It's been a week

I've been here longer than a week! Yes! The first week was great, so much learning and growing. But really it has just flown right by! 

The investigators that we are teaching (hypothetical of course) are moving along and it's less scary as we go into a lesson. I find that we are able to plan more effectively, and even though we had a REALLY rough lesson the other day, the Lord knew what he was doing, and I think that it was for me to learn to speak up more. I'm sure you're thinking, "that's totally weird that Hannah of all people is having trouble speaking up..." or maybe you're not if you know me... but just know that this whole teaching thing is SO hard for me. It's so completely out of my nature, and I turn to scriptures and to the Lord every single day because I know that I would just freeze up in silence and fear without the Spirit with me at all times. 

The other day was really hard, and this second week has been very straining on me, because satan loves to make us feel inadequate. But I feel as I grow closer to the Lord each day, and work harder and harder to follow ALL the MANY rules that I'm blessed. I know that with his help nothing is impossible, and I spend much of my time reading scriptures like Ether 12 and going BOLDLY forward. 

I think that the MTC gives you this honey badger attitude (as Elder W. would say). Things that before you COULD NOT handle are sort of just, "meh. honey badger don't care." (This is not just a Webster thing, look up the meme, you'll see.) Like when your companion hums ALL DAY LONG, you just sort of don't care. Sometimes you even catch a bit of Les Mis and hum along for a few seconds. It's a blessing, and I love it. It seriously helps me love everything about the people that I'm set with all day everyday. I'm not even kidding I love all of them. And their weird quirks? It is just not a big deal. 

Our district is split between people going to Atlanta, Georgia, and people going to Boston, like me. My companion, Sister B, is from Wyoming and she is a self proclaimed six year old. She loves all things juvenile, music and 'Phineas and Ferb' are two of her great loves. We are, as I'm sure you can tell, nothing alike but we learn things each day from one another and I grow from her outrageous actual love for everyone (I thought I was loving enough... until I met Sister B). 

All the Sisters are a pretty close knit bunch, most of us live together and (Me, Sister B, Sister C., and Sister Durf.), and then the other two live right down the hall (Sister L., and Sister D.). All of them are inspiring and wonderful. They teach me and they help me grow from their inspiring stories and their great faith. 

I'm sure that I'll have stories for you about a few of them or all of them one day, but for now It's time to finish my laundry and get moving. GOING TO THE TEMPLE TODAY! (and don't tell me not to shout, because this is just TOO EXCITING! :) 

Love you all, and thank you for all the DearElders, I really appreciated them and I am so so happy about everything you are doing at home! This place is great, and each day is an adventure. I'm not going to say that I love every minute of it, but I am fully invested in taking my mission one day at a time and loving it, today is a great day... so was yesterday, and the day before.

love, Sister HRP

MTC, the only place you study for 11.5 hours on no sleep and LOVE IT.

Hey guys, thanks for all the emails. I'm joking. I didn't get any, but don't worry, it doesn't even matter because I'm way happy here!

 MTC is fun. Okay so it is a lot of hard work, and scary, but everyone is crazy friendly and the teachers are great and it's so much fun. I think I mentioned that.

First day was a tad terrifying, we got our companions, went to class for a while to meet our teachers, and then went to a workshop thing where we taught "investigators" as a group of 50 missionaries. It was crazy and unorganized and we were all trying to say different things and help in different ways, but it was a great way to sort of shove us into the work already. I can't believe how fast we are going into already teaching people! (of course, they are hypothetical, but it's best to think of them very realistically and really care and love the character. It's really scary because you totally get into the moment and can't help but think, "I've been here three days! What if I mess up? He'll never get baptized!" Oh hey Sister Preszler, It's cool, he's been baptized, goes to BYU, and his eternal salvation is NOT in your hands.)

The food here is alright, I filled out this sheet of when I want a Gluten Free breakfast, lunch, or dinner, which doesn't make any sense why I wouldn't want one, because what would I eat? Then when we eat I walk into the back and pick it up out of the warming cabinet, (by MYSELF, danger) and sit down with my district. It's just a plate with wrap over it and usually it's alright, but every once in a while it's sort of awful and my missionaries pity me. Like yesterday, when I had a hamburger without a bun because they ran out, some really dry green beans, and oily french fries. But on the bright side, I doubt I will gain weight! Plus, they have Gluten Free cookies that are golden. Especially because we eat like an "old folks" home at 7:00, 11:00, and 4:30 (yes, we eat dinner at 4:30) so when it's time to go to bed I feel like I could eat Sister Bringhurst's arm - the cookies come in handy. But thank you Mom for suggesting I bring those protein bars. But. Really.  

 Anyway, much too much about the food, but I have to go now, 3:20 minutes left...  I had a bit of a coughing fit midway through my internet time, almost died and had to go to the bathroom. Which pretty much is a way of saying that I'm sorry this email is REALLY short and it's not entirely my fault.

Gotta go! It's about to kick me off!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Preszler 

P.S. Ya'll should DearElder.com me, because we get to read them even when it isn't our p-day, but also it feels a little bit like "mean girls" when they hand out the letters before class, "4 for you Sister Dawson! You go Sister Dawson!"

P.P.S. You could also just send letters.