"I ran the race like I was going to win."

Hola!!!!

 So they changed my mission assignment I´m actually going Spanish speaking!... JUST KIDDING! Haha, I would freak out! Even though Russian is so so hard to learn I would not want to learn any other language!
 
Oh friends and family, things here are still GREAT like I cannot believe how spoiled the missionaries are! I just feel so bad for all of you that aren´t serving here with me ;) Just kidding.. Kind of. Like I seriously have never been as happy as I have been while I'm here. But I don't want to give people the wrong idea, like it is SUPER HARD but compared to the reward the hard work is nothing! it is so satisfying to give it your all, like Dad said on the way up here "Mariel, I ran the race like I was going to win." You'll be happy to hear I'm doing the same! I do not want to waste any precious moment of my time while I'm here so I'm trying my hardest to do my best in everything I do. It is so hard to believe that I have already been here two weeks! What the?! Like sometimes it feels like I was born and raised here in the MTC but other times I feel like I just barely got here. Anywho, all is great and I love you all so very much. Now I get to make you really jealous....
 
GENERAL CONFERENCE IN THE MTC= BEST THING EVER!!!!!!!!! Like yeah General Conference is always great, but this year, holy cow! You have no idea how cool it was to be in a room with literally thousands of stalwart missionaries. Every one was intently focused, no distractions of cell phones or any other worldy things, just us, the speakers, and the spirit, it was incredible. After every session I wanted to cry because I felt like it was going by so fast and I never wanted it to end. All of the talks this conference were amazing, please please, if you haven't listened to them I encourage you to do so now, and when the talks come out, please study them out. So many of my questions and concerns were answered during this conference and I know that the same will be done for you. :) We also got to watch the Young Women's broadcast... speechless. Totally amazing such a GOOD one. Even the boys would have loved it I have no doubt! I must admit though mom, I did shed a tear when the young woman was playing her cello. Oh how I miss listening to you practice your sweet Gorda everyday! But all is well, do not fret :)
 
So if I made you jealous, I'm sorry.... but I'm going to make you more so now. Guess who was our devotional Sunday night! None other than.... VOCAL POINT!!! We had a hard chore concert at the MTC! Okay just kidding! It wasn't a hard chore concert at all, but really so spiritual. Nothing brings the spirit more than music I think, and all of their numbers they prepared for us did that wonderfully. They are all return missionaries so it was nice for them to come and give us advice and just lift our spirits with song. Such a good devotional. And mom if you're not sitting down, you might want to do so now.. Gerald N. Lund gave our devotional last night! Are we spoiled or what?!?! Oh his talk was outstanding. It was all about revelation, the different ways we can receive it and how we should use it. He also talked about ways we can increase our revelation, one way being exact obedience. As a missionary you have A LOT of rules, sometimes it may seen silly or stupid to keep all of them, but I know they are there for a reason and I know I will be blessed by following them. Our district really looks out for each other in everything, so keeping all of the rules when you've got so much support is a cinch!
 
Okay speaking of my district.. I know I probably said this last week but I have to say it again, my district is AWESOME! Every day I love them more and more. I was so blessed to have the district I do. We have two district meetings a week, where we basically just have a testimony meeting with our district. Our zone leader came and stood in the other day and the whole time he was silent. As we closed the meeting he finally spoke up. With a lump in his throat he said "You guys are scary. I have NEVER seen or heard of a district with this type of bond, and with these strong of testimonies. You guys are scary." I knew we were good, but man, we are really good I guess! Oh man it's great! I wish I could just record a whole day for you and send it home so you could see what a day in my district would feel like!
 
K I have to hurry but I want to talk about my teachers for a split second. If you recall last weeks email we were without teachers most of our first week. But to make up for that we were blessed with THE VERY BEST teachers in the MTC... no kidding. I have learned so much these past few days with them and I am so grateful for them!
 
I have to bring my letter to a close now, but I hope you all know I love you so so so very much! I am so grateful once again for ALL of the prayers and letters, I know that is what gets me through the day. You all are the best :)
 
I know this church is true with all my heart. My testimony here is strengthened more and more everyday. I am so grateful for the Savior and His atonement and for the love of our Heavenly Father. Diligently studying out the scriptures and this new language is the greatest blessing I could have ever received!
 
Love,
Sister Lee!
 
xoxoxoxoxxo
 
P.S. I cannot not share this. After one of our lessons the other night I got super discouraged because I had completely messed up. I totally forgot so much of the Russian I knew and I was so beating myself up about it. As we were walking outside my favorite teacher, stopped me and took me aside. He could tell something was wrong and I tearfully let him know the what had happened. I told him how upset I was at myself for ruining what I thought would have been the perfect lesson. He then gave me the advice that I will now and forever hold so near and dear to my heart. He told me how the atonement does not only have to be for sins but also for silly mistakes. Like yeah I messed up, but why in the world would I dwell on it if I can just give that all up to the Savior? Please keep that in mind. I don't know why I never thought of that before. If you make mistakes whether they are big or small give them up to the Lord and I promise he will take care of them. Isn't that the best? :)