letter #4

Halo Familie!

Hoe gaat het?! Meta Mij Moo en gellukig. My naam is Zuster Hill en dit is mijn Collega Zuster Rich. Wij zijn zendalingen van de Kerk Van Jesus Christus Van do heiligen Der Laaste Dagen. Wij hebben en boodschap over Jesus Christus, Families, en over profeten op de aarde vandag. Ik weet dat Hemelse Vader van U houdt. Ik weet dat Jesus Christus leiven. Ik weet dat Joseph Smith en profet waar is. En dat deze Kerk waar is. Ik weet dat dit is waar Ik zijn (supposed to). En Ik weet dat mijn Familie van mij houdt. Ik dankbaar voor alles U en zijn het zendalingen. Ik hoop alles U zijn heel preema en dat u will schriften mij brief. Dank U Wel. Aangenam! Met heel Liefde, Zuster Alisa Hill :D

Oh hi. how is everything? Above I just write to you about who I am, what I'm doing, My testimony, part of the first lesson, and thanked all of you. I definitely know a lot more than that, but for the sake of time, we'll save that for another time. ja?

We didn't have an apostle come last night, but we had an amazing Elder from the Quorum of the 70. It's one of the best talks I've heard in a while. He talked of Becoming a disciple of Christ. The process, the thoughts and Ideas, He talked about blessings that come from being a missionary, not only for ourselves and for those we invite to come unto Christ, but also how we have our future children praying mightily for our success. How much missions bless our future families. How the Lord doesn't send us out just to be average missionaries, He sends us out to succeed. How he doesn't send us out to TRY, but to do. There is no trying. He used an analogy, he had someone come up and try to pick up his scriptures, he picked them up. He said no, I don't want you to do, he said i want you to try. once he finally got it, he pretended to try. There is no try, there is only Doing and That we can when we put out Trust in the Lord. He knows we can't do this. But he's not just sending "us" out. He's sending us with his power. With his help we can do it. And when we feel discouraged or lacking in faith, we're not loosing faith in ourselves, we're loosing faith in Him.

The MTC is the most intense school, but the most powerful school. I'm not very smart, but I've learned so much by doing my best and then he takes me the rest of the way. I know that he's opened up my mind and my heart here. I know it. No way could I have studied and jammed pack my brain and my heart so full, 16 hours a day, nearly everyday without his help. I truly know that I am supposed to be here, and that this truly is His Work and His Glory. I'm so grateful for this opportunity and am so grateful for all of you and your Love and Support. I'm so excited to be sitting here where I am at the MTC at this time in my life. Even though its not always easy, because it definitely isn't, but It's definitely worth it!

I will write another letter today, snail mail and hope you get it soon. I sent my package last week so hopefully you should get that anytime. Let everyone know I always love letters. I have a few going out for people today! If they write me, I will make time to write them back.Love ya.

Its been 4 weeks already. The days go by so quickly, and yet it seems as if I've been here forever. Hurrah voor Israel!

Met heel Liefde (with much love),

Zuster Alisa Hill :D

letter #3

So guess what?! 4 weeks in a row is pretty much a record for apostles in a row here. Last night with Elder Bednar was absolutely Amazing! I've sang in the choir with my companion the last two weeks. You know I'm not a big singer, but It saves me a spot. :D You might be able to get online and watch the video from it. 11/9/10 MTC devotional with Elder Bednar. He's Awesome. His wife spoke to us for a few minutes as well in the beginning. She's hilariously sweet!. She only embarrassed Her husband enough so his face would turn bright red. He talked about the difference between Doctrines, somethings, and Applications. (mind blank.). But It was amazing. We learned a new approach to teaching and answering questions. The Spirit is always so strong when they come. (Well, you know what I mean, there is no absence of The spirit here, Just different degrees of it at different times.) The Language is still hard, but its improving. (I hope :P) I love my district. And my companion. We're able to work things out if there's ever anything wrong. I know that This is exactly where I'm supposed to be at this time in my life. Everyday as I study Preach my gospel and look up doctrines in my Scriptures to help teach and invite the spirit, I am learning so much and strengthening my own Testimony and increasing knowledge continually. At the beginning of every class we start out with a scripture thought, which helps invite the spirit to help us learn and understand. I'm super excited for when I finally have to be home, that I will be able to speak dutch. I likely won't know anyone else who speaks it, but Its different. That's good. :) Hmm. I always have a lot to say, but once I get here on the compute it all disappears. I'm sending a box with a few things i don't need, including Thank You cards, a much more detailed letter, (the one from last week as well.) Its just super hard to find time to do anything here. and there are also a few other letters you can hand out to people. I got the DE's from David and Patrice, and Family. Tell Patrice I can't look at the blog. Not allowed, and tell David He's awesome! I'm sorry I can't communicate more here in my email, or communicate faster, but It'll come. When I'm out in the field, I'll have an hour of email rather than just half hour. And hopefully breathing time to write an outline so I don't just ramble. Miss you all Love you Much! Give Astin and the girls hugs for me. And I wish I could give you hugs myself. Always love to hear from you. :D

Zuster Alisa Hill

Letter #2

Oh hello. I'm not going to write as much this time in email because last week was stressful trying to get everything I wanted to say and not put it in the letter. So throughout the past week I've been writing you a snailmail. So i'll get that sent out today. Guess what? two weeks in a row I get to see an apostle of the Lord! Last night we had Elder Ballard come to speak with us. He spoke to us about effective ways to teach as a missionary and being confidant. He reminded us to learn how to be a good communicator. Not to judge those we talk to and to Speak to EVERYONE! The MTC is still Fantastic! Getting more used to everything here. I really miss being able to walk around outside and see the sky though. Since we're usually in the classroom or in a meal or in a devotional or gym, we hardly have a chance to be outside, and even just walking place to place we're walking in covered areas. P-days, like today we get to go to the temple though. That's a much needed break. I love the Temple! We just officially taught the first lesson again in the TRC on Monday. We do language activities too where we practice our Dutch. Its coming slowly. But its coming. I automatically say things in dutch. Phrases like, "Dank U", "Dank U wel" "Angnaam" which means nice to meet you, "Chunga jonger", which means oh my goodness, "hallo", of course, and a few others. They just seem to roll off the toungue. Its amazing how quickly we're learning when you compare it to the real world. I say "real world" because this place doesn't even seem like its in the World. I dunno how to explain it. We're all here working for the same purpose, growing and strengthening each other. Everyone talks to everyone, everyone is interested in knowing everyone. You walk down the outside halls and you have people stopping you to bear you their testimonies, often in a language you don't know, but regardless you can feel the sincerity, you can feel the spirit as the bear witness of this truth! I'm getting better at my testimony in dutch, but there's so much i wanna say that i still can't. I think when we enter here in the MTC, the Lord blesses us to have our hearts softened, and our minds open so that we grow exponentially all the time. I think it's a place that builds great character. I have a few funny stories to tell but i will send that in the snail mail that I can hopefully get out today. Sorry, I know it won't be in order, but At least its still new to you. I still really aprreciate the dear elders. You can let others know about it too. :) I love you guys so much and hope and pray for all of you. I miss you too, but honestly I'm so busy learning and growing and have this great purpose as an instrument in the Lords hands, that Its all really alright. And I know everything's gonna be alright. :D I hope you understand what i mean :P haha. Thanks. Love you guys! Hurrah for Israel!

Always Alisa Hill