Julia's new address

Sister Julia Chanel Bendixen
Peru Lima West Mission
Avenida Carlos Salaverry 3664
Los Olivos
Lima 39
Peru

Julia is in Peru

The attachment is a handwritten letter from Lima -- Julia has arrived -- she is in the missionfield -- not the MTC. for those of you wondering what her new address is.

Take care,

Sue

Week 6

Dear family and Friends,

I'm SOOO excited!   I thought I would be stuck at the MTC for a while, until my reassignment came in.  They said I would be going somewhere in Utah.  But then the MTC does this amazing thing where they can call through the intercom to a specific room; so the travel office called me out of class and I went to the travel office, and when I showed up they handed me a paper, and I asked: "is this my reassignment?" And, the man there responded, "No. Your visa came in.  You leave for Peru at 6 a.m. Monday morning." :D I was so excited. It was kind of like opening my mission call all over again! There is this phrase at the MTC. "You're one of the few to go to Peru."  Haha.. sounds lame, but! it's true.  So many people here have trouble getting visas.  My visa even came in before another person who submitted her paperwork before me.  I'm so curious as to who my companion will be when I arrive.  I wonder if they'll be native to Peru or if they will be a foreigner.  I kind of am hoping they speak English so that the English syntax will make more sense as I speak in Spanish, but I know I'll be grateful to have a native speaker as my companion so that I will be forced to learn the language faster.

Something else exciting was that we got to hear Sister Sheri Dew speak to us for Tuesday devotional.  :)  Afterwards I ran up and.. got stuck.. couldn't shake her hand, so I ran around to some other doors past a security gentleman who didn't do anything and shook her hand before she left the foyer. Haha.  She is very kind.  I don't honestly remember her whole talk that well, but I remember what she said after.  My companion told her how everything in her talk was just what she needed to hear, and then Sister Dew just said, "Well, that just means you had the Spirit with you."  I just feel really lucky I got to meet her because then the security guards were turning away everybody . When I think of her I just realize that so many things happen in our lives just so we are able to touch the lives of those around us.  She has made such an impact on so many of the single women of the church because of her powerful testimony. Of course I never want to be single, but when I go through hard things, at least I know that I can testify to others of how to get through it with the Savior.  Also, her response to my companion made me so excited for general conference in a few days.  It reminded me how the same words are said from the pulpit, but everyone ends up having their various questions answered.  It's all because of the Spirit.

Easter Sunday was fabulous. Flowers miraculously bloomed and the care packages were very much appreciated! I'll send a few pictures.  The wife of the first counselor in our branch even borrowed part of it for her family night lesson.  She said the grandkids loved it.  (Thank you Ericalynn and Nani and kids!)

So much happens in a week.

In the past 48 hours I've been tearing through scriptures, analyzing, and basically came to the same conclusion I always do.  Most of the time, when you get confused about something, it's because it's not truth.  Truth is simple and clear, and the fruit of it is peace and joy.  Every day I have a reason to smile. :) If you are reading too much into something, you probably are.  (duh!) wow... can you tell i woke up at 4 this morning on accident? haha!
My companion and I thought it was 5 o'clock when we woke up, so we got up and went to do our laundry and no one was in the laundry room ( which is weird.. normally it is packed) haha! So we got our first pick of washers and dryers.  One thing is for sure.  When I get off my mission I will feel like I'm wasting so much time just because everything is so scheduled.  Oh well, at least we get another hour to spend in the day responding to snail mail. :)

Always remember who you are.  Always remember God has a plan specifically for you. Always remember that God loves you and cares more than we can comprehend.  Miracles happen every day if you just keep your eyes open. :)

Can't wait to write you from beautiful Peru! 

Love Always,

Hermana Julia Chanel Bendixen

p.s. the one teacher is Hermano Clifford. The other picture is my adopted family (district) and my branch president and his first counselor.  Forgive my lack of makeup.  Don't ask me why we decide to take pictures after we've all been crying and saying goodbyes.  It's just because we love each other I guess so even though I cringe thinking about you all seeing my face in these, I'm smiling because I love everyone in them. 

Week 5

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I've probably said this every week so far, but... wow! already week 5!?  Every day seems to be so long, but every week goes by so fast!  We get our travel information later today so I'll eventually find out where I'm reassigned until I get to go to Peru. =)

Earlier this week, I saw one of the elders in my district and our teacher do a role play (teaching another person pretending to be an investigator) in front of the class, and I just started crying. (crying is something you have to get used to at the MTC. at least if you're a girl. lol) But I was crying because I realized that a miracle had passed me by and I hadn't even really noticed.  I was amazed at how far each of us had come in being able to speak the language, and even just personally in our own conversions to Christ.  I really realized how much God had prepared me for this experience and how I could literally pick out a doctrine of Christ and a place in my life where I had gained a testimony of it. 

 

At one of our devotionals, Sister Doman, the wife of the first counselor in my branch talked about how her brother felt when he came off his mission.  He didn't want to give up his name badge, and his calling.  Before they released him he began to just sob.  She talked about how he said when he was released it almost felt like a physical thing.  She hopes it's as hard for us as it was for him to give up that mantle. I haven't even been to the field yet and I'm already dreading being released.  There is something so wonderful about knowing that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, doing what you are supposed to be doing.  I just don't want to leave that feeling behind... where the Spirit is around you all the time.  I guess that just means that when I come off my mission I will need to make sure I'm doing what God wants me to be doing. =]

 

Speaking of the Spirit, we just met one of our new teachers.  His name is Brother Rayban.  When he introduced himself it was like a breath of fresh air.  We are stuck in the same classroom for most of the 16 hour day except for meal times and gym time.

He was so funny.  He made all of us feel good.  He apologized for perhaps being a little distracting but that so far his behavior hadn't caused the Spirit to leave. He said the way he figures it, the Spirit is a personage, right?  And you know how there are those people who you want to just be around all the time?  Then there are those people where you just cringe when you are around them.  Well, the Spirit, he figures, is like those people you want to be around all the time.  We're not supposed to necessarily be solemn.  Just reverent. :) I don't think he realized that we all thought he was like that kind of person where you just want to be around him all the time.  I looked around the room and we were ALL smiling.  He never once made fun of anyone.  I want to be like that.  That kind of person where you are never focused on yourself and everyone just feels good because you are around them. 

Other things that break up the monotony of our 16 hour day are playing violin and gym.  I'll eat dinner or lunch really fast so I have at least 15 minutes left over to check out the MTC violin, yes.. they only have one haha.... and play.  It is the best way to express myself whenever I don't want to spread negativity via words.  Also, gym is the best. I love playing a game of basketball with the Elders and Sisters and letting out all of my competitiveness.. It's a good thing that the Elders are only 19 though because I'm sure that I would be crushed if they were any older..  The bruises I find the day after come from falling on the ground as I try to keep the ball in bounds. lol

 

 Two weeks ago we went to "TRC"  or "training resource center" for the first time.  This is when we get to share a message with members from church.  I still have a love/hate relationship with this.  For some reason, in role plays it's really easy (easy is an exaggeration) for me to teach a lesson to someone who knows nothing about the gospel, but then when I go in to talk to these people at TRC, I begin thinking of how inadequate I am.  I begin thinking of how little Spanish I really know and how wonderful these people are who basically volunteer to talk to us for 20 minutes.  We usually teach two different people at TRC.  The first time we teach and get to know them is usually when I start having all these doubts about my calling and stumble over my words and use more hand gestures than doctrine.  Then when teaching the first person is over, I step outside, reevaluate my attitude, and realize that I can do nothing without God. When we meet with the second person for TRC, we get to know them, and somehow in my definitely more humbled state, I'm saying complete sentences and bearing my testimony and not trying to analyze as much, and the message comes across. So, the only reason I hate it is because it's hard to humble myself before I end up crying. haha. I think honestly it's the only time I really break down about missionary work.. once a week, in the first lesson, and then I love it because it turns into this amazing experience where God gives me the words to say. :) 

Something else that's really special about the MTC, besides the fact that it is the best place to be that I know of to give you the opportunity to change your character, is that while you are here you get to also go to the temple once a week.  There is a lady we met there who knows as much English as we do Spanish. Haha. She goes to the temple every day! While talking with her we learned that she was from Peru... but that's about all we understood. haha. Hopefully she'll be there again when we go today and we will be able to talk with her more before doing something like sealings.

 

I can't wait to get to the field!  I can't wait to share with people something that has blessed my life so much, and to share something that they are looking for that will help them come unto Christ.

Thank you for your snail mail!

It means so much!

Love you all!

~Hermana Julia Chanel Bendixen

 

 p.s.  You know you are getting confused with spanish and English when someone says 'Bonjour!' ' and you respond in perfect French,' Bonjour! Comment-allez vous? ' Then they say and you? and you say  gracias! i mean de nada! i mean... umm... That doesn't even begin to explain how crazy it gets with all the different languages here. haha.  At dinner I almost spat out the water I was drinking when the elders said "nos vamos!" before leaving for class and then one of the sisters in our destrict responded with .. hola! lol!

 

The first couple of pictures are from Ericalynn and her cute kids!  :D Everyone thought it was SOOOO CUTE! I don't know if you can read it, but Neal drew "The title of liberty".. i love the blood on the ground.. haha. and then Eden drew "the gold plates" so cute!  the last picture is the door to our classroom. :)