This Library Smells Funny

Monday, July 31, 2017

Alexandria, Virginia

Lovelies,

This week has been...wowza! (Oh, the eloquence.) But let's all take a moment to be grateful that I am still alive, because apparently in the Virginia/DC area, you don't have to pass a driving test. I think they just hand them out to anyone, whether blind or a child! They are crazy drivers! I'm not allowed to drive here... yet. I have to get a special card and pass a special test, but if I were driving, I would need to repent a lot. You should hear me now, though.  I'm all "Child of God, you are going too fast!" or "You didn't use your blinker, but would you like to build your faith in Christ?!" ALSO, speed bumps here are called "speed tables"!! I think that is so funny.

On Tuesday, I woke up, had a breakfast of toast and jam, and got in the car that took me to the place where my life would be forever changed.  Yes. The Stake Center. We went in, got some training (which I really hope I wasn't actually supposed to remember. I'll have to ask.), and was taken into a room where there were many bright-eyed missionaries waiting to be assigned their trainee.... They all seemed a little too excited. They probably know something we don't. But I walked in, and they started pairing everyone up with their trainers, and I was paired up with the loveliest Sister Morin! She is just the cutest. My cute companion is from Quebec, Canada and speaks fluent French. One of my transfer goals is to learn a little bit of French from my Canadian friend. So, after much tears were shed, I said goodbye to my little group of MTC buddies, and we skedaddled on our way. Into the wild, blue yonder.  Into the sky. We went finding for a bit, then we met our Hungarian bishop, went finding some more, and then we got to meet C*. She's a recent convert from Ghana, and she loves to read the scriptures, so we go over there to read with her. Side note: I have never been asked to pray more in my life. 

Saying hello to Sister Morin.

My trainer and me. It's official: I'm a missionary.

Wednesday was not a horrible day, either! Oh, the tender mercies. We went to District Meeting in the morning, and our District Leader is the best. He actually called me last night, and I have to give a training at our next meeting. And I said yes. Because I am a missionary. And missionaries teach. But that day, we came home and had a corn on the cob each as our lunch. I was all "I'm a growing person!" but then I looked in our fridge, and I saw that there were very few choices, so I was content with the corn. Then we met with F*, an investigator. He's from Sierra Leone. We read the scriptures with him (don't you just love teaching the Isaiah chapters to a new investigator whose native tongue is some form of African? Because, I gotta tell you, it's one of my favorite things), and he said he would like to be baptized. But apparently he has been saying that for a few weeks now, so Sister Morin wasn't as excited as I was. He just won't come to church and won't marry his lady friend. Then we saw F*, who is also from Sierra Leone. She doesn't smile much, but we talked about tithing and fast offerings, and she seemed interested. Then we went finding again, and there were no people who wanted to talk to us. One guy at the door was like "I believe in science. Do you believe in science?", and I was kind of offended, but then I just remembered in Nacho Libre when he says "I believe in science" but then comes to love the orphans and the Lord. So, there is hope for everyone, I suppose. BUT NOT FOR MY LEGS. Apparently, my blood is a nice, gourmet feast for the mosquitoes. They are all over my legs. And the mission nurse said she thinks I'm allergic because they started to swell up, and now I look like a leper. We had dinner with R* that night, and she took us to a Sushi and Hibachi Grill. It was so cool, and I got yummy, yummy chicken. And the guy threw it in the general direction of my mouth. And I caught it. Yeah. I'm so fly. 

Twins - even in Virginia.

On Thursday, guess who we ran into?? Jehovah's Witnesses. We went finding in the park (which is absolutely beautiful. I have pictures to show you! Seriously, so, so green. Sister Morin was like "Trees, cool" and I was like "TREES! SO COOL! LET'S TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS AND A PICTURE OF THAT AND LOOK! MORE TREES!") and we kind of ran into them. I was ready to mark my territory with some karate moves, but Sister Morin invited them to church. (I see why she is the senior companion.) But we ended up just leaving them be as we were going home for lunch anyway. And then we met the Ward Mission Leaders.  They are so cute. They're a newly married couple with no babies. But it was so fun to be around them. And she gave us cookies, and ever since then, I have been craving cookies!! But we met them, went to Dunkin' Donuts to use their Wi-Fi (which is broken), and this weird guy wanted Sister Morin's phone number. So we gave him a card about Christ with our phone number on it and the address to the church building. He was super poopy about that.  But I was all "Can't you see this woman is a nun?" HAHA I'm so funny. (Seriously though, my poor companion.) Then we had dinner with a lovely woman and her two-year-old boy, and that was so nice. I just love the members in the ward. The spirit in their homes is so, so special. Every time we go to dinner at someone's house, I just get so excited. Anyway, then we went finding again, and someone let us in!! It's a cute, young couple who were just sitting down to dinner and they were great. They were open to our message, and they willingly accepted The Book of Mormon from us. It was so amazing. So we're going back on Thursday to teach them and to make them like us. I'll keep you posted. We also got to meet a woman named K*, and she's from Ghana. She wants to read The Book of Mormon with us, so we're going back on Wednesday to read it with her. She also said she would consider baptism. So, yeah. I'm a missionary. 

Trees #1

Trees #2

Trees #3

Trees #4

Friday was a planning day, and it was awesome and also not awesome. We spent all morning inside when it was raining! I was like "Really? You give us rain when we're not actually to leave the apartment?" but then I had to repent because rain is good for the trees whether we're inside or outside. After planning, we checked up on some people who didn't let us in. And we didn't have anyone sign up to feed us dinner, so we went out to eat. We went to this Japanese place and had this really weird cilantro ramen thing (not my brand), and then we got a doughnut to share because I was cranky-poopy that I didn't enjoy our lovely night out. But it was still raining outside, and I got to be happy for a little bit!! Then we saw Stephanie, a former investigator, and she said we could come back and share a message with her again! Huzzah!

On Saturday, it was still raining in the morning (yay!) and we went to a meeting with the Ward Mission Leaders. Then we went to the library and did a report thing for Ward Council the next day. Then we went finding again , and it was scary as butt. There were a lot of weird people there. That night, we had dinner with the S* family, and they were super nice. The husband told me all about his travels to Morocco, Thailand, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt. And then we went to a complex and started finding, and all of a sudden, when we walked past a door, someone knocked from the other side. We didn't even have to think twice before we booked it down the stairs, away from said door. (and when I say we, I mean I booked it down the stairs and just hoped that my companion was following me) (...she was) So, we left.  And then we gave The Book of Mormon to G*, our front-door man.  We're not allowed to really talk to anyone about the church in our apartment, but he kept asking us questions and said he wanted to read it, so we gave it to him. Who knows? We may have just saved his soul. Then we went to bed. 

And yesterday, we went to church, and it was awesome. I had to bear my testimony, but there were a lot of people who came up to me and said it was exactly what they needed to hear. I talked about the power of prayer. Prayer is a huge blessing here. It's what has really gotten me through. Also, my companion. And we had dinner with a cute family, and it made me miss my family a lot. I love you guys! Also, they had cookies for dessert, and my cookie craving still isn't sated. 

Sister Kleven & Sister Morin

The companions.

This morning, we went shopping. So I'm not going to starve anymore. 

I also found out that I will not be coming home until January 21, 2019. So I will not make it home for Christmas. But I'll think about you when it comes around!!

I love you guys and the Church and the rain! Mwah!

Love,

Sister Kleven

More Pics from the MTC

Sister Kleven sent a few more pics of the MTC before she left for DC.

Elder B & Elder M chillin'.

At the Provo Temple.

Sister K & Sister J chillin'.

The Trio in a moment of calm.

The Trio in a moment of something else.

 

First Day at the MTC

Elder Kleven arrived at the Provo, Utah MTC on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. An hour after his arrival, we received this email from him. Short and sweet. 

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Provo, Utah

I'm finally here! 

The trainers here are great. I just finished some online orientation and now get to email you all and let you know that I'm here and fine.

Also my P-days are on Tuesday, unlike the Ginger's.

Heading into the MTC.

To Ma and the Children

On Friday, July 28, 2017, I received a handwritten letter from Sister Kleven addressed to "Ma and the Children". It reads, in part:

Monday, July 24, 2017

Washington, DC

Dearest family,

Well, this is it! I've made it to Washington, DC and to my lovely mission home. My mission president and his wife are just the cutest ever. I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now! This day has been an emotional one for me! But thinking about home ha made it better. And worse. I'm very sad to be leaving my cute companion, but my Mission President promises that my trainer will also be wonderful. Oh, and he said I will not be in a walking or biking area. I'm very exhausted. I got up at 1:30 am today, and then we almost missed our flight, and my bags are ten-thousand pounds, and I got really sick on the plane, but I am so, so excited!... and terrified! Tell everyone that I love them. Seriously, I love and miss you guys so much. 

Kisses from Washington, DC.

Love,
Sister Meredith Kleven

Travel Day

Monday, July 24, 2017

Washington, DC

'Ollo 

Wow. I am tired.

So, on Sunday, we went to church and then we went to lunch, which was incredibly disappointing, and then Elder B and Elder M walked to the temple with us. We took some pictures, but I'll have to send them to you later. And then we had a devotional, but we skipped films so that we could go to bed. After the devotional, we had to say goodbye to the Elders. It was so, so sad. So we went to bed.

And then we woke up at 1:30 am! Ew! I was very not happy. We finally get on our bus, and it turns out that one of the Sisters had slept through her alarm and was an hour late -- I was cranky-poopy. So we got to the airport, and my bags were flippin' heavy. But not too heavy! I did not have to pay overweight bag fees. So, we got on the plane, and I didn't get to sit next to my companions. I sat next to Elder M, and he was very nice, but I was tired and suffering from motion sickness. It has never been so horrible--I had to warn those around me that I might just hurl on them. Then we landed and I tried to call Dad, but the pay phone wasn't working!! So, I guess I'll talk to him on Christmas. Then we boarded again, and it was another horrible flight - sitting next to the same people....poor people. While we were driving to the mission home, everyone was oohing and aahing while looking at the sights, and I was groaning and weeping in the back seat. The roads are so bumpy and twisty and turny. My poor tummy. 

I LOVE the trees and the green here. It is so beautiful. Now I'm sitting in the mission home, waiting for a meeting. I have 2 more minutes, so I'm logging off right now. But tomorrow is when I meet my trainer!

Being in a new place is getting to me, and I miss you all so much. 

Kisses!

Love,

Me

Sister Kleven with President & Sister Huntsman in Washington, DC.

The new DC-South missionaries on July 24, 2017.

Tour of the New Missionary Training Center

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Provo, Utah

Sister Kleven toured the new Missionary Training Center with her district. Here are photos she sent of that experience. Of it, she only said that these two murals of Moses are her favorite. Or, in her words, "Seriously. The flippin' best." 

My district at the new MTC.

Moses mural #1.

Moses mural #2.

Last Few Days at the MTC

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Provo, Utah

Dearest, loveliest family and friends,

I miss you all. I also miss being able to walk to my fridge and pour myself a glass of milk when I want to. This week has been...just a week.  

Sunday I came down with an ugly cold, but I still had to go to all the Sunday meetings that they have here in the MTC. Day of rest? Ha, nope. Elder R and Elder M are our Zone Leaders now, so Elder B is now our District Leader. There was choir, which I went to, and then a devotional that night. Then there were movies that were playing, and we tried to see Legacy, but there were about 2,000 people in line to see that one. There were signs hanging above the line that said "Turn back! You will get swallowed up in this throng of missionaries!" ...So I just had to turn back.  

Worship service with Sister J, Elder B, and Elder M. Elder M is Jed. Seriously. They are the same person - both goobers!

Then on Monday we taught Morgan. She was super cute. I still had a cold, so Sister Johns walked around carrying hand sanitizer and tissues and wouldn't let me touch anything. Between the wheezing and the coughing and the spewing of phlegm, it was kind of nice. But in the middle of our morning class, I was suffering a slow death, so Sister J took me back to our residence and let me sleep for two hours. Then I had to get up for lunch. Not a good enough reason to drag an invalid from their sick bed. Then we taught Kristen. Man, these poor ladies who we teach had to sit and listen to me. I don't even remember what I said in these lessons, but I hope it had something to do with the Gospel. Then we skipped exercise time. 

Morning class with my district.

Tuesday was okay. We had a substitute teacher because Brother Knapp and Sister Burton were gone. So we had Brother Anderson and Brother Croft. It was pretty cool. I was still ill. So, because we are in a pilot program, we sit in a classroom with a giant wall covered in a two way mirror thing so that people can go to the other side of the glass and watch our classes without us being aware. That knowledge was super great to have. My ability to pay attention and participate in class had nothing to do with the possibility that someone might be observing. Then that night we had a devotional and choir, but I still sounded like a smoker, so I just mouthed the words; it was a blessing to whomever was in hearing vicinity to me. Then we had devotional review. Then sleepy time came.

Before a devotional, Elder B sporting my glasses.

Wednesday I beat out all the Elders in wall sits. I'm so totally fly. We taught Kristen and Morgan again, and we committed Kristen to baptism!! (We know that she's already a member because she kept saying things like "my ward does this" and "my ward and I are going on a river rafting trip this weekend" and stuff like that.) We were so excited!! We just love Kristen so, so much. She's going to be someone that I really miss. And then on Wednesday, we went to the field for exercise time, and I played Spike Ball with Elder M. because I was still suffering from my stinkin' cold. And then we heard some horrible news: Sister A has to go home. She went to the doctor, and he said that she needed a minor surgery before she could go to DC with everyone.  She was sad, and we were all sad, and Elder B and Elder M gave her a blessing - it was a really great blessing. 

Post exercise when I was so totally fly and kicked the Elders' booties in wall sits.

SK, SJ, and Kristen - one of our MTC investigators. We love her.

Thursday we met with Morgan and asked her to think about baptism, but she had some serious doubts about the Law of Chastity, so she wasn't sure if she wanted to be baptized. So, I sent her some emails and videos about it, and she seemed to appreciate them. Then we went to meet with Kristen, and while we were waiting for her and going over our lesson, she had to cancel on us. So then we just waited for lunch to come around. Then we had another class. I love when people role play with me -- ya know, when I'm the investigator. Then we had some gym time. Let me tell you something: Sister J is a beast. I mean, I'm over on one side of the gym with my little lifting machine thing, pushing out reps of 15 with my 40 pounds (at this point, my muscles are crying out for sweet salvation), and she's barely sweating with 150 pounds. I aspire to be more like her. Every time my muscles start weeping, I go to the mats under the pretext of stretching, but I just hide and weep with my muscles.  And then the Sisters had a little surprise for the Elders after exercise time! We made them all goodie bags with candy and notes and stuff for all of them. It all came about because I was cranky-poopy at them last week, so everyone was like "Do service! Service is good! Yay service!" So I was like "yay service." But it actually did make me love them more. 

SK & SJ - Best MTC companions ever!

Friday, we met with Morgan for the last time. She said she was thinking about baptism but still wasn't sure. But then she started absentmindedly humming For the Beauty of the Earth, so I was like "Hmm. Pretty sure she's a member." And guess what? She is. So both of our investigators aren't actually investigators. Bummer. Then we met with Kristen for about 15 minutes and just kind of chatted with her, so we're going to have a formal lesson this afternoon with her. After that, we walked Sister A to where her parents were going to pick her up, and we said goodbye. She's supposed to be sending me some pictures, so I will get those to you soon. But Brother Knapp left his other class and came to say goodbye! It was nice. And then we walked back together (he just had surgery on his knee, so everyone was being nice to him and walking at his pace, but when I say "I'm literally running" everyone just cackles evilly and walks faster), and then we had to say goodbye to him. Guess who I saw again yesterday? Brother Leppard! He didn't say "Cheerio" again, but it was still nice to see him. Anyway, so now Sister J and Sister J and I are a trio until we get to DC. Then we had exercise time at the field, and I did 60 lunges (beast) and played more Spike Ball. 

This is what SJ and I did for Sister A when she left.

And then this morning we gathered up our laundry and braved the demons of the laundry room (except not because this is consecrated ground, hahajkjkjk). Then a nice bagel for breakfast. With shmear. And then we finished our laundry and elbowed our way into a computer room. Thus, here we are.  

Dining in the MTC cafeteria.

I love you guys so, so much. This is where I'm supposed to be right now, though.  I have already been blessed with so much love, power, knowledge, and friendship. I love to learn about the gospel and to teach about it. 

I'm very frightened about the airport on Sunday. Did I tell y'all?? We have to leave here Monday morning at 2:30am! I got my travel plans and I was all "HAHAHAHAHAHA! FUNNY JOKE" until I realized no one else was laughing.  My companion had to make sure I didn't burn the travel plans so that the numbers couldn't mock me.

Tomorrow we have church, and Elder R asked me to lead the music in church. I said yes. Because I am a missionary. And missionaries serve. And they accept callings. That is the mantra I repeat in my head daily.  

Anyway, I think that's all.  I hope you are all having fun, being safe, and loving me.  

Love,

Missionary almost out in the field

First Few Days after the First Few Days

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Provo, Utah

'Sup.

I've been singing "Hooked on a Feeling" nonstop for 11 days. My roommates love it. At least, that's what I tell them. But Sister Johns can match my love for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat [sic] and sings with me a lot. I miss the world! 

Sister Johns & Sister Kleven.

Sunday was pretty hectic as we had ten billion meetings we had to attend after booking it up hills with 50 pounds of spiritual on our back. And then we got lost because there are about 20 different Sacrament Meetings going on at a time, and I still didn't know anyone in my zone, so we were spiritually fed multiple times that day. Then choir, which was nice. Then we saw "Character of Christ" which changed my life. I am a completely different person. Boom! I'm ready to serve a mission! (That's how I felt after watching it, but my perspective the next morning had quickly turned around.)

Then Monday I walked into class and my teachers were like: "Today you're going out into the world and talking to people and finding investigators, and you're going to like it" and my poor missionary heart and mind just went: "Flgthpitgh." I was very concerned for my health. And then they threw us out into the world to experience massive amounts of anxiety and rejection. At least that was my view when we left the building. There were a bunch of people walking around the MTC with certain badges on and those were the people that we were allowed to go up to and start preaching the word. So, Sister Johns and I skedaddled on our way only to find...no one. I was pretty bummed. On the outside. On the inside, I was like "Yesssss. No one to embarrass myself in front of today". But apparently the Lord heard that and was like "Ha. No." because we eventually found someone. We found Morgan.  And we went up to her, and I was so nervous that I started shaking and sweating (why would they have something so stressful be outside where it's hotter than blazes?) and I just said really loudly "SISTER KLEVEN - LIKE HEAVEN - BUT NOT - BECAUSE IT'S KLEVEN." ...poor Morgan. She seemed startled. Anyway, we set up an appointment with her, then we went on to our next prey. And we found Kristen. And I didn't say anything stupid this time. Ha. Just kidding. Of course I did. But she also agreed to meet with us, and I felt a surge of pride for myself. Go, Meredith! I am a successful missionary! I mean, I know they were just actors, but I didn't barf on anyone, and I'm sure everyone is grateful for that.

Tuesday we met with Morgan and Kristen, as that is when we had set up appointments with them. We had a pretty rough start with Morgan. She just seemed incredibly bored and disconnected the whole time. So i was discouraged. Then we met with Kristen, and I felt a whole lot better about our meeting with her! I don't know why, but the spirit in the room with Kristen was so, so powerful. I was like "Wow. Spirit." We taught them both about the Restoration. I went home and stressed about life. There was a devotional that night. I didn't feel particularly bright afterwards because the man was a scholar from birth, apparently. Seriously, nothing sunk into my brain. Oh well.

Wednesday we met with Morgan again in the morning and it was so, so much better than our first lesson with her!  We taught the third lesson, which is The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and she seemed interested! We got a survey from her, and the response that we got was great!  She said she felt love, hope, comfort, a desire to change, and blah blah blah. But I felt elated! Then we had to go back to class and sit for 3 hours, which I don't like to do. And then guess who I ran into??? Brother Leppard!  It was really nice to see him in person.  We talked a little bit and then he said "Cheerio" and was gone.  But he said he would tell SIster Hansen that he saw me. So yeah.  That made me happy. (Brother Leppard and Sister Hansen were mentors who met weekly through phone calls with Sister Kleven six weeks prior to the MTC for a pilot program. She loved it and was so grateful for that extra boost before she left. She was hoping to meet both of them in person during her stay at the MTC.) And then we had exercise time, so we went to the gym, and Sister Johns was like "You have little arms and legs. Let's make them hurt," so we did leg lift/press things and arm lift things, and there was some weight and my brain was like "Lifting? Why don't we just jog or something?" Which was the wrong thing to think about because Sister Johns is super in tune with the spirit and the next thing she said was "How about a lovely jog, favorite companion?" (I'm taking poetic license with that one).  So then we jogged. And then I made her carry me as punishment.  

On the way to the gym. 

Post-exercise piggyback ride.

Then there was Thursday and we met with Kristen! I loved it. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and we all started crying when I told her how much God loved her because, ya know, he does. And then there was more class time.  So--I don't remember if I ever said anything to you about my particular class, but our district is doing a pilot program. It's very different from how normal class is and very different from normal MTC experiences. There has only been one district who has been through this program before us, so they're still experimenting. But apparently it's top secret because we're not supposed to tell anyone else at the MTC about it. The program is a LOT more hands on than usual, with excess amounts of role-playing and finding  investigators....which is just my bread and butter. But I know it's actually a blessing that I was able to be here and do this. Anyways, the leader, or the head-honcho for the program, came to our classroom and took Sister Johns and I out of class, sat us in a room, set up a recording device, and asked us to prepare our next lesson together like he wasn't there. Then he asked us to evaluate how we did. Then we had to answer ten thousand questions about how we thought the program was working out. We were in this little room for almost 2 hours. It was very, very nerve wracking. But then something horrible happened. I walked out of the room, I had my tablet in my hand, I set it on the desk in our classroom (there were witnesses to back me up), and then I turned around to leave 5 minutes later and the tablet was gone. I knew one of the Elders took it because it looks just like the iPads they're given here. So at dinner I calmly asked all of them to please look in their bags. And they were all adamant that they didn't pick it up. So I asked the District Leader (Elder Rich) to have them all check bags when they got in the rooms because I can't go to their rooms and rifle through myself. Illegal search and seizure? Ha. Probable cause, that's what.  Sister Jaussi said that only applies to the police, but I wanted to make sure I couldn't be sentenced to prison for dumping out the contents of an Elder's bag. 

Planking at the MTC while the tablet is missing.

Friday morning at breakfast, I calmly asked them if they had checked their bags, and they all said that they didn't have it. So then I started to freak out. Calmly, still. So Sister Johns and I went to class early to recheck the room and there was no flippin' tablet there. Brother Knapp even helped us look. So then we went to the IT Tech room and they tracked it to our classroom! I was still outwardly calm. Inwardly was a different story.  We walk back to our classroom, all the Elders are there, and lo and behold, my tablet on the floor next to my chair! Now, this is not some sort of missionary miracle. They all were like, "How did you not see it on the floor next to you? How come you think we had it?"  Now, I would like to report that I remained in my state of calm and sat down.  That is not what happened. I will skip the details, but Brother Knapp eventually let us go to the botanical garden for the first hour of class to help calm me down. I was still angry. But I needed to repent because I am a missionary.  So Sister Johns suggested that we needed to do a service for them so that we could have love abound. So now we're trying to think of a service and I'm being the bigger person.  It sucks. After that, we had lunch, then another class time, and another meeting with Kristen!  We taught her the third lesson, and it was awesome. We couldn't really feel the spirit going into it, but then we bore our testimonies to each other and it was there while we were teaching. I cried again. Just assume I cry a lot, okay? Anyway, then we had more exercise time last night and it was the first night I didn't feel like I was going to hurl all over the gym equipment.  

The District: The Teachers, the Sisters, and the Elders.

This morning we did laundry and stood in line for food for eons. And then it was just a raisin wheat bagel at the front of the line. And then Sister Johns used me as a human shield through the throng of hungry missionaries. My life flashed before my eyes.  

I love you guys so much!  This week has had its ups and downs, but I'm really starting to feel comfortable with what we're doing. I know that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I love these girls that I'm with, I love my teachers, I love the chicken sandwiches, and I love going to sleep at night. But that's a good thing because it means I'm working hard. It's still kind of a foreign concept to me, but I'll just roll with it. 

I'm trying to remember what else I wanted to say, but there's all I can think of right now. I'll email again throughout the day, but just tidbits for y'all.  

I seriously miss you so much. I feel like I've been gone for 11 months instead of days. But it's only been 11 days.

Love you oodles and bunches,

Missionary Mere (Sister Kleven)

Sister Jaussi, Sister Johns, Sister Kleven, and Sister Ashby. Serious.

Sister Jaussi, Sister Johns, Sister Kleven, and Sister Ashby. Not so serious.

First Days in the MTC

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Provo, Utah

I am a flippin' missionary!  I almost had a meltdown coming to find a computer to type on.  Long story, but I found a computer and now I'm happy again. I'm not going to lie, the first few days have been awful for me. I cried for the first three days I was here, but I feel fine now. Let's see how I feel later tonight when I want to go to bed and we have classes until 9:00, shall we?  

My companion here has been a huge blessing to me!! I love, love Sister J a whole lot and lot.  We are almost the same person, it's scary! The only thing is that she is super excited about talking and teaching people, and I'm stinking terrified. But she's so supportive and wonderful that I feel so energized and ready to preach! 

The lovely Sister Johns from California.

So, I arrived on Wednesday, was reprimanded for not having my tablet set up, was shown to my room, then straightway was sent to orientation for three hours.  I got to meet my companion and the other sisters in my district, Sister Ashby and Sister Joussi.  They are actually really cool.  At first I was like "Ew. Girls." but then I had to repent because I am a missionary. And missionaries love. 

Although, I do not love the food here. I did not sign up to love the food here. It's kind of gross. Everything is swimming in grease and doesn't have nearly enough cheese for my liking.  My cute companion knows how much I crave it, and she doesn't really care for it, so I get her cheese on anything that we get. Plus, their fruit here is squishy. But they do serve chicken every once in a while which does put a smile on my missionary face! In our Classroom Instruction with our district, we met Patrick, our first "investigator", and we had to prepare to teach him. Anyway, then we had a huge "People and Purpose" meeting and we got to (or had to) teach three different "investigators" as a zone. So, I spoke once and I almost passed out. Flippin' stressful, that's what. Then I went to my room and unpacked and looked at pictures and wrote in my journal and cried a little bit. Then a lot.  

Thursday was better in the morning! We had another "People and Purpose" meeting, and we didn't have to teach strangers, but I got to practice teaching my companion! She just smiled at my foolishness. And then I hyperventilated and she had to soothe me like a cat. And then we had to teach Patrick for the first time, and I actually wasn't freaking out. I think my mind was just dead because I was tired. But we got in the room, and we got to teach, and it wasn't awful, and I only said one stupid thing the whole time. Note: I should not try to make jokes with the investigators. It does not end well. Anyway, then we had a big meeting with our Branch President Mullen and his second in command, President Stucki. President Stucki pulled me out of the meeting to talk with me, and I gotta tell you, he is a wonderful man. I enjoyed talking with him immensely.  He actually laughed at my jokes, and it was okay to make them because he's already a member! But that took three hours, and then we were allowed to go to bed. And then I cried again. 

Friday was pretty good, actually!  We got to our Classroom Instruction room with our district, and Patrick was there for his second lesson, and I was so totally prepared.  Sister J and I just finished our lesson that we didn't get to finish on Thursday. And It was great! I don't think I said anything stupid this time. But then again, I think Sister J is lying to me to make me not cry again. But then we got to talk to the Elders in our district a lot more yesterday. They were kind of hesitant because I was a Sister, but I squashed that like a bug and made them talk to us. They're cool, I guess.  I'll report more on them later. Then we had another three hour CI (Classroom Instruction) where we went to a Referral Center and got to be on the computer all day. We logged onto the website, and we would answer phones and have to talk to people (my absolute least favorite part), we would fill orders (you would have to talk on the phone sometimes with that one), and answer chats (the safest one and my favorite). But we had to do everything in companionships, so Sister J saved my entire life during this process! There were a lot of crazy people who called and chatted with us. One person kept calling and asking if they could talk to our children. Someone lost his father's $1000 drone in a field and asked us to help him find it and then asked us to pray to soften his angry father's heart and to follow him on Twitter. There were a lot of people who asked for a Bible, but not the "Mormon Bible", the "King James Bible". And then one time I took a call by myself, and the lady was nice, but you could tell she wasn't too enthused about talking to me, so I was already freaking out about talking to her. But then something horrible happened! My keyboard stopped working so I couldn't type in her address when she was giving it to me and I started to get really scared and I don't know when I said in that time of crisis to this poor lady (probably something that supported her opinion of the Mormon missionaries) when finally Sister J fixed my problem and we were good to go! As soon as I hung up, everyone in the center started clapping because apparently my fear was palpable. It was embarrassing. Turns out, I just needed to press edit on the document and the keyboard was working just fine. That night, we had some free time and I took a much needed nap, and then we had exercise time, and I ran three miles on the running machine thing! It wasn't a treadmill, apparently. Some funky name. But I refused to look like a pansy in front of everyone else. That was last night, though, and lot has changed since then. Like my walk, for instance. It hurts to walk. So I look like a pansy anyway. And then we went back to the rooms and I didn't cry.  

And then today we went to the temple to take zone pictures and district pictures (which I still need to get from the Elders). The temple is closed until July 24th, so I won't be able to go while I'm here.  Bummer. So that's what my week has been like so far! 4th day here! Also, there's only one bike riding area in my mission and the rest are all driving areas. Found that out yesterday!  

Sister Kleven's MTC District & Zone (she's on the far left).

Sister Johns and Sister Kleven outside the Provo Temple.

We finally got a district leader last night who's in charge of our packages and letters and stuff like that, so ya'll can send me things and I can get them. Seriously, people. Get to sending me things.   Also, let people know that I am always open to reading emails and letters because I am going crazy here, and I would love to have something from all ya'll. 

Anyway, I love my companion, I don't love the food, and I tolerate everything else.

I miss you guys like crazy! I love you guys like crazy, too!  

Mere

Or, ya know, Sister Kleven