Parent Letter

Missionary Name: Sister Annika Bruno
Mission: Provo MTC
Date Submitted: December 6


Dear Annika,

You must be getting really excited to go to the Phillippines. I can't wait to hear from you. The time seemed to go by really fast for me, I don't know about you, though. I hope you enjoyed your time in the MTC, it was fun to hear about all of the GAs that you got to hear from. The Apostles don't come out to the Stakes very much any more, so I am glad to know that they are still visiting the MTC frequently.

I looked up the weather in Cebu City and it is 88 degrees with thunderstorms. I'm sure you will be glad to have the warmer weather, although you will need an umbrella and some boots, probably.

I put $100 more in your account so now you have 147 and Cherie just called me to go in to work so i have to go, will talk to you later.

Fooling the MTC Mail Room

KAMUSTA KA!!

Hey everyone I am leaving the MTC in two weeks and will probably go silent except for email when I get there I am not sure yet what it is like so everyone should pass on the emails to everyone so that they don't think i am ignoring them!! I heard mail takes like a month to get to the US!! I heard that North Korea is fighting South Korea right now is this true that is crazy if so... I never get real news in the MTC so when we hear something its crazy!! Also it was supposed to snow yesterday so all the teachers were sent home and we didn't have a teacher for the rest of the day and also the bookstore closed which everyone was annoyed about, but today is P-day and tomorrow is Thanksgiving so we get two chillax days which is cool!!

So dad asked for a funny story so here it is I have a story book and this is one I thought was kind of funny! Elder George got a package and it came with an orange slip. Turns out his dad tried to send him a chocolate cream pie. Elder George was super mad about it. He made a list of MTC villains one was the mail room, then juggernot (the security guy for the devotionals), the Spanish district that stole our comfy chair, and the others (the English district). They devised a plan of ordering poop from an animal then put it in a box with packing peanuts, and sent it to the mail room. When Brother Atagi found out he devised a plan of putting ex-lax in a pie and sending it then wait and watch until someone runs out of the mail room. Elder English was like "YOU ATE MY PIE"

Elder George and Elder Holleys dads are always trying to smuggle them in food from take out places and their packing has become elaborate!! Like one of their dads packed the food in a crazy way so that the mail room couldn't smell the food! Basically hilarious but the elders get super excited when the food gets through its like Christmas to them! The elders always get a lot of packages Elder Holley gets a package every day from someone!! They don't open them until the dorms. They gather everyone's packages and open them like Christmas presents. Elders are so interesting!!

I am super excited for the twins and I loved KIKIs pictures soooooooo cute me and Sister Brand was like awwwwwww and everyone came and looked!

The new Cebubus are awesome we love them like our children or something. My new companion Sister Brand is awesome she is super fun. We all laugh in our room at night including Sister Walker, Sister Barney, Sister Nerdin and Sister Whipple. We all have a lot of fun. It's basically amazing love. I'm here but ready to leave in two weeks AHHHH!!


Nahigugma Ko kanimo!!


Sister Bruno

Missionary Excited to Leave MTC and Go to Philippines

Dad!

Yeah the light saber pictures I first took weren't very good. We were still experimenting and also the flash on my camera doesn't do very well. But we took a bunch more today and they came out really good. So hopefully you think these are better. We took the Matrix one today but in our P-day clothing. We are going to take one in our dresses another day.

I am way excited to be going to the field. We got our flight plans today. It was more exciting then getting my mission call! Haha. We have been super intense in Cebuano and I have learned a lot in the MTC. I am having a way good experience in the MTC and will be sad to leave but I am ready to get out of here!

I'm sorry if my emails have been lame but we don't get much time to write. So it's not too interesting. Just updates! This week were were talking about the war at the end of the world. My teacher asked what we though the war would be like. My elders replied with Narnia and Lord of the Ring types of things. Then my teacher was like yeah I always think of animals fighting and such. I would want a bear next to me and be like I hope you are afraid of that guy. Then he was talking about how he would rather ride a lion because a lion can take a tiger anytime because one of my Elders said he wanted to ride a tiger. Then my teacher said if a lion smacked a tiger it would be knocked out. Brother Atagi is funny. He is basically my elders' favorite teacher.


Nahigugma ko kanimo


Love, Annika


PS: They closed the mail room yesterday and bookstore until Saturday and everyone was annoyed. They said it was because of the storm but there was no storm.

New Sister Missionaries in MTC Cebuano District

This week is so exciting not even kidding we get new Cebuano people and they are here today!! Our district is like little kids in a candy store that's how excited we are! Our devotional this week was from Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy! Basically amazing talk! He said that we were set apart and we can not fail on our mission. He also talked about how we need to know who we are and then we will be able to do what we need to do. My new motto from him is the scripture 3 Nephi 5:13. I am a disciple of Christ.

Last Wednesday we got 4 new sisters and I love their guts. They are basically my favorite. We laugh so hard. My elders think we are so weird but really we are just like you are so young bahah. But no seriously my elders have a weird senses of humor! I am funny according to everyone except for them, not even cool elders, not even cool. No but we all laugh a lot of the time. Sister Whipple is so quiet sometimes she gets annoyed at us but I don't see why since we are so cool... :) But we love her guts anyway. We make her takes pictures with us and we will break her out of her shell soon enough! I got a third companion the sister is solo from the Cebuano district. Yeah I get to practice my language with her all night long. But I am super sad Sister Chang left Monday that was depressing. They finally found a new Cebuano teacher for us. We get him this week! We are loosing Brother Neilson. I'm so sad. He was basically amazing and my favorite teacher ever!! But he is giving us his address and email and all of that!!

Lord's Plan for You is Happiness

Hello Ward!

I have been in the MTC now for 5 weeks. It has been an awesome experience. I suggest you all go on missions or continue to be missionaries.

Learning a language is hard but anything hard in life we are not alone but find strength in Christ. With Christ our burdens are lifted. Remember to pray for strength in your afflictions!

Being in the MTC is a unique experience. It really has strengthened my testimony and I am so grateful I was called to serve.

Remember the Lord's plan for you is happiness and joy. Stay positive and God will help you through all things.

Nahigugma ko kaninye

Sister Bruno

Coordinating Sister & Four Apostles in a Row Speak at the MTC

So I have been in the MTC for 5 weeks now and its crazy I dont feel like it has been that long but I guess it has. I am slowly not liking the food at the MTC I feel like we have the same things all the time but its not bad food maybe I am just getting sick of eating all the time arg! Me and my companion Sister Chang go to the temple to eat lunch on P-days sometimes it's a change. This week has been pretty awesome because our guest speakers were both amazing for fireside and devotional this week. This Sunday we had Sister Sheri Dew come and speak and her main point was mortality in comparison to eternity is small even if it doesn't feel like it now. She talked about life being short and that we need to understand who we are. She said right now is the time to learn right now!

Then for devotional on Tuesday we had Elder David A. Bednar come and speak. That is count them 4 times apostles came and spoke. His wife spoke she said its going to be hard but God is with you. Elder Bednar spoke about defining what a doctrine, what a principle, and what an application is. I will send dad my notes again in the mail. Sorry if my emails don't sound very personal. I freak out as the red time box counts down the minutes that we can write.

This coming Monday everyone is going to be new and I will get a new companion. The only people not new will be my elders. The new district that we got this past wednesday are really cool they fit my personality well. I am the coordinating sister (like the relief society president in the MTC) and I am going to meet our new district tonight! We have 4 new sisters in our room so its going to be interesting but they are only here for 3 weeks so they will leave before I leave.

I love the MTC but am ready to leave I'm so tired all the time I feel like I'm more tired now than I was ever tired in the earlier weeks. Everyone says you get used to it but i think it just gets worse as the months go on. I am still going strong but there is only so much you can do in the MTC. This week my teacher told us that we need to get 10 contacts a day. Today P-day I have only gotten one I guess I'm going to be spending that hour before bed contacting!

This week I teach the first lesson in Cebuano for the first time. Ahhh I'm not sure how ready for that I am... hopefully me and my elders can come up with something to fill the whole 35 minutes of teaching in the language. I don't want to ask questions because we will all just spend 10 minutes trying to figure out what they said but maybe I will because that will take up time muhahah.

It's snowing here now it was warm and now its cold again really really cold. It was snowing yesterday and today nothing has stuck to the ground yet but it's only a matter of time.

One of the councilors in my branch told us to feel lucky because in the 18 months of being in the MTC there has never been an apostle come and speak 4 weeks in a row!! I hope they make it 5 next week!!



Nahigugma ko kaninyo



Annika

Notes on Sheri Dew MTC Fireside

Sheri Dew MTC Fireside

November 7, 2010

Write impressions.

Mortality in comparison to eternity is so small but it doesn't feel like that.

Mortality is small compared to eternity.

God puts you in the place where you need to be at that time.

God knows who you are.  Where you are.  What your mission is and what you need to accomplish your mission.

Life is short.

2300 missionaries in MTC influence the world.

Matthew 6:33

Living in latter part of the latter days.

Be fearless in building Zion.

Keep from fulfilling life mission--Identify confusion, Keep from understanding how Savior atoned.  Kee from receiving personal revelation.

Moroni 7:1-2  What need to know.

Developed talent of spirituality in premortal life qualified us to be born into House of Israel.

Here now because God trusts us.

I am a daughter of God

D&C 138 Read & Pray.

Understand who you are.

Luke 4:18 Savior heals us.

Ask Lord if teach/mentor.  How sounds. I feel for you when He is speaking to you.

Immerse self in word of Lord. Scriptures.

Right now is the time to learn. Right now.

Elder Ballard Advises MTC Missionaries to Smile

This week was pretty much the same. We study all day long and have class and eat and have class and eat and study and eat! I think I might puke we eat so much! But the MTC is still amazing I met some people this week from England and Italy and a couple of other places. I also met an elder going to Africa who speaks Portuguese, random I know right!

So this week we heard from Elder Ballard! This is the third week in a row that we have heard from an apostle, so basically that's the good thing about being in the MTC for so long. Elder Ballard talked about becoming a master communicator.He also said the most powerful thing we have is our smile. And that we need to have confidence in our message.

Parent Letter

Missionary Name: Sister Annika Bruno
Mission: Provo MTC
Date Submitted: November 3


Dear Annika,
It was fun reading your letter this week. I can't believe how cold it is in Provo and that it SNOWED! I still have my tan. The outdoor pool was open until Sunday and I worked there last Thursday all day in the sun. Now that it is closed, though, I'm sure my tan will fade quickly. So, I haven't lost any more weight but at least I feel like I am in good shape. I can run for 30 minutes without stopping now. I think that is pretty good for an old woman!

I didn't realize you were going to be in the Philippines for Christmas and that is awesome. In Saudi all the Filipinos loved Christmas and really partied and celebrated it and had so much fun with it. So I think it will be great. I hope you are not getting too cold and aren't you glad I sent you that black suit because even if you don't wear it when you go over there I bet it is good for wearing in the MTC in the winter. Tell me if you need or want anything because after you get out in the field I probably won't be able to send you things very often.

Well, it was good hearing from you, I will try to write more often.

Love you,

Mom

Notes Elder M. Russell Ballard MTC Devotional

Elder M. Russell Ballard MTC Devotional

Quorum of the 12

November 2, 2010 7:00pm

Why people don't progress.

Not master teachers.

People don't understand what w are teaching.

Ask questions just taught them.

Unrelated questions--Ballardism say that companion will study and talk about next time. But what  do you understand about what he just taught.  Need to know... doctrine.

Become master communicator.

1948 in England. We knocked on door gave housewife pamphlets on apostasy.  They went right in trash.

Richard Anderson brought system to explain message and pointed out history.  Connect with people better.

Conducted street meeting on 2 ft. high stand and preached. Missionaries sing then preach.

President Boyer, Elder Mckay, Congressman

Let's go hold street meeting. There were two new missionaries.  Hugh West graduated from Stanford. He didn't do too good.  Then I had to go up.  Boyer said preach the gospel and speak on baptism.  There were 500 people.  I said everything I know in 1 1/2 minutes.  I was grateful to get off the stand.  I knelt down and apologized to the Lord and told him I was sorry I was bad.  I made a commitment to never happen again.

I spoke 715 times on street corners.  Learned I could communicate.

As treasure up then master skill to lead people along in the discussion.

Learn to be master communicator.  Get testimony down.

Assist us and let us know your understanding who is God.

Survey

4 I don't care

                                       3 There is no God all bad things happen

                2 Never thought about it

         2 God doesn't exist

  1 I don't know

                        1 I'm not religious. I'm a Jew.

            1 God universal spirit.

                             1 Personal God helps me to pray

1 God's cool.

              1 On fence if I believe.

1 Many gods.

1 Leader.       

                      1 God's idea created by man.

1 Power in life.

  1 Creates doubt.

 1 Good idea.    

          1 I believe in Jehovah.

   1 Supreme being.

1 Everything.     

           1 No problem it's good.

Learn to ask questions.

Talk to people wherever you find them.

Gospel is beautiful and simple.

Keep the message simple.

Conversation always starts with how people feel in the beginning.  How they feel about you.

  When come to know the Church is true.  What happened.  The missionary's teaching and I felt.  Reading in Book of Mormon and I felt.  In sacrament and I felt. Felt the power of the Holy Ghost.

Most powerful thing you have is your smile.

Attitude of success.  Confidence in message.  Testify in Joseph's own words.

Life Change

We are going to make Saints out of them.

Take people out of world of darkness.

Help us as we try to turn ourselves into master teachers. Spiritual communicator.  Many are searching but don't know where to find doctrine of Christ.

Cool Elders: Letter to Parent

Dad,

I don't have a cord to upload pictures but I got a CD of some pictures. I can't see the pictures so I can't identify them for you right now but I am trying to SYL as much as I can.

I have the names of all the elders and sisters in all my pictures right now. We just figured out the Star Wars picture and I need to convince someone to do the matrix one with me. I don't even know where to look to find hidden things but maybe I can try.

Elder Ballard came and spoke this week. He spoke on how we need to become master communicators. Enclosed are my notes. When you are done can you send them back. Also my notes from Elder Scott and Elder Nelson's talks.

I guess I am super lucky to be getting so many apostles coming to talk to us.

The MTC is hard work but I have faith and that's all that matters I guess.

I met some cool elders from all over the world with all different stories.

One I met in the laundry room told me about an uncle that cut his finger off and didn't make it in enough time to reattach it so he pickled his finger and brings it out at family reunions.

Another Elder I met is from England. He spoke to me and Sister Chang in the sack breakfast line about being new and not having companions yet. We saw him walking alone later that day and asked him if he lost his companion. He said he wasn't assigned one yet and was on his way to the international office. Another cool thing today we ate at the temple cafeteria. Time for bed!

Nahigugma ko kanimo

Love Annika

Letter to Parent: Teach with the Spirit

October 29, 2010

Dad!

So I have my camera and have been taking tons of pictures.  Turns out you can't take pictures in the gym or cafeteria but I took some for you anyways.  I have them on my memory card but on the computers they don't have a place to plug in your memory card so I can't send them in emails.  I'm going to try and develop a few or see if they can put them on a CD and send them home for you maybe tomorrow.

Elder Russell M. Nelson came and spoke at the devotional this week.  His message was that short powerful messages with the Spirit bring people unto the gospel as long drawn out messages.  I think the reason that we can't take pictures in the gym is because they have the devotionals in there so that's most likely why but anyways hope all is well at home.

My district is pretty good.  There are 6 elders in my district:  Elder English, Elder George, Elder Azerus, Elder Holley, Elder Andrus,  and Elder Ausban.  My teachers are still great.  I really like them a lot.  I love the messages you learn every day at the MTC and how easy it is to teach with the Spirit.

My Elders tear up but their eyes get red.  I am amazed that anyone falls away from the Church after being at the MTC.  There is no way you can deny the Holy Ghost or God or anything about the gospel after being at the MTC.

Love you and glad you taught me to go on a mission.  Its amazing and I love it.  Hope I can rely on God and have faith in learning the language.

Nhigugma ko kanimo.

Love Annika

MTC Experience: Loving Missionaries Differences

Kamusta Everyone and Hello Again!

This message comes to you from the world called the MTC. It feels like its own world we are here forever I am ready to leave and go out and speak Cebuano even though I don't know as much as I should. I love the MTC though it is an awesome experience! This week actually last night we had a devotional and guess who came! Elder Nelson so Cool. That's right one of the 12 apostles came and spoke to us pretty cool! I wish we could have been able to shake his hand, but I know that its because the flu buggy is going around in the MTC and as I sat in the devotional I just heard all sorts of coughs and nose blowing all over the place, but still I wish he would have shook our hands! This week has gone by so fast I have no idea what happened to it! Insane. Sister Brinton is leaving for the Philippines on Monday and its going to be a sad day I'm going to be lost without her, but I know its going to be awesome with a new "companion" when she leaves I will have to go to the office and get a new assigned sister... weird right most sisters get a companion the whole time they are here but it's okay I think its way better this way you get to change it up a lot and it's new every week!

Notes on Elder Russell M. Nelson MTC Devotional

October 19, 2010

Sister Wendy Nelson

14 million LDS pray for you morning, noon, and night. I'm going to battle for the Lord.

Russell M. Nelson

You are safer on a mission than those at home who have not been called. We are here to help establish the Lord's work or purpose.

2 Nephi 31:13--Take on the name of Christ.

Never talk about baptism negatively.

The pattern to follow in Moroni 6:4--Remember converts they're your children in the church. Keep connected with them. Be interested in investigator's children and grandchildren.

Only one chance to make a good first impression. When you meet people for the first time meet them with a smile. Don't get in the way. Don't be a distraction. He must increase but I must decrease.

Make eye contact. Look for ways to connect. Shake hands firmly.

Ask investigator what is your greatest concern. How can I be of help to you? You are sent forth to teach people. You have been sent by the Lord. Ask them to please listen to our message.

Be alert.  Listen attentively. Say I didn't hear your name how do you spell it. Ask where it comes from. Genealogy is popular today.

Always tell people who you are and where you are from.

Sharing a brief belief is a good place to start.

Tell them why you are here. We follow Jesus Christ.

Your purpose is to teach doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Study from the topical guide.

Let scriptures become core curriculum.

D&C 136:32--Humble self call unto God see & hear.

Spiritual batteries fully charged when leave MTC

• Keep batteries charged
• Run along road to keep batteries charged

D&C 76:5--armed with righteousness

Third Parent Letter

Missionary Name: Sister Annika Bruno
Mission: Provo MTC
Date Submitted: October 17


Dear Annika,

Hi, hope you had a great weekend. I remember weekends in the MTC were great. Guess what I did this weekend? I finished your dress and I am sending it to you tomorrow. Also some footies and flip flops. So I hope you got all the books and things you need. I assume you got some journals, too. It looks like you have some money left in your account, so you can get a camera when you get over there to the Philippines. You should have someone in your district let you download a few pictures from their cameras and send them home on your Pday. It would be nice to have some pics of your district.

Missionary Letter: MTC Hard

 14 October 2010

Sister Annika Bruno
MTC Mailbox #169
Phi-CEB 1209
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Mom!

Thanks for the money not exactly sure how much I spent.  I have to total the receipts but I got a lot of things I needed.  I had a lot more to get than I had thought!

The MTC is hard at times but being solo is hard.  Not having a set person its hard to plan your days.  I am basically companions with 3 people, 2 elders in the district and my "companion" Sister Brinton until she leaves in 2 weeks!  The MTC doesn't really have rules for us solo sisters.  We kind of make our own based on the guidelines but at least I'm never alone even if I feel like I'm tagging along.

Second Parent Letter

Missionary Name: Sister Annika Bruno
Mission: Provo MTC
Date Submitted: October 11


Hi Annika!

So how do you like the MTC so far? Dad says today is your p-day and you get to write emails so I hope I will hear from you. I'll write you by email as soon as I get your email address. Mine is clbruno@hotmail.com just in case you don't have it.

I always wonder what my girls' experiences in the MTC will be like. It seems like most missionaries either love it a lot or hate it. I really LOVED the MTC. I don't know why. It was just fun being around so many people who were committed to the gospel all day every day. And I liked meeting all the new people and learning French. How is the language going? Can you pray in Cebuano yet? Are they teaching you any Tagalog?

I'm sure you will tell us about your companion, where she is from and what she is like. I hope you are having fun with her. Did you get your scriptures, and all the books you need? Is it cold there?

So around here, let's see, nothing much is happening with me, as usual. This is why I have a hard time writing, because nothing new ever happens in my life. Dad and I went out to Cracker Barrel for dinner because he had free coupons. Also, I started running again, and I did 1 and a half miles, then walked another mile. That is all I did this week, boring, huh?

Well, have a great day, we are looking forward to hearing from you, send pics if you can.

Love you!

Mom

First Parent Letter

Missionary Name: Sister Annika Bruno
Mission: Provo MTC
Date Submitted: October 5


Hi Annika,

I put that money in your account, so you can get your scriptures, journal, and any books you need. Let me know next week how much you spend and if it was enough. How do you like the MTC?

So I hope you had a fun time with Sister Crain and with Gigi, and that you got to the MTC ok and you are enjoying it. I am looking forward to hearing from you and learning about your new companion and how you like it.

Love you and miss you.

Mom