We've got mail.

First email:

dear familia y amigos,

as i'm sure my mom informed you, i recieved terrible news on wednesday night...we are not allowed to listen to music in the mtc. like i said, i die.

sorry that you didn't like my first letter, mom, but in my defense i had only been her 24 hours with nothing too exciting. but i will try to fill you in on what has happened since you dropped me off at the curb last wednesday. the elders escorted me to a host sister. turns out my hostess was one of Logan Dopp's best friends (be nice, brooke) and is dating his best friend Ben Buttars who i hung out with when i was dating Logan. Ben is also here in the MTC. Then i walked into my classroom to meet my teacher and there is Andrew Angus. He went to WX--graduated in '05. i know him because he was one of Jake Snyder's good friends. Then there is my zone leader, Elder Pew. he played in superband in High school with Jaydon Bean-our drummer at WX for those who don't know. anyway, (in true scott russell style of confession) it brought back fond memories of racing Jaydon to jazz band every morning and maybe passing each other illegally sometimes. i do not endorse driving on the left side of the road. Basically, if you talk to someone here long enough you'll find some connection.

sorry, some how i exited out. here is the rest of my letter:

Other than that, I was assigned to be the music director of my ward, i have insomnia again (as in probably as bad as it was in jr. high and high school) but getting up at 6:30 a.m. is not really that bad. the worst part is walking out to go to the bathroom and being blinded by the horridly bright lights. the food is not great but edible. i still haven't cried. i LOVE my district and zone. the elders keep me sane. the sisters are treated like queens. sometimes elders will escort me to the front of the line in the cafeteria. gym is the best part of the day. i play ellimination with some elders from my zone. i know i suck (sorry mom) at basketball but i'm better at ellimination than i am at 4 square.

I'm in a 3some companionship and our personalities couldn't be more different. that's not to say i don't love my companions, cause i do, but they're all about talking about our FEELINGS and how are you feeling. and, well, i am my mother's daughter. but we get along great and they are teaching me a lot. plus they think i'm a genius AND hilarious.

sad story: my favorite companionship was elder lunt and elder metcalf. elder lunt was our district leader and he went home on monday. i don't really know any details, but it was sad cause he was probably the least weird of the elders in my district. (just cause i think they're weird doesn't mean i don't love them).

we went to the temple today and the best part was walking out the front door after the session only to see mountains and tress and the lake. it gave me a renewed hope that there is life beyond the cinder block and flourescent lighting.

i really do love the mtc. and i think being here will make me appreciate the mission field more. tuesday nights we have a devotional and this week elder scott came and spoke! it was awesome and used his preisthood authority as an apostle to bestow promises of a sheild of protection for the sister missionaries and the gift of tongue as long as we have faith and are obedient. so i'm not too worried about spanish (it helps that i have more spanish experience than everyone in my district....like i said, they think i'm smart. little do they know i just took the classes and act the part). as far as a spiritual situation goes i want to share one of the quotes from elder scott's talk. it seems long but please read it because i think you'll love it. "be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. your character will grow; your faith will increase. there is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith." also "answers to important things come one peice at a time." story of my life.

i love you all. i think if i knew how much mail meant to missionaries, i would have written my friends more. oh wait, i did/do write them a lot. plus i can only check e-mail once a week but i can read letters every night. kerri, mom, dad, and douglas thank you mucho for the letters. you are the best. brooke and mom, thank you for the treats. i and my zone really appreciated them. you are very loved. anyway, no need to worry about me. life is swell. sorry this was so long.

peace,

kelli jean

p.s. mom will you ask steph if masa got his green card?

Second email:

tell bingley i love him. take him on a hike for me.

third email:

will someone print some of the pictures from the day you dropped me off and send them please? i would like more familiy photos and i realized i don't have any with our entire family. and i don't think i have any of jonah either. heaven knows how that happened.

fourth email:

i realized after i sent that that i barely even talked about my companions. how selfish of me. i will be sure to do that next week cause i don't have time right now. their names are hermana conrad and jensen and they're from boise and mesa.

peace+love