May 7, 2012- Pictures

The first one is Hna Bingham and I
The second one is me with a fall tree...I know. It sounds weird, but Hna Bingham is obsessed, and told me I HAD to get a picture with one. I think it turned out okay.
The third one is me and Hna Bingham studying! She has adopted my way of sitting at the table. Heheh
The fourth one is me and Jessica! I talked about her in my email last week. I love that girl!
The fifth one is Hna Bingham and I playing a game called Kings in the Corner. Its actually pretty fun.
The sixth one Hna Bingham doesnt´know how to shuffle cards, so I am teaching her. She finally started to get it, but she still get really nervous.

May 7, 2012- Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

Wow, it sure sounds like you have had a busy week. I am so excited
that Summer and Sadie did so well! I am not sure if I realized that
they were doing a dance competition, but I am so excited that they got first place! That is so awesome!

Just a couple of questions. How is life in regards to the car
situation? Everything going alright? I sure hope so.

I also may or may not have laughed out loud when you told me about Holly´s phone snapping in half. I am sure that she is not very happy, and it may not be funny to her, but I enjoyed the story.

Because transfers will be this week, I think it will be best if we can
talk right at four. That puts it at seven my time.We aren´t sure if we
are going to be having a change. But if we do, traveling can start as
early as nine, so we want to be prepared. I am so excited to talk to
you!!!! And I am praying praying that a conference skype works out!!!

GOOD NEWS!!! The Buenos Aires Temple is going to be rededicated on September 9th!!! I think that means that I get to go! If the rumors are true that it. I AM SO EXCITED! I have been praying for about 4 months that it would be rededicated before I went home! I almost jumped out of my seat when they announced it during church yesterday!!!

Thank you everyone for the pictures that you have sent me! It helps me feel that I am not so far away that I have no idea what is going on anymore! I can´t believe how grown up everyone is starting to look! And its cause you are all actually growing up. How weird is that? We´re getting old. Summer is a teenager. Kami is older than 20 (okay, okay, I know, by a couple of months, but still). Zac will be graduating a year from now, and Holly turns 16 this year. Totally crazy!!!

Will you tell Jayden and Shelley thank you so much for the email?! I will be writing a response, and sending it to them snail mail style
next Pday. It was so much fun to get so much information.

Also, a couple of people have mentioned that the blog hasn´t been
updated, but that more than that, it seems to have disappeared? Has
something changed on that front? I will take responsablility (sp?) for Kami´s blog while she is gone on the mission. I promise, I am sure that this is a giant pain, and the least I can do is take care of that giant pain while Kami is gone, since she is helping with the giant pain right now. I am just not sure who is in charge of the blog or anything, hence me writing it in the big email.

Well, in terms of actual work, there wasn´t much of it this week. Hna Bingham got sick, so we spent quite a bit of time in the apartment. The plus of all that is, I was able to clean a lot. I always like that. Our apartment is cute  and tiny, but there is ALWAYS a large amount of dust. I am not sure why. So I cleaned. I also got some personal things organized. That was nice.

I also got some study things worked out. *Some advice for future
missionaries* Start a study journal now. It has been one of the
hardest things for me on the mission, and I am not sure why! But it
tells you so many times in PMG that we should be writing things down in a study journal, so I tried to come up with some ways to motivate myself to do that. And I found one! Chapter 6 in PMG is about Christlike Attributes (and I recommend it, it is great!), and so I went through and picked a conference talk that had to do with each attribute, and I am going to restudy each attribute, all the scriptures listed, and the talk. And I made a page for each attribute in my study journal, so everything is ready so go. I started a couple of days ago, and right now I am studying about faith. It has been really good! And I have actually been writing in the study journal! I am hoping this trend continues, as I feel like it has been affective, and I am learning more. It is also helping me ponder, and I have never been a good ponderer....

Lets see...Other things you might be interested to know. I almost fell out of a bus yesterday. Bumpy roads do not help the clumsy inclined. Hna Bingham has started calling me Hna Hyena (sp?) because she thinks my laugh is hilarious. Some of the ward members have caught on, and its really funny.

I am trying to improve my attitude, and I think that that is helping
my current situation. I have noticed a difference, and I that is
great! I am also trying to remember, that while I enjoy having control of everything, I simply don´t have control of every everything. So I am controlling the things that I can (aka my actions) and (trying) to let everything else go.

I wish I had more exciting things to tell you, but hopefully next week I will!!! I sure love you and I am excited to talk to you in a couple of days!!!

Dad and Summer, please travel safe!!!

I love you!!!

Corinne

April 30, 2012- Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

First question. If people go to Craig and Maries, does that mean that
I won´t be able to see them? I am completely unaccostumed to the ways
of Skype, is there a way to do some sort of three way chat thing? I
HOPE SO!!!

This week was pretty good. I feel like so far in Pueyrredón my weeks
are pretty dull. They consist of so much of the same. But there were
some major highlights this week.

One of thems names is Jessica Salvo. She is the daughter of a member
here. She is my age, and she is studying in Buenos Aires. We have
eaten with Hno Salvo and his family twice, and both times have been
times when Jesica has been at home visiting her family! I had gotten
to know her decently the first time, and I was thrilled when we went
to eat on Saturday, and she was the one who came to open the door! We
had a really good time at lunch, and we were able to get her
interested in some things about the church. Like the temple open
house, she said that she was curious and wanted to go where she
normally isn´t allowed. (Can I just say that I am super sneaky? Mom,
Dad, you would have been proud at how she got curious and didn´t even
realize that that is what i was trying to do. Haha. I love my job.)
Her dad, Hno Salvo is the only member, one of his sons, Benjamin is 11
and wants to get baptized, but his mom (who is Catholic) says that she
wants him to wait until he is a little bit older. Anyways, Hna Salvo
wasn´t home, she was on vacation visiting her mom. So we´re talking
about a bunch of random things, and then I invite Jesica to church and
she said yes! I think Hno Salvo just about fell out of his seat. And
even better, she came!!! And she had a good time! She really liked it
and had a lot of questions. They gave out the Daughter of my Kingdom
out in RS, and they gave one to her, and she was really excited to be
included, and is going to read it. She also talked to Romina, about
institute. Romina is just great and talks to EVERYONE. So now Jesica
is going to look up where she can go to institute in Buenos Aires. She
asked me if she will be allowed to go even if she isn´t a member, and
I almost giggled when I told her that they will be thrilled to have
her there regardless of her religion.  So that was really cool, and
fun. Jesica is awesome, I am excited to be friends with her after the
mission. In fact, after internet, we are going to try to go see her
before she heads to Buenos Aires and I am going to take a picture with
her so you can see her. I just love her!!!!

Also exciting news! Fernando got the Priesthood yesterday!!!! It was
so great! He has been waiting and waiting, but due to things like
stake conference and his work travels it has taken basically a month
for him to get it. He was so excited, and he is so prepared. Romina
was the ever sweet, excited wife, ready to see her husband progress,
and she told us after his ordinaition, "I have a priesthood holder in
my house now."  They are so great! They really have become the life of
the ward here, they are helping the ward remember the potental that
their neighbors and family and friends have. I am really excited to
see how the ward will grow!

Kind of a flip from that optimism. Haha. We had the most depressing
ward activity last friday. We had been planning a mission activity,
where all the members could invite someone and we would have an
activity, kind of chill and low key, but crazy spiritual (obviously)
so that everyone would want us to come over afterwards and teach them
more. We had publicized (sp?) like crazy, and had all the assignments
given out. So Hna Bingham and I got to the church early to set up, and
make sure everything was ready since we were going to have to book it
home afterwards, and no one is showing up. Finally ten minutes before
the activity is supposed to start, our ward mission leader shows up
with the refreshments, and says that he won´t be able to stay, and
then he walks away. We were like, uh...now what. We didn´t have
anything. We managed to pull somethings together, and it turns out
that seven people came. And that was all. It was deperssing. We still
had a decent time. And the good news of all of that is that of the
seven that were there, 4 were recent converts, and that 2 of those
recent converts are inactive at this point in time, so we were able to
talk to them a little bit more, and we think we know a little better
how we can help them now. So that was good. Also, there was really
good cake. Isn´t that a sad story? I can honestly say it was one of
the only times I was angry on my mission. It didn´t last too long,
because I dont´like feeling that way, but it was there for a second
embarrassingly enough. Hna Bingham said that watching me mad was like
watching a small kitten. I prefer to think that when I´m mad I´m a
little scarier than that. Haha.

Yesterday we found two new investigators (YAY). I think they may be a
little slow to progress, but I have a lot of hope for them. Silvia is
the mom and Martina is her daughter. We also met the grandfather, the
husband, and one of the sons. I think they all really liked us, they
are already talking about inviting us over for pizza. And right as we
were leaving, on of their friends showed up, he owns a meat shop, so
they said that one day they would invite us over for asado. I´m down.
Haha. Please pray for them so that they will be able to progress!!! We
need a family like them so badly!

Zac, congrats on the new position at 7peaks! That is so great! I hope
that you are able to work to go to the Ambassadors of Utah. It was
completely great, and I know you will love it. Work hard, I bet it
will pay off if you decide to go!

Holly, congrats on the successful concerts! Mom told me how awesome
that they were! I am so glad that you are doing so great! And I can´t
wait to come to your first concert next year! Dance Company baby!!!

Summer, let me know if you end up needing braces. Everyone will tell
you that they are awful, but I actually kind of liked them!

Let me know what Mothers Day weekend is looking like! Let me know what
will work best with you, and I am prettysure I should be able to make
it work here! I sure love you all, and I am thinking about you
constantly (not in a trunky sort of way, just in the I love my family
sort of way!) and I am praying for you!!!

Love,

Corinne

April 23, 2012- Pictures

April 23, 2012- Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

I can´t believe that it could get up to be 90 degrees!!! It is just
starting to cool down here. I am starting to get cold at night! Its
about time to add another blanket while I am sleeping. It is
completely bizzare for me to think that school is almost over.
Seriously crazy. Winter is beginning, and it looks as if Fall will be
almost completely skipped. Although right now I am enjoying crunching
as many leaves as possible! :)

This week was pretty good. On Tuesday we had interviews with
Presidente. I love talking with him. Before we had the individual
interviews, he talked to our whole zone together. He is such a good
speaker, we talked about what it is that a missionary does and what a
missionary is. I love listening to him talk about missionary work,
because he gives me so much hope that I really will be able to come
better, and that success is within our reach. He answered a bunch of
questions that we had, and just talked to us and helped us feel the
Spirit. Then we started our individual district meetings as normal,
and he called us out one at a time for our interviews. I was one of
the last, but as always, I loved my five minutes with Presidente.

It was wonderful to be able to talk to him about some of the
difficulties that I am going through, and the hope I have for the
area, but feeling that I am the only one who feels that hope. He told
me that he thinks that I am doing a good job (which is really nice to
hear, sometimes in the mission, that positive reinforcement doesn´t
come as much as one would hope), and gave me some suggestions, which
we are starting to put into practice. I also asked him when for sure I
would be going home, since I had never heard back for sure. He pulled
out his calendar, and we figured out that it would for sure be in
SEPTEMBER!!! I am so excited.

After interviews, I separated from Hna Bingham for the next 36 hours,
and went with my temporary companion Hna Baker, to her area in White.
We were on divisions! It is so weird to be near Hnas so that divisions
aren´t this huge hassle. It was really fun. White has this SAO feel to
it, and it was really fun to be in a little town again. (Although I
still prefer the city). It was fun to work with Hna Baker, and we were
able to work really well together. I think that she is also kind of
passing through a hard time, so it was nice to be someone that she
could vent too. There will be a picture of the two of us at the end of
the email. There is a huge train station in White, and we had to cross
the tracks to get to the other side, so we decided to cross a train.
So the picture is of us on a train. :)

We were together all of Wednesday as well. It was fun to work with
someone else and get another perspective on how things can be done.
Potentially the most productive divisions I have had, at least on a
personal basis. I was able to get my head clear, and that was really
nice. We changed back companions, Wedneday night, and I found out that
Hna Araya and Hna Bingham were able to find some new investigators!!!
That was really exciting.  I still don´t know one of them, she has a
major test today, so she coulnd´t meet all weekend, but we are going
to have a lesson with her this week.

The other ones name is Matilde. She is super cute, and has 74 years.
Hna Araya and Hna Bingham taught her a little of lesson one, and then
Hna Bingham and I went back the next day to finish it, and her cute
husband Ricardo started talking to us both as well. He is 72, and I am
not sure how much the two of them understand, but they are both
interested in talking to us. So we´ll keep passing by and explaining
things in little amounts.

We had stake conference yesterday, and it was great. Presidente and
Hna Detlefsen got to speak, and they both did great. We also heard
from two young men who are preparing to go on their missions, and they
were just too cute for words. Although they would both be super
embarrassed if they knew I was saying that. The stake Presidency also
spoke, and I really enjoyed thier talks. I am constantly surprised
that I can attend a stake conference, or other meeting, in Spanish,
and not only understand what is being said, but be spiritually
edified.

We had a really good lesson with Romina and Fernando (recent
converts). We talked about profetas, and then watched On the Lords
Errand, because they had a TON of questions about Pres. Monson. They
had everything set up we had popcorn, and watched the movie. It was SO
great to eat popcorn on Sunday again. I haven´t done that since I left
home. (for those of you who don´t know popcorn on Sunday nights is an
Orton Family tradition). So there is also a picture of me and Romina
with the popcorn and Fernando is in the background. It was really
powerful, and so cute. After the movie we asked what they learned, and
they both started saying all of these things that they wanted to apply
to their lives. And Fernando said the sweetest prayer, he thanked God
that Hna Bingham and I had come into thier lives. I almost cried.

Today was a pretty chill day. I just wrote a bunch of letters. It was
nice to relax. I am so glad to hear that everything is goin well, and
that you are enjoying your nice warm, dry (aka not humid) weather. I
still havne´t gotten used to the humidity. It is the worst. Haha. But
thats okay. Mom, I was wondering if there would be a way that when you
send the other stuff that you could send some makeup? That would be
super fantastic. I am sorry to be a bother.

How are you doing Dad? I hope that you are doing great! Mom, thank you
for the update with all the doctor. I am praying for you both!

I am also including a couple of random pictures of me and Hna Bingham.
We may have gotten a little carried away with the camera. Haha.

Okay, I love you so much!!!
Corinne