¡Hola!

So, as I scored my second goal in a game of futbol (soccer) this week, it occured to me that I haven't made known this part of my life. Soccer! Daily! My entire district uses our physical activities hour to play soccer with the Latinos. Being sisters and being females trying to play a sport with nonfemales in South America, we've had to get serious. I'm up to five goals by yours truly! Here is my favorite soccer moment thus far:

(From my journal) "Scored another goal today! Like a boss. There was this Latino who apparently felt that he should let me know where I needed to stand. So, throughout the rest of the game, I kept thinking things like, 'Did you see me check that guy? Yeah! That's right I don't need you!' But, to be honest, it wasn't turning out to be a very productive game for me. Then, out of nowhere, a perfect shot! I SO took it, and scored, like a boss. 'Haha!' He and I high fived. We're bros now. No big deal."

Also! I'm proud of myself for having made friends with the Latina sisters in my room. I honestly don't know what I said or what I did to make them think I know anything about anything, but now, they're asking me for homework and lesson help, advice on their outfits, etc. I have NO idea. But I'm happy to help where I can!

I also got mail this week! One from Brad Reeves, one from Ken O'Kelly, and one from my dear Mandy Prasad. I hope to be able to write you all back eventually, but for now, I'm just going to respond here. Haha. My compañera is from Ogden, Utah. She's been attending Utah State studying graphic design for the past few years. She's amazing and I've learned a lot from her. The new missions won't affect me, I believe, but it does effect Hermana Campbell, who is planning on going to the Guyaquil (spelling?) North Mission. I'm glad you found a job, Brad! Keep eating that pasta! And, I'm excited about your new calling with Krishn, Mandy! I'm also thankful to have been able to help you with my blog. 

I am really excited to get out in the field. Only seven days now! Yesterday, our teacher asked us to turn in Preach My Gospel to chapter 10, but I accidentally flipped to chapter 9 instead (which is titled 'Finding People'). For whatever reason, it was a big and sudden reminder of my purpose here and the promise of work to do in the future. All this little did my teacher know, because he then asked me to read the first paragraph. So, I started in and only got through a sentence before choking up. His head whipped around to me, concerned expression asking what en el mundo was happening to me. In a little voice, I responded in Spanish, "I'm excited." 

Attached is a picture of a flower and a trash can that looks like R2D2 (will be posted on her facebook page)

Hey!

I forgot to mention, we're not allowed to have packages sent here because it's a headache and a half to get them. PLUS it's super expensive. Uhm... Hmm. We got some new North Americans and swapped out all of our Latinos for new ones. They all seem pretty cool, but I haven't spent much time getting to know them.

Hmm... Trying to think of other news.

Oh yeah! I got the letters from Katie Green and the Gorman girls. Thanks, ladies! I also got the Valentines day card from the Wilders, which came just a few days after the holiday itself. Thanks guys! And one from a Mr. Steven Simcox. Dear Elder sounds like the best thing ever! I want to use it!

Hmm. I think that's all I got for now. I forgot my camera, but I'll try to remember to send you some pictures next week.

Ciao!

Okay, so I've basically been planning this email all week. Three things, here it goes:
I love this place. The Latinos are in the process of leaving today to head out on their missions. We're getting more in tomorrow, but for now, the North Americans are flying it solo. I don't know what it is about saying final goodbyes, but the Latinos were going NUTS this week. Everyone wants pictures with the North Americans! Sunday night as we were preparing for bed, "Hermana Campbell?" (my companion) was called up from the bottom of the stairs. She just happened to have been standing in the doorway of our room and asked Hermana Ayer (our roommate) and I, "Is someone calling my name in a thick Latino accent?" We go to the stairs and hear, "You speak with my friend? One minute? Outside?" And what do we (Hna. Ayer and I were ABSOLUTELY sticking to her like glue) see when we round the corner? Why, what else but a seemingly a small army of Latinos plus Elder Gray (an Australian in our district) of course, waiting just outside the door of the building. Elder Figueroa, whose shoulders are ensconced by the supporting hands of his companions, turns around to face Hna. Campbell, thrusts his agenda toward her and timidly whispers, "Email?" Bewildered, it takes her a second to respond, during which time E. Figueroa assumes his English must have been bad, and turns, panic-stricken, to his companion (whose English is even worse than my Spanish). "Email? Keep in touch?" Hna. Campbell checks with Hna. Ayer (who has been here twice as long as we have at this point) to make sure such and exchange is CCM legal. HNa Ayer shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know. It's up to you." Hna. Campbell reluctantly consents and is rewarded by celebratory Latino (and one Australian) shouts. We all take awkward pictures together. Just then, another Latino comes up out of the hall behind us and says, "Uno mas. (One more.) With me." So, two pictures now exist to immortalize our awkward confusion. So, that was Sunday night.
Here's another thing, in an old recording of an MTC devotional, a "Taylor Barton" from Rexburg, ID was called out by Elder David A. Bednar with a greeting from his parents, his father in particular. I was just wondering, Jenna Barton, is this the same Taylor Barton?
Last thing. My companion is from Slytherine house! How cool is THAT?!

Hola!

The MTC is slowly becoming more routine. Today is our preparation day and we get to go out into Lima for the first time. I will let you know how that goes! We also get to attend the Lima temple, which, I hear, is incredibly warm. For me, I suspect it will be luke warm at best. I wear that big peacoat I brought to all my classes and at night. I'm usually more cold than the Latinos here (I just figured out the apostrophe!).Fortunately, though, they're all very nice and willing to help us. I think we're something of a spectacle. The Latino tourists that have come in "Ooh!" and giggle when they see the North Americanos (which is to say Americans and one Austrailian). I caught some girls trying to sneak a picture of my companion and I. And this morning at breakfast, I noticed one set of sister missionaries were just watching my companion and I eat. They're also super excited to practice they're English, which is about as good as my Spanish. Just kidding. My Spanish is better. So, the language! The language is coming along. It's a rather slow process, though, we've realized, because we have to catch up on a lifetime of grammar and vocabulary of the Latinos around us. Funny story about that. So, the Austrailian missionary has had absolutely no exposure to Spanish, so he feels a little left in the dust by his American companions. In class, we were answering a few, simple questions about ourselves in Spanish. He pointed to one question, unwittingly answering the one below it, which asked how he had heard about the church. So, he points to the other question, which asked why he came on a mission, and pantomimes a big stomach and says, "Bebe (baby)." We all busted out laughing, and he just stood around all confused like, "What just happened?" Another funny story: My companion (Who is stellar, btw, Uncle Greg!) and I are teaching and we give our investigator a scripture to read (all in Spanish, right?). He reads it and sits back, "Wow." I ask him what he's feeling, and he says he can't describe it. Just then our time ends, and he, now as an instructor, asks what the reason was for giving him that scripture. "Huh?" I look down, and it's open to Moroni 9:3-5 and not Moroni 10:3-5. Instead of reading about his ability to discern the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, he's reading about the complete annihilation of the Nephite people, ending with the phrase "and they thursted for blood." Great. Hahaha!

We arrived at the CCM (MTC) in the wee hours of Valentines Day. The journey here was, for me, standard, with the exception of a mass of 15-20 missionaries (3 of us sisters) that traveled with me. The flight to Peru was only 6 hours. After travelling to and from Hawaii for my entire college career, it was a breeze. The bus ride to the CCM was incredible. The buildings here look pixelated! Many "oos" and "aahs." The pretentious part of me wanted to leave off the wonderment.    "Im not as naive as these sheltered, Utah/western states spawn." But, if I may be honest, Im not even cool enough to pull that off. So, throwing "cool" to the wind, I contributed "oos" and "aahs" of my own.

   Today, we are getting registered and oriented. There is mass confusion among the North Americans and not a little panic among the sisters. For the most part, I have NO idea whats going on. But Im wonderful. Its wonderful. This is wonderful. They handed me bags of stuff and, although I didnt know what they contained (new books and scriptures), I was tickled to death to get them. The grounds of the CCM are beyond gorgeous. Im just happy to be here, did I mention that? So happy. Maybe its the sleep deprivation.

 

Happily,

Hermana Sabalones

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