Valentines Day 2013

Dear Family (and of course friends)..

Happy Valentines Day All!! You are seriously the best.

This is the week of the BEST PACKAGES EVER. A million thanks!! Charity, you'll get this joke, but "I feel..SO loved.."

Seriously though.

Thank you!!

First, to Mom and Dad. It was like a trader Joes package of happiness!!!

Sarah and Sammy? I started crying. I am writing you the HUGEST letter ever today about how your package was a tender mercy. literally.

and then, the most amazing, sweetest, kindest packages from the Vanderstels. Those were ALL around voted the best chocolate-carmel cookies that have ever been consumed. And Allie? Thank you thank you!! I needed that letter so much (and of course, who doesn't need to see if they can eat a delicious chocolate cookie for every floor to the residence. note I called it a residence. not a dorm #obedient)

First, for the funny and wonderful things that happened this week:

-All the sisters in my district ADORE our teachers, hermanas Gamacho and Ayala. I think the elders do too but they can't admit it since they are of course elders. But the other day Hermana Gamacho was telling us to do something in rapid Puerto Rican Spanish to do something about switching seats and then she left, so since we didn't know what to do, we had the idea (and it wasn't mine Mom! cough cough..maybe it was) to go just "switch seats" and sit in the computer lab across the hall. She came back and started laughing because the whole classroom was just empty haha.

here is a quick rundown on my district:

Hermana Alvarez: going to OSORNO Chile! (Where all the cool kids go) and she has the habit of saying the FUNNIEST things when she is grumpy. For example: "I just really hate English. Actually no I don't. No I do, just Spanish is HARD."

Hermana Moffat: going to McAllen Texas (also known as Northern Mexico) and from Utah, and everything she says is pure gold. and she works SO hard. she's basically inspirational.

Hermana McKnight: is going to Pocatello Idaho, Spanish speaking, went to BYU and is basically my soul mate. This is because she understands all of my pride and prejudice and downtown Abbey references. And she will eat coconut bread with me at any time. And helps me manage the cafeteria (Method: step one, scope EVERY station. look at the different components that are offered. Step Two: evaluate if there are elements that can be combined to make something better. Step three; kindly ask people handing out food to hand you only the needed component. Step four: combine them and enjoy, usually in salad form. Best things made yet? Southwestern BBQ chicken salad and a chipotlte burrito bowl. I think I might have to do a MTC food blog when I get back or something.) In any case, Love her.

Speaking of Downton Abbey....Please look at the attached photo!!

 I found a building here called the Matthew Cowley building, which as everyone knows (or should know) that this is VERY close to a Matthew Crowley building, so obviously I had to dress up Downton Abbey Themed one of the days this week (I was going for the Mary look). Because it gets a little bit boring wearing a skirt and shirt every day so I wanted to shake things up again. Thank heavens for my roommates (they are all going to Sweden and are the sweetest missionaries ever.) because I borrowed all of their clothes to do so.

So..I'll tell you about the other elders later because the clock is counting down again and is stressing me out again.

This week has been quite the whirlwind. I am really really learning to be a better teacher. I am learning that the Lord hasn't called me to teach the gospel of Hermana Monroe, or the lessons of Hermana Monroe, he has called us to witness Two by two. Hermana Alvarez and I have been learning to really work together. We have also been called to teach the whole Zone, district to district, how to organize their personal time on the needs of the investigators. It has been the most incredible experience, however, because once we have planned our days and each minute around the needs of those we teach, the spirit has been POURED into our teaching and allowed us to be guided by what the Lord wants said. Sister Alvarez, when we did this, literally had the gift of tongues in one of our lessons where she understood everything that was going on and said the most incredible things. Mama Bev, against all odds, I might just be a detail person when I get off the mission. I sure am trying!!

I am really learning so much about myself, and the enabling power of the atonement to help to change and be the kind of person and missionary I need to be. I am SO blessed to be here, doing the work of helping people come to Christ because really, my relationship with my savior is coming to mean EVERYTHING in my life. I am so grateful. And I KNOW this is the work of the Lord.

Love you all!!

Hermana Monroe

P.S...Greg, I mean Hermano Monroe, won this week again. he came into our class on V day, even though he didn't have to teach, and brought me a huge box of valentine goodies. I am so lucky to have him. And I am pretty sure my whole floor would marry him (when they get back of course) because I always come home at night: "I have the BEST brother ever!"