Ik houd van Jullie

Hello Family and Friends!!

I can't believe it is already my second P-day out in the mission field! Time is going by so fast, but then there are those days where it goes by so slow. We have been staying extremely busy with everything, especially the language. I am understanding and learning SO much every single day. In the past 14 days I have learned so much about myself and this gospel, I cant even fathom how much I will have learned in 18 months when I return. I have been making lots of good friends and met so many wonderful people here. Both of my dutch teachers are really great and help me out alot.

This past week they are sending out all of the new mission presidents (the broadcast on sunday) so we have been officially kicked out of the cafeteria and have to eat in the Gym building. Its made for a very interesting meal experience having no choices whatsoever. There have been a couple times when I have questioned if what I am about to eat is plastic or actual food. Overall, it hasn't been too terrible though ;) Hopefully you all got to watch the broadcast Sunday night, It was so awesome. I am so glad I was able to be at the MTC for that and be in the presence of all of the 12. Looks like I'll be doing lots more missionary work on the internet as well which will be quite interesting. However, in the Netherlands they don't too much of that there so I'm not too confident that will apply to me that much but either way I am excited. I was on T.V a couple times during it but I was really hard to see amongst the 3,000+ missionaries there. When I was watching it I was thinking of all of you and it kind of felt like I was close to all of you because I knew we were all doing the same thing. haha kind of weird.

Thank you for all the dearelders and packages from everyone. It always makes my day when I get them. Mom, please continue to send all of the REAL diet coke that you want. It is most definatley not a sin. Haha the lame stuff they have here doesnt compare one bit. So funny story...every meal we have I am taking out my invisalign retainers and I have been so good and remembering to pick it up off the tray before I throw away my garbage. Well sunday, I pulled a Madi moment and threw it away. Me and my companion were halfway up the stairs to our residance hall and I realized I didnt have it and just about had a heart attack. We RAN down the stairs and back into the cafeteria just in time to grab the garbage dude with the garbage that had my retainer in it. So I had the great oppurtunity to sift throught everyones nice yummy garbage with mashed potatoes, and you name it ALL over it. Good news is, I did find it after searching through the whole thing. I have sterilized it just about 100 times. I learned my lesson the hard way, and I am sure this isnt too big of a surprise for those of you that know me well.

The spirit here is so strong and I have felt the lords love for me SO much these past few weeks. The atonement is real and he leads and directs this work. I am so grateful to be the lords hands 24/7 for the next 18 months. It isnt an easy task but who ever said it would be easy? It wasn't ever easy for the savior so I am totally ok with paying a little price for him. I love missionary work and the spirit that was felt here. I CANNOT WAIT to board that plane to Belgium/Netherlands. I already have such a love for the people there and the language. After talking to my teachers about their experiences (they both returned from the mission less than a year ago) I get more and more excited. I have less than a month :) 

I love you all so much and I appreciate all the love and support. It truly means the world to me.

Until next week,

Zuster Brophy

My first official email!

Hello from the inside of the MTC!!

Wow what a crazy week I have had! I cant really describe everything how I have felt. It  has definately been a rough one. I have been really really homesick so everyone at home- feel special :) Because I miss and love you all so so much!!

Today has been a better day and I am slowly getting over the homesickness of missing all of your glorious faces. The MTC really is such a special place. There is a spirit here that I can't really describe. Everyone is so so nice and is so welcoming and the veil is SO thin. The first day they have all the new missionaries wear their nametags with a huge dorky red dot on them, so everyone starts yelling "Welcome to the MTC" and "Hello Sisters" in every language you can imagine so that was kind of fun and interesting. Putting my badge on for the first time was seriously the most amazing feelings. Sometimes I just look down and see "Zuster Brophy- De Kerk Van Jezus Christus Van Heiligen Der Laatste Dagen" and still dont believe it is real. Its such an amazing feeling!! My host missionary that met me at the curb to pick me up, we got talking and it turns out she went to homecoming with Darren. Haha we clicked really fast and I got her email so we can keep in touch. She is going to the Paris, France mission (my dream mission) We sat and spoke french to each other for a little while. Her last name was Huckstep? So im not sure if carley or anybody recognizes that name.

My companion is SO amazing. She is from Lindon, Utah and she is so strong and has a spirit about her that just glows in every aspect. I am sad we are already down to five weeks with each other. Get this...she is best friends with Cailey Haynie (Cali's sister)! How crazy is all this?! Everyone I meet has a connection to somebody. There is another Elder in my district that is from Star, Idaho and he knows Carley and her friend Summer. His name is Elder Mark Moomey.

They definately keep us extremely busy here. We dont have much time to do anything except study Dutch and pray and read which is awesome. I have been really really impressed with the MTC and how clean the rooms and bathrooms are. I am sleeping extremely well because by the end of the day I seriously am ready to fall on the floor and crash. I have suprisingly adjusted well to the 6:30 am arise time (shocker I know) but its probably because I am forced to go to bed at 10:30 every night so I would be worried If i was still really tired. Today I got the grand oppurtunity to give blood AGAIN. When the nurse said that all of you can imagine what I did....panicked, got light headed, went super super pale and the nurse got really concerned. haha I had to sit in a dentists chair to be sure I didnt fall over and pass out and she ended up giving me a teddy bear and gatorade because she felt so bad. Overall...pretty good experience. Not passing out is always a plus. I also had another fun thing planned for me.....had to take a stool test. Yes I know what your thinking....yummy yummy :) probably the most disgusting thing I have ever done. I guess Belgium really wants to make sure you are C L E A N. Glad that is over!

The Dutch is coming along great! I already have such a love for the language and it is really a pretty one. I can bear my testimony AND pray already :) The gutterle sound is coming along, my throat hurts because Ive been practicing so much so I actually had to go buy some cough drops at the bookstore. haha They did move my date up to July 22 because they have been flying all the missionaries out every Monday morning now instead of Tuesdays. But it could change as it gets closer. Im not sure yet. Its crazy to think a week has already passed by. My teacher is awesome as well, he returned home from the same mission in October so he knows his stuff very well. I still havent seen Preston but I have been looking for him. Ive pretty much seen everyone else! All my friends from high school and a couple others. Its been really nice to see all of their familiar faces.

I am in a room with 3 other girls so It isnt too terrible. They are all really really nice so I got extremely lucky. The food at the MTC is really gross, not as bad as I thought it would be, but Mom...your cooking is the bomb and I have loved getting the chips and salsa, cookies, and granola bars. I will just always snack on those all day long. Also thank you everyone who has sent me the DearElders. They are amazing!! Its my new favorite thing and I now know why the mail is a missionaries favorite thing :) Everyone is welcome to write me as much as they please. I hope everyone has been getting the few letters Ive been able to send out. If you didnt give me your address, let me know so I can write you during the week as well in my spare time.

I love you all so much and I miss you! I know this is where I am supposed to be and the Lord has a special plan. As hard as it may seem and as long as the day seems, the saying is true- the weeks go by so fast! I love this work and I cannot wait to be fully trained and teach the people of Belgium and Netherlands! I already have such a strong love for them. The lord is in ALL things. He hears every single prayer offered and he knows us each individually. We had an amazing devotional on Sunday that touched my heart SO much. He talked about the whisperings of the spirit and how never ever let them pass you by. The lord loves all of us and wants the best  for us. I am so honored to be a full-time missionary for the lord for the next 18 months. It makes me so so happy!

Until next week,

Love with all my heart

Zuster Brophy

The journey has begun!

We had a great breakfast as a family on Wednesday and spent some time saying goodbye to Madison at the Provo temple.  We then dropped her off with all the other missionaries reporting for duty at the MTC.  So hard to say goodbye- there was not a dry eye between any of us.  Emma cried all the way home. Even ice cream didn't make it better:(

We received our first letter from Madi on Saturday letting us know she was alive and well and had even ran into her good friend Sarah Schank and had a much needed hug! The letter was short and sweet but so welcome. We had already sent her a couple packages, several Dear Elder letters and a couple emails.
What a surprise it was when I went to the mailbox today (Monday) and saw a second letter.  Madi said she has been really homesick but has a great companion and they are helping each other through the hard times.  The Dear Elders have helped so much and she was sooo happy to read them. She says the language is crazy, but coming along great! One sentence she knows well- "Ik ben Zuster Brophy. Ik weet dat Helmese Vador is. Which means, I am Sister Brophy, I know Heavenly Father lives.
Her P-day is tomorrow (Tuesday) so we are so excited to hear from her again and she promises it will be in more detail!

2 days and Counting..

Well the day is almost here!! I report to the MTC in Provo on Wednesday at 12:30 pm. I could not be more excited! It still doesn't feel quite real to me yet...pretty sure when I get "kicked to the curb" as my dad says, it will sink in. My farewell was yesterday and It went SO well. I was so overwhelmed with love and support from family and friends. Thank you for all who made the trip up. It meant the world to me.

I will be going to the stake center tomorrow night (Tuesday June 11th) at 8 pm to be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I can't wait to start this journey and to see what the lord has in store for me. I can't wait to serve the people of Belgium and Netherlands and to bring them the gospel that has brought me such happiness and defines who I am today. My next post will be my first email!! So exciting!