Letter: 21 February 2012

Sister Record and her new name tag

Hello! At one point I learned how to say Hello in Russian…. I think I knew how to say it for about 30 seconds, then forgot. With that being said, I'm so happy I am speaking English on my mission. I love the MTC, but I'm excited to be out in the mission field. I don't know if I could handle the MTC for 12 weeks to learn a new language. Like I said, the MTC is great, but 12 weeks is a LONG time. My comps and I had to go to the BYU health center a few blocks away from the MTC the other day to pick up some prescriptions for them. It was so WEIRD to be out in the real world! It felt amazing! I never thought Provo could feel so great. Anyway, I got my travel info for the 28^th. I leave SLC at 7:30am (which, I might point out, means waking up at 3am so we can leave the MTC at 4am). As far as I know I will be able to call you when I leave SLC and when I'm in Oklahoma. I should arrive in OK at 1:04pm according to my itinerary. I will let you know Monday if any changes come up. I also just found out there are 12 of us in the travel group … and I'm the only Sister. No worries though … I've become good friends with the majority of the Elders leaving for Oklahoma and it will be like having 11 body guards. To be honest, I thought the Elders would really bother me. However, all the Elders I've become friends with are the greatest! They are going to be fantastic missionaries. I love them all so much! They are like family. Okay … enough of that. I have stories for y'all! I wish I could share everything that happened (it will be easier in the field when I can send audio updates) in the last two weeks. Unfortunately that is impossible. I'm not even sure where to start …

Dad, I told our TRC investigator about your brownies. She has a message for you and I quote, “Your dad did what to the brownies?! He gone and ruined them brownies. You tell your dad next time you write him that he can't just ruin brownies like that.” (She said this in her southern accent with all the sass of a soulful African American woman). I absolutely love our investigator. She has such a big heart. I wish I had the chance to get to know her better. Everyone who works at the MTC just loves her.

MTC District: Elders Berryessa, Jensen,
Tollefson, Brignac, Moore, Hendersen, Sister Record,
Sisters Piepgrass, Olson and Elder Christiansen

On Friday we taught one of our investigators (“Melissa”), whose really our teacher. But when you're in teaching them as an investigator it feels so REAL! It's hard to explain. We taught her about the atonement and WOW was it a powerful experience! I bore my testimony of the power the atonement has to cleanse us from sin. Sister Olson then bore her testimony. Sister Olson, the investigator and I were crying. It was so intense! There are not words to describe how incredible it was. I love my Savior so much and all He has done for me. I feel serving a mission is the least I could do for Him. I feel like the words to Amazing Grace sum up, in a small way, how I feel. “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see!”

After the lesson with our investigator (Melissa) our teacher came and told us that when you're in a lesson and the Spirit is THAT STRONG you should always ask the investigator to say a prayer to know if what you're saying is true. I really liked that, but it wasn't until a few days later when we were doing an in class teaching experience. We had just watched a video clip of “The District.” The investigator, Jynx, in the video was concerned she wasn't getting any answer to her prayers. Our teaching experience was to help Jynx with her concern and help her know that baptism was the right decision. So, Elder Henderson was the investigator. Elders Brignac, Berryessa and I were the missionaries. I honestly can't remember what I said or what the other Elders said. Whatever we all said, it brought the Spirit. That is when our teacher stepped in and reminded us that it would be a good idea to have Elder Hendersen say a prayer. So I asked Jynx (Elder Hendersen) to pray to Heavenly Father to know if being baptized is what he should do. He really tried to put himself in Jynx's shoes and offered the most sincere prayer. As he started to pray to know if this was the path he should take, the Spirit just flooded in. I was getting emotional and so was Elder Hendersen. After he finished it was just quiet for a few seconds. I then asked him how he felt. I then bore my testimony to him that I knew baptism was the right path and that tremendous blessings would come from it. It was a VERY powerful moment for the four of us. Even though it was teaching with other missionaries, in that moment it was as real as if I were teaching a real investigator. I can't explain why it feels so real, but it does. I guess if you've been in the MTC you understand how real these things can be. ☺ I love missionary work! I love being able to bear my testimony of this gospel every day!

I can't believe how much I've been taught in the last two weeks. As one of my teachers pointed out, the experiences of the MTC are equivalent to 3 years worth of experience and learning. It's so true! I know I wouldn't be able to leave and apply the things I need to without the Lord's help! With that being said, the MTC has been very humbling. All my weaknesses have been staring me in the face. That was really hard at first. Now I'm thankful for that because I can learn to be better and work on those things. On the 18^th we taught our investigator, “Victor” about prayer and our Heavenly Father. Victor (also our teacher) is somebody we have been teaching a lot. Nothing has really clicked with him yet, until the 18^th. We were teaching and the Spirit was very strong. Once again, I can't remember everything we said to him, but I know it was the Holy Ghost speaking through us. The next day Sister R (our teacher) told us that she heard the lesson we taught Victor went very well. She told us that Brother A. Said our lesson was so good, that if we would have invited him to be baptized, he would have said yes!! I wish we would have asked him! That was definitely a learning experience for us.

I absolutely love being a missionary! I love how much work it is. I love how my testimony has grown since I left. I love that I get to share the gospel of Jesus Christ every day. I love that I am constantly learning and growing and becoming a better missionary and person. I love 3^rd Nephi 15:3 “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of Him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” This doesn't just apply to the full-time missionaries, but all members of the church. We really are blessed to have this gospel. It really is true. I have testified of it more times in the last two weeks than I probably have in the last 5 years. I also know more than I ever have that God loves each and every one of us. He wants each of us to return back to Him. This is made possible only through Christ. Christ is the only way to return back to our Heavenly Father. We must follow the doctrine of Christ (2^nd Nephi 31). I love my Savior, Jesus Christ so much. I know without a doubt that this Church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and brings us closer to Christ each time we read. I love you all very very much! Thank you for the support (spiritually and financially). Life is sooo good, and I am one happy girl! ☺

Love, Sister Record

PS The Elders tried the Dragon Brownies. Their faces were priceless.

An Abby Road type picture:
Elders Jensen, Elder Hendersen, Elder Brignac, Elder Moore

Sister Record's name in Russian,
courtesy of Elder Christiansen

Elder Berryessa drew a sombrero on
Sister Record's Russian last name

Sisters Larsen, Smith, Taylor and Hansen.
Sister Record's roommates (except for Sister Taylor).
These four went and got free outfits from the alterations
place at the MTC. It was ugly outfit Friday.

Roommates and Companions: Sisters Hansen, Smith, Record, Olson, Larsen and Piepgrass

Silly Sisters: Sisters Hansen, Smith, Record, Olson, Larsen and Piepgrass

Mountain view from the MTC

Sisters Taylor and Record. "Sister Taylor is amazing! I love her!" She left for Cambodia on 21 Feb 2012. She was the
coordinating sister before Sister Record.

Elders Hendersen and Moore (Zone Leaders) and
Sister Record. All headed to OOCM.

Sister Record in the half sized doorway.

Email: 21 February 2012

Elder Record,

Don't you just love missionary work?! I just listened to your update about the person who wants to be baptized in March! That is so exciting! Yesterday in class our teacher was telling us that if we really understood how IMPORTANT baptism is to our Heavenly Father, he would have to beat us with a stick to keep us from inviting people to be baptized on the first visit. I am so happy to hear that you have so many people to teach! I'm glad to hear your language studying is going well. I can't tell you everything that has happened since I've been in the MTC..... as one of my teachers said, the experiences in the MTC could easily be 3 years worth of experiences. That's how much we learn! I am so thankful for all I have been able to learn in just the last two weeks! It's hard to believe that it's been two weeks because SO MUCH has happened! I will be heading out to OK next Tuesday. I am so excited! I already love the people of Oklahoma so much! I have really loved being able to share my testimony on a daily basis. I LOVE to bear my testimony!!!

I love how humbling being in the MTC has been. It hasn't been easy, but I have really been thankful for the times that my weaknesses are just staring me right in the face. Because the Lord has blessed me to be able to see those things I need to do better, I have been able to really work on being the best missionary I can be and the best person I can be. I feel so blessed to be serving a mission. I know WITHOUT a doubt that it is what the Lord wants me to do at this point in my life. Wish I could write more, but time is ticking away. :) I just want to share a scripture with you. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that hey might have everlasting life." 3rd Nephi 15:3 Love you!!!

Love, Sister Record

Email: 14 February 2012

Hey everybody! Hope all is well out in the world! I seriously forgot that there is a world outside the MTC. This week has been just nuts!! I didn't know I could learn so much in just 6 days. Holy flipping cow! I'm not going to lie, there have been some stressful moments, but with the Lord's help things have still been going great! The whole MTC experience has been a big testimony builder for me. There is NO WAY any of us could learn all we need to learn and then apply it without the Lords help. I love you all so much! Please send me letter using dearelder.com I would love to hear from you. For all those who have written me thank you so much! The letters made my day! :D I will try to respond to them soon. Things are so busy! Every minute of my day is planned out here in the MTC. I like it though. And happy birthday Annelise! I thought about you yesterday. :) Dad, will you forward this to the email group list?

1. Sunday was EXHAUSTING! We listened to a great talk by Elder Bednar called the Character of Christ. Dad, if you find a link to it will you put it on the blog? so on Sunday I received a new assignment...... I have been assigned as the Sister Coordinator over my branch. I work with the zone leaders and have leadership meetings on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. Which is kind of nuts since those meetings overlap with other things I have scheduled. I'm super excited though! The sister coordinator is in charge of welcoming new missionaries to the MTC, going over the rules and giving them a tour to the MTC. Basically helping them feel comfortable and a little less overwhelmed. Along with that I'm also in charge of making sure all the sisters in our branch (which is only 7) are doing okay and if they need anything I help out and if needed report it to the branch president. Our branch president is awesome!! I love him and his wife! He actually served his mission where Jason is right now. :D So in a nutshell, as Sister coordinator, I am basically the closest thing the branch has to a Relief Society President.
2. My companions are sister Olson from Santa Barbara, CA (going to Cleveland, OH) and sister Ehelschi-Piepgrass from Canada (going to Tampa, Florida). Thats right, I have two companions. Its neat, but also a bit more of a challenge than having just one companion. However, they are great sisters and I am starting to realize why the Lord put us as companions.
3. My district is 8A and zone 30. I will have pictures of them next Tuesday (pday). Our Zone leaders are Elder Hendersen and Elder Moore (who I work with as sister coordinator) and they are both going to Oklahoma city! They are awesome! Elder Hendersen does the BEST voice impression of Kronk from Emperors New Groove. The other elders in our district are Elders Berryessa (DL), Tollefson, Jensen and Brignac who are all going to Cleveland OH. Then we have an Elder Christiansen who is going to the Ukraine. He is testing a new language learning program and was just put into the district last Thursday. Our district is just fantastic!

Sister Record

KSL MTC Tour

So what was it like on Sister Record's first day? What is she doing now in the MTC? KSL did a great article covering the MTC called "An Army of Faith: Inside the MTC." Click below to see the video segments, it's really good.

KSL MTC Tour

Missionary Training Center

Sister Lorielle Record has reported to the MTC in Provo, Utah. She will be there until about the 28th of February. We enjoyed breakfast at IHOP and pictures at the Provo Temple before reporting to curbside #15 in the MTC parking lot. We love you Sister Record!!

Just set apart as a full-time missionary.
Chris, Eric, Jason, Sister Record, Sheri, Josh Hansen and Jenni Winn.

Jenni Winn, Josh Hansen and Sister Record

Sister Record at the Provo Temple before entering the MTC

Jason, Sister Record, Sheri and Annelise

Sister Record is excited for this new chapter of life

Jason, Sister Record and Sheri - A Kiss Good Bye

Sister Record's reaction as we drove into the MTC

Unloading the luggage

Sister Record leaving with her hosts into the MTC