week seven.

week 7 - January 5, 2011

Wow! First letter for the year 2011! Crazy it is already a new year, and I'm sure this one is going to be a wonderful one. I made a fun list with my Hermanas, thought I would start off by sharing it:

For 1 ENTIRE year I will:

-never be called by my first name

-wake up at 6:30 everyday (except days I travel, where I wake up earlier)

-wear a skirt everyday!

-Never ever ever hug a boy

-never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever be alone

-hardly speak english

-only speak to my family 3 times

-only be in the United states 17 days!! (that was my favorite one)

-live out of a suitcase

-be a minority

-never check my facebook

-read the scriptures way more than I ever had before

-and become more closer to Christ than I have ever been in my life

I would say, it's an amazing trade. But it was fun coming up with those. Ok on with my New Years. I have to say that this used to be one of my least to favorite holidays. I don't know, but I also come from a family where anything past 9:30 is way too late to do anything. But earlier in the day, we watched the mormon message "Look not behind thee" OH MY GOODNESS. Stop reading this email, and go watch that RIGHT NOW. It is life changing. I love it. Ok, then for our long block of personal study (because we wanted our teacher who was going to work to have the night off so they could celebrate) our district found a classroom with a piano. Hermana Loftus and I earlier that week bought a Childrens Hymn book, so her and I took turns playing while we all studied. There is something really special about studying to music, I do feel like the spirit responds to spiritual music really strongly. But it was good for me too when I played so I could practice. After we did that, our whole district went around and shared what we learned about the scriptures. We have done that a few times and I love it when we do because then I get a whole bunch more favorite scriptures from other people. It was just a really wonderful study session. After, we went to our room and at 9:00 celebrated new years (who knows where on earth it was midnight haha). One Elder got packaged fruit cake from his family, and let me describe it to you. It is smaller than the size of a brick, weighs about the same, the entire thing is 2,000 calories (yes i said that number correctly) and smells like the inside of a garbage can. Naturally, we all had to take a bit to celebrate at midnight. I instantly gagged because it tasted like garbage and the other hermanas also hacked it up. The Elders though took a solid 3 minutes trying to chew it and not throw up. A couple of them actually downed it, wow it was disgusting. I wish I had pictures right now to forward. It was too funny. So yea we all just had a small party (like 10 mins) and then went back to the residence halls. THERE, we gathered all the spanish sisters in the hall and had a little party (like 20 mins, we dont have a lot of free time haha) but ate candy and laughed and had a wonderful time. I LOVE the sisters here. I didn't get to see midnight, but still it was by far the best New Years Eve I have ever had. I tried to make goals too, but it is hard. Usually I make goals to try to benefit me, but really this year will not be about me at all. This year, I am an instrument. Plus everyday I am making goals. I made goals at the begining of the mission, so I have all of those. But if I can say whatever I want right now for my goal, it would be off of this story that I heard from the CHoir directer here while I was at choir practice (ps, weird I'm in choir right? It's so much fun and I get rockin seats at devotionals, but I still cannot sing for the life of me). Our director served his mission in Brazil, and he said that when he got down there, his companion said "Ok I need you to memorize all the lessons so we can go on splits because there is way too many people to teach here and we have to split up in order to cover them all" he had got there not really knowing the language, but in 9 days he had them memorized. then he got paired up with someone who was a convert as of a week, who was also 14 years old. So he is off teaching lessons he barley has memorized, with a 14 year old convert of a week. Anyways, he said how one day they were walking down the street and they saw someone smoking and he thought to talk to them but he changed his mind and went to his appointment. after he walked by him again and had the same thought, but this time he was drinking. he changed his mind again, but after he walked away he said to his comp "we need to talk to that guy" and he said "i keep thinking the same thing" they went up and talked to him, and instantly he poured out his beer and let them in. End of the story, his whole family got baptized, and 86 of his relatives. Look at that number again--86. That is my goal. Just listen to the spirit to touch that one persons life, who will touch the lives of so many others. I myself am no great teacher, but the spirit it. I just get the chills every time I hear stories like that. This church is the Gospel of the New Testament restoured.

Well I think I am out of time!!! I hate the short time I have to email. I love you. Keep writing me. And I emailed later today because I thought maybe I would get travel plans....but no not yet. i will let you know next week!

Ciao!

Hermana Collins