In Your Grill - March 19, 2013

HELLO FAMILY!!

K so first of all, I love you all. This week was a much better week than last week for letters!! I felt just so loved. It was wonderful. Speaking of which. I have been hearing rumors that people have not been getting my letters. As of right now, everyone who has written me, I have written back (except for those who wrote me this last week. You can be expecting a letter sometime in the next week). Like Renae, I sent you a letter the first week I was here. So hopefully you have gotten it by now!! And Anne, I have sent you a letter every single week...so I hope you have gotten those.

K so business first. I am really concerned that I am losing my memory. Like rapidly. It's terrifying because I used to have a scary good memory and could remember even the smallest details of stories. Now, I can barely remember names. I forgot one of my brothers (not going to say which one) name all day. Someone asked me and I just stared at them completely dumfounded. I forget things in the temple, facts and people from my past. It's getting worse with each passing day. I know what you're thinking "oh it's because you are learning a new language and that is a lot to take into your mind". I thought about that and I really don't think that is it. I know what my brain feels like when it's maxed and I haven't hit that point yet. I don't know if it's the food (I blame everything on the food these days) and I'm not getting the nutrients I need or what. If you have any ideas of something you could send me that would help, that would be awesome. This is probably my only stress right now. I NEED MY MEMORY!

Also, I may or may not have lost my watch last week. I was sending the email last week and it was bugging me so I took it off and set it by the computer...haven't seen it since. haha whoops! It's fine. I'll just be the rogue missionary without a watch. John- I remember you telling me one time that you always had to know what time it was. So you checked like every 5 minutes. I thought that was the most bizarre thing I had ever heard...well since not having a watch now (and most the rooms in the MTC don't have clocks--what a joke) I have become obsessed with knowing what time it is 24/7 haha.

Also, I'm going to attach a picture of the 'pocket dictionary' they gave us. What a joke. I don't know what pocket that could fit in. I really need a pocket french dictionary and they don't sell them in the bookstore. Will you pretty please send me one. OH that leads me to my next story. So on Friday, my teacher came into class and wrote on the board "Week of Consecration" (in french of course) and I just looked at it and thought 'what have we been doing for the last 3 weeks then?? haha Then he goes on to explain that this next week, he wants us each to commit to PVL or speak our language (French) 24/7. No more English. Until next Friday  All of our jaws dropped. I've been improving in French, but I'm not THAT good! I barely learned how to speak in future tense yesterday on my own. Haha anyway at that moment, I turn to my companion and say "Alors, Au Revoir!" Which basically means "Well, Goodbye". I have mastered how to say in French "I'm not mad at you. I'm just not speaking because I don't know how to say what I want in French". Haha. Needless to say, it has been a quiet week. Anyway, that is why I need a pocket dictionary so bad. I can't carry around a 10 lb "pocket" dictionary with me to look up words. It would be great to speak to my companion again. But it has been a blessing for sure. It has made us use the words we know more and expand our vocabulary. It has really pushed me to start learning things on my own. I feel like the MTC doesn't teach you fast enough so my companion and I have started learning grammar on our own.

Also, you know how I said I wouldn't get sick? Well that was a fail. The MTC is like an incubator and do you know what it is incubating?? SICKNESS!! DISEASE!! GERMMSSS!! Also, I feel like some people are not aware that when they are sick, people do not what them touching them. For example, a sister in a district and I were getting ready for bed. I was at the sink next to her with my towel and face wash. She was blowing her nose into her hands into the sink (which is disgusting to start with). After which, she decides to wipe her hands on my towel...the look I must have given her probably wasn't a good one...but it still didn't register why I might not like that. I secretly (apparently not so secretly) blame her for the reason I'm sick. Anyway, but I didn't want to stay in the apartment 1. because that is incredibly depressing and 2. I have lots to learn! So I decided to go to class anyway. 

During gym time I didn't want to rob my companion of her exercise so instead I just grabbed a yoga mat and just laid spread eagle on the floor. I must have been quite a site. Even in my sick state, I found it really funny how I must have looked. I even thought "Who in the world comes to the gym to sleep?? If I saw someone in the real world sleeping at the gym I would most undoubtedly make fun of them". But as a missionary, you do lots of weird things that suddenly feel normal....like sleeping on a yoga mat at the gym. Anyway, but I went to the bookstore when I felt the sickness first coming on, bought like 20 packs of emergen-c and a multi-vitamin. So the illness didn't last long.

Oh! I keep thinking each week how I have forgotten to give my scripture for the plaque. Every week I say I'm going to remember but doo doo doo....forgetful me, I don't. Anyway, the scripture I thought of before the mission was Moroni 10:32. J'aime cet ecriture. Also, Dad/Anne-good job on that French. It was pretty good. You must have used google translate haha.

So on Saturday, we did a mock contacting (where you walk the streets and just meet people to talk about the Gospel with). I guess in Paris, the sisters hardly do any tracting at all...so I will definitely be doing a lot of contacting! Anyway, I thought we were doing well haha was I wrong. So we get back to the classroom and I ask my teacher "so...we're going to have to talk to real people someday. Real people, with real lives, with real commitments, with a real schedule...not other missionaries who are too nice to give a hard time to their fellow sisters. What is an average contact like?" He then says that he will be a French man and me and my companion will be the missionaries contacting him (to which both me and my companion were less than enthusiastic about. Frere Blosil is kind of tough.

Anyway, we get up and he starts racing past us, we try to talk to him he is babbling in French saying how late he is. I'm to frazzled to say anything...instead I just chase him like some crazed lunatic. At the end of the demonstration all I could say is "SLAY ME!". It was definitely overwhelming. He then went on to talk about the culture of France. He said how a lot of people say that the French are really rude. He said that bugged him for a lot of months before his mission and in the MTC. Like "I've been called to teach a rude people" but he said that nothing is further from the truth. He said that they are very genuine and nice people. Soeur Larsen said that every time she would ask anyone for directions, they would take like 20 minutes explaining and even offer to go with them just to make sure they gave them the right path. Frere Blosil said that they are a people who really take pride in confidence. If you are shy or timid about sharing the Gospel, that is when you get a finger shake or a "What do you want?!" When he was telling me this I thought...sounds like Detroit. 

But THEN he said the craziest thing of all. I asked "So how would you have handled the situation you just gave us? Where a contact is basically charging to work". He then told one of the Elders to walk quickly the length-wise of the room. Half way through his walk, Frere Blosil intercepted his path, stepped right in front of him-about 5 inches from his face might I add- and said "Bonjour, J'ai une message de Jesus Christ pour vous". He said that the French feel comfortable when you get up in their grill..basically haha. They are busy people (not necessarily more busy than Americans but they pride themselves with that). If you are bold and basically say with your body language "I'm an incredibly busy person too but this is serious and you need to hear this". They really respond to that type of teaching. I almost died. I am a bold person. But being bold in a language that I barely know--a little harder. haha Oh well. It is all for my good!

Also!! I don't know if I said this above!! BUT CONGRATS RACHEL!! THAT IS SO AMAZING!! I was floored when mayu told me...well not floored...because you are so beautiful and you are in love BUT you have to send me a dearelder ASAP!! I want to hear everything! Also...if not a lot of people were supposed to know about this...then whoops! My bad! I apologize in advance! I love you!

Also, Julie and Tom! I heard you are going to Paris! My teacher Soeur Larsen was talking about this place that she served which was the most beautiful place she has ever seen in France. It was called Blois. She hadn't heard of it before but she fell in love with it in an instant. If you have time, go check it out!!

Anyway, I need to attach a couple of photos! Au revoir!! I love you all

Avec amour,
Soeur Kari Bitter


p.s Did you all hear about the first church built in the Middle East!! It was built in Abu Dhabi!! How amazing! That makes me so happy. You should read the article on it. I guess the people there have so much reverence for that building that the spirit is very strong there.

p.p.s Also, I would love some clementines :)