First letter

I'm a real live missionary!!! Right now I'm in this room full of happy, excited, frantically typing missionaries because we only have an hour total to email family and friends :) The typing is kind of annoying but kind of awesome at the same time.

 

Ok, before I start,  I got dearelders from Mom, Dad, Gran, Tara, and Barb (Humphreys) but haven't had time to read them all yet. But it was SO exciting to get letters, you have no idea!! Thank you!!!!

 

Could you please send me or get someone to send me some more Chocolate Chip Clif Bars (my saving grace, thank you mom! I am starving at night because we eat dinnerat 4:40), and stamps (american and international please)? That would be wonderful. I feel like there's something else but I forget.

 

How are you all!? I feel like I haven't seen you all in weeks, but it's only been about 48 hours - which is so crazy. I can't believe how many things we fit in here - the days seem long, but only because we are able to fit so many things in, not because they drag on. The time goes so fast! But I haven't been that tired! I don't remember my dreams at all, because I don't remember sleeping. Haha.

 

I admit it was really really hard to say goodbye on Wednesday (and Sunday), and I was scared, worried, nervous, sad, and full of doubts as I walked into the MTC. After the orientation meeting (where I was put with a temporary companion because I was late, but I actually knew who she was, and she's going to my mission) we went to dinner, and then we went to my room where I met my companion and roommates! Kristi Grover (wal mart girl, friends with Scott and I)'s little sister, Hermana Whitley is one of my roommates! I feel bad because I didn't recognize her at first, but my roommates are awesome. My companion is Hermana Cornwall, and she is wonderful. I was sure I was going to get a tough companion to start with, but I am SO glad I didn't!! She is positive, upbeat, hard-working, and dedicated. We get along really well, the only thing that I find hard is getting on the same page teaching-wise. We both have different ideas of what is most important and so we waste a lot of time trying to figure out what the other is saying. Everything else is great though. She is a blessing!
The first night here was tough, I felt pretty alone and was having more doubts, but that night I prayed and asked Heavenly Father if He could please bless me with strength, faith to move forward, a positive attitude, and I asked Him to please lift me up. I was a little sad and It took a while for me to fall asleep, but I did, and then before I knew it, Sister Singh's alarm was going off at 6:15! However, in my tired state, I thought it was my companion, Hermana Cornwall's alarm clock and we are supposed to arise and retire at the same time, so I rolled out of bed onto my knees to pray. But then, I looked up and Hermana Cornwall was still asleep and I realized that Sister Singh and Sister Hansen wanted to wake up at 6:15 so I went back into bed hahaha :) just because I could, even though I was awake and only had 10 more minutes. Then we got up and got ready so quickly - there's no time to do anything here! But it doesn't even bother me :) I also prayed that morning for Heavenly Father to bless me, and I feel like He did almost immediately. The whole day Thursday was wonderful. We packed so much in, I can't even remember all that we did! I do know that we had exercise time (that's right), and Hermana Cornwall and I were able to get to know each other better. The first night I didn't want to open up to her really, but on Thursday I was able to a little more which blessed both of us I think. I got to meet my whole district who are awesome! The elders are elders, but they all have their quirks and they are so kind and strong. Last night the Branch Presidency and their wives came and spoke with us as well as our Zone Leaders and it was a wonderful experience. They asked us each to take two minutes to tell about ourselves, why we came on a mission, our personal successes, and to share our testimonies. It was a great experience and it helped me learn more about each member of our district. We were also each interviewed by a member of the Branch Presidency. I went last and met with a counsellor (I forget his name, sorry!) who was so sweet and wonderful. He basically just asked me about myself, we chatted, He asked me about my relationship with the Savior, gave me some advice like that my Testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Atonement are absolutely essential to helping others. I needed to hear that. He also told me that one day when I am a mother, my children will sit on my lap and love to hear stories about my mission and I will be so grateful that I decided to serve a mission. That really really touched my heart and brought tears to both of our eyes. Even typing it now it still does. I am just so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I know it's only been 48 hours, but when I feel the Holy Spirit it is so strong and so wonderful. I LOVE being a missionary. I absolutely love it.

 

Today is our Preparation Day and we got to go to the Temple with our district! I was tired. I wasn't too tired all day yesterday, but I think it's hitting me today. After the session (it was so great to see my smiling companion in the temple - did I mention how great she is?) we went and got breakfast in the Temple Cafeteria - which was heavenly. Best breakfast ever. Then we did some assignments, assessments, wrote our Branch President, and then planned our lesson for tonight - we are teaching an "investigator" named Tito (I smiled the first time I found out - it's destiny). We're teaching him IN SPANISH tonight. Oh boy. Wish us luck!!

Can I just say before I go how glad I am that I took that Spanish class at BYU?? SOOOO glad. SO stinkin' glad. The language (for the 48 hrs we've used it) is coming a lot better than I expected. Hermana Cornwall took 4 years in High School 4 years ago, so it is slowly coming back to her, and so we help each other with words that we don't know. We're a pretty good team and we made a goal to speak spanish as much as possible and bring our dictionaries around to look things up when we dont know words. We feel like geeks and I think the missionaries in our zone who have been here longer than us are annoyed with us, but I can already feel it helping so I don't care! We're both really excited about Spanish and this goal, which is a huge blessing because we are progressing together and it is fantastico! :) 

 

Oh, I am so glad I have such a great companion. I keep thinking that. Sorry if this letter is super scattered!

 

So, I only have a few more minutes left and I'm going to try to send some photos although the computers are really figity so there's an 85% chance it won't work.

 

I love you all! Thank you so much for your prayers. I can feel them. And thank you for your letters and love :)

Wish me luck this week with learning and teaching in Espanol, trying not to drive my companera crazy, feeling and following the promptings of the spirit, and not being tired! I LOVE being a missionary so far.

 

Love you lots!

 

Hermana Vance :)

 

ps. tell my friends that dearelders and letters are the best because I dont have much time to email at all. Thank you!!