From: Jenna Nicole Lewis <jenna.lewis@myldsmail.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 5:47 AM
To: kathilew@hotmail.com; Jeff Lewis
Subject: AHHHHHHH

 

HEY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

UNJANI! (How are you?!)

Guys I am so stinkin' excited to send this email. I don't have a ton of time, but I will try to get through all of the most important things!

Oh my goodness gracious I AM SO HAPPY! I swear I have never been this happy in my entire life! Being a missionary is INCREDIBLE! I spend like 16 hours a day eating, breathing, teaching the gospel. I would not have it any other way!

So the flights here were all fine! I  got all my luggage and didn't run into any problems at all. The 16 hour flight from Georgia to Joburg (Johannesburg) was quite interesting without using the TV in front of me...but I did pretty well! Two of our MTC President's sons flew with us to Joburg and they told us we could watch PG movies, that his dad would approve, but I just felt personally for me that I wasn't supposed to. I slept like 10 out of the 16 hours and spent the other 6 reading, talking, and walking around. I sat next to a guy on the plane that works for NASA, so that was pretty cool. He was a baseball fan, so we talked a little bit about baseball. (Shoutout to Dad for teaching me to grow up loving baseball) 

I am loving the MTC! The food is different, but good! I haven't eaten anything that I haven't liked yet. They eat a lot of meat. We have meat for almost every meal. I'm not as used to that, but I've noticed it fills me up a lot more. I don't eat other than breakfast, lunch, and dinner because I am never hungry. The kitchen staff even knows to make me a little bit smaller of a portion because I am so full all the time! Bread and meat, man. Bread and meat. I haven't gotten sick either (knock on wood) so hopefully I'll be able to avoid that. I think I have a strong stomach because some of the elders have been getting sick. Speaking of getting sick, I am pretty much Nurse Lewis out here. A few of the boys have had some medical problems and they all come to me for medicine and advice on what to do haha. I love it. 

Speaking of elders...there are TWENTY FOUR  elders and THREE sisters! SO many boys. It's a really good thing that I grew up with all brothers, or else I would be going out of my mind. They are all so fun, but they are also just out of high school haha. They can be a little immature and crazy, but we love them. There is so much diversity in our MTC! We have one elder from New Zealand, one from Melbourne, Australia, one from Austria, two from England, and one from South Africa. One of my companions is from South Africa, as well. The rest of us are pretty much from Utah, California, or Arizona. I guess it's not a ton of diversity, but we have fun trying to imitate each others' accents. 

So since there are only three sisters, we are in a trio! Everyone keeps saying that trios are the hardest, but I think we are extra blessed because three is a celestial number :) Sister Shongwe is from Johannesburg! She actually lives just around here. She goes to the chapel that is in our parking lot, so she is so close to home! She is so incredibly fun. She has been teaching us all some Xhosa and Zulu. I won't be speaking either of those languages (Shona is the language of Zim), but it's way fun to just mess around with each other and speak. For example, in my District (4 elders, 3 sisters) we all say "Shop shop mellie pop!" and then you call back "Mellie mellie shop shop!" It's hilarious. Sister Cook is from Vernal, Utah. We got to sit next to each other on the plane to Joburg, so we got to know each other before we became companions! She is SO funny. I love my companions so much. We have fun, but we also are really good at bringing the Spirit together!

One of my district teachers knows Sarah Cummings! They served in the same mission. His name is (Elder) David Wentzel, and he's from South Africa. My other district teacher, Sister Rakotovao, reminds me of Montana SO MUCH. LITERAL PERSONALITY DOPPLEGANGER! She laughs just like Montana. We love our teachers. 

We seriously have a hoot in our MTC. Everyone is so funny with a great sense of humor. They are also so spiritual though. I cried SO much on Sunday just because I feel cry when I feel the Spirit. We also watched 17 Miracles, which always makes me cry like crazy. The Mormon Pioneers were so strong! I can't even imagine doing what they did. All the elders are super nice about me crying though haha and some admitted they were crying as well. 

I can't think of what to tell you guys haha. My hours blur together. I LOVE THE GOSPEL! I love teaching people! Our teachers pretend to be investigators for us and they take it SUPER SERIOUSLY so I have had some good experience teaching. I am so happy, guys. So, so happy. I testify that joy comes to us when we are living the principles of the gospel. I am so grateful for this mission already. It has changed me into such a better person. I love learning about Jesus Christ all day, every day. That is the way it should be! I am excited to go to Zim (Zimbabwe)! I've heard great things. 

I'm sorry to tell you all that I don't miss any of you yet! Sorry! ;) I've got no time to miss anyone! (Okay...maybe I miss my mom just a little...) But really please know that I am happy, healthy, and doing so well. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Prayer is incredibly powerful! SAY YOUR PRAYERS GUYS. So is the Priesthood. I am out of time! You are all in my prayers.

See you next Tuesday! Sorry I used caps so much, I just am way pumped.

Love, Sister Lewis