Opportunities & Letters

Life has been a MADHOUSE, but the best things happened this week.

I had been carrying around my CougarFACS forms for the national club for my major (Family and Consumer Science Education), and I had specified on these papers that I was very eager to get more involved with it. Before I had even turned it in, the officers contacted me about a position they wanted me to fill-- their President Elect was going to serve a mission. They offered that placement to me. I was beyond excited by this opportunity, so I graciously accepted. Little did I know, that would entail me being PRESIDENT of the National CougarFACS club for BYU. What??? Oh my gosh. Feeling humbled but determined, I gladly accepted. I later found out I was going to be shipped to Indianapolis, Indiana for the AAFCS Conference, all expenses paid. They needed to know if I would be able to attend so they could purchase my plane ticket. ........ ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Of course I'm going!! I am beyond stoked for the immense opportunity this is. For all students considering FACS as a major, DO IT! It's amazing, and the growth never ends.

Maybe I'll even see Elder Tristan Mayfield knocking on doors in the Indianapolis mission! Haha. :) A girl could dream. (PS: Happy Birthday on the 23rd, Tristan!)

Tristan and a very old, but independent man. :) He is too cute. (Both of 'em!)

To any ladies interested, Tristan recently asked for a tall blonde to write him a letter so he could respond back in the best way possible. Don't know what that means, but if you're willing, I'll give you the address!

I had the opportunity to visit and observe Timberline Middle School in Alpine, and it has been very educational, but I have yet to interact with the students. Hopefully it will get better on my last day and we (Heather Payne and I) will be able to get some real field experience. Hopefully the High School we attend will give us better chances to work with the students!

I finally got used to my short hair and I'm embracing it despite the cold. It has already grown a little bit. Crazy how that works.

Also, last week, I caught Bethany Stevens Jerome's wedding bouquet. Needless to say, it was a proud moment for me, even if I was the only one to dive for it. :)

My brother in law Kyle at the small but vibrant wedding shortly after I had won this trophy!

This week I received two letters! One from Elder Tim Harker and one from Elder Jared Hammer. Elder Harker just entered the MTC this week and he has been surviving the first few days with much enthusiasm! My little racer just beat the MTC track record for a mile with 5:04 without basically even trying much- a noble feat for a first try when he hasn't been conditioned to run in a while. Go Tim!

Jared's letter showed up on Wednesday as a complete surprise-- it contained about 3 pages, each from a different week he had compiled until he was ready to send it. It was such a nice surprise-- school has been grueling, and that small effort meant the world. Missionaries really are a blessing!

Basketball has not been the same without Jimmer Fredette or my favorite band member, Elder Jared Hammer. This is my favorite clip of Jared at the games. He was so embarrassed to be dancing to "Jump on It" for the game. Love him!

Anyway, enough of the procrastinating. Time to get some work done!

Love,

Monica

Elder Tim Harker

Today my best friend Timothy Harker entered the MTC.

He will be serving in Omaha, Nebraska, my dad's mission.

You know, once a person leaves your proximate life, you realize all the wonderful things you love and miss about them. Tim is a very unique person in that he understands something very important: women. He always knows how to talk to us. Not many boys have

this quality, but he does. Unless, of course, he is being dumb. But he gets over it. :)

Nebraska is a lucky state. I have no doubt Tim will serve as diligently as he has prepared. He is honest, kind and sweet. He will be a very useful instrument in God's hands!

Good luck Tim-bo, you will be missed for the next 3 years.

-Monica

I was lucky enough to be there for his mission call opening-- what a happy moment that was.

Goals for 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This year I intend on keeping to my goals in hopes it will benefit me for the better. I've made a list of 5 things that will make this year a lot more do-able and a whole lot more effective for my better learning and growing!

1. Organization.

........ My room is not allowed to get so messy that I can't work in there, and I bought a 2012 planner (a big one) to house all my due dates. Putting everything in it this week at the start of the semester so that nothing is ever a surprise.

2. Time management.

...... I'm really bad at procrastinating and wasting days away.

3. Early to bed, early to rise / Setting Routines

......... I just need a routine. My body has not taken well to random sleep patterns and crazy eating schedules. This break hasn't felt like a break at all, what with working every day.

4. Quit with the nail-biting

... I'm getting so close!

5. Cleaning up after myself & Maintaining Care

..... I have two pet mice now that will need to be cleaned each week to keep from smelling. I also want to chip in my cleaning part of the apartment more with dishes and such. I want to become a "desirable" roommate. :P

So basically, lifestyle changes. That's about it-- nothing huge. Just things that need definite improvement.

One Year & Six Months Away

Dear World,

My name is Monica Painter. In a short year and a half from now, I will be heading out into an unknown land to serve the people and share the gospel. In the mean-time, I'm preparing to go by learning from the oddest of experiences and the greatest of life lessons. I hope you'll enjoy my story as much as I will enjoy living it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and unwavering, as is the Lord's hand in all things. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I can never predict what it is I will be expected to do or when or how I'm going to do that. But somehow "it always works out." If I ever make a life plan, odds are how it will really happen is nowhere near what I had envisioned. But I guess I'm okay with that-- it seems the Lord knows what's best anyway every time, so I kind of just do what I feel I'm supposed to and let Him take the reigns.

So what had I planned? Well, you see, right now I'm waiting for a missionary of my own. One that I had intended on marrying swiftly after his return. Yeahhhhh apparently not. Well, at least not in that order. I still fully intend on carrying out with that (he's my best friend, I'm not letting him escape that easy) but there's a slight breach in the time span. Rather than the 2 year wait, I'll be embarking on another year and a half of service myself. Sometimes, I admit, that's discouraging for a girl in puppy love (can you still call it that? It's been over a year of dating. I don't know that that's what it's called anymore..)

Anyway, I fully support Elder Hammer. In fact, his adventures are the best. He is serving in Armenia, Yerevan basically until I set out. He's already been out seven months. Crazy, right? We'll see each other for maybe a summer time and then I head out. But if you'd like to hear of his shenanigans, I highly suggest reading his mission blog: elderhammersmissionpage.blogspot.com

Elder Hammer is my hero.
He is probably the most kind human being I have ever met that has walked this earth. This is a shoutout to Jared Carl Hammer, that California boy from Santa Monica. You make me very proud, and you are an inspiration to me every day. Love you!

Anyway, enough of the mush.

I just thought I would get this going, seeing as the time span is about the same as when I will be out. So we'll see how quickly the time flies!

In the German words of my good friend Elder Cole Patterson...
Alle meine Liebe,
(Not Quite Sister) Monica Painter

People I have Learned From

I'm going to post photos and lessons I've learned from people as they occur. It'll help remind me why I do what I do, and acknowledge those people for the good they do. Many will be missionaries, because at this point, they apply to me the most. So this week I would like to highlight four boys-- 3 missionaries, and a new convert.

ELDER JARED HAMMER

Armenia, Yerevan Mission

How could I not learn from my best friend? He teaches me something great every week in his emails home. I love that boy. This week he gave me a greater appreciation for the story of the Master of the Vineyard. He also gave me a greater appreciation for the members in Armenia-- what neat people. In the photo I posted for Jared, he is out in the field with some new investigators.

Anyway, he is always giving me weekly advice about how I can prepare (very thoughtful of him.) This week he shared some wisdom with me about what he's learned of companionship:

"Companionship unity if where everything starts. You could be best friends with one another and inevitably someone will get ticked (that's what happens when you live with another human 24/7. Getting to the source of the problem and what/who is causing it is the best way to deal with things."

Jared has been out 30 weeks.

ELDER TRISTAN MAYFIELD

Indiana, Indianaoplis Mission

Tristan and Jared were my first home teachers at BYU. They have become my closest friends and most trusted allies. Tristan has taught me a very important lesson about missionary work: It's somewhat like a battle and we're the soldiers (in the nicest way possible, of course.) Each week he writes back in this manner: "HAIL! FROM LOGANSPORT!" Or Connersville or where-ever the heck he may be in Indiana. It's always a pleasure hearing from Tristan (though I need to write him back-- it's been like two months. I'm a bad friend.) because he is so unique in the manner that he learns and pumps out information. He always says "do it anyway" for basically everything, and he's always got some crazy people he's found each week. He keeps life interesting for us all, I propose. But he really is a great missionary-- can't beat that enthusiasm. ... Or his "Captain's Coat." ... :) In the words of Tristan: "THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S!!!"

I want to say he has been out about 28 weeks, just shy of Jared's.

ELDER COLE PATTERSON

Germany, Berlin Mission

Cole is always so positive. I have never seen a single email where he has whined or been upset. Each week he is more gong-ho than I have probably ever been in my life. Way to be Cole. Way to be. He's been out 45 weeks.

JEFF DOTY

My best friend growing up,

and newest member to the Church

I got the opportunity to speak at my best friend Jeff's baptism over Thanksgiving break. What a treat that was. He shared such tender words with me afterwards, I probably cried. I don't remember. But anyway, Jeff is so in tune with the spirit-- it's unbelievable.

The funny thing about Jeff is that he has always been around to hear the gospel but just wasn't quite perfectly ready to accept it. It only took me sliding my car out in Provo Canyon to get the message across that our Heavenly Father knows us fully and completely. Had I known I would have to do that to be able to bear that testimony so sincerely, it makes me unsure if I would do it again willingly. .... Hm... Yes, yes I would. Completely worth it.