Week DEVA

Dear Family and friends!!!!!!

You made it! The next milestone of missing a missionary is the 2 month mark, then the 4 month mark, and by 6 months you wont even hardly miss me! I'm so proud of you all! 

My branch president said we arent allowed to send pictures, so no pictures till i get to the field i guess. :'( Sorry! But exact obedience!

My clothes and shoes and everything are great! You outfitted me well!! 

The MTC feels like its own little world its weird, but good cause I cant see BYU so I dont miss it too much! I'm staying in the same bulidngs as you did I think. Theyre a bit updated but im pretty sure the showers have been there for 30 years, they're 70s yellow! And we cleaned them, with foam guns just like dad said!

This week flew by!!! So crazy! Russian is coming! Im getting better at making my own sentences, I just need more vocab! My teachers are great and they are my investigators! (My investigator from last week ,suddenly dropped us, because SURPRISE hes actually my teacher! They play people they knew on their missions and I was teaching one who was a babushka this week and we weren't getting anywhere with her really ( she has been coming to church for 20 years but doesnt think she needs to be baptized again) but i let the spirit guide me and told her that God loved her and we loved her and it was completely true! I loved her so much! After just meeting her! My other teacher, her bro called her the day before and said he didnt know if the Book of Mormon  was true or if he wanted to go on a mission, so we took turns "teaching" him. This was real time, someone's salvation on the line and I was so desperate to help him to know! To be happy! To know that God loves him and the Church is true! I can't wait to be teaching real people! But I can cause I can't say a whole lot! Our lessons are funny, they are a few sentences with alot of phrases and words+hand gestures/pictures/having the investigator read. haha! But its coming crazy fast! And so is my spiritual knowledge!

Im getting pretty good at volley ball (gym time) 

As of Monday we will be the oldest (time wise ) sisters in the zone- at 3 weeks! The other sisters are leaving then

Sister brown is way fun and we get along so well! Her southern accent is rubbing off on me though! AH! Its way cool to be able to help and love her everyday

Funny story: I wore my downeast dress backwards all day saunday and i couldnt even tell nor could anyone else! Haha! Da is Russian for yes, so a non russian sister was asking me who I was and I said sister tolley and she said "sister tolley?" I said "da" she said "oh sister tolleyda?" "Neit Neit!" haha! 

I love you all!! LOVE everyone and you will want to share the Gospel with them!! 

I am so happy to be here serving called of God to be His representative! Think this week how you can be a better represenative of Christ. 3 Nephi 5:13 (i think)

I miss and love you all so much!

Love Sister NAtalia Tolley

Letter #2

THEN WE RECEIVED THIS LETTER ON JAN. 21

Thank you for all your letters, emails and advice!! Keep them coming!

WOAH... It feels like I've been here for a year!!

Oh and I'm not allowed to get on onedrive here, so if you could send me pictures though email that would be great!  And I misplaced my camera... so pictures next week!

I saw elder justesen! He is so mature and serious! I couldnt believe it! But he still likes to have fun! I know all the russian sisters and I haven't met a sister king... 

I havent had any trouble with going to bed and getting up! The church is true!

Jeff: I saw Elder Lord!! We havent got a picture yet, but he is doing great!

Megan: Thank you for your package!! SO cute!! I love it!! I NEEDED it! Haha!

This week has been so great!! The first few days were hard. It was overwhelming and stressful, I got here, got my tag (best thing ever!! The sister handing them out showed me mine and asked if that was me, I said, "that's my last name, I don't know what the rest says though..." haha!) put my bags away and then went straight to Russian class! Two days later we taught a lesson in Russian!! Sto?! (what in Russian) It went okay... we coudln't understand at all what he was  saying but the 2nd lesson we taught went awesome!!!!! We taught the first vision, and he prayed about it and the Spirit was so strong!!! I thought I was going to burst from happiness! We were in tears at the end! We taught him again and some of it was great and other parts weren't but the parts that weren't we figured out that was because we weren't listening to the Spirit and were just focusing on what WE had planned not the Lord, and were so worried about our Russian. I have learned that it doesn't matter what I can't say because of my handicaps with the language the Spirit will bridge that gap if we let it. "The spirit can speak paragraphs for the few words we speak"  We teach him again tonight and I hope that it goes well! We are going to invite him to be baptized! We love him! I love the Russian people, and I don't even know them yet!!

My companion is super cute and sweet and normal and I love her! She is from NC and has a sourthrn accent that is rubbing off on me! Haha! She is a ginger and sassy! She is 21 and has a boy friend that wasnt able to be married in the temple so she said, I'm going on mission if you arent worthy by this date, and so here she is! That takes a lot of courage, I admire her! Mission is really the best marriage prep! having to always go everywhere with someone really teaches you selflessness. 

I am learning what it really means to be a representative of Christ! I love wearing His name over my heart each day!! 

Elder Ballard gave the devotional last night and it was wonderful! And I had the deepest witness that prophets are called of God!!! 

I love you all! Russian is coming. I really do have the gift of toungues! Its amazing!! I sometimes get discouraged of how much I dont know but then I remember that I've only been here a few days and are amazed that I know as much as I do! My district is great! They all want to be here and are really focused and dedicated. They get it. My zone, even more so! The adjustment from my previous live, is a little rough, but i'm getting the hang of it!

Good luck on the play and skiing and everything!! I wish i had more time! I love and miss you all but I'm not homesick! Be happy and share the gospel it will bring you the most happines!!

Love Cectpa Tolley!

Letter #1

Sorry, it is kinds late, still getting used to blogging but, this is the first letter we received from Natalia written her first day in the MTC:

Jan. 14th

Dear Family,

This is so awesome!!

I felt peace all day as I was here!  This is where I'm supposed to be.  The adjustment is difficult, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!

We jumped right into Russian!  I was a little overwhelmed at first because the method is immersion.  But I started getting the hang of it.  They say we're going to teach in Russian Friday!  What?!  I was saying, "I am a missionary of Jesus Christ", and I felt the spirit so strong.  I am!  And what a priviledge and joy that is!

I'm learning I have a lot to learn, but I love people easily, so that's half the battle of teaching.  I'm working on opening my heart more and being exactly obedient. 

This place is so great!  The kids will LOVE it.  Everyone should go on a mission!

My companion is Sister Brown.  She's super cute and nice.  She's from North Carolina and has a cute little accent.  She is 21, so she's way mature.  We get along really well!  I already love her!  I haven't seen anyone from home yet...but there are so many people!  I never realized how many, and from all over the world.  It is awesome!

I love you all!  Keep me updated!  My Preparation Day is Wednesday.

Love,

CESTPA (Sister) TOLLEY

The Eagle has Landed!

We received some pictures from Sister Tolley this afternoon when she was dropped of at the MTC! We are so excited for her new adventure. Thanks to Lesli, for getting her there.

Set Apart!

Sister Tolley was set apart tonight and is all ready to leave tomorrow morning.