5. JUNE-Curse Wrap Around Skirts with Awkward Splits Down the Middle....

Hello my American friends! (this is a line has been engraved into my mind and soul as i hear it at least 20 times a day)

We had a little walk up the temple for some pictures as we said our goodbyes to a slew of missionaries that have completed their training and heading out to the field...ready or not! Can you believe i have already hit my 1 month mark?! And during my 1 month here i have discovered one thing.....the MTC is Hogwarts. Let me explain.....

The cafeteria is the great hall, all of the entrances require a password (pass card). The cafeteria people wear badges that say "Prefect." The Spirit is like a marauders map in our head. Preach My Gospel is our spell book. We're learning a new language (our spells) to make magic happen (share the gospel). We are fighting against evil. The gym turns into our devotional room- this is the room of requirement. We have great power-Elders, like the elder wand. The temple grounds are like Hogsmead cause we only get to visit there once in a while. And DearElders are our Owls. We even got our acceptance letter to come here and it assigned us to our "house" or Mission.... and my stay at Hogwarts will be complete as soon as i receive my Nimbus 2000 aka AlphaSmart 3000 which is a handy dandy keyboard you can type on and upload later on the computer! "Extended" type time, mwahahaha!

Yup, this is what my District did during our P-day. Nothing like watching a good ol' game of sand volleyball! What? You didn't actually think i played did you? 

It's funny to see what the affects of movie deprivation can do to a couple thousand missionaries. Every sunday, during our spiritual feasting, we get to pick from a variety of seminars to attend, and there is always a spiritually uplifting church produced movie as a option, and i never thought in my life that i would consider The Testament a chick flick, but you wouldn't believe all the oooing and awwwing that goes on as soon as a boy and a girl get so much as 5 feet away from each other. Speaking of which! An elder played a sick joke on me last night when we were all walking back from the gym. He was walked ahead of me a bit and i was in my own thoughts behind him when all of a sudden he turns around and runs at me with open arms in 100% hug mode, the screech of my heels echoed through the halls as i shielded my face of pure horror with my hands. So it's officially official. Im a missionary. And i fear hugs from the opposite gender.

When life, or a package from a missionaries mom, gives you lime green balloons, you have a tournament to see how long you can keep all the balloons up in the air without them touching the ground, right? Well, that's our motto at least.

BIG NEWS!! Im so excited to tell you guys this cause im going to be singing in the MTC choir for the quorum of the 12 and the presidency!!! And it's going to be filmed live! Turn on your TV on July 23rd and you'll get to see pretty ol me singing my heart out. The MTC is so large now that we are now going to start having our devotionals at the Marriot Center at BYU. Our first night is tonight and im pretty sure one of the apostles is going to speak. Im so excited! Missionary work is booming over here and im so excited to be part of it! But even BIGGER news! There has been a switcheroo among companionship's in our district and...i have a new companion! SISTER GRIFFITHS!

Guys this is not okay, i think im getting sick. AGAIN! my throat is on fire and it feels like it's been coated in sand, im now eating Luden's cough drops as if they were candy. Speaking of sand......shower story! The other night all of the showers were taken up except for one shower.....the dark one covered in shadows and grime in the deepest darkest corner of the bathroom. It was 7 minutes till quite time and i was in a very desperate situation. I told myself "it can't be that bad" and dove into the depths. All was going well until i turned on the faucet, i heard a hissing, then a clanking of water pipes, i stood there puzzled as to what was causing the stall in the flow of water, when all of sudden an explosion of boiling hot water shot of of the shower head like a sand blaster and i was literally plastered up against the wall! Full on cheek shoved against wall with full body paralysis. I finally managed to reach my hand behind me and reach the faucet, and i can safely say that there was no germs or skin for that matter after that episode.
Flash photo sesh from a temple trip!

This week as been a normal fast week! The Russian is slowly becoming more familiar to me, and i LOVE singing the Russian hymns! It's one of my favorite things and it brings a really great spirit. I loved all my DearElders i got yesterday! So many laughs and smiles and squeals while reading Mom's, Tenaya's, Erica's, Sage's, and McCalls letters. Im so happy to hear about the pioneer trek! It sounded like so much fun! Maybe we can all square dance when i get home in celebration.

Well dinner is calling my name, and then it's off to choir practice! I can't believe im half way done here, im kinda freaking out, but i know the Lord will make up for the difference if i try my best. It's great being able to use this time to strengthen my testimony and relationship with Him. I love you all. Leetle Kiss Big kiss leetle kiss XoxooXOxo

-Cectpa Roe

Week 5