Happy New Year's, everyone! It's P-day, and that means pants! 

Week two has come and gone, and I have been in the MTC for just over 14 days. And already it feels like I've studied more than the rest of the year combined. The language is super difficult. Yesterday I had a one-on-one review session with one of my teachers and we went over the grammar principles we have learned in class. I knew all of them and did pretty well with the practice examples she gave me, but using them in conversation is not going so well. I have to remind myself that I have only been here for two weeks and I can't expect myself to speak well already. But it is pretty frustrating when we are having a role-play lesson with an "investigator" (one of our teachers posing as someone they taught on their mission) and I have things I want to say and don't know how to express myself. If anything, this is just a test in humility and patience, which heaven knows I need more of.

Christmas last week was pretty much the highlight of my stay here so far. New Year's was nice, but there wasn't any kind of special celebration, so it really just passed without much noticed. We had a devotional in the evening from Stanley G. Ellis of the quorum of the Seventy and his wife. Sister Ellis talked a bit about the angels in the Christmas story and how we need to be angels to the people wherever we are going in the world (I honestly dozed off during part of it since I was up so late the night before) and Elder Ellis spoke about the new year and voluntary repentance. He talked about how the beginning od the year and how it's the perfect time to begin again and put 2013 behind us and become the person we want to be (a little cliche, but there seems to be a bit of a theme of repentance in talks I've heard lately, so perhaps there is something I haven't learned yet). So this week has not really been very eventful all in all. We've just had a lot of class and study time (when we actually focus, which we are getting better at), and we've started teaching two new investigators (actually our teachers, as I mentioned). I have to say, one of my favorite times of the day is Gym. I have gained a new appreciation for gym clothes while I've been here, and I'm getting to be a pretty good four-square player, if I do say so myself. The Albania-bound missionaries (close to half our district) all left for the mission field this week, early Tuesday morning. Sister Owen and I stayed up past curfew Monday night to spend a little extra time with them while they packed. We got to be really good friends, so it was rough saying goodbye, but they are on their way to the best and biggest part of their mission, and I have no doubt they will be wonderful missionaries. There are only 5 sisters in our zone now (we got another Hungarian sister on Tuesday), but the Hungarians leave in two weeks, and it will only be Sister Owen and me until the end of the month.

I'm going to LA on Tuesday to get my visa, hopefully for real this time. Last time was such a fiasco, so I'm a little wary, but I don't think we're expecting any snow storms that would ruin the trip. Hopefully (fingers crossed) we will have time while we're there to drive past the LA temple. I hear it's beautiful. Speaking of temples, the Provo temple has been closed the whole time we've been here for cleaning, but it will be open next week and we will get to go next P-day, so I'm pretty excited for that.

That's really about it. My weeks will hopefully be a bit more exciting when I get to Finland since the entire week won't be exactly the same day repeating itself over and over. Also it's kind of another country, but whatever. No big deal. I just hope that Finland has down comforters because golly gee I sure miss mine. A sheet and blankets just don't do it for me.

I hope you all enjoy your weeks. Remember to make the most of the turn of the year and fix anything you don't like. Put your trust in the Lord and He will direct your path for good. He wants the best for you and He wants you to see that you can have it if you put in all your effort and lean on his arm. He is there and he loves you! 

Happy New Year!

Rakaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant