April 29, 2011 - Letter

                                PICTURES!
HERMANA HABEL AND HERMANA ORTON

 

HERMANA ORTON, HABEL, WHITEHEAD AND REED

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          BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

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Hey Mom!!!

Okay, I know I say this everyday but man, things are getting crazy. The best thing that happened last week was that Elder Scott came to devotional! He gave an amazing talk that was really touching and inspiring. AND he conferred upon us the gift of the Holy Ghost. And I have to say, its working! My Spanish is still pretty scary and I am a little nervous that no one will be able to understand me, but I have improved so much over the last little bit that it is nothing short of miraculous!!! He is a wonderful speaker and the second he walked into the room the Spirit hit like a ton of bricks. It was a great night. I cried a lot. The mission still hasn't beat that out of me. I have become something of a district joke. But it's all good.

This week has been ridiculous. They started construction on the cafeteria so there is drilling going on 24/7. It is so crazy loud and crowded all the time. I kid you not. ALL THE TIME!!! They also started a new schedule this week, they are changing some of the curriculum and with that comes a new schedule. Overall not a big deal, but they gave a bunch of the teachers the wrong schedule, so along with a new schedule, we lost both of our teachers. And we love our teachers. It was a rough thing for us as a district to lose them. Instead of having all the teachers move their classes and such, they put them with whatever district matched their schedules. Which makes sense, but we still don't like it all that much. We really like one of our new teachers, but we are struggling to like the other one. Over the week things have gotten a lot better, and I feel like part of the reason I needed this change was to get me excited to leave the MTC.

I have really loved it here, and I wasn't very excited about leaving, but now, I am so excited! I feel more ready to go out and teach! Speaking of leaving, here is my flight schedule!

We go to the travel office at ten and go to the airport!

We are flying at 1:50PM flight 1306 (Delta) to Atlanta

Then from Atlanta to Buenos Aires flight 101 at 8:40PM

We don't have much of a layover in Atlanta, but I will for sure call from Salt Lake.

Elder Oaks was at Devotional this Tuesday! It was just as good as Elder Scott's. He talked alot about why we are on missions and how to magnify our callings. It was so good. Another thing to get me ready to head to the field!

Dad:Congrats on working mornings!!! How is that going?

Mom:How's the medicine working? Side effects any better?

Kami:Don't overwork yourself too much, remember to have some fun

Zac:I sent you an email. But I still love you. And you are welcome for the shirt

Holly: Good luck on your competition tonight! I am praying for you!

Summer: I heard you did an awesome job at Jungle Book, I knew that you would!!!

Okay, in regards to mail, today is the last day that I will get any Dear Elders, so if you sent them anytime past around 2:30, chances are I won't get it. But I have heard that you can Dear Elder pouch mail as well, you just put the mission address or something? So anyone who has been using that can try. I will only be able to get packages tomorrow, sorry about the rush, but anyone who was going to send something can get it to Post Mart by 12 and I think I should be able to get it just fine. Mom you can correct that if its wrong.

I'll be sending some stuff home with Genie Lamb, she won't be in tomorrow, but she said that she would get it to you, no problem.

Everyone, thank you so much for your support. I have tried to write everyone back that has written me, but I am so sorry if I haven't written you back! Know that I am so grateful for everything that you have done to support me and my family! I'm sorry if I didn't answer all your questions. To be honest, I can't even remember if you asked any questions. Put them in your next email, and I will do my best to answer them. The Church is true, and I can't wait to be able to share that with the people of Bahia Blanca Argentina! (even though it's still a little hard to believe that I leave in 3 days!)

Love you!!

Corinne

April 19, 2011 - Letter

Happy Tuesday!!!

 

I also greatly enjoy Tuesday's!

 

So starting with last week! The temple was wonderful on Tuesday! It really is quite an amazing thing to be able to learn something new and to appreciate the same thing week after week. I am certainly going to miss attending the temple while I am in Argentina. I was looking for everyone else too, but I didn't see you guys. It made me both sad and glad. Sad because I miss you all, alot. But glad because I don't know if I could handle another goodbye. Once was enough for me.

 

On Wednesday we got a new district! It was great to finally get a new one! Our zone has been small in numbers lately. Especially because we on Wednesday district E got their flight plans. They also found out that they would be leaving on Thursday. They had 26 hours notice. They were flying to Boise to meet with the Mexican Consul and to Mexico from there. It was a pretty crazy  day for the whole zone, meeting the new missionaries and saying goodbye to others. But we got through it with minimal tears! Which is big, I'm pretty sure I have bawled like a baby every time a district has left.

 

On Thursday district E left. And I got pictures!!!! It was so exciting! It was a couple of days earlier than I thought that I would get them so it was a wonderful surprise! And, everyone, everyone loved the coconut cake. In fact, if I can put in a request for more that would be wonderful! On Thursday night the Elder Black and Elder Mower (zone leaders) and Hermana Habel (Coordinating Sister), and I (companion of the coordinating sister) met with the new missionaries and gave them a little welcome/orientation/tour of the campus. It was cool to be able to help do that, but it is really weird to think that we are now the oldest district!!!!

 

On Friday we met with the visa agents, and it was actually quiet anti-climatic. All they did was fingerprint us. All ten fingers and once we had been printed, we could go. However, Friday was not completely devoid of interest. Hermana Habel got a little sick and so we got to go off campus to the clinic at BYU. I know, super exciting, right? But she is doing much better now!!!

 

And Saturday, wasn't Saturday beautiful?! It was so nice to be able to study outside! It was warm and just wonderful.

 

On Sunday I had a bit of an embarrassing moment. I play the piano most Sundays, and I was playing the introduction to the opening song, but low and behold, I am playing the wrong song. I don't know how those wires got crossed, but somehow, they did. And I kinda know how. I may or may not have written down the wrong number. I was completely mortified. Oh well. No one is still talking about it, so I'm good.

 

Monday was good. The rain was amazing. I love the rain. It made me miss being able to go outside for no good reason. But we did get 2 investigators committed to baptism! It was awesome! It is a little sad, they are changing the teaching design, so we will only have one or two more lessons at the max with them, but I am glad that we were able to get them this far! And, on Monday, I got a package from Grandma! She had made carmel brownies and sent a picture of Sophie! It was such a wonderful surprise!

 

Today has been good so far! Our meeting with the consul was awesome! He told us a lot about Argentina! That took the bulk of the time, and I'll send some of that info via letter later today, there have been some technical difficulties and so I dont' have quite as much time as normal. After a lengthy time of him talking to us, we signed the papers that we had fingerprinted. And then we were on our way.

 

We should be getting our travel plans soon, and that is making the whole district very antsy! We just want to know! I should be able to let you know next week what they are! I am going to try to answer all of your questions that I didn't get to answer in a letter and get that sent out today, I am sorry that I didn't have more time!

 

I love you!

 

Oh, I am sorry if I gave of the impression that I was really really struggling. It was just my turn to have a difficult time. I really am doing much better, and I know that I am in the right place! Sometimes things get hard, but that doesn't stop them from being right!

 

Love you!!!

 

Love,

Corinne

April 12, 2011 - Letter

Hey Mom!!!

 

Ha. It sounds like your week was even busier than mine! I don't know how you do it. I am glad that Kami is home to help you out, make sure you put her to work!

 

When are you all going to the temple? Kami and Holly both said something about going either today or tomorrow up to Salt Lake, did you guys go?

 

I am super excited about the pictures. And by super excited, I really do mean super excited. Just ask my district, they know. I talk about them frequently. We'll all be happy when they come. Me because I want them, everyone else, so I stop talking about them. If there are some really good ones, would you mind sending two copies? I am putting some in the journal that Malorie made for me and then in my photo album.

 

Okay, a couple of highlights from this week.

 

• We have a ver difficult investigator named Daniel Limon. I love him to death but goodness, sometimes that man drives me crazy. However, this week we started to make some progress!!! We gave him a Book of Mormon (finally) and testified and read a little together. He wasn't very happy with us at first, as he doesn't want the Book of Mormon to be true. If it is true than it means that everything he has believed for his whole life isn't the complete truth, and he is a very religious person. But he did say that it is something he needs to find out for himself, because he feels like something is there. The spirit was working on him, and he even cried a little!!! As far as we know, that has never happened with Daniel before.
• I am actually working out. Mom and Dad, I hope you are proud. And I even played basketball yesterday. I was awful. Dad, do you remember watching me play when I was Summer's age? (For those of you who didn't have the privilege of watching me play, I was very very bad. Sports have never been my forte.) I'm pretty sure I"m worse now than I was then. Just sayin, it was not a pretty sight. But I played. So that should count for something.
• Okay, I should have written about this last week, but I totally forgot. So it was March 31, and we (the hermanas) wanted to play an April Fools joke. So we decided it would be really funny to have all of us wear our rain and snow boots and blame the Elders for getting someone to steal our shoes. It worked really well, we went into the class room furious with them. They were so confused!!! It was hilarious. But for some reason we decided that it would be really funny to keep the joke going all day long. The other districts found out, and everyone was wondering who could have stolen our shoes. We were "complaining" all day about wearing our boots. And finally, towards the end of the day we realized that it wasn't that funny anymore. And we got mildly embarassed. The elders still don't know. We can't bring ourselves to tell them.
• The BYU Mens Chorus came and did our fireside on Sunday. It was awesome. I can't tell you how much I miss Choral music. It was so nice just to listen!!
• On Friday we meet witht eh Visa Agents. And next Tuesday we meet with the Argentina Consul. We may have to go to Salt Lake City to do this. It'll be kinda nice to get out of the MTC without any major injuries or doctor appointments to do it. Hopefully all goes well and we all get our Visas!!!
• I spoke in Sacrament Meeting this week. It was fine. I'm still not very confidant with my spanish, but I am proud that I was able to do it. It was terrifying however, and I am glad I don't have to do that again.

This week was probably the most emotionally difficult for me. I'm not really sure why. That being said, I am doing much better now. I am again the positive and radient person you remember. Overall, I am really doing quite well. I am starting to get nervous about going to Argentina, I still feel like I need to improve drastically with Spanish, but I am getting better. My teachers swear that I am better than I think I am . I half belive them. I know what I am reading and writing, but as soon as I start to speak I forget everything. But we (hermana Habel and I) have made a goal to teach all of our lessons in total Spanish, and so far they are going okay. It gets a little difficult when i have something really good I want to say and I can't because I don't know the words in Spanish, but it is good practice for 3 weeks (I know, crazy, right) when I am the only one for miles who can speak Engligh. Physically I am doing great. I have gotten a couple of headaches, but other than that I have no complaints.

 

Please please PLEASE take pictures at Christy's baptism!!! She and I would both appreciate it! She doesnt't have a camera and I wish I could be there.

 

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Zac!!!!!! Happy Birthday to you!!

 

Zac, I love you so much! I cannot believe that you are 16! I still remember when you were born and I was so excited to (finally) have a brother!!! I want you to know how proud I am of you and what you are doing with your life! You are an excellent young man and I am so proud to be able to call you my brother! Your birthday card is in the mail, and hopefully your present will be in the mail by Thusday! I love you!!!

 

I hope you all have a good week! I pray for you all everyday!

 

Love,

 

Corinne

April 5, 2011 - Letter

Dear Mom,

The subject heading was supposed to read "A Call for Peanut Butter" But it isn't letting me and I"m not sure why. As everyone knows, I leave in about a month to go down to Argentina. You may not know that Argentina doesn't have very much peanut butter, and what they do have is very expensive. And as you all know, I love peanut butter. It may be my most favorite food ever.  So I am going to be a little bit selfish and ask that if any of you have thought about sending me anything that you do it. And that you make it peanut butter oriented. Reece's of any kind, peanut butter M&M's, take five, anything with peanut butter. It would be much appreciated, not only by me, but by the lovely hermanas that I live with. Oh, also BBQ Pringles.

Entonces...Tuesday was great! We went to the temple and went out to eat for my birthday! The temple was wonderful. It really is a miraculous thing that we can go to the temple and hear over and over again the blessings and covenants that we have made. We also had Tuesday Devotional and that was awesome!! The spirit here really is so strong.

Wednesday I was not feeling well at all. I'm not sure what was going on, I felt nauseous and head-achy all day. I am doing great now however! We had a good lesson in the TRC (where we teach volunteers) and tomorrow is in total Spanish! I am getting pretty nervous about it. But I think it will go okay. Hermana Habel and I have been practicing like crazy, so hopefully it will pay off! We are also doing well with some of our progressing investigators, and Ricardo and Daniel are going to church this weekend! It is really cool.

And!!! Is everyone ready for the big news?!?!?!?! Elder Proctor gets to go to Argentina!!!!! We aren't totally sure how, but he gets to go! The Lord will have His missionaries where he wants them to be! I am so excited for him, and for me since he is going to be in my mission. He is so excited, he still almost cries when he talks about it.

General Conference was amazing wasn't it? I love that we can take two days and listen to the prophet and apostles and hear exactly what it is that God wants us to hear. There was so much good said, and so many things to learn and to improve on! I had a couple of talks that I loved, I loved Elder Cooks, President Uchtdorfs, Elder Johnson, and Elder Scott. And a lot more. Oh, President Eyring. All of them so good. And so exciting about the new temples!!! And, we got caramel rolls!!! That was such a good surprise!

At the MTC, we all watch conference in the gym. The same room we watch devotionals and firesides. The giant room you saw on the MTC movie. Which, I was on. I was in the choir. But it wasn't very close up on me, which is probably why you didn't see me.

On Sunday we had a zone send off, District D is now in Chile! However, they did leave with a little bit of sadness. Elder Kirk found out Sunday morning that his mom passed away on Friday morning. It was very unexpected. He has an astounding testimony though, and he is very strong. He headed off to Chile after a phone call with his dad.

Yesterday I had a mild emotional breakdown. Don't worry, I'm fine. I just kept crying all day. I'm not even sure why. I didn't sleep well after hearing Elder Kirks news, and I think that had a lot to do with it. But I got a blessing, and now I am doing better than ever! Just excited to go to the temple!!!!

Zac!!! Congrats!!! I am so excited for you! Did you ever hear back from Kensie Nelson? Oh, was the necklace from you?

Holly!!! You are a cheerleader! I am so excited for you! I knew you would make it! Now, you can focus on dance tryouts. When are those?

Mom, I hope your medicine starts to treat you better. I am praying for you.

Dad, any news from that company?

Summer,

Your birthday present is coming. But I am not sure when. I am still waiting for it to arrive. I love you so much. I can't believe that you turn 12 tomorrow! I am so proud of you and all of the choices you make. You are such an example to me. You will be able to go to the temple. Go every chance you get. There is so much to learn and so much temple work to be done! The spirit is so strong there and you can feel the love of our Savior and our Father in Heaven so strong there. Please, never forget that the Temple is a privilege and one to be treasured. Never take it for granted. I love you so much! I will be thinking about you tomorrow!

Love,

Corinne

PS HOW AWESOME ABOUT THAT IS IT FOR CHRISTY?!?!?! I AM SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!