Oct 29, 2009

Dad, your vacation sounded heavenly. I'm jealous. Looks like you had a
great time. This week it got SO cold. I haven't really used the coat you
sent me and I was feeling bad for making you send it, until this week. It
is freezing.
We got our flight plans last Friday, the day after i emailed home. We are
leaving Salt Lake at 4:50pm for LAX tuesday Nov 3.
LAX arrive: 5:52pm,
LAX departure: 10:45pm
Taipe, Taiwan AR: 5:30am
Taipe, Taiwan DPT: 7:40am
Singapore AR:12:05pm, Nov 5.

Somehow Nov 4 is lost in there somewhere. I haven't sat down and calculated
the time differences. It's going to be long though. Can't wait. You might
be getting a phone call from LA.
This week has been fast. We had our health and safety meeting a couple days
ago where they teach us how to stay healthy in our missions. It was all
common sense but exciting because it meant we are that much closer to
leaving. Yesterday we had our "Continue to study the language" meeting.
And today I get my very last shot! Yesterday we also got to be Hosts again
for the new missionaries, I love doing that. I was glad to have my coat
again because we had to stand outside the whole time. The Elders in my
district were directing traffic so they put on long sleeve shirts under
their white button up shirts for warmth. I'm pretty sure they still froze.
About 400 new missionaries came in yesterday. We were told that in 3 weeks
they had a group of 700 coming in, on one day! They are going to have their
hands full, but I'll be long gone by then.
Let's see, what else to write. We taught in the TRC again on Saturday.
It was fun. We taught another missionary who had recently returned from
serving in Singapore. There was only one question none of us understood, so
that's progress right?
On Tuesday Elder Tom Perry came and spoke to us. We were all hoping
that an apostle would come for our last Tuesday Devotional, and one did. He
gave a great talk on using the scriptures and the spirit to teach. It was
nothing we haven't heard before, but it is always good to get refreshed on
that sort of thing, we sure need it.
Right now I'm sitting in the laundry room and it is a madhouse in here!
Our little group of missionaries have been coming at 7:00am to do our
laundry because we like to avoid the crowds. Coming here in the afternoon
is insane. Until today we have been the only one in the laundry room at
this time, for the past nine weeks. Somehow, our secret got out. I had to
use my Sister-status to get a computer. The Elders do whatever you want
when you are a Sister :-). I don't pull it on the Elders very often but
today I needed a computer! So they gave it to me haha. Good thing it is
our last P-day here at the MTC.
Today is going to be one busy day. Between laundry, shots, my
companions signed up for haircuts, temple, comp study, personal study,
cleaning, and writing letters I think it is going to be even more busy than
our normal days. I guess this is a forecast for things to come, I hear
P-days are always insane.
It is wierd to think my time here at the MTC is coming to a close. I
am not excited to be the "newbie" again but I guess it's necessary. I am
pretty anxious to go.
I hope Halloween is excellent for you all. We have gym saturday night
so the elders in our zone are planning a Halloween party instead of going to
gym. Naturally, the sisters aren't invited but I don't think I mind. From
things I have heard it involve shoe polish and face paint...
Family you would not believe how much food we have in our classroom.
Yesterday seemed to be package day. Elder Bench's grandma sent him 4 dozen
sugar cookies. FOUR DOZEN. What is he supposed to do with all that. He
gave a bag to two of our teachers and still has two bags left. And then he
got a package full of caramel popcorn. Elder Christensen received an entire
box full of Reeses and Twinkies, a big box. It's incredible. And then next
door the Mongolian Elders have more Halloween candy than they could ever
possible consume. Sister wing got two boxes full of cookes and candy
yesterday too. It is frightening. I don't know how they are going to
consume it all. Supposedly the Elders have a box of food in their room that
missionaries who leave at too. They say it smells so bad. Disgusting.
There is a cucumber with a date written on it from last summer. Elders are
weird ahah. I am scared to know what else is in that box. They are going
to give it to the Mongolians when we leave. I guess it will just keep
getting passed on, until the fumes kill a missionary.
Next time I write I'll be in Singapore, or Malaysia, who knows! Love you
all. Thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO much for all the letters. They make my
day, and they make the Elders jealous, just kidding....
talk to you on Tuesday
sister viehweg