First email from Jessica

Pamilya ako!

Hey guys! How are you all doing?? Life is so crazy and busy here in the MTC, but I love it! When I first got here, Sam and Mal dropped me off and then I was whisked away to get my books, name tag and then drop off my stuff in the room. Right away they took me to my classroom where I met my district and my teacher. My teacher's name is brother Poole and he is so great! He is so patient with us and loves to joke around. He is going to BYU to be an Elementary School teacher just like me- in fact he actually has a class with my lovely roommate Sam! Small world. Anyways, there are 9 of us in my district- Elder Stephenson, Elder Tiejon, Elder Smith, Elder Solomon, Sister Mack, Sister Ah Hong, Sister Leakehe, Sister Aruwititi and of course me! :) They are all SO amazing and we are so close as a district already. In fact our zone leaders keep telling us how we are the closest and most unified district they have seen here at the MTC which is pretty cool. So guess what? I'm in a trio companionship! My companion never came to the MTC or decided not to go or something so now my mga kasama (companions) are sister Leakehe and sister Aruwititi! They are both so great and I love them so much! Sister Leakehe is Tongan, but speaks perfect English because she's been living here in Utah for a while. We get along SO GREAT! We always seem to be on the same page and finishing each other's sentences. We both love a lot of the same stuff and love to be outside and play sports- we dominate in volleyball at gym time haha. We both like to work hard and we really encourage each other to be the best we can be. We have gotten so close in just the 3 days i've been here and I feel so blessed to have her as a companion. Sister Aruwititi is from Kiribati (which is a super small island in the middle of the ocean somewhere under Hawaii) and this is her very first time leaving the island! She speaks a little english, but I can tell sometimes she doesn't know what we are saying, but I try my best to talk with her and always let her know i'm here for her and love her. Yesterday, Sister Aruwititi and I got to take a little field trip outside of the MTC because where she is from they don't really wear shoes, so we got to go shopping in Provo to get her some good shoes. It was pretty weird walking around places I have been so many times when I went to BYU, but now as a missionary. Sister Mack is Hawaiian and sister Ah Hong in from Saamoa so I'm the only American in our room haha- it's awesome! The elders in our district are amazing and always looking out for us. We all are always joking around and laughing together... we've really all become best friends. But no worries we can be serious too and we definitely get down to business when it comes to learning Tagalog. Holy moly learning Tagalog is hard!! Trying to learn a new language is a very humbling experience let me tell you. We taught our first investigator yesterday in all Tagalog and it just showed me how much I still have to learn. But it also has helped me to become closer to my heavenly father and I know that he will help me. I got to say my first prayer in Tagalog yesterday  (I was the first one in our district to try it) and even though I stumbled over my words and had super awkward long pauses, I could feel the spirit and I knew God was listening to me and I felt his love for me. I know that God loves us and is in the details of our lives and if we pray to him he will help us in everything we do. Alam ko po na totoo po ang simbahan ni jesucristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw at mahal po tayo ng Diyos.

I love you all soooooooo much and I can't wait to hear about how you are all doing!

Mahal kita!!!!

Love,

Sister Lowe