Here We Go Again!

October 21, 2008

Here we go again!

I sent this in two parts because there is a big storm going on here and I was afraid the power was going to go out on us.

About the package… I bet it is waiting for me in the office, really. We get mail tomorrow instead of yesterday because tomorrow is Zone Conference. I'll let you know ASAP when I get it, but please put your worries to rest, I'm sure it is here! I can hardly wait, and how did you know I wanted another skirt? I didńt dare ask for one, because I didńt want to stress you out, but Ím super excited to have another one!
GET THIS: If you haveńt already received a letter from Argentina (that isn't from me)… get excited! Raul Antonio Cappanna, the most wonderful little grandpa in the world has sent you two a letter thanking you and congratulating you for raising such a daughter (that sounds REALLY proud, but he showed it to me before he sent it off and that is what it says) It made me cry… Íll let you find out why, but I urge you to take good care of it for me until I get home because I can surely promise you that it will be the most cherished keepsake of my entire mission. Official soccer jerseys, Argentine money, and mate mugs-- will all take a back seat to the precious words of my dear, dear, Raul!

Typing errors: yes, the explanation is this… I learned my lesson that week I lost my entire letter. Now I write my letters in Microsoft Word and then paste them into the browser right before I send them off, this means that Microsoft Word thinks Ím spelling EVERYTHING wrong because it wants it to be in Castellano. Some words that are similar will go through an automatic correction process and be changed to what it wants it to be. Usually I go back and catch them, but some slip through and that is why every time I typed the word "would" it changed it to say "world" instead. Such is the life.

The bonfire…well, it didńt go up in flames like I planned because all the plants were too green and it was just too humid. We left piles and piles of cut plants to dry over the week and come back and burn, but today we had a downpour, which complicates our solution somewhat. Now we have to wait for them to dry again. But, the neighbors had already dumped more garbage in front of poor Mariós house the VERY NEXT DAY. Did I mention that was one of the reasons we went to cut down the plants – to get rid of the garbage for him? Anyway, I went right over to a group of 7 men and asked them who had done it. They all denied it and I told them that if they see anyone doing it to kindly tell them to stop it. I talked to some members and they told me that even if I called the police, nothing would really be done. UGH! I thought we would be able to burn everything, but I learned that Ím not in the United States, "Toto, I dońt think wére in Kansas anymore!"

Nope, I haveńt gotten a mailed letter in at least a month or so. I haveńt received those that you said you sent me and Hermana Torres and Sister Benton, but Ïm sure theýre on their way!

Maurie! YEA!! I am so glad to hear that she is going on a mission. Yoúve got to tell me where shés going the instant the news hits facebook! Thanks for chatting with her, I hope to hear from her soon!

Want to experience confusion? Well, I suggest you open up the Spanish to English dictionary I left home and look up the Spanish verbs "esperar" and "picar" you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that not only do these verbs have more than one or two meanings (for they have dozens) but also that the meanings are often so different that it is crazy! Imagine trying to infer from context clues what someone is trying to convey when they say "me pica." Welcome to my world!

Heré is a challenge I/we face. It can just up and start raining and I mean RAINING, and for these times it would be great to have my awesome boots, but if it is not raining, the boots are like a sauna and it is about all one can take to not let the heat and discomfort make you want to scream on the street. It is just awful to walk around in the heat and have your feet be sweating like mad, plus, no one wants to increase the chances of getting atheletés foot! Any ideas? The reasonable answer would be, check the weather and find out if you are going to need the boots that day… but guess what… that is not an option. We walk out the door at 10:30 in the morning and come back at 9:00 pm and the weather that can take place during the day is as big of a mystery as the location of the 3 Nephites! So yeah, just another bonus of the mission!

Mom, do you want a little assignment? First of all, Ím curious to know the name of the mission of my home… meaning the missionaries that are serving there… is it the Salt Lake South Mission or what? Also, how many missionaries are there in our home ward or stake. Can you give me the scoop on that?
Another assignment… I am curious to know if there is a map of the states on the church website that shows where all the temples in the U.S. are. People ask me a lot, and Ïd like to be able to tell them. Also – what are all the Utah temples… sometimes I just cańt remember them all, but I think therés like 14.

Daddy: randomly I remembered a time this morning when we were staying at the Olson’s and one Sunday morning before church, you joined me outside where I was playing in the snow and you and I built a snowman together. I remember being so shocked that you were doing it without wearing gloves! That is one of my happy memories of my daddy and me!

There are lots of trees here that are really cool and what I love is that you can look around and see a forest of 20 different kinds of trees all right next to each other. Like a pine tree next to a palm tree! Yoúd love it!

Nata/Jasa, about the daylight savings time… luckily it was just an hour that we lost and not 2 like you mentioned was possible, but let me tell you it was still tough to lose an hour! And it was Motheŕs Day here, so we were tired, and it is amazing that even though the day held no significance for us personally… when you hear the word "madre" a hundred times in a day… it can just about make you completely homesick, but we survived! I love you so much and think about little Davy tons!

Raul is so awesome! In his interview to get the Priesthood, he asked the Bishop if he (Raul) could show up early and stand at the door and welcome the members as they enter the chapel… He wants to be the ward greeter and he doesńt even know that that job exists! Needless to say, that next Sunday when my companion and I entered the chapel, Raul was waiting at the door to greet us and shake our hands. He is so cool! He also just about cried when he told us that he wanted us to be the first to know that next week he will be receiving the Priesthood… he is so sweet, and he served us mandarin jello the other day – which made me remember Daddy!

MOMMY: one more little homework… sorry… but I need to you research or ask around to learn about these coolers that are long and thin and made of fabric and they have some kind of squishy jell inside it and you get it wet and put it on your neck when you go hiking and it stays cool and wet and helps you not get heat exhaustion. I think we are going to need them this summer. It is already getting pretty intense and they would really help us be more comfortable. Thanks for your help with this!

Fernando will not be getting baptized this coming Saturday, though that was the plan. He still needs all of lesson 4 which you can refer to and you will learn that this is often where the REAL problems come in… wéve been struggling with him with the first 3 lessons that are easier--but I still really hope that he will be baptized before the end of the transfer so that we can reach our baptismal goal of 2 converts! Even though Raul counts for like 79 in my book! But anyway, Fernando's doubts and questions are too much for two gringas that dońt have that deep of a vocabulary. Wére trying to work a lot with the members to help us out in this regard. I hope to report next week that he has accepted to be baptized the 8th of November. Wéll see.

Mommy and Daddy, I love hearing your words, your encouragement and praise really helps me get through the hard days. I promise that Ím trying not to stress too much. I work hard and have faith. I love you so much and want to promise you that even if something tragic were to happen in our family (like what happened to Elders Wall and Fish) that I KNOW that we will be together again. We dońt always understand why these things happen, but if we remain faithful and endure to the end, we can ask our Heavenly Father when all is said and done and we will be more than satisfied with His answer, and we will thank Him. I testify that we can overcome All challenges through faith in the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.

One more week gone. I love you tons! Until next week, smile and enjoy the cold weather.
And let's just not think about the cougs...how sad!

Hermana Jensen!