Pictures--2nd Week at the MTC

Feel free to email her anytime: Aubrey.reynolds@myldsmail.net

Pioneer Day

Hey my friends!

So yesterday was Pioneer day. It was really cool to wake up and see so many people on the other side of the world awake too. Right outside the MTC, there was a race going on, where lots of adults, children, some kids in strollers, and dogs running, jogging, and walking this race. As they went past one MTC building, they were waving at us, it was pretty funny. And to answer someone's question, the missionaries don't do anything on the 24th, but sing some pioneer songs instead of another choice.

Starting on Monday last week there has been an open house here at the MTC. It's pretty interesting seeing all these people come through and look at different areas of the campus. There are specific doors missionaries aren't allowed to use anymore, and the indoor volleyball area was shut down. But besides that, it's not that bad. I love walking past these people on tours though because whenever they see you, they look at you like you're some type of mythical sculpture. I haven't exactly decided if that's a bad thing or not yet, but it makes me laugh every time I see them stare.

So there are some missionaries at the MTC that are given ipads just for the MTC. Some of these missionaries include Sister missionaries going to the same place as me at they got here at the same time, and they're in my same district. If you have an ipad you're allowed to email all day long and have an easy way to check mail all the time. You also can look up scriptures or talks. I'm almost jealous that I don't have an ipad while I'm here because I would absolutely love to email all daylong, but this one hour on the computer will better prepare me for the field, so I'm really thankful for that.

If you look down you'll see some eggs... with faces. A few days before the last time I emailed and a few days after, the Elders in my district decided to put those in the classroom. I took a picture of the close and far shots of them. One on the window and one above the door that you can see outside the classroom. The Sisters didn't like it, especially my companion, but I told them that they were are class pets. This joke stopped around Wednesday or Thursday last week so it wouldn't take away from the spirit. 

I may have accidentally lied about the number of people in my zone. There are 48 that came at the same day as me, but 90 of us total. I'm not sure how many are training at the MTC at once, sorry. I stay with my companion throughout my whole time here, she's not that bad. My other two Sister roommates are super sweethearts.

I have joined the MTC choir everyone. I had the option to play the flute and try out to do it in front of everyone here, but I've been too busy and my talent hasn't been able o grow enough to where I think I'll be confident enough for it. The choir is super fun though, even if you can't sing, I recommend that you do it if you're coming here eventually. Think about it as a service to your Heavenly Father, and you're showing him how thankful you are that you have the ability to sing even if there are no skills that you actually have. 

I've done some TRC's while I'm here. It stands for Training Resource Center, and investigators come here and listen to missionaries, also members will listen to the missionaries also. This program helps the missionaries be able to reach out to strangers learning how to teach. If you ever live in Provo and need a PAYED job, you can go talk to some missionaries and pretend you're not a member. I had this one sister, and she was an actually investigator. I was talking to other Sisters and they said that she was getting baptized on August 12th. I love thinking about how I haven't even gone to Colorado yet and I've already been able to help someone come closer to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and they're making that commitment to be baptized, it's really special to me.

On Wednesday, we got all our new missionaries. There was this one Elder that I new was coming so I was looking out for him. I finally found this cool and goody Elder and I went up to him. (Whenever there are new missionaries they have an orange dot on their nametag. Everyone says "Welcome to the MTC" to them. They feel super special at first, and it's pretty cute. Then by the end of the day the new missionaries are like "yeah yeah, whatever") so anyways, I went up to him and shook his hand and said "Welcome to the MTC Elder Bergstrom" and he pulled my in for a hug and I pulled back and then something clicked and he said "I'm so sorry, I forgot we can't do that here". He's super cool and sweet and it was really funny.

My flight is on Aug 02, and I have to be ready by 3:50 AM!! There are 22 of us Elders and Sisters flying. My companion is our group leader, just because it goes by last names and she's Sister Banks. I'm not sure if I get to call home or not, I've heard differing things about this matter so I'm sorry.

If you notice by all the pictures, there's lot of random places and Elders. The places are just to let you get an idea of what my home life is. The Elders are my best friends and family at the MTC. They are funny, nice, respectful, always engaged, kind, goofy, etc. They make me laugh to no end and the Spirit is always strong around them. They are what keep me going and I love them with all my heart. It'll be a little hard to leave them in less than a week, but I'm so very thankful for the opportunity that I've gotten to be with them. There are also lots of temple pictures with us. We went there this morning and we all did a session together. All 16 of us almost didn't make it, but it was the most special thing to me to go with all of them. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else with the people I love and I'm closest too the most at the MTC. I love how well we all work together and there's never even a sliver of romantic things going on. We'll hang out all the time too. Yesterday my companion and I were in a mini chapel with 4 Elders and one was playing the piano of a more complicated way of hymn and the other one was singing and it was outstanding. I can't say enough wonderful things about these amazing spiritual family that I always surround myself with.

I appreciate all those who have emailed me in the week, you're all amazing!

I may have shout-outs to those who email me, but I haven't decided yet. When my older brother sent out emails he did a poem at the end, he stole my idea, I would do that in my journals even before he went on his mission ;p

But I think this is pretty cool, if you don't want me to say something about you or if you don't want me to openly say the nicknames I've called you, just let me know.

- First off, thanks to my family for mailing me a bunch of sugar. You're wonderful people, and I didn't even know you knew about Dear Elder stuff. I do have to pick on my mom, just because I love you. You made Brady and Copper the same name, and you didn't add a comma before "and" with you list of names. So be warned, if you send me something I'll love you than pick on you ;p

- Thanks to my dad for being able to send me doctrinal things that helped me with the lesson I taught this Sunday with my companion. I could have thanked you separately, but I decided against it.

- I know I'm a little NUTty, but I swear this sister in my district acts like you chicka. She's blonde, taller than me (we both know you'll be taller than me by the time I get back along with your lil bro), she's stronger than me (which I still wont admit it, but we'll have a arm wrestle when I get back), I have to wake her up in the mornings, she takes about an hour doing hair and make up when we either need to go or do planning or studying, she tries to walk on my line like you always accidently enjoyed doing, I have to drag her from place to place so we're not late, etc. It's kinda funny. But don't worry, you'll always be a million times better than any companion lil sis.

-Hey big bro, there's a few people going to Canada from my district, about half actually (8 Elders), just a fun fact.

-Shout out to my new cool friend just because. I'm really excited that you're emailing me 

- So listen up speedracer, runner with curly hair, and hard core marine guys. I've been running a lot recently and my companion is being my "trainer" when it comes to me doing weights. Be prepared, I'm going to come back and I'll finally be able to run faster than you, whether we're just running or playing games with youth in the middle of the night or whatever, and I'll also be able to be stronger than you, so I also challenge you to an arm wrestle ;p also! during my exercise hours I've gone fishing and thrown lots of darts at targets (I'll explain that to anyone who's willing to email me and ask).

-My hawaiian friend, in the building that I have class, on every floor there is a pondering room. In this room there is quiet music and cool big picture on the wall. My favorite is in T4, of a beach scenery. One day while I was studying there, some elder walks in and says "Hey, the Hawaiian floor smells good", honestly tho, there's no smell difference. Just another random fact.

-My yellow fella, since you make it such a big deal that yellow is your favorite color, I just thought you'd like to know that on my half of the classroom building I go to, the walls are yellow (proof is in the picture with the door and the egg)

-Little airsoft man, remember to laugh, have fun, and be happy. If you've been reading my stories about the Elders I'm with, I could totally see you being like this. Also, you know how you love your hot cheetos, well my companion got a big package and she had some in her bag, not the super bad ones you have, but it was close to that.

Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to email this much anymore because of the lack of time I have, but feel free to again ask me whatever and I'll try to answer it, probably though this chain. You're amazing everyone and thanks for reading!!

- Sister Aubrey Kaye Reynolds :)

Pics

Here are some pictures from Provo, Utah. The Missionary Training Center

There are also pictures of her with her companion, and her name tag

1st PDay

Dear people,

I'm so thankful it's my pday, it's super relaxing and it's cool to finally be able to start emailing you guys. I'm not allowed to say "you guys" here, it's pretty fun to get onto other Sisters and Elders when they accidentally say it though.

I have one companion and on top of that two other Sisters who I share a room with. These are the only girls in our district. They're all super fun and sweet. My companion seems a little off at times, but I love her and it's nothing that really gets in the way of the Spirit of the Lord. The room I'm in is pretty big. I am in the top bunk next to the window, across from that is my desk, I have a little closet area, and I just really am impressed by how big it all is.

So the only thing that I expected about the MTC before I came here was this huge building that you were always locked up in. I had a few people tell me how you couldn't leave the campus, but there are a bunch of different buildings. There is a hand full of different buildings for the Sisters and Elders, a building with the cafeteria along with other things, one for the store that's located here and also has mailing and a gym down stairs (mainly full of weights), there's a building for another huge gym with basketball and volleyball and a track, and a few more with classrooms and other stuff.There are flowers everywhere and no matter what time of day it is it always smells so beautiful.

This past week in our zone meeting (district is smaller and zone is bigger), I got to lead the closing song and it was super fun. Once the meeting was done I had people come up to me and thank me for my smile during that song. In my district there are 6 total people going to Colorado Denver North Mission. There's my companion and I, and two other sets of Elders. The Sisters in my room are going to Virgina. There are 16 total in my district, 48 total in my zone. 75% of us are Elders. Some of these people are going to Canada, but a different mission than my dear older brother. I was also able to conduct the music at the beginning of our district meeting, aka the only one to do so in my district, which was cool especially because my district leader asked me to do so. In the same meeting that I conducted at the zone meeting, I was asked to be a greeter to people before sacrament starts, so that's super super exciting. 

This past Wednesday there were about 800 new missionaries coming into the MTC, tomorrow there'll be at least another 700, this is way more than the usual and the MTC is trying to figure out lots of scheduling things with this.

The store that's located here, every Wednesday night, the Sister's get $8 on our cards and the Elders get $6. We have scheduled exercise times, and so I haven't lost or gained any weight yet. My companion apparently looked it up before we got here, and the average weight gain for a missionary for where we are going is 30 lbs. Crazy enough, I have been training myself to eat 3 meals a day, so no need to worry bout that my dear friends. The chocolate milk here is good as my Carter cousins told me about. There is pizza night every Friday, that's awesome. One thing that I sadly can't do though is chew gum, but somehow I'm getting off that "addiction". 

Turns out, I'm saying this to my family who told me no, I can 't use headphones and run- they sell headphones at the store, but I don't need that life anymore.

The Sisters and Elders in my district are super fun. One day, after exercise time, the Sisters walked into the classroom with most of the Elders already sitting there. We smelt a really strong smell and the guys were laughing. Turns out, everytime the Elders walk past us they think we smell good, so they were worried that they smelt bad and so before we walked in one of the Elders pulled out his cologne, and they passed it around the room. Another time, the teacher told one of the Elders that he needed to click through the computer to go through a lesson next time we showed up to class. Little did we know- that the teacher wouldn't show up, the teacher wouldn't be there, and that none of us knew how to sign onto the computer, so we just walked to a different classroom that no one was in, and started  class that hoping no one would come. It all worked out fine, but we were all super lost.

A quick shout out to some of those I love, you'll know if it's you and I know it's super confusing;

- My wonderful youth program in the Lake Creek Ward, thank you so much for my laundry bag and all the things you wrote on it, it's worked out wonderfully and I did my laundry perfectly today because of that.

- Chill pill girl, I use the notebook/ journal for notes every day and the sticky notes very often

- Always having a companion with you, nothing really seems to get LONEly, I hope you're figuring out life as you do your crazy projects and shine bright like a STAR.

- Life here tends to be MUSHing along, but I hope things for you aren't too crazy without your "best friend"

- Preachy, I was thinking about you when a general authority Elder with the same first name as you talked about being selfless, especially on your mission

- There's no snow here yet, but I wish some would finish working on what they need to to get here ASAP, let me know when you get your call please!

- BRAT my man, you better be at the MTC one day, and don't worry, they make you go outside all the time to get from one place to another so you gotta get used to not being a homebody 

- My dear yellow bumble bee, I hope I'm not BUGging you too much, but my LADY, it's nice to have my own space at the MTC

- Things here tend to FLI by, but even though my mind is preoccupied with a million of things, I do miss our adventures

- Some Sisters say it's cold in the middle of the night, but for me, I have enough things to keep me warm so it doesn't seem to B a problem

if anyone wants to know more about me or what happens here, just email me and I'll get it during the week and answer it on Tuesday

Sister Aubrey Kaye Reynolds

Colorado Denver North Mission

Provo Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 East

Provo UT 84602

United States

- Sister Reynolds :)

Texas to Utah

Today we said 'farewell" to Aubrey for 18 months. She had to catch a 6am flight, so we were all pretty tired, but excited for her and her new adventures.

Here are a few pictures at the airport.

Her aunt was able to pick her up from the Salt Lake Airport and take her to the MTC in Provo. 

Here she is arriving at the MTC with the host to show her where to go.