Monday, November 21, 2011

Week 2 in MTC

This is my early morning email to Mackenzie and then her reply back to me just a short time later


Hey there,

Hope you are doing great! Heard your companion wasn't doing so well and that you ran into David Gulbranson at the infirmary. Hope she's feeling better.

You should have got your package with your coat in it.  Have you decided on a boot so I can order them and have them waiting for you when you get to Ohio?  Also, you never scored a raincoat.  What color were you thinking?  You are free to get one when you get there too. I just need to know so you are prepared. Should I send your rain boots?

Manwarings want to know what school your companion went to, but probably easier to tell us what ward and stake she was from.

Bishop Williams said that Clayton finally got to New Zealand.  He missed his connection in San Francisco and had to wait it out til 7 p.m. the next day, but has finally arrived.

Our sister missionaries haven't arrived in our ward yet. One is from Hawaii and has been serving in Ventura.  The other is still in the MTC and we were told she got sick and won't be here for another 2 weeks.  I'm not sure, but wondering if one got sick and went home and have to wait for another to come here from the MTC.  No one really quite knows. But if you run into any sister missionaries headed to CA Ventura Mission in the MTC, there's a very good chance they are coming to our ward.

Sending up a journal, it's from the Stake President and High Council.  Should I keep it for now til you actually need it?  It says Missionary Journal on it.

I'll try to be online around 11:30 our time to see if able to email back and forth.

Love ya,
Mom

Hey Mom.
I'll try to be on again at 11:30 but I have a little time now to reply. I went to print out the emails to read them and it cut off like half of them so I gave up. I don''t know about any boots.. I''m in a little bubble and that''s not what we talk about so I need to figure it out when I get there. I want a black or navy raincoat I guess. I mean, I''d really like a yellow one but I don''t think that would match a lot. Thank you for forwarding me Clayton''s emails. I totally miss him already!! I saw him a lot before he left though. It was so hard to just say hi like a missionary. Our comps started putting a time limit on our handshakes.. I was not happy.

Before the Mission Hugs with Clayton

My comp left Twin when she was 15 so she doesn''t remember. O''leary Jr High was her school. Tell Sister Cumins that I say hello and to tell Jessi I say hi as well! I haven''t met any sister''s going to Ventura but 2 elders gave the prayers in one of our devotionals that are going there. I think one was Elder Green.. I don''t even know. My roommate Sister Cashmore is from Santa Maria so when I heard Cox was going there I started freaking out haha. I guess send the journal up. I don''t really know. Or maybe just wait until I''m in Ohio because I don''t have a lot of space to spare. Especially after having my huge coat sent. Thank you so much by the way for my package. It was great. I have yet to play with the waxy sticks but they look fun. We just don''t have a lot of time here. We''re constantly busy and when we have free time we do what my comp wants to do because I don''t really care sooooo yeah. Were the penguins for my roommates or something? I thought it was funny you sent 4. Please tell Becky that I really want Kathleen to come see me so have her come soon!!!!! That would be really fun. And tell Hannah Taylor that I go to the temple Monday for the 630am session. It's hard waking up so early but I haven''t slept in once! Surprising huh?? I bet you didn''t think I could do it! I''m even going to bed before 11 which is totally bizzare. I''m meeting a lot of new people which is nice and learning things in other languages. I don''t know if it''s actually right but whatever. I see Jos all the time and tell him I love him in Swedish because I don''t know if we''re allowed to tell the Elders we love them. BUT he''s Jos so I think it''s fine. What else...? I don''t know. I''m learning a lot. It''s a lot of fun. We do this thing called TRC which is where people volunteer to come in and be investigators so we teach them. It''s really cool. And on top of that we teach both of our teachers like their investigators. And we do a ton of role plays with everybody in class so we''re getting a lot of practice. I hope it actually helps in the field though. People probably aren''t going to be as nice but it''s okay. I''m trying to think of what else I needed to tell you! Oh, I might have gotten Morgan a date in 2 years with a really nice TALL Elder. He''s 6'8''. Handsome. Strong Testimony. Amazing. We''ll see though. Our elders leave next week for Oklahoma and Mississippi. We''re all really sad about it. We''re the best district ever. Bro Bacon says that he''s never had a better group. Usually I don''t believe teachers when they say that but I believe it this time. We''re amazing. Heather and Jos also leave next week so it''s going to be really hard. We got 2 new districts in our zone this last week so we went from having 3 districts to 4 and it''s so big. I can''t keep track of everybody. Some girl just walked in and started speaking Korean or something.. It was weird. I''m excited for VC training. I don''t actually know what that means but I''m excited. I think we learn how to give tours and stuff. Then TEMPLE SQUARE!! My dream mission (Well now Ohio is but before) and I get to go for a day. I am so excited. Well I actually can''t get on later because my 30 mintues is almost up. I just realized that. SORRY! I''ll try to work it out next time. Add the Provo temple to my list twice on my ipod please? And I guess Morgan can use it?? Idk. I''m still iffy about it. She scares me. And Courtney can totally have my number. But I kinda want it back when I get home?? Keep sending the dear elders. They''ve been great. It makes me sad though because an Elder in my district hasn''t gotten anything from anybody. I think President Palmer is going to contact his family.. I really hope so. If not he leaves in a week and all of us sisters can start writing him. Alright, times about up.
Love you,
Sister Maynard.
Oh, and yes. I did see David! It was so random and crazy. And my comp is feeling much better. She says thank you. Love you, bye!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The new sign at the MTC


Okay, so for those of you who haven't dropped off anyone at the MTC lately.  This is the new sign you to take pictures with.  Beware of oncoming traffic.......

Monday, November 14, 2011

Then an hour later......

An hour after the mailman delivered her first letter via snail mail, we received this email.  Read the next post first so this one makes more sense. 

Hey Fam.
 
It's been really fun here. I actually love it. I'm learning a lot and making A TON of friends. My district/zone is the best. I think I told you a little bit about them in my letter. I hope you got it. You keep sending me letters like you aren't getting it so let me know. I can email every Monday around 1230 when I'm doing laundry. My comp is really fun. Her name is Sister Thorne and she's from Twin Falls, ID and she's really great. I don't know what else to tell you.. Did I get a message from Eric Olson? It might just be Elder Olson. In need an address for him so asked his fb for it. If you get it please email it to me. Ummmm. I guess I'm here for an extra week to do VC training so we get to go to Temple Square and hang out with the sisters there to see what it's about which I'm really excited for. I met 2 sisters who are going to Cleveland too and they seem really nice so we'll all fly out together but it's just us 3. I don't think there's any elders. We watched Legacy Kirtland or something and it was really cool to see where I'm going. I have to go. I love you. Bye.
 
Kenzie. Errrr Sister Maynard

The First Snail Mail Letter

10 Nov 2011

Dad, Mom, Morgan & of course Rock,

The MTC is great.  I'm learning a lot.  my comp, Sister Thorne, is great.  She's from Twin Falls & doesn't know Adam.  I saw Heather, Clayton, Cody Allen and Jos.  I also met a boy named Elder Maynard.  I'm sure we're related but as far back as we could go we aren't yet.  He's going to Finland, so I'm jealous.  Our other 2 roommates, Sisters Cashmore & Park, are really fun.  We laugh the whole time and all get along really well.  The 3 of them are going to the Independence Missouri Mission VC so that's cool but makes me a loner.  We're the only girls in our zone so that's weird.  People here are great.  Our teacher Bro Bacon served in Ft Lauderdale and knows Kathleen so that was cool.  I want to hug everybody but can't which is too bad.  I need more stamps but will just get them in the bookstore.  I have to get a second Hep A shot when I get to Cleveland.  The boys in our district are amazing.  They're going to Oklahoma and Mississippi.  We have really good discussions in class and 3 hours goes by really fast.  It hurts my back to sit for so long though.  The beds aren't super comfy.  We live on the 2nd level with boys on level 1 and 3 and this morning we woke up at 5:30 to a boy doing jumping workouts.  I wasn't happy about that.  Please send my Hello Kitty lanyard,  it should be in one of the bags I left with you.  I realize how I should have left more but oh well.  I'll make it work.  It hasn't been hard adjusting and I love it.  The food is a lot better than I thought.  I had Swedish Meatballs tonight for dinner which I was stoked about.  *Tell Hannah Taylor my temple day is Monday @ 6:30 a.m.  Just text her.  Except you guys aren't home yet so I guess it will have to wait until next week.  My new scriptures are perf.  Thank you! Oh, I have 1 extra week here to get tour training.  I guess our last Saturday here we get to go to Temple Square and kind of follow the sisters around or something.  Please change on FB...eh never mind. Tell Rock I say hi and give her kisses.

Love,
Sister Maynard

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Addresses

Here is Mackenzie's contact information:

MTC Address (Nov 9 to Dec 6):
Sister Mackenzie Leigh Maynard
Ohio Cleveland Mission
Mtc Mailbox #335
OH-CLE 1206
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Ohio (Dec to May 2013):
Sister Mackenzie Leigh Maynard
Ohio Cleveland Mission
2070 W 117th St
Cleveland, OH 44111

For the next 4 weeks while she is in the MTC, you can send her as many emails as you would like.  Go to dearelder.com and following the prompts.  If you send it before 10:00 a.m., it is delivered to her the same day.

Thanks for all your support!

The Drop Off

The drop off was pretty easy.  No tears, just a lot of smiles.  Kenzie was soooo excited to be going on a mission and was more than ready to just get started.  You pull up to the curb, some nice missionaries take their luggage (and she had ALOT!) and poof, they are gone.  The missionaries who helped her with her luggage were headed to Mexico City and the San Fernando Valley.  So close but missed by one mission to be serving in our area.



One of Kenzie's roommates from BYUI was dropping off her brother, so they got to say a quick goodbye to each other.




The Cookies!!!

Bri, Kenzie and Bri's Awesome mother, Linda

 Bianna offered to make cookies for the little get together we had.  She is hired anytime we need treats.  They were awesome!  Thank you for making such a great memory.

Kenzie's Awesome Farewell

Sunday, October 30th was Mackenzie's farewell at church.  She spoke in the adult ward at 9:00 a.m. and did such a great job they had her speak again at 1:00 p.m. in the singles ward.  Afterwards we had a little sending off for her.  We had such a great turnout of support.  Thank you to all for making the time to come send her off with so many well wishes.  FYI  There are more pics of friends that stopped by, They are just on the other computer, and will get them added as soon as we return home from Utah.