I Made It!-9/30/09

Hola familia y amigos!!I made it through my first week at the MTC!! It was pretty nuts. But pretty good too. I live in the LeGrand Richards building on the top floor, and Hermana Galbraith is not in my district (estoy triste!!) Mi compañera es Hermana Mount. She is from Misionviejo, CA and going to Louisville, KY Spanish speaking. She's super awesome, definitely keeps me on track. There are two other Hermanas in my district, Hermana Damm from Redondo Beach, CA and going to Chicago South, and Hermana Yoshino, who is from Japan and is going to Salt Lake City South. She kind of has a tough time sometimes b/c English is her second language, so Spanish will be her third!! They're all super cool though. There are 5 other elderes in my district as well, and two of them will be in Guayaquil with me!! Exciting!! One of them is leaving in 2 weeks for the Dominican Republic MTC though, so we will only have 4 other elderes. SO, the MTC. The first week was pretty good. It was exactly like everyone says it is. Some days I felt awesome and some days I was like, I want to go home right now, I miss my mom!! But for the most part it hasn´t been too bad. The food is . . . . . unpredictable. Hermana Mount and I learned the hard way that the Chinese food es no bueno!! And the orange juice should be drunk in moderation. But if you find the right things to eat, you´ll be okay. Mom, I have already run into Katie Ashby´s brother AND Elder Smith, the guy that the sister missionary from Grandma´s ward told me to look for. Small world!! And dad, the organist for our mission conferences and all of our devotionals has a thing for Barry Manilow key changes. He throws one in at least once or twice during all the hymns, and I think of you and laugh every time. Hermana Mount and I have been getting up early to go to the workout classes in the gym, but today I got up and said, I think I´m going back to bed. It was delightful, I slept in until 6:15 and actually stayed awake during my personal study!! Amazing!!It's incredible here, the Spirit is strong and I've already learned so much Spanish and so much about the gospel and the Atonement, you have no idea. Hermana Mount knows the scriptures so well, she's been taking mission prep since she was 16. So she helps me with that and I help her with her Spanish and pronunciation, and it all works out fantastically. Our teachers are Hermano Barrios, who is from Chile and is a native speaker. He has a really funny accent and I laugh everytime he says the word "wow" because it sounds pretty goofy. But we love him. And Hermano Sears, who served in Chile and is way cool too.So funny story. Hermana Mount and I went to the Referral Center on Sunday and I talked to this lady who had asked for a Book of Mormon. I asked if she got it and she said yes. I asked if she read it and she said sort of. I asked how she felt about it and she was like, oh well I've been sick so I haven't read the whole thing . . . . actually I'm in the bathroom throwing up right now, can you call back later?? We were like ummmm . . . . why did you answer the phone?! Poor lady.So I miss you all and I love you all and I wish I could have packed you all in my suitcases and brought you with me. But don't worry about me, I'm doing the Lord's work and I'll be just fine. I love every single one of you!!!Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y mi Redentor. Yo sé que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero y el contiene los escritos de los profetas de la America Antigua. Yo sé que Dios restauró el Evangelio a travéz José Smith, y José Smith fue un profeta. Yo sé que Thomas S. Monson es el profeta en el mundo hoy. Yo sé que el Evangelio es verdadero. Estoy agradecida por mi familia y por el Evangelio. En el nombre de Jesucristo, AMEN!!!

TE AMO!!!
Hermana Chamberlain

Two Weeks Already!-10/7/09

I can't believe I've been here for TWO WEEKS already!!! Last P-day I saw all the new elders and sisters coming in and I was like, awww . . . . that was me not even a week ago!! SO insane.So, before I forget . . . . here's a list of all the things I need. First, WARM CLOTHES!!! I'M FREEZING!!! Cardigans, sweaters, hose, all the warm clothes you can find/buy, I want them!! And blankets, our room is also freezing. Also, I need some more P day clothes as well. We're allowed to wear jeans and basketball shorts, so please send me some of those as well as some t shirts for gym, I didn't bring enough. That's how I roll!!Mom, I have been getting all your dear elder letters and I love them!!! Everyone, write to me on dear elder, its so much easier than snail mail. So remember Hermana Yoshino, my roommate?? She is from Japan and I asked her your question about how foreign missionaries feel about American food. She was like, "It's all so FATTY!! And you eat too much BREAD!! And so much MEAT!! and the cereal is so SUGARY!! and the desserts are SO SWEET!! and you don't cook your VEGETABLES!!!" It was so hilarious. And then we decided that we are going to run for president when we come back, on the platform of improving American nutrition. And then she told me that in Japan, people would probably think I was a model. And then I came back into our room from the bathroom, and she was humming "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles. It was totally hilarious. Hermana Yoshino=<3So my Purdue friends will be pleased to know that Carl the Stegosaurus has become the mascot of my district!! Our old zone leaders and all our favorite elders left for Chile and the Peru MTC this week, muy triste!! But we are getting a new district in our zone today, which is very exciting. Sadly we have already lost one from our district, Elder Newell went home last Wednesday. We think there were some family issues but no one really knows what went down. But it was a bummer for sure!!So, some random stories. I had a 1/2 hour chat with Pres Clegg last P day b/c Hermana Mount needed a temple recommend interview. He remembers Katie really well and says she was one of the best missionaries ever!! He's so great. Also, I met a teacher here who served in Arcadia with Daniel, Hermana Keller. She told me to ask if he remembered her, so Daniel do you remember her?? She said you were un bueno misionero. And Abby, I MET YOUR FRIEND CHIP!!!! It was so hilarious b/c we were having an ayuno de ingles (English fast) so I could only speak Spanish and he doesn't speak any Spanish, but I saw him in the health clinic and was like "Jibson, why is that familiar??" then he said oh I'm from ann arbor and I went to BYU and I was like "WAIT!! Do you know Abby Chamberlain??" (I cheated and said it in English) and he was like "YEAH she's one of my best friends!!!" So I said, "Mi Hermana!!! Mi Hermana!!" then I had to translate but it was super exciting. So yeah. PS: we have English fasts every monday, so mondays are always really quiet around our district. What else. Did everyone totally love conference?? The only thing I can say is Jeffrey R. Holland . . . . awwwww da-dang. Elder McGuire in my district said afterwards "We have decided that Elder Holland curb-stomped Satan!!!" Mom, you don't want to know what curb-stomping is. I like to think that Elder Holland roundhouse-kicked Satan in the face, Chuck Norris style. Either way, his talk was AMAAAAAAZINGGG!!! Actually, all of conference was amazzzzing!!! And next year I have to listen to it in Spanish. Uh oh.Hmmm . . . . so, random story. When I went to visit Hillary she said "Look how the Lord blesses you, when I was in brazil I never shaved with shaving cream and I never cut myself or got razor rash!!" Well I shaved my legs a few nights ago and cut myself so bad that I bled all over the place and had to go to the custodial closet and disinfect the shower. No bueno. Hillary, we're going to have a talk. I'm totally loving it here. Hermana Mount and I have been teaching awesome lessons to anyone we can find, and we've been going to the RC which she loves but I'm not so hot on b/c you all know I hate talking on the phone. But the Spirit here is ridiculous, always so strong during our lessons and when we're planning even, we get ideas that come out of nowhere, it's insane. This gospel is so true!!! Tell everyone you know!! Don't be scared, just open your mouth!! If I had time I would look up and list all the scriptures that say that but I don't so just trust me when I say that they're there.More random stuff. The MTC food is wreaking havoc on my digestive system. Mom, if you hadn't sent those Fiber One bars we would not have a good situation in room 471. Also, Hermana Yoshino wants you to send us some food that will prove that American food isn't all gross. I saw Sister Peek last night and she is leaving NEXT WEEK and I'm so jealous. Spanish was coming along until yesterday, when we learned about how the subject of a Spanish sentence can go anywhere you want it to go. What?? Everyone should just speak English. Apologies for my bad attitude. Something else random: I haven't bitten my nails since I got to the MTC. Isn't that weird???Oh, Lindsey, Jamesy and Curt!! Pretty much all the elders in my district watch Flight of the Conchords, and we were singing the business time song this morning. It was AMAZING and I missed you all, es muy triste!! Actually I miss everyone who is reading this email right now, not too much that I want to come home, but just enough!! I am going to try and write everyone but I can only write letters on P days so it might take awhile for you to get yours!! I love you all SO MUCH and I love getting mail from you and hearing about what's going on with you and all that!! Seriously!! TE AMO MUCHOOOOOO!!!!!!!Con amor!!!Hermana ChamberlainPS: If you want me to write you, send me your address!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!