December 26, 2011- Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

It was so good to talk to you! And better yet, to see you!!! I realized as well that I did not do a very good job talking about what had happened during the week. And a lot happened!!!

But first, here are some of the pictures from Marta´s baptism! It was such a good day! Sorry I didn´t get a chance to send them last week! I had forgotten my camera at the apartment, and no one else had their cameras at the baptism. Mom, I think that you would be proud of my picture taking on the mission. I think it has improved significantly. Needless to say, you will have a couple thousand pictures to look at when I get home!

Also, some of the Christmas pictures that we took in the apartment

Okay the marathon that was this week.

Tuesday,

We had district meeting as normal, and then we went home for lunch.  We also had the baptisimal interviews with Graciela and Carlos and they passed with flying colors!!!

We also started the Christmas presents of Franco and Marco. We decided that we wanted to do something special for them since they are with us almost on a daily basis, and do alot alot of things for us. So we ended up deciding to tie them fleece blankets that they could take with them on their mission, and we embroidered their names on them, and our initials. Let me tell you I have no desire to ever embroider by hand ever again, but they turned out well! So all week, whenever we were home, someone was stitching away like a mad woman, and the companion was writing things down in both planners so we weren´t wasting any time!

Wedensday,

We got a call from our ward mission leader, saying that he had found someone to fix the bathroom for us, and they would be there in 30 minutes. Thank goodness we didnt´have any lessons set, since all four of us had to stay so that the Hermano could come into the house. We also got Carlos a haircut for his wedding (Fanco did it), and we went over everything that they would need the next day for their wedding and on Friday for their baptism.

We also had our meeting with the ward missionaries, and then we were invited to a special ward council meeting. They had a cool little devotional and then dinner. We had to run home on a dead sprint to make it home in time.

Thursday

WEDDING DAY!! We spent the whole morining getting ready and travelling out to Santa Clara. We all got together at Graciela and Carlos´s house, took a bus to the center of town, where we waiting for Franco´s brother in law (who works for the embassy which is how he knew someone who could get Graciela and Carlos an earlier wedding date), who has a car, so he was going to drive us out to Santa Clara. Which he did. But he had a truck. So the lovely couple, and the family of Franco rode inside the truck, and Hna Israelsen, Franco, Franco´s dad, and I rode in the bed of the truck. Which was actually very fun.

They then got married, which if truth be told was mildly anti climactic. But they were married!!! And that was great. They were super cute and excited and embarrassed that we kept taking pictures. That night the ward threw them a reception. Which I hear went really well.

However, we didn´t get to go because we had Super Pday! We actually missed the first part of Super Pday because we were at the wedding, but I wouldn´t have traded that for the world. Actually the first part was everybody going to this sports place and playing sports. And apparently they made everyone play volleyball at first. And you know how well I do with being forced to play sports with a bunch of people that I don´t really know. So it probaly was a tender mercy that I wasns´t there.

The evening part however, consisted of a talent show ( I sang with Hna Pixton), a devotional, and talking to people! Which was really fun as I was able to meet some of the good elders who were previously in SAO! It was really fun to catch them up and let them know which of thier converts and the menos activos are doing!

I also got to see some elders from past districts, and Elder Proctor who was in my district in the MTC. That was a really fun night. We did get back super late though, and I was completly thrashed.

Friday!

Baptism day! Everything went very smooth. We were able to get the font filled with minamal problems. And the baptism was great! I loved it! The other Hermanas also had two baptisms, so we had four total! It was really great, and a good number of the ward turned out to support. It was really nice. I will put picture of that in another email so that I don´t have any problems sending that.

Saturday,

Was kind of a sad day. I got pretty sick Friday night, so I spent most of Saturday resting and feeling like I was dying. I was pretty sure that I was getting strep throat, and I really didn´t want to get anyone sick.

We thought that we had dinner with Bishops family Christmas night, but he called that night saying that it was in fact, Christmas Eve, so we ran to his house and ate with them. Again, I was super beat by the end of the night. The mission had permission to be out late that night, so we were home later than normal.

Sunday!

Was Christmas!  And i got to open my Christmas presents from you! And Graciela and Carlos got confirmed! Which was also perfect! And I got to talk to you! Which was great! After that, we gave Franco and Marco thier Christmas presents, which was super fun. And then we went to go see Carlos and Graciela. And then I crashed again.

I have recieved a blessing, so don´t worry about my health. I will be fine. I have the faith necessary, and right now that is all that matters. I feel like there was so much else I wanted to say, but I just don´t have time. I am going to quickly send the other pictures!

I love you!!!

Corinne