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!
i thought i died and when to heaven. our
district snarffed it down, we were all very grateful! we have plenty of
honey left over, THANKS MOM from our district and the deprived former
great harvest employee. a bird even got excited for us and pooped on an
elders head while he was eating a slice. hahaha it was so funny! I also
got a delicious box of sugar cookies that looked like adorable little
feet! Rachel, you are the best! It made me tear up thinking about those
boys eating half the cookie dough. thank yoy, i loved the spiritual
message that went along with it! BUBBUS!!! HI-chEWS!! how did you know
i have been craving them! I am keeping them for a special occasion
that's how excited i am!!! and finally, the box of wonders! 4th of
july box! you don't even know the excitement both me and my companion
had as we opened a box full of american spirit. She really appreciated
her name being on the box. sooooo what are we doing tonight any
guesses? that's right decorating for the fourth of july tomorrow!!!1 you
better believe we are going all out! I even considered putting color
in my hair before I realized that wouldn't be "approved" we are all
wearing red white and blue and we even have a change in our concrete
schedule! BOOYA! which means we get some sort of celebration! i
flipped i'm so excited! thank you thank you! you went all out and
everyone is quickly realizing that i am spoiled and have the most
steller familia ever! you guys love me!!
so our investigator "gregorio" became our teacher this
week. it's weird to think that he knows all my flaws... guess he can
help me more now right! he just seemed so real in my mind that once he
switch roles I didn't know how to act around him. needless to say he is
the greatest teacher. he cares so much about serving us as we prepare
for the field. he gives me pep talks all of the time and is willingn to
specifically help me if i need it. both our teachers testimonies are
rock solid and powerful. I really have the best. on an amazing note
the last lesson i had with gregorio i formed my very first sentence out
of my memory. yes it was super simple and didn't quite make sense but i
said 'will you invite your wife to read the book of mormon" booya
nailed it out of the park. I feel like a kid who just spoke 'momma" for
the first time. graham and i are learning together pretty much!
sandvolleyball is always another highlight of my week. we had disney
kareoke volleyball and while we played sang the classics. we don't
really know if thats allowed but no one stopped us. because our zone is
so close we have some great tradtions; 1) we had a talent show, there
was singing, some backflips, some stand up comedy, yotellying (yup no
idea how to spell that), chugging of water. we have fun here at the
mtc, all very talented. 2) as missionaries leave,the sunday before we
sing "God be with you until we meet again" we have an entire district
leaving and some of my new favorite friends. singing in spanish as a
group really makes your heart ache. we teared up of course but i loved
it! it is so excited for them to head out to the field even though
we'll miss them here. we have a brand new district replacing them on
wednesday. 3) food. Fat friday includes pizza and icecream for
dinner... so maybe this was my idea:), and one sister suggested to me to
put peanut butter on chocoloate chip cookies and stick a ice cream
sandwhich in the middle... yummmmmmm! so delicious it should be against
the rules to eat. the unfortunate thing is I don't really like the
water here,... its rusty tasting, i literally have to force myself to
drink it! maybe some crystal light packages would help? or i'll just
endure! getting me prepared for the field right. 4) bunday monday. yes
every monday we wear buns!
a couple funny stories about this good old place the mtc:
1.
everyone sings in the shower. no not in their own personal bubble but
as duets! i am showering and i hear two other people harmonizing
together. it's a little weird to me but hey the acousitcs are always
excellent. I've almost been tempted to through in some of my own tunes,
however they are usually not "missionary appropriate".
2. we had this thing called TRC training, teacher
resourse training. it's pretty much like visting teaching! we teach
members in spanish a quick message and they give feedback. my companion
and I go into it with an entire lesson spirtiaully ready. well I ask
her "de donde es"? aka where are you from.. 20 mintues later and our
time is up. that was it she talked the entire time. hahaha what did i
catch of it? well she moved a ton as a kid and she's moved a lot sense
being married. ok normal... keep going... her son likes to act in
musicals, sussical and les mis... ok fun fact that we could use
later... and then randomly i keep hearing the word gay placed in the
sentences... whaaaaaaa yup that was it. that is all i understood.
the end. We came out laughing really hard and the lady really enjoyed
our company. I'm excellent at smiling and acting like I understand! it
was an interesting experience!the one after went a lot more according
to our orginal plans.
more for the spirtual side:
Bubbus
sherry dew came and spoke to us on sunday for relief society, i could
help brag that my sister was knew her personally and that she was her
number 2. hehe it's hilarious how "famous' she is here. we get there
not knowing she's speaking and once she walks in the crowd goes wild.
everyone was stoked! her talk was really inspiring, she spoke on how to
become 'spiritually stronger" and become our first converts. i've
noticed both so it was very appicable to me.we also get to watch music
and the spoken word on sundays and since it's the 4th this week it was
very patriotic! who doesn't like a good jam sess with the tabernacle
choir. I love this country. the highlight of my day was watching a
video (movie night) of Elder holland's talk givin last november here at
the mtc. He blows my mind everytime he speaks, i was sucked in enough
to not even take notes. listening to him always uplifts my spirits. He
talked about how our generation should be grateful for living in
tihe last dispensation. he also spoke on living now, that as being on a
mission is "real life", that this time should not be the best 18 months
of our lifes but that they sould be the best 18 months for our life. I
love whenever he speaks so much, it hits you right to the core. he is a
spiritual giant. satan must be terrified. on tuesday night we had a
devotioinal, the speakermathew o richardson. he focused a lot on "what
e'er thou art, do thy part". breaking it down to how it is applicable
to every missionary and member working together. He also broke down our
written calls as missionaries. It was an excellent reminder that the
Lord has put his trust into me and will give me strength. He send me on
a spanish speaking mission, he will give me the tools to help me learn
the langauge. (even if it seems like i'll never get it right now) can i
remeber ever song in the world, memorized by heart, yes. but one line
in spanish is like chemistry homework. haha I'm doing my best at
staying positive though!!!! :)
well kindof random stories but you know how it his
here, a rollercoaster. one day seems like three in itself. at night I
lay in bed and i can't remember what i did twenty mintues earlier!!
it's great!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!! I MISS YOU EACH SO MUCH!!! I pray for
you individually in my prayers. have the best forth of july, enjoy it
enough for me too! This is hermana alley signing out until next week.
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Alley
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| Roommates! |
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| Editor's Note: We mailed Becca her pillow the day she entered the MTC. We filled the box with other goodies. The post office however wanted to know if we were seriously sending a TV to our missionary... |
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| Tuesday Night Devotionals! |
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| On the Way to the Temple! |
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