Life in the Shire

Well kids, I'm here. Out in the white field that's all ready to harvest.

My area is the Bedford 2 area. It covers part of Manchester, Bedford, Goffstown, and New Boston - all in the southern part of New Hampshire. The weather has been really nice so far, sunny, in the 50's and 60's, no snow, no rain. Perfect.

My companion is Sister Buxton. She's from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She's been out for 4 months and this is her first time training. And Bedford 2 is the only area she's ever served in. We get along great, it's been so much fun so far. We realized how inspiried President Wilkey really is when we realized that I like the corner and edge pieces of brownies and she likes the middle peices. It's a companionship made in heaven. Seriously though, she's great. We've had so much fun so far and she's been really supportive and encouraging as I've tried to figure out what the heck I'm doing.

My area is partly urban and partly suburban/rural. Bedford is full of nicer houses, more spaces (trees) between houses. Manchester is full of apartments and streets. I've never missed the grid system of Utah roads more. Our GPS doesn't work half the time, none of the maps are completely accurate, and there's like 4 different Old Bedford Roads. But we do have a car, which is really nice.

Now to the actual missionary work. We have two people with baptismal dates set - both the end of May. We don't tract very much, because we already have such a large list of people that we can barely keep up as it is. We have lots of investigators - although some are more interested than others. There's also a lot of less-actives that we like to visit every so often. It's a pain when people keep bailing on appointments, but we've been lucky in that we usually have a backup that will work.

Personally, I'm just trying to figure out what I've gotten myself into. I've never been so happy to have a 10:30 bedtime. I feel bad for Sister Buxton, because I haven't really participated in lessons all that much - I just don't know what to say to people. And I thought the MTC was supposed to prepare me for this. It's gotten better though. I'm figuring it out as I go along.

Also, anyone remember the the Spencers? Shout out to Michelle Spencer - I got to hang out with your mom last week. They're in my ward, which is fun, since I haven't seen them since like 9th grade. She came and taught a lesson with us.

I honestly don't really know what else to say. I wake up, exercise, study, study some more, go to appointments, eat, try to catch people at home, eat, study, plan, and go to bed. It's so interesting, meeting all these new people. They tell you in the MTC that you're there to teach people, not be their psychiatrist, but they are so intermingled. People will tell you everything about them, every problem they've ever had. But it's great, knowing that you can help them. You can help them find that hope that they so desperately need, that hope that can get them through, if they'll just look for it and put in the faith and trust required. The hard part is helping people to see that they need this hope, this extra help, when they're already happy. If they're already content with how life is, how can I make them know that there's more out there? That's been the hard thing for me so far.

But like I said, I'm figuring it out. The work is moving forward - it just takes some trust in the Lord.

Thanks for all the letters and e-mails! I can e-mail family and friends now, so feel free to do that. But I only have like 2 hours of e-mail time a week, and I can only read e-mails once a week. However, I have all day to write letters, and I can read mail 6 days a week ;) If you e-mail me maybe put your home address in as well, incase I don't have time to e-mail back and I have to write an actual letter? Kthanks.

Sorry that this letter isn't quite as entertaining as the ones in the past. It's full of information though, which is almost as good. I appreciate everything everyone has sent me - including all the food. However, my one request for the moment: please don't send any more food unless it has 0 calories, is extremely healthy for me, or contains caffeine. The members out here are taking good care of us, and I sit in a car for most of the day :) Letters are always appreciated though! I can feast on your words ;)

I love each and every one of you. And I mean that. As a missionary I'm so full of love for the people around me that I don't know what to do with it all. So I'm passing some on to you guys. Hope everyone had a good Easter, and remembered why we celebrate it in the first place.

You're the best.

Love, Lindsey

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Well guys, it's P-day, once again. First off - I feel a little bad for calling everyone out on no letters last week. I found out most people didn't have my address by then. But still, many of you rose to the challenge, and I appreciate it. Especially the peanut butter bars from the Milletts and the brownies from Aunt LoAndra. So good. Not to mention I got letters from Nancy and the Wagstaffs! Miracles are real!

So, I had a few people write me wanting to know more about the MTC. Here's a typical daily schedule: Wake up at 6:30, personal time from 7:00 - 8:20, breakfast, additional study time from 8:50 - 10:50, planning session from 10:50 - 11:20, gym from 11:30 - 12:20, lunch at 1, class from 1:45 - 4:45, TRC from 5 - 6, dinner, then class from 6:30 - 9:30. After that we go back to our rooms, get ready, and in bed and lights out by 10:30. It's long and never ending. TRC is a teaching experience. We teach an investigator, either the same one multiple times, or an inactive member, or a first time investigator. The lady we taught this week was acting as an inactive, and it's actually pretty funny, because she knew dad. Kind of. I guess she worked as a medical transcriber and recognized his name.

Class is long and hard. Half of the time is spent preparing for our 'progressing investigator' which is an alter ego that our teachers put on. One thing - I hate roleplaying. And thats all we do. It's not bad when we're teaching investigators - even though we know they're actors, it's really believable. But I hate roleplaying teaching things with my companion. With all of my heart and soul. And we do it ALL THE TIME. Drives me crazy.

Sister Keigley was sick all day yesterday, so I just sat in our room and studied. I actually really like personal study time. I feel like I'm so rushed all the rest of the time, it's nice to slow down and take my time with my reading.

I leave to New Hampshire on Monday morning! I'm so excited to get out there! I can't wait to see it. It's hard sitting in the MTC, because I'm so close to everything that I'm familiar with. Keep writing me letters! You can also e-mail me now - lindsey.berg@myldsmail.net - but letters are better. I only get to read e-mails once a week, but I read letters all the time.

Well, I'm running out of time. But I love you all. In the words of John Denver (loosely quoted):
"I'm leaving on a jet plane,
next August is when I'll be home again,
write me letters while I'm gone!"

Love you all!

Lindsey

The Empty Sea (MTC) is actually kind of crowded...

Oh hey all. Well first, today is my P-day. And I have absolutely nothing to do. Because the only letters I've received are one from my mom and one from Kelsey. They get gold stars. Everyone else fails as friends.

Anyway, life is good. I guess. I feel like I've been here for YEARS. Everyday lasts forever. There are so many ups and downs in each day. At one point I love the people I'm around, and the next I want to strangle them. One second I'm feeling the spirit stronger than I ever have and the next I'm wondering if the church is even true. I've started to tear up more in the last 3 days than I have in the last 3 years. It's a little ridiculous.

There are 6 companionships in my district - 3 sisters and 3 elders. All six sisters are going to New Hampshire. Three of the Elders are also going to New Hampshire, the other three are going to Seattle. We have a good district, I really like everyone. Although I never really realized how ADD 18 and 19 year old boys are. It's so annoying sometimes.
My companion's name is Sister Keigley. She's from Riverton, Utah. She's really sweet, really quiet. Sometimes I feel like I have to initiate everything. But it's good that she's my companion. We taught our first lesson yesterday and I kept talking too much and over complicating things. She would ask the right questions and slow us down a little whenever I got too far ahead of myself and didn't know what I was saying. So we compliment each other.

We have two main teachers - Brother Anderson and Brother Leah. Brother Leah is British, which is kind of cool. Then we have like 4 other teachers who keep coming in and out. Apparently none of them have districts of their own at the moment, so they're just kind of floating. I haven't seen Andrew Green or Nate Hainsworth yet, although they both said they teach in my building.

Speaking of people I've seen. I did not realize I knew so many people still in the MTC. I've seen Liz Matthews, Peirce Kent, Mal Jo Luke, Haley Furnestau, Suzanne Hunsaker, and Jessica Peterson (who was on my rugby team). Jessica actually lives on my floor. Oh, and I saw Marc Wells, who teaches Russian here. I saw him the first day, although I haven't seen him since. It's super weird seeing people I know, because I have to call them Elder or Sister, and I can't hug the Elders. Weird.

Gym time is a God-send. I love it more than life. It's so nice to be able to bike out all my stress. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since I've been here, so I keep going in and out of focus during class. But when we've got 6-8 hours of class everyday and the last period is always 6:30 to 9:30 I guess it's expected, right? It's driving me crazy though, because I know I need to be paying attention. And I keep falling asleep during personal study. Also, I suck at planning. I don't know how to plan for stuff when so much of it really depends on my investigator's knowledge and reactions. And I can't plan for that when I know nothing about my investigators. It drives me crazy, I just want to be out in the field teaching people already! I hate all this practicing. My other favorite thing? The wraps they have during lunch and dinner. Soo good. Otherwise I would be eating cold cereal every meal.

I'm not sure what else to say. Life is hard, stressful, exciting, encouraging, and overwhelming, all at the same time. But I'm kind of loving it all. Not every moment, but as a whole, it's not too bad.

That's all I can think of though. Write me letters. It's a great FHE activity, especially since if you use DearElder.com, it's free. But only until the 25th, because thats the day I fly out. So WRITE ME LETTERS.

But I love you all. Even if you don't write me. I just don't love you as much as everyone else.

Love,
Lindsey

Five.

30 day challenge, part 5.

5) What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

1. Long drives. These always make me happy, but especially now, since I won't be able to go for drives much longer.
2. Getting stuff for my mission. I know, I know. Materialistic. But seriously. Nothing has made me happier the last few weeks than finding the perfect shoes for me to wear everyday.
3. Missionary letters. These always make me happy, but even more so now that I'll know more of what my Elder friends are going through in just a couple weeks. Plus, I miss all my boys, so hearing from them is the best.
4. Talking to friends. I love talking. And I love friends. And I've had some of the most deep, meaningful, and spiritual talks with friends over the last few weeks, than I've had my entire life. And I'm loving it.
5. Sitting at home. I'm antisocial. Oh well. Last year I never wanted to go home, but now I go home at least once a week. And I love nothing more than eating leftovers, playing with Chief, and watching movies with my family. Especially when it's Lord of the Rings, and my dad fast forwards through the talking so all we watch is the fighting. My family might be a little cooler than yours.

Four.

Thirty day challenge. It's taken me a lot longer than thirty days. Oops.

4) List 10 things you would tell your 16-year old self if you could.

1. Just because you've known someone for forever, doesn't mean they'll always be there.
2. There's more to a friendship than having fun. And you'll find some of your best friends in college.
3. Study a little harder. You won't regret it. It'll make the transition to college so much easier.
4. You deserve better. It's not you, it's the people around you who aren't measuring up. Remember that.
5. Try more food. You aren't as picky as you once were, and there's a lot of good food you're missing out on. Also, learn to cook. Spaghetti and grilled cheese gets old after a while.
6. Don't quit piano! You'll miss it!
7. Read your scriptures more often. It's a good habit to have.
8. Slow down. Try to keep the van on four wheels when going around turns.
9. Learn to budget. Just because you've got lots of money now, doesn't mean you'll always have lots of money. Sometimes you won't even realize how much you're spending until you're broke.
10. In 4 years life will be completely different than you ever imagined. And you'll love it.

Get me out.

I NEED TO LEAVE PROVO.
Like now.
Guys. I can't handle it anymore. I know I should be enjoying my last few weeks of freedom before I leave on my mission, but I can't take it.
I'm not a patient person. I decided I was going on a mission. I'm ready for it. So now I want to leave. I want to get out there. Nothing is happening for me in Provo right now. I don't want to hang out with people because I'm just gonna leave and they're not gonna write me and all my friends will probably get married while I'm gone. I just sit in my room in my apartment and watch netflix, then I feel like I'm wasting my life away. So I go and hang out with people and I hate every moment.
I have no idea what my mission is going to be like. But it's going to be different from being here. I'll have a purpose to what I'm doing. My life will have meaning - something I've been missing for a long time.
Sorry to be a downer, and to complain so much. I know I really have no reason to complain at all. Still.
I need to get out of here.
New Hampshire, I'm ready for ya.

Three.

Hey guys. Remember when I said I was going to do this? Ya, I'm really bad at posting regularly. So sue me. But I figured I'd try and complete this challenge before I left on my mish. Which is in 20 days. Just so you know. Anyway, here's number three.

3) Describe your relationship with your parents.

My parents are the best. Hands down. No contest. They win all the awards. Why? Oh I could go on and on.

My dad is the hardest working man I know. He regularly works 60+ hour weeks. He delivers babies in the middle of the night, and sleeps at the hospital at least once every 6 days to take care of people who need it. He listens to people complain when they don't feel well and he tells them how to get better - even when he knows that sometimes they won't follow it. And he does this all while being caring, sympathetic, and attentive. And that's just his job. He also brings my mom flowers for no reason, watches movies with us on Sunday nights, brings home donuts and fancy kinds of cheese, takes us on horseback rides, plays catch with us, wrestles with my brother, reads us books, teaches us to take care of ourselves, takes us to cool places, takes us camping, fixes our cars, supports us in everything we do, and teaches us that we can do hard things. My dad has taught me the importance of family and to appreciate not only what I have, but where I am as well. He's also taught me how to be strong, independent, honest, loyal, and to always do what is necessary - even when it's hard. Thanks to him I've got a very sarcastic and dry sense of humor, I know how to throw a softball and change my brakes, I love classic rock, I've hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Inca trail, and I can saddle a horse.

Also thanks to my dad, any guy I date has some very, very high standards he's gonna have to meet. Sorry not sorry.

My mom is just as amazing. She takes me shopping, she listens to me vent, she makes me lunch. She makes me clothes when I can't find anything that fits, she fixes my clothes when I don't take good care of them. She cries during commercials, she reads books faster than anyone I know, she makes a mean mac&cheese, and she hates camping, but will go with us anyway. My mom is smart, willing to help anyone at any time, and she keeps me on the straight and narrow. When I lived at home she'd wait up for me to get home at night and she would wake up at 6:30 during the summer and make me a lunch to take to work. She takes me to store after store to find cute missionary clothes because she knows I don't want to look Amish and she always takes me to Zupa's after. She'll make extra of my favorite dinner, just so I can take left overs back to school with me and have a break from my typical spaghetti. She buys my friends and I pizza whenever I have friends over, and will usually make muddy buddies as well. She's my chauffeur, my cheerleader, my therapist, my confidant, my teacher, my guide, my best friend.

I've always had a pretty good relationship with my parents. I've never really had any major arguments, no screaming matches, nothing. I don't think I've ever been grounded, and my curfew is usually pretty reasonable. I think part of that is because I've always had pretty good friends - I never had any real reason or pressure to go against what my parents said. But I think it's also because I always understood the reasoning behind the rules and standards they gave me. I have to say, the older I've gotten the more I've realized how great my parents are. I hear friends talk about how their parents are super strict, how they don't get along at all, how they never listen to what they have to say. My parents listen to me all the time, even when I have no point to my stories that go on and on. My mom doesn't necessarily agree with my style choices - or some of my other choices - but she'll accept it because it's what I want to do. My parents have taught me not to take life too seriously, to laugh about the mistakes I make. They've taught me to give my all, and to never do anything I wouldn't be proud of. They've taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to and that it's totally fine to have some fun along the way.

I could probably keep going, but I'll stop here. This should be enough to prove that my parents really are the best. I have no doubt in my mind - and I've never had a reason to doubt - the love they have for each other, for me, for my siblings, or for the gospel.

Here's to hoping that one day I'll do as good a job as they've done. Because so far, we've all turned out pretty awesome. And some of that has got to be genetic.