"Christmas magic is not in the presents, but in His presence."
(This beautiful quote was sent to me by Hermana John's parents.)Thanks, I love it!
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Date: Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Subject: O Holy Night...
FELIZ P-DAY NAVIDEÑO!
First off, I decided that I can live without a jump drive, and I am sending the defective one home as soon as I can, yoúd be surprised that that is actually a pretty tall order!
NATA – I discovered the best source of daily language study… read the Liahono. It's great because it expands your vocabulary and makes you practice telling stories in an eloquent fashion. I suggest that you order the Liahona and study it to stay up on your Spanish.
The last two weeks have been the best 2 weeks with Hermana Johns! We have been giggling and having all kinds of fun doing random things together! For example, we found a giant Styrofoam/ paper mache 'hand' in a garbage on the street one day and couldńt leave it there. We carted it around and took it back to the pension and it has been there just chilling waiting for an opportunity to be used. Well, we told the Elders they could use it to punch the grinch in our skit, so we took knives and gutted it a little to be able to wear it like a giant boxing glove. As we did this, the little styrofoam pieces that we extracted flew all around (because the fan is constantly on) and we pretended it was snowing! We took pictures and threw it up in the air and yeah… we were highly silly, but these are the things that keep us sane… well, relatively sane?
Today all the missionaries in the entire mission went to the offices and had a Christmas activity. It was a ball! But getting there was also a story, we walked to the train station like always and when the train came, we couldn't board because it was too full and I mean too full. We didńt even try because there was no getting on it. So we had to wait for the next one, but what a blessing it was because the next train that came was one of the new AIR CONDITIONED double-decker trains! For fun! It was my first time, so of course we went to the top floor and sat down in the fresh air. It was a little scary, you could say because being higher in the air makes the train car rock even more. You guys wouldn't have liked it at all, but it was fun for me!
The activity was cool! It is called "P-Day Navideño" and we celebrated la Navidad together! We had a devotional by the President and Sister Benton and then a talent show where each zone presents a talent. My zone "the defending champs" of Castelar – sang, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!" We also exchanged gifts of about 10 pesos each, had a lunch altogether and took a photo with the entire mission. This is when you are really grateful to be a sister missionary because we not only get chairs, but we are front and center surrounding the President and his wife. I was sitting right next to Hermana Benton in fact! They are going to email us the picture and Íll forward it to you of course! Our skit was awesome. I recorded it, so you'll get to see it eventually. It was a big hit and we got quite a laugh from the crowd.
We just got back into the area, so we have to do Internet and buy groceries and then it'll already be time to go out and work. But it was really fun to celebrate Christmas with our mission family. We passed the gifts around in a giant circle-- all 180 of us and I got a pen which I later traded for football socks. Me and Hna. Bulger shared them because her gift was also lame. So we each have one Argentina sock and one Boca sock. It will always remind me of this fun Christmas!
As for the Christmas call, sounds like it will be taking place sometime in the afternoon of Christmas, but we still really dońt know the details and it's practically impossible to figure them out because I'm pretty sure I wońt be in this area, so I have no clue.
Wére in week 6 of the transfer and we were going to have a baptism on Saturday to end it but it isn't going to work out.
For week 5 we had a record high number of lessons taught with a member present. The "Standard of Excellence" is 10 each week--and we had 13! It was a phenomenal week! We worked really hard and even though our only baptism fell, we worked hard.
And now for a story… last week about Wednesday I just lost my mind and started laughing at every little dumb thing like I was totally "loopy" I felt like a crazy person and it was like I just lost my sanity. Then it hit me… I suddenly I knew why I felt that way. Because I have more than 7 months straight of living this life every day and my body likens it to being in college. And what happens alter 7 and a half months in college? You guessed it, you BURN OUT, you start slacking off on your studies and you go out to play at night because your brain simply cańt take it anymore. I remembered that that is always how I feel right before the end of the semestre when I am in finals and I find myself walking up the stairs to the grand old testing center to take the final–and then get the heck out of dodge! I remembered that this is what always happens to me and so of course, my body would probably feel the same way with the mission. So for about a day I just laughed about everything and then I got over it and Ím being all serious again. But yeah, I figured out what was up. I just had a super bad case of Spring fever.
Natajason, I hope that your family has a truly lovely Christmas in W. Virginia. I think the plan is that I will call our parents on Christmas and we’ll try to get a 3 way call going to get you in, but if it doesńt work… I don't think I have permission to call you guys there. I know that is sad, but as I hear it that is the system. So basically I hope that the 3 way call works, and if not, I will be writing you a really great letter!
Anyway, my feet hurt like you wouldńt believe. I think that I have walked through the muscle and Ím really just walking bone on earth every moment of every day. The first few footsteps every morning about bring tears to my eyes – even though I am using brand new insoles in my shoes. Anyway… it's just the sad truth and the price taken upon one who walks all day-- every day!
Thanks for tracking down the footprints in the sand story.
I wish you all a very wonderful snowy, cold Christmas. It's so hot that, yeah… just imagine that it is insanely hot outside!
Next Monday is transfer meeting so don’t expect the email at the normal time, because if I am moving areas… who knows when we will be able to do Internet, but wéll get it done, so just sit tight! I will do my very best to have more details about the Christmas phone call next p-day.
I love you tons.
Oh, one more funny story… this week me and my comp participated in a special fast with a family so that they can get a divorce (from a former spouse) and then get married-- and then get baptized. They have been waiting over 2 years. It's funny… we were fasting so that Heavenly Father would bless them with the "miracle" of a divorce. LOL! And the funny thing, is you can ask any companionship here in the mission… and theýve all fasted for a divorce!
Well, the day has gone and we need groceries!
I love you tons.
Take luck,
Wubba,
Wace (Hermana Jensen!)
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1 COMMENTS:
Happy Gilmores said...
In our son's (Elder Gilmore) email today he said Castelar had the best skit at the Christmas party. Now I know why, thanks to your daughters discovery in the garbage can... haha. Sounds like they all had a great day today. We can't wait for the Christmas day phone call!!!
DECEMBER 16, 2008 5:17 PM
