Hola!
Whew. Day four and it feels like we've done so much already. I have two companions, and they are wonderful, Hermanas Petherbridge and Shearman. We get along really well. They speak much better spanish than I do--we've all had some espanol previously. It's fantastic.
I don't even know where to begin. I still feel like I'm in a little bit of a daze. Since this is our first week, our preparation day is today, but normally it's on fridays. I'm very very tired, and I don't have very much time to write, as our scheduled laundry time is coming up. I'm a little worried, Mom, I still haven't cried--I'm afraid I'm going to hit some sort of wall and just break down. Hopefully it will be a more smooth transition, though. :) I think I'm kind-of in high stress management mode. Yesterday I did have a laughing fit, though. Li, they could rival yours. We were practicing to teach an investigator, Rafael. Hna. Sherman was being Rafael, and she said that she had family in New York, in Buffalo. Except she said it with a Spanish accent, so it was "boofalo." Yeah. I lost it. And my face was super red, since I was laughing, so Hna. Petherbridge kept looking at me and laughing too. It was bad. Fortunately, there were no laughing fits when we were supposed to teach. I'm grateful though. I've prayed to be able to laugh at myself and be optimisitc and good humored. And I'd rather laugh than cry, I suppose. :)
I still haven't slept all the way through the night. Fortunately, our room is cold. My skin is doing better--I've been medicating and hydrating and all that good stuff. Eczema is no fun. Oh! all three of us sleep on the top bunks. :) our roommates are also spanish speaking and a trio/threesome/whatever you call it. They're super nice, and they're really commited to being obedience, because president brown said that obedience brings miracles, and they want all the help they can get. It's fantastic. I need to do better to be more perfectly obedient.
There are two new districts in our zone. Our is district A. We have 8 elders. They are way funny. We love them already. Not just because they're funny, they're good people. :) One of them, Elder Sorenson, reminds me of Jon. haha. In the other new district, district B, there are two elders who are going to peru! one is going to trujillo also. Oh! All three of us Hermanas are going to Trujillo! It's awesome. We're way excited. We leave the 24th. Interestingly, we are the only Hermanas in our zone. Oh! and Elder Kleinhenz (I don't know how to spell that) of our stake is a district leader in my zone! Crazy, huh? I recognized the name, and he looked familiar, even though I don't really know any of their family.
We are learning so much so fast! We've learned how to testify and pray en espanol. I need to practice much much more, but it's really cool. The english-spanish dictionary is my best friend. Seriously. I love the dictionary.
I'm sorry this is such a random conglomeration of thoughts--not very many thoughts, even. Also, I am going to send you a written letter today. I just have to actually sit down and write. I've meant to, but it's been very busy. :)
Before I go, I just want to bear my testimony of the power of prayer. I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and rewards us for the righteous desires of our hearts, especially when we express them to him. I am very grateful for that. It's been a lifesaver in my life so far, in my experience thus far in the MTC, and I know it will be in the future. Sister Hinckly has a quote that say something like "true spirituality...requires us to get in touch with our Heavenly Father every day of our lives." I think that is so true. I am so grateful for the support of all of you, without which my service as a missionary would not be possible. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and yours. He loves all of us very much. I have a huge testimony of the power of being in his service--the power it has to affect change in our own lives, and the power he gives us to help others change their lives. It's what mortality is all about. I'm so grateful that I can focus on this great work for 18 months. I love you all! Please write me! letters are better than emails, but I'll take what I can give. I love you, and I'm praying for you. :)
con amor,
Hna. Jackson
