Sister Kinsey O'Dell's Mission to Canada: First Letter!! (March 17th)

Hey guys it's me! Monday is my P Day here at the MTC :) Oh my gosh I've had such an amazing time so far. I've seriously been so blessed. I had that one family look after me at the airport and help me find my seat and get my luggage and that was so helpful! I am so glad you guys got the picture of me, it was so nice of her to do that! Before I even got on the plane this girl started talking to me and her name was Sarah. Her mom lives in Utah but she lives in Arizona, she's a senior and going to BYU-I soon! We sat on the plane together and talked the whole time. She stayed with me to get my bags, even go to the bathroom! And waited for me to make sure I got to the right shuttle. I felt like Heavenly Father started looking out for me before I even got on the plane! Then the shuttle got me and I was the only one on it! It was a bit weird but I was able to sleep while I got driven to the MTC :) haha then once I got there a sister missionary greeted me and helped me get all of the things I needed and showed me to my room. She was so nice! She's been here 9 weeks and was supposed to go to Ukraine but now she's waiting to get her call reassigned since no missionaries are allowed in there anymore.

From the Dear Elders I got it looks like you already know who my companion is!! Sister Rose!!! I absolutely love her. It's crazy how close we are and it's only been 6 days! We are always laughing and singing and talking in weird accents. But then we have the best spiritual discussions and we definitely look out for each other! I have the best district ever! There's me and sister rose and then 5 other Elders. We're all super close already, it's crazy. Three of them are coming to Canada and the other 2 are going to Australia. One of the ones going to Australia is 6' 11"!!! He is sooo tall! haha on our second day here we had study for 3 hours and we don't have a teacher with us, it's just our district and it just amazed me that a bunch of teenagers still studied and did what we were supposed to even though no one was watching. We have the best spiritual discussions. It has been so awesome being immersed in the gospel 24/7. It's so cool when you go into the cafeteria to eat there's a bunch of kids folding their arms and praying before they eat and EVERYONE says hi to EVERYONE. Everyone is so nice! I've even been talking to everyone. On the first day we had a welcome meeting to all the new missionaries and while i was sitting there I just felt so at peace like I knew I'm meant to be here.

I'm so grateful I haven't been too homesick. It's great being busy all day long but when I get ready for bed it's a lot of time for your mind to think haha when I was sitting in class on Saturday we got out our planners to plan Sunday and i saw it was the Emily's birthday and started to choke up. I miss you guys a lot but so far I've been so blessed to have an amazing companion and district that make it so fun and spiritual. There's another district in our zone that have been here a week longer than we have and together that makes a zone. They are all so nice and fun to hangout with. There's 3 sisters in there that have looked out for us which has been so nice. But they leave tomorrow and we get new missionaries in our zone on Wednesday! Oh yeah I'm the sister training leader! Whoop Whoop! So I have extra meetings and are in charge of the new girls that are coming. They're going to be staying in mine and sister rose's room which we aren't the most thrilled about since it's only been us two in there but I know those sister's are going to be amazing :)

Our days have been filled with eating, personal and companionship study, and classroom instruction classes (which are THREE HOURS LONG!!) and we usually have 3 of those classes a day. I have two teachers, Brother Usevich and Sister Manwill. In his class we have to teach this investigator named Jimmy (who is actually Brother Usevich) and tonight we will be teaching him a third lesson. It's a bit intimidating teaching your teacher but so far its been okay. He complimented me on our second lesson for taking the lead of the discussion and he said he could see Christ's light in my eyes and smile! How sweet ;) It's crazy how much I've felt the spirit while I'm here. I've learned how to study better and to really listen to the spirit. You can not teach without the spirit!!

I got my travel itinerary for Canada!! I leave on the 25 from the MTC at 2:30 IN THE MORNING. Our flight leaves at 6 am then we fly to denver colorado and get there at 7:29 am then we leave there at 8:05 and arrive to canada at 10:51! Since there isn't much time in between the time we leave colorado to canada I'm assuming I'll get to call before I leave Utah so that means I'll probably be calling anytime between 4-5:30 am Utah time. We are an hour ahead of you so that means 3-430 am your time i think....hahaha I know it's so early but you gotta pick me or sleep and you better pick me! haha Canada is an hour ahead of Arizona too, just thought you'd wanna know.

This week we have an investigator that we have to teach. Her name is Kenzie Rose and she's atheist so that should be interesting...haha I'm kinda nervous. The investigators that they have are either real, or converts, or members that are paid to let the missionaries teach them. I'm not sure what mine is though!

This morning we got to do a session in the Provo temple. It was just what I needed. I love how everytime I go in there and sit in the celestial room I just feel so much better and feel like I can take on the world! haha We'll get to go back to the temple next monday and I can't wait!

Well I get to go back on the computer possibly sometime after 3:15 (my time) while I do laundry so email me back! I love you guys soooo much! I hope you all are doing amazing!

Love,

Sister O'Dell :)