Yes indeed I'm still alive, I'm a little roughed up with a nice big cold, but all is well! :) It is the most beautiful campus here at the MTC the new buildings are always so nice to go to when we have class it is at least a 5 minute walk but It's fun and beautiful and I usually end up singing or whistling on our little stroll down to class twice a day and back! Who knew you'd get so "whistley" when you're walking places and all you are is tired.. and thinking about the things you just had learned in class!
My companion, Sister Gornichec, is the best.. we've had some pretty fun times, a few hard times, but it has made us grow so much closer for sure! We've gotten along with each other completely fine!! She's just great and such a strong woman!
My absolute favorite part about the MTC is not only the beauty, but when we get to go outside of campus just across the street and exercise time and playing on the beach volley ball courts!!! We take off our shoes and play volley ball in the sand! Yesterday for exercise time we went and lifted some weights and workout with all the elders (guys) in my district (class)!!! That was quite fun! I actually felt like I was finally getting a good workout in, i mean when you are with 7 guys and a girl lifting weights some how they are gonna make you work hard! That's for sure! After working out for 30 mins we went straight to volley ball! That was not the best after working your arms as much as you could.. at least I could get a few serves over the net haha! Our district leader (we nominated him head of the class, he's not the teacher though) yesterday he was pretending to be from Britain while we were all studying and when anyone can get a good British accent going I can't stop laughing cause it was HILARIOUS, so we learned never to study with the other Elders (guys) out of class time because they tend to be immature and not focused! Anyways, accents in my zone are the thing to Do! Scottish accents are the funniest and British accents are the most soothing! My companion's Australian accent is perfect!
Anyways, can you tell I'm having a bit of fun here? (Said in a British accent)
On the more tender side if things, I got got to sing in the choir on July 24th, called pioneer day (a of holiday mostly for those in Utah) and man could we sing! It was the coolest thing having hundreds of missionaries singing and there was a whole bunch of layering and harmonies in the song! Coolest singing experience I have ever been a part of!
I think the most valuable thing I've learned here is that we are training to be friends and to help and invite and LOVE other people. It sounds pretty simple, but my golly does it entail every aspect of our whole lives. You need to have the ability to know when the right thing to say is and exactly what to say to help the person with exactly what they need! If anyone asks what is taught here, I have learned that we should love every person with all our heart no matter what. I'm sure not going to want to be leaving DC in 18 months I'm going to want to stay there, because when I leave I'll be leaving a part of my heart for sure!
1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knowledge God."
10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son"
14 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"
The things in this scripture are true. I live by them and they make my life so much happier by knowing them. I am supposed to be here at the MTC at this time and I know the Holy Ghost is real and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real and they speak to me through the Holy Ghost by the feelings I get!
I got to watch the Character of Christ by Elder Bednar and wow is it amazing!!! Always remember to think and act outward towards others and not selfishly and you will begin to develop the Charter of who Christ is!!!!! I love you all so much and I'm having the time of my life here, happy as can be!
Be brave with you life and stay true to what you know is good!
Always Love,
Sister Callista Chaffin 
Pictures
1. Personal study spot yesterday
2. My name tag and the beautiful flowers on campus!!!
2. My name tag and the beautiful flowers on campus!!!
3. My district (class) and my teacher is the guy in the back middle with the glasses. One of the most humblest, loving, and knowledgeable (about the gospel) person I know who is as young as 21!!
4. Sister Gornichec and I taking a bathroom picture!!!
5. Can't remember but I think this is the top (6th) floor. What a cool view of campus!
6. Some Elders (guys) started stacking rocks cause they got bored, look how insane some of them are! The laws of gravity don't even work here ;)
