Week 1 in CHICAGO!!!!!! WOOO!!!

Dear Family, How is everyone doing? Besides the General craziness of Christmas? I am so sorry to hear about Brother Teeples. However, yesterday in Church I felt like he was gone. Dad will do an awesome job dedicating the grave. Death is an interesting thing. I have seen a lot of it working in a nursing home, and to be honest it is never easy. However, the powerful message of the Gospel is that because of Jesus Christ we will see our loved ones again. We will be blessed to live with them forever, as we make covenants with Heavenly Father and are sealed to our families. The power and authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is the only way that we can be together forever. How blessed we are to have that assurance. Please give my love to Willie! I absolutely love her and brother Teeples. Mother thank you for the two emails. I always enjoy emails and letters. To be honest, they keep me going on days when I feel so alone. However, I always have the savior and his endless love to rely on as well. Well, I flew into Chicago on Monday, we boarded the subway and headed downtown. We had a wonderful opportunity to share the book of Mormon. However, I ended up sitting by a guy who spoke Chinese. I tried to say ne hao ma...obviously he speaks thia and not mandarin. Joyful experience. However, he took a pass along card and that was that. Ha! I loved visiting with him though in broken English. Than, I had the opportunity to speak to another lady who spoke only french. I contemplated singing "bajor" from beauty and the beast to her but seeing as I had a cold that probably wouldn't fly. We than headed to the presidents house and ate Deep Dish Pizza. It was no papa murphys but after MTC food just about anything tasted fabulous. We interviewed with the President, and went to bed. President Fenn is extremely powerful. He knows the scriptures like the back of his hand. I seriously sit in humble admiration of his knowledge. However, I did experience a lot of that humbling as I would sit and listen to you and dad teach me the gospel. President Fenn told me that the Lord recognized the sacrifices I was making, and that the Lord takes care of his missionaries. It was very kind of him to say. The next day we met our trainers and headed to our area. I am in a suburb known as naperville. My trainer is very patient. Her name is Sis Carlton and is from Kansas. She graduated from BYUI, and is a few years older than I. She's great and teaching me a lot. We had dinner with a family in the ward. They took me to a chicago style restaurant it was amazing. The rest of the week was spent in service and proselyting. We taught some amazing investigators. We trackted and had no success with that, however, it was pretty hysterical. I love it when people tell me they are to busy. We have the most important message in the entire world, and they are too busy. It actually has caused several tears to see the disbelief and lack of desire for the Gospel. Saturday, I was helping at a pantry and ended up having to come home and rest the rest of the day. I had the flu. Pretty rotten, however, I got a blessing from Elder Crosby and Sunday I was doing much better. The Lord has been pouring out tender mercies. A lady in my ward is a personal trainer and is writing workouts for me to do each day. Tender Mercy Check yes. The food is not making me sick, and everyone knows that sis. braten does not eat desert. However, I have been craving home made ice cream. Mother, I request that will be waiting for me in the front lawn when I return. haha. Also, if anyone sent me letters to the MTC for this past week, I did not get them. So, if you write me again, I will write back I promise. I also promise to send some pictures. I have a picture of a University of Nevada Volleyball player who spiked the volleyball into my face. Sister Braten had her sixth concussion in the MTC. My head was spinning for an hour, and I had to teach an investigator fifteen minutes after the fact. Glorious. My companions said it was the most disoriented lesson they had heard. I felt terrible. However, I am doing great now with no lasting problems. I seem to run into people from South Africa everywhere or People who went to portugal on their mission. It's pretty crazy. Mother, if you could ask sister steed who Elder Steed wanted me to contact I would sure appreciate it. Yesterday, a lady in my ward gave a talk, she had just gotten back from South Africa. Her parents are missionaries there. That was crazy. I was eating dinner with a family, and the husband had served in Cabo Verde and Portugal. Extremely crazy. I also seem to have connections with people. A man in our ward is related to Brad Myers and his wife Laurie. Over all, the members are super friendly and I enjoy them immensely. I am learning to be a consecrated missionary. It is not easy, but very worth it. One of the quotes I say daily in my head is this "when obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God endows us with Power." Sis. Braten is far from perfect. Imagine the very worst and you just about have her. However, I am giving my best. I am swallowing my pride, and in my prayers I daily plead for a way to be more obedient. Many times the Lord has blessed me. Many times I have seen his love. Many times he withdraws his spirit until I am humble enough to receive the inspiration he is trying to give me. He always answers. I testify of that. I know our Heavenly Father loves each one of you. I know he has answers to every question you might have. I love you dear family. I pray for you daily, and I plead that the Lord's blessings might be upon you. With all my love, Love, Sister Braten