FIRST LETTER HOME---and worth the wait!!

October 26th

Holler! This is a trip haha. It didn't hit me that I was actually doing this until about six p.m. I kinda freaked out, but then I was ok after talking to myself. I have already seen 5 people I know today--4 sisters and 1 elder. It was such a blessing to see my girlfriends!

Ok, let me tell you about my companion Haha! I'm laughing just thinking about her. I LOVE her so much already. She is 5'11 with red, long, curly, frizzy hair. She makes me laugh so much--but she doesn't mean to. Like we were in a huge room with probably 50 other missionaries and there was a "pretend investigator" and he was picking people at random to answer his questions, he stopped right in front of us and I was prepared to answer, but he was starring at Sister Feller. I looked at her to see if she was going to answer and she just starred at the ground avoiding ANY eye contact with him. Hahaha! I was dying. I really like her.

We room with two other sisters: Sister Huppe (like "puppy" with an H) and another one, but I can't remember her name...maybe ANDERSON?? The one who's name I don't know went to BYU-I as well and we get along real well. Sister Huppe is VERY shy, but I like her.

So around 3 o'clock they gathered all the new missionaries into a big hall and it was kind of an introduction. They said, "all the sisters stand up".."Now only the sisters with boyfriends keep standing" OH MAN! I kept standing with like only 4 other girls and he said, "Well...that takes courage".

Then he started naming states and having people stand up. He (MTC Pres.) named all the eastern states and never said Missouri-- so then before he moved onto the western states, he said, "Have I missed anyone east of the Mississippi?" So I stood up. GUYS>>>Missouri is WEST of the Mississippi. I was the only one to stand and he kept making jokes about it the rest of the meeting! How embarrassing!

I don't want to sound like a missionary...but I am one! While we were teaching the investigator, the spirit was so strong. I had SO many impressions and answers that I wouldn't normally have. I thought of quotes and scriptures and opened right to scriptures that I had thought of! It was incredible. Seriously. It's like I'm given access to 20% more of my brain!

The food is DECENT.

There are many Polynesians and I LOVE them all.

Asians are all funny.

I'm not really sure what else to write about, it's only been 1/2 a day.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! This is so comical to me. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT 100%.

Oh, we don't get snack time...I think some snacks would be nice.

LOVE YOU!! I will write again on Tuesday! OH...We get temple walks on Sunday and I get to go to one session at the temple each week. Cool huh.

K BYE! xoxoxoxo , ME

Sister Mahaffey, I guess haha

(I have been telling people my name is Mara all day on accident)

MTC Day!

Mara's going into the Missionary Training Center (MTC) today! She's so ready. She seems calm and collected and just ready to go... other than the fact that the airport lost her bags last night! But we're going to pick them up right now. I think we can all agree that Mara is going to be the best... goodness I'm going to miss her, though. This blog will just keep everyone updated on what she writes home and so everyone can see pictures. I'll post her address soon so you can write to her... A REALLY easy way to start though is DearElder.com. They'll get to her same day and its free while she's in the MTC. On the site, go to "Write a Letter" and right now her mission is "Provo MTC". MTC Box #200.