May 10, 1st email!

Mom!!!!!! (And Dad, and Rachel, and Kaylie, and Cosmo!)

I'm so glad I got to hear from you! As you can guess, my P-day at the MTC is on Saturday, but I'm pretty sure that when I get to Singapore, it will be on Monday - meaning Sunday night Utah time :). Everyone here at the MTC jokes that the time flies and is so slow at the same time. I can see why! We are constantly working and studying and preparing to become the best missionaries possible, so all the days seem to blend together. I can't believe it's already Saturday, and at the same time, I can't believe that I haven't been here for months! It's hard to explain. 

So, let me give you a little rundown of my MTC experience, a 'day-in-the-life' of Sister Crabb - and I guess just a whole rundown of my experiences here so far! After you dropped me off, I got to go to the bookstore and get my namebadge, as well as get a bunch of pamphlets about the gospel. They were so systematic about it and everyone was so nice! It was a little hard at first, but now I am more happy than I've ever been - ever! I am so excited to have a namebadge. I feel so honored to have that blessing to be able to be a representative of Christ. It's already become such a big part of me, and I've only been wearing it for 3 days! It's a magnetic kind, so it's super easy to stick on any of my shirts. I love it so much!! Anyways, after we were able to get all of the technical information taken care of, we were able to meet our companions, district, and teacher. I wish I had a picture of everyone, but I'll send that my first week in Singapore. We can't take district pictures until the last day. So, my two teachers are Brother Crandall and Brother Pit. Seriously, Rachel, Brother Crandall is like Brother Vest with hair. He looks like he could be his twin. He even talks like him! He served his mission in Oregon and has taught me so much! My other teacher Brother Pitt and he served his mission in California. I just met him last night, but I know I'm going to learn a lot from him too.

My companions are Sister Archibald and Sister Mika! Yes, I ended up in a tri! I haven't been in a dual companionship, but 3 is nice because you have more people to talk to. It feels so natural to be with my companions, it's not really that hard to be with each other 24/7 - in fact, I really enjoy it! I like having someone to be with all the time. Sister Archibald is the same sister I met at BYU, and so that was very nice to be with someone that you already know. She is from Idaho and is one of the sweetest girls ever! She is always so nice, and we love laughing together. She was quite the partier at BYU!! Sister Mika is from Melbin Australia and I absolutely die whenever she talks. Her accent is so cool! The best part is, she always says that we are the ones with the accents. I'm so jealous of her too because apparently Elder Holland spoke on Tuesday night, and since she is international, she was here to hear him! AHH!! I can't believe I missed Elder Holland by less than 24 hours! I bet there will be a great apostle on Tuesday though. Sister Mika is also the absolute funniest person I've met. Everything that comes out of her makes me laugh and she has the biggest smile I have ever seen. She is going to Micronesia, Guam on her mission. She always says stuff like, "All about that running life" and " A to the Ma to the Zing." One time, when I said something good during the lesson, she said, 'Oh! Sister Crabb! You made a cake out of that! A cake with a cherry on top!" I love her so much! My district is also super funny, and we have all become such great friends. We spend so much time in class together and we eat meals together, so we get to know each other pretty well. How I was blessed with the funniest, best district at the MTC, I will never know. 43 B is the best! Elder Amato is our district leader from San Diego, and was baptized at 17. He is also going to Guam, and is a total Californian. Elder WIllliams is from Texas and always talks about Hog Hunting and how he loves his guns. All the elders joke that he is one of the manliest men that they have ever met! Elder Peterson is just a great example of how to work hard, and is super nice. Elder Williams and Peterson are going to Portland. Elder Holmes and Elder Grant are going to Singapore with me and SIster Archibald and Elder Grant is from England. We like teasing him when he says something like, "I'm going to the lou." However, he is so spiritual and cries every time he shares something. He really impressed me. Elder Holmes laughs at everything and is super funny. Basically, we are great friends and are going to probably write each other on our missions. It's going to be really hard to say goodbye to them after we've become so close. Also! It's so hard to say 'Elder" and "Sister" to everything. We are not allowed to say "Hey Guys" It's, "Hey Elders and Sisters." Also, funny moment, today at breakfast, the Elders were talking about movies, and me and the sisters were saying, "man! we haven't seen any of those." Then, we realized as sisters, none of us have seen Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, and they haven't even seen Harry Potter. In that moment, the elders seriously looked at us dumbfounded! I will never forget their faces! Then, they all stood up and told us to repent, and were so appaled. It was the best reaction I've ever gotten!

So, those are the people, and yes, I see Sister Hall and Sister Tyler everywhere! It's wonderful. The MTC basically consists of me waking up and attempting to get ready faster than seems possible. However, I always get it done by some miracle. I'm learning the value of fast hair and makeup. We've been told it's more important to be obedient than to look pretty- which is true. After we get ready, we study the scriptures for 1/2 an hour and go get breakfast. Afterwards, we are literally in classes and meetings up until 9:00 at night! It is so good, but it makes me really tired because of the insane spirit that is here. The MTC is truly dedicated as a place where the Lord trains his called servants, and you can feel that everywhere you go! The first day, we memorized the first vision, because there is a serious power as you say that memorized. It takes over the room, and investigators can really feel it. So, I can say that, as well as my purpose as a missionary! We've focused so much on the Doctrine of Christ, because that is what my purpose as a missionary is! It's been so good, and I've learned so much! Also, the revelation you receive here is astounding. I've never had more clear instructions from Heavenly Father as I pray and listen, as well as when we pray as companionships. Honestly, the Lord really cares about the people we are teaching, and He is willing to help us every step of the way so we can give the investigators what they need. He understands them better than we ever possibly could, so why not take his advice? As sisters, we are teaching a fake investigator named Buford right now. We learned that we should pray to Heavenly Father to know what to teach, and so we did. Let me tell you, as powerful as my personal prayers are, companion prayers are almost more powerful! When we all prayed for Buford, we were able to get the same answer as we pondered after our prayer, that we needed to teach him about God's love. It's incredible how much Heavenly Father helps and loves his missionaries. Apparently, we are the second most prayed for group in the church. Every temple, every session! 

Anyway, I'm running out of time to write, and wish I could tell you how much I love it here! It is truly a place that is so easy to feel the spirit, and I have learned so much! I had a great experience that I wanted to share, it was with the Book of Mormon. I had the feeling as we were praying on what Heavenly Father needed us to know as missionaries, that I needed to understand better the power of the Book of Mormon. The next day, we did an activity where as a district, we read 4 verses of the Book of Mormon. As we talked, the person speaking told us that specific words and feelings come to us as revelation - and that no other book does that. It was so powerful as we discussed what jumped out to us as we read. Everyone in the district had something different speak to them, which is incredible, Even something about Egyptian Hyroglyphics spoke to Elder Grant, and proved to him that the Book of Mormon was true. Then, the teacher also spoke to us about why we thought God wanted us to see and feel what we did, and what that meant for us. It was so powerful and I loved it! It was truly an answer to prayer, and I know that as I read the Book of Mormon that way, I will be able to feel it's power more. I need to, because it is an incredible tool, and I can't take investigators somewhere I haven't been. That's what inviting is - bringing people places you've been. Honestly, I've learned that as a missionary, my first and only convert needs to be myself. If I don't know it, I can't teach it. That's been so cool to learn!

Anyway, I can't say much more, but, I also met someone who knew Davis, and apparently I look like his twin. Also, baptism is just inviting people to come to Christ and follow Him, because did you know, you get cleansed from your sins with the Holy Ghost, not being immersed in water?? We only get immersed because it's a sign of humility and dedicating our life to Christ. So, I'm supposed to invite people to be baptized the first lesson, every time. That's what the Savior would do - invite people to follow him. I feel so humbled, and know that I have a long way to go before I can be the type of missionary I want to, but I know that with Heavenly Father's help, I will be able to accomplish miracles - because I really don't do much. The spirit teaches and tells me what to teach, Heavenly Father is really hastening his work, and it's incredible to be a part of it.

LOVE YOU!!!!!! xoxoxo
Sister Crabb

Trying Singapore Street Noodles we found at Walmart!