#emptyC

I have so much to write about It is crazy! 

I want to start out with an experience that I had this past week. As a missionary we do lots of role playing. For particular activity we were teaching investigators (who where modeled people we actually knew)  We were talking to them about prayer and helping them pray for the first time. I was paired with an Elder (I won't tell you who because he might not want people to know. I was the missionary and he was the investigator. I tought him a brief lesson on prayer and how powerful it was then we got down on our knees to pray. It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong and he was able to feel the feelings that his friends was feeling and would feel if he was to pray again after a long time. It was so great. He couldn't stay in character because he was crying so hard. It is amazing the spirit that we have in our lives and we don;t even realize it. It also taught me that it really doesn't matter what you say as a missionary if the spirit is with you and your investigator has the desire truly amazing things will happen. It is hard not being able to touch elders (that sounds bad) the only thing we can do is Hand shakes. There have been so many times that I have just wanted to give them a hug. But We cant. We have started giving proxy hugs when we will ask another elder to hug them for us or say that my spirit is giving yours a hug. It is really hard especially when we are all getting so close.  as a district. 

On Sunday we get to go on a Temple walk where we walk around the temple. It was so great getting out of the MTC for a little while and just having some fun. I have attached pictures from the walk. It was snowing and really picture perfect. :) It was also some of the Members of our districts first experience with snow. 

I saw Elder Kahn on Sunday and talked to him. I told him he better be writing home! 

Mail time is so great at the MTC. We look forward to it every day. Sister Swapp and I have started singing MAIL TIME from Blues Clues. Every time because we want to wail. 

We are currently teaching Jake and Carlos and tonight we start teaching Lawanda tonight. Jake is slowly progressing we are just trying to get him to pray. He doesn;t feel worthy. 

We are teaching Carlos as a District. We have only taught him once and are teaching him again tonight. He is very eager to learn and has lots of questions. 

Lawanda is a contact that ELDERS Thelin and EGNEW found. They invited us to help teach her and we are teaching her tonight. 

Thank you so much for the Christmas packages. It is great to feel the love from home. I finally cried. I hadn't cried at all until I open the package from home. The weird thing is the thing that did it was the picture of all of our stockings hanging on the mantle. 

On sunday our branch president was released and We now how a new one. It is so sad. It was kinda like, oh your getting used to it here lets through this at you. I know that in the church things are always changing and I know thats what God needed to happen. 

SISTER PAYNE from the district came and talked to us! It was so exciting she is like a celebrity. 

KATIE you should Watch the district it is really good and I think you would like it. 

On Sunday Sister Swapp and I are teaching our district (it is kinda like Sunday School) We are teaching on faith. Which is hard because last week everyone had to prepare a talk on faith so we are trying to find new things. I an going to share my experiance with going on a mission. 

On Christmas eve One of the 70 came and talked to us. Then we got to watch the Nativity and MR> Krugers Christmas! 

On Christmas we had a "Missionary Talent Show" We also had President Bednar come and talk to us. it was so great they handed out Cell phones and we could text him questions and he would answer them. OH MY GOSH talk about amazing. The first question he answered "why we feel so inadequacy" His answer was perfect and i think what everyone needed. We feel this way because we of some sense of what we have been called to do.  He talked about how he dosent feel he is worthy to be one of the 12 but with Christ he can. 

There are so many stairs I go up everyday it's crazy! our classroom is on the 4th floor and my residence is in the basement. 

We have been focusing alot on our purpose as a missionary and teaching people not lessons. We are also discussing the gospel of Christ ALOT. 

Anyone that has sent me a letter, package or letter I will right you back today and send it. 

SISTER DEKARVER 

I cant figure out pictures. I will try and send them in a diffrent e-mail

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We only get 20 minutes today because everyone is getting a turn within a 2 hour window.

I made a list of everything I wanted to say but I fear it is to long to type right now. I promise to write again on Friday.

Please read the words to the Christmas hymns and think about what they are really about. Remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Sister DeKarver

First letter home.

Hello everyone. 

Well I am here at the MTC. It has been a crazy few days! I am doing well. I finally got mail today. (We didn't have anyone to pick it up before) It made me feel so much better. I responded to all the letters I have received and can't wait for more. PLEASE KEEP SENDING THEM!

My Companions name is Sister Swapp. (We are probably related but I don't know how. Her Great Grandpas name is Ether Swapp. Sound familiar?) She is a great companion and very understanding. Especially when I had to wake her up at 2:30 am the first night to go to the bathroom. There is 5 sisters in my room. We are all going to Federal Way. The Elders in my District are going to San Diego. We also have another district in our zone/branch they are all going to Indiana. I am so grateful for my branch president here. He is like a little mini counselor. All the teachers and basically everyone here are so concerned about how we are doing. They are always making sure we are ok and encouraging us. They understand how hard this is and want us to succeed. 

I did get my Orange Juice. It was a little crazy the first day but has gone well since. I just have to not forget it. :) 

Our daily schedule is kinda crazy. We have different classes and lots of study time. Sister Swapp and I are also preparing to teach a hypothetical investigator. his name is Jake. We teach him tomorrow afternoon for the first time. We really want him to feel the love that God has for him. 

We talk a lot about our purpose as a missionary. 

I am really starting to love these people both the missionaries in my district and the investigators. It is a strange love that I have never felt before. Like with the investigators I just want to teach them and show them to the light of Christ. My companion and other sisters in my district are so great! Normally in the MTC we get to go to the temple once a week on P day. We don't because the temple is closed for cleaning. :( It will open again on the 6th but i don't think we will be able to go. 

The only thing we know about Christmas so far is that on Christmas eve we are having an Apostle come as well as another one on Christmas day. On Christmas we are also having a "Missionary Talent Show" though they don't want us to call it that. I am very excited to see which apostles come and see what they have to say. I am sure it will be a fantastic Christmas, Very Christ centered. 

The other sisters in my District are Sister Simmons, Keele, and Copen. They are all great and are the Sister training leaders. 

I am the Senior Companionship in my companionship but halfway through our time here we will switch so that Sister Swapp can have a turn. 

Today we had personal exercise time. But tomorrow we can start using the gym. The Sisters can get up early and attend some classes that are different from the elders. Sister Swapp and I are going to get up early tomorrow and do this. Tomorrow is a Aerobics, Yoga, and Pilates class. I am really excited.   

To Answer some questions: 

we have a scheduled time to get ready from 6:30 to 7. My companion and I have been getting up 15 minutes early so we can shower. Our room is very small. We have 3 bunk beds and 3 desk wardrobe things. There is hardly enough space but we make due. I think they did a good job with the assets they had. 

We do have a public bathroom. I am not sure how many girls however. The showers do all have curtains. 

I have not seen Elder Kahn yet but I have seen a girl who used to be on JV Her name might be Megan? and Elder Omer (you don't know him) 

I would like to think I am adjusting well. I am still getting used to calling everyone Elder and Sister and not "guys." 

Please know that I am doing well. and KEEP SENDING DEAR ELDERS. They help so much just to hear from home. 

they are having me do an assessment because of my Mental Health background to see how I am adjusting. 

Watch for my letters. 

Know that I love you! 

SISTER DE KARVER