Mitchell, Week 2, Provo MTC

We were told a letter is in the mail to us for Week 2.  But here is a picture of Elder McCrea's male MTC Brazilian District members.  Elder McCrea is in the upper left.

Mariah, Week 7, Provo MTC

My missionary name tag in Russian/Cyrillic. That would be 'Sister McCrea' on first line. 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th lines say: 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'.
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An email from Sis. McCrea, verbatim...

To wit:

Well ladies and germs...

I'm nearing the end of my stay here in the MTC. Tomorrow is the start of week 8, which means that I've only got a week and a half left here on American soil. Two weeks from today, I'll be on a plane heading towards D'nepropetrovsk Ukraine. So, I'm trying to do all the American-like things I can think of -- like play softball and frisbee during gym time -- and eat all the American food, candy, and peanut butter while I still can. This Friday also means that I'll be getting my travel plans! Whoo-ho! I just know that this week is going to fly by...

Anyway. So. This week has gone by fast, like most of the past 6 weeks have gone by... It was full seeing friends come to the MTC (Elder Gariety), meeting with relatives (Elder McCrea) and watching friends leaving to their missions (Elder Weinmuller, Sister Hill and all the rest of the "older" Russki's that were in the Russian hall). I've come to realize that it's sort of going to be hard to leave the MTC. The MTC has become my home over the past 8 weeks... and it's going to be weird to go. It really does feel like after my stay here in the MTC, I'll be able to go home, having already "completed" my service.

But my adventure hasn't even begun yet. My mission story hasn't even been gotten started. I'm just coming to a close of 'Chapter One: The MTC -- Narnia Holes and Russian 101'. And the rest is still unwritten.

PS - from the blog maintainer (who wants to remain anonymous for now)...Sis. McCrea finally sent home some pictures. Yeah!  So more pictures will be posted as processed...

Can you make out Ukraine?

• Here are 3 out of 4 of my roommates, hard at work coloring: Sister Gray (smiling at the camera), Sister Meyers, and Sister Garff.  

• Our Russian (I can't think of the word) Dolls! That hang on our door!

• Elder Bell's mom is so nice!  A fellow MTC Ukraine District Elder's mom sent name tag cookies to everyone in the MTC Ukraine District.

• I'm going to miss you Sister Hill!

Mariah and Mitchell, Week 6 Sister McCrea; Week 1 Elder McCrea; Provo MTC

Sister McCrea and Elder McCrea finally meet up at the big map at the Provo MTC.  Their companions are beside them.

Mariah, Week 1, Day 4, Provo MTC

Sister McCrea and her MTC (Missionary Training Center) Ukraine District. Sister McCrea is the female on the left.
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And now her first email home from the MTC during her mission:

HELLO EVERYONE! And I'd say that in Russian, but alas -- I'm not exactly sure how to type in Russian yet, haha. I think I'll learn that somewhere around week 4 or 5? Maybe?

So, I've survived an entire week at the MTC. (Well, tomorrow it will be exactly a week, if we're going to get specific here.) Something that I didn't think that I would be able to do... But I did it, and I made it to P-day! (which is on Tuesday for those of you who were wondering)

ANYWAY! This first week has been crazy. It's been filled with missionary teaching seminars, Russian, scripture study, more language study, more scripture study, and not-so-bad MTC cafeteria food -- and not to forget plenty of running around, trying to get myself familiar with the buildings and my surroundings. (I still feel lost from time to time, but I'm glad that one of my companions isn't directionally challenged like I feel that I am.) The Russian is coming. But I have to keep reminding myself that I've only been learning Russian for 6 days and it's okay if I sound like a 5 year old Russian kid and I can't speak in complete sentences yet. I'm just keeping a prayer in my heart that I'll one day understand it.

My companions are really cool. -- Yes, I said companions. I'm part of a trio. (Be jealous). Sister Garff is from West Jordan, Utah. She's a sweet little thing who I don't think has one mean bone in her body. Sister Patterson is from Portland, OR, and she makes sure that no one forgets it! She is really good at holding a conversation and she knows how to make someone feel welcome and important. I feel really lucky that I'm with them. I know that I will learn a lot from both of these sisters.

I hope that everyone got a chance to watch the Worldwide Missionary broadcast thing that was this past Sunday. I really liked watching it. And I'm not just saying that because I was in the audience watching.

My time's running short. I've only got an hour allotted to spend time writing e-mails... so hopefully next week's message will be longer. I think I'll actually write out what I've got to say rather than writing it all out while I'm sitting here at the computer.

Till next week.

Love,

Sister McCrea

Pre-Mission, Provo

Thursday, March 7, 2013, 9:00 PM MST

And the answer is.......Well, you'll have to watch the video to find out..

Pre-Mission, Provo, UT

Thursday, March 7, 2013

The day and time has arrived.  Mitchell's mission call arrived in the mail today.  And look at his face.  No idea what to think...just a face of plain nervousness...The envelope will be opened at 9:00 PM MST tonight.

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Pre-Mission, Provo, UT

Monday, February 25, 2013

Mitchell has started a Facebook page entitled "Mitchell McCrea is going on a LDS Mission!  Guess Where?"  He sent in his paperwork to LDS Church headquarters the previous Wednesday, February 20, 2013.  Usually mission calls (assignments) are returned within two weeks.  Guesses on the Facebook site as to where people think Mitchell will be called are numerous...Idaho, Pakistan, North Dakota, Honduras, Nebraska, Iowa, New York City, Texas, Scotland, Ireland, Missouri, Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, North Carolina, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Japan, India, Portugal, Montana, Peru, California, Oregon, Finland, Germany, The Congo, Ukraine, England, Argentina, Virginia, Oklahoma...and even the Moon.  And a couple of people suggested Brazil....