One week into the Mission

Ok, if I don't get a shout out to you in this email and you communicated with me somehow this past week, then I will send you something by snail mail, I promise! We FINALLY have a full preparation day!!!! SO nice, I don't have anywhere to be or sunday clothes that I have to wear after this until like 6 tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <- I am only moderately excited about this if you could not tell ;-p chiste, chiste ("joke" in espanol)

Wow, ok so Sunday here-amazing. The testimony meeting was so great in english, spanish and spanglish--ahaha. My comp wanted to bear her testimony and made me go up there with her...but we ran out of time(actually went over!) So I thought I was off the hook...oh no, the Branch Pres. found us afterward and promised that he would be in for our district meeting and we were to bear our tesimonies there...so we did. Actually, everybody in the district did and I learned so much about each of them. You never really know what people are going through and even when they tell you, you're probably not getting the whole story with details. I feel like everyone in the district has a "sob" story about getting on a mission or preparing for a mission or deciding to serve a mission-- part member families, being cut off financially for serving or whatnot...and then there's me. I don't really have one of those. I decided to serve and got ready and had an amazing summer and here I am...my life didn't fall apart or anything like that...maybe it's coming?!?! (scary background music) I get nervous when things appear to be too easy...not that being here is easy! Don't get me wrong-- there have been moments when I've wondered what on earth I have gotten myself into (that's when I remember it's not "on earth" at all, but "from heaven"-- heehee-- clever word play), but not any of the breaking down, emotionally unstable drivel I've seen from some. So, yeah, no worries :-)

We are only talking in spanish, well trying to. Some days are better than others, but I feel like I'm improving and progressing, not as fast as I'd like, but I'm learning to give myself time to grow and learn--to not expect things all at once and that seems to be helping me relax and be happy. We've had some amazingly hilarious moments in class...like when learning commands, one Elder said, "oh, so it's like...'tenme?' bahahahaha (which means "have me!" ahahahaha-- the teacher busted up laughing and he turned bright red :-) But we laugh a lot as a district and that helps so much.

SHOUT OUTS:

Hermana McGee-It is so good to hear from you! Your words and testimony made me tear up (yes, surprise, surprise, I do have tear ducts). Thank you so much, especially for the advice. I am just starting to understand how true it really is.

Clecca- I never saw coordinating sister in the gym, she's gone now...(Oh Dad, I've seen Brette Hoyt a bunch and we always lament that we don't have gym together so we can ball it up!!!) I'm in intermediate spanish, the only people in the advanced class are native speakers, but we talk to them a lot and they are very helpful and hilarious. We are in SYL "Speak your language" and try to only speak in spanish every day and if we can't, then we have to ask for permission to say it in english. We are teaching lessons in spanish and everything. It's hard, but the improvement is amazing, so I keep it up. Yes! I get sack breakfast a lot. Sometimes sack lunch, too. The line is ridiculously long though, so that's hard with the time constraints. I LOVE being able to eat/study outside. I hope it doesn't get cold too fast! The no singing-it's not an MTC rule yet, but our Branch Pres. made it a branch rule, so I've been obedient, although I'd had enough one day and prayed that I would hear some form of music before I exploded over some little thing...and a sister in the bathroom started singing "Come Thou Fount" :-))) I just about ran in there to kiss her for saving my life and sanity...I didn't break the rules, so I have no guilt about this incident :-) For your b-day present I guessed...fireplace!ahaha just kidding. But I did think BBQ grill. The dutch oven sounds awesome! Make some cobbler and enjoy it for me!

Lauren/BRaDeN- hey! I'll write you a letter today, too, but thanks, Lauren, for the dearelder. They do really make my day. It stinks when someone in the district gets like 8 dearelders and you get none--ahaha. BRaDeN!!!!!! WRITE TO YOUR SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She found me in the cafeteria and again a couple of other times and was tearing up because her BROTHER doesn't write to her!!!! Just kidding about the tears, but seriously-holla at yo' sis! We got a good picture together the day before she left. I'll try to get you a copy, but the pic machine is down. I'm jealous about the football game, I'm seriously craving football. I might tackle my comp just to get it out (no worries, I have already forewarned her).

Cregan- Sounds like an awesome holiday and Cambria reading to herself makes me so happy :-) I can just picture it. How's preggie Meggie, as you say? haha I can't believe you are preggers-inhale as much sports as possible! I want a nephew! Think...y chromosome y chromosome ;-) haha. love you!

Ok, I think I covered everybody. I have the next few hours to write letters, so that is what I will be doing! Wow, I never have enough time to say what I want to! Hey Mom, I could use some more of those dress ped socks in black/nude that have the foot pad, See's square suckers/hard candies would be great...um, can't think of anything else. Oh, if you have the time, could you type out some or parts of my hand written letters for the blog? Thanks! I love you so much! Caleb and Chloe-letters are coming! Dad-you, too!

I love you so much and wouldn't be anywhere else!

Love,
Hermana Dalton :-)