Hello there! So sorry that my email schedule has been way messed up!
The internet was down all yesterday and today we only have 15 minutes
so Im going to have to hurry. Luckily, not a whole lot is new. The new
latino group came this past week. Theres only 12 hermanas in the whole
MTC and I dont like them as much as the last ones but oh well. Umm...I
had to give a talk in church on sunday. In spanish of course. It was a
little rough but ended up being ok. I got a lot of compliments on my
spanish so thats good. Oh and while I was at the temple I was talking
to a lady there and she thought that I was already on my mission. When
I told her I was just in the CCM, she was shoked because she said my
spanish was so good. I think that she was just trying to make me feel
good but either way, it made me happy! haha
Oh, they gave me my address for Retalhuleu and its different than the
one I gave you. Im not sure which one you should use but here is the
one they gave me.....Blvd. Centenario, Z. 3, Retalhuleu, Guatemala.
In answer to questions...mom I got your dear elder in 4 days. I was so
happy! I havent gotten any other packages except for the first one.
No, it is not very safe here. There are fences all around the CCM and
guards with machine guns everywhere. Anytime we leave the CCM, we have
to have a group of at least 6. Last week we werent allowed to go
outside at all because I guess someone called and threatened the
missionaries or something like that. Weird. And they told everyone to
always carry money on them so when we get robbed, we just hand them
the wad of money. Wonderful right? haha
So I guess all through December, the people here celebrate every
single day. They shoot off fireworks every single night of December so
I get to fall asleep to that glorious sound every night. It sounds
more like an atomic bomb to me but what do I know?
Well I really dont have a whole lot else to say. Im getting a little
sick of it here. I think Im just getting excited to leave. Only 1 week
and 5 days left! BAH!!!! I love you all oh so much and I wrote and
sent a bunch of letters yesterday. Tell me when you get them.
I feel so bad not responding to everyone right away. I swear I would
if I could. ¡TE AMO!
Love, Hermana Kami Alyse Alston
p.s. Im singing a solo in sacrament meeting on sunday. Waa!! Wish me luck!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Letter from November 30th
HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!!!
So I get to write a day early today. Today was kind of my pday because
everyone in the whole MTC left to their missions except for our
district. So today we got to do this kind of cultural day and spent
the entire day shopping and sight seeing. It was super super fun! Its
crazy to see how different it is in different parts here. We went to a
under ground market and it was so crazy. It was sooo ghetto and poor.
I took some cool pics that ill send home as soon as I get into the
field. Then you go only like 15 minutes and we went to a mall which
was nicer than probably any mall Ive ever been to and ate taco bell.
haha weird! We also got to go to a museum which was pretty cool and
got to learn about the Mayans and such. And our mission pres showed us
exactly where they think the Nephites settled and everything. Its
basically exactly where we are now. I just love this place!
This week wasnt as eventfull as the last but I still got to do some
fun stuff. I got to leave the MTC once again to go to the doctor with
a sister that messed up her knee somehow. I went and the doctor had to
give her a shot of cortisone in her knee and he kept on asking me the
whole time is this ok? Does that sound alright to you? I was like...oh
yeah sure! Like I was an authority or something. haha I guess thats
what its going to be like on the mission!
It scared me half to death though. The doctor was at the MTC right
before we left for the doctor and he was glaring at me from the
opposite side of the room. And I was starting to feel uncomfortable
when finally he said in front of everyone...The first presidency
OBVIOUSLY didnt screen you well enough before they called you to be
the mission nurse! I almost had a heart attack and was trying to think
of any possible thing I did wrong. Finally he busted up laughing and
said...youre just to dang cute!!!!! I guess the area seventy really
did see me and it has been a topic of discussion with them. Scared the
heck out of me. haha
So since I am THE ONLY girl left in the MTC. I get the calling of
coordinating sister, music coordinator, choir director, MTC pianist,
and MTC nurse. Wonderful. This should be an interesting three weeks.
In answer to some of your questions....
On pday We go to the temple in the morning. The session is in English
but we have to get through in Spanish which is interesting. Then we
come back and go shopping and this portable store that comes every
week. Then we get to write letters, email and do whatever we want
basically until dinner. Then we have class after dinner. No, I cant
write letters any other day. Yes, I do my own laundry. There are
washing machines and drying on our floor and we are assigned to
different days. Yes, I get to leave the MTC quite often actually. When
we contact at the temple we walk there. Its just right across the
street. In fact, if you want to see the view from my window, just
google the Guatemala City Temple. Then when we teach our fake
investigator, its actually in a house across the street that we walk
to so it feels pretty real.
I cant even tell you how happy I am that I chose to come on a mission.
I think about it every single day. I have never felt the spirit so
much in my life and I can honestly say with all my heart that this
church is TRUE!!!!!!! haha I know Im a cheesy little missionary but I
dont care. The gospel is so wonderful and perfect and I cant WAIT to
get to Retalhuleu to tell everyone about it!!}
Tell me all about thanksgiving! And details about home! Dear elder me
or write me if you can cause I have no time to read emails. I hope you
took pics of thanksgiving and the new ranger and everything. I love
you all! Thank you soooooo much for your letter and EVERYTHING. It
means so much! I feel horrible that I cant write back often or send
christmas presents or anything. I promise I would if I possibly could!
Miss you!!
Love, Barbie Guapa (what all of the latinos call me)
p.s. Im so sorry I didnt say this in my past emails but HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SARAH AND CALEB!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im so glad you were born and hope you
had wonderful birthdays! LOVE YOU!
So I get to write a day early today. Today was kind of my pday because
everyone in the whole MTC left to their missions except for our
district. So today we got to do this kind of cultural day and spent
the entire day shopping and sight seeing. It was super super fun! Its
crazy to see how different it is in different parts here. We went to a
under ground market and it was so crazy. It was sooo ghetto and poor.
I took some cool pics that ill send home as soon as I get into the
field. Then you go only like 15 minutes and we went to a mall which
was nicer than probably any mall Ive ever been to and ate taco bell.
haha weird! We also got to go to a museum which was pretty cool and
got to learn about the Mayans and such. And our mission pres showed us
exactly where they think the Nephites settled and everything. Its
basically exactly where we are now. I just love this place!
This week wasnt as eventfull as the last but I still got to do some
fun stuff. I got to leave the MTC once again to go to the doctor with
a sister that messed up her knee somehow. I went and the doctor had to
give her a shot of cortisone in her knee and he kept on asking me the
whole time is this ok? Does that sound alright to you? I was like...oh
yeah sure! Like I was an authority or something. haha I guess thats
what its going to be like on the mission!
It scared me half to death though. The doctor was at the MTC right
before we left for the doctor and he was glaring at me from the
opposite side of the room. And I was starting to feel uncomfortable
when finally he said in front of everyone...The first presidency
OBVIOUSLY didnt screen you well enough before they called you to be
the mission nurse! I almost had a heart attack and was trying to think
of any possible thing I did wrong. Finally he busted up laughing and
said...youre just to dang cute!!!!! I guess the area seventy really
did see me and it has been a topic of discussion with them. Scared the
heck out of me. haha
So since I am THE ONLY girl left in the MTC. I get the calling of
coordinating sister, music coordinator, choir director, MTC pianist,
and MTC nurse. Wonderful. This should be an interesting three weeks.
In answer to some of your questions....
On pday We go to the temple in the morning. The session is in English
but we have to get through in Spanish which is interesting. Then we
come back and go shopping and this portable store that comes every
week. Then we get to write letters, email and do whatever we want
basically until dinner. Then we have class after dinner. No, I cant
write letters any other day. Yes, I do my own laundry. There are
washing machines and drying on our floor and we are assigned to
different days. Yes, I get to leave the MTC quite often actually. When
we contact at the temple we walk there. Its just right across the
street. In fact, if you want to see the view from my window, just
google the Guatemala City Temple. Then when we teach our fake
investigator, its actually in a house across the street that we walk
to so it feels pretty real.
I cant even tell you how happy I am that I chose to come on a mission.
I think about it every single day. I have never felt the spirit so
much in my life and I can honestly say with all my heart that this
church is TRUE!!!!!!! haha I know Im a cheesy little missionary but I
dont care. The gospel is so wonderful and perfect and I cant WAIT to
get to Retalhuleu to tell everyone about it!!}
Tell me all about thanksgiving! And details about home! Dear elder me
or write me if you can cause I have no time to read emails. I hope you
took pics of thanksgiving and the new ranger and everything. I love
you all! Thank you soooooo much for your letter and EVERYTHING. It
means so much! I feel horrible that I cant write back often or send
christmas presents or anything. I promise I would if I possibly could!
Miss you!!
Love, Barbie Guapa (what all of the latinos call me)
p.s. Im so sorry I didnt say this in my past emails but HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SARAH AND CALEB!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im so glad you were born and hope you
had wonderful birthdays! LOVE YOU!
Letter from November 24th
Hellooo all! First and foremost, I would like to thank you mom for not
making me eat higo yogurt as a child. Anyways! Wow this week has been
the most eventfull week of my life I believe. Hopefully I have enough
time to tell everything!
I guess Ill start off by telling you about Hermana Reyes. I came back
to my room one night and there was a girl in one of our extra beds
sleeping. So I asked what was going on and apparently she was on her
mission in the Dominican Republic when her companion noticed her
saying weird things. It turns out that she had a brain tumor and had
to come here for better medical care. They put her in my room because
Im a nurse and yata yata. So it ended up that I had to stay in the
room with her all day and all night and watch her cause she was crazy
and couldnt walk and stuff. Memories of clinicals came flooding back
to me because I had to give her medication every few hours, make her
drink and take her to the bathroom and all that good stuff. The next
day, I had to go with Dr. McArthur (the doctor over all of central
america AKA my new boss) to the hospital. It was actually quite an
adventure because I got the leave the CCM! I felt oh so free. The
office at the hospital we went to was on the 12th floor and overlooked
Guatemala. It was the most gorgeous thing Ive ever seen. ANYWAYS, I
just found out last night that they went in for surgery to take the
tumor out and found that it was actually a pork tape worm. IN HER
BRAIN. Yeah...never heard of that. I think Im going to stop brushing
my teeth with the water.
Next random thing that happened...one night I was saying my prayers
and one of the Hermanas from the other room comes running in to get
me. I went into there room and apparently one the Hermanas had just
had a seizure. I guess she was saying her prayers and just fell over
on the floor and started convulsing. But when I asked her about it,
she went on and on and on about how she was praying to know if the
book of mormon was true and that the devil took over her body. She was
bawling hysterically. The latinos here are sooooo superstitious. They
all believe with all of their little hearts that there are evil
spirits everywhere. They dont talk about anything else. This hermana
says that every time she prays to know if the book of mormon is true,
she starts convulsing. Very strange. So we woke the President up and
he gave her some tylenol and she was very satisfied with that. haha!
Next thing I got to do was go to the plaza (which is like a huge park
in the middle of the ghetto) and practice contacting. I was sooo dang
nervous because of my spanish! It was a tad bit, ok a huge bit scary
there. There were like prostitutes everywhere and stuff. But anyways,
I made 5 contacts and got their info. I was excited. I actually did a
lot better than I thought. It was crazy cause there was this one older
man that I just had THE STRONGEST feeling that I had to talk to. He
looked a little iffy so I doubted myself but I finally went over and
talked to him. While I was talking to him the spirit was soooooo
strong and he was very interested. I was super glad I talked to him.
Its amazing how Heavenly Father really does help you to know what to
do if youll just ask. Before I went, I just prayed and said ok
Heavenly Father, I cant speak spanish but I am just going to have
faith that you will put the right words into my mouth and Ill be able
to say something of worth. It was amazing! It was so fun to be able to
see Guatemala too. It is sooo green and gorgeous, I love it here!
In answer to some of your questions, the weather is basically perfect.
The food is not horrible or anything but its just really different. I
just barely started to miss american food this week. Speaking of
which, I cant believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Thats crazy to me
because it doesnt feel like it at all! Yes mom, I have been perfectly
healthy and happy. In fact Im having the time of my life!! I
seriously love it here! I love being a missionary and in Guatemala and
everything! My days are sooo comical. Very entertaining! The most
entertaining thing this week was probably being called honey beautiful
at the plaza. Dont ask me what that is but it was hilarious and one of
the latino elders almost beat the guy up who talked to me.
I got some dearelders and a package! You would not believe how jealous
everyone was! The dearelders came in 5 days!!! So fast! I got them
last thursday and then I got the package last night. I loved it soo
much! Seriously, I think Im in heaven. Thank you mom!! I only have a
few minutes to read emails on here so it would probably be better to
dearelder them. Or dearelder AND email. That would be the best.
I sent some letters to family and friends last week and today.
Hopefully youll get them soon.
Well unfortunately I am out of time once again but I love you all sooo
much! Im sorry if my letters are boring you. Please never stop writing
me! I love reading your letters soooo much! Its the only connection I
have to the outside world! La amo!!!!!
Love, Hermana Alston
making me eat higo yogurt as a child. Anyways! Wow this week has been
the most eventfull week of my life I believe. Hopefully I have enough
time to tell everything!
I guess Ill start off by telling you about Hermana Reyes. I came back
to my room one night and there was a girl in one of our extra beds
sleeping. So I asked what was going on and apparently she was on her
mission in the Dominican Republic when her companion noticed her
saying weird things. It turns out that she had a brain tumor and had
to come here for better medical care. They put her in my room because
Im a nurse and yata yata. So it ended up that I had to stay in the
room with her all day and all night and watch her cause she was crazy
and couldnt walk and stuff. Memories of clinicals came flooding back
to me because I had to give her medication every few hours, make her
drink and take her to the bathroom and all that good stuff. The next
day, I had to go with Dr. McArthur (the doctor over all of central
america AKA my new boss) to the hospital. It was actually quite an
adventure because I got the leave the CCM! I felt oh so free. The
office at the hospital we went to was on the 12th floor and overlooked
Guatemala. It was the most gorgeous thing Ive ever seen. ANYWAYS, I
just found out last night that they went in for surgery to take the
tumor out and found that it was actually a pork tape worm. IN HER
BRAIN. Yeah...never heard of that. I think Im going to stop brushing
my teeth with the water.
Next random thing that happened...one night I was saying my prayers
and one of the Hermanas from the other room comes running in to get
me. I went into there room and apparently one the Hermanas had just
had a seizure. I guess she was saying her prayers and just fell over
on the floor and started convulsing. But when I asked her about it,
she went on and on and on about how she was praying to know if the
book of mormon was true and that the devil took over her body. She was
bawling hysterically. The latinos here are sooooo superstitious. They
all believe with all of their little hearts that there are evil
spirits everywhere. They dont talk about anything else. This hermana
says that every time she prays to know if the book of mormon is true,
she starts convulsing. Very strange. So we woke the President up and
he gave her some tylenol and she was very satisfied with that. haha!
Next thing I got to do was go to the plaza (which is like a huge park
in the middle of the ghetto) and practice contacting. I was sooo dang
nervous because of my spanish! It was a tad bit, ok a huge bit scary
there. There were like prostitutes everywhere and stuff. But anyways,
I made 5 contacts and got their info. I was excited. I actually did a
lot better than I thought. It was crazy cause there was this one older
man that I just had THE STRONGEST feeling that I had to talk to. He
looked a little iffy so I doubted myself but I finally went over and
talked to him. While I was talking to him the spirit was soooooo
strong and he was very interested. I was super glad I talked to him.
Its amazing how Heavenly Father really does help you to know what to
do if youll just ask. Before I went, I just prayed and said ok
Heavenly Father, I cant speak spanish but I am just going to have
faith that you will put the right words into my mouth and Ill be able
to say something of worth. It was amazing! It was so fun to be able to
see Guatemala too. It is sooo green and gorgeous, I love it here!
In answer to some of your questions, the weather is basically perfect.
The food is not horrible or anything but its just really different. I
just barely started to miss american food this week. Speaking of
which, I cant believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Thats crazy to me
because it doesnt feel like it at all! Yes mom, I have been perfectly
healthy and happy. In fact Im having the time of my life!! I
seriously love it here! I love being a missionary and in Guatemala and
everything! My days are sooo comical. Very entertaining! The most
entertaining thing this week was probably being called honey beautiful
at the plaza. Dont ask me what that is but it was hilarious and one of
the latino elders almost beat the guy up who talked to me.
I got some dearelders and a package! You would not believe how jealous
everyone was! The dearelders came in 5 days!!! So fast! I got them
last thursday and then I got the package last night. I loved it soo
much! Seriously, I think Im in heaven. Thank you mom!! I only have a
few minutes to read emails on here so it would probably be better to
dearelder them. Or dearelder AND email. That would be the best.
I sent some letters to family and friends last week and today.
Hopefully youll get them soon.
Well unfortunately I am out of time once again but I love you all sooo
much! Im sorry if my letters are boring you. Please never stop writing
me! I love reading your letters soooo much! Its the only connection I
have to the outside world! La amo!!!!!
Love, Hermana Alston
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