Week 1

Herrrrooo....hahaha just kidding. hola familia!

 How are things hanging da Fort?  I did get your dear elders, thanks for sending them!  it's fun to get mail.  Crazy week, but I love it.  I almost peed my pants when I saw Erika at the airport with Justin and Woody too.  Sneaky...:) Soster Briscoe and I had a good flight to SLC.  We sat on opposite ends of the plane and both wanted to attempt to hand out Book of Mormons.  I sat next to one guy who was nice and asked him if he knew anything about it.  He said he has many member friends and does business in SLC (hence why he was on the same flight.)  I asked him what he knew, and he was really nice.   I already feel like I've learned soooo much this week.  It's seriously crazy.  At school, if I sit in a classroom for 12 hours a day, I'd probably pull out my hair, but here, it's different.  You really feel the spirit in those classrooms, not only with our teachers, but in personal study time and teaching lessons.  It's neat too because everybody here is here for the same purpose-to invite people to come unto Christ and be missionaries.  The spirit is strong, and I feel bad for any moment wasted not studying. (check out mormon.org)

    The beds here took some getting used to. haha.  Some of the girls talk before bed, but my head hits the pillow, and I'm out.  We have exercise time every day.  Our district loves volleyball and four square.  I got a bruise for accidentally diving for a ball.  ooops.  (we're not suppose to get competitive).  The food here....ehhhh.  I stick to the wraps, salad, fruit, cereal.  and the ice cream of course on wednesdays and sundays.  delish. 

    I've seen Soster Briscoe a few times, and it's always a pleasure.  I even saw Elder Farner (Mickayeen) from Terry lake ward I think. I've seen Elder Cook so many times too.  His district usually plays volleyball with ours, and he's in the spanish building to I see him quite a bit.  I've seen Hermana Stoddard (my cousin) lots too, and that's always way fun too.  She left for Virginia this morning, so guess our next reunion will have wait 18 more months.  I'll send pictures later.  She's quite a missionary and knows her spanish pretty well.  I don't know anyone reporting until Sister O'neill who I think is at the end of March. 

    I really like my companion!  Her name is Hermana Call.  She's from Colorado Springs, so you know she's already legit.  I told her I was just in Colorado Springs like less than a week ago for skydiving and she thought that was pretty cool. :)  We have six Hermanas here and only four elders...that probably has to be the first.  The elders are all pretty mature and usually know when to get to work, so that's good.  They said we were officially the "intermediate" spanish class which is funny because I do know a little, but probably not enough to be considered intermediate.  either way though, there are some decent spanish speakers in my class which is very helpful!

    It took a day or two to adjust, but I really like it here now!  We have heard some excellent talks!  I'm trying to remember...we had some orientation, but the first few days were kind of a blur because there was so much information coming at us.  On Sunday, we had our first branch meeting.  It was fast sunday, so we had testimony meeting.  We went over how to bear our testimonies in our language study, so me and hermana zimmerman and call (another hermana in our district) decided to go bear our testimonies.  Some of the elders leaving bore their testimonies too, so that was really cool too.  It's crazy that that will be our district in a few weeks!  I felt like I knew what I was saying for the most part.  We had a great devotional on Sunday night too, then watched an Elder Bednar talk.  Elder Bednar is the man.  He basically straightforward told us it's time to leave behind our personal affairs, and put others before us whole heartedly.  He really inspired me. 

    I've been trying to set goals day by day, some with my companion too.  I actually have a strong interest in achieving these goals this time too.  I know I have so much to learn, but I already am realizing how truly important it is to feel the spirit and keep it side by side with us.  That is the lesson they teach over and over here-having the Spirit with you so that it can testify to the investigators through you.  

    I pray for those people in Chile each night.  Everyday, I think i grow to love them a little bit more, even if I haven't met them.  Someone told us that we're not learning the language for ourselves, but rather, we're learning for those who we will teach and connect to.  We're learning it to bring others unto the Savior.  I can't begin to explain my excitement to go to Chile.  I hear they talk VERY fast over there, but what's life without a good challenge?

    The second day here, we had to give our first lesson in Spanish to a teacher acting as an investigator.  We never knew the teacher beforehand so you can imagine it felt pretty real.  Cool stuff.  When we got in that room to teach him though, you can imagine what a humbling experience that was.  I wanted to say stuff, and some of it I could get out, but I felt my mouth open and just stay open with nothing come out.  Haha.  It'll get there.  It was only the first time, and I feel like we're already getting better. 

I can't wait for the field.  I feel my testimony grows stronger each day and I realize how I want to serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength and give everything I have to the next 18 months.  We memorized the passage when Joseph saw a pillar of light, and I love it because learning it in different languages-God loves all of His children and wants this message brought to all of them.

My P-day is today.  (thursday).  We went to the temple bright and early this morning.  The provo temple is gorgeous, and you'd never believe it, but I felt more awake at the early session. 

I love you all!!  Thanks for the letters!!  oh and tell matt to email me...punk.

Love,

Hermana Hanks.