28-Sept-11

Family!I fly out next monday check in time 5 am, wake up around 4-drive to the airport some hours before and then i will be in portland! whew...what a long day that's going to be. I hope i will be wide awake that day. I think as missionaries I can call from the airport- so it's safe to say that you guys should expect a phone call from me if i get permission from my branch president (i'm going to double check on this rule) to see if i can. It will be early, so i hope i can speak with all of you! It's been a crazy last week here. This weekend is general confrence. i'm so excited to be apart of that here in the MTC. Just a challange to you- count how many times they mention missionary work and write down your impressions that you recieve with it, and then mail me what you thought of it! Mom, i will have to write down the sciripture i want-it's in alma somewhere about the commandments, i'm sending you guys some photos so i'll just add the scripture with that envelope. Btw, you would be intersted to know that i finally ran into Elder Embley- I walked right by him on my way to the temple and noticed that he was wearing the same last name and introduced myself. i think Grandma and Grandpa would be pleased to hear that i had the chance of meeting him. I had an intersting conversation with the President of the MTC (President Brown) the MTC presidency knows us ASL sisters well and are well favored with them. I had the opportunity of sharing my mission call change story with him- and he said to me that only a member of the 12 can go in and change a mission call. I never knew that before, but I know exactly that mission calls changed or unchanged are inspired. Cuhlean, how was your birthday? I can't believe you're getting so old! You'll be in mutual by the time I get back! JT, how is seminary coming along? What are you learning and studying this year? It's hard to believe how fast you guys are growing up! Anyway, once i get to the field, i will be spending the first day in the mission home and meet my mission president. I keep hearing how wonderful he is and i'm so excited to be going finally. Nine weeks is along time to be here, but i feel more prepared from it. I love you all and expect some pictures from me soon! Sister Embley

21-Sept-2011

Hello Again! It's now almost week 8 for me here. Only 2 weeks left until I arrive in Portland! It's crazy how fast time is going. Jess, I finally saw the Warner's yesturday. They dropped off a treat in my room and I've been looking for them ever since. It looks like they are doing so good and adjusting to the mission life. I'm so excited for them to be serving in Kentucky, of all places! Last night's devotional was Elder Russel M. Nelson. We never really know who is speaking until we get there, but yesturday seemed tight with security so we were trying to figure out who was coming. It's a diffrent experiance being in the presence of an apostle as a missionary, and having 2, 000+ missionaries stand for him as he enters the room. Before Elder Nelson came to speak, he made sure that each missionary had their own copy of the recent ensign edition on the Book of Mormon. (If you havn't read it yet, read it!) From this Ensign, he bore his testimony of the truthfullness of the Book of Mormon, and how the Book of Mormon is the only book that testifies of the power, blessings and promises that we recieve of the atonement of Jesus Christ. He also pulled 4 missionaries from the audience (one of them being his grand daughter) and asked them questions about how the book of mormon is true, and their knowledge from it. The gospel is so true, so very true. Devotionals are really my favorite event from the MTC, I love it when we have all of the missionaries gathered together. There's an amazing spirit there when we are. Mom, you were asking more about blue box- Blue box is basically acting. It's acting diffrent concepts and storys and putting it into a gospel message. We are teaching (a teacher-but he's our investigator) someone who has no language or know how to read or write, so we have to act out or use photos for stories, gospel principals to help them understand gospel principals like taking the sacrament or simply that god loves them. It's been intresting learning the blue box concept-it just has made me realize how much my mission call change is really asking me to step up to a higher call, because this invistigator is really relying upon what we are teaching him alone from not being able to read for himself. Learning a Language is hard. But with the spirit and lots of patience, the load of learning a language becomes easier. I can really testify that this is where I need to be.With both of my companions already knowing the language, that has helped me learn so much more. My deaf companion says that my companion in Oregon is waiting for me to come to help bring the gospel to the deaf people there. She's teaching in English right now and is the only ASL sister there. My other companion has a degree in deaf studies, so I'm learning so many things from diffrent aspects that I know that has just been a blessing. I love all of you and love to hear what you are doing how you're doing. Keep me posted with letters:) Love, Sister Embley

31-Aug-11

Dear Family,

What a whirlwind of a week it's been! Last night for Devotional, we had the emazing opportunity to hear from our beloved apostle, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I love it when he speaks- he is always very direct toward missionaries and mission work. The main message of last night's devotional of his testimony of how his mission changed his life, and the thing that annoys him the most is a missionary that comes home and does nothing with the things that he has learned from his mission. The spirit was amazing.He also talked a great deal of our responsibilities as missionaries, the previous prophets and apostles that saw our day and our time. For one of the devotionals, they all had us -2, 500 of us (just imagine- same size as the stripling warriors army) stand and sing Called to Serve together in the gym. One of the deaf elders in our district heard it it was so loud. The spirit is amazing here-I can't tell you how much I really love being a missionary. Discussions and converstation are starting to connect together. I've basically been teaching, teaching, class, class, teaching, teaching and eating. I'm learning diffrent concepts of teaching the message and how to properly teach. With ASL, not only do you have to know the language, the concept and the message, you have to have the right facial experessions and body language as you are signing to the investigators. Family, come on a mission. Seriously- I have never learned to love what I learned or to love as much as I have these past 4 weeks I have been here (starting tomorrow). I have seen the responsibilty of being a missionary truely affect and change the lives of some that I have had the chance to meet in these past 4 weeks.I love you all so much. It sounds like you had a wonderful visit in Utah for family! It was so nice to hear that went well. Sister Embley