Last MTC P-Day!

Hola Mi Familia!!!,

We are so proud of our Missionary!

      This is my last Preparation day in the MTC!!!! A week here feels like a lifetime! (In the best way) It's INCREDIBLE how much you can learn in a week. I leave for Roseville next Tuesday at 5:00am on the 30th. Hopefully you all will be able to be near a phone on that day between the hours of 6-8am because I get to call you from the airport before my departure! I should fly into Sacramento at about 9:30ish? Word on the street is that our Mission President lets us take a nap at his house! Time has flown by so quickly it’s hard to believe I'm already going to be out doing the real deal.

         This week I got SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY LETTERS!  Be sure to thank everyone for me because you have NO idea how much better my week was because of it. I love hearing from everyone. I also got the packages you sent me! Thanks soooooooooo much for the chopsticks and the pez. Now everyone knows the TRUE Sista Mitchell. It’s awesome. I was so excited to eat with chopsticks that I even ate my cereal with them that morning. The branch makes fun of me, but I know they love it. I keep a set in my scriptures because I just wouldn't feel complete without them. There is a Thai Sista in our branch named Sista Carper. She is legit! She has nicknamed me "China." It’s adorable. The Elders LOOOOOOOOOOOOVED the cookies you sent!  That definitely put Mamma Mitch in the good book with the Elders. They love you now! So thank you.

           We always have these awesome devotionals every Tuesday and Sunday night. We haven't had any Apostles come yet to speak, but everyone that has come has been hands-down AMAZING!  I basically just sit there and drool while I frantically scribble notes. I want to BE them. Haha.  Amongst the many amazing speakers that have come, there was one by the name of Richard I. Heaton.  He gave a stellar talk. Edge of my seat the WHOLE time. I'm such a nerd now!!!  But he talked about receiving your mission call. He asked us to recall who was there and that excitement. He said that some open their packets to find they are going to Cape Africa. The response to their call is always, "WOOOOOOW!" And then he said... and there are those missions that you open the packet and get the... "Ohhhhhhhhh..." Haha. That was my mission for sure. But he went on to say how EVERY mission.... is wow. Every mission. EVERY one. You know me. It goes without saying... this has been a struggle for me. Being placed in a Thai branch and surrounded by chinese/spanish speaking missionaries all day has been particularly hard for me. I feel a little piece of me is missing. But I have had experiences this week that I can now say, without a doubt, there is a reason. One HUGE reason, why Roseville California is the place for me. The Lord puts us where we need to be. There is a hymn that we sing all the time in church that never really had real meaning to me until now. Its says, " It may not be on a mountain high or over the stormy seas.....I'll go where you want me to go Dear Lord. Over mountain or plane or sea. I'll say what you want me to say Dear Lord, I'll be what you want me to be." And that is exactly why I am here. To serve. We forget all to often the biggest part about missionary work. The "SERVING a mission." I will go where he wants me to go. Forget yourself and go to work. Just do it. Sometimes things are just that simple. Just go where he wants you to go. Have a never ending faith. Serve others. This is the life guys. I have never felt more right about anything and I love it!

Like I said in my last email, I made pretty good friends with some of the Sisters going to Taiwan. They know I am leaving this next Tuesday and said they had a going away present for me. They came to my door last night with a CHINESE BOOK OF MORMON!  But no... this was not just ANY Book of Mormon. This has the characters, pinyin (romanization), AND english! It’s basically like a treasure of a book because it means I can ACTUALLY read it. I'm going to miss those sisters sooooooo much. They said they felt inspired to give the book to me. One of the sisters had gotten it from a friend that served in Taiwan and she said... Sista Mitchell... you’re going to find someone in California who is going to need you to know this. They brought me to tears. I am so happy that Taiwan is getting such a great set of sisters. Well fambly. Time is up. I LOVED hearing about all the camping and birthdays and school. I love you all so much and am grateful every day for this great opportunity you have provided me. I know I wouldn't be here without you. I love you all!  Wo ai ni!  Next time you hear from me... I'll be in Cali baby! Woop woop!!!!

Love,

Sista Ash Mitch

P.S. I am 2 minutes over time... but remind me to tell you about Melvin next time. I LOVE Melvin. He is one of my investigators and I had the most AMAZINGLY incredibly CRAZY spiritually awesome experience with him.

P.S.S. I'm going to cry when Sista Green goes to the Montana Billings mission next week and leaves me alllll alone! :( K. Love you again! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!! It’s all you need right?

Ashley has asked for addresses from people so she can write to them.  I have some of them, but I do not have the following: Stevie Gurr, Jessica Stoneman’s billinghamham address, Alisha, Caldwell & Tian Thong)  If you can, could you send your address to her at  ashleym@myldsmail.net or to me at deeannmitchell@gmail.com and I will get them to her.  Thanks!