Answers to Mom's questions

~ have you met the missionaries that are at the MTC ahead of you going to your mission? I know there was a Sister Foote there.

I don't think any missionaries going to our mission are still here.  They must already be in the country, because it's just us.  There is no way they are still here because they have like a three week break before new missionaries for our mission come to the MTC.  I will look out for her though

~ are your Saturdays any different?

No, they are kind of hard but the same.  We have class in the morning and afternoon, but instead of going to gym we have studies and then dinner.  After dinner we finally get gym and then do learning assessments and then more studies.  They are basically the same

~ what is your Sunday like?

We don't have breakfast til 740 so that is nice to have extra time to get ready. Then we study til relief society which is at 1110.  Then we go to lunch. Then sacrament mtg, then disctrict mtg, then a walk to the temple to take pictures. THen dinner and choir practice (every sunday and tuesday, which I love,  Choir is awesome!!!!) Then a devotional, then we watch a film, like a talk or chruch movie or something

~ have you seen Emily Day by now?  (be sure to take pictures!!!!)  I saw Bridgett Lundahl working at Big 5 and learned she served in Emily's Mission.

Yes, all the time at dinner, whihch is awesome!  Jade took the picture of us, so i need that from her.  Or maybe you can get that from her mom.  Oh that is so cool!

~ when you play volleyball, are you tucked away somewhere in the MTC or do you walk across the street and play over in front of the temple?

We walk across the street and up the grass hill to the huge sand courts.  It's before the temple, so in between the mtc and temple.

~Can you play on the big grassy area in front of the temple?

Not on the temple grounds, but there is a huge grass field for missionaries to play on across from the MTC.

~ I see a big hole started on the south end of the MTC lot.  Are they expanding the MTC and do you know what they will build there on the corner?

Hmm, i don't know.  Probably a new housing building or something

~ have you tried on all your clothes by now and tried some different combos? 

not all, just my summer shirts, but they are great.

~ what about those blazers?  I think I sent you a picture of the missionaries in Latvia with the President and they weren't wearing them as if they needed to be dressed up extra special.  Maybe they will add warmth in the winter, but maybe they are only for your own self if you like that style.  Decide if you take them all.

okay thanks, Love you so much!

HALF WAY!

Hi everyone!

Sister Jerman and Sister Webb

This last week was an awesome one!  One of my Elder companions and I taught an actual Lithuanian from Lithuania in Lithuanian.  It was super cool.  He talked so fast that we couldn't really understand him, but it went well.  It was really fun, and we just went with the spirit.  People actually speak this language outside of the MTC!

Both of our investigators committed to baptism and church, so that is really awesome.  The language is coming really good.  Just one step at a time, like it should be.  Class is super fun, and the spirit is super strong.  The food is also still really good.  Just loving the MTC life.

Masa Webb and Sesuo Dzerman

Our district goes to choir each week, and I love it!  We have an amazing choir director, and it is super fun to sing.  We are singing with the Nashville Tribute Band on Tuesday, so that is really exciting.  They have some awesome spiritual music.  

My district, or Elders, relieve stress by putting spoons in other people's pockets for fun without them noticing.  It is pretty entertaining.  They are super funny.

what!?!  Not only are there a lots of elders here, but they are my classroom companions!

My testimony has been strengthened so much!  I know that we can receive personal revelation directly from God.  I know that as we read the Book of Mormon daily we can be strengthened and feel God's love and receive inspiration.  I love this gospel.  I know Christ lives and this is His work.  I know He helps each of us every day.  I know the atonement is real, and it can change us.  I love you all!

Love, Sesuo Dzerman

Fun week

Haha, I actually played spike ball for my first time like 2 weeks ago during gym with my Elders.  It is a fun game.  That's funny you guys played it recently too.

I'm glad you had a fun time!!  Wow, already back to school?!  I am not jealous about that :) 

MTC life is great.  It's crazy how fast it has gone.  I love it so much, and I only have 17 more months on the mission, not a lot of time.  It is way fun though here.  Thanks for all you do and for letting me experience this! Love you tons

Love Sister Kay

Chest Bump Sister Missionary Style

Another Great Week!

Hi everyone!  

It was another wonderful week at the MTC!!  We are having language class twice a day, which I love.  Learning the language really has been a blast.  We are teaching two investigators in Lithuanian, and I have different companions for each one.  It's been fun to switch around.

The District

Tuesday was the best day ever!  We were told that our Tuesday night devotional would be broadcasted to all the MTC's around the world, so we knew it would be pretty cool.  My companion and I sung in the choir too, so that was an amazing experience.  But, President Russel M. Nelson spoke to us!!  It was amazing!!!  I felt the spirit so strong.  He is now President of the Quorum of the Twelve, as of July 15th.  It was such a cool experience.  I am grateful that I could still be in the MTC for that.

We LOVE going to the Temple

Today we went to the temple for an endowment session.  I just love going to the temple.  I am so glad that we can go every week!!  Time really is flying by.  I really cannot believe that it is already Thursday again.  I am still loving the MTC.  The food is really good; I don't mind it at all.  I love the strong spirit that is here.  I love all that I am learning.  I love that we can play volleyball everyday except Sunday as a district.

Sand Volleyball

I love my companion and our district.  I can't believe that in just over a week, we'll be at our half way mark here.  

I just love this gospel and feel so blessed that I can serve Heavenly Father as His missionary right now.  It truly is a blessing.  Every day I am grateful to be here.  I know He is there helping me.  I know that this is His work and His gospel.  I know He loves us all.  

Thanks for the letters!  I love you all!

Meilė, Sesuo Džerman

Laba Diena

Sveiki!

We had another great week in the MTC!  Time is just flying by, and I love it.  We started teaching an investigator this past week in Lithuanian.  It was so awesome.  I taught with Elder Hassell, one of my teaching companions.  We don't really know how to speak the language, but I love that because we get to rely completely on the spirit when we teach.  It is so great.  It has really taught me to trust in Heavenly Father and teach what He would have me teach.  And say what He would have me say.  Learning a language is very humbling, but i love it.  Language class is going well.   Little by little it's coming.  I can pretty well understand what my teachers are saying.  I just need to get better at the speaking part, but I know that will come :)  We are learning the first vision in Lithuanian, which is really cool.  

Each day we stay really busy with class, meals, devotionals, study time, gym, and teaching.  I love staying busy and serving the Lord.  This is just an amazing experience.  I love giving my time to Heavenly Father.

My teaching companions are Elder Hassell and Elder Wiley.  They are both great missionaries.  I am learning a lot about teaching and focusing on the investigator and their needs.  I really have learned a lot and my testimony has been strengthened.  I know that because we are God's children, He will help us and answer our prayers.  

I love all of you!

Love, Sesuo Dzerman

Masa Webb and Sesuo Dzerman

Answers to her Dad's questions

CAN YOU AND YOUR COMPANION UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AT ALL?

Lithuanian is sort of like Latvian.  I don't think it is really like German because it is not a Germanic language.  It is Slovak, so more weird :) I can't really understand my companion, but I can guess of what a few Latvian words are.  Some are similar to Lithuanian, but not many.  That makes it hard to practice speaking our language. But our goal is to speak in our language first, and then translate to english so we get more practice. 

Here is some Lithuanina off the top of my head.

Aš zinau kad Dievas yra mūsų Dangiškasis Tevą.  Jis myli mūs.  Aš liudiju kad mormono knyga yra Dievo žodžias.  Jezaus Kristaus vardu, amen.

That was my testimony, very breifefly.  Not all correct grammar in there, but I tried:)

Sesuo Dzerman and Masa Webb

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANION - My companion is from Spokane.  She took a few years of French, went to Washington Eastern for a while. She is 19 like me.  She has two older brothers.  One served in Provo and the other in Latvia, where she is going.  Crazy, right? The people in Latvia prayed she would come there because they loved her brother so much.  Their prayers were answereed. 

With Masa (Sister) Webb from Spokane

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT TO THE PROVO TEMPLE?

 Haha, I told her about our rainy trip to the temple.  Good memores. We have done a session and initiatory, so cool.  

We love to go to the temple!

Love Sesuo Dzerman

Laba Diena!

Labas!

I cannot believe it has already been a week!  The time is going really fast!  I am just loving it here at the MTC.  Everything is going just great.  I have an awesome companion and district and zone.  It has been really fun.  The language is coming good.  Classes are really fun, and I am learning a lot.  Although it may not be completely correct, I can say a prayer in Lithuanian without reading it.  I also know my purpose in Lithuanian, which I never thought would happen.  I know the Lord is helping me a lot, and I am so grateful for that.  My testimony has already grown so much here.  I know the Lord listens to and answers our prayers.  

My first day we had class,a few discussions with investigators, and went on a tour.  Each day after that has been studying and class.  I love it.  I am a solo sister, so class with six other Elders is a lot of fun.  Thursday is our preparation day, so we were able to go to the temple.  I love the temple.  It was so great to go again.

My companion is Sister Webb, or Masa Veba.  She is amazing, and I love her a lot. She is from Washington, and I am glad she is here so that I can have a female companion outside of class.  I never expected to have a couple of Elders as my companions for a lot of the day, but it is fun.  I love my district.  There are seven of us learning Lithuanian, and then my companion and an Elder learning Latvian, so nine total.  It's a little hard to have two languages in a district, but that just makes it all the better.  The Elders take very good care of us; it has been a great experience.  We have actually only had an official class time once a day, but we are starting two actual class times next week, and I am super excited!  I also love the Sisters in my residence Hall room.  They are so sweet.  It's fun to have two learning Georgian, two learning Malay, and us learning Latvian and Lithuanian.  I just love it.

I saw Sister Merkley, Sister Kho, other Sisters from high school, and some Elders and Sisters from Utah State.  That is a lot of fun. Thanks for all of the letters; I love each one.

 We watched a very cool talk by Elder Bednar.  He discussed the character of Christ.  I know that if we turn out to others like Christ did, we will be so happy.  This mission is not about me at all; it's about others.  I am grateful for this opportunity to give my all to Christ.  We are here because of Him.  

Love you all,

Sesuo Dzerman

Our District at the Provo Temple

Lithuanian Elders with ties to match the flag

I'm here!

Labas!

I just love it here at the mtc.  Everything is going just great!  We are learning Lithuanian bit by bit.  My companion is Masa Webb, and she is amazing.  She is learning Latvian, so she meets with one other Elder in a different classroom.  I am with five Lithuanian Elders, but I think we are getting one more to be in our class.  I love the spirit that I feel, and I love staying busy.  This is just an email to say that I am still alive :)  My companion and I have four sisters in our residence hall room that we are staying with.  One sister is from Germany, near Stutgart, so that is really cool.  Another I knew at USU.  It has just been so fun.  I hope all is well.  Gotta go, love you all!

Love, Sesuo Dzerman

Our zone

Kayleigh to the MTC

We woke early and drove to the new Payson temple  to go to an early morning session.

  Such a beautiful temple and such a wonderful thing to do with Kayleigh on her way to the MTC.

Then we zipped up Kayleigh's bags and went to Cafe Rio for lunch.  In line, we met a gal who had served in the same mission several years ago.  The best news was that she didn't get fish at every meal!

We went to the Provo Temple for some final pictures.

Brett had to go back to St. George so this is our family picture.

Then we pulled into the MTC where we got out for another quick hug

and then off she went without a glance back.  Good-Bye Sister Jerman!  We love you!

Kayleigh's Farewell

The entire Rees family drove down from Tremonton in between meetings  to listen to Kayleigh's Farewell talk, then left right after.  So nice of them to come.

Lots of friends and family came.  Jessica Ipson will join Kayleigh at the MTC in August on her way to California.

So glad Grandma and Grandpa Kerr were able to be here.  

Granny and Granddad will join us again on Tuesday night for her setting apart.

We played badmitten in the back yard after everyone was gone.

Kayleigh painted this cute board of the flag of Lithuania.  It is not a "bad Africa."  It says, You are not called to serve in a place, you are called to serve in place of the Savior.