Hola familia! It´s me again, Hna Payne.
I know I say this every week, but I still cant believe that another week has come and gone, AGAIN! This week I realized that I practically have 6 months in the mission.... WOW!!!!!! That means I will get my trunky papers in like 6 more... (my comp just got hers today). I feel done before I even get started. I dont know if any of this makes sense? I can only imagine how fast one year will go by. I need that extra 6 months that the elders get. Well, I guess its good to know that it will one day come to an end.. that just means that I have to give my best everyday now, so that there wont be any regrets when I get back. That being said, I have a new goal! I have said goodbye to english, yup, thats right, no more english... (writing doesnt count) But I only have a year and I cant talk to these people, like I need and want! That just means I just have to work really hard now, and that means no more english with my compa. My spanish continues to get better everyday! It still isnt good, but its amazing what I know for only being here 2 months... (ah, basically 3!) I am loving the work more and more everyday. I am loving Argentina and the people more and more everyday too. I feel like this last week was a turning point. Not really sure why, it just feels that way.
This week we have an inactive family come back to church! We visited them last week and promised them that the Lord would help them receive enough money in 6 days where they woudnt need to work on Sunday if they committed to coming. (They said that before they couldnt come because the dad had to work.) When we went back on Saturday to make sure they were coming. He told us how the Lord really does love and help his children when they put Him first. He told us about how he received a couple of things from people in the week that are a big bonus to his work, things that will make work easier, and where he can sell more. Wow! How cool is that! All I can say is that the Lord´s promises are sure when we put him first and do our part. Sometimes, okay, most of the time that takes great faith! But if we have that relationship with the Lord before the trials come, we have no reason to doubt.
This Wednesday is the census. No one can do ANYTHING!!! Everything is closed and no one can leave their apts. I think that we can because we arent from here... Our zone leader says we can leave.. but our bishop says that we cant, and that the police will be out and about to direct people back in their houses. Im not really sure whats going to happen though because we cant tract, and we dont have any appointments at this point.
Mom, you have asked if we workout in the mornings. I convinced my compa to go outside with me (we have to wake up like 15 minutes early so we can get out and have 30 minutes.. At first she said no because she would be losing like 2 hours of sleep every week. Then we talked about how we are basically married and we need to compromise. We compromised to 3 days in the apt and 3 days out. I cant do cardio inside because the apt under us beats on our floor. I cant say I blame them.. 6:30 is quite early! Will you send me a workout with the jump rope? I dont really know what to do with it for 30 minutes. I miss running! Maybe I will get a comp one day that likes to run. There arent many people that run here, or work out. They have a few gyms though.. they are quite small.
Sherri, I know you already know this, but your Drew boy comes home soooooo soon! Yay! I know you are soo excited! P.s can you please come to Argentina, my face needs you! =)
Sorry, not much time today... I cant really think of anything else that happened anyways. I dont have my list again, I grabbed the wrong paper =( Anyways, thanks for all that you do! Have a great week!
Love,
Hna Payne
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Hola! Its me again, Hna Payne!
I stress out every week wondering what I should write. My time at the computer goes sooooo fast, ha kind of like my week. In between writing yall and President (in spanish) my times flies. Too bad I cant just copy and paste this email to him. Then again he understands quite a lot of english... maybe I will give it a try one week and see what he says! Ha! My interview with him was fine. I understood most of what he said. When I didnt he would explain it another way or resorted to charades. Ha it came to him making actions when he asked me if I had an eating disorder. I didnt understand the terms when he asked so then he showed me by sticking his fingers in his mouth. Haha! Apparently one of the sisters in the mish had a problem and when my companion told him that I wasnt feeling that well and that I had thrown up. He had to ask. I guess it was the fatherly role coming out in him, kind of like you dad, ´´i just have to ask´´ about me taking your drugs. Haha. About my health. This last week I was a little sick again, but no blood at all. Im totally fine, please dont worry. And dad how dare you accuse me of ´´thinking´´ I would never think that you worry too much =) You just love me a lot!
So this week I got my first taste of what it was like to drop people. Sure, we have stopped going to people´s houses before. But this week was different. I really and truly loved these people. My heart! One family refuses to get married. Im absolutely love their 6 year old Mili. I just want to hold her and hug away her hurt.. Sometimes when I looked at her I would see an adult. Im not sure what goes on when we arent there... but I know that her dad if verbally abusive! I of course didnt understand the words, but my compa said that he was calling her words equal to retarded. What parent can call their child retarded? And then the way that he picks up his 2 year old, im always afraid he is going to rip her arm out of the socket.. I dont understand, he is soooo nice to us. He loves the missionaries! And then the second family is two cousins 13 and 17. They both got an answer that this gospel is true, but neither want to change their religion!!!!! Boooo! I also got my first little taste of what its like to be a parent. Here you know better, have learned by experience, or just flat out know better because you have seen otherwise, try to tell and protect your kids... but yet they still have their own agency and can choose what they want. Remind me to never be a parent.. it will hurt too much! That being said, we talked about eternal marriages in church yesterday and had a grand understanding! A lot of people would tell me that I dont know anything about life, and that I havent really lived life. And in a lot of ways, in which they mean them, they would be absolutely correct. Hum.. how to explain? I didnt have to live my life in a worldly way... Because I have parents that made the decision to marry in the temple, and to always put the Lord first. I look back to some of my friends that were raised in the church that dont live the standards today. In almost all cases it was because their parents werent ALWAYS very consistent with the standards of the church. I realize that everyone has their free agency, but for the most part I know that if parents were more consistent then their kids would be also. There is a scripture in Proverbs thats talks about raising your kids in the truth and they wont depart from it. (I know Im an awful paraphraser) And I am a product of that. Temple marriages and always putting the Lord fist is a protection for all families. How could I not want that for my future family. If you didnt understand that, I guess what I am trying to say, is Mom and Dad thank you for being the loving, and consistent parents that you are. Yall are truly a great example.
Yesterday was Mother´s day here in Argentina. Too bad I couldnt call you mom and wish you a happy mothers day. Only two more months tho! The ward had a fiesta where they had a mariachi band (i dont know how to say that.. they arent really a band) come and play for all the mothers. We didnt get to go of course, but we saw a video of everyone dancing..... haha sooo funny.
We had a really bad storm the other night! Oh how I love the rain, thunder, and lightning. Haha but this time we had a little white water flood in our room. Yes we live on the 2nd floor. Somehow with all the wind it came in our window... a fun little adventure. I can only imagine how all the little houses faired... the ones that have nothing. Im very grateful for our apt!
We have a baptism that is really going to happen! Its for the end of this month. Her name is Lurdes and her dad and sister are already members! She has had the lessons before according to our area book (she says she hasnt) but is finally ready for baptism. Yay!!!!! Hopefully we will have someone else! Everyone´s goal is at least two!
Drew! Im putting a letter in the mail this week! I wrote it today! Sorry im still awful at writing! Hey and you didnt answer my question. Who did Rachel marry?
Hillary!!! What about Michael?? The only reason I could see him being home is if something happened to his mom.. I know she has cancer really bad... Please write back asap even if its just to answer this question =)
Kels congrats on nursery. I cant believe I heard the words come out of your mouth that you are glad to be called into nursery.
Well, I guess I didnt hear them.. you get the point. I loved the pics. B isnt my baby anymore.. I dont know who this girl is that you keep sending my pictures of. Im glad that mom could come and play! She told me all about our Miss B that is VERY independent! P.s you are still in my prayers for Levi to find a job. I cant help but think that when it finally comes around its going to be a good one!
Okay well, again....... my time is up. I love and miss you all. Have a great week! Ya´ll are always in my prayers.
Love,
Hna Payne
xoxox
I stress out every week wondering what I should write. My time at the computer goes sooooo fast, ha kind of like my week. In between writing yall and President (in spanish) my times flies. Too bad I cant just copy and paste this email to him. Then again he understands quite a lot of english... maybe I will give it a try one week and see what he says! Ha! My interview with him was fine. I understood most of what he said. When I didnt he would explain it another way or resorted to charades. Ha it came to him making actions when he asked me if I had an eating disorder. I didnt understand the terms when he asked so then he showed me by sticking his fingers in his mouth. Haha! Apparently one of the sisters in the mish had a problem and when my companion told him that I wasnt feeling that well and that I had thrown up. He had to ask. I guess it was the fatherly role coming out in him, kind of like you dad, ´´i just have to ask´´ about me taking your drugs. Haha. About my health. This last week I was a little sick again, but no blood at all. Im totally fine, please dont worry. And dad how dare you accuse me of ´´thinking´´ I would never think that you worry too much =) You just love me a lot!
So this week I got my first taste of what it was like to drop people. Sure, we have stopped going to people´s houses before. But this week was different. I really and truly loved these people. My heart! One family refuses to get married. Im absolutely love their 6 year old Mili. I just want to hold her and hug away her hurt.. Sometimes when I looked at her I would see an adult. Im not sure what goes on when we arent there... but I know that her dad if verbally abusive! I of course didnt understand the words, but my compa said that he was calling her words equal to retarded. What parent can call their child retarded? And then the way that he picks up his 2 year old, im always afraid he is going to rip her arm out of the socket.. I dont understand, he is soooo nice to us. He loves the missionaries! And then the second family is two cousins 13 and 17. They both got an answer that this gospel is true, but neither want to change their religion!!!!! Boooo! I also got my first little taste of what its like to be a parent. Here you know better, have learned by experience, or just flat out know better because you have seen otherwise, try to tell and protect your kids... but yet they still have their own agency and can choose what they want. Remind me to never be a parent.. it will hurt too much! That being said, we talked about eternal marriages in church yesterday and had a grand understanding! A lot of people would tell me that I dont know anything about life, and that I havent really lived life. And in a lot of ways, in which they mean them, they would be absolutely correct. Hum.. how to explain? I didnt have to live my life in a worldly way... Because I have parents that made the decision to marry in the temple, and to always put the Lord first. I look back to some of my friends that were raised in the church that dont live the standards today. In almost all cases it was because their parents werent ALWAYS very consistent with the standards of the church. I realize that everyone has their free agency, but for the most part I know that if parents were more consistent then their kids would be also. There is a scripture in Proverbs thats talks about raising your kids in the truth and they wont depart from it. (I know Im an awful paraphraser) And I am a product of that. Temple marriages and always putting the Lord fist is a protection for all families. How could I not want that for my future family. If you didnt understand that, I guess what I am trying to say, is Mom and Dad thank you for being the loving, and consistent parents that you are. Yall are truly a great example.
Yesterday was Mother´s day here in Argentina. Too bad I couldnt call you mom and wish you a happy mothers day. Only two more months tho! The ward had a fiesta where they had a mariachi band (i dont know how to say that.. they arent really a band) come and play for all the mothers. We didnt get to go of course, but we saw a video of everyone dancing..... haha sooo funny.
We had a really bad storm the other night! Oh how I love the rain, thunder, and lightning. Haha but this time we had a little white water flood in our room. Yes we live on the 2nd floor. Somehow with all the wind it came in our window... a fun little adventure. I can only imagine how all the little houses faired... the ones that have nothing. Im very grateful for our apt!
We have a baptism that is really going to happen! Its for the end of this month. Her name is Lurdes and her dad and sister are already members! She has had the lessons before according to our area book (she says she hasnt) but is finally ready for baptism. Yay!!!!! Hopefully we will have someone else! Everyone´s goal is at least two!
Drew! Im putting a letter in the mail this week! I wrote it today! Sorry im still awful at writing! Hey and you didnt answer my question. Who did Rachel marry?
Hillary!!! What about Michael?? The only reason I could see him being home is if something happened to his mom.. I know she has cancer really bad... Please write back asap even if its just to answer this question =)
Kels congrats on nursery. I cant believe I heard the words come out of your mouth that you are glad to be called into nursery.
Well, I guess I didnt hear them.. you get the point. I loved the pics. B isnt my baby anymore.. I dont know who this girl is that you keep sending my pictures of. Im glad that mom could come and play! She told me all about our Miss B that is VERY independent! P.s you are still in my prayers for Levi to find a job. I cant help but think that when it finally comes around its going to be a good one!
Okay well, again....... my time is up. I love and miss you all. Have a great week! Ya´ll are always in my prayers.
Love,
Hna Payne
xoxox
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Hola, its me again, Hna Payne.
Life here is a good as it can be. Ha, I know how you read into all my words. All I have to do is change the good as it can be to pretty good and you know that it was a harder week. At least I think that is how we read into Drews letters. But really, life is great. So last week I told you that I didnt feel to great. Well after pday right as we were about to go out for work, I got a little sick. I knew that if I threw up I would feel a lot better. Well turns out that I was throwing up blood. Crazy, I know. I felt fine! We called Hna Del Castillo and she of course told us to go to the hospital (which is like the doctors). We went and they tried making me pay money (remember that it is free here) because Im white, and im from the United States, oh, and I cant speak spanish. But Hna Marilaf wasnt going to have that. Because she had been there, more than once, she knew that I didnt have to. Ha that started my experience at the hospital.... It started monday night and want over until the next night at like 7! So I finally get in to see a doctor and he just asks me some questions, then sent me in for a shot to help with the nausia (which I didnt have) and to protect my stomach. He wanted me to come back the next day and have a sonogram. All this time I felt fine. I didnt feel like I needed to go back the next day but Hna del Castillo thought differently (to your relief, I know). So we went back the next day getting there a little after 9. There we proceeded to get a number to wait in line for like 2 hours. Finally it was my turn! But then we found out we waited just for them to tell me that it was impossible for an exam for one week. Are you kidding me? I could have died in that time. She finally said that we could talk to the doctor that came in a 2. He wrote urgent on my paper so they would let me go that day. Then the person just sent us to another person who proceeded to tell me that I needed to be fasting. None of this was mentioned to me before. So then we went back to talk to the doctor and he said it wasnt necissary.So we went back to the lady that told me that they couldnt do it that day. She finally said okay and told us we needed to wait a little while longer so that my food could digest more. We waited like 2 hours before we asked her how much longer... she said she forgot about us. LIE! Im pretty sure she saw us and really didnt forget. Ha. Thats what I get for being American I guess :) FINALLY I got the sonogram where everything was great and perfect. All that for nothing. Okay, not for nothing, it was good to know that there really wasnt a problem. Im surprised, the hospital was really nice. Ha Hopefully that was my LAST experience in the hospital because I hear the other hospitals are just awful.
So I have the same comp. We have interviews with President this week. Ha it will be interesting to see how it goes, I dont exactly speak a spanish. Today we have been cleaning like crazy. We have been taking on little projects that turned into big ones. By the way I started this before I knew president was coming. And as a side note, that you wont ever believe. I got the cleanest american award from my companion. Yes you read that correctly. She said that I was like the first comp to clean the bathroom. Really¿ That is pretty pathetic!
Mom, I also love Alma 26:27. The scriptures are filled with so many beautiful promises! All we have to do it go forward with faith. Speaking of faith, Im still working on it. I fell like so much of faith goes along with following the spirit. And I feel that I struggle with knowing that its the Spirit. Man, this work is really easy in a sense of its all about talking to people, and serving people, and such. But it is soooo hard because there are soooo many variables that go into teaching, living worthely, following the Spirit, the list could go on and on. The list is never ending... always so much to work on and become better at. I have to take a deep breath and tell myself its all a process, otherwise i get overwhelmed with myself.
Drew!!!! Who did Rachel get married to? Chris or the other guy? If its Chris, how in the world do people get married without money¿ That is my question?
Hillary!!!! I need an answer this week because I am dying. OUR Michael doesnt get home until 2 months after im supposed to get home... or something like that. but i cant think of another michael.... write back asap on this one.
Sarah, I got your letter Thanks sooo much.
Okay well im out of time. i love yall and miss yall. have a great week.
Love,
Hna Payne
Life here is a good as it can be. Ha, I know how you read into all my words. All I have to do is change the good as it can be to pretty good and you know that it was a harder week. At least I think that is how we read into Drews letters. But really, life is great. So last week I told you that I didnt feel to great. Well after pday right as we were about to go out for work, I got a little sick. I knew that if I threw up I would feel a lot better. Well turns out that I was throwing up blood. Crazy, I know. I felt fine! We called Hna Del Castillo and she of course told us to go to the hospital (which is like the doctors). We went and they tried making me pay money (remember that it is free here) because Im white, and im from the United States, oh, and I cant speak spanish. But Hna Marilaf wasnt going to have that. Because she had been there, more than once, she knew that I didnt have to. Ha that started my experience at the hospital.... It started monday night and want over until the next night at like 7! So I finally get in to see a doctor and he just asks me some questions, then sent me in for a shot to help with the nausia (which I didnt have) and to protect my stomach. He wanted me to come back the next day and have a sonogram. All this time I felt fine. I didnt feel like I needed to go back the next day but Hna del Castillo thought differently (to your relief, I know). So we went back the next day getting there a little after 9. There we proceeded to get a number to wait in line for like 2 hours. Finally it was my turn! But then we found out we waited just for them to tell me that it was impossible for an exam for one week. Are you kidding me? I could have died in that time. She finally said that we could talk to the doctor that came in a 2. He wrote urgent on my paper so they would let me go that day. Then the person just sent us to another person who proceeded to tell me that I needed to be fasting. None of this was mentioned to me before. So then we went back to talk to the doctor and he said it wasnt necissary.So we went back to the lady that told me that they couldnt do it that day. She finally said okay and told us we needed to wait a little while longer so that my food could digest more. We waited like 2 hours before we asked her how much longer... she said she forgot about us. LIE! Im pretty sure she saw us and really didnt forget. Ha. Thats what I get for being American I guess :) FINALLY I got the sonogram where everything was great and perfect. All that for nothing. Okay, not for nothing, it was good to know that there really wasnt a problem. Im surprised, the hospital was really nice. Ha Hopefully that was my LAST experience in the hospital because I hear the other hospitals are just awful.
So I have the same comp. We have interviews with President this week. Ha it will be interesting to see how it goes, I dont exactly speak a spanish. Today we have been cleaning like crazy. We have been taking on little projects that turned into big ones. By the way I started this before I knew president was coming. And as a side note, that you wont ever believe. I got the cleanest american award from my companion. Yes you read that correctly. She said that I was like the first comp to clean the bathroom. Really¿ That is pretty pathetic!
Mom, I also love Alma 26:27. The scriptures are filled with so many beautiful promises! All we have to do it go forward with faith. Speaking of faith, Im still working on it. I fell like so much of faith goes along with following the spirit. And I feel that I struggle with knowing that its the Spirit. Man, this work is really easy in a sense of its all about talking to people, and serving people, and such. But it is soooo hard because there are soooo many variables that go into teaching, living worthely, following the Spirit, the list could go on and on. The list is never ending... always so much to work on and become better at. I have to take a deep breath and tell myself its all a process, otherwise i get overwhelmed with myself.
Drew!!!! Who did Rachel get married to? Chris or the other guy? If its Chris, how in the world do people get married without money¿ That is my question?
Hillary!!!! I need an answer this week because I am dying. OUR Michael doesnt get home until 2 months after im supposed to get home... or something like that. but i cant think of another michael.... write back asap on this one.
Sarah, I got your letter Thanks sooo much.
Okay well im out of time. i love yall and miss yall. have a great week.
Love,
Hna Payne
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hola Familia! It´s me again, Hna Payne!
Life here is as good as it can be! Okay, well we have´nt had any baptisms, so it can always be beeettter.. but you understand =) I cant believe that another week has come and gone again, and that I am sitting here writing yall again! Like ya´ll I stress about what to write every week! Sorry, I dont feel like I have much to say this week....
So I think that this was the first conference that I didnt fall asleep in, unlike all of you =) I love conference! I was sad to leave when it was all over. I think my favorites were Elder Eyring, Scott, and Uchtdorf... and others that I have forgotten! I always love Elder Eyrings! He set a great example for us when he gave the story about President Hinckley asking all to get out of debt if possilbe.. well that was his story, but the example was that when the Prophet speaks it is as if God is speaking and giving us council. Not even the apostles of the church are exempt.. (not that I ever thought they were) I need to pay more attention to the council given by God! The ¨´fences´´ are there to keep us to safe. This gospel isnt a gospel of ´´cants´´ but a gospel of all that we can do. All the council and commandments are to help us to be happy in this life, and return with our Heavenly Father again! Elder Eyring also talked about how we can have faith in the Lord because we know him. I loved that! We have no reason to doubt or fear when we really KNOW the Lord. He is always there and looking out for us. How easy it is to forget when things get a little rocky in life.
Drew, I also really liked Elder Scotts talk on faith and it being a principle of power. Faith is my Chirstlike attribute this week that im working on. The whole faith thing is really difficult for me. Kels I thought of you when he talked about patience and struggle... but then that is when the growth comes. I know that you are hating life with work, and you want to stay home with B. But I also know that the hand of the Lord is in all things! Maybe the Lord hasnt given you what you wanted yet because something even better is coming. And in the meanwhile you are being forced to turn more to the Lord and trust in him. Have faith, you know the Lord. Yall are in my prayers!
These last couple of days I have been a little sick. Im not really sure why. Something I ate? My stomach has been a little upset. Hopefully it will pass quickly. It hasnt been too bad, but enough that I dont feel the greatest. As a side note I think Im a little lactose intolerant? I know you are laughing. Im for real though. Ah I love milk and yogurt though! I have yogurt just about every morning for breakfast! Im not sure that I can live without it. Mom you asked a long time ago what we eat. ·Empanadas are really popular. They eat them like we eat pizza. Its like meat, or cheese, in a flaky tortilla or something... google it =) They also eat a lot of noodles and rice. I ate this soup the other day and found out from my comp after that it may or may not have had cow feet and other scary stuff in it. I thought it was good. Im glad that she told me after... gross! But its some soup that is pretty typical for Argentina. Locro is what its called. I have seen a few cauldrons (big enough for child to be cooked in) on the side of the road and im pretty sure that is what they are cooking. One day I hope to get a picture of it! Other than that I dont think I have had anything crazy... I cant really think what else to tell you about the food. We have lots of Sprite and Orange soda here. Oh, did I tell you I found a new love? Of course it has to do with Oreos! Its an Oreo alfajor!!!! The best thing in the whole wide world since Godiva cheesecake.They are even better in the freezer. Yuuummm I wish I could send you one.
Speaking of food. We went to an investigators house to get them for conference and they had made this pastry cake thing. They gave us piece while we were there and then proceeded to give us a whole other cake. This family told us before how they are struggliing with money every month, but especially this month because someone stole their money... something to do with someone taking advantage of the dad because he cant read. When he was younger he was shot in the head or something horrific involving his head and gun.. We dont really understand the whole story of what happened. But they have 3 little kids that are just darling. Mili is the oldest and is such a sweetheart! The youngest is 6 months old and they dont have enough money for diapers! And then they are giving us this whole cake and wouldnt take no for an answer. I know it had to have been their lunch for the next couple of days. And if thats not enough, they want us to have lunch with them this week. My comp said that they dont really have friends and that we are their family! What love to literally share ALL that you have. I just think of the story in the bible where a family was told to give the rest of their flour stuff for a servant of the Lord. It was all they had but they did it because they knew the Lord and trusted in him. In the end they had just enough for that day, and then the next day the same miracle, and so on. Okay, so that was awful paraphrasing and I obviously need to go back and read the story, but you get the idea. I know that the Lord will bless them because of their love and wanting to share with us. What a lesson that was for me.
Transfers are tomorrow. It is highly likely that Hna Marilaf will be leaving. I dont think it is usual to have more than two transfers with your trainer... then again I only have 1.5 We shall see what happens.
Drew, I got your letters. I had wondered what happened to you. Im glad that school is going well for you. I will try and get you a better letter this next week.
Grandma, I finally got your letter too! Thank you. Its good to hear what is going on in your life!
Dusty, Angel, Angie, and Chelsee, I have you a letter sitting in my apt.... the post office is still closed... I dont know why. I will try and get someone else to send them for me.
Mom, I got the pictures! Thank you sooo much. My favorite one is of you and dad with the hats on... sooo you! And Drew is way skinny! What ya doing man?
Okay, well Im out of time...... again! I hope yall have a great week. I love and miss yall.
Love Hna Payne
Life here is as good as it can be! Okay, well we have´nt had any baptisms, so it can always be beeettter.. but you understand =) I cant believe that another week has come and gone again, and that I am sitting here writing yall again! Like ya´ll I stress about what to write every week! Sorry, I dont feel like I have much to say this week....
So I think that this was the first conference that I didnt fall asleep in, unlike all of you =) I love conference! I was sad to leave when it was all over. I think my favorites were Elder Eyring, Scott, and Uchtdorf... and others that I have forgotten! I always love Elder Eyrings! He set a great example for us when he gave the story about President Hinckley asking all to get out of debt if possilbe.. well that was his story, but the example was that when the Prophet speaks it is as if God is speaking and giving us council. Not even the apostles of the church are exempt.. (not that I ever thought they were) I need to pay more attention to the council given by God! The ¨´fences´´ are there to keep us to safe. This gospel isnt a gospel of ´´cants´´ but a gospel of all that we can do. All the council and commandments are to help us to be happy in this life, and return with our Heavenly Father again! Elder Eyring also talked about how we can have faith in the Lord because we know him. I loved that! We have no reason to doubt or fear when we really KNOW the Lord. He is always there and looking out for us. How easy it is to forget when things get a little rocky in life.
Drew, I also really liked Elder Scotts talk on faith and it being a principle of power. Faith is my Chirstlike attribute this week that im working on. The whole faith thing is really difficult for me. Kels I thought of you when he talked about patience and struggle... but then that is when the growth comes. I know that you are hating life with work, and you want to stay home with B. But I also know that the hand of the Lord is in all things! Maybe the Lord hasnt given you what you wanted yet because something even better is coming. And in the meanwhile you are being forced to turn more to the Lord and trust in him. Have faith, you know the Lord. Yall are in my prayers!
These last couple of days I have been a little sick. Im not really sure why. Something I ate? My stomach has been a little upset. Hopefully it will pass quickly. It hasnt been too bad, but enough that I dont feel the greatest. As a side note I think Im a little lactose intolerant? I know you are laughing. Im for real though. Ah I love milk and yogurt though! I have yogurt just about every morning for breakfast! Im not sure that I can live without it. Mom you asked a long time ago what we eat. ·Empanadas are really popular. They eat them like we eat pizza. Its like meat, or cheese, in a flaky tortilla or something... google it =) They also eat a lot of noodles and rice. I ate this soup the other day and found out from my comp after that it may or may not have had cow feet and other scary stuff in it. I thought it was good. Im glad that she told me after... gross! But its some soup that is pretty typical for Argentina. Locro is what its called. I have seen a few cauldrons (big enough for child to be cooked in) on the side of the road and im pretty sure that is what they are cooking. One day I hope to get a picture of it! Other than that I dont think I have had anything crazy... I cant really think what else to tell you about the food. We have lots of Sprite and Orange soda here. Oh, did I tell you I found a new love? Of course it has to do with Oreos! Its an Oreo alfajor!!!! The best thing in the whole wide world since Godiva cheesecake.They are even better in the freezer. Yuuummm I wish I could send you one.
Speaking of food. We went to an investigators house to get them for conference and they had made this pastry cake thing. They gave us piece while we were there and then proceeded to give us a whole other cake. This family told us before how they are struggliing with money every month, but especially this month because someone stole their money... something to do with someone taking advantage of the dad because he cant read. When he was younger he was shot in the head or something horrific involving his head and gun.. We dont really understand the whole story of what happened. But they have 3 little kids that are just darling. Mili is the oldest and is such a sweetheart! The youngest is 6 months old and they dont have enough money for diapers! And then they are giving us this whole cake and wouldnt take no for an answer. I know it had to have been their lunch for the next couple of days. And if thats not enough, they want us to have lunch with them this week. My comp said that they dont really have friends and that we are their family! What love to literally share ALL that you have. I just think of the story in the bible where a family was told to give the rest of their flour stuff for a servant of the Lord. It was all they had but they did it because they knew the Lord and trusted in him. In the end they had just enough for that day, and then the next day the same miracle, and so on. Okay, so that was awful paraphrasing and I obviously need to go back and read the story, but you get the idea. I know that the Lord will bless them because of their love and wanting to share with us. What a lesson that was for me.
Transfers are tomorrow. It is highly likely that Hna Marilaf will be leaving. I dont think it is usual to have more than two transfers with your trainer... then again I only have 1.5 We shall see what happens.
Drew, I got your letters. I had wondered what happened to you. Im glad that school is going well for you. I will try and get you a better letter this next week.
Grandma, I finally got your letter too! Thank you. Its good to hear what is going on in your life!
Dusty, Angel, Angie, and Chelsee, I have you a letter sitting in my apt.... the post office is still closed... I dont know why. I will try and get someone else to send them for me.
Mom, I got the pictures! Thank you sooo much. My favorite one is of you and dad with the hats on... sooo you! And Drew is way skinny! What ya doing man?
Okay, well Im out of time...... again! I hope yall have a great week. I love and miss yall.
Love Hna Payne
Monday, September 27, 2010
Hola familia!! Its me again, Hna Payne!
Life here is just dandy! This last week was kind of an interesting one. We got a phone call on Tuesday morning asking us about our baptism for that Saturday. We told them that we had no one.. no one was even close! They proceeded to tell us that President said that he knew we had one, have faith and look in our old area book... We went home and started to fast (our second one). We went through and found a few possibilities that has gone to church three times. That whole day we searched for these people, but to no avail. We felt that we had pretty much gone through all of our possibilities in that day and the next. Thursday we didnt really do anything towards our goal of baptism because we didnt see how it was going to happen. Well Friday we get another call asking us how the search was going. We told them that we found some people that were once close, and that we were going to work with them. Again, they told us that we were going to have a baptism the next day and to look for the miracles.. sounds familiar, dad =) Well we had absolutely no idea who, or what to do.... so we started another fast (our third one for the week) We set out looking and went back to a guys house from a couple of days before that wasnt home. We told him that we were told that someone in our area was prepared for baptism and that we felt it was him. He said he knew he was supposed to be baptized eventually, but didnt know when. We told him to pray and ask God when and that we would come back by the next day. Well, I was just sure and positive that he was our miracle! My compa was losing faith! Okay, I admit, maybe i doubted too! But not vocally! Vocally I was positive that we were going to have a baptism! I even wore my nice clothes, hose, and shoes, carried around my camera Saturday after noon because I was determined to at least show that my actions had faith in a baptism! We then went to the guys house to see how is prayer was! He was the miracle that I was looking for! Well, I know that you are probably reading thinking that I had a baptism Saturday night... but no. Nothing happened! Why I just told you this big long story, I dont really know.. But it wasnt all a total waste. It changed our mindset about the way we go about doing things. We always thought that we could have a baptism next month, or the next, but never right now! There are people here right now that are ready for the waters of baptism... they just need a little bit of help. And we found others that had gone to church twice... so close! We will have one soon!!!!!!! NO, we will have lots soon! The field is white and ready to harvest =)
Speaking of harvest we are working with an 18 year old kid,Fabion, with a baptismal date. He walked to church yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay! That is the good news. The bad news is that we think he may possibly have a problem with one of the baptismal interview questions that you have to talk to the mission president about.... we had our suspicions and then one of the members told us something else. Hum.. lets just say its a life style that I dont agree with and I can only imagine how hard it would be to change one´s thinking. Eh.. Im scared for that conversation. But hey, I will play the I dont understand card =) That being said, I know that through the help of the Savior, and His atonement that all can be overcome in this life. Too bad that doesnt necessarily make things easy. I hope that he can gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon, and then of the Atonement!
We have had 2 families in this last week tell us that they cant listen to us anymore, that their ´´husbands´´ (no one is really married) wouldnt allow it. One of them is just the father of the last baby, and pays for the families food. How can you tell someone that doesnt know ys to pick this gospel when its that option or food for their kids? They want to listen, but when they really dont have a testimony of these things yet how can we expect them to pick us? Well maybe we will get a chance to talk to their very Catholic husbands that probably dont even go to church... a lot dont like us because they dont know anything about us, or they think that they do and it turns out to be completely false!
So this next week is conference and I am soooooo excited. I have been reading all the last talks this last week. Something big is going to happen, like missionary work in China =) We will be at the other Church like 20 mins away. And there will also be a room for the english speakers in our native tongue! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Im soo glad that I will get to understand it all. It starts at 1 pm for us! We are praying to have lots of investigators in the 4 sessions. There arent any in the morning which will hopefully make it easier to get people there.
We had 3 investigators in the church this Sunday. I dont know that I want to call the other 2 actual investigators though. A mom, and daughter, the father and other daughter are already members. We arent really working with them at this exact moment. We have to change that here really quick. We want to talk to the husband and tell him that its his responsibility to prepare them for us! The time is now!!!
Saturday was a service day for all of the LDS people of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. We worked at a hospital moving this trash pile of rocks, tile, and dirt into a path for a truck to drive on in the back. It didnt really make sense to me but hey we were there to help. We would have gotten it done a lot faster if all would have helped, but instead we had quite a big group of support from the women! ha! Some lady from the church came. I think that Hna Madilaf and I will be in the Liahona here. Eventually I will get around to sending more pictures.
Dad and Dusty, I just got your letters. im going to print them off. I hope that you didnt need anything answered today. sorry.
Mom, I would like you to send those shirts pretty quickly if you can, and its not too expensive. If you were to send them with Jan, I wouldnt get them until January and it will be sooo hot in November. Are they tank tops that are only half?
And I will hopefully get the pics this next week!
Angie!! I loved the pictures you look sooooooooooooo good! I will try and get you a letter in the mail next week! Im thinkin that your add is the same st george one?
Angel and Evan! I got your letters as well! Thank you sooo much!!
Okay well that is all I have time for today! Thanks for all the letters and support! I love and miss you all. Have a great week!
Love,
Hna Payne
xoxoxo
Life here is just dandy! This last week was kind of an interesting one. We got a phone call on Tuesday morning asking us about our baptism for that Saturday. We told them that we had no one.. no one was even close! They proceeded to tell us that President said that he knew we had one, have faith and look in our old area book... We went home and started to fast (our second one). We went through and found a few possibilities that has gone to church three times. That whole day we searched for these people, but to no avail. We felt that we had pretty much gone through all of our possibilities in that day and the next. Thursday we didnt really do anything towards our goal of baptism because we didnt see how it was going to happen. Well Friday we get another call asking us how the search was going. We told them that we found some people that were once close, and that we were going to work with them. Again, they told us that we were going to have a baptism the next day and to look for the miracles.. sounds familiar, dad =) Well we had absolutely no idea who, or what to do.... so we started another fast (our third one for the week) We set out looking and went back to a guys house from a couple of days before that wasnt home. We told him that we were told that someone in our area was prepared for baptism and that we felt it was him. He said he knew he was supposed to be baptized eventually, but didnt know when. We told him to pray and ask God when and that we would come back by the next day. Well, I was just sure and positive that he was our miracle! My compa was losing faith! Okay, I admit, maybe i doubted too! But not vocally! Vocally I was positive that we were going to have a baptism! I even wore my nice clothes, hose, and shoes, carried around my camera Saturday after noon because I was determined to at least show that my actions had faith in a baptism! We then went to the guys house to see how is prayer was! He was the miracle that I was looking for! Well, I know that you are probably reading thinking that I had a baptism Saturday night... but no. Nothing happened! Why I just told you this big long story, I dont really know.. But it wasnt all a total waste. It changed our mindset about the way we go about doing things. We always thought that we could have a baptism next month, or the next, but never right now! There are people here right now that are ready for the waters of baptism... they just need a little bit of help. And we found others that had gone to church twice... so close! We will have one soon!!!!!!! NO, we will have lots soon! The field is white and ready to harvest =)
Speaking of harvest we are working with an 18 year old kid,Fabion, with a baptismal date. He walked to church yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay! That is the good news. The bad news is that we think he may possibly have a problem with one of the baptismal interview questions that you have to talk to the mission president about.... we had our suspicions and then one of the members told us something else. Hum.. lets just say its a life style that I dont agree with and I can only imagine how hard it would be to change one´s thinking. Eh.. Im scared for that conversation. But hey, I will play the I dont understand card =) That being said, I know that through the help of the Savior, and His atonement that all can be overcome in this life. Too bad that doesnt necessarily make things easy. I hope that he can gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon, and then of the Atonement!
We have had 2 families in this last week tell us that they cant listen to us anymore, that their ´´husbands´´ (no one is really married) wouldnt allow it. One of them is just the father of the last baby, and pays for the families food. How can you tell someone that doesnt know ys to pick this gospel when its that option or food for their kids? They want to listen, but when they really dont have a testimony of these things yet how can we expect them to pick us? Well maybe we will get a chance to talk to their very Catholic husbands that probably dont even go to church... a lot dont like us because they dont know anything about us, or they think that they do and it turns out to be completely false!
So this next week is conference and I am soooooo excited. I have been reading all the last talks this last week. Something big is going to happen, like missionary work in China =) We will be at the other Church like 20 mins away. And there will also be a room for the english speakers in our native tongue! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Im soo glad that I will get to understand it all. It starts at 1 pm for us! We are praying to have lots of investigators in the 4 sessions. There arent any in the morning which will hopefully make it easier to get people there.
We had 3 investigators in the church this Sunday. I dont know that I want to call the other 2 actual investigators though. A mom, and daughter, the father and other daughter are already members. We arent really working with them at this exact moment. We have to change that here really quick. We want to talk to the husband and tell him that its his responsibility to prepare them for us! The time is now!!!
Saturday was a service day for all of the LDS people of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. We worked at a hospital moving this trash pile of rocks, tile, and dirt into a path for a truck to drive on in the back. It didnt really make sense to me but hey we were there to help. We would have gotten it done a lot faster if all would have helped, but instead we had quite a big group of support from the women! ha! Some lady from the church came. I think that Hna Madilaf and I will be in the Liahona here. Eventually I will get around to sending more pictures.
Dad and Dusty, I just got your letters. im going to print them off. I hope that you didnt need anything answered today. sorry.
Mom, I would like you to send those shirts pretty quickly if you can, and its not too expensive. If you were to send them with Jan, I wouldnt get them until January and it will be sooo hot in November. Are they tank tops that are only half?
And I will hopefully get the pics this next week!
Angie!! I loved the pictures you look sooooooooooooo good! I will try and get you a letter in the mail next week! Im thinkin that your add is the same st george one?
Angel and Evan! I got your letters as well! Thank you sooo much!!
Okay well that is all I have time for today! Thanks for all the letters and support! I love and miss you all. Have a great week!
Love,
Hna Payne
xoxoxo
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hola familia!!!!!
How is everything for yall this week? As always, thanks for the letters. I know you hate writing them so! Dad, I read your letter and I laughed soooooo hard when I read the part about you wanting to call the ´´Big Boys´´ So today we got an email saying something about being obedient to all of the rules, and that one of them is to only write the spiritual uplifting things in our letters home. For that rule, it gave an example of how we arent to tell the rules of the mission to our family..(the rule that we cant go to church if we dont have investigators) Yes, it said that one specifically. Hna Marilaf and I both laughed and wondered why they gave that as an example. She figured it was because parents had called president about this rule. I just kind of laughed and was like oh ya probably... That is something my dad would do. About an hour later I read your letter saying you wanted to call someone. HAHA it made my day!
So about this rule that I am not to tell you about... Man, Im being disobedient... (but I figured if I were to just tell you that i am no longer able to tell you that we cant write home about not being able to go to chuch because of no investigators then you would for sure call. So.. I will explain. Yes, President made the rule that no one can go to church unless they have investigators, and also the rule that no one can stop going to church! Well I guess parents called and complained and now the rule is that we have to go to 3 houses and see if they will come with us. If no one, then go to chuch for sacrament meeting and then after you leave and go look for people that will come... Which is difficult because sacrament is the most important meeting for investigators. Anyways, please dont call anyone! This whole writing home rule is difficult... I write what happens in the mission.... rules are a part of the mission.. how am I not supposed to write home about things like that? And then be told that I am not being obedient?? BOOOOO
Oh, Dad, thanks for your little taste of humble pie! =) You are totally right though. However, it would be nice if people were ready to jump in the waters of baptism just because my little 21 year old self told them to. Sometimes I just laugh at the situation because here I am 21 telling people that they need to read and pray together as a family, that it will strenghten their relationship as husband and wife, and with their children as well... and yet I have never even been close to marriage and I tell them what will fix it or make it better. I know that reading and praying together really does strengthen families, but its just a funny situation. Back to your humble pie advice, it is sometimes hard to remember who I am, or as you said, (who im not) because we are always talking about numbers... so when we dont have 6 investigators in church or a baptism every week its just frustrating. I want everyone on my watch.. not Heavenly Fathers. Which is of course a little or a lot messed up. I know that we are asking them to do a lot and to give up a lot... but we get soooooo much more in return. I am soooo thankful for the protection that this gospel offers individuals and families. All of the commandments that we have help shield us from the evils of the world and are there to keep us safe. Everyday that Im here I become more thankful for the safety of the church. I see youth that have awful lives because of the agency of their parents.. Some dont even stand a chance in this world. This week a 16 year old member committed suicide. She said it wasnt anyones fault, she just wasnt happy. She is the granddaughter of the lady that washes our clothes. Soooo sad. I dont know that I saw her before, she wasnt active. Apparently suicide is kind of common here.. at least that is what Hna Marilaf says... Eh soo sad!
So I figure that Im about fluent is spanish!!! yup, thats right! I was speaking spanish in my dreams.. Its now happened at least twice now.. well, that hna has heard. I was bearing testimony about the Restoration of the gospel and Joseph Smith. Yay, life is good! =) haha spanish is still a struggle, but again, everyday is better! And I know, Spanish is only part of my purpose as a missionary =)
Okay well that is all for today! I love and miss you all! Have a great week!
Love Hna Payne
How is everything for yall this week? As always, thanks for the letters. I know you hate writing them so! Dad, I read your letter and I laughed soooooo hard when I read the part about you wanting to call the ´´Big Boys´´ So today we got an email saying something about being obedient to all of the rules, and that one of them is to only write the spiritual uplifting things in our letters home. For that rule, it gave an example of how we arent to tell the rules of the mission to our family..(the rule that we cant go to church if we dont have investigators) Yes, it said that one specifically. Hna Marilaf and I both laughed and wondered why they gave that as an example. She figured it was because parents had called president about this rule. I just kind of laughed and was like oh ya probably... That is something my dad would do. About an hour later I read your letter saying you wanted to call someone. HAHA it made my day!
So about this rule that I am not to tell you about... Man, Im being disobedient... (but I figured if I were to just tell you that i am no longer able to tell you that we cant write home about not being able to go to chuch because of no investigators then you would for sure call. So.. I will explain. Yes, President made the rule that no one can go to church unless they have investigators, and also the rule that no one can stop going to church! Well I guess parents called and complained and now the rule is that we have to go to 3 houses and see if they will come with us. If no one, then go to chuch for sacrament meeting and then after you leave and go look for people that will come... Which is difficult because sacrament is the most important meeting for investigators. Anyways, please dont call anyone! This whole writing home rule is difficult... I write what happens in the mission.... rules are a part of the mission.. how am I not supposed to write home about things like that? And then be told that I am not being obedient?? BOOOOO
Oh, Dad, thanks for your little taste of humble pie! =) You are totally right though. However, it would be nice if people were ready to jump in the waters of baptism just because my little 21 year old self told them to. Sometimes I just laugh at the situation because here I am 21 telling people that they need to read and pray together as a family, that it will strenghten their relationship as husband and wife, and with their children as well... and yet I have never even been close to marriage and I tell them what will fix it or make it better. I know that reading and praying together really does strengthen families, but its just a funny situation. Back to your humble pie advice, it is sometimes hard to remember who I am, or as you said, (who im not) because we are always talking about numbers... so when we dont have 6 investigators in church or a baptism every week its just frustrating. I want everyone on my watch.. not Heavenly Fathers. Which is of course a little or a lot messed up. I know that we are asking them to do a lot and to give up a lot... but we get soooooo much more in return. I am soooo thankful for the protection that this gospel offers individuals and families. All of the commandments that we have help shield us from the evils of the world and are there to keep us safe. Everyday that Im here I become more thankful for the safety of the church. I see youth that have awful lives because of the agency of their parents.. Some dont even stand a chance in this world. This week a 16 year old member committed suicide. She said it wasnt anyones fault, she just wasnt happy. She is the granddaughter of the lady that washes our clothes. Soooo sad. I dont know that I saw her before, she wasnt active. Apparently suicide is kind of common here.. at least that is what Hna Marilaf says... Eh soo sad!
So I figure that Im about fluent is spanish!!! yup, thats right! I was speaking spanish in my dreams.. Its now happened at least twice now.. well, that hna has heard. I was bearing testimony about the Restoration of the gospel and Joseph Smith. Yay, life is good! =) haha spanish is still a struggle, but again, everyday is better! And I know, Spanish is only part of my purpose as a missionary =)
Okay well that is all for today! I love and miss you all! Have a great week!
Love Hna Payne
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hola familia!!!
It has been raining cats and dogs here! Ha that is something that cant ever be said in Utah! But I love it! Okay, well, maybe not the working in it part, but I have my jacket, boots, and umbrella, so life is good!
This week has been good? Well, definitely not bad!!! But obviously it could be better... We didn't have investigators at church, again! AHHHH!!!!! We have no one that is progressing! Its soo frustrating because they talk in the MTC about how it doesnt matter where you are that there are people waiting for the gospel. That is field is white already to harvest... Which I know to be true!!!!! So what is it that we are or arent doing, that needs to change?? Its hard to come into the field having all sorts of expectations, and then realizing it is a whole new ball game. So, what do I do? Obviously things need to change I just dont know what, and then there is that question of how??? Change is good! I just have to figure out how to do it =) For crying out loud, this will change your life!!! Doesnt anyone care ??? Ah, Im starting to realize that im dealing with REAL people, with REAL ''BIG GIRL'' problems. Here I am just 21 and have never lived life in a way that these people have. I will never have to experience a lot of what some people do because of the gospel. I live such a blissful life because of the gospel! And for that I am sooo thankful. Right now, the greatest blessing of my life in the gospel is that it is a message of hope. Of course there are never guarantees even with the gospel, but at least I know who I am and that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. I know it will all work out in the end. The trials that we experience are just to shape and mold us to become better. But how do people deal with life when they dont know that?? I think there is a talk by Elder Eyring that talks about that? It was in conference a couple of years ago I think. If you could please forward that to me if you think about it???
*side note* Im not down, discouraged, unhappy, culture shocked or anything like that. Im just saying how it is. Dont worry life is good and im happy. Ha Dad, you said that there were quite a few people that read my letters.. I know, I dont like the pressure of it all! HAHA to all of my readers, Im trying to keep it real, dont judge me!!
My comp has been sick this last week. We went back to the pension early Saturday night and then went back after Sacrament meeting where we both slept till lunch. Does that make me a bad missionary? I really do want to be a good missionary. Then I sat at our table and studied for hours, until bedtime! I worked on our program thing that we have in the mission... that includes LOTS of memorizing... which is hard for me because its a foreign language that isnt very familiar to me.. so its straight memorizing. Mom, I feel your pain! But I know that you can do it =) Im not going to lie, it was nice to have a ''normal'' Sunday. Like I said, dont judge me. I will catch the vision! Sadly I need more time =) She went to the hospital (people go like its the doctors) Friday and they told her that she was allergic to the climate...? She got a shot of something.. The hospitals here in Argentina are free! Everything! Weird! You can have a baby for free! This hospital, or at least what I saw of it was really nice. She has been several times since she has been here. She said the one in her other area was awful. Great. Hopefully I wont need to ever go. Im pretty sure she just has a really bad cold... doctor payne here! I really do want to be a nurse tho!
Kels, I totally understand your fasting thoughts! Im dreading the thoughts of fasting in the summer here. No water for 24 hours?? My comp says that she almost dies every time. But you are right, I know that the Lord blesses us when we do it! I feel like so much of my life in the gospel is just that I know that Heavenly Father blesses us but Im not sure that I have been directly blessed by some things... even though I KNOW that I have been..If that makes sense?? I at least understood EXACTLY what you meant. But here Im starting to gain those little testimonies of everything! Im sorry that you are hating life at work. Yall are definitely in my prayers! And wow, one year ago that Levi found out he had cancer. In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in other ways it feels like forever ago. Hey, fasting right there! How blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives.. something to turn to when life gets out of control. I need to be better about not ''turning'' when things get hard. I just need to continually remember God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mom, 50 pesos is $14
Dad, I need some pics of your latest creations!
Drew, how is school going?? And work?? The new ward? The girl situation?
Dusty, I got your email, I will print it off and try and write next week =)
Darci!! I need some pics of that little man of yours!!! I hope all is going well with your new little family.
Chels! I need an email sent my way! How is your new little family? Ha weird! Is married life everything you thought and more??
Bart! Thank you for the email! I was soo surprised! But it was great to hear from you. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Im working on my caveman spanish =)
Raelene! I got your dearelder this last week. Thank you. It was good to see how your fam is doing. I think about your family when I eat mayonnaise. I feel like it is a staple food here. And so far I havent said anthing about monkeys and the priesthood. I will try my best to stay away from monkeys =)
Okay well I am out of time! I love yall and miss yall! Have a great week!
Love,
Hna Payne
It has been raining cats and dogs here! Ha that is something that cant ever be said in Utah! But I love it! Okay, well, maybe not the working in it part, but I have my jacket, boots, and umbrella, so life is good!
This week has been good? Well, definitely not bad!!! But obviously it could be better... We didn't have investigators at church, again! AHHHH!!!!! We have no one that is progressing! Its soo frustrating because they talk in the MTC about how it doesnt matter where you are that there are people waiting for the gospel. That is field is white already to harvest... Which I know to be true!!!!! So what is it that we are or arent doing, that needs to change?? Its hard to come into the field having all sorts of expectations, and then realizing it is a whole new ball game. So, what do I do? Obviously things need to change I just dont know what, and then there is that question of how??? Change is good! I just have to figure out how to do it =) For crying out loud, this will change your life!!! Doesnt anyone care ??? Ah, Im starting to realize that im dealing with REAL people, with REAL ''BIG GIRL'' problems. Here I am just 21 and have never lived life in a way that these people have. I will never have to experience a lot of what some people do because of the gospel. I live such a blissful life because of the gospel! And for that I am sooo thankful. Right now, the greatest blessing of my life in the gospel is that it is a message of hope. Of course there are never guarantees even with the gospel, but at least I know who I am and that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. I know it will all work out in the end. The trials that we experience are just to shape and mold us to become better. But how do people deal with life when they dont know that?? I think there is a talk by Elder Eyring that talks about that? It was in conference a couple of years ago I think. If you could please forward that to me if you think about it???
*side note* Im not down, discouraged, unhappy, culture shocked or anything like that. Im just saying how it is. Dont worry life is good and im happy. Ha Dad, you said that there were quite a few people that read my letters.. I know, I dont like the pressure of it all! HAHA to all of my readers, Im trying to keep it real, dont judge me!!
My comp has been sick this last week. We went back to the pension early Saturday night and then went back after Sacrament meeting where we both slept till lunch. Does that make me a bad missionary? I really do want to be a good missionary. Then I sat at our table and studied for hours, until bedtime! I worked on our program thing that we have in the mission... that includes LOTS of memorizing... which is hard for me because its a foreign language that isnt very familiar to me.. so its straight memorizing. Mom, I feel your pain! But I know that you can do it =) Im not going to lie, it was nice to have a ''normal'' Sunday. Like I said, dont judge me. I will catch the vision! Sadly I need more time =) She went to the hospital (people go like its the doctors) Friday and they told her that she was allergic to the climate...? She got a shot of something.. The hospitals here in Argentina are free! Everything! Weird! You can have a baby for free! This hospital, or at least what I saw of it was really nice. She has been several times since she has been here. She said the one in her other area was awful. Great. Hopefully I wont need to ever go. Im pretty sure she just has a really bad cold... doctor payne here! I really do want to be a nurse tho!
Kels, I totally understand your fasting thoughts! Im dreading the thoughts of fasting in the summer here. No water for 24 hours?? My comp says that she almost dies every time. But you are right, I know that the Lord blesses us when we do it! I feel like so much of my life in the gospel is just that I know that Heavenly Father blesses us but Im not sure that I have been directly blessed by some things... even though I KNOW that I have been..If that makes sense?? I at least understood EXACTLY what you meant. But here Im starting to gain those little testimonies of everything! Im sorry that you are hating life at work. Yall are definitely in my prayers! And wow, one year ago that Levi found out he had cancer. In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in other ways it feels like forever ago. Hey, fasting right there! How blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives.. something to turn to when life gets out of control. I need to be better about not ''turning'' when things get hard. I just need to continually remember God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mom, 50 pesos is $14
Dad, I need some pics of your latest creations!
Drew, how is school going?? And work?? The new ward? The girl situation?
Dusty, I got your email, I will print it off and try and write next week =)
Darci!! I need some pics of that little man of yours!!! I hope all is going well with your new little family.
Chels! I need an email sent my way! How is your new little family? Ha weird! Is married life everything you thought and more??
Bart! Thank you for the email! I was soo surprised! But it was great to hear from you. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Im working on my caveman spanish =)
Raelene! I got your dearelder this last week. Thank you. It was good to see how your fam is doing. I think about your family when I eat mayonnaise. I feel like it is a staple food here. And so far I havent said anthing about monkeys and the priesthood. I will try my best to stay away from monkeys =)
Okay well I am out of time! I love yall and miss yall! Have a great week!
Love,
Hna Payne
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Hola, hola, hola!
This week has been a blur! Every week goes by really fast, it feels like yesterday that I sat down and wrote to yall.. Everything feels like that, and Im sure the longer that I am here, the faster it will feel. Life here is great. Every day still continues to be better. I can´t wait till I have the language and can really talk to the people! That will be the day =) But again, every day is better and that is for the language as well!
This week at church we thought for sure we would have at least 5 people, a family of 3 and two brothers, with possible others. We got to church and NO ONE! Well, I say no one, but there was a 9 year old boy that my comp taught before?? He is the grandson of a member. I dont really count that, but it was nice staying at church and not running around trying to beg people to come to church with only an hour left of Relief Society and Priesthood. Eh, my heart! They need the church in their lives, this message will change their life!!! Ya know, Its kind of nice not having the language yet, because Im forced to get over the nervousness of talking to people. I say my little part and my comp is the one that is in charge of how the lesson goes because I dont know whats going on. It is all just a process that I will work up to saying a lot more in a lesson. But I want to tell people in more words how their life will be different.. but I cant. That being said I have been forced to really think about the reasons that it will bless others lives. Really, how does it bless mine? Yes, I know that its true!!! But growing up in the church, and my latter days in Utah, I never had to defend the church or explain to others how my life is different.. I dont know if any of this is making sense. But for some people to go to chuch here its a big sacrifice. For example one of ther Hnas said that some people would have to walk like 2 hours because they dont have money for the bus. I have never had to think about what I would sacrifice for the church before. Would I be willing to walk 2 hours every Sunday? I would like to say I would.. but Im not an investigator! I grew up in the wonderful gospel. How blessed I am because I was born into a family with the Gospel, and not to mention a car to get me there. So how am I supposed to explain that no matter the sacrifice it is important. Sorry if that doesnt make sense.
So my area is a lot bigger than I originally thought. We just hadnt been in any of the other areas. This last week we went to an area where the people are very poor. I really dont know how to describe some of the houses here. For lack of a better word, shack. It is so weird because one house can be really nice and big, while the houses across the street have NOTHING! Well we went to this area and every house let us in to talk to them. We just tell them a little bit, and then ask if we can come back another day to tell them more when they have more time. They of course all say yes! We tried going back a couple of days later but it was raining. The rain can make it very difficult in some of the areas because we usually teach outside... the more poor houses, definitely outside. Well what do you do in the rain?? We will go back this week and hopefully have more success! Oh, I forgot how much I LOVE the rain. The thunderstorms and rain are like Texas. It rained here for like 3 or 4 days. It was nice when it finally cleared up. It wasnt bad though! Well, once I bought an umbrella and rain boots! Then it was more than bearable. My boots were 50 pesos, and my umbrella 25... both worth EVERY peso! (Eh I hate spending personal money when I dont have a job! oh well.) Eventually I will send a picture of how ridiculous I look with all of these things, and in a skirt! Oh, and my beautiful rain jacket that Mom gave me. Ha =) But hey, I was warm and dry! Yesterday was the day that all the clouds broke, and there was actually sun. Last night was the prettiest sunset I´ve ever seen! (Mawmaw would have appreciated it) =) Really though! All the sunsets are gorgeous! One of my tender mercies! Im pretty sure that Heavenly Father does them just for me, just because He knows I love them soo much!
So today for Pday we (the district) decided to go to the Zoo! With the word zoo, I thought elephants and zebras and such.. haha we get there and its this little ghetto building with a picture of a snake or something. Turns out that it only had reptiles... I really hate snakes and lizards! (oh, there was a lizard in my sink this last week... Im not okay with that!) I dont know who called it a zoo, im guessing there really is a zoo some where here.. Then we went to eat at some overly priced Chinese restaurant. It was a fun day though. Im glad we didnt just play volleyball again. Its fun getting to experience some of argentina. Oh, I held a really big snake at this place. Im glad it decided to not eat me. I had my doubts. I really hate snakes! We purchased a picture of us holding it, but I really dont know how you are going to see it... just take my word for it, I, HNA Payne held a snake =)
Well, we are still working on talkin to more people... Its kind of hard... well for one I dont have the language, but secondly, if I were a person in the street and a missionary randomly came up to me and was like telliing me this message and wanted to come to my house and tell me more, Im not sure that i would want them to. What can we do to help others know that we are normal people with a special message??
Im glad yall got my pics! Sorry, there is no cool stories to any of them. The dirt is just red dirt that is EVERYWHERE here. I thought you could maybe see the road in that pic too, but I dont think you really can. And the one of the sink is where we wash out clothes. HAHAH that isnt dirty dad!
Karan, I got your letters! Thank you!!!!!
Well it looks and sounds like yall had so much fun with Brecken. She is who I miss the most because I wont know her at all as a one year old. Every month is different for her. Everyone else will be the same.. but not her =( ha well I love getting the pictures so that I know what she looks like.
Okay well im out of time. I love and miss yall! Sorry that I ramble and dont make much sense some times... Until next week =)
Love Hna Payne
Mom, I will probs just buy a flat iron here... and I will want Peanut butter and mascara =) that is all I can think of for now. Oh, and I cant wait to see the pics that yall are sending!
This week has been a blur! Every week goes by really fast, it feels like yesterday that I sat down and wrote to yall.. Everything feels like that, and Im sure the longer that I am here, the faster it will feel. Life here is great. Every day still continues to be better. I can´t wait till I have the language and can really talk to the people! That will be the day =) But again, every day is better and that is for the language as well!
This week at church we thought for sure we would have at least 5 people, a family of 3 and two brothers, with possible others. We got to church and NO ONE! Well, I say no one, but there was a 9 year old boy that my comp taught before?? He is the grandson of a member. I dont really count that, but it was nice staying at church and not running around trying to beg people to come to church with only an hour left of Relief Society and Priesthood. Eh, my heart! They need the church in their lives, this message will change their life!!! Ya know, Its kind of nice not having the language yet, because Im forced to get over the nervousness of talking to people. I say my little part and my comp is the one that is in charge of how the lesson goes because I dont know whats going on. It is all just a process that I will work up to saying a lot more in a lesson. But I want to tell people in more words how their life will be different.. but I cant. That being said I have been forced to really think about the reasons that it will bless others lives. Really, how does it bless mine? Yes, I know that its true!!! But growing up in the church, and my latter days in Utah, I never had to defend the church or explain to others how my life is different.. I dont know if any of this is making sense. But for some people to go to chuch here its a big sacrifice. For example one of ther Hnas said that some people would have to walk like 2 hours because they dont have money for the bus. I have never had to think about what I would sacrifice for the church before. Would I be willing to walk 2 hours every Sunday? I would like to say I would.. but Im not an investigator! I grew up in the wonderful gospel. How blessed I am because I was born into a family with the Gospel, and not to mention a car to get me there. So how am I supposed to explain that no matter the sacrifice it is important. Sorry if that doesnt make sense.
So my area is a lot bigger than I originally thought. We just hadnt been in any of the other areas. This last week we went to an area where the people are very poor. I really dont know how to describe some of the houses here. For lack of a better word, shack. It is so weird because one house can be really nice and big, while the houses across the street have NOTHING! Well we went to this area and every house let us in to talk to them. We just tell them a little bit, and then ask if we can come back another day to tell them more when they have more time. They of course all say yes! We tried going back a couple of days later but it was raining. The rain can make it very difficult in some of the areas because we usually teach outside... the more poor houses, definitely outside. Well what do you do in the rain?? We will go back this week and hopefully have more success! Oh, I forgot how much I LOVE the rain. The thunderstorms and rain are like Texas. It rained here for like 3 or 4 days. It was nice when it finally cleared up. It wasnt bad though! Well, once I bought an umbrella and rain boots! Then it was more than bearable. My boots were 50 pesos, and my umbrella 25... both worth EVERY peso! (Eh I hate spending personal money when I dont have a job! oh well.) Eventually I will send a picture of how ridiculous I look with all of these things, and in a skirt! Oh, and my beautiful rain jacket that Mom gave me. Ha =) But hey, I was warm and dry! Yesterday was the day that all the clouds broke, and there was actually sun. Last night was the prettiest sunset I´ve ever seen! (Mawmaw would have appreciated it) =) Really though! All the sunsets are gorgeous! One of my tender mercies! Im pretty sure that Heavenly Father does them just for me, just because He knows I love them soo much!
So today for Pday we (the district) decided to go to the Zoo! With the word zoo, I thought elephants and zebras and such.. haha we get there and its this little ghetto building with a picture of a snake or something. Turns out that it only had reptiles... I really hate snakes and lizards! (oh, there was a lizard in my sink this last week... Im not okay with that!) I dont know who called it a zoo, im guessing there really is a zoo some where here.. Then we went to eat at some overly priced Chinese restaurant. It was a fun day though. Im glad we didnt just play volleyball again. Its fun getting to experience some of argentina. Oh, I held a really big snake at this place. Im glad it decided to not eat me. I had my doubts. I really hate snakes! We purchased a picture of us holding it, but I really dont know how you are going to see it... just take my word for it, I, HNA Payne held a snake =)
Well, we are still working on talkin to more people... Its kind of hard... well for one I dont have the language, but secondly, if I were a person in the street and a missionary randomly came up to me and was like telliing me this message and wanted to come to my house and tell me more, Im not sure that i would want them to. What can we do to help others know that we are normal people with a special message??
Im glad yall got my pics! Sorry, there is no cool stories to any of them. The dirt is just red dirt that is EVERYWHERE here. I thought you could maybe see the road in that pic too, but I dont think you really can. And the one of the sink is where we wash out clothes. HAHAH that isnt dirty dad!
Karan, I got your letters! Thank you!!!!!
Well it looks and sounds like yall had so much fun with Brecken. She is who I miss the most because I wont know her at all as a one year old. Every month is different for her. Everyone else will be the same.. but not her =( ha well I love getting the pictures so that I know what she looks like.
Okay well im out of time. I love and miss yall! Sorry that I ramble and dont make much sense some times... Until next week =)
Love Hna Payne
Mom, I will probs just buy a flat iron here... and I will want Peanut butter and mascara =) that is all I can think of for now. Oh, and I cant wait to see the pics that yall are sending!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hola! Its me again, Hna Payne!
So, I forgot my list... hopefully I can remember things that happend this week =)
So this last week was a little crazy. Our electricity went out tuesday morning, and then our water on Wednesday. We kept trying to call someone to tell us what was wrong.. but it turns out that the missionaries that lived here before my comp didnt pay the month of may... and then our water just was out for a few hours. We finally got it all taken care of on Wednesday... with my personal money. We had money problems the last couple of weeks. Somehow I wasnt given the full amount for the month of August. We called out district leaders that said they called the office and that my card was having problems or something?? And then my comp had been paying for our apt with her personal money or something because of the past sisters in our apt. So we were using our personal money, and no one was listening to us. We couldnt call the office because you have to have permission by the Zone leaders to call.. but I knew someone could do somthing.. our message was just getting lost somewhere in between people. One of our sisters in the zone went to Resistencia to pick up her new comp and talked to someone. The elder called us and was really mad that someone didnt tell him, and was super sorry. So yay, I have money again =)
So I didnt end up going to Resistencia. And I thought I was leaving Wednesday afternoon, but it tunrs out it was Wednesday at 330am. So we got up as planned on Wednesday morning at like 2 where i had to try and get ready in the dark because we still didnt have power. We took a taxi because its dangerous on the busses at that hour? We picked up the zone leader and his comp.. and then went to the bus station where we found out the bus left at 3am instead of 330am. Someone in the office told us the wrong time. So then they said that i would go at 8. So we went to some hermanas that lived super close and slept there for a couple of hours. Well, President said not to come because I would get there too late and the training would almost be over. Here I thought I would get a nap and it tunrs out I just got less sleep than normal. HA, go figure =)
So Sunday was a successsss! We have five investigaters at the special conference! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! One was a family Cabral that we have been working with longer than I have been here. They really liked what they heard and have plans to come to church next week! They noticed that all the youth wear modest clothes and liked that. They want the same for their 11 and 18 year old daughters. We will see what happens! But definitely a miracle!
The other family we havent really been working with. We went there once my first week and then didnt go back until right before the conference because he had said that he wanted to go. We got on the bus and there they were. They left saying that Elder Foster was a man of God. We went to visit them last night but didnt get too far. He is a very smart man, and is letting that get in the way of him asking and receiving an answer about this church. Again, we will see what happens.
This work is soo hard because Im not in charge in any way. At what point do you cut someone off because they arent progressing. I have no idea the heart of these people.. only Heavenly Father does.. so its a hard call.
Yesterday was Zone conference. Apparently it was very different than other ones. Resistencia has 5 missions in this mission. There are two zones in this area that I am in. This zone conference we had all of this one mission here... Well, Im sure it would have been great... if i had understood =) haha oh well, I will get it next time! But guess what, I saw Elder Beckstead! It was soooo good to see a familiar face. I didnt think I would get to see him at all. He has been telling President that we have to see each other! Well he has changed a ton! He used to be the cool kid, but now he is just sooo happy and smiling and so on. I can tell that he is a good missionary just by how happy he is. He said he had no idea that a mission could make someone so happy! He said his parents are coming to get him in December. He said that if im still here that they will for sure come and say hi. That means I would get to see Jan. She is one of my favorite people. Im going to try and not get my hopes up though.
You asked if I was staying warm?! HA! If only it were cold. When I got here there were a couple of days that I didnt take my coat off. But now its just warm and humid. I have this feeling that I am definitely going to die when summer comes.
Mom, my straightner doesnt work here.. well it did for like 4 days and doest now.. I hope it didnt die for good. But should I buy one here for like $50 or just be ugly for a year? Everyone says that it is impossible to wear your hair down here in the summer. When summer hits we all have to wear a grass hat thing.. EVERYONE! Ha! If we didnt look ridiculous before, we will in the summer. Anyways.. what do you think?
Rachel! Congrats, you are the first one to send me a letter here! I got it last week! I will be putting you a letter in the mail this week!
I still havent gotten a letter from Karan if she ended up sending it.. How is she doing?
That is great to hear that Pat came home. Hopefully she will feel better soon, even though I know that she has a long road ahead of her.
Dad, I couldnt believe that you started a bigals page on FB. That is really funny. But actually a good idea. Im interested to see how it works out. How many fans do you have now?
Im glad that yall have enjoyed Miss B´s stay. Im not jealous.. okay a little bit cause I will miss her whole one year old phase. But keep telling her I love her!!
Drew, how is school going? Harder or easier than you expected? Dont worry it will get easier! Its kind of funny because all the girls have these problems at like 18 and 19. But then you missionaries come home and have to make these decisions plus more at 21. Welcome to being an adult.. haha its not all its cracked up to be! HAHA you are in my prayers =)
Dust! the good in your school could be missionary work! haha! and you have to get good grades your first semester back in school, and every other semester for PT!! Its a really competitive program isnt it?? And I didnt leave my scarves at the MTC. I brought one, and sent one home so I could have one when I get home in December. But at this rate the one I have here will still be nice enough to bring back home. I got to wear it once. But apparently it was really cold before I got here. Its so weird that the seasons are flipped. It will be quite an experience to have a HOT Christmas.
Dad, dont feel bad about nice meals... yet! Ha apparently I havent seen anything yet. That scares me. This is a pretty rich area compared to other parts of the mission. I saw one of the Elders yesterday that was in my district at the mtc and he said that in his area that everyone is very poor, but still wants to give. I am humbled that they want to give. The Lord has helped me eat here.. Im sure he will help me eat in my other areas too! Ha its a once in a life time opportunity! Its funny.. and when i say funny I mean gross... everyone uses their fork to dip into what ever food they want. It brings a whole new meaning to double dipping! HA oh well.. im getting over it!
Well I am now going to try and send some pictures. I love yall and miss yall! I hope everything is going well for everybody at home! Things here are great, and still getting better... until next week =)
Love, Hna Payne
So, I forgot my list... hopefully I can remember things that happend this week =)
So this last week was a little crazy. Our electricity went out tuesday morning, and then our water on Wednesday. We kept trying to call someone to tell us what was wrong.. but it turns out that the missionaries that lived here before my comp didnt pay the month of may... and then our water just was out for a few hours. We finally got it all taken care of on Wednesday... with my personal money. We had money problems the last couple of weeks. Somehow I wasnt given the full amount for the month of August. We called out district leaders that said they called the office and that my card was having problems or something?? And then my comp had been paying for our apt with her personal money or something because of the past sisters in our apt. So we were using our personal money, and no one was listening to us. We couldnt call the office because you have to have permission by the Zone leaders to call.. but I knew someone could do somthing.. our message was just getting lost somewhere in between people. One of our sisters in the zone went to Resistencia to pick up her new comp and talked to someone. The elder called us and was really mad that someone didnt tell him, and was super sorry. So yay, I have money again =)
So I didnt end up going to Resistencia. And I thought I was leaving Wednesday afternoon, but it tunrs out it was Wednesday at 330am. So we got up as planned on Wednesday morning at like 2 where i had to try and get ready in the dark because we still didnt have power. We took a taxi because its dangerous on the busses at that hour? We picked up the zone leader and his comp.. and then went to the bus station where we found out the bus left at 3am instead of 330am. Someone in the office told us the wrong time. So then they said that i would go at 8. So we went to some hermanas that lived super close and slept there for a couple of hours. Well, President said not to come because I would get there too late and the training would almost be over. Here I thought I would get a nap and it tunrs out I just got less sleep than normal. HA, go figure =)
So Sunday was a successsss! We have five investigaters at the special conference! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! One was a family Cabral that we have been working with longer than I have been here. They really liked what they heard and have plans to come to church next week! They noticed that all the youth wear modest clothes and liked that. They want the same for their 11 and 18 year old daughters. We will see what happens! But definitely a miracle!
The other family we havent really been working with. We went there once my first week and then didnt go back until right before the conference because he had said that he wanted to go. We got on the bus and there they were. They left saying that Elder Foster was a man of God. We went to visit them last night but didnt get too far. He is a very smart man, and is letting that get in the way of him asking and receiving an answer about this church. Again, we will see what happens.
This work is soo hard because Im not in charge in any way. At what point do you cut someone off because they arent progressing. I have no idea the heart of these people.. only Heavenly Father does.. so its a hard call.
Yesterday was Zone conference. Apparently it was very different than other ones. Resistencia has 5 missions in this mission. There are two zones in this area that I am in. This zone conference we had all of this one mission here... Well, Im sure it would have been great... if i had understood =) haha oh well, I will get it next time! But guess what, I saw Elder Beckstead! It was soooo good to see a familiar face. I didnt think I would get to see him at all. He has been telling President that we have to see each other! Well he has changed a ton! He used to be the cool kid, but now he is just sooo happy and smiling and so on. I can tell that he is a good missionary just by how happy he is. He said he had no idea that a mission could make someone so happy! He said his parents are coming to get him in December. He said that if im still here that they will for sure come and say hi. That means I would get to see Jan. She is one of my favorite people. Im going to try and not get my hopes up though.
You asked if I was staying warm?! HA! If only it were cold. When I got here there were a couple of days that I didnt take my coat off. But now its just warm and humid. I have this feeling that I am definitely going to die when summer comes.
Mom, my straightner doesnt work here.. well it did for like 4 days and doest now.. I hope it didnt die for good. But should I buy one here for like $50 or just be ugly for a year? Everyone says that it is impossible to wear your hair down here in the summer. When summer hits we all have to wear a grass hat thing.. EVERYONE! Ha! If we didnt look ridiculous before, we will in the summer. Anyways.. what do you think?
Rachel! Congrats, you are the first one to send me a letter here! I got it last week! I will be putting you a letter in the mail this week!
I still havent gotten a letter from Karan if she ended up sending it.. How is she doing?
That is great to hear that Pat came home. Hopefully she will feel better soon, even though I know that she has a long road ahead of her.
Dad, I couldnt believe that you started a bigals page on FB. That is really funny. But actually a good idea. Im interested to see how it works out. How many fans do you have now?
Im glad that yall have enjoyed Miss B´s stay. Im not jealous.. okay a little bit cause I will miss her whole one year old phase. But keep telling her I love her!!
Drew, how is school going? Harder or easier than you expected? Dont worry it will get easier! Its kind of funny because all the girls have these problems at like 18 and 19. But then you missionaries come home and have to make these decisions plus more at 21. Welcome to being an adult.. haha its not all its cracked up to be! HAHA you are in my prayers =)
Dust! the good in your school could be missionary work! haha! and you have to get good grades your first semester back in school, and every other semester for PT!! Its a really competitive program isnt it?? And I didnt leave my scarves at the MTC. I brought one, and sent one home so I could have one when I get home in December. But at this rate the one I have here will still be nice enough to bring back home. I got to wear it once. But apparently it was really cold before I got here. Its so weird that the seasons are flipped. It will be quite an experience to have a HOT Christmas.
Dad, dont feel bad about nice meals... yet! Ha apparently I havent seen anything yet. That scares me. This is a pretty rich area compared to other parts of the mission. I saw one of the Elders yesterday that was in my district at the mtc and he said that in his area that everyone is very poor, but still wants to give. I am humbled that they want to give. The Lord has helped me eat here.. Im sure he will help me eat in my other areas too! Ha its a once in a life time opportunity! Its funny.. and when i say funny I mean gross... everyone uses their fork to dip into what ever food they want. It brings a whole new meaning to double dipping! HA oh well.. im getting over it!
Well I am now going to try and send some pictures. I love yall and miss yall! I hope everything is going well for everybody at home! Things here are great, and still getting better... until next week =)
Love, Hna Payne
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