When In Rome....

Hello Everyone!                September 3, 2014

Ummm so I feel like I just emailed yesterday.  Mom you said it feels like a month since last week, for me it feels like a day!  It’s crazy how much I learn in one week.  Lannnnndssssss being a missionary is the best.  This week was grand.  As usual.  As it will probably always be.  We did exactly the same stuff we did last week though...haha so the pictures are starting to get a little old.  I will try to send some though anyway.  I am getting better at Italian, but I still really don't know it too well haha.  Yesterday a real-life Italian who is the wife of our branch president here spoke to us..I could only pick up a little bit of what she said.  This week we skype a REAL LIFE ITALIAN IN ITALY! AND we get our flight plans!  Which means we really for sure truly are going to leave this place sometime.  YIPPPIEEEEEE.  I'm scared out of my mind but I'm so excited.  I know that the language will come, plus the power of just bearing your testimony is enough.  I'm pumped.   

Sorella Gates birthday was Monday!  Wow did we party!  I am known VERY MUCH as the rule follower in our room.  They have actually started keeping rules a secret from me so that we don't have to follow them...hahahah.  Before you freak out they aren't big ones, just little ones like "don't open your window" hahah it's ridiculous.  They just know as soon as I know the rule we have to follow it.  To be fair ALL of the Sisters do a great job following the rules.  They are awesome!  But I'm just really particular on following even the dumb ones I guess.  Anyway, for Sister Gates birthday though we went a little wild.  Ok not really.  BUT we did eat some cake the Elders managed to get for Sorella Gates last week (they are the BEST and so thoughtful).  We gave her a super funny card.  We also sang in Italian to her.  Goodness it was a fun day!  We were pretty excited all day long.  This is where Sisterhood of the traveling shirt comes in.....On Sorella Gates birthday we were walking inside.  In the residence halls there are baskets of "unwatanted" stuff that anyone can take.  We found a random shirt and put it in a Sisters closet in our zone so she would open her closet and be like "what the heck?" haha.  The shirt became "sisterhood of the traveling shirt" and now everyone is taking turns wearing it.  SO FUNNY.  Mom, I know that probably freaks you out so much.  hahahaha. 

I recently found out that I am only allowed to write letters on pdays, even if they are handwritten.  So sorry about that!  It won't matter much in Italy but it's kinda a bummer for now.  Oh well.

Ok get this.  I was standing up after choir before the devotional on Tuesday.  I looked and saw someone waving at me. Guess who it was?!?!!?  I'll tell you next week. 

Ok I'm just kidding I'll tell you now.  It was JAKE TROST!  Yes indeed.  No lie.  I was so flabbergasted.  I rushed up to where he was and we got to talk for a bit!!!  He is doing great and is going to Mexico I think.  He said to tell everyone hi!  Gee wiz in my head that kid is still 12.  But he's HUGE. I mean tall wise, not like big wise.  Anyway it was cool to see him.

Ummm ok so I wanna talk about devotionals for a bit. 

If those who I loveeeee dearly and aren't members of the church are still reading my letters and also for those who haven't ever been in the MTC I want to explain devotions.  We walk into a huge room.  2,000 teenagers ages 18-21ish are all sitting down.  They are dressed up.  They are laughing, talking and having a good time.  Then we all sing some prelude music before the meeting.  I cannot convey the power of 2,000 teenagers singing together!  We are not priests.  We have not been studying in-depth the gospel our entire lives.  Some of these missionaries just joined the Church two years ago!  BUT we are all giving up years of our lives to serve our Heavenly Father.  And I testify that HE called us to the work, and that He qualifies who he calls.  There is SO MUCH power in that.  I wish you could all just come to one devotional.  Hearing 2,000 teenagers who are the Lord's servants sing is really an experience.  I am thankful for all those in the church worthy and willing to serve missions.  Life is about service to the Lord, and I am thankful for these 18 months! 

Mom it sounds like you and Emma had way too much fun while the rest of the family was on the hike!!! :)  I'm thankful that Emma likes Little House on the Prairie.  The Lord knew you would need a daughter to share that with.  hehe maybe me and Emma aren't as alike as I thought....just kidding.

I can't BELIEVE Emma is riding the bus.  How great.  It'll toughen her up.  Will you tell her I love her?!!?! I miss that girl so much.  And everyone.  You are all so great.  Thanks for your example mom.  I really have been trained to be a missionary my entire life by YOU!  You are the reason that I will be a successful missionary.  You and dad.  Because of you I know how to obey, how to work hard, how to be thankful, and how to love others.  Thanks to both of you for being the best.  I love you so much.

Dad the hike you took Tyler, Amanda and Kevin on sounded amazing.  Goodness the pictures of the hike seriously took my breath away.  I am astounded.  ughh I can't believe you all went without me.  We will have to hike when I get back is all I have to say. Ok Amanda looked like a total stud hahahahahha, like seriously what in the world?  Only she could look that good while hiking.  Kevs braces look good!  They shocked me because I forgot that he got them.  Ty looked great and so did you! ahhhh seriously nature is the best, I'm so glad that you had fun and Kevin and Amanda were able to handle the hike.

Ok also I forgot to say thank you mom for figuring out my medicine stuff and also THANK YOU to BECCA who is the best aunt/not aunt in the world for sending Sister Gates birthday cupcakes.  We got them today.  Also Becca, seriously my companion almost cried when she saw the chocolate!!  It was the best thing ever.  Thanks for doing all my biding for me and for pretty much doing anything I ask you to.  You are so great! 

LOTS OF LOVE,

Sister Brunson

p.s. Tell Tyler and Amanda and Kevin they better write me at least one dear elder before I leave because I wanna hear from them!  They aren't doing too great of a job writing...it doesn't like kill me or make me mad or anything cause I'm SO HAPPY but I would like to hear from them.  I just wanna make sure they are doing well.