Hello family! I can't believe that I have been here 5 weeks already,
so this will be my 6th! It is going by so fast! I have a lot to catch
you up on! First, I just came back from the temple and I ran into my
friends Kendra and Logan! I was shocked! Logan works at the MTC so he
knows my schedule, so they decided to stalk me and were waiting for
me! It was so fun to see someone from the outside! Plus, I don't feel
guilty because they planned it, not me! It was way fun and Kendra, I
want that picture of us!
So, this week has been full! Saturday was the first day of December,
so of course it snowed for the first time since my stay here at the
MTC! Me and my comp, Hna Thompson, had gotten ready for the day and
when we stepped outside to walk to class, it was snowing! Everyone was
so excited and it was so much fun! Plus, lots of the missionaries here
are from other countries and have not seen snow before, so it was
quite the treat for them. Since then it is still pretty nice weather,
so the snow is melting. I think it's all a blessing for me since the
warmest thing I have is a rain coat! We'll see if it holds up though!
Another thing that happened this week is that I have been called as a
Coordinating Sister. This is a leader ship postition. Basically, every
25-30 missionaries are sorted into groups called zones. There are two
guy missionaries called as zone leaders and they are in charge of all
male missionaries. Then there is the coordinating sister, me, who is
in charge of the sister missionaries in the zone. Right now there is
only me and Hna Thompson and Hna Cottle, but we do get a new sister
tomorrow. She will be in an advanced Spanish district so will only be
here for 3 weeks. So I am excited for the new opportunity to serve as
a leader and I think it will be a great experience!
Let's see, oh, volleyball has been a lot of fun! I probably talk about
volleyball too much, but it is way fun and it is the only real release
of the day, besides sleep. It's nice because it keeps you awake, which
is well needed. The time of gym changes every day and when we have it
at night, the day just drags on! Well, both Hnas Thompson and Cottle
played volleyball in high school, so they are really good. None of the
elders in my district play, but we coerced them into playing once this
past week! We were definitely not the best team, but we had a lot of
fun! Also, I think they all gained a lot of respect for us sisters
since they saw we can play, and play well! They now refer to Hna
Thompson and "the bullet" Thompson! You should see her serves! Mine
have gotten pretty mean though, and I end up standing like 6feet
behind the service line, so they are all shocked when after even that,
it still goes out sometimes. What can I say, I just can't control my
strength!
I have forgotten to tell most people, but I am going to LA tomorrow!
That's right, I'm going into the outside world to Los Angeles! I have
to go to the Ecuadorian consulate, and the closest one is in Los
Angeles! I have to go there to pick up my visa. I think they must
interview me or something. So yeah, that could be scary and
intimidating, but will probably be a great experience! Plus, I get
outside food! We are going to stop at In & Out! I am so excited for a
change of food! Five weeks of MTC food, it does something to you! I'm
just sad that I can't bring any back for my district. It will also be
a good opportunity to meet some of the other missionaries that are
going to Ecuador. I only know Elder Montgomery in my district, so now
I can meet some more! Plus, I'll get to talk to some people at the
consulate and maybe learn more about Ecuador and the culture there. I
will be gone from 5:30 in the morning to about 9 at night! Long day,
but I'm also excited for all of the personal study time!
So, I didn't have any great experiences at the RC this week. All I got
was answering machines. There was one call I made though, and he had a
special ring tone. So I got to listen to a good minute of Michael
Jackson's Thriller. I got so excited, it was just funny. My head
started bobbing and I looked at Hna Thompson and I said, "It's
Thriller!" I also got a lot of funny answering machines. This freshman
at BYU, he had a pirate themed answering machine like, ahoy matey, you
have reached the phone of ... and he said it in a funny pirate accent.
The other random one I got was of an old man, and it said, please talk
into the phone and leave a message, and maybe my cat will make a noise
or call you back. SO WEIRD! But yeah, that was a fun night and at
least I still haven't had any negative experiences there yet. Some
people in my district have gotten yelled at over the phone!
So Sunday I was so excited to be able to listen to the Christmas
Devotional. I LOVE the Christmas devotional! It was sad to not hear
from President Faust, but I did enjoy President Eyring's talk. I so do
love hearing President Hinckley. The voice of the prophet carries such
power and it is beautiful to hear. I am exicted for the opportunity I
have to spend Christmas here. It will be hard to be away from home,
but I get to have a truly, Christ-centered Christmas. It will not be
commercialized in the least. I will have time to study the life of
Christ and strengthen my relationship with Him. It will be a great
experience!
My Spanish is definitely coming along, I just have to practice
self-control and speak it more. I have started to read the Book of
Mormon in Spanish and am at about 2 Nephi. I am surprised at how
little I have to look at the English translation! I understand most of
what I read in Spanish, so I am pretty proud of myself as far as that
goes. We also have to practice teaching this week in Spanish, which
will be hard but rewarding. I think we are all doing better than we
actually think we are, and that especially goes for my comps! They
don't have much confidence in themselves, so I have been trying to
build that!
I want to thank you all who have written me. It is really fun to
recieve letters and I do try to write everyone who writes to me, so
just wait a week or so and it should come! If you have emailed me,
please send me your address so that I can write to you! I would love
to send you a little something! If you have not written me, shame on
you! Just kidding! I know how busy everyone is, especially during this
time of year.
Also, everyone always asks me to share some spiritual thoughts that I
have received this past week, but I would love to hear yours as well!
So, if something special happened, let me know!
I love you all, and Happy Holidays!
Kaylee
aka Hna Sorensen
