Hi mom!

Hi mom!

Thank you so much for the letters! Yesterday, I got the letter you mailed to me as well as the DearElders that were sent once the site was up and running again. This past week has been pretty intense. We said goodbye to the other sisters in our zone (different district) this morning at 4am. Two of them are headed to Georgia and the other two are headed to Mesa. I didn't think that I was possible to get so close to them in such a short amount of time, but we became best friends, so it was really hard to see them go. This week is my last week in the MTC. I talked with one of the district presidents last night and he is allowing me to set up a meeting with Andrew on Sunday so that I can see him one more time before I leave. The district president said that we could even give each other a hug, but we'd have to do that in the main building under the supervision of one of the Branch Presidents. I wasn't expecting to be able to set up a meeting, so I was incredibly grateful that the Branch President was so accommodating. I'll be able to write more later today (they give us a whole hour on p-days) so this is kind of the preliminary letter and then I should be back on by noonor sometime in the afternoon, so we can just email back and forth for a few minutes. Just let me know what time is best for you and we'll make this conversation happen! Christmas was really really great! On Christmas Eve, a member of the Seventy came and spoke to us and then elder and sister Bednar came on Christmas Day!! And the best part about Christmas Day was that he didn't prepare a talk. He distributed 200 cell phones into the audience and we had a Q&A with an apostle! We were allowed to send texts to his ipad and he and sister Bednar would scroll through the questions on the ipad and then they would answer them! And all of the MTCs around the world were participating, so he would read where the question was coming from and then they would answer the question. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget! I really love my Christmas gifts! I tried to ration my candy (like Jon) but that's been a bit difficult, so I only have one reeses and my fastbreak left.

I'm so grateful for the amazing experiences that I'm having here. We've been teaching a woman named Claudia and she's been progressing so much! She's part of the TRC program that they've started here and when we first met her, we taught her as a district, which didn't go very well and left her a bit confused. Sister Lopez and I ran into her later on and were able to set up an appointment and in that appointment, we were able to clear up a lot of her questions. The last time we visited her, we felt impressed to bring Sister Carambelas and Sister Beagley with us and I can personally testify that it was divine inspiration! She connected so well with both of them that it was really amazing! Another TRC investigator that we have is Jose. He's originally from Guatemala, but recently moved here to help his oldest daughter with her disability as she attends college. He, and his wife, are such amazing and genuinely GOOD people that I know that not only do they need the Gospel in their lives, but they truly deserve it! They are so good and kind and so willing to think of others! It was an amazing experience teaching him and we get to teach him again tomorrow! Well, my laundry is about to finish, so I'd better sign off so some other missionary can contact their family. I love you all so very much and this mission is the best experience that I've ever had in my life! And I know that it will continue to get better and better as time progresses! I'm super excited to leave for Arizona on Monday! My flight leaves SLC at 8:30 in the morning, but I may be able to call home after I get my bags checked and while we're waiting for the flight! Just let me know if that's a possibility because I would love to talk to you all before I head out!

Love,

Sister Stephanie Lee

Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Thank you so much for the amazing gifts!!! including my CTR ring, but I think I liked my hot wheel the best! My companion enjoyed her hot wheel as well. So, as I was curling my hair for our choir performance today, I was thinking about Christmas. we watched the "nativity" video that the church recently filmed last night with the whole MTC (including west campus). As the movie played and as we watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas, I thought a lot about everything that our Savior has done for us. I realized that, even though before my mission I had to deal with so many medical issues and sickness in recovery, he has been with me through every step of the way and I feel that blessing with me every day at the MTC.

The MTC is such a wonderful place! I feel the Spirit so strongly here and I know that this is Christ's restored gospel and that his love for us is unconditional and unending. I'm so grateful for the reminder that I've had this Christmas season about how much I love all of you and how grateful I am for the examples that you have all been to me and all that you have taught me over the years. Mom, your constant care and encouragement is something that I have always appreciated, but never expressed my appreciation for, so Thanks for always being there for me even though I sometimes wasn't very receptive. Dad, thank you for always encouraging me to do better. especially waking up early in the morning. I keep hearing your voice in my head saying "you're burning daylight!" Allison, thank you for always being so strong in your values and your commitments. Your example is something that I cherish. Jon and Morgan, I love you both so much and I know that the Spirit that is being gifted to you will be blessed in your home. Andrew, (yes, I'm forwarding this to him even if he can't read it until his next p-day) you're such an example to me! Keep working hard and look out for the girls!! Jen, you are such a hard worker, but take the time to relax so you won't burn out. You truly are a gifted musician and I really miss hearing you play your cello. I even miss hearing you pound out the same 10 chords from "Waterfall" in different keys/octaves.

 I love you all so much, and in this Christmas season, my gift to Christ is gratitude. Gratitude for my past experiences, gratitude for my family, and immense gratitude for his everlasting sacrifice for us. I know that he loves us.; I know that however lost we may feel, He will always be there for us and help us through any and all of our difficulties. If we only see one set of footprints, it's just because he's carrying us through them. I love you all!

Merry Christmas!

Sister Stephanie Lee

HELLO!!! FROM THE MTC!!!

Dear Fam,

So, it's my first day being able to email you all. I've written several letters which I've sent off by now, but this is my first official email!! AND it's Christmas Eve!! So, Merry Christmas! I love the MTC so much! I've been a bit tired because they jam pack your scheduls, so I haven't really had time to be homesick. I didn't read any of the notes you slipped into my luggage until today (yep, I saved them for Christmas) but I have been reading all of the DearElders and I have loved every one of them!! Too bad the site will be down for a week, so I'm going to miss the daily letters from you all.

 

My companion, Sister Lopez and I, ran into one of the TRC investigators on campus on our way to check on a scheduled TRC and we ended up talking to him for a bit and the next thing we knew, we had an appointment scheduled for today! The investigator, Nick, has been in the military for 9 years and is a Staff Seargent Green Beret (Boret, Barat, Bereau?). He knew a lot about a ton of different religions, so we had a very interesting conversation with him and his wife. At the end of our discussion we were talking about what the beliefs are for different religions and Sister Lopez felt impressed to share Article of Faith #11 with him. He had actually had the Articles of Faith shared with him multiple times, but he had never been given a copy. We didn't have one with us, so we promised to bring one by and after the discussion we ran over to the bookstore to get an Articles of Faith card. We searched EVERYWHERE for those cards, but the only ones that they had were in different languages! It was so frustrating! Finally, we stopped in front of a bookshelf and said a quick prayer. We were so worried because our investigator had been given many Book of Mormons, pamphlets, and pass along cards, but he had never been given the Articles of Faith! After we prayed, we looked up and right in front of us were three bookmarks with the Articles of Faith on them. It was a miracle. God knew that our investigator needed those articles of faith.

 I know that when we pray, with complete faith in God, he will answer our prayers. I know that Christ is the best example for us to follow and that it's through him and his atonement that we can return to live with him and Heavenly Father again. I love you all SO VERY MUCH and despite the fact that I'm not able to be with you for Christmas, my heart is with you and I'm happy knowing that I am doing the Lord's work to bring God's children closer to Christ and to help them attain salvation. Don't forget to light a candle for me and to make hot cocoa when you listen to the "Candle in the Window", and give everyone my love. Oh, and wish me luck! The MTC choir is performing for a General authority tonight and we're performing again tomorrow. We're doing an arrangement of "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plain" and a song called "Where Shepherds Lately Knelt". 

I've been able to see Andrew twice since I've arrived and both times he's been very considerate, asking how I've been doing. Having him here has been such a blessing. I'll send pictures as soon as I figure out how to put them on the MTC computer without putting them on all of the computers on the server. I figure I'd get into trouble if I did that. Well, I'll tell you more next week and I'll continue hand-writing letters! (Speaking of, can I get Karen and Nate's mailing address? They gave me some super cute pictures and notes).

Love,

Sister Stephanie Lee

Steph at the MTC!!!

Zach, a guy in Steph, Amy, and Allison's ward works at the MTC doing Phys. Ed. for the missionaries. He has run into both Sister Stephanie Lee and Elder Andrew Lee!!! 

Stephie to the MTC!!!

Wow.

Today was REALLY neat.

We all got to witness Stephie getting set apart as a missionary last night and today we dropped her off at the MTC.

This was after last night.

After dropping off Andrew 4 weeks ago, we are getting really good at this.

We miss her already.

These pictures were from the last few days as we packed Steph up and got her ready to go!

Today saying goodbye!!!

Off she goes!!!