Week 4: Reunions and Rien

So this week Elder Johnson came back and it was the best. We're all so happy and it was absolutely wonderful to have our district whole again because the week he was gone was so weird and strange -- and everything was off, but now it's all good again and flew by!

On Sunday I played in sacrament and also performed a musical number with Soeur Robb.

It was a pretty good Sunday and one of the wives of our branch presidency talked about how many people were praying for us missionaries -- and it was insane because we started with everyone's family and friends and then their family and friends as well as our mission leaders, every temple, all the people waiting for us in France and all the people up in heaven helping us, leading us, and preparing us to meet those who need us and fulfill our purpose of going to France. 

It just was crazy and the cute sister at the end was just like "That's Kazillions of people praying for each and everyone of you" -- which is great to think about when it's hard because there's so many people praying for us to succeed:)

On Wednesday I was sitting on a mat in gym getting ready to do a core workout because I have done lots of cardio but not much of that -- when a sister I was next to stopped me and we starting talking, I didn't get her name but she was adorable and asked if she could bare her testimony to me in her mission language so she could practice.

It took me completely off guard --  but she bore a beautiful testimony in Korean and I understood a few of the words from knowing how we're taught to bear our testimonies at first in our respective languages. It was really neat and afterwards I got to bear mine in French and it was so nice because I screwed up really badly and she just sat there smiling because she had no idea x) 

Since that very different experience I've tried to find some random person who doesn't know any French that I can exchange testimonies with because it's great practice and they have no idea if I mess up or not! It also helps me meet other missionaries and learn things from them :) Since then I have heard testimonies in Korean, Russian, German, Italian, and Tagalog.

Oh and I never did finish my core workout! haha

I wish I was funny x) 

Days are weird here -- all blurring into one, It's really hard to remember what I did this morning and that makes it that much more difficult!

One of my favorite things I learned this week is that I and all the other missionaries here at the MTC are at the time in our lives when we graduate and become independent and are expected to become the most selfish and self indulgent we will ever be in our lives -- where we only focus on ourselves -- and the Lord has asked us to become the most selfless and service-orientated we could ever possibly be. It was a very strange thing to read about and it's very true because for the first time in most college freshmen's lives -- they get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and instead of that we are asked to go the complete opposite way and give everything up to serve the Lord -- and literally everything from time and communication to our hearts and our minds must be constantly on him 24/7 and ways to serve and share His Gospel. 

It's crazy and scary to think about --  but it's one of those things that makes a mission so difficult and rewarding at the same time. I may not be perfect, none of us are here as we try our best to be strictly obedient and do all that we can, but each victory we make over the selfish side of us is so huge in the grand scheme of things and will have such a lasting impact on who we are as people that the Lord will bless us forever for trying with everything we are and everything we have to serve him. 

I think that's about it, not much this week. Last week was exceptionally different ha. ;p

Love you all,

Soeur Mikayla Beatty

PS. I hope all of that made sense, still losing my English and not gaining French fast enough!

Cahoot in 9M - S Wasdworth, S Stephens S Long

9M S Kelley, S Wadswroth, S Stephens, S Long

S Beatty, S Wadswroth, S Thompson, S Kelley, E Lutu

Elder Lutu lost a bet to Elder Palmer

District Photo

District Photo

New Mission Shirt

Beautiful Soeur Beatty

S Beatty and S Robb - They performed a duet at church this week. 

Companions - S. Beatty and S Thompson

S Kelley and S Wadsworth

S Thompson and S Beatty and Elder Secretan and Elder Gray

Goofy Elder Lutu

Week 3: 2 Down, 6 To Go

So last Sunday we were all sitting in our desks in our wonderful classroom (not being sarcastic) and were just sitting there when Elder Johnson bolts straight up and goes -- I kid you not -- "I can't breathe," calmly, but still scary.

So Elder Lutu and him go straight to the Infirmary on campus (the MTC campus is a little city -- we have stores, seamstresses, a hair salon, a mail building, a dentist and doctors on campus, and then the main building  -- so you basically need for nothing on campus -- which is kind of funny and weird because it makes it a little more cut off from the rest of the world -- but anyway back to my story). 

They go straight to the Infirmary, but because it's Dimanche (Sunday), it's closed. So the security guards rush them to the ER at the Utah Valley Regional Hospital and after some tests and Elder Johnson throwing up -- they took an X-ray and the top part of his lung had collapsed spontaneously. Apparently it's normal -- so they gave him some serious pain meds and sent him back to us at the MTC where we were all freaking out, but thinking it's all good since they sent him back. They gave him orders to go back around four and make sure the lung had re-inflated itself -- because apparently this happens a lot to tallish, skinny males at the MTC.

They went on their merry way. And all of us Soeurs (Sisters) in the District were trying not to freak out and justifying it's okay until he went back for his checkup and never came back. Our Branch President had to go to the ER after all of Sunday's activities had finished to find out what was going on because the MTC forgot they had dropped off our two Elders at the hospital. They had just assumed the Elders had come back (wonder how though because the staff is in charge of transportation -- but yeah -- the staff hasn't been on top of things this week) .

Anyways, Elder Johnson's lung had collapsed even more and was immediately admitted into the hospital. He had a surgery on Monday and had drainage tubes put in. He finally got the last two taken out yesterday and is supposed to be released sometime today --  but because it's Pday we might not know if he's back or not. 

There actually was a scare yesterday when the MTC travel office called us to ask where Elder Johnson was because they dropped off an elder and didn't get his name. They assumed it was Elder Johnson and had us all freaking out that he was wandering campus alone and still needing recovery! After all the elders searched for him - they called the travel office, who called the hospital and made sure Elder Johnson was still there. Not sure if they ever figured out who they dropped off onto campus though -- but that's nothing compared to the other things they did this week. We all love the MTC -- except for the travel office, but I can't get to that part yet. 

Elder Johnson spent this week in the hospital and everything seemed great until two days ago when my companion's cold went from getting better to like a thousand times worse -- so we went to the infirmary where I got to fold origami dinosaurs while I waited -- that part was fun. haha 

They prescribed her like ten medications so we had to take this creepy van -- with tinted black windows driven by Tino -- to the Pharmacy and then came back.  She took the medicines and then about an hour later she started having side effects and thought she was going to pass out -- so we had to go to urgent care where we spent a good four hours only to have them tell us we just had to let the medicine wear off. That was not fun but  -- in the words of our district leader Elder Lutu "2 down 6 to go." haha 

I really hope it doesn't work out that way but one of our teachers has come down with something and she can't leave her bed so now it's just like -- ah crap. 

This week we moved from our wonderful building 4M to les cahots (the dungeons) of 9M or -- the telestial world -- as it's known to the rest of the building. haha. It is so dank and muggy and tiny and not fun, but were trying.... we also don't have much choice in where we live, because we basically live there. oh, and no snacks in any of the buildings because the MTC has mice >< so it's even more fun being in les cahots. But we are closer to our favorite district -- the Tahitians -- who have had a very wild ride this week as well. 

The travel office hasn't been the French branch's favorite because a few weeks ago they sent off the last batch of Lyon missionaries a week late because they -- and I quote "just didn't buy the tickets." 

The Tahitians were scheduled to be here for 6 weeks but then it got switched to 9 weeks by their mission president because they are learning French and Tahitian -- but the travel office still bought them tickets for 6 weeks and they got their itineraries and everyone was freaking out because they hadn't even got Tahitian -- and then finally someone went to the travel office (I think their mission president) -- so then the travel office postponed their tickets to March 9! They went from 9 weeks to 6 weeks and then to 12 weeks total in the MTC and a few of the Elders were really upset because they never thought they'd be here 12 weeks -- but finally yesterday they got it confirmed that they'd only be staying what they should have been all along -- 9 weeks, and they will leave the same time as us. Which I'm okay with because when we get the new ones in a week and the Canadians leave, I don't want to be the oldest and the Tahitians are lots of fun :) 

I think that's most of the eventful stuff. Oh, I met Elder Miller from the Haymarket ward on Sunday and I see him literally everywhere now! So If you see his parents he says hi. ;p

Sunday night, Janice Kapp Perry came for the devotional and it was wonderful. She is the sweetest little woman:) She talked about the power of music and her missions -- serving others through music and it was wonderful. :) 

Everyone got to sing a medley of her primary songs together and it was beautiful. She also talked about the power music has to bring a family closer and sang her family's song for us -- which was so funny because apparently her sons can't sing -- so the song she wrote has them singing "We're mama's boys we're the back up singers" in the background -- which is just awesome. It was a song about their family's history -- which was just beautiful and I loved it. :) She also talked about how on our missions, even if we don't baptize anyone, it's totally okay and good if we're the ones who come back more converted and sanctified, which I thought was a wonderful thought:)

After her devotional, we went and watched Elder Holland's MTC devotional called "A Mission is Forever." It was so strong --  as Elder Holland always is. He said a mission isn't hard because we are doing what Christ did and what Christ did was hard. We get a little taste of his suffering because we are His representatives -- he said we shouldn't waste it. We are here for Christ, for a short period of time, and we must always have a testimony of Christ on our lips to be shared with everyone we meet, no matter who they are -- which I loved. 

We had a worldwide devotional on Wednesday and my favorite part was the teaching about inactives and members, because we are supposed to share the gospel with them and help them learn and grow and remember the spirit they have already felt when they got baptized -- that is what I think I'm most excited about in the field because there are so many opportunities to remind someone of this -- and personally its not as daunting when they already know what the spirit feels like and, as missionaries, we just need to remind them. :) 

That same afternoon we had TRC -- I'm not sure what that stands for -- but we meet with members and give them member discussions in French and it was wonderful to have the spirit and talk with someone who was being themselves. We could ask real questions and they could give us real answers or even just sing hymns with us. :) Granted, I only know Je suis enfant de Dieu in French and only the first verse -- but the memorizing French is coming along :)

French is difficult and the hardest part for me is R's because they roll them in the back of their throat -- so this week I only worked on one word and variations of it, I have it down (I sound like a little french child though because apparently they accent their R's when they're learning to talk), but I have it down for the word prendre. This week my goal is to be able to say tres so I'll let you know how that's going next Pday.:)

I think that's it, it's really long so desolee (sorry) for that!

Love you all.

Soeur Mikayla Beatty :)

And here are some of my favorite quotes from the past few weeks:

God's timing is not always immediate, but it is always on time.

Satan knows your name, but calls you by your sin. Heavenly Father knows your sins but calls you by your name.

Ce n'est pas possible lumier un feu dans un autre ame si il n'y a pas un feu dans votre ame. (It is not possible to light a fire in another soul unless there is a fire in yours.) Harold B Lee

You know if you have faith by your desires to do good.

The knowledge that someone is listening is sometimes all we need.

and my branch president always says "God will never use a strobe light when a flashlight will do."

At different points during the week all of these made a big impact on me and I hope each of you finds one that helps you a little bit -- maybe in a different way than me, but when you remember it -- it will help you and remind you of me. :)

Elder Curits, Elder Bahr, Sister Thompson and Sister Beatty 

Sister Thompson, Sister Beatty, Elder Castro and Elder Plug

Sister Beatty tucking Sister Thompson in. haha

Sister Beatty and Sister Thompson

Mikayla says this would be the photo for their TV show called "The Elders"

Sister Beatty and Sister Thompson with the Tahitian missionaries

Week 2

So Its my second P-day but my first full week in the MTC -- and it's just weird is like all I can say.

Its difficult finding the balance between language and gospel study but everything will come together as long as I practice both. haha. 

This week started out with lots of meetings about rules and no gum, being modest, that sort of wonderful stuff (haha). It was not entertaining but, I mean, they need to go over it, so its understandable 

The food is not the best, but it's food. Normally I get soup, a baked potato (BECAUSE THEY HAVE A POTATO BAR!) or a wrap because they also have a wrap bar. I try not to eat too much -- but it's a given. I'm now working out almost every morning from 6-6:30 doing a sisters only class and my favorite class is Fridays -- which is kickboxing. 

On Sunday nights they play nine different films and so Sunday I half-watched Elder Bednar's address titled "Come unto Christ" which made me laugh and cry. It was beautiful -- the only problem was during the rest of that address I was bent over because I did not feel good at all -- but I didn't want to make my companion leave the video because we choose as a district what to watch.

The next day was awful! I was so sick, I fell asleep sitting up in Frere Kellett's class. I felt awful because he noticed, but I wasn't asleep too long because I woke myself up coughing. Our district leader, Elder Lutu offered to give me a priesthood blessing and it was so sweet and powerful. He and his companion Elder Johnson are the only elders in our district and we love them. Afterwards I really wanted to hug them -- but of course that would've been frowned upon -- so we just shook hands. haha. Although of course -- just like Joe and Josh -- they went back to being buttheads once the blessing was over ;p (love my brothers<3 ) 

Everyday here is pretty much the same except for Tuesday evenings when we have devotionals with a General Authority and this week it was Elder Neil L. Anderson -- which was awesome. He was funny -- when he saw one elder sleeping he had everyone stand up and stretch. The meeting was broadcast to all the International MTC's so if you can find it, I'm singing in the choir on the right near the bass guys and near the top wearing my bright pink blazer. 

This week we focused on teaching our investigator Nora. We didn't too badly -- we only had three lessons and she prayed for us which was grea,t but really eye-opening in how hard it's going to be to be a missionary --  but then also a missionary speaking a foreign language. 

The best thing that happened this week features three elders. Elder Palmer, who is in my branch and going to Tahiti, Elder Plug (ploog) who is from France going to Canada, and then his companion Elder Castro (from Portugal) going to New York, New York. 

So, ever since we got here stinking Elder Palmer tried to convince us that he was French -- his accent is amazing because everyone in his family has served in France (he has like four brothers) and they all speak French at home -- but me and my companion didn't know if he was lying or what -- and we would all argue back and forth about it -- and it was stressful because who takes advantage of newbies naivete?

(No idea if I spelled this wrong. I am losing my English but not gaining any French! haha)

Getting off track. Anyway, on Sunday me and my companion met Elder Plug and Elder Castro and made a plan to debunk or prove Elder Palmer right. It was wonderful when it finally happened! 

Elder Plug asked Elder Palmer "Where are you in from?" in French and all Elder Palmer could say was, "Yes." Elder Palmer turned so red. Elder Plug put his hand on Elder Palmer's shoulder and said in a sad voice  - in Engish, "You're not a Frenchman." It happened in front of all the other elders in our district and they were on the ground -- crying because they were laughing so hard. Elder Palmer was a good sport about it and now he speaks in a normal voice (without a French accent) which is weird now for us to hear -- but he congratulated us on a good job. 

Just a little bit about everyone in my district.

Elder Johnson- from Logan Utah. His parents are mission presidents in Pennsylvania, He's amazing on the violin

 -- he's been playing for most of his life and he loves star wars -- he always has a little star wars figure in his pocket -- not sure why but haha. He's super sweet, loves rom coms, Pride and Predjudice and has a cute girlfriend named Donni.

Elder Lutu- he's is our district leader and he's half Samoan. He's from Idaho and is funny but a dork most of the time, he thinks w'ere too loud sometimes.

Soeur Long- she looks just like Suzette!  her favorite color is purple and she;s from American Fork and is super sweet.

Soeur Stephens is her companion. She's from Las Vegas and worked at Kohl's - just like me - so we always comment when we see a Kohl's skirt.

Soeur Kelley is from Mesa Arizonia and is a physical therapist. She did dual enrollment - I think - to get certified and loves it.

Soeur Wadsworth is from Rexburg, Idaho - and she sings harmonies so well and is adorable. 

And then me and my companion make up our little classroom and district. We are all together -- like constantly -- everyday so it's interesting but we get along SOOOO much better than the other two districts that came at the same time as us. We may be a dysfunctional family -- but we all get along and play games so that's unifying:) 

Its been 11 days and I have no words to truly describe what its been like. I miss you all and my lists of what I need to tell you is so long but it makes up I think for not seeing me!

Love you all,

Soeur Beatty

Soeur Beatty's branch at the temple. Her branch president - President Dowling in in the back, right

District at the temple - Soeur Stephens, Soeur Long, Soeur Wadsworth, Soeur Kelley, Elder Lutu, Elder Johnson, Sister Beatty and Sister Thompson 

Soeur Kelley, Soeur Wadsworth, Soeur Beatty,Soeur Thommpson, Soeur Long, Soeur Stephens, Elder Lutu and Elder Johnson

Soeur Thompson, Soeur Beatty, Soeur Kelley and Soeur Wadsworth singing in the choir for the Neil L. Andersen Devotional

Soeur Beatty and Soeur Thompson with the Sister Training Leaders (she said the one on the right is from Canada and has a Canadian accent - she says "aboo")

District Leaders Elder Johnson and Lutu

Soeur Beatty

We call this her cotton candy outfit. She wasn't sure about it...but it was one of my favorites and I think it's growing on her. 

Soeur Long

Soeur Beatty's authorization to preach the gospel. The best part of this? Her release date. 1 day before my birthday. Best birthday ever.

Companions

selfies with the companion

Week 1

So the first thing I need to tell you is I'm only here for the next six weeks.  I thought my mission call said nine but I don't know - so this week is week one and if you count seven weeks after this i leave on Wednesday of that seventh week!

The MTC is absolutely insane and they don't give you any time to unpack - so it's been weird trying to find time to unpack and we're not really allowed to just hang out in our rooms, which makes it difficult for when we have free time - which  we do and me and my companion are like, what in the world are we supposed to do with free time when it's not P-day!? In the mission field it'll be different, but until then its just weird.

This morning we went to the temple just me and my companion Soeur Thompson, and it was beautiful. We did Intiatories because it's been closed for the past three weeks so they had SO MANY names that needed to be done. Then went into the celestial room. I love her so much it's great! She's very low key and laid back. We think the same when it comes to planning for lessons and just our day to day activities and she lets me go practice the piano too while she studies. 

Right now were learning to pray and sing en francais so that has us stressing a little bit but it will take a while and we'll get it eventually. All our church services are in our French branch here so it'll be a few weeks until we can understand unless of course we're teaching. and that could very well happen because every missionary is suppose to have a talk ready on Sunday in the best French they have and then like five minutes before they call on the missionaries they want to speak. Some missionaries in our branch have done it twice and others haven't at all so it is a little stressful to think about. 

My branch president is President Dowling and he is a very sweet man. I met him yesterday when I had my first interview with him and then right before I left he asked me to play piano for our branch meeting in like an hour later -- and then when that meeting ended he gave me an assignment to accompany two violinists in my branch going to Lyon as well who both are apparently amazing! I haven't heard either of them yet but I will later today because we're going to start practicing because President Dowling didn't give us a when or where -- just that it needed to get done and I'm really hoping its not on Sunday and that  we'll be told right before the meeting -- but we really have no idea!

In my class that I will be with for the next six weeks is one set of elders and two other sets of sisters.  We have all taken French before but they've only taken two or three years. Our teacher's name is Frere Kellett and he's a wonderful person -- super sweet and has a beautiful testimony. He's very loving and supportive when we fumble with our franglais (francais/French and Anglais/English). Tonight he's going to teach us to sing and pray in French which is daunting but it has to happen sooner or later. haha:) 

This is a really long letter but hopefully I covered everything. It's very surreal here but it's great. I know the Lord is proud of me for being here and doing all I can and trying my best. 

I'll write next Friday and let you know how things go :) There's no email time limit anymore so I might check again later in the afternoon but I might not, we'll see. 

Love you all and I will for sure write next week:)

Love,

Soeur Beatty:)

Soeur Beatty and Soeur Thompson at the Provo Temple

Classroom Time at the MTC

Soeur Thompson

Soeur Beatty during a district meeting

Souer Beatty's Bed - She's the Bottom Bunk

Soeur Beatty's Closet

Sneak Peek

One of my friend's mom works at the MTC and was able to get us a photo of Mikayla and her companion.

She looks so happy. It made my mama heart want to burst. 

Soeurs Thompson and Beatty at the World Map at the MTC

Bon Voyage

We got up at 4 am to drive Sister Beatty to the airport to catch her flight to Salt Lake City. 

She was in good spirits. And all was well until Katie started to cry. Then everyone lost it and started balling. 

Troy was catching a flight to New York City and was able to walk her to her gate. His gate was just one down from hers. They sat together until he had to board.

She had a layover in Minneapolis and was finally picked up in Utah by her best friend, Hannah.

Thankfully, they were able to call and I felt so much better knowing all was well. 

She entered the MTC at 12:30 and started her adventure. 

Souer Beatty saying goodbye to her siblings.

Jared and Soeur Beatty

The kids and I went to IHOP to drown our sorrows.

The kids wanted to take before and after photos so they could compare how much they grew while Soeur Beatty was gone.