¡Cambios! ("Transfers!", literally "Changes!")

Sister Wells and her missionary companion, Sister Torres

So today we had changes (transfers) and I´ve been in my new area with my companion for maybe an hour now. Let me tell you more. This morning we finished packing and we took all of our belongings to the Stake Center, and then around 2:30 the bus full of missionaries that were getting transferred today pulled up and we got on and had to say goodbye to Hna. Nidia, that was really sad. There was Hna Torres, myself and one other sister on the bus. We drove around and then pulled up to the church that has the Distribution Center in it and Elder Brotherson called off the names of the people who needed to get off of the bus, and Hna Torres and I were two of them. We are staying companions but we´re opening a new area here in Lyico....that spelling is for sure up for dispute and I have no clue how its spelled yet, or the name of our specific area. So, that’s what’s been happening today, but I’ll find out more and tell you more about my area next week, you know, once I’ve actually visited it.

So this last Tuesday we went and did service in the morning and that was completely fun! We went with our whole zone and we walked there from the chapel, and that took 40 minutes. Once there we helped demolish part of the house even though there was still a bunch of stuff inside but the man told us to tear it down. Then on Thursday we had interviews with Presidente Pérez and that took a really long time, but was good. He talked to me about the 2000 stripling warriors and how their mothers taught them a lot of really good things and even though I’m not a mother now...something about that, I didn’t really understand. Ha-ha, but then he talked to me about how life is one day at a time and so is this mission; that I have to take it one day at a time. Saturday was completely fantastic!! We went to the church and helped the YW YM with their service activity which was picking up the trash on the street where their church is, and it really needed it. From that I got a sweet sunburn but it was gone by Sunday. Also, the most important part of Saturday, one of our investigators got baptized! It was a mass baptism because we had Stake Conference and right before there was the priesthood session and right after was the adult session, so there were five baptisms in all. On Sunday we had Stake Conference, and it was broadcast from Salt Lake, and we heard from Elder Costa from the Seventy, Sister Cook from the YW Presidency, Elder Christopherson from the Quorum of the Twelve, and President Eyring from the First Presidency. The talks were pretty good...from what I could understand. Then everyone who had been baptized on Saturday was confirmed members.

A note about packages. This is what I’ve learned from talking to some of the Elders. Unless you put stickers of the Virgin Mary and or Jesus Christ on the package, it takes it about a month or two to get here. IF stickers are used then it takes about 2-3 weeks. This is just what I’ve been told. Mail on the other hand doesn´t take that long, about two weeks. PLUS dearelder.com has it so that you can mail me a letter through pouchmail for FREE. ITs true, and it doesn´t take very long to get here, I’ve already gotten two letters that way. So, just so you know.

Anyway, not much else has happened this week..but it’s been pretty eventful. I love you all soo much and love love love hearing all about your lives. How are the snow and the cold? Sometimes I wish I had some coolness, but I’m getting used to it being 90 outside and think its chilly when its 70. How is Washington and Utah? How is school and work? And what in the world is Andra up to?!? I never hear from her or about her!
I love you,
Brea

Christmas in the MTC

Hello Family!
So, this week was Christmas and I didn't end up sending that letter that I told you about last week until today, SORRY! We're not allowed to write letters except on p-day so when I don't finish it on that Monday I have to wait until the next week to complete it, but we were allowed to write letters on Christmas. Speaking of which (even though half of this is all in the letter that I’m mailing to you) this Tuesday for the devotional Elder Neil L. Anderson came and spoke to us, and then on Christmas Elder L. Tom Perry spoke in the morning. We then had a talent show (the first one ever for the MTC on Christmas) and it was much better than I had been expecting. Then that night we had a devotional by Greg Olsen (I think he's one of mom's fav artists seeing as a bunch of his painting are all over the house) and he showed us some of his paintings and talked about them and it was amazing! First off he’s a painter, which got me listening. Then he was talking about Christ and it was just so good that it would have been hard not to listen.

So, I did open the presents that you sent me and they're wonderful. Funny thing though, we're not allowed to chew gum, here or in the field. But I think I can chew it in my room where no one can see me. The skirt does fit, but I haven't tried twirling around in it, but I love that it has pockets. I really enjoy the photo album, its rocking so far, and the Noah's ark is amazing! Did the achievement day kids help you? (I can never remember what those kids are actually called anymore, dang, a sign of how old I am!) The little nut cracker keeps me safe at night. Other than that, it was pretty much just like any other day, except we didn't have any classes.

Today starts the countdown to three weeks left until I leave for El Salvador! I'm so excited. I'm supposed to get my flight plans around Jan. 7, so the P-day after that I will let you know when I’m leaving, what my flight plans are like, and when you can expect to get a call from me!!

Spanish is coming along alright. My districts fav phrase to say is "es verdad" meaning "its truth" and our fav word is "sacapuntas" meaning pencil sharpener, but it’s just fun to say. As of this Saturday we get to start teaching the second lesson in Spanish, yea! Oh, Spanish is hard but is coming. I can't wait to be in El Sal and just learn the language.

My camera is working alright. It hates the cold, but as long as I’m inside it will turn on. Yippy. I think it'll last the whole mission mostly because I have awesome rechargeable batteries.

Ok. Time is running out. I love you all so much, I will write you again next week!!! love love love you and miss you tons!
Love,
Brea

P.S No crazy plans for New Years, I enjoy my sleep seeing as we're busy all day and are not allowed naps.

P.S. What did I get people for Christmas? I heard that there were presents from me under the tree.

Half way to El Salvador

email written and received December 21, 2009


This last Friday my district celebrated our one month anniversary and our half way mark all in one day. That was also the day that our teachers told us to say goodbye to English and that from now on they're only going to speak to us in Spanish. It was also the day that we taught the first lesson for the first time in Spanish.

In only a few short weeks we get our flight plans!!! This week has been pretty mild, nothing crazy and no more fire alarms at midnight. Yesterday Brother Stephen B Allen came to speak to us at the fireside, and he's a really good speaker. We're hoping that we get super cool people this week seeing as it is the holidays. Speaking of holidays, Hanukkah was wonderful! I love love loved it and thought it was so funny. At the beginning of each class we have a spiritual thought so I would give that day's Hanukkah message as the spiritual thought. I think every really liked the plan of salvation cut outs, and I think they will help us a lot as we teach the second lesson, its a really hard one to teach, mostly because there is just so much information in it.

Photo by Keith Johnson/Deseret News
Elder Richard G. Hinckley, right, and Stephen B. Allen, rear right, of the Church's Missionary Department are part of a formal presentation by Mack Wilberg, left, Sheri Dew and Mac Christensen of the Tabernacle Choir's latest release.

This last Saturday my district played a game called Native. Its where there are a bunch of cards and they each say a different name, but one says Juan/Maria and whoever gets that card is the native for the day and can only speak Spanish. But everyone is trying to trick everyone else into thinking that they are the native so we all try to speak as much Spanish a possible. So its a really fun "let’s try and speak and learn Spanish" kind of game.

For the next two weeks the Provo Temple is closed for the holiday, but our branch had the opportunity this morning to go and help clean it! It was amazing. Not the most exciting stuff, we scrubbed locker room lockers with toothbrushes and q-tips for the whole time, but it was just great to be in the temple.

Family, I love you so much, and I want you all to have a super happy merry Christmas. I'm writing you a letter today so look for that in the mail sometime soon. Mel, remember that you have my present to mom, and sorry everyone else, but I didn't buy you anything. Sorry. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! and miss you too.

Love,
Brea

P.S. from Dad- As one of the Hanukkah gifts, the missionaries received Christmas cards to write their testimonies in and send to their parents. I hope we get one from Hermana Breanna.