Week 2

Alrighty everyone, buckle up for some fast typing!

This week has been great, being here is great. I can't wait until I am actually in the field. This week we have been teaching an investigator Hilary on the video phone. We knew she was an actor, but we were totally convinced she was deaf! She was an excellent actor. The most important thing we learned is that you have to testify. One of our lessons didn't go well, and we figured out that is was because we needed to testify, and the next lesson was much better.

 

     I hope that my grammar is ok, when I write in my journal, I have totally noticed that I write in ASL grammar.

 

     Here at the MTC we do service twice a week. We clean the buildings. It is EXACTLY like working at library, except I don't have to wake up quite so early. 

 

     Some funny stories: The other day Sister Backus was wearing a skirt and blazer her grandma made her. In the middle of class, she noticed that the jacket still had pins in the hem! They were sewn in, she had to tear them out! It was hilarious. Our teacher said, "Oh cute grandma cute." THEN the skirt (which was a wrap around skirt) totally came undone and everyone could see her slip. The teacher signed SO fast "You need leave fix that now?!?!?!" So funny. 

 

     So many of our funny stories have to do with Elder McCarl. I wish so bad I had a picture to show you! He is just a tiny little blonde kid with cochlear implants. He has the sweetest spirit and devotionals always make him cry and he is so concerned about everyone. Sister Backus always says she wants to put him in her pocket. One day he put her magnet from her badge on his implant at the dinner table. Then he told us how when he was in 8th grade science, he hooked up a light bulb and wires to his implant. It lit up for a second, and then it shocked him! He went to the audiologist, who said to NEVER do that again. And the other day, one of the elders told him,  "Your deacon is showing," meaning his tie was sticking out of his collar. Elder McCarl didn't get it. He's like "I've been trying to learn English for the past 14 years and that's not one of my vocab words." So sassy. And he knows everyone loves him. Sister Backus said he was her favorite. He looked at his companion and said, "See, I told you."

 

       Alright, something else spiritual. WWJF-what would Jesus feel? If we don't feel charity, we can't teach people. In 1 Corinthians 13, it says with out charity, we are like a tinkling cymbal. All you band nerds know what it sounds like when all you have is a cymbal! It is no bueno. We need charity to help people come closer to Christ!

 

Love you all, I'll try to send pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sister Nielsen

 

Ok, so I have had some more time because we are all sharing the card reader. So I will write a little more while I wait my turn. Trying to write everything is so stressful. I don't even know what to say. Did I tell you Sister Backus is going to Anaheim? There a ton of elders going to New York and a few sisters going to Washington. No one else is going to Arkansas. 

 

I love the sisters in my room. We all talk SO much at night because we can't talk all day. It's bad. 

Our teachers are awesome. The language is great. I LOVE praying in ASL. It is beautiful and I never even pray in English any more. ASL is much more spiritual. 

 

Oh another quick thing, everyone. Sister Backus got her name sign this week. Our teacher gave it to her (only a deaf person can give you a name sign). Her sign name is pretty much "Sister Watch," with "u" where the watch goes for BackUs. He couldn't do "BS" or "BA." Hahaha. She always is looking at her watch during class. 

 

The sisters in my room

District Selfie

The beautiful Katie McCloud

Sister Backus

Our welcome to the MTC sign actually says MNC