June 6, 2011 - Letter

Dear Mom,

Before I do anything else I need so say something: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!! I know it is a little late, and I should have thought of it last week, but when I email home I am usually looking back not forward, I am sorry! But even though you couln´t hear me, I sang to you twice on your birthday! I love you so much! I am so glad that I have you as my father. I look up to you so much, you have been my rock my entire life, and I know I don´t tell you as much as you deserve, but thank you for everything you have done, and continue to do for me. I would not be the person I am today with out you. I hope you had a great day!!!

This week has been a bit of a bummer. Unfortunately I am not feeling much better. I have been getting migraines pretty constantly. Not bad enough to stay home, but bad enough that they bother me alot. And they make it a little harder to learn Spanish. But we called Her. Detlefsen, and she gave us the name of some medicine that another Hermana has been taking for the same problem, we are going to get some tonight, and I have high hopes that it will help make things easier.

The other reason this week was a little rough was because we had to drop some of our investigators. They just haven´t been keeping commitments and we need to focus our attentions on finding new people who are ready to act on the feelings they have. And saddest of all-the familia Ralero dropped us. Hermano ralero decided he didn´t like us coming over and that he didn´t want his family to change religions, and they don´t want to fight about it, which I understand, but it is still sad. So we had to go say goodbye. I thought that i was going to cry. It was so sad! Their kids are so ready and excited about the gospel!

It was a week that just kind of felt unproductive despite our best efforts. We talked to alot of people, and got a lot of references, but it just all seemed to come to naught. But, it is a new week, and it is going to be great! We have trials right before, or in the middle of our blessings, so i know that things are going to get so much better than they  are right now! People are waiting to hear what we have to say, and we will find them.

Damian is doing so well. I am so impressed with him and with his older brother Facundo. Damian is 9 and Facundo is 13, and they have gone to church the last 3 weeks on their own, without their mom. Betty, the mom, is very supportive while we are there, but it is Facundo that is helping Damian remember to read and to pray every day. I hope we can get Betty a little more excited before Damian's baptism, which is the 25 of this month!!! and as excited as hna D and i are about it, i think that Damian is even more excited. It has been a long time since I have seen anyone this excited about learning the gospel. The only problem  is his attention span is really really short, so we have to be creative while we are teaching him so he pays attention!! But he is great, and he is so ready for the next step!!!

The stores here are really small, especially compared to the states! We go to the coopertiva for things like jam, eggs, canned goods, flour, sugar, those kind of basics. Then there are little meat shops, bakeries, veggie and fruit stores, where we get all the other things. Every thing here goes bad in just a couple of days unless its canned, so we make stops are the fruit stands and bakeries pretty often for...bread and fruit. and those stores are every where!!! One on almost every corner.

Exercise...about that...ha ha. I mostly just do some stretching, but sometimes i jump rope. It is super cold outside and none of us really have the desire to get up earlier and run in the frozen tundra that it Punta Alta.

I did sing at the baptism. I sang the "Jesus came to John the Baptist, in Judea long ago" primary song, I can´t remember what it is called now. I think that it went well. and judging from what the other Hermanas said, it looks like I will be singing at a lot of baptisms while I am here. its a good thing it is a lot easier to sing in Spanish than just speak.

I am so glad that you had a good time on the trek! I was actually thinking of dads dutch oven the other day. I wish i could eat that!!! How is everyone doing post trek? How many blisters did you guys get?

I am so glad to hear that you think your medicine is starting to make a difference! When do you go to the doctor again? How is everyone elses health? it is so weird to me to think that you are all starting summer, it is so cold here!!! what is going on in Chile with the volcano? we are so curious.

some other ideas for a package

Maple Extract

coconut extract

they don´t have them here and I don´t know why!!!!

Well, I love you so much!!!

Corinne