the empty sea

Familia y Amigos!!!! How the heck is everyone!? I hope you're all doing as good as I am! I love it here. My time here at the empty sea is precious and is going SOOOO fast. I miss everyone back home SO much. Thank you all for your letters and emails, they make my day, every day! This week at the MTC has been amazing. I love it here, So remember my fake investigator I told you all about? PLOT TWIST...he's my teacher now. Our district loves him, he laughs at e v e r y t h i n g. Makes people feel good even when their jokes aren't funny. (that's obviously not a problem for some of us ;) ) He makes us do wall sits while reciting the first vision in Spanish while he sits and watches us. MESSED UP. When we confronted him for not doing the wall sits with us he replied with "I don't need to be fit, I'm already married." Haha his poor wife. Anyway, this week went by really fast and I am pretty positive my brain is about to explode. The good news is I am starting to think in Spanish so that must mean I am retaining something from our sixteen hour days of class, class, and more class! So in Uruguay we speak a dialect of Spanish called Castillano pronounced (castishano) and it is SO pretty. I love the way it sounds, it's very European sounding. I can't speak it very well, but every time I hear my teachers speak it I get so pumped! I've had a couple of really neat experiences this week. First of all I have been REALLY sick. I had bronchitis and a high fever for five days straight. :( Lucky for me, I am surrounded by literally hundreds of worthy priesthood holders! I got a blessing and was completely fine by morning, not even a little cough. What a miracle. That experience strengthened my testimony about the priesthood tenfold. Another cool thing happened regarding the Gift of Tongues. So another district in our zone had cinnamon rolls and I of course asked for one and they were like only if you bear your testimony in p e r f e c t Spanish. Can't deny a challenge...So I just started bearing my testimony and it was like I didn't even have to think about it. It just poured out of my mouth. Afterwards, you could hear a pin drop in there. It was silent!! It was so powerful, and the spirit was so strong in that room. I really not even sure what I said, but I know that what I said was true. My district here at the empty sea is like family, I feel like I've known these people my whole life!! I don't ever want to leave them. I now have less than one month left here. How is that possible!? The days are long, but the weeks are short! Gym time is the best time of the day. We play four square with our entire zone and the elders get so competitive. IT IS COMEDY. Us sisters are always cracking up at how serious the boys get...like...it's just four square. Even though I am way agile, some how I get out all the freaking time! hahaa kidding about being agile since none of you can hear the way I'm saying that right now. Anyway..one of our teachers, Hermano Bullock is so funny. We were talking about like Christlike attributes in class and all of a sudden he goes " I'm not sure what God looks like....probably six foot two, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes...piercing blue eyes..I'm just describing myself." hahaa lets not forget humble! haha our whole class was dying. Oh the things you find funny at the MTC. ATTENTION: I love you all...but please no more M&M's my roomies and I go HAM on them...always after gym time because we think after how strenuous four square was, we deserve them. haha LOGIC. And Grandma if you're reading this, don't worry I haven't gained any weight yet haha. Ok so at the beginning of the week we are all given a topic for sacrament talks and then on Sunday our branch president gets up and just randomly calls on someone to give their talk in ALL spanish,,in front of everybody. n o. t h a n k s. So I was saying like fifteen hundred prayers in my head that I wouldn't get called on. haaha I was saying them in Spanish, so I'm pretty sure the big guy upstairs helped a girl out. Speaking of Sunday, the district that just left to Mexico last week had to sing a musical number,,and it was a huge group of tone deaf elders. So you all know that when I laugh I can't stop. I was crying, it was so funny. The whole room was laughing though so I didn't feel too bad...including the people singing. I really have never heard anything like it. OH MY GOSH. Embarrassing moment. So I was teaching an investigator and one of the prophets names translated in Spanish is Santiago..well, I said Sebastian. Is this real life? He's all Sebastian? and I just went blank. seriously all I could think about was the Lobster off of Little Mermaid the whole rest of the lesson. It was so funny, and now everyone in my district makes fun of me. perfect. Anyway, I know I keep saying this, but I love the MTC. The spirit here is indescribable, but you can tell that this place is holy ground. My heart is always so full, and I love getting letters from all of you at home. I am anxious to get to Uruguay, but I am trying to enjoy every moment that I have here. I want you all to know that I love you and that I pray for you always! Oh and if you send me Dear Elders throughout the week, I can send you a hand written letter back soon. Emailing everyone individually back is hard because I only have an hour..So in this case, writing hand written throughout the week seems to be more convenient! I love you all! Always find something to smile about! :) Oh and I am so sorry my emails are so scattered! So much to say in so little time!

PS: Has Miley come out with any new music videos lately? Someone give me the low down. 

The girls in my district. WE LOVE EACH OTHER.