Syster J2 March 23

Friends!!! :)

The MTC is great. I know Elder Juker wrote that all the time but its so true! This week was a bit of a struggle. I had a rough time with the language and felt that I would learn things and then the next day wouldn't remember a thing. But then it was brought to my attention that I've been here 3 weeks today, and I can do so much already. We just have to really rely on the Lord and the Holy Ghost to get us through things. If we are doing all that we can do he will make up the difference. Thats what the atonement is for. No matter how down in the dumps we feel, the Savior has been there too. Alma 7:11-13 has really helped me when times are tough. A lot of people think of the Atonement as just for sin and when we fall short. I'm so thankful that it is there for that reason but even more so when I'm feeling down. I mean. You guys know me, I've never been one to do much on the ways of major sin. So in that regards I'm still learning but I know that through this scripture Christ suffered for everything that makes us upset or makes us feel uneasy. We just need to take it upon ourselves to realize that we need Him in our lives and come unto him and he will give us rest. I know that I need that rest in my life or else I might die. lol

A few times this week I've been thinking on how I can be a better missionary but then it hit me to read a letter I got from Elder Juker. He said that by himself he is a horrible missionary. But thankfully God is there to let him be one and Christ is there with the Holy Ghost to help him be a great missionary and tool. This week I've really realized how much missionaries rely on the spirit. Its crazy to think that people everywhere let young men and women in their homes to teach them. It has to be through the spirit or else it wouldn't make any sense. We must show we care and be real with people. We have to make connections that will last and help people to realize that they need the gospel in their lives. No matter the situation everyone needs Christ. We cannot obtain eternal life with God and Jesus Christ without him. There is a call for missionary work. We must answer it at home, in our own lives as well as here in the mission field. We are ALL God's children and he definitely wants us all back with him one day. Will you please try to do this in all you do? I know that if you do, the Lord will bless you and you will be able to feel for yourself the truthfulness of this Gospel!

I hope that everything is going on well back at home. I really miss you all! I think I've lost half my brain capacity and can't remember addresses. So If you have some that I need send them my way. I really need Dad's address and email. I can't remember it and don't have a way to get it besides in a letter or dearelder.

Letters from home and around the world really keep me going. Please keep it up. I love you all so much thank you for your love and support! You guys rock! Keep it up.

Love Syster Juker

Syster J2 - from the MTC

This is Syster Jennifer Juker's first email home.  I (mommaitos) will be updating her blog with her weekly emails, pics she sends and anything else that comes to mind!  She will be at the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) for a couple of months, then it's on to Sweden!! YAY  Well - here goes.

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: HI!
To: Nancy Juker <njuker@gmail.com>

Hey Everybody,

 

Oh my goodness I'm in love with the MTC! The spirit here is just as Elder Juker has said. Last week on p-day we were in the Laundry room doing our email stuff while the laundry was going. But I couldn't remember my login for myldsmail so i couldn't even check mine. Then I tried so many times it locked me out and asked for my membership number so this time I came prepared! Its crazy this time limit thing. lol I just wish I could type as things came to mind, like the words would just appear. Anyway side notes :)

 

The MTC is in like a time warp thing. Its been two weeks and It just feels like one gigantic day. We wake up and do all the same things over and over again. But I'm still in love it just doesn't matter here. So far I'm not sure what you all know. So here goes, I have two companions Sister DeTinne-Cassel and Sister Vistaunet! They are lovely. They both talk often and a lot so I'm having to jump way out of my comfort zone when we are in the TRC and such. But I certainly love them. I struggled for a bit but after a few girl nights of talking we have all warmed up pretty well. We get along really well now. I'm really having to work on my communications skills seeing as we have all grown up so differently. But The Lord definitely knew what He was doing when he put us three together. We have all agreed that that is true. :)

 

Sister Vistaunet and I sing in the MTC Choir when we can. So far we sang a song called "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands" that was yesterday before devotional. It is a great song and you should all look up the lyrics and really think about the sacrifice that God made by sending Christ for us and the love that Christ has for us, even when we are stupid and don't do exactly as we should. :) Devotionals are on Sunday and Tuesday nights they are absolutely my favorite. I'm not so much a fan of P-day just because I have so much to do on top of laundry and studying. But I love it all the same.

 

I completely understand why Elder Juker just wrote everything in one long sentence, paragraph thing. Its a stressful thing writing these emails. lol I miss you all lots. Thank you so much for the dearelders and the letters and everything. Especially the prayers. They are what keeps me going all of them actually :). Oh Mom and Dad the Apple pie was so good you'll hear and see that in the letter I'm sending off today. Pictures are included there. I'm not sure on the rule about uploading pictures as you go on here but I definitely want pictures out there. Also on Facebook people might add me. Like my companions family and such add them if you will and tag them in any pictures you upload. lol They definitely want the word out on facebook. Which I think is silly but oh well.

 

I'm so sucked into this work its crazy. I love the personal and companionship study. We all do. The spirit here is awesome. Oh Svenska! Oh how it is my weak point. i love studying and I love trying to figure out the new language and all that jazz but sometimes it just makes me blah. Sister D.C is way good. She studied linguistics and knows Spanish and Arabic so she asks questions way above all of our heads. most of the time I follow to a point then ask a simpler question for myself. :)

 

After devotional we have a district meeting with our Branch Presidency member or president. Last night was with Bro and Sis Mangus. They are awesome. We went through our notes and talked about our companions. Each having to say something nice about our companions. It was pretty funny because we did that the night before last as District inventory. but after everyone. the six Swedish Missionaries and the four Norway missionaries said stuff. Brother Mangus looked at me and said "The strong and silent one right" It really made me laugh. I'm trying really hard to not be the quiet one. But as you all well know its me. Id rather not speak if i feel nothing is to be said. But I'm working hard.

 

Also when we were working on learning Joseph Smith History 1:16-17 we spoke of The First Vision and all that it entails. It really made me realize the importance of prayer. Even when Satan does his best to make us feel not worthy or keep us from doing what we know is true and right. No matter what you have to me sure to use the power of prayer in all that you do. That is the way you will make it through trials in this life. I know that prayer is real and that if you think you are just talking to a wall you are wrong. Prayer is such a vital part of my testimony and I really realize now how very important it is for us to pray always with real intent and act on the promptings of the holy ghost.

 

Oh I figured something out while here. We use the entire Godhead when we pray. We pray in the name of the Father, we close with his son Jesus Christ and then we listen to the feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost to know what to do with what we have been given and such. 

 

The Gift of tongues is real and I'm so thankful for the Testimony I have of this gospel and the knowledge I've been able to share with my companions and district. I'm thankful for all of you guys back at home and the love and support you have given me. It's a huge comfort to know you are all praying for me. You are all in my prayers.

 

Jag alskar du alla

Syster Juker :)

A Freckle Past

First you struggle with the patience to wait for something, then as the time approaches you want it to slow down a little. Well at least in most cases, as for me right now, I'm in a jumble. Everything's going everywhere and I'm not sure what is exactly in store for me or my family and friends. I'm super excited; don't get me wrong, I just have so much to do and little time to do it in. 

The good news is I have a great family and lots of great friends who help with the spazziness that has been created in this time crunch. I think a lot of the time we take for granted people who are a constant in our lives. I know at least I have. Those people who are there no matter what, from the first tweet of unhappiness to the hours spent talking and exchanges of encouragement, someone must have come to mind by now. Keep those people close, sometimes it is tough but they will be the ones who keep you on the right path. No matter the questions that buzz around the noggin, take those people aside and let them know they are appreciated. It's something so simple but so frequently overlooked. 

With the adventure of leaving ahead of me I think of the things I need to do before I leave. The people I need to make sure know how much they have helped me, from the small and simple things to the huge complex gigantic nonsense that they were lucky to walk into. I'm very nervous for my next adventure but I'm also so very thankful for the experiences I've had with so many people here, the good, the bad, the annoying, the lies, the blunt truth, the laughs, and the tears. They all make us who we are today; sometimes, it may not be the most welcome way but we've got to grow somehow. Right?!

Temple Time!

I had a great Saturday with Family and dear friends! The temple is such a wonderful place. I'm so excited for the opportunities they bring.

Name Them One by One

Johnson Oatman Jr. once wrote, "When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." I've had to experiment with this. When dealing with things in life, "life's billows" so to speak its definitely easy to get discouraged and see life as some gloomy existence. Except when you keep track of all the blessings you are thankful for. A while back I began a list of every blessing I could think of. I'd like to have a book of things I'm thankful for. To start, I am thankful for; family, friends, scriptures, testimony, the Holy Ghost, The Atonement, Patriarchal Blessings, the Word of Wisdom, Joseph Smith, Prophets and Apostles, sun, moon, stars, air, clouds, ocean, mountains, sight, smell, feel, hearing, walking, running, sounds, music, kids, car, house, water, food, safety, love, listening, laughing, crying, gasoline, money, the ability to speak and understand, writing, reading, books, job, trusting people, Temples, church buildings, freedom, trials (though its tough at times), the ability to grow, agency, church leadership, Institute, colors, paper, pens, communication, travel, air planes, medicine, caring, kindness, computers, internet, e-mail, mail, bikes, electricity, plumbing, Fire people, help, time, bandaids, ponytails, chapstick (burt's bees), forgiveness, the Restoration, knowledge, tests, school, mercy, singing, praying, chairs, air conditioning, windows, cameras, pictures, memories, hugs, cuddles, sleep, profound thought, quotations, ideas, new situations, sunglasses, glasses, copy machines, roller blades, trees, shade, dogs, cats, animals of all types, spiders, insects, birds, stores, storage, laws, law enforcement, horns, streets, street lights, signals (of all types), leashes, tennis shoes, basketball, soccer, grass, sprinklers, pools, UPS, interpretations, perspectives, silly time, serious time, flowers, inventions, trucks, motorcycles, calenders, planning, notebooks, journals, photoshop, drawing, skipping, piers, towels, tooth brushes, tooth paste, eye drops, leaves, sidewalk, door knobs, locks, hammocks, ping pong, volleyball, humor, trust, learning, language, life, etc., etc. How can you not smile now? and this is but a partial list! Do it to it! I promise it works :)

Looking Up

So many things these days get people down and not ok. It's a sad thing and I have fallen from a good day to a bad day in just a few questionable thoughts. Today I realized that just the act of looking up helps, sounds silly but think about it. From the perspective I have, realizing how small you really are in this life puts things in perspective. Just as something that seems to make all the difference in your own life goes bad look up, in the big picture of things it doesn't matter. The way things go has so many variables you can't expect things to happen without being all knowing. I know little in this respect. I know only what I study and believe; I can't possibly figure out all of life's questions out especially the ever present "what if's" and "why's". I think that's also where your faith comes in. If you are searching for answers to questions and you aren't sure what else to do, but aren't getting anything sure from prayer your faith is tested as you pursue something that has no sure result. 

Anyway just a ramble for today :)

My Face on a Screen

"Each week, depending on the number of calls to be assigned, two to four members of the Quorum of the Twelve go to separate rooms at Church headquarters. There, after kneeling in prayer and asking for divine guidance, each sits down before a computer screen. On that screen, one at a time, prospective missionaries’ pictures and personal information appear, along with the current needs of all of the missions of the Church. Each missionary is then personally assigned to a specific mission and given a date on which to enter a missionary training center." by David A. Edwards (Your Call to Serve New Era 2007)
Its pretty crazy to think of my face on a screen in front of a few of the most high esteemed men on earth! Oh I am so looking forward for mail time! Sometimes it's difficult to get in the car, drive to the post office, deal with all the traffic on Main Street; but I think with the prospect of what's on its way I'll be lining up to go and get it. Two more weeks!