taking a sip from a fire hose

Hello! I've made it a whole week already! Wednesdays are p-days here in the MTC for us. I think it's Tuesday in Indiana though. My departure date is Nov. 17th.
My companion was Sister Summers from Morgan, Utah. She graduated from BYUI in April in interior design. She was sick with a cold when she came in and then she got a DearElder letter from her friend and said she had swine flu. We went to the health center Saturday morning and they said she just had a cold. Sunday she was worse and we went to instacare (the 2nd time we got to leave the campus) and she tested positive for "the flu". So in to quarantine she went. Sad day. We were working well together. I had to wait at the front desk for a while until they got a hold of the other sisters in my district. So, now I am in a threesome. It's hard teaching with 3 of us, and especially since I had gotten used to working with Sister Summers. Sister Esplin is from Massachusetts, but moved to Hyde Park 2 years ago. Sister Spindler is from Oregon. They are both very shy and timid, and that's a challenge when it comes to teaching, since I'm kind of a dominant personality when it comes to teaching. I've been able to help them some though, but it's a slow process helping them to be confident and bold. I was really frustrated yesterday with it and I asked my roommates (my companions are in the room next door) for some help, and I got some good ideas. Today has been better (albeit, it's p-day, so wé haven't taught today). I can see them growing, so hopefully it will all work out in the end and be a great experience for all of us. And hopefully Sister Summers will get better soon because I don't think quarantine is a good experience for anyone. They gave our whole district Tamiflu as a preventative.
My district is really fun. There's 10 of us. Seven are going to Indiana (4 sisters and 3 elders) and 3 elders are going to the Baltimore mission. Leza's brother isn't in my district and I haven't seen him yet. Bummer. I was worried about having to deal with immature 19 year old boys here, but our elders are great. Sure they goof off and joke around, but they also can be serious and I think they'll all be great missionaries. Gym time is fun - me and 6 of the 7 elders play volleyball and we are pretty good together. Our coordinating sister (kinda like zone leader) told us that volleyball was no fun yesterday (when we weren't there) and they ended up leaving early.
My teachers are really great. One of them is trying to date a girl that I know from school. He'd been telling us things about the situation (vaguely) and then just yesterday was when he told us her name and I was like Ï know her! Sorry, the keyboard is being retarded and wouldn't let me put quotes and this is really nerve racking having a countdown timer on the screen. We only get 30 minutes and then it logs us off right then. So that's why this is probably not coherent. Maybe next time I'll write an outline first. I dunno.
I've learned a lot here so far and I really love it. I'm stoked to get out to Indiana. I've got a long ways to go, but I feel that I'm progressing well. The Spirit is so strong here. Two of our elders and our teacher helped give Sister Summers a blessing and I got to sit in. As soon as Elder Harward (from Meridian, ID) began the anointing, the Spirit was so strong. I love this place.
There's a sister here that was one of my students fall semester. She stood up in a large meeting and I recognized her. I found her afterward and she is going to the Knoxville, TN mission! I'm jealous.
My roommates are all going to Russia (2 different missions) and they are leaving a week before us. They've been here 11 weeks already. I don't think I could last that long. The anticipation would get to me and drive me nuts I think. Three of the 4 of them went to BYUI. I really like all of them, but I've talked to Sister Spjute (silent J) the most. It's amazing how many people I've met so far that went to BYUI. My companions' roommate, Sister Mains, was Brother Turcotte's (physics dept. head) T.A., so she knew who I was, and she looked familiar to me. It's a small world, especially if you're Mormon.
We had a fireside last night with Pres. Rasband of the 70 (the same who came to our stake conference before I left). He and his wife talked about finding people and shared neat experiences about finding people his dad converted on his mission and similar stories that I can't think of right now because the time is freaking me out! I think I will write an outline next time.
We taught the first lesson on Saturday, having only been here 2.5 days! That's a lot sooner than most people. Our teachers said they put us on the accelerated reader program and we do things a lot faster than they do. My first lesson with Sister Summers went really well. The second was was an utter disaster. It was horrible. I wanted to curl up in a ball and die. :) Or at least be by myself for a bit. Too bad the only alone time we get is in the bathroom or shower.
BYUI should take a lesson from the MTC - covered walkways everywhere! It's awesome when it's raining/snowing, but it does tend to shield the sunlight. Another thing that's great, is that there's no huge hill to climb up everyday.
We went to the temple today. It was great. I've been missing having the opportunity to go every day. Once a week is all we get, and I think because of p-day being on Wednesday and we leave on the 17th, I think we only get to go one more time. Sad day. I'm sure as soon as I finish this I'll think of something I forgot to write. Hmm.
Well, I guess I'll be off. AHHH now the time is blinking at me! More nerve racking! DearElder.com is awesome! Same day delivery here in the MTC twice a day! Send mail please!!
Love you all, the church is true!