Ari's first Letter!

Family!!!

Oh my word, I don't even know if I can start this letter.

The day you dropped me off was a whirlwind! I got my books (10 lbs, at least) Then we went straight to the classroom, dropped it off, went to my "Residence Hall" to drop off my stuff, went back to class, studied forever, ate dinner, went back to class, then came home and was ready for lights out at 10:30.  That weekend was truly mind-blowing. I don't even know what to tell you!

My companion is Motra Curtis. She is the most amazing thing. We get along so well, it's like it's divinely instigated (haha). She is so bubbly and outgoing and I trust her. We can bounce off each other really well with ideas, construcive criticism, and understanding.

We're all stuffed into one residence living room (6 of us in the size of my Helaman appt), which makes for some interesting conversation slash craziness.

 I can't begin to tell you how much we're learning! There's no way I would be able to learn Albanian if not for the fact that 1, I'm called there, and 2, I know I have to out of fear of embarrassment if I don't get it when I'm in the field.

But, seriously, We're learning how to rely on the Spirit and how to teach with Simplicity and Plainness. This, my friends, is why I have been called to speak an incredibly difficult language. Not because I can, not because I want to, but because I need to learn how to shut up. God is so funny. haha

So, Saturday, I almost fell on the floor in sheer exhaustion. I was overwhelmed with how much we needed to do, the little time we needed to do it in, and the depth of what we needed. Then we hit Sunday. We were filled with everything we needed. My Branch President is an amazing man. He speaks in whispers. All the time. So we have to listen intently. I was talking with my District Leader, Elder Davis (he's the one in the last picture, I think... With crazy eyes) and  we decided that there was no way you could zone out or even look away when he was speaking. He's like a whispering Preacher. He's eccentric, but he's so amazing! We then had a devotional with a woman named Mary Edmonds. She has gone on 4 missions, all to Asian countries. It was the funniest devotional I have ever been to. I was not expecting it at all. Here's an example: In the MTC we are NOT ALLOWED to touch the elders. at all. We can give a professional handshake, but anythying more than that and you're out. haha So, she said, "DO NOT TOUCH THE ELDERS. I mean it. Do. Not. Touch them." Silence. Then, in a tiny, little voice close to the microphone, "but keep a list of the ones you want to touch."

I laughed forever. Mostly because we're stressed out of our minds... but I laughed heartily.

Okay... Then... Monday, we had class and cracked down on the hard grammatical barfage called "clitics." We don't have them in English. Essentially, you say, The boy it has kicked the ball. And also there are these things called Noun Cases, ... Noun declentions (SP?) aka You conjugate nouns based on where they are in the sentence. There are five cases. AAAAHHHH. JK I love it. You know I do. But It's still SO HARD.... I love it. I don't even know how to conjugate all the verbs yet!! I'm afraid of all those...

Oh well! It'll come!

Then Last night, we had another devotional and guess who came?!! Elder Richard G. Scott. Yes. My first week here, and an apostle of the Lord comes. Score.

It was amazing! He said everything we needed to hear at that moment. He not only was the example of simplicity and spiritual power, but he blessed us with 4 apostolic blessings!

He invoked the blessing of 1: not only to learn the language, but to master it.  He knew we were all freaking out. How can you begin to teach the Gospel in a language foreign to you when we can barely do it in English?!

2: he said our companionships would be blessed. 3: he told the sisters (and the elders) that because of our specific decision to serve a mission, our families and husbands would be blessed in ways we could never imagine. 4: He blessed us that we will be able to grow from our struggles. He started out his whole talk about the sister missionaries. I'm beyond words. I was so grateful to be a part of that group and to hear it from an apostle. Did you know that his wife served a mission too?? IN the 50's. His dear, sweet Janine served a mission and he loves her, though she died almost 20 years ago. I am so grateful I'm here.

Okay, I'm so sorry that it's so short. But I want you all to know how much I truly, truly love you. You have been the best family I could have ever hoped for. I didn't know my love could grow even stronger, but by studying the scriptures and principles and teachings, I have expanded my capacity to love.

Mirupafshim!!

With love,

Motra Kokol

P.S.(I'll write every Wednesday!)