Headed for Chile!

Hello All,

Well I'm finally headed for Chile! I leave Monday morning, it's exciting to think that I'll be in Chile this time next week! Also a bit scary, but hey, the Lord will help me, right? I'm a bit nervous about the flying (haha, dumb huh) because I've never flown for that long before! 13 hours!!! On just ONE plane ride! The other two are only about 2 hours, but hopefully I'll keep my mind busy and not think of how high in the air we are....blech.

So, no more MTC letters, I won't get them.  The addresses have been updated, so make note.  The first address is for LETTERS ONLY, mail from the US to Chile is $1.10 -  The second is for PACKAGES, this is the physical address of the mission office.  The third is POUCH MAIL, mail to SLC is $0.46   The church offers a mail delivery service called "pouch mail" for letters only.  Every week, they send one packet of letters to each pouch mission office.  If you haven't already, check out DearElder.com, they offer letter services for free or $0.46. This is good if you are not able to get to the post office to buy that $1.10 stamp. However you decide you know I would love to hear from you. 

Next time you hear from me I will be in Chile!!  YAY!!

Adios,

Hermana Howell

P-Day = Temple Day

Here are a few pictures of me with my companions on our P-day, we go to the Temple, I love it!

Antofagasta Bound!

Antofagasta Hermanas

My companions Hermana Smith and Severtson

Provo temple in the background

My Hurricane neighbor & friend Elder Stone

Boy oh Boy!

March 1, 2013

I have to tell you all the coolest thing.  Every Sunday in Sacrament there are 2 talks from the missionaries, and then 2 talks from a leader and his wife,  the catch is that the missionaries don't know if they are speaking!  They announce it at the pulpit.  AND the talks have to be in Spanish.  Go figure.  I haven't been called yet, but they tell us the theme each month, we prepare a talk, an hope we don't get called hahah.

In our class we started teaching our second investigator, "Junior," and boy oh boy, the first lesson was the best lesson ever.  We relied on the Spirit, our Spanish wasn't perfect, but I could tell that it was much better than seconds before in the hallway.  Hermana Smith started reciting the First Vision, and it was so powerful.  The Spirit got stronger, and she remembered it perfectly.  She was crying, the investigator was crying, the sister taking notes was crying, Hermana Severtson was crying and I was crying.  I never doubted whether or not the First Vision really happened, but right then was when my belief turned to knowledge.  I had this swelling in my chest, I wanted to dance and sing and scream and laugh and cry and jump and just do everything!!! It was an experience I'll never forget.

Hermana Howell

I'm Lovin' It!!

Hola!

Can you believe my first week at the MTC is over???? I now understand the meaning behind the saying, "The days are long, but the weeks are fast." When I think about all I have done, it seems like I have been here a long time. But then I realize that's it's only been 7 days! Boy, it's something here. I love being completely immersed in the gospel all day, every day. It's a different experience, that's for sure, but I'm loving it. Everyone is so nice and welcoming and just caring!

I did see Elder Gowans yesterday! Not that I'm an expert or anything, but you can tell who the new missionaries are here, haha. They have this look on their face that I'm SURE I had my first day! I've also seen both Elder and Sister Stone, as well as a few other Elders from Hurricane. I've also seen quite a bit of missionaries from Mountain Crest and SUU! Except, now that I write that, I realize I already told you that....sorry! The days all blend into one here, I don't know what I did on what day!

Did I already tell you my companion's names??? I thought I did, but it doesn't hurt to try again! My very first companion, Hermana Brewster, was from North Salt Lake. She, however, was supposed to be in Advanced Spanish, so I wasn't even her companion for 24 hours. Now I'm in a trio with Hermana Smith and Hermana Severtson. Hermana Smith is from Rexburg, and Hermana Severtson is from Mesa (Queen Creek to be exact). We all get along really well. We all have something to add. I'm definitely the more outgoing on (shocker, right?? Haha), Hermana Smith is the quiet one who keeps us studying when we're losing focus, and Hermana Severtson is the cute little sweet girl who knows Spanish pretty well already! I love my companions a lot.

The Spanish is coming along surprisingly well. I can pretty much understand everything the teachers are saying, that is, if they say it slow. Once they pick it up, I can't follow. But yes, I understand most all of it!!! It's pretty exciting. All of class is in Spanish, plus when we teach our "investigator," that has to be all in Spanish, or they say "No entiendo" which means "I don't understand." It's frustrating sometimes, to not be able to say all that I want to say as fast as I want to say it, but hey, it's only the first week! Think of where I'll be when I'm done here! Elder Stone said he could  understand it fully at 2 weeks! I'm almost there!

I've given up 18 months of my life to serve the Lord. If I ever waste time, it's not my time I'm wasting, it's His.  Every day, the Spirit testifies to me the truthfulness of this gospel, and that I'm doing what the Lord would have me do. I know that Jesus is my Savior.

Hugs and kisses <3

Hermana Howell