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 :-)

Clarissa Dalton--- clarissa.dalton@myldsmail.net Saturday, September 3, 2011

OH MY GOSH!!!! I finally have a "mini" preparation day to email!!!!!!!!! Kinda disappointed in the lack of emails/letters. How depressing...just kidding! I joke! Just using the guilt card while I can...it doesn't get any sympathy here.

Wow, ok so I haven't even been here for like 4 full days yet, but it feels like for...ev....er!!!!! No joke, but at the same time it is going by fast. I just can't get used to not having ANY time to breathe or think! Like seriously! No one explains anything to you unless you ask and then usually they explain it slowly like you are an idiot.ahaha OH, and we FINALLY got gym time yesterday-we played volleyball as a district. I have convinced them that today after dinner we are playing basketball-not an option.ahaha But it was a good release-especially to wear sports clothes and see the SKY!!!!!!! The weather has been beautiful. I've been "running" with my companion at 5:50am,but we only make it a lap or two before it's time to go get ready. That is the earliest we can wake up and I never have enough time to blow dry or straighten my hair-so I am embracing the wet, sprunch look a lot. The "coordinating sister"-female equivalent of a zone leader-is in my room, sleeps above me actually, and is all about doing everything by the book down to the second. Which is whatever, I can deal with it, but my companion was sick last night and we have an RN sister in our room, so we were trying to find out what was wrong and help her...until the coordinating sister stood by the light switch, glanced at her watch, announced that it was 10:30pm and turned the light off (which for her means absolute silence)...fortunately my secret power is night vision and we were able to get her some drugs so she could sleep...Oh, and the fact that the coordinating sister lied to me the first time I met her about where she was from and talked the entire day in a fake (bad) English accent until I called her out on it might have something to do with why I don't trust her.ahahahahahaha so funny (PS I hope you can tell that I'm upset about this. Honestly, I'm learning to take everything in stride and just roll with what gets tossed my way :-) and yes Mom, I am behaving myself and being polite.)

Our district is really close. Most of us get along probably too well, which for 19 year old guys means they get off topic sometimes, but it is so nice to be able to laugh and joke around. They are all here for the right reasons and are good examples and even better--they are all human and make lots of mistakes, which means we get to laugh more :-)

The 3+ hour blocks of classes kill my rear end! My companion probably hates that she has to accompany me to the bathroom like 20 times a day, but I need to move around and escaping to the bathroom has become a good outlet--although there are MANY places I would much rather have my fortress of solitude if I could so choose (Dianna, you will understand the bathroom reference. Thanks for the idea!) The language classes/situations alternate between extremely frustrating and mildly frustrating...just joking!haha It isn't coming easy, but I am learning more everyday-- so what more can I do or ask for, right? I think I am slowly learning to only set realistic goals/expectations for myself because le'mme tell you--if you don't in the MTC--you won't survive! <- This I am not joking about. I'm happy to report that despite my history of being very hard on myself and moody when things are not "perfect," I am happy everyday and smiling :-) A positive attitude is the key and if that's all I learn, then that is an amazing thing to be able to carry with me through life.

Obedience. Ya, nobody was kidding about that! The theme in our branch is "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." I believe it! (Which is why I haven't Bruce Lee-ed coordinating sister yet...and have promised myself I won't...mostly because she is leaving for her mission on Monday! ; ahahahaha) There is no singing or music allowed in the residence halls--that one is killing me. But I haven't taken out my nano or speaker yet and I am still alive and happy, so life must exist outside of music, even for me. We sing hymns in spanish classes everyday, though, which helps...although, sadly, I have found out that I still can't sing any better no matter what language it is in!haha *sigh* That is the first thing on the list I am asking for at the resurrection-I want some pipes.

AHHHHH-- ONLY 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE COMPUTER KICKS ME OFF!!!!!!! Um, I am praying only in spanish and trying to only speak in spanish with my companion and district elders...it ain't pretty le'mme tell you!haha But slowly and surely we are all improving, We are already teaching discussions it spanish to an "investigator" -one of our teachesr we've never actually met in class. Le'mme say that again, we are trying to teach in spanish. haha Poor guy, I feel so bad he has to sit through it and act like he understands.

HEY!!!! EVERYBODY!!!!! DEARELDER.COM ME!!!!!!! I need letters and info and love!hahah please?

I love you all so much,

Hermana Dalton

Sister Clarissa Dalton

MTC Mailbox # 334

SPA-BAR 1102

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Clare is off--Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Clare got on the plane in Tucson Tuesday midday, sitting next to good friend, Thea Thompson Hallowell.  Grandma and Grandpa King picked her up in Salt Lake and spent the afternoon and evening with her at Uncle Robert and Aunt Renee's in West Jordan.  Lots of cousins and lots of laughs! 

Take a look at Hermana Dalton's missionary picture.

Here's the link to get a look at Clare's missionary pictures taken Friday, August 26, 2011.  She looks the part!    

MyOnlinePortraits.com
Session Number:  106141
Password:  BMFKV

And So It Begins: The Disclaimer

So I'm finally sitting down to create the long-promised, probably not so much long-awaited, blog with less than a week of pre-mission life left to live. Nothing like cutting it close! And per normal Clare nerdiness, I am rather fond and proud of the blog name I came up with. Although I was sorely tempted to find a way to tie in something like "Frodo Bloggins," I think this says it all without overdoing the snarkiness.

Starting six days from now on August 31st, I will be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the Spain Barcelona Mission for the next 18 months. Instead of messing with a lengthy email forwarding list, my wonderful Mom will be posting my emails and letters here for all those who wish to read them and share this journey with me. I'm afraid I won't be spending much time blogging before I leave so I will have to hope that my personality and flavor comes across with some clare-ity through the written word. (You have no idea how long I've been itching to use that one!hehe)

So here's the disclaimer part: It is my personal goal to avoid the standard, cookie-cutter missionary letters that basically tell your family that you are still alive, struggling with the language, working hard, seeing miracles, and being blessed. I want my family and friends to experience this with me, to some extent. I especially want my younger siblings to know what a mission is like-the struggles, the awkward moments, the funny stories, the frustrating companion(s)-all of it. I want people to know the days when I feel on top of the world or learn something new that changes the way I see life or cry because I can't read the street sign and am lost. Because, well, that's life. That's how we learn. And that's what I want to know about all the people I love. That's you! And I want you to know me :-)

And since we are on my favorite topic, yours truly, listen up because this next part is VERY important! I can't give anyone my mailing address at the MTC yet because they won't give me my P.O. Box number until I get there(according to the booklet they sent me). So you will have to wait on pins and needles and check back in next week. My Mom will then post it for me, for you.