Sawadii from the MTC

We will be posting up her letters on her blog once we get them so here is the first and there are many more to come!:

Hello there dear family!

So this is my first email for the Missionary Torture Chamber and I only have 26 min and 10 sec left to write to you! They weren't kidding with their time limits and such.

ANYHOO-

Where do I begin? So just as we suspected, I am, in fact, a "solo sister" which means i am the only sister in my district. However, I do have 7 ridiculously funny Elders that I get to spend the majority of my day with. The first day here was definitely interesting. After i walked through those doors leaving you all behind depressed, crying and groaning in pain because of my departure (j/k) we were quickly herded, much like cattle, through a variety of rooms. Only 5 min into being in the MTC and I felt like I was breaking the rules because i was the only sister in a sea of Elders. I enjoyed observing everyone and the aray of emotions which were represented on all of their faces. Some were still crying, others looked like deer in headlights, and others were just overly excited asking everyone " Where are you going!? What are you speaking?! Wanna be my best friend?!" I was the 3rd, except not overly excited... just an acceptable amount of excited. So then we got shots, and room assignments and were sent off to get settled in. I am in a room with 3 other sisters, all of which have been there for at least 8 weeks already. Two, P-Thais (older Thais) Sister Christensen and Sister Liffirt ( who are just hilariously fun and oddly enough could be real sisters, not just sisters in the Gospel) and my companion, Sister Askerlund. Sister Askerlund is fabulous. She has been here as a solo sister for 8 weeks now and is actually going Cambodia on her mission (turns out she's the 9th sister mission form America ever to be called to Cambodia, so that's awesome.) We have a lot of things in common, including that we both cry when we laugh too hard. In the 6 short days that I've been here, we have had so much fun. She's even been able to help with the language because she's been stuck with all Thai sisters the whole time she's been here. Good for me, but confusing for her sometimes.

Ok- let's talk about classes. Everything here at the MTC is just amazing. The first full day just felt like it went on and on forever and a half.... but now the days just FLY by. It's weird, but I like it. I love all of the classes and devotionals and Large Group Meetings (well, those are less cool, but still good). We have two Teachers a day that come and teach us Thai. One of them, Brother Parker. He is wierd, but i LOVE IT. He's the perfect kind of weird for me. Our other teacher is Sister Kundson. I walked in the first day of class, saw her and said " hey. I know you." Turns out we were both in DT together at the same time and she was good friends with Katie Teddy, one of my first Roommates. So it was just random to see her again. She speaks incredible Thai. If you closed your eyes, you would have no idea she was white.

AHHH-- I only have 6 min. left! It's alll too fast!

So I guess I'll have to finish up quick. I hope this gave you some idea about how it's goning here. Thai is hard- but it's comming... slowly....hopefully. :) I love every second of it here, even when my elders get out of control. You know I've always wanted to go to boarding school, and this is quite possibly the best one ever. The spirit is always SOOO strong and incredible and i can't believe how much i've learned so far. Write me and ask any questions you might have and I'll try to answer them.

Well. That's all the time I have. Now it's time to go change my laundry and write letters! yay! love p-days. especially when we start if off int he Temple. MUCH LOVE!!

Love,
Sister O'Neil

Updates... From Little sister and Mom

We took Hilary to the MTC today. It was a cool experience... she is one of the two sister missionaries (that we could tell) going in that day. We think she is the only Sister going to Thailand!! ... So that is pretty cool!

Any way, if you want to write to her, her address at the MTC until July 6th is:

Sister Hilary Rose O'Neil
MTC Mailbox # 110
THAI-BAN 0706
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

After the 6th of July she will be shipped off to Thailand!!!
we will be posting her letters up here for you to read so that you can know what is going on and what fun adventures she is having!
Lots of pictures will come later!

This is it. Don't get scared now.....

Well everyone, I'm off! For the next 18 months I'll be serving a mission in the grand (albeit ridiculously hot and humid) country of THAILAND! I can hardly believe it's already here and I'm leaving for the MTC tomorrow!!! Make that leaving for Utah in 12 hours.!!! What the heck happened to the time?! Even though I'm STILL packing and have tons to do, I'm extremely excited! This past month has just been a tornado of amazing. Seriously. I have the best family EVER. And friends, too. And I love you ALL.

This is short, yes...but seriously people.. I'm still not packed!

My blog will be maintained by my family until I return (thanks for that, by the way) so check here for updates.

OK....Farewell to Manzanar!

Take care. Peace be unto you.

Love, Hilary