Pascua Pachanga

I think that`s how you spell pachanga. It`s like a really big party. Whenever I say it, my companion laughs. She said it`s not bad or anything, it`s just a really big fiesta... Idk, I say it a lot. Haha. And Pascua is Easter. The lady we live with hid chocolate eggs for us on Easter. It was super precious.

We walk a TON here, and I have approx. 1 million bug-bites. It`s pretty cool. And it`s pretty

dirty in our area, as in there is just a lot of dirt roads. My feet are always super dirty by the end of the day. There are also a ton of cows and dogs. Like, more than there are people. We can walk for 20 minutes and not see a single person.

We have 2 baptisms this Saturday! A mother, E., and her son, H. I seriously love them so much. E. is really humble and shy, and H. is... a 12 year old. Haha. But he is really fun. He always asks me how to say things in English. He is super excited to be baptized.

I got one package from home, and my zone leaders took off the label, and put it on a different package, filled with Books of Mormon and pamphlets. They are clown-in`for-real. But I haven`t gotten my actual package from them yet... They are really fun though. I am really grateful for Elder R., because he is HILARIOUS. Sometimes I just need a good laugh.

My companion goes home in about 7 months, but you would think she was going home this transfer from the way she talks about it. She is TRUNKY for-real. Haha.

It`s a little hard being out here, but it really is great. When I think about how Happy the family is that is being baptized, it really makes it all worth it. That`s why I am out here. To give people the opportunity to learn about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and invite them to come unto Christ by being baptized and receiving

the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

I know this church is true with all of my heart. I love and miss everyone, and appreciate everyone that has been writing to me!

 Email from last Tuesday!

           I am in Bolivia! We left the CCM last night at 7, and got here around

Cochabamba, Bolivia LDS Temple

8 this morning. It is BEAUTIFUL here! Right now I am in the mission
home, which is right next to the temple. Both are beautiful. President
and Sister Dyer are both super sweet, and wanted us to let our
families know we made it here safely. I get my companion tomorrow, and
President told me she does not speak very much English. So that's
cool. I feel really good here, like it is definitely where I need to
be.
                                                                          

                                                                                                           April 14, 2014

Perritos and Cholitas

So, I left the CCM, aka the lap of luxury, on Monday night. Our plane left at 9pm and we got to the La Paz airport at 2 am . There was someone there to help us. He had us leave ALL of our luggage in the middle of the airport, and brought us to this random room to take a nap for a few hours. Our plane to Cochabamba left at like 6:45 am, and we got here at 8am . The Assistants to the president, secretaries, and President Dyer and his wife all met us at the airport. The first night we stayed in a hotel, and got our companions the next day.

My companion is Hermana T.. She is from Cochabamba. She was called to Venezuela, but since it`s pretty ugly there right now, only people from Venezuela can serve there. They go to the Colombia CCM as well, so I met a ton. She has been out for 10 months, and I am the fifth person she`s trained. Usually you train for 3 months, but she was only trained for 6 weeks, and then trained a North American sister for 3 months. She has trained 2 other North American Sisters, and one Latin American Sister, all for 6 weeks.

I`m trying`to get my full 3 months in...

I am struggling with the language a little, but everyone has promised me that about  3 or 4 months in, I should be fluent. They also promised me that the first 3 or 4 months will be hard... And that everyone gets sick from the food. Which is pretty cool.

It is really beautiful here. I LOVE the mountains. We live with a member, in  just one room in the back of her house. Our shower is outside. The water tries REALLY hard to be warm, but it just can`t do it. I usually feel pretty accomplished after I take a shower. It`s a pretty big feat. ALSO, the lady we live with`s son was an exchange student when he was in high school... IN DAYTON OHIO! It`s a small world.

I am pretty sure on Tuesday we are helping a lady milk her cows. It should be pretty sweet!

There are random dogs running around everyone. It`s a Lady and the Tramp type deal. Except they`re all tramps.

I love it here. I feel pretty safe. And I feel like this is where I need to be.

I love and miss

everyone!

P.S.   Okay, Yay!

I really like my companion. She doesn`t speak very much English. I taught her how to say a few things  she asked to learn. Like

I don`t have money.

My feet hurt.

Don`t bother me.

I don`t like vegetables.

Last Weeks in Colombia!

Last Weeks in Colombia!

So, my companion is from Cochabamba, and she is a super sweetheart. She is the only active member in her family, which is sad, but also awesome that she has such a strong testimony on her
own. AND she is a super baller at street contacting. I really like her.

I feel like my Spanish has gotten a lot better since I have to use it all the time. I get get a general idea of things when people talk for a long time. But when they ask me a question or or saying something short to me, I have trouble understanding. ALSO, I din´t know if you guys know this about me, but my palms get super sweaty when I´m nervous, like when I am teaching or speaking Spanish in front of people. And EVERY-TIME I say something of significance, my teacher likes to shake my hand. One time I literally saw him wipe the sweat off on his shirt. It was pretty cool...

Anyway, I am basically Latin now. I brush my teeth after every meal, sing off key, and am getting marginally better at volleyball. We play volleyball a lot here because we´re not allowed to play soccer. The Latin Americans get too...passionate.

My favorite thing IN THE WORLD is when the Latin Americans try to speak English. One Elder somehow learned how to say ¨Repent, my son" in English, so that´s their favorite thing to say. And there must be some kind of connection in their brains that makes them throw their arms in the air when hey say it, because they all do that.

I leave for Bolivia on Monday night!!! I am pretty nervous. It´s going to be real missionary life. Idk what I´ve been doing thus far, but this is the real deal!

And this Sunday is my Alexis´s 16th Birthday. Go party with her!

 AND General Conference is this weekend! Listen to a prophet speak! It´s available on Mormon.org sessions Saturday and Sunday!

I Love You All!