Christmas Pictures!

Well folks you want a long letter you get one....with pictures!!! yahoo! one picture is a thousand words... we will let dad do the math!k

 

ho ho merry after Christmas!!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS ESPECIALLY TO MOM!!!  (my companion is far enough over you can cut her out... this is how we get around the rule I guess...

Packages from home!

Talking to the family!

In honor of Christmas Hermana Alley made Snickers salad
with Bom Boms and Mom's favorite green salad!

HO HO HO HO

to start out with some puns...  

1.  I am the one melting this year not frosty

2. Santa might as well put me at the front of the sled since Rudolph's nose and mine match..

hehe

Transfers once again

hello familia!! after last weeks emails Ive decided Argentina and Hawaii are very similar. we have beautiful flowers here, rain storms that make things green and lush, and sand that blows in the  winds covering my body... I sweat as I walk, and if I close my eyes I feel like im watching to a foreign beach off our family cruise. and then I realize the beaches are hours away and that sweat is my friend for the next few months, and that the walking actually is just in haedo I call home. ok so im not in Hawaii, and i wouldnt actually know how similiar it is since ive never been.  but I do have to say I pretended to be in the parents spot while reading the very wonderfully detailed letters and soaking it up.  Sounds more like heaven, too good to be true, vacation. I dont blame you for not wanting to go back to cold salt lake, should have returned here instead.  hawaii argentina salt lake.  that is the totum pole don't you know?  I hope you slept enough for me and tinnie, and by enough probably about the whole length of your vacation.  thanks for the letters and info, I felt like I could of been there it was so story like.

Transfers once again

hello familia!! after last weeks emails I've decided Argentina and Hawaii are very similar. we have beautiful flowers here, rain storms that make things green and lush, and sand that blows in the  winds covering my body... I sweat as I walk, and if I close my eyes I feel like im watching to a foreign beach off our family cruise. and then I realize the beaches are hours away and that sweat is my friend for the next few months, and that the walking actually is just in haedo I call home. ok so im not in hawaii, and i wouldn't actually know how similar it is since I've never been.  but I do have to say I pretended to be in the parents spot while reading the very wonderfully detailed letters and soaking it up.  Sounds more like heaven, too good to be true, vacation. I dont blame you for not wanting to go back to cold salt lake, should have returned here instead.  hawaii argentina salt lake.  that is the totem pole don't you know?  I hope you slept enough for me and tinnie, and by enough probably about the whole length of your vacation.  thanks for the letters and info, I felt like I could of been there it was so story like.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

first and most importantly... i am sweating right now... when it rains it is so humid!!!  there is some kind of holiday today, who knows what but practically everything is shut down, locked up, and closed. bless this cyber for allowing me to twiddle my little fingers to the family I love.

out of the many things to tell you this week it won't be proper with out first telling you FELIZ DE ACCION DE GRACIAS!!!  aka thanksgiving.  I bet you cant even imagine what we did to throw down for the holiday, WEEKLY PLANNING. yahoo. this consists of a four hour planning extremely detailed session for our up coming week and investigators. ill tell you what i struggled focusing,. I think a turkey from a far away land was gobbling my name, nethertheless i made my comp and the other companionship celebrate with me.  that morning instead of showering :)  I made a giant patch of popcorn and split it into three, dulce de leche covered, chocolate covered, and sugar covered.  YUM!  and during our feast of a lunch we cooked up everything we had, which is always the exact same food just on thanksgive more of it. what did it consist of? well pasta, hamburger meat, potatoes, some stale bread, crackers...not turkey here...

wow what a week where to begin...

well might as well start with the highlight of every Buenos Aires missionaries week. we had the privilege to listen to a very special speaker this week. he came all the way form good old land of salt.  that is right thee one and only elder holland and elder christofferson spent the weekend in this foreign soil that i am calling home.  on Saturday south, north and west missions gathered together in our mission home and were filled and lifted spiritually.  the night before we had eight hermanas sleeping in our tiny apartment.  talk about the biggest fiesta ever.  i made some good old popcorn, which is a lot more difficult over a stove... but an adventure!  popcorn really does pop... everywhere!!  and we bought some delicious pizza.  between english and Spanish laughter and blabbering on in the the wee hours of the evening.  but did i care... not until about two days later where i literally became hermana bobble head in the lessons.  it was sooo fun.  at the meeting my companion had the opportunity to spend five minutes with her brother! who is serving in the north mission, how awesome... yes i was jealous.  i feel super close to tinnie.. just not close enough apparently.  i got to sit on the second row middle, aka the gleak zone!  it was great!  this whole experience has been the highlight of my mission thus far.  before the reuniion started i waws thinking ok this is elder holland... he is going to stick it to us right!  well yes and no.  but first let me talk about my feelings prior to the start of the meeting.  terrible. i felt terrible spirtiually and completely drained, picture yourself being dragged behind a colatevo in this crazy city and

Hey did you miss me!?!?!

This week has felt like an eternity.  can someone get me a calender i think i just turned 70 years old.  Just like every day in a missionaries life this week has had its highs and lows. First off Raicho is continually progressing as his baptism is drawing closer on November 23rd. I'm almost positive every time we have a lesson with him i come away being taught more than he was. I don't know if all missionaries feel this way in their missions but for me this experience is a two way journey. As teachers of the gospel we are also constant students. everyday during studies I come away thinking [wow I had no idea, ive never thought of it in that way, or wow has this verse always been here?] sometimes i wonder if ive really been a member my whole life by the amount im learning in the field, apparently just a major slacker. however, obviously being a member has brought my family and I the greatest blessings. There isn't anything more i want to express out here than families are forever and this gospel is the source of true and lasting happiness. especially here in Argentina where death and illness are so common amungst the people we meet in the street. We find ourselves commonly mourning with the people, testifying to the people, and growing stronger in the Lord. This life is only a small fragment of whats to come and its important people know they will once again be reunited with their loved ones for eternity. One of the more downer sides of the week was still not being able to figure out Ivons cause for depression and sadness. he is just not happy. its a puzzler but we are not giving up. ive suggested my remedies of singing and making lists of grateful and my companion has been her bold south american self of straight up telling him he needs to change his attitude and stop doing what hes doing.  I am a living testimony that this gospel is happiness. we have three progressing investigators, all who were at church, which is just so exciting. Its truly incredible to see peoples testimonies grow. Lito is struggling with finding a testimony, what we think is so obviously true others struggle to find.  its definitely more difficult than i ever thought.  if only we could just lift the veil slightly, just a glimpse of remembrance instantly, enough to warm his toes.  Either way I'm pulling for lito.  come on bro!!!!  

 

Welcome officially to argentina. all the deets you could want

Ok officially welcome to Argentina!! let me fill you in for real this time...

  

benviendo! this is Hermana alley from the far away land of Argentina. can someone find me a map i feel like i'm  in Europe.  not that I've ever been but if i were to picture the people and culture in my mind, this place nails it.  dad you've pretty much hit it on the head with your last letter.  Argentinians are Italians who just happen to speak Spanish.  it messes with your mind.  everyone personally is so different from each other, like Seattle its a giant melting pot.  i even see Chinese all the time that speak Spanish.  my minion friends would say waaaaaaaa?¿  in one day i've seen it rain more than my entire life. yup more than Washington.  its taking puddle jumping to extremes, if you can call them puddles. i think lakes is more efficient. luckily there is no more Seattle fog and we've had some beautiful blue skies, and my eyes have a lot of adaption to do... i can hardly see.  the sunscreen is also being whipped out as my sparkling Edward skin hasn't seen the rays in ages.  so for living foreign here is some first impressions....

 

Welcome to crazy!

HOLA FAMILIA

 

where to start? the key board is different. that{s a good point. It will definitely take some getting used to... for you... heheh  um OK after i got off the phone with you i treated my companion to our last american feel, TGI Fridays.  we watched a beautiful sunset over the Dallas run way.  while waiting to board we talked to a man in Spanish who is from Argentina.  i got hermana and i so excited as he talked just like the Italians.  mamma mia and all.  wow is the Spanish different.  but he was so friendly it just made us that much more excited.  the flight wasn{t actually to bad.  other than it was a redye and it is so uncomfortable on an airplane.  but the hours flew by.  maybe because i didn't actually want to arrive that quickly,.  i knew once i did it was going to be loco.  well eventually we did land crazy as that is. after we watched the sun rise from our window as well. i fell asleep for a few hours but other than that pulled an all nighter doing little things to keep me busy.  ive never had dinner and breakfast on an airplane before. from there things just went insane.  culture shock after culture shock, look around and man nothing is like home.  obviously right i{m down south.  well since we were the last two arriving we didn{t get any of the training.  which i was fine with except the health and safety.  oops..  hermana and i were dropped off at the office, filled out some stuff and were allowed to bring a few things with us as we headed to a temporary two day area until transfers <today< i took my carry on with me which ended up being the worst decision in the world.   don{t ever want to hall that thing on cobble stone streets and on buses.  it didn't help that my companion walked speedily.  well things were crazy and I've blocked most emotions from my mind.  everything is foreign to me and i{m attempting to adapt quickly but wow it{s difficult. 

ADIOS USA!

Wow what an eventful, awesome, and lesson filled week to leave Seattle on.  Your right my time here has flown and I can officially say I don't want to leave this place.  It's become such a part of my mission and I adore my mission presidents. (sick of me saying that yet? hehe)  My time here will always be remembered, there are so many great memories and there are so many people here I have learned to love that i'm leaving behind. although this area was my shortest area (3 weeks long) it's been by far my favorite.  can you have favorites?  well too late.  I feel like there is SO much going on here and that just just two companionships (Spanish) for such a big chunk of Seattle just isn't enough.  Everyday we meet who are so prepared for the gospel (they just don't see it right of the back).  A highlight of my week was attending a baptism in the branch. Her name is Julia and the Elders taught her. Shes very frail and old but hilarious.  She has some serious spunk.  For example the elders warned her that she would be tried before her baptism.  That Satan would try to do all he could to not get her baptized.  Well this little old lady is at the grocery store and a young man comes up to help her and she says "Get away Satan."

big news family... big news!!!

Before I start out I just can't wait, i'm not patient enough!! so I've been feeling really strongly this past week that I wasn't going to get transferred but go to Argentina.  Weird feeling but I just felt like it was getting closer.  Transfers are next Tuesday, can you believe this is my 2 in the field? crazy.  Anyways I head to choir today and a senior missionary pulls me aside and tells me I need to go get finger printed.  Well I just decided to straight up ask her (here in the field they pretty much keep everything secret from you until the very last minute)  if I got my visa.  Well she looks at me puzzled... "well yes, your flight is booked!"  I'm sure the expression on my face was priceless. somewhere like excited, to wait is this a joke, to when do I leave, to full on tears!! the Hermana I came out with also got hers! we'll be heading out on the 24th (not for sure on any details).   I just started hugging this little old woman. for like a good solid 5 minutes too.  I was so happy and still am.  Wow this is it folks, the time has  come.  There is so much adrenaline pumping in my body right now.  SO DON"T SEND ANY MORE LETTERS PLEASE!  well if you do send them only to the mission home address and then they will be forwarded to Argentina.  what great news... and the funny thing is Hermana Gardner said she felt the same way I did, that we'd be leaving. Oh goodness I'm PUMPED!!!!  (it's also my last week of training... good thing imma be leaving:) )

Highlights from General Conference

Well to my lovely folks back home it hasn't been all that of an exciting week... But wait it has!!!  GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS THIS WEEKEND!!!  has one of the apostles said how can watching 10 hours of a talk be enjoyable?  I ask myself that... yet I about cried when the closing prayer was said. I've been looking forward to it since... well I first got here!  and now I have to wait six more months... dang that's a long time!  so highlights for me from this years event 17 pages later...  (Elder Ballard, Dube and Uchtdorf's were my favorite talks! they just pulled at my heart strings!)

1. "be not afraid only believe"

2. "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."

3. Pray to hear God's Voice

4. Never look back, look forward at what we still have to do.

5. The past is to be led from but not lived in.

6. Press forward spiritually and physically

7. one spiritual gift is gratitude... being content with what we have

8.the Lord sees weakness  different from rebellion

9. when we serve others we are more likely to seek the Holy Ghost as a companion. 

10.being truly convert means acting on what we believe. 

A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER:

Well folks all I can say is this has been a flip flop week.  on Wednesday the weather officially decided to turn into fall.. literally in a days time.  it has not stopped raining since. and no it's not just a sprinkle it's a continually down pour.  I don't even remember what the sun looks like anymore... my skin may start to sparkle soon. (get it Twilight joke.)  I had to officially pull out clothing from the air tight packed away suit case and air them out.  everyone teases me but hey a winter coat keeps me warm and warm makes me happy!   i'm like a marshmallow and it's not even technically October yet... oh boy. remember how I didn't bring winter stuff with me really... everyone start praying NOW for my visa... haha otherwise I may have to break down and go shopping and or grow fur. one of the two options.  so this transfer we had our "checkups"  with the Choi's.  In and out in five minutes, speedy and effective but once again it was well worth it.  Sister CHoi wants me to help out with the choir and well president choi and I just talked Utes vs byu in football (thanks dad for the updates), I technically thinks missionary approved to talk about now.  hehe  I do miss the autumn colors though.  For being such a forest, it's the emerald city, and not much changes color. I get excited over the small trees filled with oranges and red (my own form of sunshine).  

Tender mercies

A week of tender mercies!  blessed small things that make the wheels turn continually turn, driving me forward:

Sunday:  president choi and sister choi visted our branch for sacrament meeting.  while they talked president martinez translated into the beatiful language of spanish.  Between all three it was kindof like getting spanish and english with a hint of korean.  it was great and I loved it, the only hard part about sundays is no longer do I get to enjoy the meetings.  no I have to force all my brain power to catch a word here and there try to connect the dots and form some kind of sentence.  It's like a giant puzzle, and i've never been all that great with them.  I just need bubbus and dad to help me out and then i'd be golden!  regardless, president choi is awesome.  If I could I would shrink him down into a bobble head size man and carry him with me everywhere.  He'd constantly motivate me, make me giggle, and push me forward.  he's one heck of a mission president and it's always a treat when he's around.  He loves to sing, and so definitely do lots of it!  Having fun with the spirit is his motto and having fun we do!

On tuesday we knock for about 2 hours and have no success.  finally we head to the car when we see a festive christmas lights appartment with lots of shoes... can only mean one thing, hispanic!  so we head there.  after sharing a message we feel  a lot better about ourselves and not wasting the Lord's precious time.  again we keep heading to the car when just like sweet motab music we hear the loud laughter and mexican music force us to a hault.  without a word said to eachother we turn around and are lead to the house by sound.  this is where we meet carlos and his family of 6.  Now they are great and were very welcoming.  We sung to carlos and just like that everyone elses little-big feet scampered to the door to hear our caroling.  One thing president choi knows is that hispanics love to be sung to and feel the spirit.  It's always a great way to draw the crowds, regardless of our capibilities in actually hitting the notes.  well yesterday on sunday we had another lesson with them and took two members from the ward.  after much mind power and well a lot of translation help from my compaion it turns out their family is struggling and the only reason why the parents are sticking together is for the kids.  Well luckly we brought the strongest priesthood holder men in the ward to bear testimony and fill the room with the spirit!  after watching a cheesy lds film on family and teaching them how to pray as a family, we all gathered around and Carlos offered up a prayer.  I wanted to burst out in tears it was so awesome!  the spirit was so strong and all I could do (since I couldn't talk)  was continually pray that they felt and recognized it as God sent.  We have another lesson with them next week, which I am looking forward too!  I know that this gospel will bless their lifes more than anything else.  They need it!  If they were to come closer to Christ they would come closer as a family! It's the biggest blessing someone could have. 

Am I still in America?

For starters sorry there were so many mistakes in my last email. I was writing very fast, and when i'm stressed my fingers cramp.  haha just think of it as a game.  I know you're all at home bored and you're looking forward to translating, :) 

This area is like crossing into a whole new world as my good friend Ariel would put it.  I traveled from the long road to somewhere with a completely different culture. and by long it's about 15 minutes.  haha I left mini Asia to mexico/India.  As I arrived I couldn't help but say "we're not in Kansas anymore Toto."  talk about a different life.  It doesn't even feel like the same state.  I'm more ocean level and so I feel the heat more.  Threes aren't quite as dense and i'm no longer living in the Ritz.  In just two days we doubled the lessons of my last area and have had more referrals than the whole last transfer.  I've become very connected with my best friend Lucille ball at this point.  Why?  because if you remember correctly she doesn't speak any Spanish. Neither do I.  My eyes are as big as hers and my accent is about the same. all I need to do is dye my hair red and start calling my companion Ricky.  you know when she gets that look when Ricky starts getting mad at her and she says "it wasn't me"  well i'm about the same.  When someone starts babbling off to me in Spanish, I look all cute, innocent, and say "es verdadero" or "yo se que...."  I feel sympathy for that woman. 

BIG WEEK!

Ok first things first,

I've been transfered. this is how it goes down.... 

the three of us sisters pray that we stay together, we've become extremely attached and are the three amigos. so we are sitting around and the clock reads 10:20, ten more minutes and it means we're all save... and then,,,ring ring  "hello?"  "is sister alley there"  "This is she."  "you are being transferred.."  my heart sunk.  what, no I'm not ready, I'm just starting to get the hang of things!! you can't make me leave.  what happens if I refuse?  ahhhh so after many goodbye hugs and expressions of love, I packed my now very large suitcases, said goodbye to my mother and grandmother and received an envelope with the news. goodbye first home it's time for a new adventure  so....

I'm going to be in a Spanish area!!!  even better, a Spanish branch (meaning our ward is all in Spanish).  we have a brand spanking new apartment. which means we have lots of shopping to do.  I am once again in the three some, with hermana laney (shes been out a long time. 11? maybe?)  and guess who the other one is.... HERMANA GARDNER! my best pal from the mtc, the lovely lady who traveled up with me. tears of joy as once again we are reunited.  she also came from an English area which means, no Spanish experience for her either. aka poor hermana laney is left in the dark by herself.  ahhhhhh!   folks I am now going to start learning this language.  whether or not I'm ready, it is time.  some good news though, hermana enos (came in two transfers before me)  got her visa and headed out this week!  so she was here for three transfers, the hermana she came out with had been here for two.. so that gives us a rough guess of how long I'll be living here in the states.  one or two more, hopefully.  Not that I don't love it here, cause I do!  but I'm Argentina bound!  this Spanish area is just baby steps towards.  a little English here and there, and then I'll head south to learn my real Idioma! 

First transfer in the field is up!

So we get this crazy text message yesterday saying that due to disobedience there would be no emailing privileges this week.  for the first time on my mission I was ticked. you can't take away my family.  Once a week is not near enough and now someone is ruining it for us all!! well that night we got another one that gave us the opportunity to write a quick one today.  I already wrote a very lengthy letter home so expect the details on that and I'll fill the rest in on here.  

This week was great.  We are getting hyped up about family history.  Folks our tree is lacking on family search, someone needs to pick it up back home.  we have a huge event tonight that is inspiring people to do their work online.  Hopefully a massive amount of people come, that the interest has been sparked in the community!  I've already seen the biggest miracle from family history here in the field.  and like the siblings have said the alley fam on the other side of the veil is rooting for me.  This area I'm in is huge on family history approaches and taking advantage of them.  And I can see why, families need to be webbed together for the eternities. I know it brings me the greatest comfort to know we are stuck with each other, as if forever was long enough!  

A highlight this week was yesterday, the Choi's (our mission presidents)  held a mission choir practice.  this is going to start picking up every week.  I am stoked about it.  I wish I could spend every day in their company.  I just adore them, and besides mom and dad, they are the cutest couple :)   when they laugh I laugh, and when they cry I cry.  And I  ALWAYS feel the spirit in their presence.  They know exactly what I need, and have been called of God, to lead this mission.  And there is just something about getting all together as missionaries in one room.  the positive energy is just so alive, and everyone can't help but just sing like angels. or at least attempt to do their best with the vocal cords they've been given.  :)  not everyone can hit a note,,,, even if it just a primary song, a child prayer.

Well More to come just by the post lady.

next week is transfers. I find out on Sunday, but that means p-day is on Tuesday.  Pray for whoever makes the assignments that my next adventure, staying or going is inspired by the Lord. :)  

LOVE YOU!

A little late because of the temple...

Hey folks!!

sorry it's going to be a short one, with it being a crazy week, ending with a wonderful temple trip, there is little time to write.  first off I guess I should say i'm crying.  Crying of joy because my biggest sis is having an adorable baby girl.  I bet everyone in this little library is confused as can be at this girl who can both smile from ear to ear and have water works at the same time. CONGRATS!!!! a million times over!!!  And I just came from the beautiful Seattle temple.  It was perfect, and put my spirits in the highest of places since being on the mission.  Temples are incredible, Every time I go in it's like spending time directly with my Father in Heaven.  He always confirms that he loves me so much.  And I must say the surprise was awesome, I am a huge fan and didn't see that coming!  Emotion is good.  and Just a funny though on the side. Seattle looks like the Garden of Eden and The lone and dreary world looks like home... Utah...hahaha  

Another One Bites the Dust

Why the title, well in this very strange warped time missionary world two months has gone by today.  It's my "click day" meaning I entered the missionary life on this very day a couple of months earlier.  it's also my companions 8th click day so we are going to celebrate, what that involves, we have not quite yet determined, however it is only 10:40:)  so this week was a success in my mind.  A lot of service opportunities, and a lot of great laughs.  to Start with my highlight of the week was berry picking.  for relief society on Tuesday we went to a house FULL of bushes.  Now I didn't know that Washington was covered in these little bundles of heaven.  BLACK BERRIES. Large gushy and delicious.  We had Two investigators come as well, and had so much fun giggling at fighting of the nastiest spiders while trying to get the unresistant berries.  

"BERRY PICKING!!!! YUMMMY!!!!!!"

It was definitely a win win situation because we came away with enough to make us rich.  we filled an entire bucket.  So with it a lady made us jam, and the rest we have frozen. I tell you what it was worth the bugs, and I came out with tiny scratches covering me and thorns in unpleasant places but a smile on my face.

Wednesday included a Zone conference.

Slugs...spiders... and bunnies OH MY!

Just for the record my companions names are PROWS and CROCKETT... I don't know if I put their correct names before.. With the best mission president in the world CHOI.  Love them<3  

Yes folks my header is nothing but 100% true.  here in Washington I've learned to watch where you step, otherwise you may squash a slimmy green, leopard print, or black fat and juicy slug.. yum. When it rains, they slug around every piece of cement they can.  It's sort of like hopscotch.  And don't look to closely or you'll see a gigantic spider right by your eye.

Walk around with pencil so you can knock down spider webs before you walk right into them.  some are apparently poisonous, doesn't that make it even more exciting.  But on the happiest note ever bunnies are everywhere.  They just hop freely and my companions think it's hilarious how I have to point out every single one of them.  Hey if it were my choice i'd catch them all and take them to our apartment with me.  We started the lovely morning out with a hike to a waterfall... ok so it's summer so it was just a stream, but it was still pretty!  I'm loving the lush environment here.  P-days are great, we even went to panda Express.   This week I also ate Ratatouille, that's right the Disney movie famous peasant dish.  It was awesome, and pretty tasty too.  I was happy.  I also ate seaweed, not the biggest fan not going to lie.  we went from having no food in our fridge when I got here, to me buying every fruit and produce in the grocery store, to being fed by every member and having an over flowing fridge of leftovers....  Ok the truth be know we have way to much food now... Guess what folks I weighed myself. Do you really want to know what the mission has given me as a souvenir thus far?  12 lbs.  so the diet starts today... or as us sisters call it "Fit for the kingdom nutritional plan".

The Very First Week

Mom we have a car, so we drive pretty much everywhere, don't worry about the two wheel disasters, we don't have them,

My Mission home address is: 

Washington Seattle Mission

10675 NE 20th street

bellvue, WA 98004

Alright, let's start at the beginning.  Which means Tuesday night on, since that's when you last heard from me.  Wow that seems like ages ago! So everyday early morning work out consists of laying on the floor "stretching".  we do a lot.  haha however my companion brought up the idea of hiking on pdays and I was so game I almost cried.  haha it's beautiful here, everything is so lush and green Tarzan might swing by any second.  I haven't felt the humidity, I think it doesn't exist. On Wednesday we went to dinner with the ward mission leader, to some Mexican place.  in our area there is only two food places, so our options are limited however i'm not complaining it is extremely nice to get out of the mtc and experience new tastes! don't get me wrong, the mtc food was not bad, but after 6 weeks my taste buds are coming back to life with home cooked meals.  Mom you would be so proud of me,  my companions always take naps during dinner, so I make dinner.  The first thing I did upon entering was look in the fridge, yah there was like nothing.  Not on Hermana alleys clock.  No i'm stepping up the motherly instinct and made a shopping list.  But with what we had i managed to whip up fabulous dinners.  When I get back I will know how to somewhat cook!  Pizza, chili dogs, and even on fast Sunday we made a feast.  Today i'm going to buy veggies and fruits, cause believe it or not I miss them, to much junk food and I can't live off of granola bars. We are fed on Sundays and Mondays depending on if people sign up.  My companions and I are going to use our charm to make sure we get fed:) 

Seattle Welcomes Hermana Alley

Alright folks I am here. Here in the very foggy Seattle.  My very first impressions.

1. The clouds are way low, there isn't much sun here and for the few hours there were I was inside.  I better go get some vitamins.  
2. There are so many trees everywhere... my lungs have never felt more alive!  But really.  I feel like i'm in a forest always, expecting to see Bambi shortly. 
3. Everyone here works for Microsoft.  literally.  It's a very techi place and I never know what people are referring to.  wowwww. 

"Welcome to Seattle!"

So yesterday we were picked up from the airport and guess what, there was 37 of us arriving.  apparently that is the largest around they have ever received here in this mission at one time.  The temple is on the boarder of my mission area but i still get to go (hopefully this transfer).  We took pictures ate lunch, and then were interviewed individually by president choi and his wife... this was the longest process ever. I went first and literally 4 hours later I was still waiting for everyone to finish up.  Mean time, all of us are chilling in a room role playing and asking questions.  I literally had to force my eyes to stay awake.  we sung hymns for a half an hour straight.  My vocal cords could go Broadway after this mission, or mute!   We then were assigned companions.  The chances of me getting a Spanish companion was very low.  Only two sets of sisters speak Spanish in this mission... we all know i'm horrible with luck no Spanish.  I've heard that Seattle is one of the most diverse areas out of the USA, so maybe i'll be good.  Who knows, but language study or even speaking my language is near to impossible.  TAKES EXTRA DEDICATION NOW!

Happy pioneer day!!!!

So thinking about what I was going to write throughout the week, I figured it was pretty boring and I had little to say. However when I think about it tons has happened and I could go on for hours.... to bad I don't have hours...  to start out with this is my last p-day in the good old mtc!!  am I going to miss this place, why yes, yes I am.  it is filled with a spirit, I've felt no where else.  a constant continual spirit, but one you still have to seek for.  I see people here with the wrong attitude and it makes all the difference.  My teacher complimented me this week, during  my departing interview.  out of everyone here I've probably struggled the most with the language.  for some out reason it's foreign to me... hhehheheh  anyways he said despite your difficulties, struggles and frustrations you've remained postie. something I really admire about you.  No matter what you keep smiling and making yourself have a good time, nothing brings you down to a place you can't get back up.  I really appreciated this compliment, because sometimes I feel like a complete failure.  His comment reminded me of the quote; "preach the gospel, and when necessary use words." So maybe I can't speak yet.  but I can smile:) and smiling is universal. 

 

Highlight of my week:

TRC (where you teach a member)   on Tuesday was awesome.  Today was via skype.  Hermana Redford and I taught a middle aged woman named Laura who is in mexico. a real live genuine foreigner!!!  We discussed the importance of receiving personal revelation in church.  The reception was awful and with her thick accent and speed I couldn't really understand a word she was saying.  But she was extremely patient with my Spanish and so sincere.  The experience was probably close to the top of my experiences here, why? because it made me excited for the field.  My concern here is that I don't love the investigators enough, but my struggle is my investigators have been my teachers being stubborn. I instantly loved Laura, even though I didn't know her.  This short 20 minute conversation made me motivated to pick up my Spanish and to give all my energy to the work.  So I don't hate lessons anymore, that's good. considering it's all we do in the field.  I think I smiled from here straight to mexico the entire time.  She even cried a little. maybe cause I was slaughtering her language but I prefer to think that is was because the spirit was strong:)  it was the best!!!

 

Another week at the MTC!

FIRST OFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! it sounds like you have quite the day planned and i'm sad I missing it.  The first thing I did this morning was sing to you in spanish!  I hope you received my letter!  I hope today is better than all the birthdays you've had previously!  I love you!:)

 

Hey my beautiful family!  How are you this fine second to last P-DAY!! seriously though how are you? stephen, I hear you quick your job.  summer time steve huh, sounds like a hoot.  And Richard Tammy and Graham, I loved the pics of the Flight over, Graham apparently isn't happy with you cutting his hair off and he is getting revenge by taking back tammy's.  Welcome to the great wonderful state of Utah!  pull up a chair and stay awhile, it's nice and warm here.  You see us "Foreign Missionaries" here at the mtc are more prepared for the field than the english speakers.  Our study buildings and dorms are very different. Its a running joke, in the "real world" we'd consider ourselves 3rd world countries compared to them.  We work by fan only considering our AC is out in the building.  It gets nice and sweaty in the room with no windows and ventilation.  But don't fret, I love feeling at home.  See the family is at home sweating without a swamp, i'm sweating here, it's like we are connected.  They're only here for a week and a half so this place switches up quite frequently. This week we had over 900 leave, almost 1/3 of the mtc.  Today we get about the same amount.  In and out just like that.   The district two above me left and I wanted to cry (oh wait I did)  We got new Branch presidents this week. The Cosgraves left for there own mission in Uganda.  I adore the new ones just as much, he is a major scriptorian.  and was a member of the 70 for about 5 years.  He has the biggest and most welcoming laugh, and really cares about our work and progress. All the Hermanas above me are not out, some to texas, mexico, and chile.  I already miss them so much.  I got up at 2:00 this morning to see one off, we went outside and there was a very large line waiting to get on the bus and head out.  man oh man it made it real for me, my time here is almost up! I haven't received my travel plans I should know if i'm getting reassigned tomorrow or Friday and than the actual call will be the beginning of next week.  however I talked to some sisters going to Argentina and their visas didn't arrive, so I kindof expect to go state side (WHICH MAKES ME SO EXCITED!!)  I don't know about you guys back home, but serving a mini mission would be sweet.  If anything I've learned it doesn't matter where you go, it's the people you're serving.  I honestly can believe that and if I end up serving a salt lake city mission, I will be just as content.  Although I'm hoping for someplace I've never been before. Particularly the southern or eastern states. We will see... I cannot wait to find out.  

 

Happy hump "CCM" day everyone!!!‏

oh my good golly miss molly it is my mtc hump day today! can you believe it? yes? ok that makes one of us.  Just yesterday I waved goodbye to my family and ventured into the cave of wonders. now abboo(my small companion) and I (Aladin) are half way done.  take a seat folks cause that is big news.  I don't think i'm prepared for the big things ahead, but will I ever be... meh probably not!   The end of next week I should get my travel plans, so we will see if my visa is here or not!  

 

Sunday, the day of Sabbath, where you put all your cares away and enjoy a blissful day of rich and enlightening thoughts.  NAH not here they like to mix it up and play what I call "Russian Roulette."  see we are assigned to write a talk every week than in sacrament meeting they random pick two missionaries from the zone to come up and give them IN SPANISH!!! bam, it's like a game... a horrible one that makes you sweat! no longer am I chillin like a villin in sacrament meeting. now I'm nervous nelly praying that I either switch brains with a latino or that I don't get picked until next week.  This week another district is off, :( I love them so much... with them goes 4 hermanas, which will make my district the second oldest district in the zone and the oldest sisters.  That's right i'm an example now to the youngins.  It will be funny when they ask me to say something in Spanish and I'll just smile a sheepish smile.   speaking of the language i'm getting more confident which means i'm throwing our random words and attempting to make sentences.  baby baby steps!  Graham and I, we are sortof on the same playing ground.  speaking of the language my companion was praying and said something.  I swear she said "las Lasagnas"  like the food.... I laughed and asked her what she was praying for... not even close la ensenanzas (which means teachings).... it was a hoot and we both died laughing.., she makes fun of me for it and I tease her for passing out for a three hour nap on p-day.  Our relationship is fantastic. 

Week Two!

FAMILY,

 

i don't even know where to begin...  since I have little email time I printed out your letters and will read them after. That way i can tell you everthing in detail and than respond to your letters and emails by hand.  So I don't know if i mentioned last pday We were able to go to the temple for the last time.  it is being closed for cleaning and opens up after we are already gone.  we ate breafast there and it was amazingly delicious!!!  yummmmm!!  but than again i'm not very picky and most of the food here is in my tummy before I even taste it!  we did a session after which was so great.  the first time we got to relax all week!  however once the movie started playing it became near impossible for anyof us sisters to stay awake.  going into the celestial room brought tears to my eyes as i remembered my loving family waiting for me the first time.  man i love this temple.  it was really special and really made me miss your hugs and warmth!  needless to say i loved the opportunity and am bummed it won't happen again until argentina.  every p-day I sing "p-day is my favorite day it's the day I get to write my family, you don't have to get ready, you don't have to worry, la la la la la' if you don't recognize the tune keep trying and think primary.  i have many verses.... my roomates are always entertained!  almost every day we have some kind of work out, i would like you all to know that i'm not lazy here, and i am running, and doing push ups, and abs and getting buff!!  ok so maybe with the food i'm still getting a little extra chub but that's fine right. as long as under that chub i have nice abs... :)   i've very proud of myself for running at 6 am and not completely killing over just particially. i also received amazing packages this week!!!! ok so i can't remember which days exacltly so bare with me... first from mom, CINNAMON BURST!  

 

 

My first week!

FAMILY!!!!!

I made it to my very first pday can you believe it?  i'm old now and new elders and sisters are now coming in!  where oh where to begin.  well first off they plan literrally every second of everyday here. you don't even have time to go to the bathroom!  At night I have to decide between reading my book of mormon, writing in my journal, or studying preach my gospel.  Ok they give us some free time but not very much.  My showers are like 5 mintues because girls are always waiting. anywho to start out, thank you so much for the package!!! I loved getting my pillow and it brought a lot of comfort for the first week., the treats are amazing and i've become everyones new best friend.  but then again they feed us every hour it feels like but either way i'm always hungry. 

So you guys dropped me off and I had to focus on not looking back cause i'd break down.  everyone was extremely friendly as I am the new person (dork dot).  they take me to this room I get a huge bag of wonders with every book you could possibly imagine for spanish and gospel help.  after I went to the room and being the first person picked the top bunk in the corner. I followed christine and put up tons of pictures.   I put my name tag on and headed to my classroom after.  Waling in with one elder, the instructor just starts rambling off in spanish.... oh boy what did I get myself into...  all I can do is smile and say sei/no.  after a couople of mins of confusion on my face he takes me to a computer lab where we take an evalutation about apropraite conduct in the mtc.  yes folks "jog dates" are not allowed with the elders.  I met my compoanion after.  her namem is ister aka hermana Redford.  She is 5.4, read headed, fair skinned.  she is extremely friendly but didn't talk much until we got to know eachother more.  she has a great sense of humor as well as keeps me in line.  So far we've gotten along great, I got extremely lucky.  having a cmopanion isn't nearly as bad as what I was expecting infact it's fun.  a funny story about her is when I saw her name next to mine as companions I already knew who she was.  on facebook I joined a page for argentina missionaries and she was listed.  so pretty much I stalked my companion before we were companions.  thank you facebook. you are wonderful.  there are 10 people in our district.  two sisters, are roomates (we thankfullly only have 4 in our room) Sister Millet (21 and teaches kindergarten) and sister gardner (19).

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