other people and cleaning. :D

So how is everything going there? (wherever there is for you... for Becky, David and Melissa, I waved as I passed your places of abode on the way up to Temple Square)I've not heard from mom in a while... how are things going?

OH!!!! I need people's phone numbers! I forgot to write them down, and I only have Amy and Dad's memorized...

Any way, LOVE YOU ALL LOTS!!!!!

Write again next Saturday!

Byes for now