November 12th Letters and Pics

The earthquake was kind of fun in my opinion, we were just studying and it wasn't that bad, just stood in the doorway for a few seconds. Everyone here was terrified though, so its been kinda good for business, everyone is like ´´i knew i needed to repent´´ and we were like we can help you with that! My comp´s name is Shroeder. Her dad is retired now. They never lived anywhere we have, he was an MP. I was sad i didn't get to watch the elections, but my comp and I wore red white and blue, and I painted my toenails red with blue stars. A member let us know that Obama had won.Oh I sent a package for you all, it isn't a lot because well there is a lot here but hopefully you get it for the holidays! The only thing I can think of that I want is some multivitams, not chewables...those disintegrated here, not sure why. Anyways spanish is coming slowly, my comp is super patient and sometimes I understand and sometimes I cant so we will see. Everyone says to give it 6 months. The members here are really nice, they say my spanish is good and then they say to each other ´´Remember Elder ****...he didn't know any spanish´´ I don't know this poor elder, but he makes me feel a little better about life. So because of my lack of spanish, I found out my comp volunteered me to teach the yw country dance. She asked me if I knew it and I was like, if I have a good partner and she was like whatever, so on Saturday I had to like make up a routine for these girls. WE did a combination of a line dance, a square dance, and some swing...and did it all without music It was hilarious. Then my teeny tiny bishop started singing and dancing around me and my companion. it was so funny. So the exciting things in my life this week ' I found a leaf that smelled like a fruit loop.WE set a baptism date with one of our investigators yesterday. He was so happy, you could just see him waiting for us to ask him, because we've been trying for a bit to get a date with him and finally he was ready! The spirit was so sweet and I'm so excited for him! So our new convert, she likes to exaggerate and she told me and my comp that she had gone to the doc and had had a temperature of 140 degrees...I told her that wasn't possible and my comp told her she would have been dead yesterday! That is exciting for Remmington! Tell him congrats! I wish I could see your hair, do you feel like you have more fun now. Thank you and thank Craig and Nannie for me. Also tell Pres Scott and and Bro Teague I say hello. and don't worry, I am protected, like it says in D & C 6 if the powers of earth and hell combine against me I will be okay as long as I'm built upon my savior, and I am. I love you!

This pic is not from the earthquake.  It is construction from behind the church building.  They are expanded to make it larger.   But Emily says you can pretend it is the earthquake if you'd like.  :) 

November 5th Letters

Hey Mama! Tell Nannie I love her too and Aunt Annie congrats for me, I hope the reception is fun! Yes the package I got was Halloween, it was great! We didnt do a lot on Halloween but we did have to go in an hour early at 7 just for safety even though they dont really celebrate Halloween here, they did have Day of the Dead the next day. But for Halloween my comp and I bought some candy, but they dont have much here, they think cough drops are candy so they mostly sell those, but we did find some chocolate and had stuff the package you sent! So we have started teaching this cute little old couple and the man knows a ton and they are really receptive! like in our first lessone with them the man said ¨I dont think you just go to heaven, there is a place you wait before that´´ My comp looked at me in the middle of our lesson and in english was like ´´what the heck?´´ not many people know about the spirit world! It is exciting and fun teaching them! THe woman is funny, she is always cracking us up. She told us she needed to walk with a cane because without it she looks like a drunk, but then she just holds the cane, and doesnt use it. its funny. They told us the last time they went to chuch she had the hiccups and the pastor told her she had a devil in her and so he baptized her and her kids right then and there, so they were wanted to make sure we would give them time to learn before we baptized them, we assured them we would. Speaking of baptisms I had my first on this week! It was exciting. It was neat to be apart of it, though im not really close to this women but i was really happy for her.So can I just tell you life is different here and it just makes me laugh, like we went to go visit a recent convert and outside her house there is always a raccoon chained to a tree. it paces back and forth and it just cracks me up that someone has the raccoon as a pet! Also one family was super sweet this week and made us hot chocolate, mind you it is over 90 degrees outside with humidity and were sweating but they made it from scratch so that was nice, Oh and I made tortillas the other day, Im not good at it! The family and i and my comp were cracking up! I was not meant to make tortillas which is okay because thats all they make here. I went to the hospital here this week to visit a member and it was super different, there were lots of people in the room and of course no AC, it was really interesting to see, Im grateful for the hospitals that I go to. My contacts are 8.4 Things are good here, im exhausted all the time but some of the people make it all worth it, some of them are so sweet and I love the kids here, they think it is hilarious when my comp and i speak english, it cracks them up! But i love you! Tell Zoey Congrats for me! 

Hi Danielle! The pics are super cute!!! Halloween sounds like it was fun, no they dont really celebrate here, on nov 1, they did day of the dead but they just visit cemetaries and get drunk, but thats what they do every holiday apparently. THats awesome that you are keeping a gratitude journals, it is true, that someone is always happy with less, especially here, some people are very sweet even though they have little. Im so glad you are using PMG, it is wonderful and so inspired, i love that book. What are some of your lesson plans. Im excited for Andrews baptism, I really want to record my self for him, but i dont know if thats possible here, the techonology isnt as advanced, but i will try if not, is there anything else i can do to participate, write a note? And Andrew is an overacheiver because of you! haha Im excited tohear about elections! Living here has made me appreciate America so much! WE are so very blessed to have laws and the blessings we have there! So I will take you through a typical day and if it sounds bad at parts, thats not my intent, im just trying to be real. So My comp and I (we live alone, just the 2 of us in an apt above a non member family, our apt is really nice, it is made out of concrete, a majority of the people here, their homes are made out of some concrete and aluminum) get up at 545 and run and go to a itty bitty gym down the street! WE love it! THen we go home and get ready, the shower is cold, but we prefer it that way since it is always hot here and we are constantly sweating. Then we study for awhile or have meetings in the morning. THen we teach, we usually teach 5 to 6 lessons a day. WE ride around on these 3 wheeled little cars called tuc tucs. I love them, if i lived here, id want to be a tuc tuc driver. We usually have lunch with a member, but we try to get out of it because first of all it isnt sanitary how they prepare their food and it is usually hot food, and they arent really ever ready so we dont like to sit there when we could be out contacting. Time doesnt exsist here. People say that we can come by at 3 but they arent there or everything runs 30 mins to an hour behind or we try to make appts with people and they say ¨well i might leave, my feet may just leave´´ they dont understand they are in control of there life. THen we go home and study more and then finish the day with appts.WE usually stop by and say hi to the family in the ward that lives on the corner, they are so sweet and they sell tortillas....everyone does! THen we usually stop on the stores on the side of the road and by dinner which is usually bread or chips or cereal. My diet is great here, but really all they eat here is tortillas and coke. Ive had so much soda since ive been here, it is gross.The pan is so good! I love it so much! THen we go home at 8, hermanas go in earlier for safety reasons and we plan and then I was my clothes by hand in this basin we have outside our apt, i feel like the woman in the little mermaid! It is kind of fun! It is so different here but Im happy and my comp and i have so much fun! I love you and hope everything is good! Tell everyone I love them too! 

Letter October 29th, 2012

Hey Hey hey! I;m am in the field! Thanks for the pictures of the boys. they are so cute! Also I got your halloween cards and packages! Thanks so much! Me and my companion loved it! My trainer is spectacular. She is just who I needed. We get along really well and have a good time together. Today our zone carved pumpkins for PDay. I dont think I need anything right now, but Ill make sure and tell you next week. So the field is super different the the CCM and I love it.! It is super hot and humid and I look gross all the time but the people here dont care because Im white and have blue eyes. Ive never had my eyes complemented so much! So I found out that in our mission we are allowed to email friends, because probably the mail is unreliable. THanks! So I feel pretty legit because guess what happened on my 2nd day, I was bitten by a dog! Can you believe that! My comp was real brave and whacked it with her umbrella...speaking of which I'm getting a new one today because mine is already broken, it rains a lot her, like making rivers every afternoon in the streets. But anyway don't worry about the bite its fine the owner says it has its vaccinations and its been 3 days and its still alive so im good. My comp felt so bad but I just laughed about it. I would get bit my first week. My life is super cliche. So how is home. How is life and work. Make sure to tell me about the election please! Tell everyone I love them and tell Aunt Annie....Congrats for me! Take care and know I love you!!!! 

 

October 20th Letter

That is so nice that you got to go to SC and that your Anniversary was
good! And you hadnt told me about it so no worries! I hope you had
lots of fun on your getaway! We should go to Europe when I get back,
Ill have a few months before school, or maybe Hawaii, I feel like I
would enjoy being pampered and my roommate was telling me about her
past pampering in Hawaii, sounds like a dream! Im glad everything got
worked out with my checking account, could you maybe by chance send me
my balance please. It is difficult to check here. I got my absentee
ballot yesterday and have now voted, it was quite thrilling except its
not as good as real life because I dont get a sticker! Oh speaking of,
Im sorry you cant find any stickers, good luck with the internet! Im
glad to hear Seminary is going well and the kids are doing better. Im
reading in Matt right now, but I think Luke is my favorite of the
Gospels, or he was the last time I read the 4 of them.  Good luck with the
fast situation. Gracias for your spiritual thoughts mama. How has
pondering going? Im trying to better at that too. but its true,
everytime I ponder, my prayers are better and I learn more. So I got a
couple letters from Nalani and I have written her back, but so she
knows I cant email her here but I might be able to in the field, it is
up to my mission president, I will let her know in 2 days! Holy cow! I
go into the field in 2 days! I am excited! Im dont with the CCM. I
barely know spanish and this is probably the last time Ill feel clean
for a while because it is super hot in my area, but i am ready to
teach real people and not be stuck inside all day and to be able to
share this gospel. We went proselyting on Monday, without any native
spanish speakers and it was hard and I didnt know half of what the
people were saying but it was good. We got a few referrals and were
able to give out a BOM and some pamphlets. It was a confidence boost I
needed. Ive learned a lot here, about the gospel, spanish, and I can
make this cool snapping noise with my figers now by flicking them
together like a whip!Then Tuesday President Martino, the Area
President came to speak to us. That was cool. He just talked about how
missions are great. I went to the temple for the last time for a
little while.  There is another one right outside my mission, in the
mission next to us, I hope I get to go there sometime.  How is
Danielle? I havent heard about her and the rest of them? Is she
feeling better? How are the kids and Chad? My time is almost out but I
love you and will probably email you once I get to Reu. or at least I
hope so! Thanks for your prayers! Have fun at the beach for me! I love
you! Mwah!

October 14, 2012

Thank you for that quote! I really like it! I also enjoyed the joke
you sent me by Dear Elder! Im glad to hear nanny is doing better!
Please tell her I love her! That is awesome that Amanda had her Baby!
Congrats! and Yes you can cancel that charge. Thanks! Iam sorry about
the job andthat Elder Holland scares Molly. Im excited to get a letter
from Della! I hope itll get here before I leave! I will be sending her
a letter today and maybe a couple of the elders in my district! We had
to do an activity where we had to take on the role of a non member
friend and I chose her and they really enjoyed teaching her and
getting to know a little more about her, so she can be looking forward
to that. I did receive Nannys bday card, and also one from Sister
Baker so that was nice. So anyways, Happy anniversary in advance! I
hope you have fun at the Melting Pot! Enjoy it for me! I wish I could
celebrate with you! Im so happy you and Daddy decided to get married
and make a family that I am blessed enough to be apart of! Thank you
for your wonderful examples of love! So this week was good. So my
mission presidents wife has been a bit envious of that scarf from
Coldwater Creek that I got right before I left, so the other day she
came up to me and was super excited because she found one similar to
it here. She showed it to me and had me teach her how to wear it. Too
bad Rach wasnt her to give her multiple ideas because she definitly
knows her fashion better than I do! For some reason our Elders were in
a fight  in  our district, I dont know why, but they seem to be
better, but man those elders, more dramatic the sisters sometimes! The
language is coming, most days its good,there was one day this week
though that I was cursing the people who built the tower of Babel
making me learn this language! So here are a couple of stories that I
though were funny but maybe a bit innappropriate for some, so Im
warning you know. So the first one, the other night the Latinas found
one of the Nortes tampons and wanted to know what it was,yeah i dont
how to explain that in spanish, nor did I want to, they thought we
were being rude for not explaining but we just didnt know how. and so
we told our teacher about it and she was saying how its a cultural
thing and how when she was on her mission her Norte companions tried
to get her to use it but she was like "no, i cant" so to relax her and
calm her down they started singing hyms to her outside the bathroom
door. She was like "what the heck" The way she told it it was super
funny. Who sings to convince someone to use a tampon? andyways the
other story is My teacher asked me my favorite movie, so I couldnt
lie, and I said Mean girls...edited of course...then she asked me my
favorite part, it was hard to pick but the ones that came to mind
werent the most appropriate and I didnt know how to say them in
espanol, so I did lie about that. Ill repent, dont worry.So i should
probably say something spiritual after that huh? Well we watched a
devo by Elder Nelson and I saw Becky Hinchcliff singing in the choir
in the recording but anyways he was talking about how we are gathering
the 10 tribes of Isreal and how cool it is that profets prophesied of
us 4000 years ago in the OT, that we would gather them in these, the
last days! I thought that was neat! I love you all! How all is well!
and I cant wait to her from Rach! How is everything there? How is the
pig? Love you so much!!!!! Mwah!

October 8, 2012

 I'm glad you all
enjoyed conference, I did as well! I really loved Ucthdorfs talk and
how he said to enjoy the journey .Hollands was great too, I love Peter
and how we need to show theSavior we love him, but I always love
Holland! We watched a devotional by Holland a couple weeks ago where
he gave a similar talk. It was funnier in the devotional, he talked
about dear, sweet Peter, who cuts off peoples ears! there were some
points I wished more than anything my Della and my Johnny had been
listening. Oh well. Did Nannie watch it? I am glad you all had a good
weekend together!! So earlier this week I was in the cafeteria and the
Presidents wife came and got me and my companion, she said they needed
to talk to us, my stomach dropped, I knew something was wrong.It was
terryfying. Apparently there was a man killed on the border of Arizon
and Mexico, by his partner. Have you heard about it? It was my
companions cousin, or her cousins husband, so she received that news.
I felt so bad for her but she is doing fine. But I was so happy to
know you were all okay! We have a ton of new hermanas and most of them
are Latinas, some of them I can understand, we have one from
Argentina....I have no idea what she is saying most of the time. We
have 3 Nortes and one of them is really good friends with Ciara, they
were in nursing classes together, so it was nice having that
connection! This is our last full week of classes because next week is
workshops and proselyting! Its crazy! They keep telling us to pray for
a good trainer, so if you wanna pray for that, that would be great
because i need all the help I can get! How are things at home? Im
sorry you havent heard about the job yet! Good luck! How are the
Scribners? How is Rach? How did she feel about the announcment? We
were all freaking out here! That is super exciting! I love you all so
much!

Emily's Letter Home 10/2/2012

Sorry I am emailing off schedule. We are emailing today because we
dont get a PDay on Saturday I think because of General Conference and
because all the new missionaries are getting here so the schedule is
weird for everyone the first few days. So I will email you a week from
saturday.So since I emailed last not a whole lot has happened. They
have made me coordinating sister again...you would think that I would
learn what ever I need to from it. But I am excited, last time I had 6
sisters, this time I work with another coordinating sister and we will
have 24 sisters, which most of them dont speak english so it should be
a good time. We got to go on a tour of the city today. It was so cool.
We saw this huge life size map that shows the geography of Guatemala
and parts of Belice, Mexico and El Salvador. Then are mission
president went through the whole story of the Book of Mormon and
discussed the theory  of it taking place here and where exactly they
think certain events might have happened, like where Nephi might have
landed, where the Waters of Mormon might be and so forth. It was
really neat. Then we went to the market place to do some shopping and
bartering. Things are pretty cheap here but I should probably work on
my bartering skills. Then afterwards we went to Wendys! Yeah Wendys,
just the same as at home, just in spanish. Everyone was in heaven!
Then we got to go to the temple and then one of the new girls came, so
we welcomed her. The rest will come tomorrow. I just finished watching
a devotional by Elder Bednar. It was really good, he talked about that
the main question most members have is "how do I know if I am
following the Spirit or if its just me". His answer was to quit
worrying about it. To just be a good boy or a good girl, keep your
covenants and follow the commandments and you wont go amiss. That most
promptings arent this big, noticable thing and you wont always know at
that exact moment if you are doing the right thing or not. It was
great, that just as long as we are doing what we should be doing,
Heavenly Father isnt going to mess us over. But yeah thats really all
I have to update on here. Oh and we had a talk the other night and
they asked us if we are ready to live in tents in 3 weeks, in the
heat, with bugs...Ill be honest with you, Ill do it but I cant say Im
thrilled about, bugs are sick. But anyway they talked about those
verses in Nephi "and my father dwelt in a tent". Reminded me of that
talk you talked about Mama that some guy gave once. Anyways how are
you? How is work and seminary? Rachel write that boy yet? How is
Danielle feeling and how are the rest of the Scribners? Oh my dear
Tornado goes into the MTC tomorrow! that is so exciting! I am really
sad that I leave here the day she gets here in Guatemala and we wont
even see each other. She will get here at night and I leave in the
Morning. I was going to hide notes around for her here but I was
telling  The mission presidents wife that my best friend was coming
here and she volunteered that if I had anything I wanted to leave her
that I could just leave it with her, so that was nice and Ill probably
do that, but i might still hide a note or something cause that would
be a good time. Maybe ill leave a map with the mission presidents wife
and bury something for Tori and make her search and dig for it like a
pirate. That could be good. Anyways! I love you all! Enjoy Conference,
dont sleep through it, i am going to try really hard not to! Have a
good week and I hope the house is decorated all up for Halloween! I
wish I could see it! Mwah!