First of all, I'm una malo hija! I totally forgot about Daddy's birthday in my last letter! I really felt bad on the eleventh when I was like "AHHHH! I can't write till friday to wish him a happy birthday!" time just moves so wonky here, I did not even register what the date was... so... HAPPY BIRTHDAY PADRE! Te amo, as Laney says:)
I loved getting all of your letters and all the packages this week! The tights are great mom, they are nice and thick--very hard to tear, which is really saying something now (Without piano and kung-fu, my nails have grown very, very long and they are sharp. I tipically give myself something resembling a paper-cut with them once a day, but they are just so pretty I don't want to cut them. I think I'll grow them out till they're as long as Jensen's.
Not that I don't do kung fu and piano now. I still play whenever I get the chance to for a few minutes---but it's tough without music. I didn't think to bring any. A bunch of missionaries did though, but they're like crazy talented concert pianists, who are nuts. Anyway---some of the Hermanas keep asking me to show them some moves. We're all going out into the scary world soon, so it's not a bad idea.
But anyway! THANK YOU! Thanks so much for the presents for valentine's day. Us girl's were feeling all silly because we're basically nuns and it's valentine's day and WHY, WHY i ask you, do they sell valentine's day cards and candy in the bookstore here? That's just cruel. (I know it's for the senior couples and also the silly missionaries with significant others 'waiting' for them, but still) But then I got such lovely valentine's day pressies from my fambly and I was so happy! We're having a little fiesta today durring laundury to share candy and comiserate in our 'as-single-as-we'll-ever-ever-
Laney's card was adorable, it's hanging up in my room with Grandma's (or it will be if I can find any tape, I think we used it all, labelling all the objects in our room in Spanish) That's cool that you found a Grandma Valentine's day card! I saw it and giggled. Very cute. Laney, Te amo tambien! (That may or may not be the correct way to use that word) There's a lot about Spanish I still have to learn, but we've been doing a LOT better this week. We taught the first lesson in Spanish on Thursday, which was quite an adventure. I can't congegate very well still, so I'm pretty sure I sounded something like this "God to give us Prophets for to teach and guide the cities and childrens of our Father in Sky." just about a direct quote, I'm pretty sure. My brain knows these things, but mi boca es lento. I have faith I'll improve though. I think I am improving, but I don't notice it as much anymore since I've got all the basic stuff down. And paranguaricutirimicuaro, which is important. ish.
Our new Hermana's aren't new anymore! We got another district this week (no Hermana's, only Elders) and our four Hermanas are finished with their three-week stay here (Two are headed to the MTC in Guatamala (sp?! I hate not having google to check my spelling) and the other two are SUPPOSED to go to Spain. I say supposed to, because one of them hasn't gotten her visa yet, Poor Hermana Fitches will have to stay for a few extra weeks, which is sad because her companion Hermana Bell is leaving. She'll be a solo sister (the only Sister in her district) which means that we'll be escorting her around. That's fine though, I don't mind, I love Sister Fitches. But I'm sad that she has to be alone now and that she can't move on to go be in Spain with her companion.
I was really pleased to hear about Brother Matsumori's phonecall! Her talk was so lovely and inspiring. I was already a little weepy about children in general because Hermano Richardson said something along the lines of "I'd give my life for a child to have the opportunity to be raised in the gosple" he gave us this passionate speech about how precious children are and how important it is to spread the gosple for their sake, because the world is such a cruel place to children sometimes. Then Sister Matsumori stood up and talked about primary and about some of the same things and I was kind of a weepy mess--I'm glad I 'looked great' because I felt like I looked like a sniffle ragamuffin. (Fun Fact: The word ragamuffin totally translates into spanish! Pelagato! My new favourite. Don't worry, I look up useful words too.)
But it was really sweet and touching. We all sang "I am a child of God" in our various languages and it was pretty tender. Girly, but I had the good sense not to be cynical for the sake of cynicism. It doesn't need any help, after all! I did say the prayer too, but not very well I'm afraid. I was a little nervous (I looked kind of pale, I thought, on the big-screen), and I haven't really prayed in English for a month, so I was a bit confused, I kept wanting to switch into Spanish.
Anyway, it was a very touching program. We appreciate babies so much more now that we only get to see them on Sundays (the mission presidents/visitors bring in their kids on Sundays sometimes). Occasionally I am tempted to grab a stroller and run away. They are so cute!
Grr! There is so much more I want to write about... I hadn't even gotten to Brother Prestwich's historia yet. Well, I love you all, so, so much! I miss you! Thank you so much for the gifts! Happy Valentine's day, and happy birthday again Daddy!
Love, Hermana Lillywhite
No comments:
Post a Comment