taryn 6.16.09

Hi family!
How are you?sorry, first before i forget, i sent some shoes back to the mail place. they said you have 2 days and then you have to pay 2$ after that, so if you could go get that when you can, that would be wonderful! thanks:) >
I feel it has been an extremely long time since i have seen you!! This past week has been extremely good, and extremely hard. haha lots of extremes here.. First, thank you SO much for the many things that you have sent. Some guys in jordans district asked me if i got as many packages and letter as him, we just looked at eachother and laughed. It means more than i can tell you, knowing how many people are urging me on. >
Last tuesday elder bednar came to our devotional. it was incredible. he spoke on how to know if it is the spirit or just me. he said DONT WORRY ABOUT IT! be a good boy/girl and carry on, making good decisions and the Lord will make sure that you are doing what you need to do, and be where you need to be at the right time. > there are two people in our district out of 15 that has the swine flu,or "para moo" in thai. it seems that more and more are going into quarantine, and they are stuck there for 5 days! all of our district is required to take tamiflu, a drug that is supposed to help you not get it, and to relieve symptoms. >
haha so i just got back from the temple. I was sitting in the chapel waiting and looked up and saw gavin jones and his parents walking in!! i got to talk to him for awhile after. i was so excited that i got to see him, i was sad when austin told me that he wasnt coming home until last week. we got a picture, ill send it to you. >
I am tired of being here, i really am. it is really neat, but the days are SO long, and by the time it is night, my brain feels like it has been microwaved. i really try not to think about home, but it seems like it is nearly impossible lately, especially last weekend. I just felt like i wasnt doing the right thing being here, and kept thinking about how long this was going to be. Sunday was especially hard for some reason. Then it came time for choir practice, and because jordan was there too we got to eat at the same time that night. after dinner i asked jordan for a blessing. He, his companion, and i went into and empty room, with my companions outside the door. Jordan was really nervous, he had never given a blessing before. He pulled out his white handbook to make sure he knew how to do it, and then laid his hands on my head. As soon as he started talking i felt an instant peace. He said many things that i have written in my journal, but some of what he said was i bless you with comfort and joy, refer back to your patriarchal blessing, that God loves you, and there are much more people than you know that here supporing you and love you. I have never felt such a strong blessing before. I felt that if i opened my eyes, i would see more people in the room than we started with. after the blessing, both of our eyes were filled with tears. Having that was experience with jordan far surpassed the hard time that it has been. I agree with you mom, i can see the Lord's hand in all of this as well. I see him after almost every meal. it is nice to see such a handsome face among the crowd and be able to claim him and can give him a hug every once in awhile.>
I am sorry that i dont get letters out too often, i really only have time on pdays, and pdays are also so filled with things to do. i try to write at night, but usually that doesnt work out. mom, no i dont need a charger, i already have that, thank you for sending the toothbrush!also, thank you for the healthy food, it is nice to have something healthy to snack on! i do LOVE all of the treats though. >
Sorry this letter is so scatterbrained. it is hard to write when you have so much to say and so little time to do it. I keep getting asked about it here and my comps, so ill fill you in:) i am on the top floor, there are only two floors of sisters. we have a 6 person room, but only 5 people in it. sister essma is going to cambodia, sister oneil is going to thailand, but has been here for 8 weeks. sister larson is a fun girl. she is from sacramento, i get along well with her. sister akagi is from hawaii. We have bunk beds, im on the top. hah it will be nice to have my own bathroom again, not having to wait to shower and having to use public everything. I run most days around the track in the gym, especially since it has been so cold lately. it works perfectly because sister akagi goes with the other sisters to play volleyball, and sister larson just likes to sit and stretch on the floor that we run. they have opened the gym from 6-630 in the morning now only for sisters, i have been going to that as well with some sisters on my floor. i have two teachers, one who is from thailand. he is awesome. he is such an amazing teacher and has such a pure love for all of us and for his people. i would love for him to come to our house for dinner or something sometime in the next few months if possible! well, its about time for me to go. i hope i havent bored you! i will try to add some pictures next week if i remember my cord. i also sent some home, i hope you get them soon. i love you so much. i really do. please be safe. i miss you!!!!!>

love, sister young>
fyi.. i often dont get packages until the next day if they come after lunch because my district leader is bad at giving us our package slips at dinner, and by the time i get it the place is closed. but, everything has been perfect when i pick it up in the morning:) also,the post office closes at 2 on sat, so i dont get anything after that until mon. i love you!!! > >