Hey guys!
Here is the week's breakdown:
Mom, after you dropped me off at security I was this close to
start crying, but managed to hold back my tears with the thought that I
chose this and this is exactly what I need to be doing.
Slash, I didn't need the TSA officer to think I was crazy when I gave him my passport ;)
At the airport, there were 15 other hermanas and 18 to 20 other
elders in Salt Lake. Most of them were from Utah, but some were from
Ohio or Virginia. I ended up sitting by Andy Kendall (went to high
school with him) on the plane so that was funny and we chatted the
entire flight to LA.
In LA we met up with some others so there was about
40 in total. We pretty much over took the entire terminal and it was
great because we could just chit chat the entire time. ;)
I ended up sitting by Andy again and another girl, Hermana Smaellie from Saint George who is in my district.
My district is so great! Seriously, it feels like Hawaii because we
call eachother family and our District Leader is Papa Dillie. We pray
together, read El Libro de Mormon together and sing together, always.
So when the plane landed in Guatemala we made it through customs
just fine (no smiling! At all!) then went to the luggage. All the
missionaries waited for eachother and then everyone is like "everyone
got their luggage?" when I realized the carts had in fact stopped. In my
broken spanish and his broken english I explained I was missinig one
maleta extatamente. Through some other hermanas helping
communicate they gathered all the ones that hadn't been claimed, then
directed me to a desk. Luckily (I'm so blessed!) I had the address and
the phone number for the CCM to give to her so that was fine.
We loaded up on a school bus and then arrived at the CCM! We were told they would take our cameras away, so another Hermana
(Alyssa Edwards, she's from Vegas, in my district, and we went to EFY
together!) and I took pictures out front by the sign and by the flags.
I
didn't know who my companion was yet so no pictures for that. But next p
day we should be leaving (to the mercado or wal mart, no one knows yet)
and we will get our cameras then so yes Mom I promise to take oodles of
pictures :)
We had an hour to nap but when we went to our room there were no
beds. They had just finished building our room (literally, installing
the bathroom and everything) that morning, which meant no beds, so we
just wandered into rooms where there were beds that weren't claimed and
crashed. During the day we could hear them building our beds.
Bienvendida Guatemala!
Out of the forty missionaries I arrived with there was only one Elder going
to Tegucigalpa. So when I met two sisters who were going to Tegucigalpa I
was ecstatic! They are from Mexico, so they will only be here for another
week. We also met our teacher, Hermano Lopez who is sooo funny and from
Guatemala. He learned English on his mission from reading the Book of
Mormon. He went to Puerto Rico so he didn't have to learn it, but he
wanted to because he felt like he should. And now he gets to teach us!
He is mucho sassy and we love him to bits.
We got settled in our room that night with the same sisters who are
serving in Tegucigalpa. (Sorry, when I say we I mean Hermana Butler and
I. Shes a doll, always making sure I have toothpaste and stuff because
everything was gone. Disclaimer: my bag is returned) They are Hermana
Torres and Aranda and are our best friends. Seriously, when we get home
depending on who is home first we always greet the other with a loud
Bienvendida! and hugs and kisses. They understand English so it is super
helpful when I can't understand what they are saying in Spanish. They
speak to us in spanish all the time and are always teaching me and help
me with my pronunciation which is super helpful!
The other night I walked down the hall to the bathroom and when I
came back the door was locked, so I knocked and Aranda says "Quien es?"
(who is it) I said "Tu hermana favorita!" but she was being super sassy
and playing dumb. She said "estamos todos!" (rough: we are all
here) and I just busted up laughing. When the door was finally opened I
said "Estoy triste" and I acted super sad until both hermanas came over
hugging me and kissing me and saying in english "no hermana we love
you!" We are all praying that we can be companeras some day.
On Thursday we went to go get vaccinated. I thought all my vaccines
were fine, but the doctor said "hermana Snelson I need to talk to you" and I
was stressing that I needed to get another Typhoid (news flash, they are
not fun) but then I thought maybe it was because I was an MA. It turned
out to be Dr. Cameron, from my home Stake, I think and he said what they all
say "Oh we love your dad! He is so great! You have such a great family!
We have never met you before but it is so nice to meet you!" Everytime I
see him in the halls he has to pull me aside and say "Oh my favorite
Sister, how are you doing today?"
We got back to our classroom when someone from the office came up
asking for Hermana Snelson. I turned and said "que pasa" and and soon as
she said "su maleta" I stood up and started dancing. Hermana Butler and
I were to leave immediately. We went to the office (in the CCM) where
they said that they tried to call the airport but they wouldn't answer
the phone and so we were just going to go there ourselves. We loaded up
in a van with Roberto, a jack of all trades who has been working here
for 15 years. He told us (in spanish) that he had been learning english
for the last 6 months because he wants to be able to talk to the elders
and the hermanas. He was super nice and Hermana Butler and I had fun
practicing our spanish.
We got to the airport and got pointed in different directions and
were eventually told by Roberto to sit and wait. So we sat there for a
half an hour while everyone is walking past staring at the gringas
wearing skirts, name tags attempting to talk to each other in spanish.
Roberto eventually emerged with my suitcase in hand that was
covered in suran wrap because they were going to mail it. We have no
idea why it didn't arrive (well, Roberto might, but doesnt have the
capacity to tell me) but I think it might have gotten left in La. Either
way! We were very very happy.( Roberto even offered to tak us to
McDonalds after to celebrate :)
We also taught for the first time Thursday night, but it was in
English. Our investigator, Alejandro can understand it but has
difficulty speaking so we were teaching mostly in spanish. I felt frustrated
after because I wasn't as prepared as I should have been, but then I
realized I had just barely arrived and was doing pretty freaken good.
Friday morning I was studying and realized how much of a difference
it makes to study with a purpose. I had Alejandro in mind and was
searching for the things he needed, rather than thinking of my own
needs.
We taught him again that night and it went oodles better and I was
able to use a lot of spanish! We asked about his family and he told us
his dad was dead. I asked (in spanish) if he knew he could live and see
his father again. He seemed really excited and asked "como? como?" but
we explained we didn't know the words and would teach him the next day.On Saturday Butler and I drew the diagram of the plan of salvation
and color coordinated it with the plan of salvation pamphlet. We just
taught about the pre existance and he asked how we knew that. We explained
that through the Holy Ghost, we were able to know for ourselves. We
explained that we could tell him as much as we wanted, but it was up to
him to pray.
Oh, our entire district teaches the same investigator so we
coordinate our lessons. Someone had taught him how to pray earlier and
so we were just emphasizing it.
On Sunday we watched a lot of church movies (mountain of the Lord.
Sarah and Nick, you have to watch it. Its about the construction of the
Salt Lake Temple and is amazing. Nick, you will love the rad facial
hair, and Sarah, you will love the cute kids. Oh, and temples and
stuff) and had meetings (in english. They split up the nortes and the
hispanos) In Sunday school everyone had to prepare a 10 minute lesson
with their companion before then were randomly asked to teach. I managed
to slip under the radar last week, but we will see what happens...
Fast and testimony meeting was combined with our entire branch and
was entirely in spanish. The spirit was so sweet as everyone (including
nortes) bore their beautiful and simple testimony. Hermana Butler got up
and said (en espanol) "the church is true. My companion always says
this to me when I am said or discouraged and I love it" thanks for the
shout out, girl.
We were up late with the Mexicans laughing so much that someone knocked on our door asking us to be quiet. Whoops.
Yesterday our entire district wanted to concentrate on teaching
with the spirit and it went so great! Alejandro told us that he liked
what we were saying and we shared a couple personal experiences and
scriptures and everything was just.. perfect. Hes coming to devotional
tonight, and hopefully church on Sunday so well see how it goes.
To answer my mothers questions:
How long did it take? to get my suitcase?
only one day, thank goodness. The flight from LA to Guatemala was 4 hours
How
was the plane ride? Great! Just slept the entire time. I was thiiiis
close to sleeping on Andy's shoulder out of habit... You know me.
Breaking the rules as soon as I get em ;
How's everything going? It is great! I love the CCM and am so grateful
to be here. It is perfect because I still get the spanish, the culture
without immediately throwing me into the realities of living in central
america
Glad to hear that you like your companion! Will she be going to your
mission? Nope, Nicaragua. Most of the nortes going to Honduras are going
to Comayaguela. I know of several Hispanas who are going to Tegucigalpa
and only 2 other norte sisters. I can't talk to the Elders much except
for my district, so there might be more boys, I have no idea. Torres
told me that there are about 20 hermanas there currently.
Where is the MTC president from? Idaho I believe. He's super nice. His
wife can be kind of scary but shes just crazy about the rules because
she doesn't want us to get sick! Like, sisters aren't supposed to shake
hands... crazy, si?
What's your schedule like? Give us a typical day:
Wake up: 6:30. Hermana Aranda is in charge of getting us all out of bed and made a point to tickle me when I wouldnt get up.
We have time to shower in the morning but I just get dressed then wait for Hermana Butler to "put on her face" :)
We have personal studying for an hour, then we eat breakfast.
By the way, the food is amazing! (of course it is, this is the true
church, after all) We have a gormet chef. It varys between hispanic
food and american. The other day for breakfast we had cold cereal and
toast and everyone was stoked! We also had pizza for lunch so it was a
very american day. But last night for dinner we had beef tacos with
hommade tortillas and half of an avocado with pico in it. So it really
depends. The portions are HUGE so we ususally as for "muy pequena" or
Butler and I just share.
After breakfast we have language study. Butler and I usually study
together. Hermano Lopez usually comes in at that time and we have more
language review and then deportes!
Sports are our welcome break during the day. We either play volley
ball (and get HECKA tan) outside do stationary bike and elipical inside.
Yes mom, Im stretching and keeping up my flexibility and impressing all
the Elders and Hermanas
We shower, then eat lunch.
Then back to the classroom! We stay in the same classroom which is
nice so I can just leave my books there. There are a lot! We usually go
over a principle of the gospel now. Lately we ve been watching part two
of the district but since we ve finished we just go over ways to teach
and stuff.
More studying.
more learning.
Before dinner we start planning for teaching that night. Since we
teach the same person we usually just talk as a distict about different
things he needs. For example, when hermana Butler and I found out
Alejandros dad was dead, we told everyone we needed to teach about the
plan of salvation. So we split it up (pre existance, the fall, the
creation, judgement bar, kingdoms) and decided who taught what. We have 6
hermanas and 5 elders in my district (sisters represent!) so 5
companionships. Then we plan with our companion, eat dinner some time in
there. Plan some more then the first companionship goes to teach. we
just plan while they teach, and practice spanish wiat for their report
(it went great, maybe concentrate on 3 nephi 11) then go to teach.
We usually have 15 or 20 minuutes before its time to plan for the
next day so we have been taking that time to get to know each other.
Everyone brough their photo albums so we were looking at the elders girl
friends and talking about eachothers families.
Butler and I plan for the next day, what things we want to
concentrate on, improve on, and then go to our room after family night
prayer.
All the hermanas have "oracion" together where we sing a hymn in spanish pray, then share any CCM announcements for that day.
after laughing with the mexicans and complaining I never have time
to write we wish each other "buenos noches!" at exactly 10:30 then go to
bed.
How's the weather? Its great! Its the rainy season but it kinda
reminds me of Hawaii in the sense that the rain will only last for 5-10
minutes. Its always sunny when we have deportes and was only kind of
rainy on sunday when we went to church
More news? See above :)
Shout outs:
Felicidades to the parents for starting training! hows it going?
Matty Spence for entering the MTC tomorrow! Congrats kid!
And Miss Sarah Johson who will be giving her farewell talk and Im
sure is stressed out of her mind writing her talk. Youll do great baby!
Belly- everyone loves my earrings! Thanks again!
Bee- my mexican roommates love the notes on the bags and get excited any time I find a new one.
Random: one of my night teachers love Nacho Libre and quote it with
me all the time wtih my accent. The roomates love my accent too.
Sarah: can I get mish e mails for people?
For all those who have e mailed me, I am so sorry I didn't have time to reply. I'll know now to write less to the fam next week.
Love you all! Talk to you on Tuesday or Wednesday!
