Houston? We have a problem...

I made it to Texas all in one piece.  Sister Perez and I were the only ones from the MTC flying to McAllen that day.  Our mission president had received the wrong information about our flight so when we got off the plane, he and his wife were nowhere to be found.  We waited for about 30 minutes before we finally called the mission home.  Sister Trayner answered and I told her we were at the airport.  "The Houston airport?" she asked.  "No, we are in McAllen."  It was pretty hilarious, to say the least.  They apologized for not giving us the usual welcome they give missionaries.

MTC Reflection...You look familiar?!

The MTC was way fun!  I loved it so much!  We had a mock lesson and guess who we got to teach???  The investigator from "The Best Two Years."  As my companion was teaching about the First Vision, I just kept looking at him thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is just like the movie!"  It was pretty amazing!

First picture from Texas!

My family received an email and this picture from President and Sister Trayner this morning!  I am now participating in a three day training and working with local missionaries in the evenings.  At the end of the training meetings, I will be assigned to my first area and my first companion in the mission field.

McAllen!

I flew to McAllen, Texas early this morning!  We had to be packed and on the airport-bound bus by 3:00 a.m.  I had planned to call my family between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. from the Salt Lake International Airport, but the payphones were "crazy busy" with other missionaries calling home.  I decided to wait and call my home during a layover a few hours later.  Sister Perez and I were the only ones in our MTC District going to McAllen, so we kept each other company during our two flights.  Of interest, the airlines did not charge us for our baggage.  I had planned to spend $50 - $60 on baggage fees, but they were waived!! 

I arrived in McAllen around 2:00 p.m.  I am so excited to be here!

Texas Bound!

Although I didn't have time to email a letter home this week, I did send a few pictures.  I also sent my departure information entirely in Spanish to my family via "snail-mail".  I will be leaving the MTC for Texas early next week!  I am really excited!  Please keep the letters/packages coming...

MTC Most Embarrassing Moment!

Well, in class someone called one of the elders, "Elder Calzon".  Everyone started laughing.  I thought it was kind of funny, but not as funny as the rest of the class did.  My companion asked me if I knew what Calzon meant.   I was like, "Yeah, like a pizza pocket!"  She just started laughting even harder.  "No, Hermana!, she said, "Calzon is underwear!"  That was probably the most embarrassing moment I've had at the MTC!

District = Fun!

I love my district!  They are so much fun!  We all feel comfortable around each other and get along really well.  A couple of the elders challenged my companion and me to run two miles with them.  We did it!  I finished the two miles first!  We also love to tell jokes.  I heard some pretty good ones this week, but they only work in Spanish.

A General Authority!

We had a missionary fireside and Elder Don R. Clarke came and spoke.  He taught us about the responsibility we have as missionaries not only to get people baptized, but to convert them or to cause them to change.  He said that activating members is just as important as baptizing them.  This requires us to work hard to be the best missionaries we can be.

Oh, my goodness...

... I have seen so many people I know!  I ran into Elder Swann and Elder Cloward from Magna :)  I did not know either one of them were here!  I was very excited.  I have also run into several people from BYU.  Every day I see someone else I know.  My companions think I'm popular.  I just say I am from Utah and went to BYU.  The Utah Mormon world is very small.

Thanks For The Mail!

This last week has gone by fast!  It's been a wonderful week to say the least!

Thanks to all who have sent letters/packages!  My district think I'm very popular because I'm always getting stuff.  Two of the elders made a bet with each other that I would get mail yesterday.  Well, that was the one day I didn't get anything. So, when I walked into class, the elder that lost said he was mad at me because he had to give away his apple.  So, in order to keep him from losing more food, feel free to keep the mail coming!  haha :)

I CAN NOW ROLL MY RR'S!!!!!

I have never beren able to roll my rr's and after my companion so lovingly made fun of my American accent when I said 'burrito,' I made a point to practice.  But I can only do them if the first syllable starts with a t, p, b, and sometimes c.  It's a start tho :)

I Really Love It Here!

The MTC is great!  I surprisingly like it a lot :)  I don't really know how to describe it, but I would say it's like everything I loved about BYU without everything I didn't particularly love.  So, in short, I really love it here!

Spanish...

I had not been around any Spanish since the middle of December so the first day was difficult for me.  I couldn't talk with Hermana Arevalo, and Hermana Perez did not arrive until later that night, so I felt awkward most of the day.  However, since that first day, being around it almost all of the time has helped me "pick it back up" very quickly.  I can understand most of what is said.  Talking is much more difficult.

I practice by constantly reading and writing in Spanish.  All of our classes are in Spanish.  I also received a packet of books in Spanish, so I can read the scriptures and Preach My Gospel in the language.

Right now, my brain in confused because it doesn't know whether to think in Spanish or English!  It is a mess.  It gives me a headache!  :P

The Infamous Food and More!

The food at the MTC is good.  It is the same food they serve at the Cannon Center at BYU, so nothing new for me.  We had a discussion in class about how the food gives the elders gas.  In my class/district, my companions and I are the only sisters.  There are about ten elders.

I'm in the Minority!

I am the only non-native Spanish speaker in my class/district.  The first day, I barely said a word, but now I'm feeling more comfortable.  I don't like speaking Spanish to anyone but my companions.  My companions are both native speakers and very paciente (I have no clue how to spell that in English).  They help me a lot with my Spanish.

My Companions!

I have two wonderful companions!  They are both are 21, making me the youngest - which is totally fine.

1. Hermana Arevalo is originally from El Salvador and speaks mostly Spanish.  
2. Hermana Perez is from California and speaks both Spanish and English fluently. 

It's funny because when we are all talking with each other Hermana Arevalo speaks Spanish, I answer mostly in English, and Hermana Perez says pretty much whatever comes out of her mouth.  I wonder what people think when they overhear us?

Life at the MTC!

After three days at the MTC, I have learned sooooo much!  I feel great, and not particularly overwhelmed.  I want to get to Texas as soon as possible, but don't know exactly when I will be leaving.  During a branch president interview, I was informed I would only be here at the most 10 days.  Then, our teacher told us yesterday, that it would be three weeks.  So, I expect to be here between 10 and 21 days, but who knows???