First Email!

Saturday August 20, 2011


Hola! Today is our pseudo-Preparation day so I get to write to you all. The MTC is great. It is such a happening place. Or rather, things are always happening. We never have a dull moment and have about 10 seconds of free time a day. We have learned so much it is insane. We've already taught a lesson in Spanish and teach another one tonight. Our 'investigator' doesn't speak English, but is nice, even when he has no idea what we are saying. Which is good because we don't know what we are saying most of the time either.

In case you didn't get my letter, my companion is Hermana Carnes. She is from Covina, California and is also going to Fort Lauderdale. We are working well together so far. She is really determined and keeps me constantly working to improve our language abilities and stay in shape. We have gone to an extra, Sisters-only workout (kickboxing) at 6:00am and haven't eaten any ice cream or cookies yet. That's how dedicated we are. Although, I'm pretty sure I won't make it through the entire nine weeks without a dessert like she is planning to do.

Our district has ten people. 4 Hermanas and 6 Elders. The other Hermanas are really nice and smart. They already know a lot of Spanish and have finished school. Hna. Andrus is a nurse. She and her companion, Hma. Magnusson (who is 27), are going to Argentina Salta. There are two other sisters in our room who have been here for 2 1/2 weeks. They are also very nice. They are also in our zone, along with 2 other sisters who have been here 2.5 weeks, as well.
The Elders in my district are: Gerber and Doolhoff (Phoenix, AZ), Stevens and Larson (Salta, Argentina), and Johnson (AZ) and Rockwood (Fort Lauderdale!). They are all pretty funny and we are getting along well and we are becoming more unified as we are stressed together.

My residence is on the second floor in 17M (Richards Building) and my Classroom is on the first floor of Richards, as well. We spend a lot of time in the same building. Our teacher is Hermana Edwards and she is really nice, but a little scatter-brained. She forgot to tell us things, like write to your family on the first night and what/where the TALL lab is. Luckily, we knew who to ask so we survived. Also, I really like the TALL lab. It is a brilliant program and I've learned a bunch in there already.

We had a really cool workshop this week that used the "1 in 8 million" stories from the New York Times. I suggest you all check it out. I'm sure you won't look at each profile as a potential investigator like we did, but there were cool nonetheless.

Well, my time is fast escaping me. I hope you are all well and happy.
I am so happy to be here, learning Spanish and more about the Gospel, even if I'm tired of sitting and have blisters on my feet. I know it will all be worth it to share the word of the Lord with the people in Florida.

I love you all!
-Hermana Anna Sheffield

P.S. Thank you to the 12 or so people who wrote me Dear Elder letters! They were so great and just what I needed! Gracias!