San Pedro- week 1..... Whoa!

Kumusta!

I bet you're all surprise at receiving an email from me, but it's actually preparation day.  I guess it's been a crazy week, but they gave us today for our preparation day. But they're usually on monday.  I don't even know where to begin. I wrote a letter that gave some details about what I did for the first two days so I won't repeat myself.  I'm in the San Pedro area. There are 16 missionaries in our zone and only two sisters... my companion and me.  My companion's name is Sister Fabrigas (?) and she's Filipino.  She's also like a foot smaller than me, needless to say.. that doesn't happen much   I love it here already.  There's a lot of work that needs to be done, especially since they say that this area isn't growing very much.  Yes, I understand very little of what they say, but eventually I will speak and understand this language. My companion is nice and has a very, very strong Filipino accent.... great learning experience for me. Hopefully, I won't ask her to repeat herself soon..  This is her last transfer and then she goes home in September.  The group I came with into the Philippines are the first ones in this mission to be on the new missionary training program.  I'm here for at least 12 weeks because that's the new training program.  For these 12 weeks, there are 2 hours of  companion study every day and then after the 12 weeks it goes back down to one.  There's a lot more that this program includes but my brain isn't working very well right now
Words cannot describe this place or what I've been feeling....  I love it here already.  It's been of weird to have so many people stare at me, but then again I stick out with my white skin. For the first time in my life I
feel quite tall   Kind of a weird feeling... not sure how you people at home are used to it.  hehe  It's a culture shock, but I'm already learning a lot. Again... I really don't know how to describe this place, it's nothing I've ever seen in all the places I've been..... next email I'll say more when I have time to formulate my thoughts.  I think I'm slowly getting how to use the bucket when washing... soon I'll be a master! Also I had the experience of eating with my hands and riding in all sorts of vehicles. I love the experience here. The zone seems really great. We had zone meeting today and it was all in Tagalog because they all speak it... and I don't.
Not to mention that the majority of them are Filipino.  I understood a little bit of it but with time I should understand a lot more. Did you know that the Philippines has the most converts in all the missions in the world and I guess the highest numbers? (I'll look at my notes and correct myself if I'm wrong in the next email) And around 74% of all the missionaries in the Philippines are Filipino. The Philippines has over 90 million people and the church makes up .07% of the population. There are over 600,000 members
in the Philippines. It's pretty cool stuff. I get to be in the mission that was the very first one in the Philippines. All of the other missions have sprung out of this one. It's pretty cool. I love my mission president and
his wife!  They're really great! I've also have so much to work on but it will be a great learning experience.  If you have any questions let me know!

Mahal ko Kayo!
Sister Mohrman

Safe Arrival to the Philippines (from Sister Stucki, mission president's wife)

Dear Parent(s),

Just wanted to let you know that your son or daughter has arrived  safely to the Philippines Manila Mission.  We greeted them at the  airport and brought them to the mission home for a hot dinner.  They  freshened up and went tracking  for 4 hours with some superior  missionaries.  Each of them are doing awesome.  They are dead tired;  so following their interview with the President, they have hit the  sack.  We are looking so forward to spending the next two years or  eighteen months with your son or daughter.
We promise to take the  very best care of them.  We love each of them dearly and want them  each to have a very successful mission.

If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Sister Stucki

MTC- week 9..... farewell to the MTC

Kumusta for the last time at the MTC!
     Thanks for everything!  I appreciate it! Thanks for the letters/emails. Today is not my p-day...tomorrow is.  However, I won't be able to get my email work tomorrow so the email is today as usual.  I've been in meetings all morning and will continue to be in meetings today until around 9:30 pm. The meetings are very helpful and useful. It's our "infield training". It's great.  I love the MTC.  I love the experiences I've had and still currently have. I love my companion.  She is so great and I know that we were placed together so I could learn from her!  She really is great. (in case you haven't already guessed 
      This week has been yet another great week. I became sick again on saturday and it lasted for a few days. I'm pretty much healed right now, though.  No worries. I learned quite a bit from that experience. I really am very appreciative of the lessons I'm learning and have learned here. I'm so excited to go to the Philippines.  I'm definitely not ready to go to the Philippines, but I'm excited to go.  I know that I will be helped so I can do the best I can. So it's all good.  Life's great! I've had a great time here at the MTC.  The best in my life, so far!  Every week has been great!
I'm excited to go serve the Filipinos!  The language is slowly coming.... lots of studying that needs to be done. But one day I will be able to speak this language! We took this language assessment test thing around two days ago. My scores weren't that great, so I'm determined that I will speak this language fluently, even if it kills me (although, it probably won't come to that).  The devotionals and firesides here have been so helpful and spiritual!  They're the best!  I love everything about the MTC!  Although, the food I really won't miss.     Sorry this is rather short.... but time is limited    Next email you get from me will be from the Philippines!
Pretty cool!

Mahal ko Kayo!
Sister Mohrman

MTC- week 8.... Big elders and slurpee land

Kumusta!

I bet you're curious as to the heading of this email... so am I, haha  just kidding.  Well during the week, I was playing sand volleyball (because the gym is shut down until next week) and I was in themiddle front position. I went up to block an Elder, who happened to be quite big, but I didn't get very far...  The Elder stepped on my left foot and it instantly halted any upward movement that I had.  In fact, I went the opposite    Down I went. I never realized how much an impact an elder could do if he steps on your foot!   It was quite funny.  I couldn't help but laugh.  (well after the moment was over, because before I kind of grunted with pain)  It was very funny.  No worries, I'm not injured.  I just have a bruise (that doesn't hurt) on my foot.
Also, I found out that one of the many places over in the Phlippines are a bunch of 7-11s.  Yep, they have a lot of slurpees over there.  Not that I would have much here, and probably not there.  I just thought it would be pretty cool to tell you all.  Why am I speaking about the Philippines?  Any guesses? ......  I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS YESTERDAY!!!!  AHHHH!  It's pretty exciting. I leave on the 25th at night.  I fly to San Franciso on Delta, have a short layover and then fly to Hong Kong.  China!  That's pretty cool.  Then it's a three hour layover there.  Perfect time to see Hong Kong and its scenery... well the airport anyways   A Chinese airport!  Then we get to fly to Manila!  It's pretty exciting!  All the Tagalog missionaries leaving are split into two groups.  The other group is flying to LA and then to Hong Kong.  We all meet up in Hong KOng.  The 25th is a Monday.. and I leave at night. So I might have a box of stuff to drop off either to Tiffani
on Saturday night or mom that Monday, if any of you are there :).  Oh yeah, our Branch President told us we could call home at perhaps the S.L.C airport or San Franciso Airpor and the Hong Kong airport.  Are you up for it?  Let me know... because I'm not sure how the international call cards you got me work.... I don't know if they're set specifically for the Philippines or if I can call from the United States to Utah, or Call from China to Utah.
Anyways.. It's been another great week!  I bet you're not surprised    I really do love the MTC.  The devotionals and everything else are so amazing.  I'll miss the MTC quite a bit, but I'm SO excited to go to the
Philippines.    It's going to be the adventure of a life time!  God has hleped me out so much here and I know He'll continue to help me!  I love the gospel!  Our district decided to make this coming week the best we've had, so I'm looking forward to that.  I love all the lessons I'm learning! I'm so grateful I've been given this opportunity to grow!
Thanks for the package... I couldn't stop eating the treats..   My companion and fellow sisters and district liked it as well.  Thanks for everything!   I love the MTC!  I love the spirit!  Thanks for the letters/emails.  How are the Frenchies?  How's everything at home?  Things are great here, in case you were wondering. 
Anything you want me to say in my next email... just let me know.  By the way, letters are on the way.  Also, I figured out how to write these long emails    hehe

Mahal Kayo!
Sister Mohrman

Tiffani (who works at the MTC) seeing her sister Stefi in the MTC

MTC- Week 6....... Happy BIRTHDAY!!!

Magandang Hapon!

Happy early Birthday Dad!  I figured I better wish it to you early than late
:)  Congrats on the little boy Nikki and Mitch!

Things are amazing as usual....  Last Friday, we had the special
fireside.  Seven apostles were there sitting upfront!  They all bring such a
strong spirit and you can't help but smile when you see them!  Elder Bednar
was the one who addressed us though.  It was such an incrediable talk!  It
was amazing!  I learned so much!  The other six apostles that were there at
the special fireside, with their wives, were Elder Oaks, Elder Ballard,
Elder Nielson, Elder Anderson, Elder Holland and Elder Scott!  It was a once
in a lifetime opportunity  hehe  :).   My companion had the opportunity of
belonging to the special choir.  I think I already told you about that?  She
also had the opportunity of listening to President Eyring speak on Sunday.
My mission president is a little bit taller than me and his wife is shorter
than me.  So I think they'll fit in over there in Manila  :)  They're really
humble and nice! A week or so ago, an elder received a letter from his
family.  Apparently, his brother's wife had a child but it was stillborn.
He was having a hard time but my kasama talked with him and it helped him.
But that got me thinking about one of the quotes that was given at one of
the devotionals here.  It was by Elder Stephen Allen in one of my first
weeks here.  "It's always darkest before the dawn".  That's really true.  No
worries, I'm doing fantastic but I felt that I should share that with you
all.  There's always hardships and trials that come before the "dawn".  It's
amazing that despite the moment being dark, you're never alone and you're
learning lessons along the way.  God is so wonderful and merciful!  It's
just Satan trying to bring you down... stop you from progressing.  But as it
says in 1 Corinthians (?), God will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able, but he'll provide a way for you to succeed.  I love the gospel
and the scriptures!  Sorry this is short but.... you're probably not
surprised  :)  I love the MTC and this great opportunity I have to be
here. :)

Mahal ko Kayo!!!!
Sister Mohrman

MTC- week 7.......... Wowzers

Kumusta!

It's great reading all the emails.... sorry I haven't responded but I thought you didn't like my handwriting    haha  Anyways, I have to say that this is the best time to be at the MTC.  There's countless reasons so I'll just list a couple.  I was able to meet my mission president and see seven apostles and have one of them speak to us.  It was just an incredible experience when they were all here.  Then we had the most spectacular 4th of July celebration ever!  It was the neatest thing.  On Saturday (the same day as the Stadium of Fire) they had a special presentation for us.  It was the neatest thing ever!  Not only that, picture over 2,000 missionaries singing American songs/hymns and regular American songs, like Yankee Doodle Boy, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Grand 'Ole Flag, and many others.  This was the time (besides when Elder Bednar spoke to us) that all the missionaries sang really loud (but not the obnoxious type of loudness).  It was so cool!  I have to say that this was my favorite celebration for the 4th of July.
After the presentation, we were ordered outside to watch the fireworks from the Stadium of Fire!  They  were pretty cool!  They gave us special ice cream and we got to stay up late! Although, many missionaries went to bed around 11:00 PM.... I was one of them.  It was so amazing.  Then, to state another reason why this is the best time to be at the MTC, my district had the honor of cleaning the temple today!  We cleaned for about 3 1/2 hours or so.  It was pretty neat.  The sisters got to go up to the sealing rooms and clean
the chandeliers!  They're so pretty!  All sorts of thoughts and analogies were going through my head.  It felt so great to clean the temple!  Just knowing that you're cleaning the Lord's house brings such a feeling that I
can't describe....  it was so magnificent!  I love the MTC, the Gospel, and everything else!

 My companion is as great as ever!  We're a strong companionship and she's still so amazing and more so as the weeks go by    I love the Lord and how much He is helping us!  It's amazing what I'm learning from my companion and fellow missionaries and especially the spirit.  We got four new sisters in our zone (two new districts total, but the four sisters were in one district). They're amazing.  One of them is Sister Tapu.  I love her!  She's from Samoa (not American Samoa) and she's turning 25 next week.  She's worked her entire life to get money to help her family and to pay for her mission.  She's always wanted to on a mission since primary and she's done everything to make that possible.  She has such a strong spirit and it was amazing that I got to meet (and continue to talk to) a sister missionary that has always wanted to go on a mission since she was a little girl! She's so strong!  You hear her story and it's amazing!  There's much more but I don't have time to write everything!


Mahal ko Kayo
-Sister Mohrman