Thursday, June 23, 2011

Email Chat 6/22/11

Tell Kyle happy birthday for me... can't believe he is 16.

So this week has been insane once again, I've come to realize the Lord must be preparing me for something, cuz it's been loco. LOL.

1. Changed companions again.... Hermana Garcia is going to all the interviews for the zones, so yesterday I worked in Guaynabo and once again got lost like crazy, probably worse than last time. My companion for 4 days is Hermana Manzanet or Inerise who I taught her family in Adjuntas. Her stepdad was our recent convert... so we are working now and she is mini missionary of 15 years old and no lick of English.   (I asked for some clarification on this and……….yes, she has been doing all the work with Jessie.   Here are some additional comments she sent…..)    The 15 year old is mature and not at times, but she’s great and her spirit is strong. And yeah I love being with the girls here in Ponce we are good matches I think...

She is only my comp for 4 days and I taught her too in her house with her family. She would come with us for member present lessons. Her stepdad was a convert of Hermana Angel in December.

And yeah she is the 15 years old.

2. Had my interview with President... It was good and I know I need to work harder as a missionary. LOL.....   (Of course I asked her……harder in what ways?)   I have the Spirit with me but I need to make a bone weary effort, disciple preparation and something else, LOL,  can't remember. The interview wasn't as edifying as the others, but it was good. He says I look happier and shine brighter. LOL... that’s because I can gradually be myself again.   (I told her I could tell she was happier and doing better because of how her emails sounded.)  

3. My area is still very fresh, but I am slowly finding.... I just feel like I'm on my own with the area, but I really like Ponce.  (I asked her if she thought Ponce was too hot and dirty because cities can feel that way…..)   I feel grubby in Guaynabo and San Juan... I am so not a fan of that area.

4. Got to visit a member that I adore and love yesterday it was great.   (I asked who the member was…..)   The member is Diana Camacho, her daughter is a missionary here.    (I then asked about the daughter…..)   The daughter missionary is Hermana Encarnation.  She was married before the mission for like 6-8 years, but her husband died and the mission has been so hard on her mom because they are best friends and single woman…….   (I was surprised the daughter would be a widow and called to the mission she lives in so I asked Jessie if she was a senior sister…..)    no she is 28ish.   (I commented that I thought that sounded extremely unusual since women that age aren’t usually allowed to serve full-time missions….)   heeheh yeah its allowed... this mission does a lot of things I didn't know the church did. LOL.

5. We ate at Ponderosa for our birthday dinner.... Thanks a bunch!!!   (I sent her money so the ‘girls’ could go out for her birthday.)  

6. Two weeks and yikes transfers again.

7. I am Hermana Curl's roach killer.   (This is SO ironic because Jessie was a basket case when she encountered cockroaches in her place in Hawaii.   Boy, has she grown by leaps and bounds!)

8. Lou sent a complete mail box of ramen noodles.  Don't know what that is about.   (I asked for further explanations….)   I received it on my birthday. But he sent another package with a nice card, a Key West picture frame with us, animal crackers and jelly beans, and shell bracelet.... they were cute.  

9. Permission granted: We are going to make an exercise video for the sisters.  (How cool is that?!?)

10. I don't know what else to say. LOL.

 I asked her for more info on what she did for her birthday………
 
After we ate lunch pizza with the Pietz’s and it was fun... he was funny because they don't know any Spanish and so they are trying to order with no Spanish speaking skills. LOL.  I was their translator and even I was confused. Also we did our shopping and I ended up getting paper, glue and printed some photos that I wanted. Also I bought a cute $10 watch - love it.

First off I read about Kyle's birthday I'm glad he seemed to like it.  I'm thrilled. And sad that I missed it....   (I told her what we did to celebrate his big day.)

I asked her to tell me more about the senior couple, the Pietz’s………

They are from southern Cali(fornia).   He is a complete cowboy....boots and belt... they are finishing their mission on July 1 and might come back. They were invited to return.   (I asked for more info on that…..)   The couple I don't know probably.... and they would extend until president finishes his time.   (That surprised me because I thought President Alvarado had at least 2 more years to serve.)   Yeah President has a long time still. It would be a super long mission....

 I just read about Henrietta and Ronnie, poor grandpa - that is super sad.  (Henrietta and Ronnie are Jessie’s great aunt and uncle on her father’s side.   Ronnie passed away and then a week later Henrietta passed away.   Henrietta is Grandma Irene’s sister.   Also, I told Jessie how well her grandpa was taking care of himself.   He’s 82….…..) I'm super proud of grandpa too. I need to tell him to save up his money for 2013 because we are going to Rome, Italy. LOL......  (You might remember that Jessie really wants to go to the Rome Temple Dedication.  Her grandfather is not an active member of the LDS church, but he has a lot of relations in Italy they could/would visit together.   I told her I wanted to go too!)

Hermana Garcia wants to hook me up with her brother who she explains if very guapo and a fireman that looks like Will Smith and is great!!!  LOL. It's funny because Hermana Curl is setting Garcia up with her RM (return missionary) brother, so if we all married we would be family. LOL.  We need to find someone for Jimenez.

Also wow Boston Watts is a seriously amazing missionary and great example for all.   (I’ve been sending her copies of his letters/emails home.)   He has an incredible attitude and definitely a great example to me... makes me want to be a better person.

Well mom LOVE YOU TONS BEYOND A MILLION and miss you tons have fun be good and get sleep. LOL.  LOVE

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

EMAIL CHAT 6/15/11

Yep I got the box and loved it, felt truly like a princess.... We are going to decorate for tonight........ today I woke up with a Spanish birthday song with Spanish instruments played by Hermana Jimenez and then turned over and saw cookies ice cream sandwiches with numbers 22. It was great and then I opened my package.   (I sent her a box full of party décor (pink princess) and party favors, cupcakes, candles, a card and gifts.)   We just got back from checking out the Gauncha (the beach here in Ponce) and we did our studying there. Then we checked out the place and took pics it was great. It was a perfect day to check it out.  Also the Peitz, the missionaries, are going to take me out to lunch soon yum.   (The Peitz’s are the senior couple in the mission.   Elder Peitz is the one Jessie reports mileage to, who seems to like her very much.   I thought it was SOOOO sweet that they were taking her out to lunch on her birthday.   Very kind, indeed.)
So crazy news - last week President asked Hermana Jimenez to go to the office because first, our senior sister's flooded in Guaynabo cuz of all the rain and president wanted to talk to her. So Hermana Curl and I were like what is going on. Then the next day President wasn't even on the island to talk to Hermana and the AP's (Assistants to the President) called us to go to Bayamon and pick our comps (companions). So now Hermana Garcia and I are comps again. LOL...... what a crazy transfer eh.... so we will have to see what will happen. Also with our area we were feeling like we had already covered it and we just found out that we cover all Ponce 2/4 which means basically Ponce is our territory crazy that’s a ton....

I absolutely loved the card, it was PERFECT!!!! I was sharing it with all the girls I loved it!!!!  (I sent her a card with sound………two cartoon characters giving her hugs……very cute.   Jessie spent the first 6 months of her mission telling me she missed my ‘mommy hugs’ and that she needed one badly…..so I sent a bunch for her birthday.  J)   And yeah loved the beach and ocean so incredible. So happy that finally in PR I could go to the beach and especially on my bday.... also the other day we bought dinner and ate it on the ledge on the beach awesome.

Good thing you didn't buy panda cuz we don't have one in our area.  (I almost sent her a gift card for Panda Express, but decided not to.)

I haven't had the cupcakes yet and yes we are starving.....  (It was late for lunch so I commented that she must be starving by now.   And I’d asked her if the cupcakes survived the heat and compression in the box.)

I was expressing how I thought it was such a huge blessing that her birthday fell on PDay.    The only birthday she’ll have on her mission.   If anyone needed that to happen it was/is Jessie…….

Oh definitely.  I was thinking it’s been so long (since) the last time I have had a bday with you guys.... but I agree the Lord has been blessing me a ton!!!
I was saying how no matter what (unless she was working for Disney) we would all celebrate her birthday together next year………..

heheheh for Disney I was thinking for auditions, I think they are in Italy or near there so maybe I can do it when it is the Rome temple dedication.  LOL who knows right..... and no way Idaho.  (I said….if she was in Idaho I would drive up for her birthday.)
We always pass a man who is poor and is always asking for money so we decided to call him the fruit man and give him fruit.... so we have started to give him fruit and he has been liking it….So one day I had a little pack of carrots and I was like I'll give him this today and oh mi madre he was like what is this... I was like carrots.  He asked are they sweet and I said no they are vegetables and he was like I don't want that. And we were thinking how picky, but at least we know he likes sweets.
Sorry mom I have to go cuz we have to meet for lunch.  We hope we can return for emails but I don't know if we can.....

LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH AND THANKS TONS FOR YOUR LOVE AND GOODIES!!!!!!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

EMAIL CHAT 6/8/11………

Thanks a bunch for the letter.... I always love reading them. I'm glad Kyle is doing things for the summer and not just being a couch potato the whole time..... at least he is doing things and he is definitely in my prayers. I'm bummed though I have been trying to talk to him, but I haven't heard anything from him.

And the things you said about my birthday hehehe that's funny to think about yeah unfortunately I am older than 1 year old because if I was still one I would be perfect. hehe jk (just kidding).   (I let her know that she was colicky as a baby, which was far from perfect.   LOL.)
And with the scripture case.... I wanted one kind of fun and if they don't have the Guatemalan ones or one kind of Latin -like the leather ones I'm not sure. I guess it depends what they have for cases.....  (She asked for a case for her Spanish scriptures, which are ‘international’ size.)   Not if it’s just a plain one like at distribution center, if I can some way I want to see if i can get a cool one ya know. LOL.  (I’m working on it.  J)
1. I already mailed you my address and you should have received it by now.   (I told her I didn’t get it and she wrote….)   I didn't email the address I mailed it to you.  (a postcard?)   No it was a letter.....
2. So this has been wild.... All of a sudden last Monday we receive a call that Hermana Garcia who is another sister's trainer still had her calling to visit sisters. So we drove 1.5 hours to San Juan and I ended up working in Guaynabo again with a temp missionary who was leaving for her actual mission in Mexico the next day. Then we returned back to our area, had our PDay and Hermana Christianson was there with us too. We had lunch with the President's sister and it was good. Then Hermana Christianson talked with President and he said that we were going to have someone else move in with us. We thought that was weird because Hma. Christianson doesn't have a comp(anion). Then we met up with President in Ponce at night and it was a senior sister (from DR Hma. Sierra –Dominican Republic) So funny!!!! I talked with president and it was good. Then he told me that sometimes I would be working with Hermana Curl when Hermana Garcia is away.  Also he told me to have some fun with Hermana Curl and to help her continue having that fun personality. And boy are we crazy together... she is super fun, energetic, and bringing memories from the good old MTC times. Who would have thought we would be comps again huh.....Spanish has been interesting, but better than we thought .We still don't know what is going to happen with Hermana Garcia. I do miss her though. I only had 1 week.  

(I told her I was confused……who is her companion?   What’s going on?)   We are confused too. No one but president knows what is actually going on.
(She skipped 3 altogether. J)
4. It has been 1 year since I received my (mission) call to San Juan PR.
5. I forgot to send my car report and when you do that you can't use your car until Elder Pietz receives it.... yeah we were like we have to use our car to get to our area because we live 11 miles away that is a 30 min drive just to get to our area. So we made a compromise with him and we have to make him Italian food and bake him something before they leave in 3.5 weeks. He let us drive the car to the area, but then we walked to do the work. Also don't tell him.... but we wetted ourselves last night with a hose because it's been raining here (yesterday we were lucky it didn't, we walked yesterday.) Anyways we made ourselves wet and then we took pics with our bikes and are going to send it to him and say look at what we had to go through ;p
6. There is a new Krispy Kreme that just opened up and there have been some serious lines for 3 days now, apparently the people of PR love donuts....
(I asked her if they’d had any yet………)  We can't get Krispy Kreme cuz the lines are ridiculous. You have no idea how long. I've never seen anything like this before.  It's like Disneyland lines.

7. So Hermana Curl and I have decided to ask president for Barbie jeeps and not have to ride bikes, we would have more people come up to us and ask who were are. I like it!!!!

8. Hermana Curl and I had to teach a lesson for our district meeting and we decided to play a game where all the elders would have blindfolds and then different assignments to do. So we turned off the lights and they went and did their things. So funny. They kept running into walls chairs and seeing them trying to do their tasks. Good times.
(I asked her if the elders actually learned anything………)   yep the elders learned and had fun.

9. Someone else gave me a nice gift, I don’t know why but it’s beautiful. They bought me a butterfly necklace and earrings.

(I asked who it was…….)   The jewelry is from a sister that I helped teach in El Tuque Hma Supena.

10. Offered 2 baptismal dates and they both rejected us sad news.
(I asked her if she was still teaching them………..)   We are still teaching them.
Do you get my pictures?  I feel like it doesn't work.  (Nope, not getting any pictures via email.)
11. We ate pastels and arroz con dulce... basically none of the missionaries like pastels but I don't mind them.

12. We were contacting and we asked if we could help someone who was picking lemons and of course he said no then he was like want some lemons and we were like Claro que si ... so then he came with a huge bag of lemons... so yummy.. so we made him a bebido del cielos (DR drink) but they weren't there.

13. We helped clean a house of a recent convert and I have never seen so much clothing in one house in my entire life. It was like Mary Poppins’ bag with a never ending supply, but a house instead with clothes.  We have been given some of the clothes and they are on every piece of the house. It was nutz.
 I haven't received anything (mail) for 2.5 weeks really... the elders are going to the mission home, but nothing has been coming.  (That’s weird because I send her stuff all the time.)
I have eaten food I would never think I would eat and I really like beans (WHAT?!?!?). LOL. But still hate beef.

(When the mission doctors came to check on all the missionaries, one of them was a psychiatrist that Jessie spoke to by mistake (she thought the woman was a medical doctor).  She told Jessie to……)   I had to write in my journal every time I had a great moment or an urge to do missionary work . She called to see how I was and then asked if I wanted her to call me again I said no thank you. LOL..... psychs just don't help me, I know what they are trying to do.

I'm planning to write Kyle a postcard today or something give him a big hug from me....

I have to go, but I love you. You guys are always in my prayers. LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!  and talk to you later.

Have you noticed I have had a very crazy mission?  I don't know if most missions are as crazy as mine has been.  LOL.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

EMAIL CHAT 6/1/11…………

Hey, so bad news about the directions, I have a paper with the direction to the house, but I just drove back from San Juan and I haven't had the chance to return back to the house to grab the paper......  (What she meant was……..she forgot to bring her new address with her to the library.   In other words, we’re still sending mail to the mission home until she gets us the new address.   J)

Oh man what a day.  I had a list of things to talk to you about on my planner, but it’s in the car.  heheheh I'm so sorry I will try to remember everything.

I asked her if Hermana Garcia knew the address………

No she doesn't but the Hermana's should be coming over soon and maybe Hermana Jimenez remembers this time.  hehehe

Hey so first off I absolutely love love love my comp(anion)... we get along so well and I feel like mission work is actually fun. LOL. We had a fiesta which was a blast. I am living with Hermana Garcia, Hermana Jimenez and Hermana Curl.... we had a fiesta with balloons, Hermana Curl bought a $30 grill and we made s’mores it was fantastic. I realized that a mission can be fun. LOL... Today we want to head over to the Gauncha which is a beachy, pier with a park yeah for fun. LOL.

(I was commenting on how glad I was she was able to have some fun and feel like Jessie again…..)

Yeah honestly I didn't know that we could have fun like this in the mission because with all my areas and situations it hasn't been fun and super boring, I've missed these good times, so it was great to finally have someone who I immediately clicked with and we all just need a break... Hermana Jimenez felt the same way. LOL.... so very good. Crazy to think almost 8 months in my mission and a year when I received my call... NUTZ
Man writing is so impossible because you just can't explain things the way you want to. LOL. I'm going to make a list and with some points I'll explain. LOL.

1. Hermana Curl found out that I had Jay Dawg's sauce and she freaked out and was like Where did you get that?  because apparently she used to talk about it all the time. LOL... so if possible can you send her a bottle?   (Friends of ours own JDawg’s in Provo.   It’s an enormously popular hotdog place and the Edwards’ (the owners) gave me a bottle so I sent it to Jessie.   I know how much she loves it.   I told Jessie I’d send a bottle for Hermana Curl, but she wasn’t to tell her.   I want it to be a surprise.   This was her response……….)
Hma. Curl will be so super happy she might wet her pants.  LOL.  (geez, I hope not!)

2. My area is called Coto Laurel (yep I live in your town) and Valla Alto. We also cover some houses in the Ponce Playa (yep beach... not actually on just close) We serve in Ponce 2/4 which is the name of the branches. My district is so so fun and I have an elder who I knew from the CCM (Dominican Republic MTC). Our branch isn't a ward because we don't have any children (no primary, crazy eh) And in the area we serve we only have 2 members.... hard to find some work. LOL. Also the elders who worked in our area before didn't make an area book (contains people, maps, progression) NOTHING. We have been lost every day and have learned about Ponce real fast because we don't have any maps. LOL.  YEP serious freak "whitewash"" We have been doing a ton of contacts. The heat is very bad and unfortunately the sweat guard did not work. So far I like my area.....  (She went to PR with these things called sweat guards, which supposedly keep you from sweating for a long time……..it’s too bad they don’t work.)
(I asked her if they pronounced my name the way we do…..’law- rel’)

They pronounce your name differently and at times I pronounce it like your name and they’re like WHAT?
3. I served in Guaynabo last night with a different companion. My companion is a trainer like Hermana Christianson so she travels and they had a meeting last night. So we drove on Monday night to San Juan and stayed with the Hermana's there and I served in Guaynabo while they went to their meeting. It was weird and made me realize I like it over here better on the west side. LOL.

(I asked her if that was the same area she was in with Hermana Miller.   I also asked about Hermana Beltran………..)
Yeah it was the same area with Hermana Miller and it was funny cuz pres. thought I knew the area extremely well but then we got pretty lost. LOL. It was familiar, but I really don't want to return there. Also Hermana Beltran is in one of her older areas with Hermana Moldalvo.

4. There are elders now in Adjuntas, my district leader. They seem to love it and are doing well. Jose wants to go teach with them, which is awesome!!!
(I asked her how old Jose was because I wondered if he seemed the type to want to serve a mission later………)

Jose is like 52.  (I guess not……. J)
5. At BYU someone told me they sell colorful scripture cases from Guatemala and I was going to see if you can check how much they are if they do have them.  My Spanish scriptures are so trashed and there is a place I can get a cover for $40, but that’s way too much money. I need one for my BOM (individual case) so if you can maybe see if they are there and how much. Thanks.

If the cases aren't there don't buy another one.... also they are bigger than English scriptures (longer).
6. We found a menos activa (reference from Elders) and we went to her house and she is great. She hadn't been to church for 4 years and she was like I really want to go. We had a nice lesson with her and the member who was present was like yeah we can find someone to help take you to church. That was a big problem... getting to church and being embarrassed to ask for a ride. She received a call and she got her ride and it was fantastic to see her at church... I'm excited for her, she is great! Her name is Mirna.

7. Hermana Garcia is super good with Tahitian. It’s probably because she was a professional salsa dancer.
8. I am peeling now, but am tanner. LOL.

9. People here are telling me I'm fatter, gotta love Latinos. LOL.   I look fatter... doesn't help that every house gives us cookies, juice, soda, and rice. They ask if we want a drink we say yes water and they’re like okay, and come back with soda or juice.....ay no.
10. The other day I wore this left over dress from a sister that looked kind of young, but fine, a flower headband, and my backpack has flowers (the gift, didn't pick the design, but super cute) and everyone at church was like look at this little girl, how cute she's just like a Porcelain doll. Then a man rubbed my head and was like yep a muneca (doll) I was thinking in my head wo, I am a missionary - a representative of Christ .... nutz

11. Heard gunshots... first a machine gun and after a shotgun, someone had been shot.  (I asked her to go into more detail……of course!!!)   I don't know we heard it at night near the church and the elders were like yeah someone probably got shot it was nuts
No, I wasn't scared. I was super calm, honestly through a lot of scary situations I have been very calm, truly a blessing .....

Yeah we can seriously say PROTECTED BY ANGELS.... I have been in quite a few stressful dangerous situations (like I really wanted to know that! J).
We began talking about something family related and this came up…………

It’s so true about tithing.  It is something so essential and important to obey. This week we have talked a ton about tithing because one reason the people here don't have a church (building) is because they don't pay tithing. It is a law of exactness and it is promised if we pay our tithing we will receive blessings beyond measure and He will always keep his word a 100% if we pay 100%.  Also same with fast offerings, no exceptions.   (AMEN!)
I'm going to have to go......but I love you so so so so so much and thanks seriously for everything single thing in my life .....
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I LOVE YOU AND KYLE AND CODY!!! Give them big hugs from me.