Abby's first letter and pics- Oct. 22,2015.  If you would email Abby then she will have your email addresses to include in her emails. It is-   abbigail.sundell@myldsmail.net


Hello family and friends that I love so much!
I've survived my first week at the mtc, and the food hasn't killed me... yet... so that's good.
I seriously lucked out in the companion department. My companion is Mckenzie Shimai and she is from Australia. We are nearly the same person and get along so well. We are always on the same page and its SO nice getting along with her. Our district is amazing and so diverse. Elder in japanese is choro, which sounds remarkably similar to both cholo and churro, so that was interesting the first couple days. Another sister in our district is 28 and from Taiwan! English is her second language so she is having to learn japanese through english- slightly difficult. I'm dying just learning it through my first language. Also, there is an elder in our district that converted just over a year ago! Basically I love my district and we are all very close already.
Our days consist of four to five hours of personal study, three ish hours of classroom instruction, two ish hours to eat, workout time, etc. Two rm's teach japanese class and they are both amazing. Brother Norawong always brings the spirit to the lessons and is so kind. I'm not sure who gets more frustrated in the lessons, us or the teachers. Us because the teachers do not speak ANY english and we have no clue what is going on, or the teachers because we are clueless and don't know what they are talking about. Either way, we are all overwhelmed by the end of the three hour lessons. Japanese is coming very slowly. So far I have learned how to pray, which is so exciting!  We learned how to say "Please bless us with the gift of tongues," and I'm sure to include that in every prayer.
I see elder Jorgensen all the time here!!! usually at meals. Its so nice to see a familiar face and talk with someone I know for a minute or two. Don't worry though, we keep it professional and appropriate.
Our second full day in the MTC we had to teach an investigator in JAPANESE. That wasn't overwhelming or stressful at all. I've really just earned to rely on the spirit and gauge how our lessons went by the spirit we felt. Even though I don't know what is being said in japanese, I know the spirit is there and that testifies of the truth!
Sunday was amazing. We listened to a talk called "Character of Christ" by David a Bednar. Most amazing talk I've heard. I don't know if its an MTC exclusive talk or if you anyone can look it up, but try and find it! It'll change your outlook on hardships. It was exactly what i needed to hear this week and really got me going again! He talks about how when we face trials and disappointments, the natural man turns inward and focuses on themselves, but when Christ faced trials, he turned outward and served those around him. 
The spirit here is so strong and I feel my Savior's love often. Everyone has something to contribute here, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can.
I'll see if I can send some pictures I took this week.
I love you all and miss you!

Love, Sundell Shimai

ALSO- have you heard of this thing called dear elder? Its amazing. go to dear elder.com and send me a note for free! My unit number is 163 and we get the dear elders throughout the week. It's so nice to hear from family and it really gets you through hard days. I want to hear how everyone is doing! 

Freaking out before our first lesson in japanese.

For all those wondering how I was doing without naps.

Our district on a Sunday temple walk.

McKenzie Shimai and I freezing in the classroom.  Somehow the elders are always hot and we are always freezing, so that's convenient.