week four.

Week 4 – December 17, 2010

Ok So i have some exciting news to start off with--I have my visa all done!!! Last Friday I got fingerprinted and then on Monday the Consul guy from Argentina flew in from LA and we met with him as a large group and then he watched us sign our document, so I am now set! I still won't leave before my date of departure, but it is good to know I won't leave any day sooner. It was a little intimidating to have the people say to us before "He is not a member of the church, so don't talk about religion with him at all." That made me a little nervous, but it was pretty cool.

Um other new things...I have to answer this question for Matt. When I first got here I swear everyone said to me "DO NOT DRINK THE ORANGE JUICE" Like it was the forbidden fruit or something. Well for him, I did. Yes Matt, that stuff messes you up real bad. Actually, I think all the food here does. I am known as the SIster who eats cereal at all the meals of the day because I think the food is gross. It is like the cannon center but there are less options and the food is never made with love. You can always tell when food is made with love. It is ok though, I complain now but wait till I get blood soaked intentistines in Argentina (a teacher came in and said that is a common food there...great....) haha.

And FYI, the MTC told me to tell you that they are not taking any more packages after the 22nd. But in all honestly, I just appreciate letters more than packages. I love hearing from everyone, thank you SO much for the Dear Elders and letters and Christmas cards. Nana's turned out so nice! I showed my district my family and the first question they asked was "Why is everyone wearing Argentina Jerseys?" and then the next was "Which one is your dad?" Pointing and Dad and Kruse. No Kruse is not my father...

I have to tell you about sacrament meeting here. It is probably the most stressful thing here. What happens is that our branch president gives us a topic, and then that week we have to write that talk out in spanish (our whole meeting is in spanish...) and then we have no idea who is going to speak until he says "And now we will hear from Elder Blah blah and Hermana Blah Blah" and on the spot they have to get up and speak. I get SOO nervous every week, not because I get scared of speaking, I like public speaking, it is just because it is in spanish and I get intimidated. Last week my companion got called on, she did awesome though. I was so proud of her. Maybe that means since someone from our companionship was called I'm off the hook? Probably not. It is so scary. Another companion connection--She knows Sam (formally known as) Womack! She went to her wedding reception as well! That was crazy cool to find out.

I want to tell you about something really cool the MTC does. It is the TEC, where you go and there are pretend investigators and you can go and teach them and they will help you out with what you need to do better. You can sign up for progressing ones and then teach them all the lessons until baptism. Hermana Loftus and I signed up for one in english just to pracitce teaching. I LOVE IT! We taught this one gril and honestly I taught so much with the spirit I hardly remember some of the stuff I said. Afterwards she was like "Man you asked such amazing questions! Like I Could feel the spirit so much!" And I was like "Uhh...I did?" haha It was so cool though. I cannot wait to do that for real. It really is such a neat and incredible experience. We did teach on Friday night to a spanish couple, that was scary. But fun. They asked if the church paid for our missions and I (having no idea what they said) just responded "Si! Si!" and they looked at me funny, then Hermana Loftus said "uh, No?" and they the couple looked less confused. Oops! Ha I should know what is said first before I just say yes next time right?

I was so tired this week, I don't even know why. I actually have been so excited for today because I specifically planned out nap time. I desperately need it haha. It's funny because the set bedtime here is 10:30 and a lot of people complain about it, but I usually come home and fall right on my bed asleep at 9:45. I have done that a lot. But I also get up at 6 to go to a Sisters work out class, it is pretty fun.

So our district tried to come up with some traditions. We all would get Jones Sodas to drink after our TEC appointments to celebrate, and then read their fortunes. But we stopped that one because one Elders fortune said "You will be released from your responsibility in a month" that gave him a bit of a scare. So no more Jones Sodas. But we are going to do a nativity as a district for Christmas! That makes me excited. It might be in spanish too. Who knows.

Well I love you so much!!! I hope finals and tests went well for everyone, I have to say I was SOOOO happy to be here and not taking tests. Really, I feel so selfish because I know everyone else in Provo is stressed out of their mind and I am happier than ever. So my prayers go out to all of you studying. And I will email before Christmas, But dont forget to think about Christ always especially on these upcoming weeks of this wonderful holiday. I am trying to read Jesus the Christ, man it is a tough but amazing read. It makes the Book of Mormon more of a treat to read then because it is so easy to understand haha. I love you, and I appreciate you thinking about me and writing me. :-)

PS my stationery is so amazing! But might run out by the ender of my MTC days, could you use my money and buy me 2-3 more pads? I don't care what kind, but not the owl kind. I like everything else but the owl kind.

AMOROSO
HERMANA COLLINS