I'm here!!!! Of course New York city is amazing, why wouldn't it be?
Before we get to the top ten this week, I'll answer your questions Mom:
I can read letters every day whenever I get them so everyone is free to still mail letters. Just mail it to the mission address (the one you used to send me all those letters already :) and that'll work great. We don't give out our actual address cause I'm actually in the CIA and it's against the rules. But the mission office just forwards them on.
I have 1 hour to read and send emails on preparation day which is a lot less stressful than the 30 minutes in the MTC. And yes mother, I can print off emails and reread them later. I can print off 20 free pages each week so don't send anything longer than that :)
I of course LOVED my bedding package and I am now the most popular person in NYC because of it. THANK YOU! And I loved the pillow cases. I'm sure our beloved sister dahl had something to do with that so tell her thanks for me.
Okay, top ten of NYC week one here we come!
1. I am assigned to the Richmond Hills area in Queens! I've been told it is the sketch-iest place they send spanish sisters but its actually not that scary. They don't send sisters to the east ny part of brooklyn, especially since two elders just got jumped there last transfer.......but I'm going start praying I get sent there sometime on the mish. It is SO amazing and SO diverse. I counted and I haven't seen a white person in 4 days. Hahaha loves it. I don't know if the girls remember it but in iRobot i think with Will Smith he's yelling outside at the even stevens kid and it's all ghetto and there's this big old train track above the street. Anyway, I can't remember the movie too well but I'm pretty sure that's where I live. So yes, it rocks. I live in the Queens! Queens people!
2. My companion is Hermana Unga and she's from Hawaii. Her parents are from Tonga and she was going to BYU Hawaii before the mish studying biology. She is AMAZING and we have so much fun together. She also happens to sound like a native spanish speaker so people think she's a little weird to hang out with a white girl (aka me) all day when we're out on the streets. Just to give you a taste of our beautiful relationship, last night we walked to visit with less actives for 3 hours in the dark and rain. It was raining harder than Washington......believe it cause it's the truth. So our clothes were soaked and not ONE person answered the door.....so while walking we sang Christmas songs and talked about all our favorite food.......time of my life! It was seriously one of my favorite moments here so far!
3. President Nelson and Sister Nelson are obviously awesome. I don't know how to really express it in words besides saying that they're everything I hoped they would be.
4. My apartment. Brace yourselves. You'll be proud to know that I killed my first cochroach (sp?) yesterday......it took me that long to build up the courage.....my companion's been doing it for me. The apartment is right above a shop and its awesome. As in it's what I pictured a NY apartment to be. We only have enough room in our closet-sized bedroom for dresses and a bunk bed......which is still pretty tight. And I'm on the top bunk.....and the bunk bed is about to break so it sways when you move or turn at all.....and especially when you're climbing up it. So I literally pray every night that I don't kill my companion in her sleep as it crashes to the floor. I don't think you even understand how much it sways......a lot. A lot a lot. Oh and I forgot to mention the ceiling fan is right above my bed......so I have to army crawl on it if I don't want to chop my head off. I LOVE my life. Seriously, that was not sarcastic......I love it here!
5. We teach English class every Wednesday and it's super fun. This last week we taught them how to ask what time it is and it was pretty much a party.
6. I love going Fearlessing. This is just what we call street contacting and it's always fun to see the look on people's faces when the only white person in Richmond Hills starts speaking spanish. Everyone's favorite excuse is to say "I'm catholic". For some reason they think that will get them off the hook. So then I love to say, "That's great! So you already believe in God and have a desire to do His will!" That throws them off guard.....muhahaha and then BOOM the Book of Mormon. Can't deny the truth baby! Another sister calls fearlessing "Hispanic Panic". Rude but actually quite true.
7. A snapshot of some of our investigators. Habib, who we actually turned over to the elders because he speaks Enlgish. He's muslim, 17 yrs old, and we met him sitting outside his school one day. He said to me "Oh, yeah well I'm just looking for the truth. I mean, there should just be one answer and one church and not tons of different opinions". I about called the elders to fill up the font. We talked for about 30 minutes and he's reading the book of mormon. Loves it.
Then you have people like Claudia who know the church is true but they want to learn everything before they get baptized. I'm just about to push her in the water.
Then we have people like Glenda who grew up in the church but is inactive and her husband in a non-member. We had a lesson with them on Thursday and I straight up asked Walter (her husband) if he had even read the book of mormon. He said yes and then started to share his feelings. It was awesome. Hna Unga is a genius and came up with a really good plan for our next lesson with them.
8. The diversity here astounds me. On the bus one day I started talking to a black man and he told me all about his problems with "the flesh of women". TMI brother, TMI. I think he tought he could confess to me or something. I started telling him about the book of mormon and all was going good til we started talking about satan possessing all the people on the bus. It just went downhill from there. Then I started talking to a Sikh man on the bus (a religion from India where the men have those long beards and the turbans) and he seemed interested when I was telling him about the book of mormon. But then he asked for my number and I realized he had the wrong type of interest. I'm dressed like a nun for goodness sakes! So we've really had to start focusing on families in this area cause apparently the single men like people that dress like grandmas aka me and my comp.
9. The ward is super nice but the culture is SO different. There aren't any youth and the old men were blessing and passing the sacrament. There were about 20 members in the chapel when we started sacrament meeting. The problem in the mission, as I've been told, is that we can baptize but then the wards just go inactive. So we've really been trying to focus on reactivating so there's people there to fellowship converts when we get them.
10. I LOVE my mission! And I LOVE everyone that supports me. This is one of the happiest times of my life!
Thank you everyone that wrote me these last 2 weeks. Special shoutouts go to Bishop Bower (I LOVED your letter), Kathryn, Alesha, Aunt Di, Grandma, Dad and Mom of course, and anyone else that wrote me but that I spaced about right now!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
WOW, feel the love!
Wow, this week I have been living on cloud nine! Of course that's like every week in the MTC but other amazing things have happened as well:
1. Mallory and Justin sent me a package! Holy cow, it confirmed my suspicions that I have the best friends ever! I opened the skittles asap.......bendice sus corazones. Enserio.......I love you both. THANK YOU!!!
2. I also got an email from Cait and of course she's as wonderful as ever. I am also happy that Maggie and Ben are now officially together on facebook (thanks mom). Maggie, if you don't write me asap there will be consequences.....I love you!
I also got an email from Ginger at LDSP........Ginger, wow, I'm a little sad I've been replaced so quickly, but I guess you can be nice to the new girl.......or maybe he'll be a man and he and Ginger will get married and they'll be rich and take me out on their yacht with them......just a thought. I am also glad that you've finally got my emails from Kathryn........and please give Kaly a hug for me ASAP......and ask her how Colton is doing......I've been praying for him! (and I am a lot cooler because of the scarf you bought me Kaly......muchas gracias)
Also, Alan, congrats on getting one kid sealed for eternity........only a few more to go :) Unfortunately for myself, I signed my ability to rebel away to my mother when I was 9 so that she would take me hottubing........so when I get married in the temple she won't even be surprised.....I have no choice. Tell them congrats for me and I'm excited for our mass family party in 2011! Woot woot!
3. This week Elder Simkins in my district, who is also going to my mission, was laughing at me while I was trying to hole punch index cards to use as flash cards. Being the strong man he thinks he is, he told me he'd do them all. Apparently he's too strong because he was trying to do too many at a time and bent the metal. So now I have a broken hole punch and no flash cards........that's what happens when you let 19 yr olds show off their "muscles"
4. We sang "We'll Bring the world his truth" at devotional sunday which was the first time singing that song and a primary song for that matter since I've been here. I thought of when we all sang that for grandma and grandpa's mission so of course I was bawling like the daughter of Mariann that I am. Good times.
5. That night we also saw the first vision movie. Everyone that has not seen it in the last 5 days needs to go watch it asap.......I'm serious, do it. Do it now. Anyway, I of course cried during that as well because HOLA, its the prophet Jospeh Smith and the restoration of the gospel! And I was thinking to myself that after the mvoie was over and the lights were turned back on that my elders were going to laugh at me for crying. But low and behold when the lights came on there was more than one set of red eyes. I didn't even tease them.
6. We had a health meeting yesterday to teach us how to not die on the mission. It was mostly teaching the Elders to not be stupid and to "not get feces on your hands" as the 70 yr old doctor bluntly told us. Wow. The MTC ceases to amaze me. Then he gave a talk for sisters only after the meeting and I could have done without that. Haahahaha his reasoning for everything "I know how it goes, sometimes women just have these things". Last time I checked he was a man......but the advice was still appreciated.....and hilarious.
7. Last week I got teased that I would speak this sunday because I'm the oldest sister here. But it didnt happen. So it WILL this sunday. It is not a prophecy, just a fact. Pray......a lot.
8. We went to the temple today......we do a 10am session and I can now say that because we had the last one today.....but Brenna, fate still has one more chance this sunday. We also ate in the temple cafeteria with the old people afterwards and it was pretty wild. People throwing oxygen tanks, canes flying in the air.....we know how to party!
9. Mom I am completely healthy and fine now. And I am leaving on an 8:30 am flight monday morning and getting in NYC at 3:30 their time I think. I WILL be calling you.......they told us we could most certainly call our families! And I even got permission to call B-Boo! So everyone get really excited.......I will be calling way early because I have to before the plane takes off at 8:30......but everyone can sleep afterward! And em, holy cow stop driving! Scary! I love you!
10. Brenna.......I wanted to pee my pants laughing from your dearelder. YOUR love is my drug. Oh my gosh I was dying. You have set the standard and now I expect a letter like that every week of my mission. I am serious......don't disappoint. EVERY week. LOVE YOU! I'll be calling you el lunes!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
1. Mallory and Justin sent me a package! Holy cow, it confirmed my suspicions that I have the best friends ever! I opened the skittles asap.......bendice sus corazones. Enserio.......I love you both. THANK YOU!!!
2. I also got an email from Cait and of course she's as wonderful as ever. I am also happy that Maggie and Ben are now officially together on facebook (thanks mom). Maggie, if you don't write me asap there will be consequences.....I love you!
I also got an email from Ginger at LDSP........Ginger, wow, I'm a little sad I've been replaced so quickly, but I guess you can be nice to the new girl.......or maybe he'll be a man and he and Ginger will get married and they'll be rich and take me out on their yacht with them......just a thought. I am also glad that you've finally got my emails from Kathryn........and please give Kaly a hug for me ASAP......and ask her how Colton is doing......I've been praying for him! (and I am a lot cooler because of the scarf you bought me Kaly......muchas gracias)
Also, Alan, congrats on getting one kid sealed for eternity........only a few more to go :) Unfortunately for myself, I signed my ability to rebel away to my mother when I was 9 so that she would take me hottubing........so when I get married in the temple she won't even be surprised.....I have no choice. Tell them congrats for me and I'm excited for our mass family party in 2011! Woot woot!
3. This week Elder Simkins in my district, who is also going to my mission, was laughing at me while I was trying to hole punch index cards to use as flash cards. Being the strong man he thinks he is, he told me he'd do them all. Apparently he's too strong because he was trying to do too many at a time and bent the metal. So now I have a broken hole punch and no flash cards........that's what happens when you let 19 yr olds show off their "muscles"
4. We sang "We'll Bring the world his truth" at devotional sunday which was the first time singing that song and a primary song for that matter since I've been here. I thought of when we all sang that for grandma and grandpa's mission so of course I was bawling like the daughter of Mariann that I am. Good times.
5. That night we also saw the first vision movie. Everyone that has not seen it in the last 5 days needs to go watch it asap.......I'm serious, do it. Do it now. Anyway, I of course cried during that as well because HOLA, its the prophet Jospeh Smith and the restoration of the gospel! And I was thinking to myself that after the mvoie was over and the lights were turned back on that my elders were going to laugh at me for crying. But low and behold when the lights came on there was more than one set of red eyes. I didn't even tease them.
6. We had a health meeting yesterday to teach us how to not die on the mission. It was mostly teaching the Elders to not be stupid and to "not get feces on your hands" as the 70 yr old doctor bluntly told us. Wow. The MTC ceases to amaze me. Then he gave a talk for sisters only after the meeting and I could have done without that. Haahahaha his reasoning for everything "I know how it goes, sometimes women just have these things". Last time I checked he was a man......but the advice was still appreciated.....and hilarious.
7. Last week I got teased that I would speak this sunday because I'm the oldest sister here. But it didnt happen. So it WILL this sunday. It is not a prophecy, just a fact. Pray......a lot.
8. We went to the temple today......we do a 10am session and I can now say that because we had the last one today.....but Brenna, fate still has one more chance this sunday. We also ate in the temple cafeteria with the old people afterwards and it was pretty wild. People throwing oxygen tanks, canes flying in the air.....we know how to party!
9. Mom I am completely healthy and fine now. And I am leaving on an 8:30 am flight monday morning and getting in NYC at 3:30 their time I think. I WILL be calling you.......they told us we could most certainly call our families! And I even got permission to call B-Boo! So everyone get really excited.......I will be calling way early because I have to before the plane takes off at 8:30......but everyone can sleep afterward! And em, holy cow stop driving! Scary! I love you!
10. Brenna.......I wanted to pee my pants laughing from your dearelder. YOUR love is my drug. Oh my gosh I was dying. You have set the standard and now I expect a letter like that every week of my mission. I am serious......don't disappoint. EVERY week. LOVE YOU! I'll be calling you el lunes!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sickly :(
Whew what a preparation day!
1. It was a crazy day yesterday because I was SUPER sick. I still am pretty sick but my branch pres told me I could email today so I'm sucking it up for 30 minutes for all of you :) I've had chills and fever like I haven't had for years. And apparently I have a sinus infection and there's something wrong with my stomach. And apparently I'm also extremely dehydrated. So I was in the sick bay all day yesterday. Party! But I only had to click out of this email once to run to the bathroom and throw up so far so we're doing pretty good :)
2. In the Referral Center it's really hard now because we have to do all our calls in spanish. So i've started pretending all the people I call are my future spouse and that's really spiced things up a bit. When Rodalfo didn't answer the other day i was a little sad. Who doesn't want a husband named Rodalfo?
3. Hermana Christensen always gets crazy and awesome things from her mom. The other day she got an apron that said her name and mission on it. We laughed for probably 15 minutes. Wow. Her mom also sent me a bookmark she made me, a necklace, and some money to buy food in the airport in a week......how nice of her!!! (ps h chirstensen and livingston left yesterday........super sad)
4. My elders cease to amaze me. They make chuck norris jokes in spanish all day and it's pretty hilarious. For the girls that don't get this, it's like making Jack Bauer jokes.....cause he's so amazing. Anyway, they do it in spanish and about church things. For example, something like "chuck norris doesn't need personal study time cause he studies the book of mormon ALL day"......anyway, maybe it's funnier in real life but I laugh a lot.
5. The elders also like to try that egg cracking thing that we did once in seminary. You have a boiled egg and you try to crack it with one hand but not with your fingers. They made me try and its super hard......i couldnt do it. But most of them are exploding eggs all the time......love it. They also have been trying to make me lift 250 lbs. with my arms......ahahahahahaha, thats never gonna happen. But they cheer me on anyway
6. We have a square floor fan in our room that never works and then we finally got a new one and it was a blessed day. But then one day we realized it wasn't working........because it wasn't our real fan! Another class of elders had stolen ours and replaced it with their broken one. So there's been an extreme battle going on and now whenever we leave the room we have to hid it. Wow.
7. I met an old man here that served in my mission 50 years ago and he was telling me all this cool stuff as he walking by pushing his wife in a wheelchair. It was awesome.
8. Since Elder Fagersten left, Elder Hilton is alone so he is in a trio with other elders. But when he left we joked that now he can be in a companionship with me. Haha good times. We pretty much are like bro and sis anyway.......I even sewed on a suit button for him yesterday while I was dying.
9. Cheryl!!!! Thank you so much for the package! I LOVED it! Everything was perfect and I love the almonds.....they're my energy booster! Sorry I didn't have time this week but I'll write you back next week!
10. Mom, I LOVE you! Thank you so much for the package! As soon as I'm done being sick, I'm going to love the skotcharoos. But in the meantime, my roommates are enjoying them :) Beth, LOVED your letter. you can bet I'll be replying next week.
Thanks all so much!
Thought for the day: "Don't serve time. Serve the Lord." Don't keep looking forward to some future time when you think you'll be happier......enjoy today!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
1. It was a crazy day yesterday because I was SUPER sick. I still am pretty sick but my branch pres told me I could email today so I'm sucking it up for 30 minutes for all of you :) I've had chills and fever like I haven't had for years. And apparently I have a sinus infection and there's something wrong with my stomach. And apparently I'm also extremely dehydrated. So I was in the sick bay all day yesterday. Party! But I only had to click out of this email once to run to the bathroom and throw up so far so we're doing pretty good :)
2. In the Referral Center it's really hard now because we have to do all our calls in spanish. So i've started pretending all the people I call are my future spouse and that's really spiced things up a bit. When Rodalfo didn't answer the other day i was a little sad. Who doesn't want a husband named Rodalfo?
3. Hermana Christensen always gets crazy and awesome things from her mom. The other day she got an apron that said her name and mission on it. We laughed for probably 15 minutes. Wow. Her mom also sent me a bookmark she made me, a necklace, and some money to buy food in the airport in a week......how nice of her!!! (ps h chirstensen and livingston left yesterday........super sad)
4. My elders cease to amaze me. They make chuck norris jokes in spanish all day and it's pretty hilarious. For the girls that don't get this, it's like making Jack Bauer jokes.....cause he's so amazing. Anyway, they do it in spanish and about church things. For example, something like "chuck norris doesn't need personal study time cause he studies the book of mormon ALL day"......anyway, maybe it's funnier in real life but I laugh a lot.
5. The elders also like to try that egg cracking thing that we did once in seminary. You have a boiled egg and you try to crack it with one hand but not with your fingers. They made me try and its super hard......i couldnt do it. But most of them are exploding eggs all the time......love it. They also have been trying to make me lift 250 lbs. with my arms......ahahahahahaha, thats never gonna happen. But they cheer me on anyway
6. We have a square floor fan in our room that never works and then we finally got a new one and it was a blessed day. But then one day we realized it wasn't working........because it wasn't our real fan! Another class of elders had stolen ours and replaced it with their broken one. So there's been an extreme battle going on and now whenever we leave the room we have to hid it. Wow.
7. I met an old man here that served in my mission 50 years ago and he was telling me all this cool stuff as he walking by pushing his wife in a wheelchair. It was awesome.
8. Since Elder Fagersten left, Elder Hilton is alone so he is in a trio with other elders. But when he left we joked that now he can be in a companionship with me. Haha good times. We pretty much are like bro and sis anyway.......I even sewed on a suit button for him yesterday while I was dying.
9. Cheryl!!!! Thank you so much for the package! I LOVED it! Everything was perfect and I love the almonds.....they're my energy booster! Sorry I didn't have time this week but I'll write you back next week!
10. Mom, I LOVE you! Thank you so much for the package! As soon as I'm done being sick, I'm going to love the skotcharoos. But in the meantime, my roommates are enjoying them :) Beth, LOVED your letter. you can bet I'll be replying next week.
Thanks all so much!
Thought for the day: "Don't serve time. Serve the Lord." Don't keep looking forward to some future time when you think you'll be happier......enjoy today!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
Friday, July 30, 2010
Holla from the MTC!
Okay, so this week isn't going to be as exciting because 1, the computer took time off my email this week and 2. I am falling behind in writing in my journal so my top ten will just not be as cool this week. And I guess thats how it goes sometime
0. This gets a zero because it tops and proceeds all other things this week. DAD!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. I actually read the letter to my elders because it was so crazy! I hope you're okay! And I'm glad that the thing you were most mad about was........well, you know. It made me laugh.....and actually I'm laughing right now just thinking about it. Anyway, you're my favorite dad so please be more careful.......you're irreplaceable!
1. I NEED those no-show socks that you wear with dress shoes. Whoever sends me some first will win.......something really cool.
2. Sorry but some may not get letters today if you wrote this week because I am SUPER duper busy and our p-day schedule changed a little bit today so I only have 30 minutes, if that, to write letters. But, next week I will be so on top of it. Promise!
3. Today we got to go to the temple! Yaya! It finally opened back up from being fixed for 6 weeks so I was way pumped. Mom, censor this if it is inapprop (an alex phrase :) but something HILARIOUS happened during the session. Sister Livingston was going through the veil and the veil worker passed out on her. Hilarious? Thank you, it made my day.
4. I'm happy to report that nothing completely crazy happened for July 24th, pioneer day. No one dressed up, no one acted out famous church characters. We didn't even have a meeting. But Sunday the room to watch Legacy after the devotional was packed so I think we definitely had the pioneer spirit.
5. I am the Coordinating Sister (RS Pres)........again. I figured since I moved to a new zone and I was a solo sister I'd be safe. Think again! Just kidding, I love serving the sisters so it's really not a big deal. But it does mean more meetings on sunday.......know how you feel dad!
6. Elder Fagersten is sadly leaving this friday to go to the spain mtc. I'm heartbroken cause I really wanted more time to let him get to know beth better. Oh well, I'm sure they can continue writing. Beth, apparently your letter he was writing was so long he didnt finish it last week so I think he'll send it this week.
7. Okay qucikly get in your minds the tall giant man from Princess Bride. Remember how he gets the big black cloke on and scares everyone right before the marriage. Well, the other hermana's teacher did that for us last night cause they are all leavig this week and I seriously was peeing my pants laughing. Don't worry, the sisters recorded it.
8. Apparently I've been known by the sisters in our room as the "fashion sister". I definitely don't deserve this title but it is pretty entertaining and they sure are nice to me. But then sometimes I get made fun of......like today when I changed into a different shirt after the temple and they said "Wow, you would, thats such a fashionable thing to do" Just preparing myself for NY :)
9. The Spanish is going really well actually. Sometimes during my prayers when I find my thoughts wandering (which happens when you pray 80% of the day) I realize my thoughts are wandering in spanish.......so at least it's productive wandering. But to further committ ourselves we made up consequences in our district for not speaking EVERY second. So mine is that if I don't speak all day I have to get up 30 minutes early the next morning and study the scriptures. I'm happy to report I have not had to do it......yet.
10. The two spanish phrases for the week "Buenas suerte con su vida" aka good luck with your life. We love it and say it everyday....please follow suit. Also, "Gracias por su bondad" aka Thanks for your kindness. Please incorporate these in your life immediately.....I promise you will be happier.
LOVE you all! Shout outs this week go to CHERYL! And grandma of course, and Aunt di and Nancy. You all are such a great support! And everyone else that wrote me this week too (aka my favorite mother)
Hermana Winfield
0. This gets a zero because it tops and proceeds all other things this week. DAD!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. I actually read the letter to my elders because it was so crazy! I hope you're okay! And I'm glad that the thing you were most mad about was........well, you know. It made me laugh.....and actually I'm laughing right now just thinking about it. Anyway, you're my favorite dad so please be more careful.......you're irreplaceable!
1. I NEED those no-show socks that you wear with dress shoes. Whoever sends me some first will win.......something really cool.
2. Sorry but some may not get letters today if you wrote this week because I am SUPER duper busy and our p-day schedule changed a little bit today so I only have 30 minutes, if that, to write letters. But, next week I will be so on top of it. Promise!
3. Today we got to go to the temple! Yaya! It finally opened back up from being fixed for 6 weeks so I was way pumped. Mom, censor this if it is inapprop (an alex phrase :) but something HILARIOUS happened during the session. Sister Livingston was going through the veil and the veil worker passed out on her. Hilarious? Thank you, it made my day.
4. I'm happy to report that nothing completely crazy happened for July 24th, pioneer day. No one dressed up, no one acted out famous church characters. We didn't even have a meeting. But Sunday the room to watch Legacy after the devotional was packed so I think we definitely had the pioneer spirit.
5. I am the Coordinating Sister (RS Pres)........again. I figured since I moved to a new zone and I was a solo sister I'd be safe. Think again! Just kidding, I love serving the sisters so it's really not a big deal. But it does mean more meetings on sunday.......know how you feel dad!
6. Elder Fagersten is sadly leaving this friday to go to the spain mtc. I'm heartbroken cause I really wanted more time to let him get to know beth better. Oh well, I'm sure they can continue writing. Beth, apparently your letter he was writing was so long he didnt finish it last week so I think he'll send it this week.
7. Okay qucikly get in your minds the tall giant man from Princess Bride. Remember how he gets the big black cloke on and scares everyone right before the marriage. Well, the other hermana's teacher did that for us last night cause they are all leavig this week and I seriously was peeing my pants laughing. Don't worry, the sisters recorded it.
8. Apparently I've been known by the sisters in our room as the "fashion sister". I definitely don't deserve this title but it is pretty entertaining and they sure are nice to me. But then sometimes I get made fun of......like today when I changed into a different shirt after the temple and they said "Wow, you would, thats such a fashionable thing to do" Just preparing myself for NY :)
9. The Spanish is going really well actually. Sometimes during my prayers when I find my thoughts wandering (which happens when you pray 80% of the day) I realize my thoughts are wandering in spanish.......so at least it's productive wandering. But to further committ ourselves we made up consequences in our district for not speaking EVERY second. So mine is that if I don't speak all day I have to get up 30 minutes early the next morning and study the scriptures. I'm happy to report I have not had to do it......yet.
10. The two spanish phrases for the week "Buenas suerte con su vida" aka good luck with your life. We love it and say it everyday....please follow suit. Also, "Gracias por su bondad" aka Thanks for your kindness. Please incorporate these in your life immediately.....I promise you will be happier.
LOVE you all! Shout outs this week go to CHERYL! And grandma of course, and Aunt di and Nancy. You all are such a great support! And everyone else that wrote me this week too (aka my favorite mother)
Hermana Winfield
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Why Missionaries (Not blondes) Actually have the Most Fun
Hola!
1. Just thought Mom might want to know what my daily schedule is like, so here's yesterday for an example:
6:00 arise and shower
7:00 personal study in the classroom
7:45 breakfast
8:30 gym time
9:45 class
12:30 lunch
1:15 class
4:30 MDT (missionary directed time aka study)....during this time yesterday I taught the 1st lesson in spanish in the TE (where teachers pretend to be investigators)
5:00 Time with the tutor to plan my language study
5:30 dinnner
6:15 companion study with some elders
7:15 Memorize AoF in spanish
7:30 Read the whole book of Hebrews (highly reccommend!)
8:30 Lanuage study
9:00 Plan for next day with elders
9:30 go to my room and read letters!
10:30 bed
Whew made me tired just writing that! And the best part of yesterday was that I got a package from my favorite family! Woot woot! Everyone was pretty jealous of it and I again came away with the "best family ever" title. THANK YOU TIMES INFINITY!
2. The hermanas in my room made a deer pinata for their teacher for his birthday. Yes, I got a picture with it, and yes, I will be sending it soon. He loved it and wore it as a mask afterwards. LOVES it.
3. I made my first pact at the MTC......me, H Livingston, and H Christensen always promised to go to each others weddings. And instead of doing companion inventory like we should of, we talked about all details of our weddings. Seriously, every detail. I actually think it helped us bond more than comp. inventory would have.
4. Sometimes I go sit right outside our classroom in a chair to work quietly and the other day I hear the elders saying "Man, where is Hermana Winfield?" Other: "I don't know. She seriously gets to do whatever she wants since she's a solo sister. I don't ever know the actual rules." Muhaha love it. I have complete control.
5. Hermana Christensen is from Orem and her mom sent us Taco Bell the other day. Crazy? Actually no, not for her mom. She gets a package every day and its always something of that crazyiness. I just get to benefit from it :)
6. Because of my extreme pride, I've been sucking at volleyball lately. And then it worked out that I couldn't play the last few days because the hermanas wanted to go somewhere else during gym. So yes, the Lord can humble us in any way imaginable.....and more.
7. Girls, my elders made up a spanish song to the "Baby" song by justin beber. Do I love it? Unfortunately for my spirituality, yes. But everytime I hear them randomly humming it it makes me smile and I realize 19 year old boys are ok in my book.
8. Being on a mission is an emotional rollercoaster. I seriously feel like I'm pregnant or pmsing constantly (neither of which are true). Anyway, for an exmaple on Saturday we taught lessons to fake investigators from the community and I thought mine went so bad that I started bawling in class afterward. Not a few tears......bawling. And with 10 elders in the room all looking at me, it can get a little awkward. Thankfully they were all super nice about it. lol wow hermana wow
9. Here is how I can measure my success this week in speaking all spanish. The other day elder hilton said "hermana winfield, I really like your hair today, it looks really pretty. But I mean that in a missionary way of course." (in spanish :). I understood him this time, if anyone remembers my previous mishap with elder hilton and the spanish language. So, success is measurable! It's actually amazing how quick you learn when you don't speak enlgish AT ALL.
10. Alan you get your own bullet point today. I hope you're happy. Thanks so much for emailing me and spreading missionary work throughout the office. I know you will be an awesome bishop........I personally would love it if you would act like a mean nazi bishop the first week and scare them. Just a personal request :) and please tell kathryn this: if you touch the snow globe one more time I am serious I will get the cleaning gloves and we will repeat what happened that one day with Chuck. Don't make me do it.
Shout outs this week go to: Kori, Aunt Di, Beth, Em, Alan, Mom, and Dad!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
1. Just thought Mom might want to know what my daily schedule is like, so here's yesterday for an example:
6:00 arise and shower
7:00 personal study in the classroom
7:45 breakfast
8:30 gym time
9:45 class
12:30 lunch
1:15 class
4:30 MDT (missionary directed time aka study)....during this time yesterday I taught the 1st lesson in spanish in the TE (where teachers pretend to be investigators)
5:00 Time with the tutor to plan my language study
5:30 dinnner
6:15 companion study with some elders
7:15 Memorize AoF in spanish
7:30 Read the whole book of Hebrews (highly reccommend!)
8:30 Lanuage study
9:00 Plan for next day with elders
9:30 go to my room and read letters!
10:30 bed
Whew made me tired just writing that! And the best part of yesterday was that I got a package from my favorite family! Woot woot! Everyone was pretty jealous of it and I again came away with the "best family ever" title. THANK YOU TIMES INFINITY!
2. The hermanas in my room made a deer pinata for their teacher for his birthday. Yes, I got a picture with it, and yes, I will be sending it soon. He loved it and wore it as a mask afterwards. LOVES it.
3. I made my first pact at the MTC......me, H Livingston, and H Christensen always promised to go to each others weddings. And instead of doing companion inventory like we should of, we talked about all details of our weddings. Seriously, every detail. I actually think it helped us bond more than comp. inventory would have.
4. Sometimes I go sit right outside our classroom in a chair to work quietly and the other day I hear the elders saying "Man, where is Hermana Winfield?" Other: "I don't know. She seriously gets to do whatever she wants since she's a solo sister. I don't ever know the actual rules." Muhaha love it. I have complete control.
5. Hermana Christensen is from Orem and her mom sent us Taco Bell the other day. Crazy? Actually no, not for her mom. She gets a package every day and its always something of that crazyiness. I just get to benefit from it :)
6. Because of my extreme pride, I've been sucking at volleyball lately. And then it worked out that I couldn't play the last few days because the hermanas wanted to go somewhere else during gym. So yes, the Lord can humble us in any way imaginable.....and more.
7. Girls, my elders made up a spanish song to the "Baby" song by justin beber. Do I love it? Unfortunately for my spirituality, yes. But everytime I hear them randomly humming it it makes me smile and I realize 19 year old boys are ok in my book.
8. Being on a mission is an emotional rollercoaster. I seriously feel like I'm pregnant or pmsing constantly (neither of which are true). Anyway, for an exmaple on Saturday we taught lessons to fake investigators from the community and I thought mine went so bad that I started bawling in class afterward. Not a few tears......bawling. And with 10 elders in the room all looking at me, it can get a little awkward. Thankfully they were all super nice about it. lol wow hermana wow
9. Here is how I can measure my success this week in speaking all spanish. The other day elder hilton said "hermana winfield, I really like your hair today, it looks really pretty. But I mean that in a missionary way of course." (in spanish :). I understood him this time, if anyone remembers my previous mishap with elder hilton and the spanish language. So, success is measurable! It's actually amazing how quick you learn when you don't speak enlgish AT ALL.
10. Alan you get your own bullet point today. I hope you're happy. Thanks so much for emailing me and spreading missionary work throughout the office. I know you will be an awesome bishop........I personally would love it if you would act like a mean nazi bishop the first week and scare them. Just a personal request :) and please tell kathryn this: if you touch the snow globe one more time I am serious I will get the cleaning gloves and we will repeat what happened that one day with Chuck. Don't make me do it.
Shout outs this week go to: Kori, Aunt Di, Beth, Em, Alan, Mom, and Dad!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Crazy Week!
Top 14 Reasons why this week was so crazy I needed 14 reasons instead of the normal 10!
1. During LGM (large group meeting) we were doing mock lessons with the people sitting next to us. The "person" had been abused by his father for 15 years and had just run away from home a few years before and he didn't think there was a God. So we had 2 minutes to find a scripture for him specifically and then share it with our companion. Well I got chosen to go up in front of everyone and act it out with the teacher, teaching this huge group. I shared Alma's story of his sufferings with his son (great was my sorrow, but great was my joy ......) and I had to do it with a microphone. Crazy? Yes. Nervous beyond all belief? Yes. But afterward the teacher said "And THAT is why Sister missionaries baptize more than Elders. I seriously have goose bumps." Now obviously I wasn't good, it was totally the Spirit, but it was a crazy experience nontheless and taught me how important it is to teach with the Spirit.
2. The other day my friend got cinnamon rolls from her mom and they looked familiar. I said "oh they look like Sherrie rolls" (from a bakery in provo). And then she opened the letter and where were they from? Sherries! I felt a little dumb that I had such an extensive knowlegde of cinn rolls.
3. I have been sick. Fun? No. I have had the first real cough in my life. In the middle of July. In Utah. And I'm not talking any cough........I would dare to put it in the Brenna category. First time in my life. I had some other problems too.......stomach, headache, almost passing out, etc but thats not fun to talk about so next point!
4. Okay, I have arrived. This will be my one prideful point for the week. I rock at volleyball here. It seems my calling has also improved my athletic skills. I am the only girl allowed to play on the competive men's team. And 5 different elders asked if I'd played somewhere (as in college?) and they have all played competively and are super good. One day I didn't play and they all found me later that day and asked what was up. LOVE it. I have been let in the "no girls allowed" club.
5. I had a picnic with another district......yes, just me and this other district. We ate fruit and rice krispies and it was great........and a bunch of people walked by being super jealous. It's just one of the perks of being a solo sister I guess.
6. Starting tomorrow we will be speaking Spanish 24/7 and I mean that in all ways. NEVER am I allowed to speak English again while I'm here. Except for branch interviews. WOW. Start praying!
7. The other day my Elders made me sing Ye Elders of Israel with them. So that afternoon we sang As Sisters in Zion. Touche.
8. Wow best story of the week. Apparently a few nights ago there were all these cop cars outside the MTC because......drum roll please......there was a man dressed in head to toe camo with a rifle trying to get into the MTC and crawling around in the bushes. Unfortunately for him we're on the Lord's side so he stood no chance. Boo-yah!
9. The other night the 2 natives in my room were telling me how white I acted and I was tellling them how Latin they acted. Then it was 10:15 and that's quiet time and I said "Okay, shh everyone it's white time now". Of course I meant to say quiet so we were rolling on the floor laughing. So now we have white time with Hermana Blanca cada noche.
10. Jenny Oaks Baker came and played the violin for us and talked to us (Elder Oaks youngest daughter). She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen and I had second row seats and Elder Oaks just popped in to see her play. Aka I was 3 feet away from Elder Oaks. Feel free to be jealous.
11. After Sister Baker's performance on Sunday we saw the final installment of the District, EPISODE 3!!! I was laughing, I was crying, it was pure entertainment for all ages. Apparently there's a password in my mtc stuff to watch it online so look through my papers and check it out.
12. I forgot to mention I have 3 investigators in the RC (referral center). I just committed one to baptism this week........my first baptism in the mission! Yay! The rest are progressing quite nicely :)
13. The food is starting to kill me here........I may start doing fruit and water for every meal.
14. There was a rumor that nylons are no longer required in the MTC. Then that rumor became fact when my teacher told me she had been informed it was true during an all-teachers-meeting a day prior. But it has still not been publicly announced. Which means the old people don't really want us to stop wearing them......but we can. Right as I type I am bare legged, and it feel great.
Love you all so much and am eternally grateful for your support! EVERYONE read your scriptures and say your prayers!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
1. During LGM (large group meeting) we were doing mock lessons with the people sitting next to us. The "person" had been abused by his father for 15 years and had just run away from home a few years before and he didn't think there was a God. So we had 2 minutes to find a scripture for him specifically and then share it with our companion. Well I got chosen to go up in front of everyone and act it out with the teacher, teaching this huge group. I shared Alma's story of his sufferings with his son (great was my sorrow, but great was my joy ......) and I had to do it with a microphone. Crazy? Yes. Nervous beyond all belief? Yes. But afterward the teacher said "And THAT is why Sister missionaries baptize more than Elders. I seriously have goose bumps." Now obviously I wasn't good, it was totally the Spirit, but it was a crazy experience nontheless and taught me how important it is to teach with the Spirit.
2. The other day my friend got cinnamon rolls from her mom and they looked familiar. I said "oh they look like Sherrie rolls" (from a bakery in provo). And then she opened the letter and where were they from? Sherries! I felt a little dumb that I had such an extensive knowlegde of cinn rolls.
3. I have been sick. Fun? No. I have had the first real cough in my life. In the middle of July. In Utah. And I'm not talking any cough........I would dare to put it in the Brenna category. First time in my life. I had some other problems too.......stomach, headache, almost passing out, etc but thats not fun to talk about so next point!
4. Okay, I have arrived. This will be my one prideful point for the week. I rock at volleyball here. It seems my calling has also improved my athletic skills. I am the only girl allowed to play on the competive men's team. And 5 different elders asked if I'd played somewhere (as in college?) and they have all played competively and are super good. One day I didn't play and they all found me later that day and asked what was up. LOVE it. I have been let in the "no girls allowed" club.
5. I had a picnic with another district......yes, just me and this other district. We ate fruit and rice krispies and it was great........and a bunch of people walked by being super jealous. It's just one of the perks of being a solo sister I guess.
6. Starting tomorrow we will be speaking Spanish 24/7 and I mean that in all ways. NEVER am I allowed to speak English again while I'm here. Except for branch interviews. WOW. Start praying!
7. The other day my Elders made me sing Ye Elders of Israel with them. So that afternoon we sang As Sisters in Zion. Touche.
8. Wow best story of the week. Apparently a few nights ago there were all these cop cars outside the MTC because......drum roll please......there was a man dressed in head to toe camo with a rifle trying to get into the MTC and crawling around in the bushes. Unfortunately for him we're on the Lord's side so he stood no chance. Boo-yah!
9. The other night the 2 natives in my room were telling me how white I acted and I was tellling them how Latin they acted. Then it was 10:15 and that's quiet time and I said "Okay, shh everyone it's white time now". Of course I meant to say quiet so we were rolling on the floor laughing. So now we have white time with Hermana Blanca cada noche.
10. Jenny Oaks Baker came and played the violin for us and talked to us (Elder Oaks youngest daughter). She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen and I had second row seats and Elder Oaks just popped in to see her play. Aka I was 3 feet away from Elder Oaks. Feel free to be jealous.
11. After Sister Baker's performance on Sunday we saw the final installment of the District, EPISODE 3!!! I was laughing, I was crying, it was pure entertainment for all ages. Apparently there's a password in my mtc stuff to watch it online so look through my papers and check it out.
12. I forgot to mention I have 3 investigators in the RC (referral center). I just committed one to baptism this week........my first baptism in the mission! Yay! The rest are progressing quite nicely :)
13. The food is starting to kill me here........I may start doing fruit and water for every meal.
14. There was a rumor that nylons are no longer required in the MTC. Then that rumor became fact when my teacher told me she had been informed it was true during an all-teachers-meeting a day prior. But it has still not been publicly announced. Which means the old people don't really want us to stop wearing them......but we can. Right as I type I am bare legged, and it feel great.
Love you all so much and am eternally grateful for your support! EVERYONE read your scriptures and say your prayers!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Solo Sister
Top Ten Reasons Why Being Hermana Winfield ROCKS:
1. Everytime we start class, aka multiple times a day, we sing a song and for some reason all the elders in my district are pro singers. Basically the moral of this story is that I have never sung worse in my life than I do now and yes, it is embarrassing.
2. I have the opportunity to make myself look stupid multiple times a day. For example, on Sunday Elder Hilton accidently said that I looked pretty that day when he actually meant to say the day was pretty, not me. I awkwardly thanked him and then he and I both realized what he had meant to say. It was a lot more awkward in real life, I promise. So akward that I had to leave the room and die over it in the bathroom for approximately 3 and half minutes.
3. I got a package from the Braytons! Can I get a WOOT WOOT!!! Wow Mom as I'm assuming you are currently with them at the reunion, please give them all a HUGE hug for me (and Eric, my spanish letter to you is going to blow your mind.....prepare yourself accordingly). The cupcake pretty much made me the coolest sister on the floor.
4. I enjoy spending my personal time picking out husbands for my sisters. I am happy to report that the search is going quite well and Bethany should be receiving 2 letters this week (I will explain the candidates in greater detail in a letter).
5. I also love to use Spanish words in the incorrect form. For example, enfermo means "sick or ill". However, I like to use it as "cool or completely awesome". I would challenge all of you to add enfermo to your vocabulary.
6. The 4th July here was honestly one of the most memorable I've had. And not in an amazing way per se.........let me just suffice it to say that we concluded a LONG and weird patriotic music/acting performance with the MTC president dressed up as Moroni. Yeah, enough said.
7. Sometimes my elders try and comfort me because I'm a solo sister. For example, the other day one of my Elders said to me at lunch "so, what do sisters normally talk about at lunch?" and said we could talk about whatever I wanted. So did we talk about knee-highs and makeup for 15 minutes? Yes. I loved it.
8. At the MTC they like to keep you constantly on your toes but sending conflicting messages. At devotional on Sunday, a older woman explained how 2 people in their mission ended up marrying each other and how it was so cute. 4 hours later, in a meeting with our branch pres for sisters only, our president asked us to raise our hand if we currently had an elder in love with us. Thankfully everything is okay but he went on to explain how horrible it is when people marry someone from their mission. After much lengthy internal debate, I stand firm with my opinon that I will NOT marry anyone I come in contact with on my mission. That is my offical political stance on the matter.
9. I LOVE everyone that writes me. For example, I have the best mother ever and I now know for a fact that I am her favorite. I also know that I am Bethany's favorite.....and I will be responding to her letters today. And everyone else that writes me (Aunt Di, Gma, Anna, etc) are also la bomba.com
10. The gospel seriously makes everything in life worth it. I received a blessing yesterday from my 2 elders that I have companion study with and I felt the love Heavenly Father has for me so strong. I feel like I'm really starting to understand who I was before I came to this earth and how much Heavenly Father loves me. I know that He has a plan for me individually and I love being able to wake up every day and live that plan!
LOVE you all!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
1. Everytime we start class, aka multiple times a day, we sing a song and for some reason all the elders in my district are pro singers. Basically the moral of this story is that I have never sung worse in my life than I do now and yes, it is embarrassing.
2. I have the opportunity to make myself look stupid multiple times a day. For example, on Sunday Elder Hilton accidently said that I looked pretty that day when he actually meant to say the day was pretty, not me. I awkwardly thanked him and then he and I both realized what he had meant to say. It was a lot more awkward in real life, I promise. So akward that I had to leave the room and die over it in the bathroom for approximately 3 and half minutes.
3. I got a package from the Braytons! Can I get a WOOT WOOT!!! Wow Mom as I'm assuming you are currently with them at the reunion, please give them all a HUGE hug for me (and Eric, my spanish letter to you is going to blow your mind.....prepare yourself accordingly). The cupcake pretty much made me the coolest sister on the floor.
4. I enjoy spending my personal time picking out husbands for my sisters. I am happy to report that the search is going quite well and Bethany should be receiving 2 letters this week (I will explain the candidates in greater detail in a letter).
5. I also love to use Spanish words in the incorrect form. For example, enfermo means "sick or ill". However, I like to use it as "cool or completely awesome". I would challenge all of you to add enfermo to your vocabulary.
6. The 4th July here was honestly one of the most memorable I've had. And not in an amazing way per se.........let me just suffice it to say that we concluded a LONG and weird patriotic music/acting performance with the MTC president dressed up as Moroni. Yeah, enough said.
7. Sometimes my elders try and comfort me because I'm a solo sister. For example, the other day one of my Elders said to me at lunch "so, what do sisters normally talk about at lunch?" and said we could talk about whatever I wanted. So did we talk about knee-highs and makeup for 15 minutes? Yes. I loved it.
8. At the MTC they like to keep you constantly on your toes but sending conflicting messages. At devotional on Sunday, a older woman explained how 2 people in their mission ended up marrying each other and how it was so cute. 4 hours later, in a meeting with our branch pres for sisters only, our president asked us to raise our hand if we currently had an elder in love with us. Thankfully everything is okay but he went on to explain how horrible it is when people marry someone from their mission. After much lengthy internal debate, I stand firm with my opinon that I will NOT marry anyone I come in contact with on my mission. That is my offical political stance on the matter.
9. I LOVE everyone that writes me. For example, I have the best mother ever and I now know for a fact that I am her favorite. I also know that I am Bethany's favorite.....and I will be responding to her letters today. And everyone else that writes me (Aunt Di, Gma, Anna, etc) are also la bomba.com
10. The gospel seriously makes everything in life worth it. I received a blessing yesterday from my 2 elders that I have companion study with and I felt the love Heavenly Father has for me so strong. I feel like I'm really starting to understand who I was before I came to this earth and how much Heavenly Father loves me. I know that He has a plan for me individually and I love being able to wake up every day and live that plan!
LOVE you all!
Love the mish. Be the mish.
Hermana Winfield
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