PS...

TENGO LA FE.

 

-Hermana Lybbert (:

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Holaaa!

Heya fam! I've about 10-15 minutes left, so we'll see what I can do. I really did share the majority of my thoughts in my blog, so...Yeah haha. Things are super great, and I'm way stoked to say that we have about ten days left before our ideal departure date for Argentina! Our visas aren't likely to come, but oh well. I'm not gonna be too disappointed to be reassigned for a while. But either way, we just don't know yet haha. We're supposed to get our travel plans soon, so I'll let y'all know when I find out.

Fun story that I didn't totally feel like blabbering about in the blog...We're interviewed about weekly by our stake presidency, on Sundays. So this last Sunday, one of the counselors is interviewing me. He says, "So you know we get weekly updates from your teachers about your individual learning, right?" Me: "Uhhh...Whoa. Eegads. Nope." Brother McGee: "Oh! Haha well, yes, we do...We've noticed a pattern, though, Sister Lybbert...All your teachers say your comprehension, understanding conversation and reading, and ability to speak is surprising for just a few weeks. They say it's great to have an extra person to help while with the language is a teacher isn't around, and that you're able to help your companion, as well."...Yeah. I was a little stunned. And then he asks, "Just curious...The gift of tongues...Do you feel like you've experienced that?"...And you know what I said? Gah. Stupid Shelan. I explained growing up in Quincy, knowing the basics, and having taken a semester very recently and then finished, "but...yeah, I suppose so. I think I've experienced it a bit..."

I got to thinking about it a lot on Sunday. And while pondering and writing in my journal...I felt...I dno. Selfish and prideful, I suppose. Of course I've received help. All throughout my life with Spanish I've received help. Understanding the basics IS a gift, and it is a blessing. Having suddenly decided to change my cluster/minor to Spanish on a whim during last summer and then choosing to take a Spanish class right THEN...That was DEFINITELY some divine help. Understanding so much now and being able to translate and comprehend a fluent Spanish speaker...In 5 weeks? Wow. It's incredible.

Anywho, that was one of my "aha" moments this week. Also a humbling moment, too haha. Anywho...Yo amo esta oportunidad. Estoy muy agradecida estar sirviendo un misión ahora. Sé que las cosas que enseñamos cada día son verdaderas, y bendicen mi vida en muchas maneras. Sé que tengo la MEJOR familia, y estoy agradecida por mis relaciones con mi familia. Verdaderamente, mis hermanas son mis "role models" y mis hermanos son mis SuperesHombres. (: Pero más importante: Mi familia y las buenas person en mi familia son mis mejores amigos. Amo las cartas de ustedes, y estoy intentando contestar todas las cartas. Se amo, mi familia. Tengo la fe, y TENGAN la fe. Amores para ustedes.

-Hermana Lybbert!

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Sat-is-FAC-tion!

One more week down! Crazy, I swear. It's been over a month since we've been here, and this next week is supposed to be our next "full" week here in the CCM (MTC in Spanish baha). However, visas are coming slow, of course. SO...We shall see. I may actually be reassigned, or I may end up staying an extra couple weeks here. But anywho, this week has been a whirlwind of emotions. A mission was once explained to me as "a daily rollercoaster, and a weekly carnival". Every day there is a high point, and every day there is a low point. And then the weeks are just days that are full of rollercoasters--a carnival!

 

Funny story...So Dene', mi hermana, sent me a DearElder.com letter, and she was explaining this incident of Jackson (2 years old, and Love of My Life #3) annnnd...Well...Boogers. Bahaha. Well, the night I received the letter, I obviously fell asleep thinking about mi familia. Because I woke up about 2:30 in the morning busting up LAUGHING. In my sleep. I had been dreaming of Dene' and the booger incident. Whoa, weirdest thing ever. The next morning, all of the other 5 hermanas were all, "Hermana Lybbert! What the HECK were you dreaming about?! You were full-on laughing in your sleep." Me: "Uhhh yeah, I know haha. I woke myself up. Again." (: Haha it was hilarious. I tend to be the one ALWAYS talking in my sleep, typically teaching lessons in Spanish, but it was nice to change it up a little bit for the hermanas. Laughter. Ganando. (:

 

Anyone ever watch The Testaments? If not, you should. It's super awesome, annnd when you have a companion who is quoting Napoleon Dynamite in the middle of it? Even better! There's that part where the poorer kid, who is an incredible artisan, "runs into" the pretty rich girl in the kingdom. She had teased him once about making something beautiful, rather than scary animals. Sooo he did! And then there's the awkward moment where he hands her this small, wooden carving of a humble woman...Hermana McBride leans over to me, "It took me three hours to do the shading on your upper lip.."

 

HAHAHAHAHA.

 

Whoaaa, I could NOT focus or stop laughing for the next 20 minutes haha. Love her so much. Truly, I've been unbelievably blessed with the best companion ever. Heavenly Father knows that I have issues dealing with girls. So what'd He do? Started this mission off right. The perfect compañera. I would share what I wrote in my journal about her, buuut that's a lot haha. But just know that she's not just a compañera. She's become a sister, a confidant, the one I can trust. I love my entire district, and all ten of us have become a hilarious family. (: But Hna. McBride is definitely my favorite. We had to go on "splits" the other day when teaching a random lesson, because there were only two investigators. So of the 6 hermanas, our teacher chose to split up every companionship. We came back, and I asked her how it went. Although we both did fine in the lessons, our thoughts echoed each other's: "Uhhh...I REALLY missed you. We've learned how we teach, and we teach well with one another...I need that." I love this gal to death, and I'm a little bitter. In our district, 7 are going to Córdoba, Argentina, while us 3 are headed to Mendoza, Argentina...Of all the companionships, Hermana McBride and I are the only ones who are spliting up to go to completely different missions. Saddening, but...**Shrug** Deal with it, I suppose. (:

 

GUESS WHAT! I gave my first talk in church!...In Spanish. Whaaat. Insanity. I spoke on la Expiación (the Atonement), which is a topic near and dear to my heart. So it wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be to get up and bear testimony merely of my experiences and how we can use the Atonement in our lives. It was glorious. The only downside? Well our stake presidency likes to do something a little "fun" with the talks in church. Every week, all missionaries in our zone write a talk on whatever that topic is for the week. Then, come Sunday, the Stake President gets up, opens sacrament meeting, and RANDOMLY announces one hermana and one elder to share their talk. Gah. Sooo yeah. But it went well, so no worries! :D

 

I just have a couple things I wanted to share from this last Sunday's devotional, which was the BYU Men's Chorus. LOVED it. And I saw a friend from Cali in the choir, but I never got to say hi. Anywho! Three things:

1) God does not expect perfection, but He is pleased with progression.

2) The Atonement was not only infinite, but it was also intimate. A gift for ALL people, individually.

3) Diligence always overrides intelligence. Work hard, and you will be blessed.

 

Alright, well, just know that all is well. I won't say that all things are perfect and glorious, because it truly is difficult and frustrating at times. Sometimes, as missionaries still learning how to do all this and how to teach and use the Spirit in our lessons effectively...We feel as though we are doing NOTHING right. But we are. We are trying. Sometimes, it feels as though an investigator is going NO where. Then somehow, things always turn out as they should. Not always good, not always bad, and NEVER what we expect...But as they should. Life is this way. There are simply some days where all you write in your journal at the end of the day is: "I'm exhausted. I'm tired. I'm frustrated...All I truly need right now is to pray and go to sleep."...But it is so worth it, every day. Every night, after my prayers, I sit there and lean against the wall and try to put a name to how I'm feeling right then. It could range from so many different emotions and feelings, but ultimately...Every night, you know what I always decide is the most fitting? Satisfied.

 

I know where I'm at, and I know I'm meant to be here NOW. Occasionally I think of what I might be doing now if I weren't serving a mission. Driving home for Spring Break, starting either Spring semester, starting a new summer job, moving back down to California for work and spend all my days with Kelsey... (; But you know what? Nothing sounds quite as satisfying as being here and awaiting the anticipation of leaving for the mission field.

 

ALRIGHT! This is long enough, methinks. (: I love you all! Español is coming along extremely well, and it is so...Well...Satisfying! Haha. Funny fact for the day. We made long-term and short-term goals for Spanish a couple weeks ago, and you know what I put for my end of the mission goal? Be mistaken for a native Argentine. :D Tee hee. We shall see. (; Okay, I'm off to go get some laundry done and write letters to Dene' and Trista. Should probably start another one for my family haha. Oh! And if Candice Snyder reads any of my blogs...GIRL...I NEED your address! I've got other friends who I need to send a quick letter out to, but not you! Okay friends...I'm outies. Amores para ustedes. (:

 

-Hermana Lybbert

 

PS- My schedule may be completely changing next week, by the way. SO my P-day will likely be on Wednesday! Aren't y'all so excited? Two updates in a week. And then...TRAVEL PLANS. Whoots! :D Amores!

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PS!

Hey mom! That forwarded message you sent about the Elder Cheney in my district? YUP. We're related. Aunt Marilyn said that his grandma is her mom's sister...Or somethign like that haha. CRAZY. But wicked great. (: Love y'all.

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Run Fast. Run Hard.

Whaaat?! Why am I back on this computer again already?? I swear, the first week here at the MTC felt fairly normal. Not fast, not slow. But these last couple weeks? I'm really starting to feel like they FLY. But I'm still loving it! Crazy to think that I will likely only be here for another couple weeks before I'm shipped off. SO STOKED.

 

The language is coming along pretty well, and I love it. BUT...Real quick. I gotta throw a shout out to my dear friend Caitlyn Law...Well...She won't be a Law for much longer, but that's fine. (; Bless this gal's glorious heart, because she is the GREATEST. I remember asking her to send me an invite to her wedding, even though I wouldn't be able to go. Assuming she'd send it to my home address, I was so shocked and SO excited to find an invitation plus a giant rice krispie heart being delivered to me. (: Gah. Cait, why are you so stunning?! All of other hermanas drooled over your guys' announcement and pictures; they think you're both stunners. :D As do I, of course. But I know you're finishing up school pretty quick, so I didn't have a chance to send a quick thank you letter your way. So here it is! YOU. ARE. SO. GREAT! Love you. (:

 

Okay, awesome story for you all. Every Tuesday (and Sundays, but I'm mentioning the Tuesday devotionals right now) we have a devotional, and they are ALWAYS super awesome. Well we always try to go a little early, so that we can be in the main hall listening to the speaker. All 3,000+ of us were chilling, waiting for a great devo, when everyone begins standing and the room goes quiet...It is incredible the precious spirit an apostle of the Lord can demand merely from his presence. Tears immediately began to stream down my cheeks, as I felt overwhelmed and so blessed to be able to hear from him. I found it interesting that of ANY topic the Lord could have inspired Richard G. Scott to speak on, He felt that we needed to hear about prayer. (Tangent: My Favoriteee). Prayer and the ability to speak with my Father in Heaven is such a huge blessing for me and for all. So yes. I LOVED it.

 

I apologize if today's update is a tad brief, but I'd like to get around to responding to some people haha. But I would like to explain the title of my update here. "Run Fast. Run Hard." I've mentioned it a time or two in other letters home to Christian and such, but I wanted to explain it for all who was curious. (: It was a quote that someone had used this last week, and obviously it resonated with me. For obvious sports-related reasons. (; The quote was: "Run fast. Run hard. To the tape. You can rest later."...This is what I'm doing. Now. I'm hitting the ground running, and I'm not quitting. I am not on my own time for the next 18 months; this year and a half is not for ME. I'm out here on the Lord's time, and I'm not resting until this work is done. I can rest later. But for now...I'm out here and am running fast and hard and to the end. Not for me or my benefit, although I will be blessed during this experience, but for the benefit of others. To the tape. I apologize if my updates continually are shortening, but just know I'm loving this work and can't wait to truly get out there and teach.

 

For now...In the MTC...Not a whole lot haha. Again, loads of study time to really dive in deep into the scriptures and the Gospel. Hours upon hours of class time and opportunities to teach "investigators", which are continually getting better. And forever filled GREATNESS! Haha. I've told my parents in a letter I'm currently writing home that I'll send my weekly schedule to them when I'm done using it. It's hilarious and insane, but it is so great. Continually working hard. (:

 

Highlight of the week:

 

Elder Thornley: "Hey how do you say 'Butt' in Spanish?"

Hermana Enos (assuming Elder meant 'but' and not 'butt'): "Uhhh 'Pero'!"

Elder Thornley to his comp, Elder Cheney: "Elder! Stop being a pero cabeza!"

 

BAHA. He was going for "butt head"...Yeah...It was just a random misunderstanding that took us all a minute to understand what happened. (;

 

Love y'all! Nos vemos pronto.

 

-Hermana Lybbert

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Tengo La Fe

Helloooo!! Two and a half weeks down! Crazy, verdad?? Well, not for me haha. Still feeling completely normal (for the most part), thank heavens. We're still teaching a lot, of course all in Spanish. Annnd we've just received two "new investigators". Our other teachers haha. However, it has been going incredible. It has taken Hermana McBride and I a while to learn how to depend on the Spirit as we teach and having the faith that the Spirit WILL be there! It has been a wonderful learning experience, despite the frustrations of the learning curve haha.

 

SO! I hope whoever watched General Conference absolutely loved it, because I sure did. The moment President Monson got up Saturday morning, my emotions and thoughts turned back to six months ago. I immediately began crying haha. I will be forever grateful for October 2012 Conference. (: I sure as heck wouldn't be here emailing had that not occured. Anyways, I'll just share a thought or two about some of the talks. My absolute favorite was by Elder Henry B. Eyring. He spoke a lot on families near the end of his talk, and it was exactly what my heart needed. I can't help but think of all my family while I'm away--extended beloved aunts, uncles,cousins, granparents, etc AND immediate family-- so Eyring helped me a ton. He spoke about how as we serve Him, the Lord will be closer to our families. Tengo la fe. I have the faith that He's watching over my family when I can't be around as much as I'd like.

 

Tengo La Fe. For some reason, that has been my motto as of late. I've come to discover that when my frustrations come, it's not because I lack the Spirit with me or because I'm not doing something right or because I can't speak the language...But it's because sometimes I simply prefer to rely on myself and LACK the FAITH that I should rely on my Heavenly Father. I tend to lack the faith that I have the Spirit; I lack the faith that I'm being exactly obedient; I lack the faith that I CAN speak the language.

 

OKAY! So, I'm sure you'd all probably prefer to hear about what we've been doing haha. Mi compañera, Hermana McBride, and I are pretttty bomb. I'll take pride and admit that. (; But no, I love her to death. Once I can figure out how to attach pictures (which I'm hoping could be in this post??), you can finally see who she is! :D But as of late, we've been loving every minute of it. Sunday nights we always have devotionals, but since Sunday was also General Conference, I think the MTC presidency figured we were a little exhausted of hearing people speak. So guess who the devotional "speaker" was...Vocal Point. Ohhh my heck. Someone please tell my cousin, Cameron Lybbert, that I met them and was able to hear them live. (; Haha. I loved it SO much. Haven't heard of them? Look them up on YouTube. It's the accapella BYU men's choir who perfomed on The Voice. So incredible. I really needed that "music bath".

 

Oh! Speaking of Elder Lybbert in AZ! Someone also please tell him/Todd & Rene' that I've met an Elder Harrington here! He's just a couple doors down the hall from my classroom haha. Mi compañera and I were talking with a couple elders, and they asked where we were from. So I said WA, and one was all, "Hey, do you know where Ephrata is?? We have an elder in our district from there!" Me: "WHAT?! Yesss. I WILL meet this missionary." Hahaha. So a couple days later, we were all headed back to our rooms at night, and I saw their district was still in there. So I popped my head in and asked, "Hey, anyone here from Ephrata, WA?!"...Bahaha. WINNER. Wicked cool. Elder Harrington was pretty stoked to see my last name and recognize someone from home. I'll admit that sometimes it's a tad frustrating not being able to hug an elder. BUT, at the same time, I thoroughly enjoy not feeling obligated to hug them either! Haha.

 

Okay, back to the glorious day of Sunday. Every Sunday night, we also get to watch a movie of sorts. And so this week, we chose to go to The Legacy. Sooo if any of you have watched this at home, it seems like no big deal. But believe me, it is WAY funnier and slightly awkward in the MTC haha. The awkward love moments and watching everyone else's reactions to things. SO FUNNY. Anywho! Also, this Tuesday we (every missionary heading to Argentina) finally met with the Consul who will be signing for our visas!!! All of our paperwork is done, and now all we do is simply wait. We really have no idea how quickly our visas will be processed, unfortunately. Could be done by today, or it could take 3-4 weeks. Cross your fingers and pray some more. (:

 

Ha! We totally met an elder from Mendoza here! His English was rough, but it was great talking a little with him. He says he's not a huge fan of Mendoza, because it's one of the poorer areas of Argentina. But he also said that the mission was also, in his words, "Baptism and then baptism and then another baptism! All because of the poor people!" Haha he seemed like a funny kid. (: But it was great! Another highlight of my week? I randomly started humming "A Whole New World", and our 4 elders in our district got SO excited. They ALL started busting out the entire song. Whaaat? So great hahaha. I really do love my district. I believe I have been thoroughly blessed in every possible way. We've heard of many other districts having issues, and y'know what?...We have not had one single issue. Apparently there's just something different when there are 6 hermanas and 4 elders in your whole district haha. But we have a ton of fun together. Occasionally it's a little difficult to focus, because we can talk and such all the time. But all is well. (: And my companion! I really can't remember if I explained her much, so I apologize if I already have. She is like a sister to me. (: Very humble and sometimes a little disappointed in learning the language. She has taken 3 years of ASL and zero of Spanish haha. So I'm able to refine my Spanish by teaching her a little, and we both get so excited when something clicks. She's not very confident during lessons when she is speaking, but honestly? The Spirit is strongest whenever she is teaching in broken Spanish. Hermana McBride is absolutely incredible (:

 

So it is obvious that a few of you have figured out that I'm now able to email not just family, but also friends/converts/extended family...Everyone, basically. (: Which is probably why, when I opened my email earlier, I found 11 new emails haha. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND, last night, when our letters were passed out, I found that two had written my DearElder letters and I also two hand-written letters! One from Alec, and the other from my studly brother, Christian. (; I was literally skipping around, I was so excited. Thank you SO SO much. I don't have a ton of time to email, so I've printed out all your emails and will respond next week. (: Unless I happen to have some extra time at the end. But again, I told you, I've been suuuper blessed. (: The emails and wonderful, and I apologize for not being able to respond sooner. I've got a few people I need to respond to. I hope all is well back home, and that you all are loving life, even amongst the challenges. Tengo La Fe. Hasta promixo semana (: Nos vemos.

 

~~~

 

Okay! I'm hoping to get some pictures up real quick. I'm not sure what order they'll end up in or even if they'll appear at the beginning or end of this! SO! I'll do my darndest to write a quick caption for each.

 

Okay, one is of Dene' and I before I left haha. We were waiting for sushi to be made and to have my Last Meal at my momma's work. (: Yes, of course, I chose sushi!

 

I had to get some of the typical pictures with the giant map in the MTC, yes haha. One is with my awesome district! We are all headed to either Córdoba, Argentina or Mendoza, Argentina. (: Another picture is of me and the map, and there's another with mi compañera, Hermana McBride!

 

Next, are all the sisters in my district outside our classroom building, just before taking a walk up to the temple one Sunday afternoon. From left to right: HERMANAS Bishoff, Wendell, Enos, Barney, Lybbert, and McBride. LEGIT!

 

And then a picture of my district at the temple haha. Of the elders, from left to right: ELDERS Smith, Allen, Cheney, and Thornley.

 

Another picture con Hna. McBride and I. (:

 

The elders...Yeah...That's just how they work. :P

 

Awkwardly attempting to take a picture con los élderes haha.

 

Another with Hna. McBride! (:

 

Funny story with the vacuum picture haha. Randomly, our elders all got like cleanliness OCD and were all in desperate need of organzing the classroom. So strange. Anywho, they ALL went and got their own vacuum haha. So funny. And then the next picture is what us hermanas did! Laughed, took pictures, and stood on chairs to get out of the elders' ways. (: Seriously my favorite picture ever. I love my companion. (:

 

The next one is on a rainy day, after our first time being able to do a session at the temple together for P-Day last week. (:

 

Annnd then there's the picture with me and the statue haha. Hna. McBride thought it'd be funny if I threw my laundry bag over my shoulder and mimicked the statue. (: Annnd I agreed. Done and DONE haha.

 

The Argentina Consul! I know he looks a little annoyed/mean in this picture haha, but he was a super funny guy. Told us all about Argentina, we got to ask a lot of questions, and we talked with him just a little bit while we were all signing our documents. (:

 

AHA! So the blurry picture of me pointing at the wall? Yeah, that's a bat. In our dorm halls haha. This was taken this morning, and girls were going NUTS. So funny, though. My companion, "Hermana, don't get that close!!" (: And then the next picture is just of the bat, itself haha.

 

Lastly, one more picture con mi Hermana McBride after the temple this morning. (: It is a beautiful sunny day, and I have been LOVING it. Anywho, that's all for now!! Love you all!

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What Is WITH?!

Helloooo??? I'm a tad curious as to where almost my entire family has disappeared to. I'll admit I was a tad disappointed that I don't even have any emails haha. The two letters from Dene' and Trista were GLORIOUS. :D AND...I totally called it. Who my first letter would be from--Trista! Winner. (:

 

I know I just sent out the blog email, so don't respond to that email haha. Do the shelan.lybbert@myLDSmail.net. Please. (: This week has gone fairly smoothly. Our third lesson was a bit frustrating for me, and it bummed me out the entire day. I held it in, of course, but Hermana McBride and I talked about it a LOT haha. I was mostly just frustrated with the fact that I KNEW we should've veered off our lesson plans of the Restoration and teach more on the Plan of Salvation, but I'm a tad...Uh, well...Stubborn. And so I didn't. Worst lesson ever. Bah. Anywho, other than that, all is incredible. We have 3 teachers, but lately we've only had one. Hermano Miller, and he is so great haha. Tons of stories and loves to teach Spanish mixed with the Gospel. Then we finally met Hermana Christensen, who is so full of love and focuses on US. She shares her testimony and love for missionary work and the Gospel so much, and it only brings the spirit into our SPANISH classes more haha. Haven't met Hermano Boaz yet, because he's still pretending to be our investigator, who, yes, I figured out was our teacher. :P Hermana Lybbert for the win! Ah, turns out there's an elder just down the hall from Ephrata here, but I have yet to meet this rival elder. (; Baha jk. But it's cool to meet others who live in WA. (: Aha! And one of the hermanas in our room/district lived in Tri-Cities for a while, so I asked her if she knew the Rhotens. YUUUP! She does! She knew Miranda, and I told her that Miranda and I flew in together! So crazy. We all met up for a bit, it was great. (:

 

Alright, SO, this last Sunday we had "video time", which we chose an older talk that Elder Bednar gave here at the MTC for Christmas once. It was called Characters of Christ. GO. WATCH. IT. Haha you think you know what Bednar is like until you hear him speak in this video. SO direct at time, kind of reminds me of Holland. But SO funny! He compares our "natural man" to the Cookie Monster several times. (: It's hilarious. "I want cookies NOWWW...I want baptisms NOWWW!" :D Hahaha yeahhh I loved it.

 

So I'm a little bummed that the majority of my district is all headed to Córdoba, Argentina, and only 3 of us hermanas are heading to Mendoza. Annnd it kind of breaks my heart that mi compañera, Hna. McBride is going to Córdoba, too. I love her to death, and she inspires me merely with her personality. She says I'm like a clone to one of her sisters haha, which I don't particularly mind. :P We all need some sisters around here who we know we can put up with. (; Which, luckily for me, happens to be all 5 of the other hermanas. Our district is a bit different, I suppose. We're the first district for THIS "stake" that has more sisters than elders. Only 4 elders and then us 6 hermanas. But the elders are incredible. So much depth despite their age. We've all gotten pretty used to seeing other cry and bear testimony and such haha, it's hilarious. The other day Hna. Christensen, our teacher, was talking with me one-on-one about goals and such. I was crying, she was crying haha. She got a little worried and asked if I wanted to excuse myself to the bathroom, since I was crying. All I could say was, "HA, nah, I'm good thanks. They're pretty used to it. I'm thoroughly used to it. No worries." I think I'm finally learning to accept this "gift of weeping". Thanks fam, it seems like we've all gotten a bit of that and then all that was left for the last child was just DUMPED on me. Sheesh. I really do feel like I'm crying ALL. THE. TIME. while I'm here haha. Oh well. (: Thanks!

 

Anywho, I've got a few minutes left, so I'll continue to try figuring out this picture stuff. It's just bleh. Y'all may have to wait another 5 weeks, but it's worth it. I have some great ones of my district, at the temple this morning (SO GREAT), the elders, mi compañera y yo...Yup. (: Anywho, I love you all! Thank you SO much for the package for Easter, but uh...We've got plenty of sweets for now. (: Haha we have a Free Game desk of candy. Whoots! Anywho, keep writing me/emailing me. A missionary always needs a little uplifting every now and then. And who better to give it than their blessed familia. I love you so much. Nos vemos pronto. (;

 

-Hna. Lybbert

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"You Are Prayed For"

Hello, hello outside world! I've got a whole full week down now, crazy, verdad?? To be completely honest, it hasn't gone crazy fast, nor has it gone super slow. It's been rather...Well...Normal haha. Again, it was a fairly easy "adjustment", but I couldn't really tell ya why. Anywho, I wish there were more super exciting and interesting things that you all would like to hear about, but my time here has consisted a LOT of class time, LOADS (and I mean like...3-4+ hours a day) of studying, and teaching lessons. Purely in Spanish. (: The language is coming really well, which I LOVE. The fact that I can understand the gist of things and be able to respond, despite the simplicity of my broken Spanish, is so incredible. Ever since last Saturday night, I keep waking myself and others up in the middle of the night, becauuuse I talk.

 

A lot.

In my sleep.

All in Spanish.

 

Las hermanas in my room all say they think I'm usually teaching lessons, but I have no clue. I do know that the last thing I tend to think about before falling asleep at night, however, is typically whatever lesson we taught that day or whatever lesson mi compañera y yo will be teaching next! Haha so I believe them all when they say I talk in my sleep all the time. :P

 

Annnd I completely lied. My bad. Actually, I just was confused about the whole visa deal and meeting with the Argentine Consul. We received a paper saying that we needed to go and be finger-printed one day and then meet with the Consul the next week. I thought that meant we had already received our visas, buuut NOPE. After meeting with the Consul this next Wednesday, they say it should take about 2-3 weeks to receive our visas. SO! **Crossing Fingers** We shall see. (: I'm not particularly worried about it, to be totally honest. I really wouldn't mind being temporarily reassigned, as long as I get to serve in Argentina eventually!

 

Let's see...Great, awesome moments from this week? Uhhh well I felt like a genius when I connected the dots that our "investigator" was our other teacher. None of the elders believed me, but when they asked our teacher if Claudio (our investigator) was Hermano Boaz...HA. Let's just say our teachers have the worst poker faces. (; Winner, winner, sushi dinner! (I wish.) What else is great? GYM TIME. Seriously, I always mention how I *might* go running, buuut I every time I walk into the gym, I get so excited for volleyball that I brush off the whole running thing. Never was a fan of that stuff haha. I will certainly take pride and say that I typically tend to avoid the court with more sister missionaries and jump in with the elders playing on the other court. And then being able to get a kill on a men's volleyball net. WIN. (Yes, I even surprised myself with that one, too haha). But it is so much fun, and it's far more competitive. (: Me gusta mucho!

 

Random Tangent: HEY! Anyone who wants to write, PLEASE feel free! Letters at the end of the day truly are a huge highlight and great pick-me-up to end a long day on. (: The addresses are in my info section either here on the blog or on my Facebook. OR, for free, while I'm in the MTC, you can email a letter through dearelder.com SO awesome! Not nearly as fun as hand-written letters, I must admit, but they're still extremely wonderful. (:

 

GUESS WHAT! I'm not sure how many actually READ this, but just in case any of you are a tad confused about what General Conference is for the LDS church...It is a huge "meeting" of sorts, both Saturday and Sunday, where we have the chance to listen to the leaders of our church. The messages and talks are divine! We have the chance to hear from the prophet and apostles of our day and receive guidance and uplifting encouragements. AND lucky for me, I get to be here at the MTC during General Conference. (: Since my preparation day (P-Day) is on Fridays, today, it's like I have 3 days worth of P-Days and devotionals. So wonderful. I'd get a ton of letters sent out in the next few days...IF anyone would write me. (; Haha THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Trista and Dene' for the dearelder.com letters! I loved them, and I hope you both have gotten my letters back to you, if not soon. (: Also, THANK YOUUU Alec--such a great FHE brother, gotta love it :D --for writing me, toooo! I was so giddy, it was great.

 

Ooh! Another incredible thing! I was also here for Easter Sunday, too, and it was incredible. I know it's hard to imagine, but just please try. There were 100+ elders, priesthood holders, blessing and passing the sacrament to 3,000+ missionaries. It went surprisingly quick, but it was so incredible. The speaker was wonderful, and he and his wife had the coolest accents. (; They were from France baha. But there was a message in his talk that I'd like to quickly mention...

 

Prayer. Something very near and dear to me. I use it for absolutely everything, I will admit, and I'm so excited that my prayers in Spanish are coming smoother and more fluent...But that's not the point. In Elder Causse's talk, he mentioned how missionaries are always being prayed for. That regardless of what religion someone may be, people are praying for their loved ones...I can't express enough gratitude. I know that I, personally, am prayed for. That my family and friends are sending their love my way, whether it is through prayer or simply through thoughts. I am prayed for, and I am certain of how much I need all of those thoughts and prayers.

 

Alright, I was trying to figure out how exactly to get some pictures onto here, but I'm just...Yeah. Not as proficient in that regard. (: Haha but hopefully soon! I will do my best. On the plus side, I am extremely excited for the fact that I'm not a "newbie missionary" anymore haha. Granted, I've only been here just over a week, so I am still new with things...I'm not the dork-dotted hermana, cluelessly wandering between buildings. :D Baha.

 

Until next week! They have changed the email policy again for us here at the MTC, so we are allowed to email for a WHOLE HOUR now (instead of a half hour), AND we can email friends! Soooo...I do still ask that you TRY and write me, because I love Love LOVE it, and because we can get mail every day versus once a week for emails. BUT...If you need my email address, feel free to contact ANY of my family via facebook or something and get it. (: I love you all, but I've never been one to get homesick haha. But I pray for you (as best I can in the Spanish language haha) each day and night. (: Nos vemos!

 

-Hermana Lybbert

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