Hellooooo family and friends! I feel like I have so much to say and so little time to say it all. Dad I got your letter, it came in 5 letters though! All the elders and sisters were so jealous of me haha.
I guess I'll start with my first couple of days here at the MTC. After dad dropped me off I was taken through all these hallways and doorways and stairways and I had no idea where I was. Luckily I know a lot of people here at the MTC and every corner I turned I was greeted by an elder, sometimes a sister, that I had met at BYU, with of course, a handshake. Seemed like a little reunion for me and all my friends. I think my guide was getting a little annoyed for all the times we stopped though. After about the 20th missionary I said hi to she finally said, "jeez sister, you know more people than I do and I've been here for 6 weeks!" Oops.... didn't really know what to say to that comment.
Anyways I was then taken to this classroom with all these elders and sisters staring at me because I was the last to arrive. One of the sisters ran up to me and totally butchered my name as she threw her arms around my neck and about strangled me. My first thought was 'ohhh no, this must be my companion, and shes a hugger." (Dad comment--Shanny has NEVER been to fond of hugging and cuddling...) Sure enough it was, her name is sister Dillman and she's from Spanish Fork Utah. Sister Dillman and I were put into a trio with sister Sodja. Let me describe to you my first experience with the both of them. We all stood up to sing the spirit of God, I was standing in the middle of my two companions and as soon as they started singing I immediately threw my hands up to my ears. Both, not one, BOTH of my companions are music majors and were singing literally as loudly as they could. And it didn't help that the poor sister in front of me, sister Jarmin, was tone deaf, which made my two companions want to sing even louder. I was trying so hard not to laugh I think I sang about three words. My ears were ringing for about 10 min after the song was through. Unfortunately I am the odd one out in my companionship. Neither of my companions like being active or working out. In fact none of the sisters in my room like being active or working out. The first time our gym hour rolled around they all said they wanted to skip gym time and go take a nap. I. Was. So. Mad. To say the least. I took out the missionary manual and read straight from the book "you must work out to keep your body healthy and strong yadda yadda yadda" or something like that. They all just stared at me and agreed. Thank GOODNESS. As I work out and run around the track they sit and stretch on the mats watching me. I don't understand how they can sit all day through class (16 hours) and then come to gym time and just want to sit. Blows my mind. Sometimes during gym iIll play some competitive four square or sand volleyball. I found out that while Bryson was here he would sit out during Gym time and study. His district is always coming up to me and telling me how much they loved him and how dedicated he was to studying. Just from the little information I have gathered I have come to the conclusion that Bryson and I are going to be two completely different missionaries and have very different experiences at the MTC.
The first couple of days here were hard, and I mean hard. I'll be honest-- my second day I had so many doubtful feelings and wanted to go home, but my companions helped me out a lot, so bless them and their loud singing voices. The day we arrived there were three times the amount of elders than sisters. As my dad would say "the odds are definitely in my favor" just kidding! ;) Our district has way more elders than sisters though. I love the elders, they keep me going throughout the day. All of them just graduated high school about 2-3 weeks ago and you can definitely tell. They are all so funny and have continuously told me that I am their favorite sister missionary haha. Just the other day I was scolded by sister Dillman for saying Freak when I dropped my scriptures. After that the elders would say freak every time the opportunity to say so arose. I couldn't stop laughing, sister Dillman was furious, which I feel a little bad about, but what can you do? My companions have proclaimed me the "social one" since I say hi to someone every corner we turn.
The teachers here are great and a couple of them are pretty attractive too. Its not fair, why would they give us such good looking teachers!?!? Maybe it's to help us pay attention better? Like I said earlier we have 16 hour days every day and I never thought I would hear myself say that 9:30 was late... haha I get so exhausted every single day and waking up at 6:30 is a struggle, but im doing it. I have been pushed in sports and school work, but I have never been so pushed spiritually in all my life. It's incredible how much I am retaining and learning each day here. We've already taught a couple of investigators. Most are pretty nice and receptive to our messages, but we have this one girl named Chevin who is just a pill. She's Pentecostal and so stubborn. Refuses to pray in front of us and never reads anything we ask her to read. The other dayIi was so stubborn and blunt with her in the lesson that she just stared at me for about 2 mintues straight and finally said, "Fine. I'll read one page, but thats it. You will never get me to pray in front of you." I took that as a win, I hope she reads. Shes been coming to the MTC for about 6 months now and no one has been able to make any progress with her.
Everyone here has been getting letters from dearelder.com so if you want to send me a quick letter during the week use that website. The letters are printed out and delivered the next day, just use my regular email shannon.viehweg@myldsmail.net
mailing address
sister shannon Viehweg
JUL01 MI-LAN
2007 N 900 E Unit 84
Provo UT 84602
Can't believe I've already been here a week and leave on the 1st, its all going by so fast! Tell the Grieves and the Walkers and the Dunns that I see their daughters everywehere I go and they look great and happy! I love you all and keep all of you in my prayers!
Sister Viehweg
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