goede dag! 4/30/08

Hi family!!! Another wunderbare week in the MTC! We've has lots of goodbye's this week - two of my roommates flew off Monday for Denmark. It was kind of a bummer because Sister Burton was totally a kindred spirit - similar music but more importantly similar approaches to life and missionary work - but things are getting better with my comp, so the loss isn't too harsh. We also said goodbye to the Dutch Elder here in the MTC, Elder Koenen - but not before he made us some sweet pictures to go along with prophets and the Plan of Salvation. His job in Appeldorn was graffiti art, so they're way cool drawings. I mean highly uplifting illustrations of gospel principles. ;) Anyway, he's now off in Suriname preaching the gospel, but we all snagged a photo with him, so I'll try to get that send home soon. We also bid farewell to both our teachers. It's good Brother Ure left tho since all the sisters in our branch were totally smitten with him. I liked the way he taught the best, but our new teacher, Brother Bradley, teaches Dutch so well and I'm learning to like him too. On Friday we had an English fast with the intent that we'd speak Dutch all day. It was kind of a head ache but a good illustration of how far we have to go. But I suspect within a couple weeks I'll be at the same speaking level in Dutch that I'm in French (after years of it as a kid and three semesters at BYU) - the gift of tongues is amazing! You still have to work and struggle and labour for it, but it's real nonetheless. On Friday we had MPC's (the mystery acronym meaning a one on one interview with our teacher - Missionary Progress Check?), which were quite illuminating. I really do love the MTC and told my teacher so. My district is amazing (they make being a solo sister so easy), and I've found the only thing keeping me from basking in the Spirit here is my own perfectionism and self-criticism. When I just chillax and enjoy it, I can learn so much here. Then Brother Ure asked me how the Lord feels about me. Basically he went off about my perfectionism, and how I am truly the only thing holding back my progress. "You're incredibly intelligent, Sister Baxter! You're incredibly capable! I think the reason this district has progressed with the language so fast is due to you in large part!" Well, I wasn't about to argue with that, but it was nice to hear. =) But mostly it was a good discussion about how the Lord motivates us to do better - not by lecturing us or telling us to shape up, but through love. Of course I got humbled later that day in comp inventory. Apparently I dominate everything. Elder Berry, after hemming and hawing for 5 minutes, finally aired his feelings that my side of the class is "boisterous" - i.e., we tend to talk to most in class discussion. I was a little perturbed by it at first (learning has always been a competetive, solo effort for me), especially because I've been trying to hold back, but it's good for me to focus on the progress of our whole class. In the MPC when I asked Brother Ure about it, he said I should just not answer questions unless I already know the right answer. But my district is doing great and I think I'm doing better.On Sunday Elaine S. Dalton (YW Gen president) came and spoke. It was amazing! Just a good lesson on not turning back when you're climbing hills (she's a hard core runner). I love how much we can learn here. We had a large group meeting about the atonement, and saw clips from Elder Hollands 2000 MTC Address "The Atonement and Missionary Work" (if anyone could find that on lds.org and dear elder it to me, I'd love it!). There were some great lines about why missioanry work is challenging: "I am convinced conversion is such a difficult process because salvation is not a cheap experience." The whole talk sounds amazing.Elder / Sister relations here in the MTC are hilarious. I've been called Sister DeMass twice more, which is especially funny since he and I are so not each other's types. But I hear "transfers" are coming soon and another class elder will soon be my class companion. So that'll be good to work with someone new. On a funnier note, one of the departing Danish Elders gave a letter to my elder to give to me to give to one of my roommates, a church history sister going to Kirtland. She opened it to read, "Hey Sister Olsen, we should e-mail. Here's my e-mail address." Her response - "Who is that Elder? Have I even met him?" It was so funny. I think they met possibly twice. I'm kinda glad I don't have to deal with distracting the Elders. =)On Monday we taught in the TRC (where we have a Dutch language task and then teach a discusssion in English, for now), and we taught an RM who served in Holland and his friend. His friend had the coolest rbight orange and blue checkered vans slip ons and a Cure shirt, and it didn't make me trunky by any means, but it was a wonderful reminder that there is a world were men don't wear white shirts 24/7 and runs in knee-highs are not a concern. Brother Ure was mock shocked and appalled when I said teaching them made me miss going to shows. I really do love being a missionary, but it was nice to remember there are so many different people out in the world. I love the variety of humanity and I'm excited to see it more in the field. Well, by virtue of being the only remaining sister in my branch, I am now the coordinating sister - but luckily we get 4 English sisters and 1 Danish sister today! The Dane will probably join me and Sister Gill's companionship to make a trio. Things are going much better with Sister Gill. We still pretty much only have 13 y/o boy humor in common, but I've learned not to be so sensitive. We just work very, very differently. For example, when I asked if we were going to go ou to the field for gym time, her response was a flat out no. "So could we compromise? Like go outside once a week?" "Uhm, no. I'd rather do ellipticals." That really floored me - I'm used to super un-aggressive people. But a couple days later she broached the topic again and we've worked it out. I've decided I need to just not take things so seriously. Sensitivity and perfectionism are definitely my two goals for self-improvement.Sorry my letters are so scatterbrained - I want you all to know how much I miss you, but how much I love being here. Even if I went home right now, this experience would have changed my life - but I'm so glad I'm not going home yet. I know the Netherlands will be difficult, but so would any mission - and I'm realizing more and more that I really haven't gone through anything that difficult in my life. The mission will be challenging and hard, but that's one of the best ways to develop faith. Mostly I'm just trying not to borrow trouble by fretting about it before I get on the plain to much. I thought I wouldn't be homesick at all, and I was so wrong! But it's a good kind of homesick. =) I realize every day how cool my family really is. You all are incredible. Thank you for all your love and support. Until next week! Love, ChristaP.S. Tell lauren her letter was AWESOME and I'm totally writing her back!Dad - I'm sorry your Asia trip was so long, but all those different cultures sound so interesting! It susprised me to hear Korea is more Western than Japan. And the contrast of old and new in China sounded so fascinating!Erica - Thansk for telling me about Aryan! So far I've onyl taught Dutch RMs in the TRC but it's so cool to hear about Dutch converts, and I'll keep my eyes peeled for him!Jamie - Those adoption meetings sound so interesting, especially hearing from Birth Moms. I'm totally jealous I missed Alisa's baby shower - you should send me pictures! =)Alisa - I'll write you this week!Also, items of business for the fam:1. How's my iPod? There should be a year warranty if it's still broken, and I don't think that expires until this August. Enter the bar code on the back at apple.com to find out.Ah no time! Love you all! I'll write home more!