She's in her area and her Pday is Monday ...
It's so good to hear from you. I was so excited for today! Things are great here in Arizona and I love it. I'm glad I got to talk with you on the phone even if it was just for a little bit. Although it's too bad I missed you at the airport by only a few hours. I'm glad you had fun on your trip to Utah. And he might be before my time, but I know who MC Hammer is! Interesting choice for your conference entertainment. I'm glad you got to see Chris before you left. You're right, I am very lucky to have so many wonderful sisters :) I love Ben too though!!! I remember Mt Ellinor too. That was a fun day :) A difficult hike that we were not completely expecting, but it was great! We will have to do that again when I get back.
The Broadcast was great and I also hope that it inspires all the members to be much more involved in missionary work. That would make our work so much easier and so much more fruitful! I love what they said and what you re-said about it being about love. Share the Gospel because you love it and because it has blessed your life and because you love others enough to want it to be able to bless their lives too. Open your mouth and the Lord will fill it! He will help you share His truth.
I don't mind that you read my patriarchal blessing :) What you said actually made me get all teary-eyed. Although, that comment of being the future General Relief Society President did make me chuckle. You are pretty funny Mom ;) It's crazy because I got my Greenie Blessing from my District Leader and some of the things he said are VERY similar to what my blessing says!!! The Lord is just so great, isn't He?
I don't actually speak Spanish all the time. We live with two English sisters and my companion and I mostly speak English to each other. I want to speak Spanish more though!!! That is my goal this week. Also, we OYM (open your mouth) a lot of English people too. But the people we teach are all Spanish speaking so the actual lesson work is in Spanish. And we are over a Spanish ward so they all speak Spanish obviously!
Alright, I suppose I should tell you about my first week in the field, huh? The flight went by so quickly. I literally only had time to catch up in my journal for two days and then we landed. We met the President and his wife and then got our bags and drove to the mission home. We had a brunch and it was so amazing and delicious to be eating real food again and not MTC food!! That afternoon, Hna. Marquez and I went with Hna. Lemon and went to a trailer park and OYMed and taught a little bit all in Spanish and our first real exposure to the heat. It was quite the experience! The heat is intense and a million degrees warmer than Washington, but it doesn't really bother me and I actually quite like it! That night Hna. Marquez and I stayed with the cutest little old lady. She gave us ice cream and chatted with us for a while.
The next day we met our trainers and found out our area and as a result of that, found out which mission we would be in. We got placed in the San Tan area, which is in Queen Creek, which means that as of July 1st I will officially be in the Arizona Gilbert Mission. I get to serve in 2 different missons and I get to be one of the first missionaries in the Gilbert mission. How cool is that?! Plus, we will be here when the temple opens so I am hoping we will get to help with the open house. Since the new mission opens in 3 weeks, this transfers will only be 3 weeks instead of 6. Also, there are 19 new sisters coming which means there is a possibility that I will be training after only 3 weeks. That is so crazy! Normally, you get the first 12 weeks with a trainer. Oh, the work is hastening :) That also means that I will probably come home 3 weeks earlier too.
Our first dinner that night was absolutely delicious!!! Their daughter reminded me a lot of Jadyn :) My companion's name is Sister Anderson and she is 23, an identical twin, and from Michigan. She is great! We are currently working on teaching this huge family. I hope they get baptized, they said that they want to!
It's so sad because so many people just ignore us and we know that they are home. I hate that they say they are not interested because they don't even know what they are not interested in!!! We teach good things!!! If only they would listen.
The first Sunday was crazy. I have so much still to learn in Spanish. I pretty much understood nothing in Sacrament meeting, but I got most of what happened in Sunday School! The Broadcast was great. I really encourage you to get involved in the work!! You might not wear a badge like me, but you are a missionary too :)
There are so many things that I want to change and do better. I feel like I am supposed to help with changing things but I'm not quite sure how yet. I just need to forget myself and work hard every single day. That's what I am going to do. Turn to the Lord and He will show you the way!!
I love you!!!!
Con mi amor
Hermana Baria
