Feliz Navidad!!

Hola mi familia!!

 

Quirero compartir que aprendo este semana! (I would like to share what I have learned this week!) Well, first I will tell you that I got the box you, Mom, sent me and my Elders wanted me to tell you, Mom, that they love you! I even had a few of them tell me that they want to meet you! So just to let you know that you are spreading happiness throughout my district! One of the Elders is going to my mission wanted to know if you would send him food while he's on his mission. I told him if he was in my district in Chile I would share my spoils! I also shared with the District the chocolate covered almonds and chocolate toffee bars. They ate both entire containers in one day. I was pretty impressed with us! I told my companions that the Thacker family doesn't mess around for the holidays in the  food department. It's a marathon of stuffing your face and sleeping it off, then starting all over again the next day. They laughed but understood when I opened my package full of goodness. Thank you for the homemade chex again, and the thumbprints. Those two things are like the only things I eat!! And I have to say that I am a little reluctant to share, but I do!

 

Oh, I got a package from Grandma Lois and Grandpa Doyle as well! Since I know they will read this I will say thank you, but expect a letter from me soon!!

This week was a good one. On Fridays we go to what is called the TRC. It's a place where volunteers from the "outside world" come and are investigators for the missionaries. Sometimes I get nervous for the TRC because I worry that the people won't understand what we are saying. But on Friday I thought it was the best TRC visit yet. The first person my companions and I taught was a man from Mexico. I don't remember at all what we taught or talked about, but I do remember thinking, after I had said something in Spanish, holy cow those words just came out of my mouth and I was speaking Spanish. Now I'm pretty sure it was still really broken up Spanish, but I felt like they flowed out of my mouth with little effort. For me it felt like a success. 

 

The same thing happened yesterday when we were practicing door greetings with a substitute teacher that we had. We only had ten minutes to introduce ourselves and share a quick message with the person, but it was so fun and exciting. We had prepared a little bit of what to say and who was going to share what, but when he opened the door and started to talk to us all the plans went out the window. But then again when I spoke I felt like it took little effort to get my point across. It is still simple Spanish but I didn't have to work as hard to find the words I wanted to say. So, in that, I can see progression on my part.

 

I know that I am in the MTC for 9 weeks to learn Spanish, but I have decided not to worry about the language. I was so worried in the beginning about not learning it quick enough, but after about the second week I thought that it is not worth it to worrry and stress, since when I get ot Chile anyways, I'm going to learn a completely new Spanish language. I'm not here to learn Spanish, but to learn how to depend on the Lord and put my full trust in Him. I know that if I put Him first I will learn the language in a time when I need to. If I continue to be diligent and trust that the Lord can use the words that I already know that everything will be o.k. Plus the Spirit speaks every language. Even broken up gringo Spanish! I have to say that since I turned my priorities to the Lord and I don't stress about learning everything right now, it has been so much better. I wish that my hermanas would also understand this as well though because they still become really frustrated with learning the language. But we all learn on our own terms and they will come to find out for themselves as well.

 

I'm soo excited for Christmas this weekend! When you told me that everyone was coming home for Christams I was a little bummed, pero (but) when I found out what we were doing for Christams I think that you guys will be the ones who are bummed out! :D On Sunday we get to have Sacrament Meeting with the entire MTC. There will be about 80 Elders passing the sacrament to 2,000 missionaries. And the best part is that there will be an Apostle there with us!!! Then we get to have a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!! Yes, Mo Tab will be in the MTC for Christmas!! But not only once, we get to hear them twice on Sunday!! It is going to be soo much fun!!! I can hardly wait for it!

 

Oh Grandma and Grandpa thanks you so much for the card and the money!! Look for a letter in the mail from me! I hope to send it out today! Entonces (At this time), everyhting is going so well for me. I still just can't imagine how I am so lucky to have a suportive and loving family and friends. There are so many Elders and Sisiters who have to sacrifice so much to go on a mission, but I feel like I have not sacrificed anything at all. I need to be here to give back what little I can to the Lord. 

 

Feliz Navidad familia!  (Merry Christmas Family!) I love you all! Know that I am secretly jealous that you get seafood on Christams and I get nasty MTC cafeteria food--haha just kidding its not rally that bad!

I think I get to emial you again on Christmas, not really sure, but look for a letter just in case! 

 

p.s. I have to tell you that I almost won 3-point-lightning in gym the other day. I hope you're impressd to know that I made about 22, 3-pointers and I only lost because I got tired. It was fun, all the Elders I think were impressed as well, but didn't want to admit defeat to an Hermana!! hahaha

 

LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY WEE LITTLE HEART!! Feliz Navidad!!

 

oh pp.ss. I had to pay for a shot, Hep A, second series so if you were wondering what I spent $71 dollars on, that was it!! :D