Greeting From Nauvoo May 8, 2009

Greetings from Nauvoo!

We’re sorry this has taken so long, but Nauvoo is getting very busy as we ramp up for the summer activities.  We are so excited to have Sister Picard with us.  We anticipate that she will continue the tradition of excellence that is part of the young sister missionaries that have served here over the years.

We will do everything we can to make this a tremendous experience for her.  This will be a busy summer and she will have the opportunity to share her witness of the Gospel hundreds of times over the next few months.

We have included a few pictures that we took outside the Temple and here at the mission home.

Again, thank you for sharing your wonderful daughter as she faithful serves the Lord in this most wonderful part of the vineyard.

Love,

President and Sister Ludwig

  Picture # 1  They had just finished pulling handcarts through mud and were told to be in front of the Temple in 30 minutes.  12 Sisters needed to shower, so Sister Picard washed the dirt off pulled up her hair and was there on time.  I knew something was up when I got the picture, she always looks beautiful but I could tell she hadn't put much time in front of the mirror that day.  I was very proud to hear the story and her concern for others to get cleaned and ready, she would be fine with a washcloth and could shower later:)

Computer Problems :( May 5, 2009

(We got three different emails from Sister Picard because the first long message didn't deliver)

please oh please bless that this e-mail actually went through. If not- I'm starting to try and write another version of it in approximately- 10 min. Ugh. Dumb computers. The comps here are super duper slow. Dumb. Ok! So! I've just been doin work. Pretty much all the time. I've been working a ton in NRI. We pulled up and washed a bunch of these big ol rugs that are in the sites in this big bathtub looking thing with these scrubber brushes. That was pretty sick. Then! I got to learn how to lay brick. That's right- official professional bricklayer status right now. So when I bring my kids to Nauvoo in whenever I'll be able to say "look at them bricks your mama layed" yep. Sweet. Then! Yesterday I was supposed to be working in the VC so I got all ready for the day (which does mean that I put on my make up and showered and tried to fix my hair after we went running in the morn) and then! I'm here for a mo and then we got a call saying they wanted me down at NRI. So obviously my reputation proceeds me:) And I had to go paint fences. So I painted one whole stinkin side of the Lucy Mack Smith fence yesterday. I did work. And I'm sure I got brownie points with Lucy Mack:) Ok- and ugh I'm so super frustrated I wrote this super sweet e-mail and it's going to bug if it didn't go through! Ugh. BUT! This is the best story of my life- and that is. Do you remember those people I gave a tour to the other week and they watched the Joseph movie and I had them fill out a referral card? well- THEY ARE TOTALLY TAKING THE LESSONS BY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes- that is the best news of anyone's lifetime. And it just made my life. And I did a total happy dance whenever I found out. And I have absolutely nothing to do with it. I just want them to have the Gospel in their lives SO bad and that's SO the truth. I know it's sounds cheesy or whatever but I promise- I just want everyone in the whole entire world to know about the Gospel so that they can be as happy as me! And that's all that is:) The temple just opened back up so I'm REALLY excited to be able to go today. Yesterday we went after NRI- paint in our hair and everything:) I got to serve in the Brigham Young home on Saturday and that was my first time in a home so I wore my stylin pioneer dress. Dang- I look so fly in that thing. But I just love it here. And I'm super sorry if my longer e-mail didn't go through and this is all you have. But I love it. I LOVE it here. And I want you all to be praying for missionary experiences. And I promise that as you do that, Heavenly Father is going to prepare you and also give you the opportunity to help His children:) it's SWEET! I love you. A lot a lot.

Sister Picard

 

Other things that I'm loving about Nauvoo by now. All the senior E. They are all like old farm guy manly men. I love LOVE listening to them talk. It makes my life. And I try and talk like them every chance that I get. I also just love the senior couples- they make me feel so loved. Things I'm not loving so much by now- the "young performing missionaries". I'll get over it though. Right now I'm really working on having Christ-like love towards everyone:) I think I'm really funny- and I really loved my e-mail that I sent you all- but I'm just way mad it didn't go all the way through. Stay tuned for next week. I'm going to find my camera cord and get you some sweet pics of me rockin the pioneer status. Also! THanks to Aubs and Kaiti for the letters- you make my life worth living:)

 

my comps are still writing so I will write more. Painting the fence yesterday- I made a friend with a bumble bee. He was kind of annoying. I named him Bumble. I made a deal with one of the E. that when he gets this harness he's having this Amish guy make that I get to go down and RIDE THE HORSES! I don't know if that's legit- or even allowed- but I'm planning on it one of these pdays. The horses here are HUGE!!!!!!! And I'm going to talk like all the senior E. "giddy up them there horseys" It's gonna be SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Also- let's see what else goes on. My bed is the top bunk. I almost killed myself this morning getting out of bed. I was just like looking over the side or something- but I hadn't put my feet down yet...... and I felt my equilibrium shift.. and I started falling.... and then my life flashed before my eyes:) I love running here. It's so sweet. It's SO pretty in the morning. I'm not terribly excited for it to start getting warm. Or for the bugs. I hate bugs. Especially since I'm brown- so they think I'm a tree and try to land on me:) ahahahahahahha. I just love preaching to people too. I love tours. I LOVE tours. I love bearing my testimony so much. It's such a unique thing to this mission I think. It's sweet. Everyone makes fun of me and how much oatmeal I eat. Whatevs. They're just jeal. Please just know how much I love you..... and how much everyone should just be a missionary all the time. Gospel is TRUE! and I love it:)

Oh Hey!!! April 21, 2009

oh hey! so- I bet everyone is just dying to read about my life. It's almost been a week- and it feels like I've been here FOREVER! Which is not necessarily a bad thing. But sheesh- time is definitely not flying- although I would say that I'm having fun:) SO! I got home I mean I did not get home after I was done e-mailing we went to dinner at the Mission Home with President and his wife. While there, I found out that I was actually NOT going to be serving in Carthage- but was getting moved back to Nauvoo. So- I piled up all my junk yet again (what a nomadic lifestyle those first few days :) ) and headed back into Nauvoo! Which is good good good. Our house here is SWEET! It's pretty big- well it would have to be there are 12 girls living there. 3 bathrooms. Kinda crazy in the mornings. But! I LOVE my companions! I don't know if I had ever mentioned Sis. Enser in any of my previous e-mails but she was in my district and we were roommates in the MTC. She is my companion and our trainer is Sis. Brinkerhoff. There are more sisters coming in (11) then there were returning (7) so there are some companionships with three sisters. I LOVE them! Oh man- they are just so chill. And Sis. Brinkerhoff has been so nice to us. And she is a health freak just like me! We just are all about our oatmeal and veggies together. And we've been running every morning. Which is SOOOOOO good. There are some sweet runs here. Admittedly- I'm still kind of trying to get my wind back- there is a definite difference between running on a track at the MTC and running outside. It's pretty hilly here. I love it though. Especially in the mornings running by the river- DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!!!!!!!!!! ha. So yes- it's been SO crazy crazy crazy busy. I don't even know. I'm kind of lost as to what day it is or what time it is. haha- I'm in this weird missionary space time continuum? OK- so! Last I wrote was on Wednesday I believe. On Thursday we went on a handcart trek they have here that goes around in the "woods" so we did the Thursday morning. It was pretty sweet. I'm like SO pioneer status. Veteran handcart pusher. I've been on a billion treks by now. Ain't no thang. SO! I just pushed that cart all up and down them hills. It was funny Sis. Enser and I were pushing a cart together (and supposedly Pres. & Sis. were pushing with us- not.) And there was this part that was just mud. I mean- mud. So we're like- "we got this" and just pushed straight on through the mud. Mud up to our calves- up the hill. We were laughing SOOOOOOOOOO hard. Oh it was funny. So then! We had district meeting like right after and there were 18 girls trying to get ready in our house. I just washed my face and feet. I figured I was good :) haha- I bet that kills mom:) THEN! We went to the Temple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH man. Coolest temple I've ever been in. Might be a new fave. Oh it's AMAZING! And so beautiful. I love it. I LOVE it. So that was awesome. And they actually just closed it for cleaning for the next 2 weeks so we were lucky to get a session in. Oh which reminds me- I can still rent temple clothes for free here- but they really encourage us to have our own. Which they failed to tell us- or I would have brought mine. So madre- perhaps we should figure out a way to get them out here? Koot-noo! Ok- so then! On Friday we went on the wagon ride around Nauvoo which was fun. Then we had training. Then we went out to Carthage- which was so good. I really am excited to serve there. When I actually get to:) The spirit there is awesome. And it brings back a lot of memories of when the fam has come to Nauvoo to visit. Actually- pretty much everything does. Which reminds me- could you send me the pic of dad and the girls in the Family Living Center in Nauvoo? It's baby sleeping on dad- me looking like a tool and hann looking cute and we're sitting on a bench. OH and PS!!!!!! I got your letter in the mail yesterday with all those pictures in it. Everyone kept talking about how attractive my family is- I was like "duh where'd you think I get it from" I got it from my mama :) HA! Ok sorry tangent. Ummm where was I? OK- OH yes. Then we just study all the time. And then Saturday we went to ALL THE SITES IN NAUVOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh stink that was a long day. loooooooooong day. They wanted us to see how everything will work though- which is good and I appreciate it but man. I'm surprised how worn out you can get from just going to sites. But we were bookin it. There is a LOT to do here. And! We got our pioneer dresses (which I'm including a picture of- not on my body- I don't know that I love you enough to send that yet. oh sick. ) Ok- so then on Sunday we went to church at the ward that is for all the visitors that are in Nauvoo and also all of the missionaries - us and the Senior couples. I guess in the summer time they have to open the cultural hall and chairs are even on the stage it gets so packed. And as the young sister missionaries (ysm's for short..... trespassers will for short :) ) they have us actually sitting up on the stand. HA! That was fun. Now I feel for all those people that have to sit up there and try not to fall asleep- because trust me we were all so wiped out. And church is at 8. So I sat there recited D&C 4 in my head to keep me awake :) Then we had lunch at President's which was fun. Then we went home- oh and PS! All the senior missionaries just spoil us to death. We have had SOOOOO much sugary goodness brought over to our house the past week. And I've been good about not eating it- but it is ALWAYS there. And everyone always wants to feed you desert wherever you go. So after President's we had our district mtg at the Horan's house (SUCH a cute couple! oh I love them) and they had made us dinner and Sis. Enser & Brink & I just looked at each other like- "we can not eat anything right now" but we tried. And then they just kept pulling out more food. And then they wanted us to eat this blueberry cheesecake so we're finally like "can we just take our pieces home? we're really full" and they gave us the whole thing. ha! But the other two sisters in our district are single sisters and they are SOOOOOOOO cute!!!!!! Oh man! I love me some old people. I just love it. Serving with senior couples is where it's at- for real. OK- so then. I just have to tell Hann because I almost forgot but whenever we were driving around there are all of these Pres. Lincoln signs everywhere so in my head I'm always like "Land of Lincoln!" but if I were to say it aloud no one would laugh. Name that movie! ALSO!!!!!!!! There is a main road here named Mulholland St and EVERY TIME we drive on it I always thing "Christomer.. Mulholllan" "bed and breakfast, bed and breakfast, bed and breakfast" and then I start laughing and once again no one gets it. Alas! SO! Sunday afternoon was my first time working in the sites. I have been at the Family Living Center. I was there yesterday as well and will be there almost all week. It's really fun. It's the place where you get to see spinning and breadmaking and ropemaking and candlemaking galore!!!!!!!! :) It's fun though seriously. Except I am in my pioneer dress all the time. WOW. That's a humbling experience let me tell you. Yesterday this family came in with girls our age and like our sisters ages and they all looked so cute and we just felt stupid. Oh well. Vanity is a bad thing I suppose. And I'm DEFINITELY being humbled :) ha. Oh but yesterday was so fun! We had a couple of pre-school groups come in which was SOOOOO fun! I loved seeing all the babies! And it's so funny because when we're done we're supposed to ask if anyone has any ?'s so I'd ask and they'd raise their hands and be like "my grandpa uses a screwdriver" "is that sheep real?" "I'm the smartest" but this one girl was like "do you know what?" and it reminded me of darla on little rascals so I said what? and she goes "you're really pretty" so that made me feel better about my pioneer status. Although- she is a little girl- so I don't really know :) But yeah- that's what I've been up to. Goodness I'm tired at nights though. Especially after yesterday. Because when we weren't giving tours we were tying quilts for humanitarian aid or making rugs for the sites and houses or sorting through literally a freakin TON of fabric that was donated to the church for humanitarian work. SO grateful for my dansko's and that comfort and support. HA!!!!!!!! Oh yes- and could you perhaps also send that one pic of Grandma Teddi laughing at the picnic? Sorry I'm so demanding with the pics. If it makes it any better- I'm now going to try and attach pics so you can see me in my mission glory :) I love you all SOOOOOOOOOO much! Please dearelder this to Gus and tell him that I'm sorry I didn't write sooner but I just haven't had my pday till today so that I do really love him and miss him and I know he's being an AWESOME missionary!!! woo! K- love you all a lot a lot! OH! And tell Andrea Dean that her e-mail was AWESOME! Just what I needed- and if you could get her address I want to send her a letter. MAn- I just love those Dean's. Probably the coolest people ever :) K! LOVE YOU!

Sister Picard

k- so pic #1 is my pimp suit- aka my pioneer dress. #2 is Sis. Morgan and I doin work at the Referral Center. #3 is my district!!!!!! at the MTC- we walked to the temple on a Sunday. oh yeah it was snowing. bleh. and I am wearing a marshmallow coat. so cude. #4 is my favorite picture from the MTC. and I HATED taking pics. I plan on just getting them from everyone else when this whole mission business is over:) but seriously- this is a district of E. who were on our hall and were going to Australia and Canada. So we'd see them all the time and do teach and be taughts with them and we saw them at the Temple our last Sunday which was also their last Sunday and they wanted a picture with me so missionary pics are just weird and awkward because no one can touch each other and I'm not even sure how this picture happened- it just did. and I think it's HILARIOUS. But yeah! You should be proud I'm willing to send pics at all- I am lookin pretty nastay in all of them. But what can you do? I'm sure you miss my sparkling personality- are you shriveling up and dying yet? ;) haha

April 28, 2009

OK- so I really do not even know where to start on this e-mail. I really am in this weird I don't even know what day it is or whatever thing. But! I do know that it is my preparation day- and so that means yay happy e-mail writing times she comes. Ok- so my trainer S. Brinkerhoff is a beast at running- she pretty much kicks my little tush (well big tush) everyday. Every time. And today was no exception. We went for like an hour long run all through the hills of Nauvoo. Ok- and who even knew that Nauvoo was so hilly? HILLY!!!!! (wasn't that baby's imaginary friend? Don't let her read that sentence. Bad things could happen.) Regardless- I'm a little worn out right now I think. But it felt GOOOOD. We've been running a lot in the rain lately- which I LOOOOVE. If you all remember my affinity for rain- well there have been some sweet rainstorms while we've been here. Kind of reminds me of SD. Which oddly enough- is where I claim as home here. But- it's the last place I lived the longest. And I can't say UT- I can't do it. So apparently it's been flooding bad there? I have no idea. But people keep saying that when I say I'm from Rapid and I'm like "oh yeah........... real bad...." SO! It's been insanely slow here as of late. It's the lull in between Spring Break and people coming after school is out. And it is HARD to stay focused all day in the Visitor's Center. I have read a LOT lately. SO I'm pretty much a church historian by now;) jokes. But I do get a lot of study time in. And from what I here when it starts to get busy, we won't even have time to eat. There can be up to 2000 people coming through the VC in a day. Crazy. Admittedly, I was/am having problems with not feeling like a "real missionary" because they get us so geared up at the MTC to go out proselyting and then I come here and maybe give one or two tours a day. But you know what- it's hard. It's hard to be able to just flip the "on" switch and immediately bring the Spirit. It's hard to speak to people after I've been reading for the past 3 hours. And it's SO hard to be able to find out a persons needs after only speaking with them for a few seconds. BUT! There are experiences that make everything worth it. There was a non-member couple who came from St. Louis just to "check out Nauvoo" and the man had read a little about the church but the woman was unfamiliar. They happened to walk in right as I was about to start Joseph Smith:Prophet of the Restoration Movie (ps BEST MOVIE EVER! I'm obsessed with it these days. And maybe am developing a crush on Alvin... I dunno. Must be a mission thing. :)) So! I asked them if they'd like to join in on the movie- they said yes. And then! The woman was crying when they came out! And I could tell that they both were touched by the movie so then! I gave them a tour of the VC (which only takes 10-15 min) and focused a lot on Joseph Smith and the things that they had seen/felt during the movie but most importantly I really wanted to focus on the Savior because I think that sometimes in Nauvoo the missionaries will only testify of Joseph or the Saints or things like that but we are the church of Christ and I've also REALLY been trying to focus on testifying/extending commitments/promising blessings BECAUSE! missionaries just don't do that here. And I am going to. Because that's what I do. So I was just praying so hard the whole time to know what to say to them so that they would feel the Spirit and that I would be able to say the things that Heavenly Father wanted me to because I get SO concerned especially when I have opportunities like that because I don't want it to be my dumb fault or all of my inadequacies getting in the way of people coming to Christ. Ok- wow. I'm sorry- my grammar and what not is so bad in these e-mails- alas:) Ok! So we are coming to the end of the tour and I played the Christus for them and the woman was crying again and quoting all of the scriptures that Jesus says :) And I just loved it. I loved being there. And it totally made the past few days worth it. And I didn't even want to say anything because I didn't want to ruin anything:) But I just told them that they had felt something special while they'd been here- and that was the Spirit telling them that the things they had been hearing are true. And that although we do love the Prophet Joseph and appreciate all of the things that he and the Saints did, they did it all because it was the will of God. And that this is Christ's church. And that more than anything we believe in a Father in Heaven who loves us and wants us to be able to live with Him forever. And that is the purpose of everything that they had seen that today. And then I gave them a referral card and told them to fill it out and that missionaries would come over and talk to them. :) So I'll never know what ends up happening- but it was a good experience regardless. And it's kinda sad I don't get to follow up- but! I'm over it. All I can do is pray for them now. So! Like I said it's been way slow here comparitively speaking so they have us working at "NRI" which stands for Nauvoo Restoration Inc. The purpose of NRI is to keep Nauvoo lookin good:) So we've been working at NRI a couple days a week. And what do we do you may ask? Well- we chip paint and paint fences. And wear REALLY cool looking paint-jumpsuit-ghostbuster looking things. And EVERY TIME a senior walks by they say something about Tom Sawyer. And you just have to sit there are be like "oh man- so good. every time. you're so funny!" Probably be what Dad is like when he's old. And he'll think he's telling everyone the funniest joke in the world:) ahahahahhaha yes. OH I KNOW! So! I was able to go and serve in Carthage on Sunday because sometimes we'll go and rotate S.'s out on Sundays. Let me just tell you- I am SOOOOOO STINKIN EXCITED to actually serve out there. It was funny because the senior couples were like "you're back! why'd you leave!" :) Oh man though- Carthage is where it's at. Seriously. And I only got to help with tours with my companions- but I'm really excited to be able to do tours by myself. Which- ps- hello- is the best thing for me ever. We give all of our tours by ourselves. And that makes my life. Not that I don't love my companions- it's just different than teaching. I think teaching with a companion is a whole lot easier than trying to give a tour with a companion. And Heavenly Father just made me love speaking in front of people:) ahahahhahaahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. wow. Welp. Gus sounds like he is doing great. Just keep up the good work man! Make sure and forward this to him or dearelder him or something. I want to be writing more but dang it gets hard on pdays. The temple opens back up next week so I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited for that! We've only been able to do one session. Oh yes- and that was lots of fun this past week all of these cranky people yelling at me because the temple is closed for cleaning. And I just wanted to say- "ok dumbie- why did you not just call and check before you came. who honestly just thinks they can walk up to the Nauvoo temple and do a session? no one should- because everywhere there is anything about the Nauvoo Temple it says you have to make a reservation. And dumbie- if your WHOLE ENTIRE VACATION (waa waaaa wambulance) was based on going to the temple- did the thought EVER cross your mind that perhaps you should make sure it was open? no? oh. ok. continue yelling at me then" :) yeah- I'm getting pretty good at just keeping my thoughts in my head. and trying to smile on the outside:) We had an awesome "sunday sociable" (that's what they call firesides here) and afterwards these crazy people came up to S. Morgan and I and were telling us how we are on the "easiest mission in the Church- do we ever even do any work? do you feel like a real missionary?" etc...etc...etc... and S. Morgan puts up with less poo than I even do so THAT was a fun experience trying to not go crazy on them. Oh they were nuts. They needed a pile drive to the face. Ugh- you don't even know. But just so everyone knows- VC missions get a bad rap- but it's HARD work. And there is a reason that every mission pres in the Church wants VC sisters on our outbounds. Just sayin. Well! I don't know how much more I can write. Oh yes- family. I'm sorry I'm not better about the whole letter writing business. I PROMISE I try to get them off asap. And I try to be detailed in my e-mailing. So I'm trying to give you a good idea of what all I'm doing here. And you have NO IDEA how much I love getting all of your letters. Every one here is convinced I have the sweetest fam ever. Well- because I do. Yes, I do. So I love you all immensely. I hope Daniel got my sweet (ok admittedly I had another word written there but I'm trying to mish edit) card I sent him for his bday. Also- Hann. You do work sucka. Like everyday. I just got that newspaper article of you lookin real good runnin :) hahahahahahahahahha got a good lil chuckle. Also- Baby- you are the smartest of all of my brothers and sisters and you are the best drawer in the land. AND! Maybe we should go to India on a Disney cruise? Also- I'm excited to see pics of Daniel's mooo-stache:) AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Also- WAY excited to see pics of Hann workin it a prom yo. Dang- she'll be lookin so fine:) I love you mom and dad- thanks for being SO supportive. Everyone is jeal of how many letters I get from home. It really actually helps me to stay focused hearing from you so often. And the pics have been AMAZING! My new favorite picture ever taken is of me and baby playing vsmile. Man it's sweet. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE you. And I'm so proud of all of you. Esp Gus- because I KNOW how mish life is at least a little bit and I know he's working his hardest and that the Lord is going to bless him. And that the harder he works- the more people's lives he'll have the chance to bless because Heavenly Father is going to trust him :) (which is something I'm really working on now:) ) yay. ohana means family. ok wait funny. I love how we all call each other sister and brother at home just kind of oddly like we do and now I have to call people that all the time. ha. ok I'm done. peace.

Sister Picard

uhmmm TODAY! aka 4.16.09

To My People-

I love you A lot. Also- I feel really weird having so much contact with you in the past few days. Prep day was just on Friday. I got to speak on the phone with you yesterday. Here I sit writing you again :) I actually hope that you could get this BEFORE being in Provo- but alas. How did things go at the MTC? I'm sure that everyone just loved being there again:) Gus is going to be an AWESOME missionary!!!!! YAY I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! Missions are so where it's at these days. Oh wow. I just don't even know where to start with my life- because I know you're just dying to hear right? Right. Ok- so since my last letter I have done a lot of stuff- cool stuff. First of all! I went to Temple Square on Saturday with the rest of the Visitor's Center Sisters. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!K maybe that was enough exclamation points- just maybe. Ok- so! We arrived at Temple Square and were paired up with S. who were serving there. My S. was from South Africa and I LOVED her. Oh wow- she was the most gorgeous S. ever and she was SUCH an amazing missionary and I know that Heavenly Father put us together for that day. I was able to learn so much from her. It made me so excited to serve in a VC- even if it would have been Temple Square. We were able to give tours and talk to people and oh man- it was just the best. It was raining all day but I was just happy there were still people to talk to! People who got to listen to me - ahahahhahahahaha. But seriously- it's never me- it's always the Spirit. By myself I would just sound like a know it all who was lecturing to anyone who came within the sound of my voice- hahahaha. OK so I did just love everything about Temple Square and it got me SO excited to serve here. So then Tuesday was the big day I left for Nauvoo! And I was able to talk to you- which made my life :) Except I only missed Daniel- well I still love him. And I really liked in Hann's letter how it talked about him doing his "flow" dance at the gym. It sounded like it was pretty legit. In fact, perhaps even too legit. I don't even know if he reads these letters- so to condense just tell him that he is my favorite littlest brother. And I hope he is still keepin it classy- everyday. And that I love that little Prince Ponichello (yeah I pulled that one out of memory lane- I don't think you pull things from there- but I can't really think of a better way to describe that.) Ok- I'm getting off topic. However- I do get longer for e-mails. Which reminds me! It would now be okay if you want to let peopl e-mail me at this address. Just know that I can't e-mail back. I can only e-mail immediate family- and I will stick to that rule. But still send me letters please! They're more fun because I can read them over and over and over and they make my day happier :) And then I get to write SUPA SWEET letters back. That's right. Ok. So! We flew into St. Louis (I just said looey) Ok but first! Ok so all missionaries just are all about sitting by non-members on the flight and baptizing them by the end of it but me- yes I love to preach the gospel but also! if any of you have ever traveled with me before you would know that what do I do anytime I'm in any kind of moving vehicle? Oh yeah- I pass out in like 0.2 seconds and am asleep the whole time. That way I don't get sick. And it makes the time go by faster. And whenever I flew out to Aubs there was a lady that just sat there and talked at me for like 2098402398423 hours and I was so sick I thought that if I even opened my mouth I would spew all over her (good word huh? :) ) Regardless! Anyways! Whatever. Ok- so! Everyone is sitting by another S. except for me. I sit by this guy- who looks as though he is our age. And then it only helps that this lady (who is a member) who is sitting behind us on the flight leans over the seat (slightly awkwardly actually now that I'm thinking about it- what am I talking about it was hecka awkward) and says "so you gonna convert him before the flights over?!?!?!?!?" and I was like- thanks you old crazy person- that was a really great segway into what? I don't know what. What should I say now? Thank you. ughh crazy person. So I was like "ho ho ho- you are a crazy" and then tried to be normal to the guy sitting next to me. So I did start talking to him and tried to be as normal as my missionaryhood allows me too. Inevitably we were talking about the gospel even before the plane had left the ground. His daddy is a pastor- so he was very familiar with his religion- which was good because it made for good conversation. He had a lot of questions- and I HOPE that I answered them sufficiently. He did tell me that if nothing else- at least he doesn't think Mormons are weird anymore:) and that he liked how similar our religions are- and that if the missionaries came by (he is in the ROTC at his school and I guess they're always knockin at the dorms or whatevs) that he would probably be more apt to let them in! So! No baptism (sorry old crazy lady) but! I felt like I was able to bring someone closer to Christ. Which is my purpose. And he gave me a piece of gum (which I don't think technically I'm supposed to chew) but! it helped me to not get motion sick. So I didn't spew on him :) So! That was fun! Oh yeah! And it was fun talking about the Air Force and planes and stuff like that. It was insane to me how similar the military and the Church are. So hopefully one day he'll just make that easy jump from military life to church life :) But it was just good- good experience. And then! The whole mission presidency came to pick us up! Oh goodness- they are just all so nice. Wow- that sounded cheesy- but it's true. I especially love the Williams, they drove us back to Nauvoo. CUTEST couple. And President and Sister Ludwig seem awesome. I actually have my first interview with President in just a minute- but I may be able to come back and finish up e-mailing. Oh yeah- so they picked us up and then took us out to a buffet. Bless their hearts- but I'm SO not about buffet eating- particularly after being in the MTC for a month. So I had some salad I guess and cracker packets. Ok that made me sound like a brat- I'm not. I just couldn't eat anything. Maybe I just should have left that part out of the story. Dang it. Oh well. OK- so then! We FINALLY got into Nauvoo and then we got our assignments. I am one of 6 sisters serving in Carthage actually. The other 12 are in Nauvoo. I feel good about it though- I'm just not with any of my sisters (the four of us that have spent 24/7 together for the past month :) ) but! It's good for me. I went running this morning and it felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good to actually run outside. Except when I ran past this meat place or something with a bunch of cows. That smelled like death. But oh man! Ok our house?!??! It's SAWEEEEET! The senior sisters said we'll never have anything close to it on our outbound mission. The house in Carthage is a mansion that was donated to the  Church (mansion old time speak- like the McConnell Mansion in the 'scow- so a nice sized house) And there are 2 apts for the sister missionaries and we also have a senior couple living with us. The house is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUDE!!!!!!! It reminds me of my house in Provo. Oh cude. And the senior couples- oh man. I love them already. Except there is one couple that went to Utah and as soon as they found out I went to BYU they went on and on about how Utah is better. Whatever. I love the crazy old people. And I didn't even argue. Thank you to certain people that we all know of (hann you kno what I'm sayin right now- you know) I am pretty prepared to try and love people who hate on me about my educational choices :) And I just got back from my President's interview- it was AWESOME! I just keep knowing more and more that this is the place I'm supposed to be. We got to go on a wagon ride this morning around Nauvoo- it was so good. Everything about here just makes me happy. Seeing the horses made me happy. I love them. I don't even know why. I just loved the horses. And! Then today we went to the grocery store and got food and supplies and I was the only one who came in under the amount of money we had on our card. A significant amount under actually. Take that- BAM!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to mama for always bein so cheap :) Well- we have a dinner tonight with the Presidency which I'm excited about. I'm just happy. It was so so so so soooo good to see the temple. We get to go on Thursday and that is what I am looking forward to more than anything! Well I should probably go- but I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for Gus to be able to be on a mish too- it's awesome :) Can you get me his address? I'll just write it to the MTC right now. I love you all a whole lot!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being my family :) Tell Baby that I tell EVERYONE on my mission how smart she is. She is the smartest.
Love- Sister Picard

April 7, 2009 email (still at the mtc)

ok- so this week. First of all- everyone is leaving us. Everyone we know of. But we start visitor's center training on wednesday so it won't be that bad. I also have another p-day on Friday to be able to get ready for leaving I suppose? Then on Saturday we get to go to Temple Square!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're all getting really excited for that! To be out in the real world.... :) And then I leave on Tuesday! What the what the? But I"m SOOOOOOOOO ready to go. So excited. And! I'm kinda bummed that all of you will be here the day after I leave. Which is dumb. But right now I'm trying to figure out if I can leave stuff. It's weird- I honestly just want to find like 2 dresses and just wear them on alternating days- when I'm not wearing pioneer clothes of course:) So- yes. I have given up on the trying to look attractive idea. Whatevs- ain't no thang. Ok! So! Thanks so much mom for writing me FINALLY about my heathenistic tv shows that I love. That was great. And I'm sorry I'm not getting letters back to you fast enough- it's just hard to! They keep us way busy and we're only supposed to write today. So I especially hate it when I get stuff on wednesday because I just missed writing back! I got a SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET package from Aubs this week- it made my life. She's such a good friend to me. It really did make my life. And I did get the jeans and the curling iron THANK YOU MOM! I wrote you letters back as well. They should be coming soon- I sent them out around Thursday? Friday? I really can't remember days. And I'm being honest. Things just run together here. It's all a big blur.... :) OH yeah! But last Friday was like the best day of my LIFE! Ok so my comp and I we went and taught a bunch of lessons in the morning at the TEC (tell Gus to go to the TEC ALL the time- it's so good for your teaching) so we got to teach a lot and improve and I love doing that. And then! at lunch I got a letter from Daddy, a letter from Cam, AND a wedding invite from Nat my old roommate. AND THEN! We had gym! And I love love LOOOOOOOOVE gym. And then! I was in the RC having a great day and then I had to go ask them to send the missionaries to this one ladies house and I walk in and this guys like "sister picard I know you" and I was like "I don't even know you" but! turns out! He is in Ris's ward!!!!!!!!! So I got to talk to him about my one true friend. Which for some reason made me happy beyond belief. And then we had a sub teacher that night for the teacher I don't care for much :) Oh man. Good day. And CONFERENCE! sooooooo good! It was cool to be able to watch it here. They kept us busy that day. We just studied, conference, eat, study, conference, study, devotional, eat, conference, etc etc. So- I was pretty much sick of sitting on my behind by Sunday night- but it's all good :) Oh man I just love conference. It was SO good. I especially loved Elder Holland's talk- but I just love him. And I love all the other apostles too. He's just a fave. And then we watched the Joseph Smith movie again last night- and I didn't even cry! I just love it though. Everytime I watch it I get SOOOOOOOOO super excited to just be in Nauvoo. That's where I want to serve all of my mission. But I guess I'm excited for proselyting too. It'll be interesting to see where exactly I am sent. Hopefully someplace warmer than colder- but if Heavenly Father sticks to precedent it won't be somewhere I want to go :) hahahahahah oh man I'm funny. Ok! But all I know is- that I'm only proselyting for 7 months. So I am going to baptize the stinkin crud out of those 7 months. Hardcore. I WILL be the hardest working missionary in the world. I think it'll be good to be able to have such a short amount of time to just completely be focused. Not that I won't love Nauvoo because I will- it'll just be a little different because I won't be able to see investigators all the way through to baptism and what not. Man I'm excited. Every day. I just get more and more excited! And I just love being here- well maybe not necessarily here as in the MTC- but here as in on a mission :) I'm SO grateful for the parents and fam I've had- because I've seen a lot of people here having to deal with problems that I just don't deal with. And I think a lot of that can be attributed to my FAMILY! that I love! yes I do! But seriously- I'm being serious- I SOOOO appreciate it. Everything. And I do miss you- I just don't cry around like everyone else :) Ok- this is even how much more patient I'm being. When people keep crying all the time and sniffling so loud! I don't even give them dirty looks. Most of the time :) Ok- I admit- I'm DYING to know who won the tourney. So whoever tells me will be my new favorite person of the world. Forever and ever. :) Also! I need g-ma's addresss. I haven't heard from her. Also- text cass and get his address so I can write him and tell him to get baptized :) Or forward this to him. I'm wearing his tennis shirt today:) And I told the Provo elders to go find him and baptize him and tell him that I sent them :) aaahahaha. I just love the gospel! And I love how much room there is to progress in it! I love that I'll never know everything. I love that I just keep learning more and more and more. And I LOOOOOOOOVE bearing my testimony to people and being able to help them know more about Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Oh man- mish is good times for everyone:) I'm trying to think of anything else that's been going on. Oh yes- we went to the departure devotional Sunday night because all of our zone/district is leaving. That was pretty good. I liked when President Smith (MTC pres) said that the sisters should lovingly remind the elders of what they should be doing. One elder told me today that I've influenced him to stop saying crap. Which is good. That is not mission talk :) Probably just because he knows I could beat him up. Yes- I am still under the delusion I can beat up everyone here. I really haven't seen anyone I thought that I couldn't. And one E. in the district got all offended when he was trying to act all tough and I started laughing at him.... my bad :) oh yeah! And then. Oh man- I seriously did want to I don't even know. But there is an E. here from New Zealand and he came and said hi to us and then one of the E.'s in our district was like "he is Hawaiian" and I was like "did you not just hear him speak? He is from New Zealand" and then he's like "no, he looks Hawaiian. He is from Hawaii" and I was like "you are stupid." So I went down the hall and got that E. and had him come back to our classroom and tell us all where he was from, which was New Zealand. and then he leaves the classroom (way cool E. by the way- except he has weird names for things:) rubbish bin? whaaaa?) and this E. in my district STILL thought he was Hawaiian. After he had just told us he was Tongan and from New Zealand. and I was like "ok I"m sorry- but did you just hear what he said?" and he's like "He looks Hawaiian. Tongans, Samoans, Hawaiians, they're all the same" ohhhhhhhh man. I was like "ok please. Next time we're anywhere- I would just LOOOOOOOOOOOVE for you to go up to said Tongan and call him Samoan. see what happens" (this is a fairly big E.) and then that E. was like "sister picard, have you ever been to BYU-Hawaii? They're all the same" and then I just looked at him and was like "I'm sorry I can't talk to you right now- or I will fight you. you are dumb" ahahahahah I'm sorry- I probably shouldn't have shared that story. Probably sheds a poor light on myself- alas. It's true. And I thought it was funny. And then he just kept trying to talk to me! oh dumb. I was like E.- I can't stand you right now and you utter ignorance when it comes to anything NOT white. Thank you leave me alone now. He has no social grace. VERY sheltered I'm thinking :) oh well ! I've really liked my district and zone on the whole. THe Bulgarians left on monday- but one of the E.'s didn't get his visa! So they sent him to CA till he does- which was way sad. And then our E.'s leave for Denver in the morning! Crazy business. It's sad but at the same time it's SOOOOOO exciting! Well- I hope that wasn't too negative or anything :) On a positive note! Ok- actually I'm not sharing that story it's too embarassing to me. Write me if you want to know it and I'll write you a letter back :) BUT! I love the gospel. I love Conference. I LOVE the prophet. Oh wait! Really quick! Our Sunday night devo was a singing one- it was SOOOOO sweet. We just sang a bunch of hymns. ANd I don't think anywhere besides the MTC will you find a bunch of 19-21 yr old guys singing hymns SO enthusiastically :) I love it. I love the MTC. I love life. Ok- I sound dumb. But I love you all! PLEASE keep writing. Esp mom- she's the best at filling me in. And dad has been AWESOME with the letters- I'm writing back today I promise! And again sorry if I don't get back soon enough- promise I still have love:) LOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

Sister Picard

email from march 31, 2009!

The fam in front of the mtc!

(and here's the letter folks! : ) )

ok- so I'm sorry if I don't get time to e-mail back individually- but know that I love you and that I would want to but as of right now I only have 28 minutes to write! Which may seem like a lot- but doesn't end up being when you actually sit down to do it :) In other news- I have a paper cut like a super intense one of my finger and it's hurting to type. I keep like randomly hurting myself. I also have this big cut on my arm from my missionary study journal? yes- weird. Also- sorry if I have bad grammar or don't use caps when I should- I'm writing FAST!!!!!! Ok! AND! Thanks to everyone to wrote me! You have NO idea (well unless you've been in the MTC I suppose :) ) how much it makes my day when I get letters! So thanks to the friends and fam who wrote- you are numbear won (like nacho voice) Ok ok ok- so! First of all- I forgot to tell you that we got to go to the Draper temple dedication last week which was AWESOME! They just broadcasted it to the gym here at the MTC. How many people can say they went to a temple dedication while at the MTC? Pretty sweet:) Also- as much as I am honestly enjoying myself here- I would probably die if I had to be here for forever. The rest of our zone is going to Bulgaria and they've been here NINE stinkin weeks!!!!! oh bleh. I would have died from the food alone- which honestly isn't too bad if I just pick it out myself. Imagine lots of salads and peanut butter toast and grape nuts and fruit :) OH yeah- and when I get salads there is this one girl who always tells me that people who get feta on their salads must be classy. That's a choo choo chalay and a .... class aaaaact :) Actually- everyone from our zone is leaving next week! Which is nuts. Then we leave the week after! Even MORE nuts. But we had fast and testimony meeting last week since conference is this week (also in the MTC- should be SWEET!!!!!!!) and there are only like 16 people in our branch now so pretty much everyone had to get up and bear their testimony ;) but I did! And I bawled- which is embarrassing. But it was good. I essentially said how I am the type of person that likes to do things my own way and not rely on the Lord sometimes, but that I'm glad that He knows me well enough to have known how much I would LOOOOOOOOVE being a witness of Christ- even if I didn't know it :) And I can honestly say- just being a missionary for as long as I have been has been SO good for me. For instance- I tend to get annoyed with certain types of people sometimes... whaaa? who? me? of course not. Regardless- while I've been here I've felt my PATIENCE increase- ha:) as well as not getting as frustrated with stupid things that may happen. Which is crazy- but I like it :) It's nice to be able to just be a happy go lucky missionary just preachin the word :) and I do really think that you learn to love people quicker and more. And I'm SOOOOOOOO excited to be able to get to Nauvoo! And actually start teaching REAL LIVE PEOPLE! and wearing pioneer clothes of course. Even if no one else seems to think they're cool. Whatevs. I'll still be ballin. Ok also! I do not even speak that rezzafab or anything- but apparently I do. Because! There was a guy in my district that said I speak like Randy from American Idol. I have never nor will I ever call anyone "dawg." It must just be because I'm brown. They all just want to be as cool as me I suppose..... :) But- I have been wearing my "do work" bracelet when I miss the fam. Only the cool Elders like it :) Also! this is an oddity of the MTC- your first name is like SO secretive. Like it feels really really really weird to ever let anyone know your first name. And it feels really really really weird ever finding out anyone's real first name:) ha. Or you find out and you just can't imagine ever calling them by that name. Anyways! ALSO! This ... interesting Elder (who once told one of my Sisters that he "liked how she combed her hair") told me I looked like Gabriella from HSM. Also- that is not true. I said he should see my little sister. Then I took it back. But then I thought "what? I'm your twin!?" Ok so this was cool. Shood I don't know if I'll have enough time- ok well I have a couple stories from the RC (referral center- that's where we call people on the phone) Ok- so FIRST story! First of all- they have the english speaking missionaries in there ALL the time talking to people. So we're in there 4-5 times a week. Ok so this is my first story. So I'm calling people- and I call this man named Leroi. Leroi is SO cool. He has this southern accent- but like a black southern accent- so he was fun to talk to. Ok so I was asking him if he'd received the Bible that he'd ordered and he said yes and everything and then he was talking about how religious he was and he is! He knows lots about the Bible- so then I was trying to work in the Book of Mormon and how he should join our church blah blah blah haha jk well not really but turns out he already HAS a Book of Mormon- not even quite sure where he got it from. But he said that he didn't really understand it but that "no inanimate object was gonna get the best of him and he was gonna understand that book" and I was like- yes you are Leroi. Ok so THEN! Stupid phones in the RC totally hangs up! and I FREAKED out!!!!! like big time! And I had my hands up in the air and I was like "someone I need help I need help help me help me!" freak out status. So then I somehow attracted the attention of the teacher :) and he got me special permission to call Leroi back so I did but then when I did it just kept ringing and ringing and I was like "oh no. I was JUST talking to you. I KNOW you are there Leroi" so then I was freaking out more because I HAD to talk to him. He was like SO going to just join the church and everything. And he was so cool. ok- so I sat there just calling and calling for like 10 min. and then..... HE PICKED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH I FREAKED OUT! I really did. I was like LEEEROI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you're there!!!!!!! And he was all "you hung up on me- so I went to get the mail and talk to the mail man" ha- so ANYWAYS! Then we got back to our gospel discussion and the missionaries are going over to see him and he's going to be reading certain things I gave him the Book of Mormon and then when I was getting his address I found out he was from Memphis so I asked if they were still in the tourney (since I did not know- thanks though to daddy for giving me a little update. I need those you know) and so I got to talk ball for just a second with him but yeah! I'm calling back next week to make sure the missionaries met with him and talk to him more. He was AWESOME!!!!!!! oh it made my day. And then yesterday! I get on the phones and they had to have shown a commercial because a bunch of people started calling in and I TOTALLY talked to these two ladies that were Native. I know it. I just know it. But it was SOOOOOOO sweet. And one lady's mom had just passed away so when she saw the commercial she just started crying and then she called in and we got talking and she just cried to me a lot :) but she just had so many things going wrong in her life and realized that learning more about the Gospel would help. And it's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome to be able to be there and be an instrument in the Lord's hands in helping people come to Christ. Oh man it's awesome. SO good. soo good. And it was cool to talk to them about the Book of Mormon and how it talks about our ancestors. Man- it's just good. But I just love it here. I love being a missionary. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE getting letters. I really appreciate everyone who has written to me- I PROMISE I'm writing back during my laundry (which by the way is lame it takes forever) but sorry it's taking me so long! I just only get to write today- it's not that I don't love you :) But I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE everyone! The Gospel is true! And I wish I had been better about sharing it. LOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Picard