Soccer, Football and a Bee

Whats crackin yall!

I am already on my "fourth" week here at the CCM, I can't believe how much time flies.

This week has consisted of so much! I forgot to tell you guys everyday we have an hour of physical activity and I have been playing soccer and football! hahahha I thought Nathan would be proud of me playing soccer with the latinos. So far I have made 3 touch downs, thrown 2 touch down passes and made a interception in football. Its so much fun!!

Another thing I forgot to tell you was the first night I was here there was an earthquake! It was so crazy! The language is coming along so great. I had one of the most spiritual experiences with one of my teachers that was so sacred and amazing to me, I'm not going to share it all cause I want it to remain special, but in part of our conversation, he told me that he believes I recieved the gift of tongues in the pre earth life. That my progression is amazing and a motivation for all the teachers. One of my other teachers told me and my companion that he can see the Savior in us and that we really carry the light of Christ. This week has just been awesome!

hahahaha so funny story time, one day me and my companion were out side studying and this bee is like attacking me. So I tried to dodge the bee but my foot slipped and I ate crap so I hurried to get back up but the bee was right in my face!!!!! So I stopped dropped and rolled and my skirt went flying everywhere. I had to change my shirt because i got so dirty from rolling on the ground hahaahaha it was so embarrasssing BUT I didn't get stung by the bee.

Embarssing story number 2! I needed to get something inside the class room so I started slowly running into the building to get it when I realized my companion wasn't with me. So I made a sharp stop and turn and fell flat on my face in the middle of the hall skirt went up over my head and trying not to cry... I'm laughing so hard all I hear is "seeester! seeester!" and here come two latino elders running up the hall to help me up as my everything is all out in the open. So I am now known as the gringa who falls ALL THE TIME.

Hahah not a whole lot more going on this week! Sorry for the short email!

Confession, they had EFY at the church building next door this weekend so me and my compaion and Hna C--- and Hna P---- opened our window and had a dance party!  Love you guys! Thanks for all the support!

        Our dance party 

         my comp putting clear nail polish on my flea bites

Because I Have Been Given Much

hey everyone!

So I think I've been here for two weeks now? But I'm not really sure, all the days seem to blend together. This past week was really hard for me. I was ready to pack my bags and come home. I did not think I could do this. I had been crying and an Elder came up to me and (Elder D----y and Elder W----r) and they asked me if I was okay and proceeded to tell me that they went through the same thing. D----y had his bags packed and was ready to leave but finally got through it and he's still here. So I asked D----y to give me a blessing. D----y gave the blessing and Elder W----r and Elder C----n stood in. I have NEVER felt the spirit like I did during that blessing. The instant those boys put their hands on my head I felt like there was hot lava running in my veins. I couldn't control my tears and I was shaking like crazy. These Elders changed my life. Not only with that blessing but during the week they would check on me. I have gotten some of the best advice from them than I've ever gotten in my life. Unfortunately they both left for the field this morning.. yes I cried, lets be real. But I  am so happy for them and so proud of them and so blessed to have met them. Our Heavenly Father knows us all personally. He knows what we need and who we need and I  needed them in my life. They both wrote me letters before they left and in D----y's letter he told me that he didn't understand why he was having such a hard time when he first got to the CCM and he didn't know why he wanted to go home so bad and he felt like he couldn't do it, but now he knows that it was so that he could know what I was feeling so that he could help me. And I thought that that was the most perfect way to look at it. I wish I had words for the things that I have felt, the comfort and advice I have gotten but there are none. It's indescribable.

Well Saturday we had our first experoience prosolyting and me and my companion were the only girls with out latina companions. Just us two and a teacher and a 17 year old member of the church from Peru out in the ghetto. Two little white girls. Lots of whistles haha but anyway we taught 5 people! One girl comitted to reading the Book of Mormon and gave pamphlets to the rest! The girl we commiteed to reading was so prepared and ready for the church. It was so exciting. Remember we were teaching in Spanish! The spirit is such an amazing gift. And the gift of tongues is real.

One man we taught was blind, very old, had no teeth, it was so sad. We sat in the dirt and talked to him for a while about Jesus Christ and the church we left pamphlets for his sons to read to him and he said he was going to church on Sunday... but who knows if he did! I hope he did! While we were sitting in the dirt with him my compaion and I got eaten alive by mosquitos. I have 29 bites on my legs! Woo!!

Sunday I sang a solo in church... in English, but it was so awesome! I sang because "I Have Been Given Much"  and especially after being in the ghetto the day before seeing people's 'houses'... more like four boards of wood holding each other up with no roof or doors. It really hit a lot of missionaries in the heart.

 My companion and I had a couple of rough days but things have gottten a lot better!

Running out of time! Gonna attach some pictures! love yall!

xoxo

The cowboy boot key chains I got mom to remind her of me

 

The sisters going to my mission

The bag I bought myself 

this is us walking to the store from the temple!

Oh I forgot!! to add this!!!! Hermana P---- cut my bangs with paper scissors over a trash can!!! hahahhah during and after pics!! CCM probz

love you mom! dont be mad! oxoxoxox

WADDUUUPPP

¡HOLA!

First official Pday email! I don't even know where to start! Fair warning this is a Spanish key board so if my grammar and spelling sucks... lo siento. Things are getting so much better than when I  first got here. I was struggling a lot with everything. Learning the language, having a companion and of course the food. haha. But things have gotten a lot better. On Sunday I gave the closing prayer in sacrament meeting with no notes in Spanish. It was freaking awesome! I've been learning a lot and getting really close to a lot of awesome people. The CCM (mtc) is beautiful!!!!! The weather is weird but not too bad. I'll attach some pictures to the email to go along with stuff I tell you guys.

So best experience yet: as most of you know I get really awful migraines that totally disable me. Well the second day I was here I woke up with one and was so nervous and scared cause I really wanted to be able to learn and focus and enjoy the day and I knew that if I took my medication it would make me super sleepy and disoriented so instead I  said a prayer. I prayed for my Heavenly Father to heal me and to make it so I can function and get the most out of my day. Immediately my migraine was gone and its been 5 days and I haven't gotten even the slightest head ache since. I've never had such a powerful experience testify to me that the power of prayer is true.

This week we've learned a lot about obedience. And let me tell you THERE ARE SO MANY RULES. Its seriously driving me insane. But I saw a quote  a couple days ago that said, "Obedience brings blessing, but EXACT obedience brings miracles." So although some of the rules are super lame, like we cant high five the guys........................................ I still do... ;) I'm trying really hard to work at obeying the rules to a tee.

My companion is from Arizona. she's kind of the opposite of me which is driving my a little cray cray but is definitely a blessing in disguise. She's very organized and likes to do things to exactness. So not me. But shes keeps me in check which is nice.

The North American boys here and well.... it's  alittle hard to focus haha but I'm making a lot of friends and the elders who have been here for a few weeks now have really done an amazing job of making sure that we are all taken care of and staying happy, same with the older sisters.

We started teaching a fake investigator last night and it went really well! The spirit was so strong and we tried our hardest to speak in as much Spanish as we could. We commited him to reading él libro de mormon and to pray about it... except my companion interupted me in the middle of my testimony.......thank goodness for self control. But other than that it was super awesome!!!

FOOOOOD!!! ITS DISGUSTING!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! 

I literally want to cry everytime we eat. BUT since today is Pday we got to go to the store and there grocery store has a lot of american food. I spent 60 soles which is like 30 american dollars on snacks and of course coke a cola. I eat ALOT of rice. Sorry Jennifer you better start liking rice hahahahaha. hmmmmm what else...

OH MICAH!!! I met an elder from Payson!! I took a picture with him today so I could show you! :) his name is B-----n W----r. he says he knows you! I was so excited!

So attached is a picture of me and my district at the Peru temple today! 

Also a picture of me and my companion she's the blonde one in the black top. 

The other blonde one is Hermana P---- she's from Utah 

and the one with the dark hair is Hermana Ch--! she's from Florida! 

They're all super awesome!

The latinos here AKA the natives are freaking hilarious I try so hard to speak Spanish to them and its so awesome. They love everyone so much and have really made my life here enjoyable. They teach me Spanish and I teach them English!

Oh! Another picture I'm attaching is of how I put up some of my pictures on the ceiling of my bunk bed so when I lay down at night its like I'm at home. 

And the sign that Tylen Jordyn and Joey made me is hanging on the inside of my bed too to add to the feel of home :)

MOM AND DAD the food you sent me with has literally saved my life. I whipped out my peanut butter last night at dinner and I thought the other missionaries were gonna start crying when I offered to share. They were so excited.

On the real though, I really feel out of place here. I feel inadequate and I am VERY self conscious. All these girls remind me of Shelbee though and it makes me sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy because I just imagine her being here telling me how special I am. Along with all your guys emails I had 27 emails today to read and it was the most encouraging thing I could ever have. Thank you all so much I love you all!!!

PS dont send packages to the CCM you can send them to the mission and I will get them when I get there in 5 weeeks. DO NOT SEND PACKAGES TO THE ADDRESS ON THE BUSINESS CARD! ONLY LETTERS. I will give you the correct address next week! I love you all!!!!!!

xoxo

chau!

hermana younce