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