Steph MTC Week 2

Hello family!!
SO I will start off this week with the experience I had this morning while attending the temple that is very c lose to my heart. This last week we had a bunch of native Russians come into our zone and branch to study, because they are heading on a mission to Russian areas. These mornings 4 of them were able to take out there endowments while our whole zone was able to attend. I don't know if I can portray all that I felt this morning but the spirit was so strong. While sitting in the celestial room afterwards I was sitting next to sister Zamoroni that went through this morning, one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I turned and gave her a hug and tried to portray how happy I was for her and she hugged me back and said in half Russian half broken English "what a blessing this experience and temple is". I started to cry and as I sat there and watched these amazing natives I had the str5ongest impression that it had not been easy for any of them or their families to get to this point. I felt strongly that I needed to hold on to this moment when I am out there in the field because the Lord has this overwhelming love for this people and he wants them all to get to the to this point. I'm so thankful for my call to serve this people in the Ukraine!
Poor sister Rodriguez has been super sick this week (well and last week but this week of really bad) we went down the street to the BYU health center and I sat in the waiting room for 2 hours while she was getting x-rays and tests done to see what was wrong. Funny note, while this would not be a challenge for normal people while I was sitting in the waiting room there was a TV on with CNN news. I had the hardest time not watching that TV and seeing the news as a journalism major I kept praying for something to distract me away from it as I read my scriptures for 2 hours and finally a lady that was also waiting started to ask me about my mission call and so we had a nice conversation. Sister Rod came back and the doctor said she had the beginning stages of pneumonia (I’ve had pneumonia before and so hearing this I just felt terrible for sis Rodriguez) they put her on some intense medication and I’ve been studying a lot in the room while she sleeps this week. She's feeling a bit better today but please pray for her that she will be totally well soon because being sick on top of all we are doing (especially learning Russian can't be easy).
Wednesday night was our first TRC (teaching resource center visit) it was a very humbling/ exciting experience. This is where people volunteer to be fake investigators so you can practice teaching the lessons and your language. We had to contact 5 "investigators in Russian on the street for 10 min. now since I’ve only been here at this point for 1 week I was super nervous to testify and introduce myself in Russian but it went all right. I was able to testify of Christ, Joseph Smith and some other things all in Russian and introduce Sis Rod and I. We then went and taught a 30 min lesson to 2 male investigators in English about the restoration. It was humbling how much I need to work on in my teaching but the spirit was strong and I was able to bear my testimony of the things I believed. Sister rod afterwards had a bit of a hard time as she had a bit of a harder time with the language then me and froze up a built during the lesson but she pulled it through in the end and we are working on being better teachers together. I love her she’s a wonderful companion!
I can now testify, pray (well kind of a few phrases at least) and ask some questions in Russian. Amazing how the Lord has blessed me to learn this much in such a short time. I for sure and still super overwhelmed with the language as I want to cry at least once a day over not being able to get it, one of the hardest things learning Russian that I’ve ever had to do for sure. But I'm really trying to struggle and work for this language and I know that if i do the Lord will bless me to do learn this language so I can teach his people. Sunday was wonderful, I played the piano for church, what a blessing it is to have learned musical talents so that I can use them to serve the Lord, Thank you mom for pushing me to develop those talents I'm so grateful for them. Love you!
We had a devotional Sunday night that was wonderful on never giving up on the work and having no regrets as a missionary. That I was I am striving for but I'm not the most patient person and I really think the Lord is trying to mold me right now because missionary work while worth it is really hard. I'm learning so much about what and myself the Lord wants and needs from me. Sunday we walked around the temple ground like all the missionaries usually do and it was a gorgeous day in Provo. I took some pictures with two of my Jerusalem friends’ sister copper and Briggs, so proud of all the wonderful things going on in my Jerusalem friends’ lives! I also took some other pictures with my zone and such. I'll send them through the mail this week, as I am not aloud to send them through e-mail.
We watched the Testaments movie that night and while watching the love story with about 200 elders or more in he room was hilarious as they all covered their eyes during the brief peck on the lips scene the spirit was so strong and I cried at the end of that movie as Christ was portrayed giving the atonement and then Heleman was portrayed being healed at the end. I want you all to know that I know our Savior lives and Loves every one of us and that His children are of infinite worth. How grateful I am for the struggles he gives me as well as the blessings.
Monday was a super exhausting day as I studied Russian for about 5 hours straight, had class and food breaks in between we had class in Russian from 5-9 at night and by the end of it my Brain was just done I was so tired. I kept praying the Lord would help me have strength to continue learning because I literally had nothing left. Then we were assigned an activity for one companionship to act as investigators and one to act as teachers, Elder Danniberg (he’s from Germany) was teaching us and on a funny not he was te4aching us about hoe we are created in God's image when he said "you know just like Elephants and their baby’s are created like elephants" The image was just too funny in my head that I could not stop laughing and I broke character for as minute as he asked "what so funny in his German accent and while all of us were trying to get a hold of ourselves my comp said "did you just compare God to a baby elephant then Elder cook said " yeah elder maybe you should use horses next time less funny. It was good to have the comic relief. I Love our 19-year-old elders they are hilarious and keep the craziness and stress of the MTC in perspective.
Well I love you all! Please write me if you can through dearelder.com or other means. Thank you to all who wrote this week! I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Cecpta Lacy

First Week in the MTC

Hello my wonderful family!!
I barely know where to begin my feelings have been such a roller coaster since I arrived in the MTC about a week ago. First off I feel like I have been greatly blessed/tried if that is possible this week. One of the greatest blessings to me right now is my companion Sister Rodriguez. She's so wonderful! I'm sure that the Lord knew that I needed her as a companion right now it has truly been divine intervention that we have been put together. She grew up in Germany but was born a United States citizen. Her father is Columbian and mother from Oregon. (You would think by the name she would look Hispanic but she is actually bright blond curly hair and blue eyes). I'll try to send a picture through the mail when I can. We have so much in common it is insane. She is also a journalism major at the U, loves to travel, dad is a convert to the church. Our personalities mesh so well. As one of our teachers said he said it has been a long time since he has seen two sisters connect in teaching lessons as we already have it is like we are already so in tune to each others needs. I love her so much! My district is wonderful! There are 4 sisters my companion and I and sister Uibel and Jarman and then 6 elders. The elders are all surprisingly mature for 19 year olds (except for elder Mahoney who is 21). They area al bit crazy sometimes but they keep the class fun and make the most hilarious comments. I really have been blessed to be with such a great group. Its kind of weird to me I have to describe them to you because I feel like I have already known them forever and that you should know them too.
I have been super overwhelmed trying to teach Russian this week as well as the strict crazy busy schedule. But the Lord is blessing me with the spirit so it has been alright. I didn't know before coming on a mission how powerful the mantle of being set apart as a missionary would be but it is amazing. Never in my life have I felt so loved by the Lord or had answers come so quickly to my mind. The scriptures are amazing reading them as a missionary; I am finding so much strength and knowledge in them.
I don't think I have ever been as anxious to do something as I was Wednesday before entering the MTC to just get through these doors and start my mission (dad can attest to that lol). Wednesday was overwhelming and long but we had some great meetings meeting our teacher brothers Anderson, McCrery and Rutter. They are amazing teachers and I am learning so much from them.
Thursday we started to learn the alphabet in Russian. Wow was I overwhelmed we have 3 missionaries in my district who are already almost fluent in Russian and I feel so inadequate next to them but they area all very humble and trying their best not to make the rest of us feel bad. I think learning Russian is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. That night we met with President Harrison (our branch pres and his counselors and wife’s) we were all kind of scared to meet him cuz the older district kept telling us how strict and scary he was. But he didn't scare me when I met him (he's a lawyer, and served as a mission president in Russia just got back about a year ago) he is for sure super intense but you can tell he loves every single one of us missionaries and is proud of our successes. His branch rule and theme is obeyed with exactness. We are one of the strictest branches in the whole mtc I found out. He gave us a lesson in district meeting on Sunday about obedience and man was it intense.
Friday we started to really dive into Russian, we learned how to pray and testify in Russian. I almost started to cry that night over how inadequate I was feeling, I don't know how I am ever going to learn this language but I have faith that the lord wouldn’t have called me here if he didn't know I could do it. Sis Rodriguez turned to me in class this week and said how are you feeling? at first I said fine but then to be honest I said actually no I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. She laughed and said oh good met too! (Although I fell like everyone is catching on faster then me even sis Rodriguez, she already knows German English, Italian and French...).
Saturday morning we started the day off with gym time (I love gym time at the mtc!) it is a nice break from the rest of the schedule. sis rod and I made a deal to get eat healthy every day in the mtc cafeteria except Fridays so we don't overeat and get sick and to go to the early morning gym classes 3 times a week before starting our days. We had a workshop on Saturday afternoon and our teacher didn't show up, so sis rod and I had to go find our regular teacher and tell him. The elders had started to act kind of rowdy and throw stuff at each other so we decided it was time to take action.
Sunday was a wonderful day sister Elaine Dalton of the general young women’s pres came and talked to us in relief society and she started speaking on how this week had been a series of ups and downs, huge spiritual highs and hard overwhelming lows. That was exactly how I had been feeling. as we stood up to recite the young women theme I was so overwhelmed with feeling of love from my heavenly father I started to cry. I knew without a doubt in that moment that the reason I was here right now is because through living righteously growing up and keeping those standards the lord had prepared me for this moment in time to do this work. And to "stand as a witness in all things and all time s in all places" on our wall in our building it says the phrases "show the lord you are willing to struggle and strife and learn this language so that he can bless you with the gift of tongues. I know I am going to have to work harder then ever before but it is worth it and he will bless me. Monday as we were sitting outside studying some Spanish sisters that can barley speak English came up to me and started to bare their testimony for that brief moment in time I got a glimpse e of the simple testimony I would be able to bare in Russian to those people and things to come and I was so grateful for the knowledge that I can do this I just been to be patient.

This morning we went to them temple and it was glorious! sis rod has been super sick this week and so we had to go to the health center, please keep her in your prayers it was sweet as the elders gave her their first ever blessings this morning what a special experience!
Family: Please send me letters! My companion gets like 4 a day from her family and I would really like to hear from you! I love and miss you all! I only get 30 min of the computer and so I can't read your emails really and respond so go to dearelder.com and send me e-mails through that.
Mom I need you too send me another towel Love you all! Please write me so I know how you are doing!

Time:Moving Forward

Time is a funny thing. Within the last few months I have felt like time was dragging as well as moving too fast (is that possible?). Getting my mission call 4 months before entering the MTC has given me some wonderful blessings as well as tried my patience. Within the last few months I have had the wonderful blessing of being able to have time to say goodbyes and 'see you later's' to friends and family that I love as well as get some wonderful experiences working on BYU's newspaper, The Daily Universe, as the Arts and Entertainment Editor, in which I learned many valuable lessons under that patient tutelage of my two bosses Rich and Kaye. I'm grateful for the time I had this summer to gain friendships and learn lessons from those around me. This last month has been a bit hectic trying to buy and prepare everything to pack into two duffle bag suitcases for the next year and a half of my life. This last week I was able to spend some precious moments with my niece and nephew tyler while my mom and I took the kids overnight to the oregon coast. I am going to miss these precious children as well as all my friends and family but I'm so grateful for this chance to serve the Lord! Below are a few pictures of the last few months of my life, enjoy! :) My beautiful neice Aubreyt and I, love that little girl!

Attempting to take a picture at the coast (it as a bit windy as you can tell lol)

Beautiful Oregon Coast, (My heart resides in the Northwest :)!

My niece Aubrey playing in the sand

My nephew tyler at the Oregon Coast

My new haircut, the shortest I've ever had it!

The next generation of Lacy's (Thomas, Steven Jr., Aubrey, Tyler)

Lacy Sister's together again! (L-R: Terisha, Brooke, Steph, Sommer)

The Lacy Siblings together one last time before I head on my mission :).

(L-R: Sommer, Brooke, Steph, Steven)

Viewpiont: If you want to be a 'twihard', that fine, just don't take the kids

This is my recent article that was printed in the Daily Universe at BYU today. :) :

Viewpoint: If you want to be a ‘Twihard,’ fine, just don’t take the kids By Stephanie Lacy

Mania surrounding openings of films in the “Twilight” saga, “High School Musical” and the “Harry Potter” series never cease to amaze me.

Without embarrassment, I admit I went with a friend to see the new movie, “Eclipse,” that came out last week. I am by no means a “Twi-hard,” but I enjoyed the books in the “Twilight” series. There is no question the newest edition to the “Twilight” phenomenon, “Eclipse,” was the best by far. However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and thought all the crazy fans who were screaming over Edward and Jacob were hilarious, I was quite disturbed by the little girl sitting next to me who looked to be about the age of 5. She was crying and holding her hands over her face throughout the movie.

Most of the fans who go to the “Twilight” movies have either read or heard a lot about the books they are based on. Mothers and daughters alike go crazy over the battle between Edward and Jacob, which I think is just fine. Although people fainting and crying over fictional characters is a bit extreme, if that’s what makes them happy, so be it.

I do, however, have a problem with mothers who have read the books, complete with violence and inappropriate scenes transferred into the movies, yet still take their young children to see them.

There is a reason movies have rating systems. While “Twilight,” in my opinion, is appropriate for audiences over 13 years of age, the violence shown in the movie is not appropriate for children younger then 8.

As I watched the little girl in the seat next to me, I noticed through the majority of the movie she had her hands over her eyes and started to cry during one of the more intense battle scenes toward the end of the movie. I also took notice of a father ushering out his two little girls because they had also gotten scared.

While there are some parents who have not read the books and may think “Eclipse” would be a great family film for their little and older children, I beg to differ. We all need to be careful about what we are exposing our children to and protect them from seeing the kind of violence that is going to give them nightmares.

A PG-13 movie, according to filmrating.com, is defined as standing for “parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for teenagers.” The site then goes on to say that a PG-13 motion picture “may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.”

Just because a movie is not rated R does not mean that it is appropriate for young children. A lot of the violence, language and nudity in PG-13 movies can be just as detrimental to children.

http://universe.byu.edu/node/9431

A year of fun and learning :)

Alison, Adam and I after going through the Manti temple and attending the Manti temple Pageant this last weekend!

My sisters and I after I went through the temple in Portland, Oregon!

My Family and I outside the Portland Temple after I went through the temple!

Alison and I on our pioneer trek we took!

My mom and dad came to visit me for easter and conference weekend! So fun! I love my parents!

My Nephew Tyler, and Niece Aubrey that I love with all my Heart at Christmas time!

My sisters, Sommer and Brooke and I had a sisters weekend up in Boise in the Fall! I love my sister's it was soo fun!

Heather, Alison and I at Halloween! (Heather was swine flu, I was a middle eastern person, and Ali was a flapper)

Right before the Homecoming football game at BYU in the Fall!

My Beautiful Roommates fo Fernwood 102 (L-R: Myself, Rachelle, Heather, Alison)

So it's been awhile since I've posted on here....exactly a year from now I was in the Holy Land soaking up the sun and learning about the Savior. Reflecting on the last year since I have been home from Jeru, I have learned alot. I loved living with my 3 roommates, heather, rachelle, and alison this last year. We learned alot from eachother and had loads of fun! I love these those girls. Since it is now summer again, Heather is in Jerusalem taking the same journey I took about a year ago and Rachelle is home enjoying time with her family. Ali and I have a fun spring together here at BYU. I am currently working at the Arts and Entertainment Editor on the BYU school newspaper and loving it!

I recently got my call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in the Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk mission. I leave for the MTC September 8th. I am so excited to serve the people of Ukraine and the Lord! I will add some pictures along with this post of fun things that have happened since I have been in Jerusalem.

Dead Sea!

A bunch of us covered in Dead Sea mud at the Dead Sea!
My roomates (Karen, Rachel, Monica and I) at the dead sea covered from head to toe in mud!
With Father Angelo (the Franciscan Monk) in the Old City. He is a wonderful Man!
In the Garden of Gethsemane, by the rock that they traditionally say that Christ prayed and suffered on that night.

Sea of Galilee!

At the point of the mountain next to the sea were it is said that the swine ran off the cliffs after the devils that Christ had sent out of the man went into them.
Near the point where Christ fed the loaves and the fishes to the 5 thousand. This is audrey and I standing in the Sea of Galilee just below that point.
On the Mt. of Beattitudes where the Savior taught the Sermon on the Mount. This was the spot that I chose to study for the 40 min. Brother Huff gave us to go off my ourselves!
At the Museum where the 2,000 year old boat from Christ time period is held. That is the Boat behind me.
On the Boat on the Sea of Galilee with a bunch of the other students in my class.
On the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Isn't it gorgeous here?
With Lisa, Lydia, and Mandy in the church in Nazareth dedicated to Mary.
At a church in the city of Nazareth. Every nation had a piece of artwork in this church representing the Virgin Mary. This was the United States depiction.
Regean, Audrey, Elise and I pretending to fight at Armageddon also known as Megiddo.
Standing on a rock looking over the Mediterranean Sea at Ceasearia Maritima. This is a beautiful place!
In Nazareth in the church that stands on top of the place where it is believed that the angel came to announce the birth of Christ.
At Ceasearia Maritima right on the Mediterrianean Sea with a bunch of the other students!