So I didn't really plan out what I wanted to say this time.  Sorry if it's all flustered . . . I am pretty hyped up today because since it is my last P-Day here at the MTC I have to get everything ready to leave--including packing my bags, weighing them. cleaning our apartment, and we had to go buy some stuff up on  main campus after attending the temple this morning.

I am reminded of that first day, July 5th, that I went through with my Parents and my Grandparents and my Best Friend Hannah Avery! It was such a neat experience and it's still neat every time I go. It only gets better!

Hermana Taylor and I are the Sister Training Leaders in our Zone (like Zone leaders for the Hermana's) and we welcomed our newest missionaries in our zone last night! It's been a really fun assignment to check up on all of the Hermana's in our zone!

 I still am in shock that I am leaving the country this weekend! it doesn't feel real. I was so sad to see Hermana's Jepperson, Reid, Harmon and Evans leave last Sunday and now it is my turn! It's so awesome how many new friends I have made while being here. It is so much fun and I really do learn things every day!

 OH I ran into Kaeli Willis this week from BYU-Idaho's choir From the Heart! and she is roomates with Sydney Forman from Chick Fil A! It was SOOOO good to see both of them! They are both headed to Reno, Nevada on Monday!

 At our devotional on Tuesday, the member of the 70 (I'm not even going to try and remember how to spell his last name) talked about the different degrees of glory and told us that it is our choice which one we want to end up in--that we need to make the decision NOW! He told us to make the decision and then write in in our journals IN BIG LETTERS so we can always find it easily! I wrote I, JUSTYCE AURORA OLIPHANT, HAVE DECIDED TO INHERIT THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM!  I challenge each of you to study about the different degrees and then make your choice! Once you make the big choice, all of the smaller choices will be easier to make. I hope that makes at least a little sense to you; I loved his message!

It has been raining a ton down here in Provo, which I love the rain, but it also can put a damper on your day. Hermana Captain (one of my teachers) told me something I absolutely love! When you are sad, or homesick, or not feeling well, focus on other people. Serve others. She promised that if we did that, our pains, and sadness would go away. And It really does work! Hermana Taylor and I have been reminding each other to do that and I think that doing that has helped our weeks be so awesome!

 This would be the cafeteria! Haha Damon, you'll be sick of the food here so fast! Bring snacks! Or just go to the creamery and buy stuff. That's what we do!

 I just love headsets!! Haha This is how we practice Spanish. It's something called TALL. It's a language program where we talk to the computer and it helps us with how we say things. Pretty cool, huh!

I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be here, learning Spanish and learning how to be a better teacher and how to serve the Lord to the best of my abilities! I have neat experiences every day! I learn so much and my study habits have started to finally click. I just love learning so much!

Hermana Park painted my nails for me because I was having a bad day! She is so awesome! Aren't they so cute!

Keep the letters coming from home.  It is always so great to hear what is going on.

I love you

Love

Hermana Justyce Oliphant

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxox

 

 

 Hermana Oliphant and her sisters went out to a Burger Supreme to celebrate a birthday.  They get excited about simple things--like the buzzers saying food is ready, and, obviously, cameras.

Hermana Taylor and I were assigned to be our zone's sister training leaders. I guess he wasn't kidding when President McCorquindale said I would be used in many leadership positions throughout my mission! We are in charge of all 15 sisters in our zone:  making sure they are okay; that they know what they can and can't wear; helping them with homesickness;  Anything. We are basically little mothers for our ducklings. It has been fun. But it's always kinda awkward when you have to tell a sister that she is wearing something 'inappropriate' such as a maxi skirt, combat boots, or denim. But we all learn and grow together. Its been a fun calling.

 For years, Mom tried to teach me to french braid my own hair.  That is a skill I could only learn from living with sisters.  Thanks, sisters, for teaching me a new trick.

Here is Hermana Oliphant's District drawn in their true splendor!

 This is one way the District was working on memorizing the First Vision.  It is all drawn in stick figures.  What a great way to visualize a very familiar concept.

Everyone needs heroes and mine are the sisters who choose to go and teach others about our scripture heroes. 

 L. Tom Perry came to speak to us at the MTC on Tuesday. That was pretty awesome! we waited outside for almost 2 hours so we could sit close and we did! We were right in front of him on row four! Literally like 15 feet away!!! It was so neat to be so close to an Apostle of God!!!

I just want to leave a scripture for you.. It's 2 Nephi chapter 4. I love this chapter. Its really helped me this week. I challenge you to read it and then ask yourselves- what are some enemies in your life? How can trusting in the Lord help you fight these enemies? And no, I'm not only talking about people as the enemies :)  Trust in the Lord because he knows what is best for you!!

'There is no reason to feel defeated, not when you are on a team that can never lose!'

-Elder Franklin Morley

I love you all!
Thank you for all that you do and for all of your prayers! I am so loved and so blessed to call you my family, whether literally my family or my awesome friends! I just love you all and can't wait to share all of my awesome experiences with you!!
Love for ever and always

from

Hermana Oliphant

 

 

 

!Hola!

Another week bites the dust!! I am doing awesome and hope you are all also!

Jamba Juice run in the cold!

And it wasn't because of vampires or Halloween.  I guess, even in the MTC, clowning around with my new sisters is good clean fun!

It was so sad to watch one of the districts in our zone leave this last Monday. I had become really good friends with some of the Elders. They are now in Argentina and really getting into the work. I am so glad I was able to be taught by them and now I am a little closer to Mexico!! 3 weeks!!!

This is what I see every day!

A scripture I love and have shared a lot this week is Ether 12:27 where he says that weak things become strong with the Lord. I truly believe this is true. I have seen the Lord's help in my life with taking my weak area's and helping me to make them stronger. How have you seen the Lord's help with making your week area's become strong? What do you consider to be one of your weaknesses you would like to become better at? I know for me I felt like I was really impatient and I asked the Lord to help me and I have become more patient. I am still improving, but I have seen the Lord's hand in helping me. I'd love to hear your stories and examples! 

If there's one thing I have learned so far, I have learned to just be positive! 

We even have Chocolate milk!

I love this gospel. I KNOW it is true. I know that my savior is ALWAYS there for me. I know that there is a reason I am headed to Mexico to serve the Lord. I am so excited to go! I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to be here at the MTC. I have run into  quite a few friends here.  It is so awesome to see the influence that this gospel brings, the impact is has in people's lives.

I love the temple. I love the knowledge that we can live together forever. 

I hope you are all doing great! I love hearing from you when I get your letters!!

Thank you for all of the support! I can feel your prayers helping me each day!

I love you all and pray for you every single day!

Love,

Hermana Oliphant

Sister Oliphant is getting better at Spanish.  She found time between laundry and the temple to share some great pictures on Halloween.  Here  she is pointing to her mission.

Time in the Laundry Mat is so interesting.  You meet the most interesting people there, just hanging out...waiting...

 Hermana Oliphant with Hermana Davidson, Hermana Park, and Hermana Taylor.  I am so grateful Justyce is finally getting the sister/roommate experience.  She is loving being with a female friend all the time.  What a different life!

To celebrate Oct. 31st, the hermanas went to the Provo temple.  Sister Park wanted to see the session in Korean since that is her native tongue and Justyce just loved being in the temple.  That is definitely one of our happy places.

The most exciting thing of this week is that she actually ate fish.  She called it Christmas fish because it had red and green spices on it.  No one was trying it so she did.  She nearly gagged but got it down.  Then an Elder, her zone leader who would not be outdone by a sister, ate a piece.  He nearly gagged it up.  Justyce now knows she can eat any fish she is served in Mexico.  Lucky for her, Dad says fish is not a common dish in Mexico.  The Lord must know her food preferences but fish will never be her favorite dish!