The MTC is FANTASTIC

Hey everybody!!!

Well it's been a fantastic week here at the MTC! My companion is Sister Summers and we are basically twins. We like clicked from the first day and now I say oh my heck all the time now.

I saw Jeremy like the second day but that was because he came and found me in my class. He did leave me a note on the board like the  first day which was super nice and it made my day.

My district is like the best. There are 6 sisters and 6 elders and all of the sisters are going to Philadelphia and half the elders are going to tennessee and the other half are going to Florida. Hey if the Claridges are reading this Sis. Holladay is in my district and I love her.

My teachers are super awesome. They are Sister Rasmussen and Sister Lindford and they are amazing. We have to teach them as investigators and it is so hard but such a great experience. Sister Summers and I do a lot of preparing before we teach them and so I think we do a pretty good job. I can always feel the Spirit during the lessons and that`s all that matters because the Spirit converts.

I play volleyball like everyday during gym time and usually I get a court burn in every game so thats fun haha. But I kill it everyday so its whatever.

It snowed here like the second night so in the morning there was a little snow everywhere. It rained mostly for the rest of the week but yesterday morning for Thanksgiving it had snowed again.

Yesterday Neil L. Anderson came and spoke to us and he brought his grandchildren and they made every missonary a Thanksgiving card. Elder Anderson talked about trials and blessings and how sometimes we need to project ourselves forward to see the blessings that will follow the trial that we are currently in. We also did a service project for Feeding Children Around the World and we packaged 359,000 meals for them. They said these meals will stay in Utah and will only last about 4 months but at least these kids will have food through the holidays.

Speaking of the holidays there is a new Christmas initative called #LighttheWorld and you start Dec. 1 and you do 25 acts of service for 25 days. If you look on mormon.org there is a video you can watch and they also give suggestions on different acts of servce you can do everyday. I hope you all check it out.

I love how much my testimony has grown the past week and I know it will continue to grow as i grow closer to my Savior. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ and I know that my Savior died for me.

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk

It actually wasn't as bad as I thought...

Well I survived the past 2 days! My companion is Sis. Summers. She's from West Jordan (or maybe it's South Jordan I don't really understand Utah). She is super nice and she wears glasses like me so that's awesome. We also have our own room so that's super fun! I am having a great time! We are learning so much already. We had to teach our investigator today all ready but she's really our teacher. I am so tired all the time but also so so so happy. I love it here and I am excited about the next 4 weeks. 

I talked to this lady on the plane on the way up though. Her name is Joda and she was the most positive person I have ever met. She shared a scripture with me from her good news bible. It is Philipeans 4:4-13. It was a bit different in her bible but it still sent the same message that we should all be positive and willing to share the gospel. I told her I was on my way to serve a mission and spread the gospel and she was so excited. She thought it was amazing that I had the opportunity to spread the gospel and then she said a prayer out loud right there on the plane thanking Heavenly Father for letting her sit next to me on the plane and to bless me on my mission. She was such a great person and I am so blessed to have been able to sit next to her and talk to her on the plane. 

My district is fantastic. There are 3 sets of sisters and 3 sets of elders and all of us sisters are going to Philadelphia so that is so fantastic. There is such a special spirit in our district that is so amazing. 

I saw Jeremy! And we took a picture but I'll send it next week because we only get to send this one email. Our Pday is on Thursday but since next week is Thanksgiving it will be on Friday so you'll hear from me then.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

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Lots of Love!

Sister Van Buskirk

And She's Off

November 16, 2016 was a bitter sweet day.  

Saying good bye for 18 months was hard but knowing Sis. Van Buskirk will be serving Heavenly Father's children and teaching them about Christ is worth the sacrifice.

 Dropping off at the Airport.

Lindsey Parris and Hannah Laulusa picked her up at the Airport.  With extra time before she had to be at the MTC they stopped at the Puppy Barn to play.

 Arriving at the MTC.

 Lindsey Parris, Sister Van Buskirk and Hannah Laulusa

 Saying Good bye!