Thank you for the picture. It was funny. I showed my zone leader and said “how rude they're having Pie pizza and bragging about that.” I got the package. Thank you. The pictures were great. We don't take a lot, let me change that, I don't take a lot of pictures here. I don't know why, but I don't. Today is p-day and sadly the temple was closed. So we are actually finished going to the temple here.

Today for the mission president's seminar we sang Jesus Once of Humble Birth. It was a really pretty arrangement of it. We are singing in quartets: Elder, Sister, Elder. It's kind of weird and we had such a small amount of space that we were touching, but we sounded good. I guess that's the most important thing. Well, as usual, time is running short. Thank you for your love and support.

Love you tons!
Sister Bennion

Week I Think 6 Maybe 5

Today started awesome! The choir performed today for 6 of the apostles today. President Eyring is speaking to the new mission presidents. We only get to walk in and sing and then leave but, none the less, it is still a very cool experience. Check the church news this week. We were told by the Mission President's wife, Sister Smith, that usually the choir is has a picture in the church news. So look, and if it does I would really like a copy of it.

This week has been an interesting one. My companionship is getting better. A lot of the problem is me, I'm sure that is a big surprise to you, but there you have it. I'm admitting that I am the problem here.

I heard form Bonnie yesterday that was cool. I really love her.

I am really struggling with the language right now because I came into the MTC knowing English sing, its called SEE sign. Anyway, I'm still trying and I will continue to improve. The teachers have said that we will have a moment in our lives when we all of the sudden realize how to accept the language, there hope is that we will have that moment here at the MTC. When I get home I will be so good at charades. I do a lot of becoming a picture and portraying it, so make a list of stories you want to see done in actions and I will show you all of them. We are preparing the Plan of Salvation to teach and it keep reminding me of Grandpa. I truly have a testimony of the plan.

I'll be sending some pictures soon so you can add to the blog visuals. Well, my time is again running short. I love you and miss you muchly, but I'm happy. Talk to you soon.

Love,
Sister Bennion

Today is crazy. I need to be up at 6:00 today and breakfast at 6:30. Then I had choir rehearsal at 7:00 to 7:55. It's only supposed to go until 7:50, but we try and get as much time in a day. I really wanted this, so I'm willing to sacrifice this because of the exclusivity. The importance to the MTC takes priority, so until it's over on the 27th, class takes a backseat. I sing during missionary directed time, which we get about four hours a day of that, so I have a lot of time to practice. Some of the songs we are singing are: This is the Christ, Precious Savior Dear Redeemer, Blessings (it's like an arrangement of Come Thou Font) and many other songs I can't remember.

Sister Beck came and spoke on Sunday for Relief Society. That was really neat. Then on Tuesday Elder Halstrom from the Presidency of the Seventy spoke and he gave us a list of five things that will make us great missionaries. It's another “Be” list.
1.Be a true disciple
2.Be completely obedient
3.Be a loyal companion
4.Be optimistic
5.Be diligent
I thought you might like this.

Today after practice we went to the temple and it was good. Sorry this letter is short, but it's a crazy busy day. Next week will be short as well., but I should have time after that. Talk to you soon.

Love,
Sister Bennion

June 17 Email

This week has been a challenge because Sister Lovejoy has been sick and Sister Young is driving me crazy. Sister Lovejoy had some of the fluid in her inner ear get into places it's not supposed to be, so it made her really sick. Today is the fist day this week that she has felt good. We took her to the clinic yesterday morning and she got some medication, so she is doing better now. Sister Young on the other hand is totally into to self healing and and has no problem with telling me that I am weird because I don't believe in that. Then, one of the Elders from the referral center heard me talking about missing Dr. Pepper and he got me one. He is serving his mission here, so he can leave the MTC on p-day and yes, this Elder has a crush on me. He just dropped it off secretly in my class room so I couldn't refuse it. So I have a Dr. Pepper, but she keeps calling me a sinner to my face. I feel like she doesn't know were the line is.

On a happier note, I have really good news. The training for the new mission president is next week starting the 23-27 and they needed to put together an mtc choir of 36 voices. They held tryouts and everything and I made it in. So I have 9 songs to memorize by the 23rd and we will be singing this for the 12 apostles and the 1st presidency. I can not in words tell you the joy I felt when I opened the letter that said that I had made it in. I'm also singing on Sunday in Sacrament meeting so that is cool. Tell every one I love them.

Love,
Sister Bennion

June 10 Letter

I had a wonderful spiritual experience today I the temple. I felt the woman I went through for hold my hand. So I prayed about her and knew that she had accepted the Gospel. I can't wait to meet her some day. It was wonderful.

At our Sunday fireside Crawford Gates spoke, Vanja Watkins (I didn't realize how many songs she wrote that I love), and Bob Cundick. It was great. Vanja spoke the best, but I really enjoyed it. The MTC is putting together a choir and I'm trying out for it. I'll keep you posted on that.

Elder Hales spoke this week too. It was amazing. He talked a lot about listening to the spirit. He shared a story of when he was a mission president and a woman felt the spirit said you teach by the spirit, but the Elder just went on without saying anything. So, he cautioned us not to do that.

P-day is way too short! I love you dearly and do miss you, but not to the point of distracting me.

Love,
Sister Bennion

June 10 Email

Week 4 is going well. I am the Senior companion again. I was the 1st week as well. I'm now hitting some struggles to learn the language and some of the suggestions from Preach My Gospel don't apply like reading books in my mission language... Anyway, I'm finding ways to learn and getting tutoring from one of our teachers, which has really helped.

Since I've been here we, all the missionaries, have had the opportunity to hear form two Apostles Elder Christoffersen, and Elder Hales. This has been wonderful. Also, on Sunday during our fireside we had some church composers come and speak to us. The first was the one who wrote the music to Our Saviors Love, the next was the woman who wrote the music to Latter-day Prophets and other primary songs and hymns and then Robert and Sister Cundick and yes, I did say hi. Sister Cundick said that she was hoping she'd see me while I was here.

Once again I feel like my computer time is going too quickly!

Love you all
Sister Bennion

Another June 3 Letter

I only have 30 minutes a week on the computer, so it's easier if what's sent is short and only one email. As far as pictures, just send them. It's easier that way. Tell Lisa thank you for the picture of the girls.

I only get to do my morning exercises every other day because one companion refuses to exercise. So, we have to have one stay with her while the other goes with the Romanian sisters, but I have gym every day except p-day and Sunday and I'm getting more involved in four square. So, I do get worked fairly well!

I have some pictures but not many, so that's why you don't have any. My laundry turned out fine. So you taught me well. Any news on my car? If people want to email me have them use dearelder.com because I get those twice a day.

Did I tell you Elder and Sister Christofferson came and spoke to us on Tuesday? It was a wonderful surprise! They talked on mission work.

We (the sisters) have been trying to help our Elders shine and really become missionaries. This may sound harsh, but please don't take it as we don't love our Elders, because I know for a fact that I do. Our Elders are very immature! Not a huge surprise, but they are and we are trying to help them succeed. The Elders don't feel respected and that we talk down to them, not to them – and that's true sometimes, but not always. But it's important that we understand. We as sisters don't trust the Elders because they used our pasts against us. Anyway, that's not the point. Communication has completely broken down. This morning we had district inventory and just discussed everything and I think things will get better, but we shall see.

One more thing, please send more laundry soap. I only have enough for one more load of laundry and I love that my clothes still smell like home. One of my nylons, brand new, had a run it it from top to toe.

I got a package from Shelly, Eric and the boys today with Tinkerbell pens, Dr. Pepper jellybeans, a letter and a journal. If you hear from them, tell them thanks for me. I'll try to get a letter to them this week. I was told today that I can only write letters on p-day, so I'll only be able to email and write you once a week. Sorry, but I intend to follow the rules.

Tell everyone I love them. Well, until next week.

Love,
Sister Bennion

June 3 Letter

To day is p-day so we went to the temple and did a session. We (not me) woke up late and then we had to go get a temple recommend from the class, and then one of my companions forgot theirs in the room so we had to go get that. But it was good exercise because we live on the 4th floor of our building and our classroom is on the 4th floor as well.

So the first two weeks have been great. I have gotten into a routine and love it. Mostly I hate Saturdays because they are the longest day and we spend 4 hrs planning for the week: Companionship, Personal and District. Then we go to lunch and then we have 5 hrs of study time then dinner, gym, and finally class where we act out pictures with out sign for 2 or 3 hrs. Anyway, that is not the most fun part of my day. I am preparing a musical number to try out with for a devotional or something. One of the Zone leaders plays the piano and he said that he would play for me.

If people ask how I'm doing tell them that other than the sleep deprivation, I am loving being a missionary. I need to focus more on study time but all in all I love it. I really am not missing home. I miss you food that's all, oh and being able to be alone, but oh well life goes on.

My ASL is getting much better I really don't know as much as you think I do but I'm learning a lot. my time is almost up for this week so know that I love you all and will send pictures soon.

~Sister Bennion