Email received 11/25/10 (Thanksgiving)

Quriedo Madre....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING COMOLETTI FAMILIA!!!

…………..

     Sorry I haven't been able to write much, just not enough time, but I heard once I'm on the field I can write letters everyday, and my email time is not limited, and my pday is things my companion and i wanna do, not set, so in less than two weeks it should get better. I've taught every lesson basically in spanish, hard, but managing. Its hard cuz I don't feel like I'm, improving, but I hope once I'm in the field my spanish will sky rocket. So we have had the Latinos here for one week and they are cool, very outgoing crowd and easier to communicate with compared to the Haitians (the Haitians didn’t speak any English or Spanish). I forgot to tell you when the night before the Haitians left we all stood opposite directions and sang God be with us til we meet again... I lost it, complete waterfall. I just had such a love for them and my heart cared for them so much, I hope they are just enjoying every moment of their missions now. Actually speaking of Haitians I got an email from Lou that he is still in Provo cuz his sinuses are acting out.... he went to the doctor and he is now waiting for the doctor’s results to get his antibiotics so he can leave crazy eh. He was supposed to leave on the 22nd, but now he will be probably leaving the same day as me. Anyways the Latinos are cool and we have one Latino sister, her name is Hm. Moldovo and she is a cutie, very outgoing and spiritual. We get along well and she's fun to be around. She speaks both spanish and english which is nice and hard because I speak more english with her instead of spanish lol which I’m not complaining, but I definitely need to practice lol.

     Today i had the chance to do initiatories for the second time at the DR temple and after we did an endowment session, and actually we didn't go with the rest of the Americans cuz the elders only did an endowment so we went with the Latins for a spanish session.... shows you how fluent I am eh..... chiste we had the sweet translator headphones because we don't know spanish at all. It was cool tho I liked it... but I'm not gonna lie I'm so pooped out doing both of them. Also another cool thing the president and his wife were in the session with us. They were the witness couple. And because today is the day of thanks, turkey day, thanksgiving, el dia de accion de gracias, etc.... we have a full blown thanksgiving meal... Cool huh?? So we haven’t had it yet but at lunch they kept telling us don't eat to much... "you’re having a big dinner." So we're excited and wondering if we are going to eat a lot of turkey how do they expect us to stay awake for our classes tonight no se!

     So all our devotionals are now in spanish and I am always lost. I understand it until my brain hurts from translating and then I just give up and zone while they keep talking I know that’s not a good thing, but hey there is so much my swiss cheese brain can do at a time. So I don't know if I told you about Fabrice at the university the Haitian that we contacted and tried teaching? It was a rough lesson we tried teaching, but he was interested in learning more. He spoke english too which was nice. Well we contacted him on the phone and he was (not) able to make it, which definitely was a bummer because we were so excited to teach him this lesson we prepared that we hope would help him. He said this Friday which i hope hope hope he can make it. We REALLY BADLY wanna teach him!!!! We were going to teach him about Christ as our shepherd and he needs to gather all his sheep in his fold, and how there is a great light, a great truth other than the bible, and that is the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon. So please pray we will have the opportunity to teach him. Cool story which we hope happens too, so last Friday we went to the university to contact and both of us felt prompted to go and talk to this girl sitting on the bench. We talked to her and tried to speak spanish lol, anyways we tried applying this principle or way of teaching we learned in class with her of really getting to know her and try to pick out a need. So we found out her family is half catholic and half christian and sometimes its hard on the family to have both. We talked about the gospel and how it blesses our families, we explained about the book of mormon and some of the gospel, and how her Heavenly father loves her so much and wants the best for her family. Then she said to us.... before you came to talk to me, I was sad, but now talking with you I am happier and feeling better. So we were glad we could comfort her and hope what she was feeling was the Spirit, cuz we definitely felt the spirit strongly. So we have an appointment to teach her tomorrow too along with Fabrice, so we hope they show up and help them!!! They both seem like great people. She even asked us where was the church.... her name is Lisabeth.

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Alma 57:27 I think ;)

Your little curly haired one-

Hermana

Email received 11/18/10

Hola....... okay I'm going to try to think of what comes to my head, its hard cuz you write so much good stuff that i want to talk about too, but not enough time at all. I am one of the non smart missionaries lol, i do the whole print and read them all in one sitting cuz i am so desperate. Today I received all my dearelder and received alot of them, and the elders were teasing me about how much did you get and all that jazz it was funny. Things have gotten better here, my attitude and feelings improved once I had the chance to talk to the president and receive the blessing from him. I love the elders here and I now have a really fun good relationship with them. Things have been good with our companionship. This week was a little rough and stressful between us, but we are definitely good. One of our elders left our district to switch with the Latinos district cuz he was bored, because he already knows quite a bit of Spanish, so this will be good cuz he will have the opportunity to improve. Spanish, spanish, spanish, a mi madre... is crazy... I am very snailishly getting it, but still frustrating. I just keep reminding myself that I've learned more and speak more now within 6 weeks than I did when i was taking spanish in school. I have taught the first three lessons in spanish, contacted, explained scriptures, and constantly listening to my teachers. I seriously can't wait for that one night where I will go to sleep and have a spanish dream, wake up and be fluent. Yes, what a wonderful time that wil be.

     The Haitians left on Tuesday and that was so so so sad. I couldn't really communicate with any of them, but I had such a strong genuine love for them. We looked at each other the night before they left and sang the song "God be with you til we meet again"... yep I was a baby, I was definitely crying, because I just loved them. I was like shoot if I am like this with them, not really knowing them, I'm going to be awful when i have to transfer and say bye each time.  It was good I had most of them sign my journal and I have their info for after. Yesterday we got a new sister, the only other one coming from the Latin group and she is from PR. She is adorable and also going to serve in PR. She speaks great English because she lived in New Jersey for 8 years and PR for 12, also she's an acting major. I told her that you were one and she thought that was cool. Oh before I forget to tell you... those glow sticks you sent us yeah we had a glow stick party in our room and danced in the dark singing disney songs. I absolutely love the hermanas here... its me, kamisese, curl, and Ghersi. We all get along so so well, alot alike.

     I heard my mission president and his wife are the complete best. Every teacher here talks him up so much, I've heard he is so much fun and just a super awesome guy. I am so STOKED to have him. The new sister told us his wife is so into having the sisters be fashionable and super cute, she recommends us on our p days to do our hair, nails, whatever girly. i was like I can't complain, saweet! So i won't have to worry about clothes or anything. Speaking of places, we finally had the chance to escape for a little on Tuesday. We had the chance to go to a store for an 1.5 hours and get the things we needed. The driving is the worst in the entire world, you think tricia or grandma are bad, no not even close!!!! Hermana curl explained it this way.....a 10 year old driving, with their eyes closed in New York city.... mom it is the scariest thing, and they have all discovered what a horn does. It was crazy so many close calls. Anyways we went to this store that had everything and hermana kamisese and i went wild with the junk foood, we were definitely having serious withdrawls... disgustingly enough we are making a serious dent and will be needing to work it out next week. Also the clothes here are so so cute. It was cool too cuz I had the chance to use my pesos, my first time using different currency I felt so legit! oh and FYI I want a dominican baby cuz they are gorgeous people and the little kids are so so stinken cute!

       Cool story, I'm not sure if I already mentioned it to you but we met a man, from Haiti name Fabrice Joseph at the university. We had a contact with him and he had heard of the mormons cuz his friend is one. His friend had invited him to go to church and he wanted to, but he has his own church services, so he felt busy to go. He also was like I have read the bible all the way through and it doesn’t say anything about J.S.? So we tried to explain the first vision and the gospel. It was confusing and I think too much for him, so we gave him a pamphlet and committed him to read it and pray to know if what we were testifying was true. We asked if we could meet him again the next time we had planned to go to the university, he said yes he would like it and gave us his number. He asked for the book of mormon in French and English. H. Kamisese and I are going to buy them for him, so he can have them to read. He also wanted to make sure it was going to be us teaching him, no one else, so we have been praying about him, putting him on the prayer roll, and definitely trying to find a good lesson for him. We are going to try to teach him how there is more to learn in the gospel, more light and knowledge, and how Christ is our shepherd and there are other sheep in his fold that he is collecting to learn and teach the gospel. I feel good about him, but so far everyone that has had someone to meet hasn't shown up, so please pray he will. We want this so badly for him!!!!! One of our teachers is going to call and confirm our appointment with him tomorrow. It was so exciting to meet him and we hope that it goes well.

     Thanks for all the letters I love hearing what is going on, so fun and interesting. I'm so glad Kyle is involved and seems like he is enjoying life a little better now. You two are in my prayers. Tell him I am so super duper proud of him!!!! Also tell everyone thank you for their support its nice having this support and love from everyone! Sometimes you definitely need it. I'll try to write you a handwritten one again, that one took along time and I have quite a few people to write this week, cuz i was a slacker last week. Sorry I can't talk about all the things you mentioned, so wish i could, i miss my mommy calls and talks. This is so hard, cuz i have something to share with you or i read your letters and i just want to pick up the phone and be like so blah blah bah, ramble ramble ramble.... lol I Love you so so so so so so so so so much mommy!!!! Thanks for everything you do for me, and your love, your such an incredible mommy!!!! muah!!!! and big squishy hug. oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Have fun, keep being that awesome loveable smily mom!!

Love your little missionary,

Jes

Letter received in the mail on Wednesday, 11/17/10

Hola Madre!!!

Sorry my email was short, our P-days here are a million times busier and we only have like 30 minutes on the computer and 2 hours to write, clean, and get ready for dinner and also gym.   So P-days are just as busy as any other day.   Before I write more I need to mention something from experience.   When you see a sister missionary (anytime) please give her a big hug because this is hard, stressful work and we never receive affection.   It’s hard not getting affection or being held by anyone, especially being in a closed in box like here.   So when you see a sister hug her, she needs it!   I promise!

Today on our P-day we went to the university and did a service project of picking up trash on the campus grounds.   It was blistering hot, but it was good.   It was sad though cuz a lot of the students were laughing at us.   It’s sad cuz we were trying to help them get trash off and have a clean campus.   It’s all good…we were able to get out and serve others.  J

……….

I did hear from the Glod’s and that was extremely nice.   It was great to hear their family is doing well.   DearElder is probably the best (form of) communication from anyone because I found out they open your mail sometimes.   Hermana Curl had a letter opened and later read in an email from the sender that money was supposed to be in the envelope.   They stole it!   Sad eh!   So DearElder (DR MTC) is safest or pouch.

So Sunday’s are my favorite days because they are relaxing (also ice cream days), spiritual, and just nice here.   It’s so nice when we have extra time we can nap or walk around the temple.   It helps keep the Spirit.   I bore my testimony last Sunday en Spanish, it was cool to hear testimonies either in French or Spanish, no ingles.   The President and his wife are good people.   Their names are President Hendricks and Hermana Hendricks.   They were mission presidents before in Costa Rica and all their children served in Spanish speaking missions.   Cool eh!   They leave this January….Hermana Hendricks took care of me while I was sick, with cough drops.   I slept during class once, and she brought me warm lemon honey stuff which, no offense, totally tasted like I was drinking throw up……Shhh don’t tell her I said that!

So I’m super excited because we get to go to the mall on Tuesday.   The Haitians are leaving that day and we can go shopping.   We haven’t been out or bought really anything since we’ve been here.   A lot of restocking.   We’re all ready to get out a little from this box.   Cool thing we have a really tiny distribution store attached to our building and I bought the Children’s Hymnbook (Songbook) on CD for only $1.30.   Sweet eh!   And a 50 piece of Articles of Faith cards in Spanish for $.20 and gave them to everyone.   It was sweet!

I’ve taught the 1^st lesson a couple of times in Spanish and the 2^nd lesson about the plan de Salvacion.   It was hard, but my teachers said we did a really good job.   Hermana Kamisese is such a blessing for me.   She’s patient and a great motivation for me.   She has such a love for the gospel and teaching which helps me want to teach more…..cuz you know me, not a big fan of teaching.

………….

(Jessie said some private things here and then she continued with…..)….can I just say I am so grateful for men of God who receive guidance and are ready anytime!   Anyways we talked (Jessie and her MTC President) and he had good insights then he asked me if I wanted a blessing.   I wasn’t planning to get one, but I wanted one when he asked   We had to wait til after devotional cuz we were already running late.   He later came and got me and gave me a blessing, a blessing that had most of the things I needed to hear and didn’t even mention to him.   It was such a relief for me and a total answer to prayers!   I felt so blessed to have that experience tonight and know how my Heavenly Father feels about me right now in my life.   I was glad I didn’t send this yet, so I could share this story.   And one funny thing is before I left he was like “I’ll ask Hermana Hendricks to give you a hug.”   I thought that was funny cuz I didn’t even say anything about it, but Hermana Kamisese and I talked about it today.   The Lord sure does know and the Spirit guides people through other worthy members.

Before I leave, cuz it’s bedtime, tell everyone I’m sorry you’re like the only one I wrote to this week.   I’ll try to redeem and respond next P-day!   But here is a little about my small district:

Hermana Kamisese:   awesome, Tongan companion as always.   We’ve been companions for 5 weeks now.

Elder Pinkston:   District leader, from Alabama, nice all American boy.

Elder Perez:   20 years old from San Diego.   El Salvadoran.   He is the best Spanish speaker in class.   He basically translates for the rest of us.   Total goof, sometimes over the top, but very kind.

Elder Mangleson:   from Sacramento.   Very kind, quiet and loud at the same time.  He’s funny cuz he thinks he’s black, but he definitely isn’t.   Good guy.

Elder McGlauthlin:   from Arizona.   A total comedian.   The Haitians call him Jim Carrey cuz he makes faces and is funny.   He’s madly in love with is GF (sweet) and we Hermanas don’t have names, we’re just ‘Hermanas’ with a certain tone.

These are some things about them (so) you can kinda picture them.   They are a good, fun group.   

Gotta go! 

Hermana Me

Email received 11/11/10

Como esta? Mi espanol is obtenido bueno, pero estoy muy frustrado cada dia. Esta bien. We made a promise last night that we will not speak any more English, can I tell you how extremely frustrating and difficult that is. I know I've been somewhat improving so it must need something. One of my teachers joked and was kinda serious saying that when he spoke fast I could understand him, so he said I should be with the Latino group next week.... I can understand, but the Latino part was the joke. Anyways it’s hard, don't care for the language but i know it is a blessing. I am better with my cold, still have it lingering and definitely spread the plague here in the CCM, my bad, tried not too, so hopefully it will pass soon and get better. Sorry this letter is going to be a lot of whining cuz it’s been a really hard time here. I feel like I don't receive much respect from Elders, I was sick, I'm frustrated, I've been stuck in one building for 2 full weeks now, no chocolate, same food, constant brain power for Spanish, no taking pictures. I didn't receive any communication for 2 weeks, cuz mail is awful here. I'm just not really liking it here, but I'm continuing to try to stay positive. Hermana Kamisese is a great example to me.

Anyways it was so good reading your letters.... I definitely needed to hear from you and from someone. ……

There are 3 hermanas here going to PR... and Hermana Kami is the only one going to DR. The Haitians leave on Tues and they are only learning the gospel. I finally went to the universidad on Tuesday and it was definitely a nerve wrecking experience but good at the same time. We went up to random students and starting talking to them, it was very difficult understanding them, and I hope they got at a least a little something out of it. There was one that I felt prompted to go talk to and she was older... and we had some book of Mormons to pass and we had one left. We went up and asked if she had a moment and she said yes. We talked to her about the BOM and she was definitely listening and agreeing that the Lord talks to people and how the scriptures are the word of God. It was definitely a sweet moment and the spirit was there. We got her phone number and hope she will continue to listen to the gospel. Her name was Rosaly. All the Dominicans are gorgeous people and when we talked to people at the university they definitely were polite and were willing to listen. DR is pretty dirty and older. You can tell it doesn't have much money. It was finally good to step out in the real world.

We did have some of the affects of the hurricane, just rain and storming. The lights here constantly go on and off even at the temple sometimes. That happens in Haiti too and here apparently. But nothing awful happened here from the storm from what I know.

I'm sorry I don't have much time, I will try to write you a more info letter, I'm a slow typer which hurts my writing time. Thanks for your letters I always love hearing them, I definitely need it right now. Tell people on fb to write too.... I'm very shut down from the world now, no communication and it takes weeks to hear anything. Hope all is well.... Love you dearly!!!! Miss you and hope you feel better!!!!

  

Your little missionary-

Hermana Jes Comoletti

Email received 4 November 2010

    Wow this has been an interesting yet good experience here in the DR.... isn't it so crazy that I'm here living in another country.... I'm official now cuz I changed some of my money to pesos. Anyways it's good here, everything is in one building, very small.   Our rooms are on the same level as our classes and the cafeteria is downstairs, so basically everything is a closed space. I've been extremely sick with a cold, and have been spreading it. My bad, trying not too, but it won't go away.... I think everyone knows me as the sister who coughs. I got a blessing from two of my elders from the district, so that was good. 

    Mail here is slower than we thought, only 3 of us received mail for the entire week ( not me), it only comes on Tuesday or Wed. so you can do a DearElder,,,,,,,,,,... Here its kinda a no win situation with the communication, but we'll make it work. I'm now companions with Hermana Kamisese only and she's been such a sport with me being sick. I still love the other hermanas too, and we've been trying to communicate with the Haitians. We have a good group here in the CCM, and I have a fun district. Half DR, half PR.... they definitely have their times tho when you know they are 19 year old boys, if you know what I mean??!!! Anyways... its very personal here... we eat with the President and His wife and with the employees... there is a thing where every lunch we eat rice, beans, and meat, and a fresh banana, then for dinner something American or DR. Our meals are basically the same everyday, already getting tired of it, I'm in trouble lol….The people here are nice, but you can definitely see some of the cultural differences. All our classes are in full blown Spanish, so we are learning from some serious translating in the noggin. It's hard and tiring, but I mostly can understand, but really only my teachers, cuz then someone else talks and I'm lost. Spanish is hard, but I know the Lord is helping me with it. We haven't taught yet, we will be doing that on Friday at a college campus down the street, talking to real people about the gospel the real deal. So we will see how that goes. Hm. Kamisese and I have taught our teachers like fake investigators and every time they are like great job, excellent so we must be doing something right and they must understand some of the Spanish. We also went to the temple today... that was nice and its such a beautiful temple and so glad we are so so so so close to it. Just the next building over, basically we live on temple grounds. You won't get too many pictures cuz we can't take any until the Haitians leave and that day we can, and then our last day. That's it, so don't expect a card or anything. Crazy eh... they are a million times stricter than Provo, but it's good here.

Happy Halloween!!!

Hermana me... aka comoletti

P.S.   hey don't know if i said but we heard Richard G. Scott and met Elder Coleman area of the seventy!!

I found out that DearElder.com has free letter delivery to the Dominican Republic MTC via the church pouch every week.   You need to make sure the letter is submitted on their website by midnight on Sunday night and the letter will make it into the upcoming week's pouch.   No signing up needed.   Just go onto the website and click on the 'Pouch (Free)' icon on the left side of the DearElder homepage.   You need to choose the Dominican Republic MTC as the delivery location.   Jessie will be there until early to mid-December (we don't have an exact date yet).  

If you haven't used the site before it's really quite easy.   You type the letter directly onto their page and hit 'Submit' when you're done.   Then, once a week the company will print the letters and put them into the pouch for delivery.   It's a wonderful service and we've used it a lot already.