Week three:) - December 24th, 2014

Hola,

Today is Christmas Eve, but it doesn't really feel like it. Except for the fact that there's a big box sitting on my desk. And I want to open it. So bad. But I think someone accidently wrote "don't open until Dec. 25" on it, which is really irritating!!! It also doesn't help that all my roommates said they would just open it. Sigh. Not cool. I'm excited though!!

I love teaching people! I get super stressed right before I go teach them, but then while I am in the lesson, everything seems to be fine. We're teaching this one guy named Brian. He is sincere in his inquiries about the gospel, which is totally awesome! He's also felt the Spirit, and so I'm so excited for him! The interesting part is he also thinks I'm odd. He'll notice weird things that I do. For instance, I was quietly blowing on my sweaty hands (cuz that'll make them stop sweating) and I look up and he's looking at me weird. Darn it. Or I'll accidently say something odd in Spanish. He loves my companion though! They relate really well! So to him, my companion's awesome and I'm really weird. Haha:P At first when my companion and I started teaching, it was difficult and weird to teach in the broken Spanish that we would try to study. But as we keep moving on, we strive for the Spirit the most, and truly, the Spirit takes care of everything. We just need to be willing to prepare, study, and then let the Spirit use us to reach out to God's children. This requires not being selfish, which is sometimes hard:/ Anyway, every day is crazy and weird and interesting. I wrote to my branch president, "It's like being on a roller coaster! Maybe I'll scream, but it'll be fun, right?" 

Oh. About the branch that I'm in. We are the only district in my branch, meaning, there are only seven of us sisters in our whole branch!! So we have to meet with another branch cuz we have no elders, and we won't get any for at least another week! I've been asked to be the branch music coordinator, by the way. I haven't done anything yet, so I should probably get on that...

One of the wonderful sisters in my district, Hermana Mansell, plays french horn! So I'm accompanying her in a Christmas talent show number! We tried out yesterday and we found out we made it by the end of the day! Hopefully that will go well...but Hermana Mansell seriously is amazing at french horn, and fun fact, we arranged the piece! We did it in about an hour, which I don't think is too bad. It sounds pretty awesome too. I wish you all could hear it!

I gotta go, but I hope ya'll have a wonderful Christmas! I miss you tons and I love the pictures you guys send me!

Hermana Mennenga is funny. She's obsessed with showering. And shouts at you if you don't shower.

Merry Christmas,

Hermana Bentley

PS. From Hermana Mennenga, don't forget to SHOWER!!!!

Picture

here is a note from the photographer:) 

hello!

My name is Lucia Montagnoli. I was walking to the temple today and I ran into all of your daughters. They are glowing and wonderful! I am so excited for all of them to go serve. They were all very nice and will do wonderful things. Their spirit was so strong. I hope you all have a wonderful week and know your daughters love you so much!

-Lucia Montagnoli

She was so kind to take that photo for us! She's going on a mission too; to Italy! She's leaving in march, which means she might meet Kaylee Markus by chance:)

Letter from Home - Monday, December 22nd, 2014

Dear Vickie,

Today is Aunt Orva Jeanne's birthday. Tomorrow is Robert's birthday. Wednesday is Uncle Carl's birthday. Thursday is Aunt Amy's birthday. We had a surprise party for Aunt April on Saturday. It looks like it was a lot of fun. Dad and Henry went. I was too sick and trying to rest up for my big Sunday with the choir in church and the Messiah Sing-along. Dad has been very helpful assisting me to get well.

Today I took the day off and slept. But tomorrow we have to get ready to go to Arizona. Steven arrived this morning. He has off work until January. So he is sleeping in the guest bedroom. 

Yesterday, we had church. The choir did very well in the Christmas program. The Messiah Sing-along was good as usual. We added the organ this year because we had received permission to perform in the chapel. It really added a lot. 

Saturday, I already mentioned Aunt April's surprise party. We had another rehearsal for the quartet that sang in the Christmas program. They did such a good job. It was Laura Benedict, Marlies Robison, David Flournoy and Henry. It was sure a busy day for shoppers. Either Beth or Dad went shopping and told me how long the lines were.

Friday, I went over and practiced with the Simonson's for their duet in church. "I Wonder When I Wander" The duet turned out to be a trio. Their little girl got up with them and sang really loud all the words when her dad sang. When her mom sang she was quiet. I thought it was funny. Dad went to Panda Express and got dinner for he and I. I only wanted the vegetables. He got the Beijing Beef for himself. Remember, I got that when you and I went a couple of weeks ago. Now I know why he gets that entree. He also got Teriyaki Chicken. We watched a movie at home. I wasn't feeling well. 

Thursday, I actually cancelled my orchestra class for the morning. I could not get myself going. I taught the afternoon class, though. We had a rehearsal Thursday night for the quartet that sang Sunday. They sang "Shine For Me; Star of Bethlehem" by Dan Carter (who incidentally we were in the same music theory class together at Ricks College--back when it was Ricks College and not BYU-I).

Wednesday, -sick.

Tuesday, taught Orchestra.

Monday, sick

Last Sunday, I went to the stake Christmas program even though I was just barely alive. Sister Tebbs was thankful that I came.

Well, I hope you've had a good week. We sent your package on Saturday. It is full of all kinds of goodies, plus a couple of gifts from Dad and me and Trevor--since he has your name this year. Please don't get sick. Henry made the cookies. I'm pretty sure they are delicious because the rest of the batch didn't last long. lol

My question to you this week is, Does Heavenly Father bless you according to your desires even when it would complicate other parts of your life? Do you have scripture passages that talk about it? 

We were going to have our Bentley Christmas party tonight, but Jake and Shayla don't want to get sick (don't blame them). So we decided to try for tomorrow night. That actually would be better because Wilford doesn't have to work tomorrow night. I really didn't have much hope for me being well; but Tanya, the angel of mercy, came by with this garlic salve that she swears by. I rubbed it on my feet (put on socks) and chest and neck. I'm going to reapply before I go to bed. I now have hope that I will be well tomorrow. She blended 8 peeled garlic cloves into 1/3 cup of coconut oil. I will let you know on Christmas when you call how it worked.

That's the week in a nutshell. Because of being sick, I was able to watch a lot of Christmas movies. It really was fun in the midst of hurting so bad. One advantage of being sick is that you only have to do what is extremely necessary.

I love you so much, and I'm so proud of you and your desires to serve others. That makes me happy when I watch my children serve.

Love, Mom

December 17th, 2014 Letter - Woosh.

Hola!

This first week at the MTC has been crazy! I've met five absolutely awesome, crazy, hilarious chicas that have made my first days here a little more easy to deal with. I had the hardest time for the first three days; just adjusting to everything and the schedule and the fact that I can't just sit down in my living room and vegetate (however you spell that).

My companiera's name is Hermana Mennenga, and she's from Mesa, Arizona! Isn't that awesome?? Our district consists of everyone in our room. I'm the only one from Utah, which I'm kinda happy about. There's six of us in all. When we first got here, there was a couple of other districts in our branch. There was only two Elders! And now there are none cuz they left on Monday and Tuesday morning. What is really crazy is the fact that we now only have nine sisters in our branch. So I think this Sunday we are going to meet with another branch. We won't have anyone new for another two weeks!

I'm really sad that I didn't get to see Dad's concert:( But the sisters get to see Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday mornings!! So it was really nice to be able to see Dad!

I'm still kinda having a hard time adjusting, but I just need to shrug off my pride and decide to turn outward to others and forget myself. And listen to the Spirit...that's kinda important.

I got the assignment of music coordinator for our branch, which is cool. Hope all goes well with that.

I love getting messages from everyone! Using DearElder is super awesome, cuz I get the letters faster! I don't really know what else to say, so I guess I'll just let ya'll know that I love you and I miss you so much!

Love,

Hermana Bentley

Welcome!

Welcome to Hermana Vickie Bentley's mission blog! We are so happy that you stopped by. There are a couple of things to note...

Hermana Bentley's mailing address is located to the right of this blog. This is her MTC address which will be valid until she leaves the MTC on January 19th.

The easiest (and cheapest) way to write to Hermana Bentley is through http://www.dearelder.com. If you go to the website, in the middle where it says, "Select Mission" use the pull down menu to select "Provo MTC." Click "Write a Letter." Fill in all parts of the form that it brings up. The Unit # is 17 and the Mission Code is NJ-MOR. Her departure date is JAN19. They print the letters and send them to the missionaries for you at no cost!

You can still use this service once Hermana Bentley goes to New Jersey but there is an added postage fee of $0.49. Still not a bad option!

Below her mailing address on this blog you will also see a box that says "Follow By Email." If you put your personal email into the space and complete the subscription you will be informed in your email inbox every time this blog is updated with a new letter from Hermana Bentley - extra handy so you don't have to just come back and keep checking without anything new being here.

Feel free to comment with any questions and I (Shayla Bentley, sister-in-law and keeper of this blog) will be sure to get back to you.

Thanks to all for your love and support for our beautiful missionary!

Love The Bentley Family