I suppose that since I've told you all how great our district is, you may want to know who these terrific characters, in fact, are. So here are two:
My companion, Sister Berrett, is from Pocatello, Idaho. Yes, she likes potatoes, no, she does not like the potatoes at the cafeteria. Except sometimes she eats them anyway. And she has openly proclaimed herself as a proponent of taking antibiotics, especially after having had a sinus infection for 15 days at the MTC. Poor girl, she's had a rough start to the MTC, but we went to the health center again a couple days ago, and she finally convinced the doctor to give her something. The doctor also told her to sleep whenever she needs to, which I was kind of excited about, but then we both remembered we're also trying to learn Polish.
Sister Lueck, from Las Vegas, loves Pocatello, Idaho, even more than life itself. I suppose she holds Pocatello so close to her heart because it is the city where Sister Berrett used to live. While we're walking around outside, she'll often yell "POCATELLO!!" desperately hoping she'll meet another person who used to live in Pocatello. She also used to be a lifeguard at Cowabunga Bay in Las Vegas, and she's got her little lifeguard schpeel down to a science. You'd have to meet her to understand :) She's wonderful.
This week was phenomenal. But first I want to tell you about a couple dreams I had. First, about a week ago, I dreamed that Sister Lueck was telling me I needed to take a bath because I hadn't bathed in five days and I stunk. It was hilarious because Sis. Lueck is the nicest sister ever and wouldn't say I stunk even if I did. But I will have you all know that I have a good sense of hygeine, and I bathe regularly per the White Handbook.
The next night I dreamed I was in Costco with the whole fam, and we were all getting samples. Including one that was a little cup of Cheerios with Gatorade poured on them. Then some Costco worker lady, clearly angry we were taking so many samples, started asking me about Dad. She asked me how many dependents he had, and whether they really were all that dependent. I saw right through her, though. She was accusing Dad of evading taxes! So I told her she'd have to talk to dad to get that information. I was so proud of myself for seeing through her plot.
I guess I couldn't truly say I'd gone to the MTC without getting a sickness of some sort. Well, I woke up on Saturday without my voice, or rather, the voice of one of our little ribbety green friends, the frogs. At first I was afraid to use this new voice which had been given to me. But then I remembered that people are nice at the MTC and won't make fun of you even if you suddenly become really good at accidentally yodeling. Meaning, your voice cracks, and that's the only thing it does. So I had a lot of fun the next few days exploring the parameters of this new voice. I shared a video for your entertainment (not your pity. I thought it was hilarious. I never really felt super sick except for the not-being-able-to-talk part).
With both Sister Berrett and me sick, we became the zombie companionship of our zone. So much so, I suppose, that on Sunday, one of the branch presidency members took a look at both of us, and told us we didn't look good. And then I tried to say "I feel fine," in my croaking voice and that sealed the deal. He basically ordered both of us back to our rooms for a nap. We also got priesthood blessings, too, which helped.
Things are looking up, though, because Sis. Berrett has her antibiotics, and I have my medicine (water), and we're both starting to feel a lot better.
I'm sure you are wondering about the Polish. It is really cool. 2 weeks here at the MTC, and I know more than I ever learned of Mandarin or Spanish. That's not saying a lot though, a fact that was illustrated by our FIRST TRC yesterday!!!!
Me: *fumbles her notes* "Jestesmy misjzonarkami Kosciola Jezusa Chrystusa Swietych w Dniach Ostatnich."
Sis. Berrett: "Mamy przeslanie o nadzieje."
TRC volunteer: "lj;lkfajd adlkfjoae eiajpoijsav akjdsafkj;dskfj eapoiew a fdj fjadk apepa fa djf;a asdkfal;sdjfa s f ad aoueuo pp gap gd afphp dfi ajpfdpfjajdjfpoajaposajfkda dajfj a sa a a aefsdfa" *continues for five minutes in this way*
Me and sister Berrett: *blankly stare back at volunteer*
That's probably what it will be like for the next few weeks, and again when I get to Poland. But it's really cool to be able to express *some* of the feelings of my heart in Polish. I love this language, which is good, because I'd be learning it either way ;)
Love you all!
Love,
Siostra Eberting
Pictures:
-Left to right: Sisters Emett (Tooele), Carroll (Boise), Me, Berrett (Pocatello), Elder Olschewski (West Valley), Cheal (Heber), Sisters Lueck (Las Vegas), and Webber (somewhere in CA by Disneyland where the sun is always shining and it's warm).
-After today's temple trip.
