First Letter from the MTC 8/30/2012

Hey Everyone!

So sorry it took me so long to write. I have P Day on Thursdays, so that is when you can expect emails, or as long as I'm here in Provo. There shouldn't be any delay in getting to Guatemala because apparently you don't need a visa to enter the country so this time in 2 weeks I'll be there! Woo hoo!
So I love it here, it is very busy and challenging but I love it! The language is coming slowly but surely. I understand a whole lot more than I can say. I often feel like I'm in the "Peter situation" again from when I was a child. Pronunciation is a problem for me but I'm getting it! Guess what I can pray, bear my testimony and kind of teach in Spanish! Guess what they did to me my 2nd full day here! They gave me an investigator to teach in spanish!!!! Those monsters...haha jk. No it has been pretty cool, my companions and I taught him yesterday for the fourth time and he agreed to be baptized!!!! Too bad he's a teacher here and just pretends and served a mission so my guess is he has already been baptized, but hey it's still pretty cool.
I'm in a trio right now. There names are Hermana Morris and Hermana Fusi. Hermana Morris is from New Mexico and is kind of quiet but I really like her, we get along really well. Hermana Fusi is from California and she is Tongan, so in the words of a little black girl in Wal-Mart, "She got hair like me". We all get along great. It's been a blessing having companions I really like. I really like my district as well. The Elders are all very impressive and they keep me laughing. I made a baseball analogy to the gospel the other day and one of the Elders told me he loved me and then looked super uncomfortable cause you know, we are missionaries, and was like "in a completely missionary way!" It was rather funny in my opinion.
So they've made me coordinating sister, which means I am over all the sisters in the zone. So I get to go to lots of meetings and trainings! There are only 7 sisters but we got new ones yesterday and it was my job to tell them how things go around here, not like I've only been here a week to figure it out myself. But it's been fun, I like it!
Also you can write me using DearElder. com It's free and I get the letter the same day you send it! So use it while I'm here, though I really do appreciate all your letters. I got Mama's and the card Daddy snuck into my luggage, that was so sweet! Thanks! I also just got the Scribners letters and more from Mama and Daddy but I haven't had a chance to read them. Sorry.
Usually on P Days I get to go to the temple but my companion didn't bring here rec here so I couldn't go through so that was sad, but we'll get to go in next week. On Sundays we have a General Authority come and speak. This week it was Perkins of the 70. He talked about the conversion process and how we should be our first convert. His wife talked about how the most important thing is to love your investigators and your companion. I really enjoyed her talk.
They also have gym classes here in the mornings so I'm loving those!!! Oh and I've seen a ton of people I know, lots of friends from Dietetics, a couple people from Freshman year, some girl I don't know, but that knew Danielle....Isenhour I think? And guess what President Brock's son is in my zone, so that's cool. I also got to see Nalani on the day I did my service, so that like made my day!!
I love you all, sorry my time is short! I want you to know that it's challenging here but I love it! the spirit is super strong here and I'm glad to be here! I miss you all! Tell me everything about your life! How's work? How's Seminary? Rachel are you loving school? Dating anyone? Danielle, are you super busy? Anyways you're the best! You're letters are much appreciated! I love you!

Adios Fiesta

 We threw Emily a going away Fiesta the Saturday before she headed off to the MTC. 

As guests arrived, we asked them to make a Worry Doll for Emily, with a note written inside. Worry Dolls are a Guatemalan tradition.  Children make these small dolls to tell their worries to at night and then place them under their pillows.  She took these cuties with her on her mission. 

Of course we had to eat at our Fiesta!  We had enchiladas, rice, chicken, beans, veggies, and lots of fruit.  We served flan and Tres Leches cake for dessert.

After everyone finished eating, we headed outside to hit a PINATA! 

 This cute little guy managed to break open the pinata.  Everyone dashed for the candy, of course. 

There were still lots of people who didn't get to hit the pinata, so they just took turns beating his head. 

 We ATTEMPTED to play a fun hat game.  It is played in a similar way to musical chairs.  Each person begins with a hat and passes the hat to the person beside them.  One hat is taken out of play. When the music stops, the person without a hat is out.  This is what is SUPPOSED to happen.  

We started out well.  We each put a hat on our head and managed to form a circle. 

The adults got the hang of it and started out well. 

 However somewhere along the way we kind of bottle necked.  And hats seemed to multiply.  At one point I was holding 6 hats!  And several people had none.  We tried a couple of times to get it going, but in the end, we gave up and just had fun laughing together.  And the kids just had fun playing with all of the crazy hats!

Emily got pictures with all the guests before they left....all the guests EXCEPT for the Kruegers and Scribners.  

 We love you Emily!

I hope they call me on a Mission...and they have!

 My mission call finally came on Friday! I was expecting it Wednesday, Thursday at the latest and when it hadn't come by then I figured I'd have to wait until next week. 

But nope it came Friday around 4pm. I told everyone I'd wait until 8pm to open it, so that my family could be there. I was the only one in the house for about 3 hours, just me and my letter. I was very tempted to open by my self, I had my finger under the flap of the envelope and asked my friend Lawrence how to reseal it. But I decided I wan't going to be one of those kids that ate their marshmallow as soon as it was given to them...I could wait.

  My sister and I made cake balls that look like globes and we put up a map so everyone could take a guess or two to where I was going.  Finally everyone was there, or skyped in or called in. I am so grateful that I had so many people who wanted to share this with me! So anyway I opened it and I am going to Guatemala!!! No one guess that. My sweet roommate Nalani came the closest with her guess of Nicaragua.  I am really excited. It is going to be a true miracle if I come back speaking Spanish, which all my friends can attest to. I leave August 22, 2012! I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity and for the support of all my friends and family!

Family Time

Another name for Summer Time is Family Time, or at least it is for me!  I love it! 

 I get to got out to breakfast with my Nannie,Sisters, and the 3 cutest kids in the world!

 I get to go hiking in beautiful NC and of course get my daddy to do stuff for me. He'd say he doesn't like it, but he'd be lying.

 We got to climb up and down rocks and behind waterfalls! 

 My cute parents!

 He is too funny, he is always cracking me up!

I am pretty sure this is right after he tried to push me in the water. He really felt I should get my shoes wet! Good thing I am bigger than him!

Andrew and I making cake balls together. We decided to race to see who could tear all their bread the fastest and then got really messy smushing all the ingredients together. Andrew won but he tried to make me feel better by telling me I had won the race of getting my hands washed first. He is a sweetie.

We went to see this with the kids this weekend. I thought it was cute, however I don't know if that is based more on the plot of the movie or if I just like the fact that the main character has hair like me.

Also this week was my beautiful sister Rachel's 20th birthday! Oh my goodness I can hardly believe it! We went to Burger King for lunch, I'm pretty sure the only person on the planet who would choose that as their birthday lunch, but she loves it! It was nice except while there I got into an argument with my 3 year old niece. I was telling Rachel she should open her presents, she asked why. I jokingly explained that the sooner she opened them, the sooner I could borrow and use them. Then Miss Molly turns around and with a bunch of sass looks at me and goes "it is not yo birfday Emily!" I was stunned I've never gone up against Molly before! I had a couple comebacks but she just kept repeating that statement! She's something else and
I have to say I am proud to be that little girl's aunt. Later that night we went to the Melting Pot (where Rachel finally opened her presents). Rach, you are so old now and yet still have the ability to make me act like a 5 year old! I love you Rachel and I am so proud of you!

Looks Like Summer

I have been on summer vacation for almost 2 months now! I can hardly believe it! I have done a lot, just haven't taken any pictures until this weekend. So far this summer I have done lots of  baby sitting/house sitting/nannying, volunteering with the hospital teaching nutrition (which I absolutely love!!!), zumba-ing, reading, and watching Netflix. I have my sister and her boyfriend watching Supernatural! I love it, they are totally hooked! 

Anyways this weekend we hit Krispy Kreme with my sister and her kids! Yum!

 Then on Saturday, we went to a Baseball game. I really enjoy going to ball games in the summer with my friends and family.

 My favorite part was cheering for our team and then my niece would give her delayed yell of excitement 2 seconds later, realizing our team had done something worthy to be cheered for. It occurred to me, this is what I  must sound like to my friends at Football games. 

Also before the game on Saturday my sister Rachel and I went and did some painting. I don't think it's too bad for my first! It was fun and I really enjoyed it.