ALO FAMILIA! Como esta?? Hard to believe that this is the last time that I'll be emailing you from this MTC place-- it's off to Chile on Monday!! GAH! We got our travel plans this past week, and boy did it make going to Chile a little more real! (p.s. Don't forget that I'm going to Chile with an "e" on the end and not to the dangerous food with an "i" like Chili :) Also, another experience that made going to Chile quite a bit more real was when our teacher Hno. Adams (who served in Chile, the mission just above ours) skyped one of his converts and let us just be amazed at their accent and how incredible fast and hard it is to understand them. WA-HooOO! Look out Chileans! I think I'll be pretty amazed at the day when I can understand 100% of what they say. But, actually at the end he had her speak slowly and bear her testimony, and I was able to understand almost everything that was said...so put me in a fast and testimony meeting on slow-motion, and I'll think I'll be able to survive!! haha
Also: Feliz Dia de Amor y Amistad! Thank you so much for cutest packages ever! WOW. I think I am the luckiest sister in this place. I have the greatest package creater that ever was. Pretty much my whole district has adopted you as their MTC Mom. SO--congrats MOM! I love everything! It is all so perfect and cute and just a little taste of home! (earrings? adorable!)
This past week we've just been crankin' out the lessons and really concentrating on teaching and applying it to the people that we will be teaching. It's really cool to think about how what we're doing will apply to the people that I'm actually going to meet- a little surreal too. We've been teaching the "4th Lesson" commandments--so--following the prophet, tithing, and dun dun dun Law of Chastity. oooo: that one will always get ya :) haha j/k. The past couple of times it actually has ended up pretty good, even if the beginning of it is a little awkward, especially with the fact that you're supposed to be asking questions during the lessons. A really great one by Hna. Lichfield..."um...so...do you and your boyfriend have an intimate relationship?" yes, thank you. (intima in Spanish means close and intimate). But, onward everonward! Can't wait until I have to face some Chileans my age and bear my testimony about it!
One of the highlights of this week was on Sunday, after the fireside that we always have. I don't know if I've mentioned this to you, but Hna. Young found out a week before coming into the MTC that she has RA (rheumatory arthritus)...and after a really tough week of trying to decide what to do, she decided to come on a mission with some pain medications that take away most of the pain (but don't fight against this autoimmune disease). However, the past week or so her joints in her hands and wrists have really been aching. And although it's not a huge pain, I think more than anything it scares her for what is going to happen to her body in the future. Her sister has it, and it's been really tough since her sister can't be on the medicine when she is trying to be pregnant, is pregnant or nursing.
So Sunday evening Hna. Young asked our Elders in our district to give her a blessing. We headed back to our class, and since the Elders hadn't ever given a blessing for the sick we pulled out the Missionary Manual (hurah for the white bible) and after they figured out what they needed to say, and hands shaking, they begain to give her a blessing. I think it could be the strongest I have felt the spirit throughout the whole time I've been here. There is no way that the Elders could have given her the type of blessing they gave her without having Heavenly Father's help. The things that they mentioned and the spirit and power that was in our little classroom was undoubtedly something greater than 3 young men. Elder Thomas was able to express things that he would have had no way to know about, except for the power of the spirit. It is a testimony builder to me, and I know more than I ever have before, that my Heavenly Father is so aware of each of us. He knows each of us, and is an active strength and presence in our lives. We just have to show that we desire Him in our lives, that we want Him to be with us, and He'll be right there to help us.
I know that I'm going to Chile next week, and I know that I'm going to have to learn a LOT, and I'm going to have to work really hard! But, it is so comforting to know that I don't have to do it without the watchful and guiding eye of my Heavenly Father. He is real, and He communicates with us through His Spirit. I have learned so much here about myself and about this gospel, and I'm just praying that what I won't be able to do, and I won't be able to know will be made up through the Atonement and Love that my Savior and the Lord has for me. I can't do it without them.
Thanks so much for everything familia! I love you all! Pass my love on to everyone! I wish you all the best of luck in work and school and girls and sports and weather and love and life!! xoxoxo
all of my love that I can muster from mi corazoncita del MIDDLEFORK!
Hermana Hija
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