YOU CAN DO THIS

Hola Lindsey's peep and readers. This is Linnea her awesome sister who is going to be updating her blog while she is away :(  Enjoy her experiences!

First off...Linds has been out for almost a whole week!! Yay, one down..how many to go?? Ha Ha. Well we dropped linds off at the MTC and boy was this emotional. Everything happened so fast and within 5 minutes of us pulling into the MTC she was off. She was emotional that morning but once she got out of the car at the MTC she was greeted by a ton of missionaries and she doing awesome! We drove past her on our way out of the MTC parking lot and we saw for the last time in 18 months as she walked into the MTC. Let me tell ya guys...She was confident and ready to go...she had a glow about her! Later on that afternoon my mom got a call from a lady in our ward who actually volunteers at the MTC and guess what, she saw Lindsey. She was with her companion, happy and smiling. Pretty cool, and what a relief for us as a family to hear after only being away from her for 4 hours. Well, I will post pictures as soon as lindsey's computer stops going through withdrawls. Seriously if worked Tues night and wed morning but come wed evening it wont turn on! So, I will work on posting pictures soon. Trust me...Linds would want that!

Her first letter:

June 25, 2011

Hola Family!!

Oh my gosh I cant believe I am here!! It seems so sureal. You dropping me off on wednesday seems like forever ago, but yet it goes fast. Timing on a mission is crazy. First off I wanted to thank you for the amazing package....seriously it was the best!! I wasn't even expecting anything on that first day, but of course I have the best parents in the world. Thank you so much. The box smells so nice because of all of the Laundry stuff, and I love all the cars things. You know me all to well, which of course you would. Did i mention I love being suprised so it was the best!! Now for my experience at the MTC... Its overwhelming, and I am grateful I am learning spanish really, but at the same time I get discouraged. They stated a new piolit program at the MTC so the second we walked into the class room our teach spoke spanish. AHHH!!! Of course the fundamentals of the gospel we do a little in english, but other than that it's all in spanish. I am really starting to wish I would have had a better teacher and worked harder in high school instead of goofing off with friends. It would have come in handy right about now. Our teachers at the MTC are Hermano Catt and Orme. Luckily they are both patient and positive which is what the get paid for. They have such a passion about what they are doing. Just so you know my day goes something like this: wake up, get ready (very fast) good thing I mastered this a while ago, eat, study, class, and repeat all day long everyday. It has been a little bit of an adjustment to say the least. Its amazing how much I really LOVE the MTC don't get me wrong I have had my moments such as reading sweets letters, cards, and dear elders. It keeps me going, and I love knowing how much you are each supporting me. Now for my companion. Her and I were seriously meant to be. Her name is Katie Stout or Hermana Stout, and she is from Arkansas. She is 23 worked at a law firm, and got her associate degree at BYU-I. We have so much in common personality wise, its amazing. We have become the bestest friends. She keeps me strong when I need, and I do the same for her. So if we are ever both feeling down at the same time we are in trouble....don't worry It will never get to that point. In talking to her we both have been on an emotional rollercoster before we entered the MTC, and she has had some of the same doubts that I have had. So basically we keep telling ourselves we CAN DO THIS, and I am pretty positive we were supposed to be together to get each other through this. Guess what?? Elder Bednar came yestday for a devotional, and it was Amazing!! He talked about how we need to become preach my gospel missionaries. Of course I was crying at the end of the talk because at the end of the talk he said you CAN DO THIS!! Hermana Stout and I looked at each other both crying and linked arms. It was inspiration!! Since I have been here for the first couple days I  have realized I have some growing to do, seriously. Everywhere we go we are being taught the purpose of our work, which is to invite others to come unto christ by helping them recieve the restored gospel. How our main focus for learning the lessons and the language needs to be on our investigators, and the savior, because we are here to do his work. So I have some improvement because I often think I have to get this lanugage for me because it will help me in my career, or I can speak with my friends, or ease drop on someone's conversation with out them knowing I can speak spainsh. WRONG!! Its all for him, and I am quickly putting my faith in him. This is going to be such an amazing Faith building experience. I am going this and it's not for just me, but for the family that is being prepared to learn the gospel. This gospel is amazing and there are 2300 missionaries at the MTC all because each one of us have a testimony and a desire to serve. It has become instant friendships because we are all united in the same purpose, and we all are going around the world to share the saviors message.  I pray for you always, seriously. I always have a prayer in my heart because I can't do this with out the strength of the Lord. I can't thank you enough for your support how did I get so blessed. Linnea, Your quick note made me cry!! I only get emotional when I read your encouraging letters or feel the spirit so I guess that could happen all the time!! :)  Have fun, Be good, and enjoy every moment. Please pray for me. I LOVE YOU ALL until next thursday!!

Siempre Amor,

Hermana Grimes

Keep writting :)