I Love Being Hermana Child!

HOLA!!!! mi familia! como estas??? Oh my word, I can now officially give Mitchell a break for sweating in the laundry room and being stressed out about the time limit---my hands are moving a million miles an hour- but thanks so much for all the love, support, packages, and letters! They mean so so much to me!

This week has been CA-razy..but really really good. I LOVE BEING HERMANA CHILD! It's so insane all the things that I have already done, and I won't be able to catch you up on everything in 22 minutes, but I'll do my best to give you a good idea what your lil girl has been doing lately:

-update: I'm now in a companionship; Hna Young is now with Hna Wirth (who was a solo sister) and I am with Hna Rios. It has been working out great. Hna Rios is really upbeat and fun to be around. She really likes music and natural, healthy food (which has surprisingly been not too hard to find in the cafeteria - they've got a bunch of salads and wraps and different sandwhiches and entrees everyday - however, Mitch was right, there are def. Elders that go WILD). She is going to Nicaragua, and leaves for the Guate MTC the first week of Jan. She likes J.Crew! :) and she's really excited about missionary work. She's a little timid when it comes to Spanish and teaching- but aren't we all?? I'm learning quickly that everybody here in the MTC has their own weaknesses and doubts about their ability to do missionary work. BUT, that's where the Lord's help comes in- He makes us that way so we are continually asking Him and relying on Him for support. More than once already my weaknesses have been thrown in my face. I guess that's what missionaries keep talking about.

-Our district is really fun too! They're who we spend all day in class with. There are now 6 Hermanas and 5 Elders. Which is REALLY unusual to have that many hermanas. But, it's really fun and we've already gotten really comfortable with each other. Just as an example, when we were in the bookstore today (ordering pictures that will be COMING SOON) one of the Elders walked up to me and said we knew you were in the bookstore because we could hear your laugh from the other side. WOOPS guess that just goes to show that I haven't changed that much. :) haha We also went on a temple walk on Sunday (turns out that the Provo temple is going to be closed for the next three weeks), but it was really fun to laugh and take a break from the "daily grind."

-They put a huge stress on teaching to the needs of the people here in the MTC- I think even more than when PMG first came out. And we've really been learning in all of our meetings and classes how we find out the needs of the people and then teach to those needs. This week we're working on the first lesson - in English (I think in 3 weeks is when we COMPLETELY switch over to Spanish). So wish me luck! just FYI- I'm going to be here for the full 9 weeks, at least as far as I know!

As for Christmas here in the MTC, it's not going to be big family dinners with pizza and cream soup (and DIPPED NUTS!) but I think we do get a General Authority (probably an apostle) for the Tues. devotional this evening. Mom, you'd be so proud that I'm singing in the choir (you can tell Sis. Warburton that I took her advice)--so i'll def. get a good seat. Then Christmas Eve & Christmas we don't have class- just like 4 devotionals. And actually, I'm really excited about this whole deal. It's been snowing the past couple of days and even the feeling of Christmas is seeping in through this strange world!! So exciting.

I can't think of another place I'd like to be right now! Missionary work is amazing, and I am learning so much, everyday! I wish I could tell you all of the great spiritual experiences I have had, and how much I realize and understand more what it means to have the gospel in your life!! What a fabulous, incomparable blessing! My testimony of the restoration and the Atonement of Jesus Christ is growing and growing and growing! I'm coming to realize the gravity of the calling of being a representative of our Savior, and the changes that must come into your life in order to really bring people unto Him. It's such a unique responsibility and awesome realization to be able to spend your WHOLE day studying about His gospel, feeling of His Spirit, and the reality that I will soon be able to share it with His children. GAH!

I love you all! (I think I get to write a letter Christmas day to you! WAHOO) and I miss you. I think about you all and little things remind me of you all the time. I'm sure my comp is tired of hearing about you :)

love love love

Hermana Child