I forget what you all look like....

Hellllo Family!!

Thank you THANK you for all the letters. I didn't know that getting snail mail would be so uplifting here at the MTC, but it really makes my day. I love hearing all the stories and stuff. I will be writing ya'll later today. We can only write letters on P-day. That's a struggle. i want to reply as soon as i get the letters. Sometimes i read them to the other sisters in my district. Sister Christison has decided she likes Eli the best. That letter was the beeeessssstttt. Thank you madre for sending me my blanket!!! I have been sleeping so much better than when i got here. Such a baby, I know. Heh. And i'd also like to thank all the small people who allowed me to get this award.... okay. just kidding. Done with the thanktimony.

This week has been eventful. My comp and I had a some issues to work through. She gets offended when I ask about her background and family (chitchat, not pry). I am so used to talking about mine I guess I never considered that someone else would be bugged when i asked. hmmm. We talked about talking things out or being positive in spite of situations because bad attitudes scare away the spirit. Since then we have gotten along and taught better than ever. I am so glad we were able to address things and get them handled. There have been times when I wonder if she wants to just pound me. So far so good!!

My classes are getting more interesting and studies are more meaningful. Sometimes I study for so long I can feel my pulse in my eyyyeee ballllssss. I FINALLLLLLLLY feel like I can teach by the spirit. I've been able to ask the right questions in the perfect moments and bring in personal stories to illustrate the love of our heavenly Father. Really cool. I feel like I have changed so much since I left and it has only been 2 weeks.

Story time. I have been running during gym time to get rid of frustrations and think a little. On saturday, I was runnging around the corner of the track when I stepped wrong and rolled my right ankle. I seriously thought I tore something, the pain was so bad. With frustrations surfaced combined with pain, I accepted defeat and laid crying in the middle of the track as the World's Wimpiest Missionary. With my tough disposition sacrificed and care for running time dashed, elders helplessly surrounded me asking questions, attempting to help without breaking code (no touching but a handshake). A sole sister made her way through the crowd like a beacon of hope, as she was the only one permitted to appropriately help. She hoisted me over her shoulder as a fireman would a lifeless body and sprinted down 5 flights of stairs only to be greeted by a herd of medical personnel ready to operate!!!!!! ...... okay. not really. She helped me down to the med room where they wrapped my ankle and iced it. Nothing but a sprain. Which we all know I have a history of. I am walking alright, just a limp, but can't work out for another week, and after that it has to be with my ankle braced. Same ankle that I rolled back in the summer and tore the ligs in 2 years ago. gag.

I've been buying scripture mastery cards and stuff to help me with my studies. Had I known back in seminary that I would be here, I would have memorized more. Curses. I miss going to the temple!!!! We go to the provo temp here every P-day, but I really miss live sessions. I fell asleep last week in a session and Sis. Christison had to wake me up. Luckily it wasnt for that long and I didn't miss anything that..... would effect the salvation of others. I have learned that sleeping in is overrated and taking naps is underratted. Too bad there is no time for either. heh.

I leave for Texas next monday!! When I know details, I will mail them. I get to call from the airport. As a leaving district, we get to sing in sacrament meeting this sunday. The sisters and I are arranging Come Thou Fount and I am on the MTC cello!!!! yeyeah!!!! We changed the key so it is supa easy. lol. Really excited. I'll let you know how it goes.

If you want an AMMMAZINGGG FHE idea, look up an MTC address by Elder Bednar on recognizing the spirit. Dunno what it is called. He talks about "20 marks" in it (german currency?). I've watched it twice and it has answered so many questions. He is great to listen too.

I love you all!!! The letters have been the greatest blessing for me this week. I love hearing funny stories and sharing them with comps. Thank you thank you! Not sure if I will be able to check email before I leave for the great state of TEXAS. Just FYI.

More stories to come :)

Sister Orr

I MADDDE ITTT!!!

I love this place!!!!! it is SOOOOO structured. Every half hour of the day is planned and they make our meals. Score. The food is great beacuse there are so many options, lots of veggies too mom.

I love to learn. I have missed being in school and now realize just what i have been missing!! Its interesting to learn about the gospel from a scholarly perspective rather than a rerun sunday school lesson. I have more questions and have recieved more answers about the gospel than any other time in my life. Our district is really cool!! Two sisters and one elder going to Pittsburg and 4 elders and my companionship heading to Lubbock. My comp is really cool. She's from Lethbridge (and BC, bounces around) and has graduated from the police academy. Super tom boy. We are verrrrry different but love to talk canada stuff because it is one of the only things we can relate with. She's 27 and a convert. I will mail pictures. its kind of cool to be with a sister than has experienced being an investigator. The other two sisters are SOOOOOOO much fun. Sis Christison is from North Carolina and sis Franklin (our afro-american) is from texas. There are already a ton of "ya'lls" going on and i'm not even in texas yet. Lately we have been playing basketball for gym. Sis Fretz is reaallly good and has been teaching me how to aim and stuff. heh. Lets just say it is pointless to take score. She's pretty good.

Basically we are up at 6 every morning and study for a few hours. Its divided up in district, companion and personal study. We have three hours of class, then lunch. After lunch we have gym for an hour, we clean up and head to the TRC and teach people as if they are actual investigators. Turns out the man Sis. Fretz and I have been teaching (Glenn) is a real investigator. For some reason it didn't make me nervous at all!! Its been really cool to get to know people. After an hour or two of that, we have dinner, 3 hours of study and then we have the MTC DANNNNCE!!!! YEYAH!!!! Okay. Not really. That would be weird. and..... not....... appropriate? After than we head back to our residency hall and crash at 10:00. Long days!! Its that day after day.

I was made the Co-ordinating sister two days after we got here. Basically I am the zone leader for the sisters. I talk to them if they need anything, make sure everyone is in bed on time, take care of behavior and clothing violations and do weekly interviews with the sr compaions and meetings with the branch president and district leaders. Its intimidating and i didn't really want to do it at first. hahahah. But after a few experiences this week, i have found out that I was definitely meant for the job. i've been able to really help some of the sisters.

Today is temple day!!!! SO EXCITED!!! Sis christison and i are going to be comps for that since sis fanklin and sis fretz have colds. Lots of people have been getting sick. But mom, you are a saint for sending me with so many supplements. I feel fine and am a regular vit-C dealer in my res hall. Just talking care of my sisters :) Sis fretz has been pretending not to hear me because of an earache. It's actually really funny. I embrace it and think more than i talk now. We are trying to be more positive about little challanges at the MTC. Learning learning learning.

DAD! I met a Maori sister who said that two white men came and baptized her ancestors in New Zealand a hundred years ago! Could that be William Ernest Orr?? It was sooo cool to talk about my ancestors converting her ancestors! Everyone loves my scriptures and it has been funny to let people smell the real leather.

Ahhh! Almost out of time!!!!!

i have learned:

I love this place, growing and learning hurts, when you shake someones hand you shake every other hand they have shaken, stay away from the MTC orange juice, We have living prophets now days, the BoM is a tangible truth that God still talks to his children!!!

okay that was frantic. over and out.

I love you all,

Sister Orr

The Sending Off!

Hi! This is Sister Rachel Orr's favorite big sister. I'll be keeping y'all up to date on the latest emails and news. (Do you like my use of Texan vernacular? "Y'all" is such a useful word!)

First I will share what happened at the Missionary Training Center.

Sister Orr was dropped off at the MTC in Provo on May 11th. After saying a brief and succinct goodbye to her siblings and parents, she promptly turned to the two missionaries who came to help her with her luggage and said "Okay, now what do I do?".

No time to waste on sentimentality when there are souls to save, right?

My mom of course took pictures of her walking down the long sidewalk to the MTC. Sister Orr was jabbering away at the two Elders who were taking her luggage, hands flying as she's talking. My mom was about to take the very last picture of her going inside, when two Elder missionaries walking by saw her with her camera raised their direction and put their arms around each other to pose for the picture! My mom missed the last picture of Rachel, but we laugh at the picture of two random missionaries who thought that some strangers wanted to take their picture.

Goodbye Rach! You probably won't see this blog until you come home in a year and a half so you won't even know that I changed everything around and revamped the whole thing. Ha! What are big sisters for?