December 31, 2012

hola familia this week was wondeful it was good to talk to you all we didnt do much for christmas after i called you we went to a members house for dinner then went home. The next day we had to work but we contacted alot of people and i have been practicing my contacting since sometimes i dont say the right words but we contated over 140 people in 3 days and my comp made me do all the talking so it was great i think i can talk perfect now in spanish WHEN I CONTACT but this week was very long we worked really hard.  The family barrios didnt get baptized we went over to the house to have the interviews on miercoles but when the elder interviewed her she was very upset so we all talked to her for awhile and i guess there are a few problems with her husband but dont worry she is still going to be baptized but the husband might have to wait just a little bit longer but they are a wonderful family and very strong.  today for new years we are having dinner with a member ana maria she is single and alot of fun to be around we hve to be home by 9:30 so prob no fireworks,  This change with hermana cruz has been so amazing im learning so much from her and it makes it alot more less stressful.  This week i have been thinking alot about all the many blessings that i have and how grateful i am for the many blessings i have recieved and what the greatest gifts i have, i read in docterine and c seccsion 14;7 and the greatest gift i have is the gospel in my life and how much more happier we are when we are keeping the comandments and enduring to the end.  i also read a tlak in the liahona may 2012 for family night ha read this talk on elder donald L. Hallstom is about be converted to his gospel through his church. Learning the gospel is lifetime we shoud all try to have a desire to learn more everyday doesnt matter the mistakes we have made in our life strive to do better and always know that you have a father in heaven that loves you and wants to hear you.  ¨Repent and you can be forgiven of your sins¨. I love you all make it a better we and strive to do better make new goals for this year and remember serving brings more happiness among us.  I know that we are more happier with the gospel in our lives i have seen it change my life and im so happy that i have this opportunity to be serving that is the greatest gift i can give love you.  Hermana ericon le quiero

December 24, 2012

FELIZ NAVIDAD in panama they celabrate christmas today im excited totalk to you all.  This week was very crazy we had changes and thank goodness im still in my same area with a different companion 4 changes in the same area never happens but president ward felt inspired but honestly im so happy with Hermana cruz she is from mexico in the city she is awesome and way fun its only been 3 days with her and honestly i wish she could be my conpanion the rest of my mission.  It was a little crasy this week with changes as it always is but yay we had 3 more baptisms we have been teaching the guerra family starting my first change here and the kids her finally ready to be baptized the service went really well and we will spend christmas today with them after our p day.  I can tell you that the barrios family the mom marila and samuel will be baptized this saturday i cant wait and one more etna but im not quite sure about her she loves her coffee but maybe she stopped we will visit her and have an interview but im so happy to see these baptizms they all mean alot to me.  Remember the true meaning of christmas and be grateful for todo lo que tenemos.  Tenga Feliz Navidad 

December 17, 2012

Thanks so much for the pictures ha now it seems like christmas.  Not much lights here in panama a few members have christmas trees but not to many.  mom did you get my pakage from the ericsons..   This was a interesting week still teaching lots of lessons and i did teach the first lesson by my self in spanish so yay im progressing a little bit.  We have alot of investigators but our area is so big we only visit them 1 every week which is difficult for them to progress i think especially when the capilla is about 20 - 30 minutes away but more hermanas in feb will come to our area i hope this saturday we have 3 baptisms but not sure how a feel about it they are supposed to have 3 assistencias in sacramental but ony 1 time but the bishop says its fine so i guess its alright im really excited about it.  On sunday the family barrios the dad samuel and mom mariella came to church they are golden im so excited i did put a date with the mom to be baptized but she said she wanted to learn a little more and eventually she will but this week we are going to teach both of them and put another date for both of them by the end of this month they are amazing and very strong.  We had 4 attend church yesterday so thats good and i hope it will continue to get better still not sure if i have changes i find out tomorrow night. hopefully not but we will have to see.  Today we went to the frantera which is the boarder of costa rica and panama it was kinda a waist of time i didnt buy anything just subway but everything is good and im excited to call on christmas i will e mail next week more plans but really i dont know but tell me a time that is best to call.  love you and miss you tonz i sent a bunch of letters out so let me know when you get them.  Make it a better week love ya and miss you tonz. le quiero mucho hermana ericson

December 10, 2012

Hola,  This week was so amazing, best week ever. Yesterday we had 11 investigators in sacrament meeting.  Well, one went to a different ward, I think he was confused.  But seriously, his first time.  Ask Michael and Josh and Shantelle,  it’s not easy to get investigators to church !!  The Cummings family, who I  have been teaching once a week since I arrived here, We went to pick the mom up to come to church and three of the daughters and a brother all came to church.  And the dad we met for the first time yesterday because he is always working in Costa Rica and different places.  So I was so excited !!  Next we picked up one other 15 year old girl, Shadi.  We put a date for her to get baptized on the 22 of December.  I’m so excited finally people progressing.  After the sacrament the family Barrios walked in and stayed for all 3 hours.  This week we are going to put a fetcha with them also.   I’m so happy, and this week I just need to work harder than last.   Still lots to learn but my Spanish is just fine.  I say the wrong words everyday but that’s ok, how many times do I have to mess up before I get it right ?  I don’t know but I’m not too worried.  I hope you have a great Christmas. Honestly I’m excited to talk to you also on Christmas but I have not thought about it too much.  Don’t worry about putting more money in my account. I’ll be just fine my money budget is a lot better ha ha.  It’s because I don’t buy any food  because we have not had a fridge for 12 weeks now so I live on avena (oatmeal) and water.   So I’m good.  I’m sending a package home today to hermana Pettit she lives by Dave and Karen she will probably drop it off on Friday.  Call them and tell Dave and Karen thanks. Not much stuff, I had two shirts that I didn’t want to wear on the mission and a few Christmas gifts for the girls and the boys, not much. Email me  be back if you got it, and lots of pictures.  I have some letters also, will you deliver them for me I think one is for Steph Rallis and the others, I  don’t remember, but I’m trying to write letters. It is  hard because not every p day do I get to the post office.  If  send letters to our house for a different person just make sure you get it to them.  Not sure what my plans are for Christmas I  might have changes on the 20^th, but love you all so much and make it a better week love you hermana ericson

November 26, 2012

Hola Familia i hope thanksgiving was great. We did not do anything for it here.  They did have a typical day in panama, not sure what they celebrate but lots of Panamanian food.  It was not my favorite, it was the first time that I tried real Panamanian food.  I’m sure black Friday was crazy.  I was just telling my companion how crazy people are in the states.  Well I hope I will stay  in my same area for Christmas.  It has been three changes, so not sure yet.  This week was really good.   We struggle to get our investigators to come to church for only 1 hour and for some reason it’s really difficult for them.   We found more investigators to teach and one family that lives across the street from the church and doesn’t know anything about our church.  They said it would be no problem to attend church so we will see how that goes ha ha.  My comp has been teaching me the lessons in Spanish, and it has helped so much because sometimes I only share my testimony. We are going to work really hard so that we can have progressing investigators.  Most of them are old. I don’t think they will progress ha. But funny story, so we contacted a less active old man that is blind and he lives with his mom that is 91 and 2 sisters one can’t speak. Not sure what you call it but she is special, and the other sister has Alzheimer’s.   Anyway so we sang a hymn and the sister that has Alzheimer’s hit my comp 2 times.  I was laughing so hard and I didn’t know what to do, so as we were saying bye she pushed me off her porch and the mom that is 91 was yelling at her.  Oh man lots of crazy stories and of course the mom that is 91 is in perfect condition, remembers everything and can walk, speak and is in good health.  I think the lord guides me to the older people because we have a few other investigators that are over the age of 70.  Its hard to move away from them when we don’t see them progressing but I know there are others waiting for me to teach them.  I’m so grateful for everything that I have and I hope  you all have a better week.  love ya lots Hermana Ericson 

November 19, 2012

hola Happy birthday to Brayden and Grandpa Ericson.  I hope you have a good birthday,  love ya tonz.  This week was a little busy with changes and everything, but ya usually I’m only in a 3 sum for 2 or 3 days till my new comp. but she arrived at midnight on jueves and i love her she is from PERU ha ha really close to the airport like 5 minutes but ya we talk a lot about Peru and the food. So I’m  very jealous you had a Peru party.  This change is going to be even better I’ll be honest. I really didn’t like killing my first 2 companions it’s not easy especially because they were a bit turnkey.  But this change is going to be amazing I’m already learning so much from her the first 3 days. Its awesome and I’m speaking a lot more and practice lessons together so I love it.  We went to the beach again today and I was running away from the water when the waves came in and my camera fell out of my pocket so i ran to put it in some rice so I’ll see if its ok in the next couple days but don’t worry I have my memory card I didn’t lose any pictures.  We are finding more people to teach and want us to come back but it’s not easy to get them to church with us.  Oh mom,  the 3 companions I was with one is from salt lake and lives a minute away from the Ericsons Dave and Karen,  Hermana Petit and I”m sure you went to school with her parents she only has 4 more weeks left and then goes home.  She lives behind the park the we have family night at sometimes and her dad owns the Western Gardens that’s about all I really know about her. I sent some pictures home so I hope you got them and I’m sending some things home in December with Hermana Petit I hope every one is doing well. I pray for you every day. I’m doing better and I’m excited for this next week.  They don’t celebrate thanksgiving but they have a festival traditional ´party on the 24.  and lots of food so great more food.  I have not been sick for a really long time I don’t eat much rice anymore well none for lunch and dinner a little bit because the members feed us dinner.  Make it a better week,  love ya tonz and can’t wait to talk to you in one more month.

November 12, 2012

Hola, I hope everyone is doing well I can’t believe it snowed that much that’s crazy.  This week was a little crazy with changes and my companion finishing her mission.   I’m in a trio for 3 days until my new comp comes to my area.  So I have a story, mom you will love it.  Ok so we took the bus to a part in the area which is a 20 minute ride, then 30 min walking.  It was raining so hard so we waited at the chino, a lil store on the corner.  Me and Hermana Rodriguez saw a rat pass by close to us. I didn’t think anything of it just oh cool, ha.   It ran into the store and we were watching where it went. Then  3 people in the store ran over to trap it between the stacks of soda in the isle.  We stood back and just laughed and watched them try to catch it, oh and it was not a mouse it was a rat.  It ran out and not even 2 seconds after a man in the store saw it,  and stepped on it with his foot.  His life ended. We could not believe it ha ha, it was nasty but really funny.  We had stake conference yesterday and ended up having lunch 2 times.  So I skipped dinner because I ate too much.  The  members are all very nice,  and it was my companions last day.  Lots of fiestas these next couple of months. They don’t celebrate  Thanksgiving but they have lots of parties for a special day in noviembre not sure what.  This change there are 70 new Hermanas coming to panama so its growing with missionaries it’s going to be great.  These last 2 weeks we have been working hard to find families to teach and we found a family next to a members house that has 10 kids and 7 live there with the parents. Four kids above 8 and three little ones. We have only had one lesson but if you can imagine the lessons don’t last very long,  the dad is not very interested but the mom is and of course the kids. The dad  lets them go to church so that’s good.  I hope they will come this week.  It’s really hard when the dad doesn’t really support, but things are going a lot better.  I learned so much from my last comp.

Love ya and miss you all tonz have a good turkey dinner I’ll  be missing that. Make it a better week love you.  Please send pics of our whole family in my package or in letter I need some to show the members,  and also my bishop wants a family photo gracias. ´´We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become eachday¨´   richard g. scott

le quiero mucho

November 05, 2012

Love the pictures, thanks.  Send me more pictures in the package, and letters.  Also don’t buy me any shoes. You can send me the brown pair you bought, but if you bought others, take them back.  I  don’t need black, only the brown the shoes.  My black shoes I have are good and  will not  wear out for a long time , they are great.  For Halloween they don’t do anything here just parties at the bars.

For  p day today we didn’t really sleep because my companion wanted to say goodbye to some families that live in changuinola which is 5 hours from David.  We went to the bus station at 3 am  this morning with 2 other Hermana’s Hurst and Bustamante.  I tried  to sleep but the busses are not very comfortable.  When we arrived we went to one house had spam for breakfast.  Yummy ha that’s the first time I have had it.  Ya not the best ha.  But right when we sat down to eat, a snake was outside the door and this was not a small snake.  I wish I would have taken a picture, but the mom ran inside to get a huge knife to chop it up but it got away.  Any way this week was great.  I’m speaking a lot more and feeling more comfortable even though I mess up every day.  I  just repeat myself when the people don’t understand me, but I’m ok with that.  Ya,  so we did visit Aneil Cubilla to see if he really quite smoking and drinking.  I asked him when the last time he smoked,  he said earlier today which is sad but we are still going to teach him.  He just needs more time. Not many of our investigators are progressing but I hope this week will be much better. We found a couple families to start teaching and one family has 7 kids so we will start teaching them this week.   We will see how long they will all listen.

It’s been great to have a mission leader that cares he helps us every day. Sometimes it’s too much but I guess it’s good for me since he pushes us to work hard.  This is my Hermana Rodriguezes last week with me.  She has been so great, we have had a lot of fun together.  We have our days but that’s what makes us closer.  It is sad she is leaving but I hope my new companion is just as amazing and will work out good with me. Let me know when you get my letters.   I sent home pictures through the internet, which here it’s  not very good.  I can’t plug my camera into it to download the pictures to send,  but I’ll keep trying.  I’m so happy because we found a new restaurant to eat at everyday it’s a lot more healthier and 10x cleaner ha ha.  It was sad to cancel with our cook but it was the best thing to do seriously.   It was a full plate of rice and a tiny piece of chicken every day with one tomato, anyway you don’t want to know the details.  I’m sure Michael and Josh and maybe Shantelle could imagine. We ate at this restaurant  once and the owner is a member but not active,  and it’s a fish  restaurant  so lots of choices fish, shrimp, chicken, salad lots of vegetables it’s wonderful.  I’ll have to see if I gain more weight or loose weigh. ha ha.  On Saturday we did service for a lady in the ward and cleaned out one room in her house and painted it. I’ll send pictures.  Josh where did you take the picture with Jimmer? PS send an update to me a little about the football season.  love ya all tonz ,make it a better week love Hermana Ericson

October 29, 2012

Hola.  Another week is going by way to fast.  This week I had to go to
Panama City to immigrations so that I could get my identification card.  We
left at midnight,  took the bus and  got there around 8 am  the next
morning.  The busses are nice but I did not sleep.  It’s a good thing I had my I-pod. 

I listened to the tape Mr. Mormon by  our neighbor John Pennington.   It is 
really good, you should listen to it. Afterwards we went to the
mission office.  I talked to Andrew Hawks (an elder serving in Panama that played soccer with Aaron)   for a while.  He is doing great.  He is in the office all day and then goes out at 4. I took
some pictures so hopefully you get them.  We took the bus at 5 pm  and
didn’t get home till about 1 am in the morning.  I didn’t get much sleep and 
then we got up at 6 am.   We did some service, well really just cleaning the
church because we were having another baptism. Hermano Elvis is an
amazing person and was ready to be baptized in 1 week which is hard
because they have to attend church 3 times or a family home evening.  
But the bishop wanted to make it happen, so on Saturday we waiting
and waiting for him, and he never showed up.   It was sad and a letdown, but it was
because he was working really late.   Don’t worry,  we have another date
the end of this week for him to be baptized, so that is exciting. My
Spanish is getting a little bit better,  I understand a lot more. Me and
Hermana Rodriguez are doing just fine just laughing a lot at each other.
We don’t know what the  other is saying at times.  She is amazing and we
are working really hard and eating lots of rice.  (not good for my
stomach) but if you love the people you  need to eat their food.  Oh
and on Tuesday we took a bus for an hour to teach this older man named
Aneil Cubilla.  He is in a wheel chair and doesn’t have a leg.  We taught him
about the word of wisdom.   He smokes and I’m  not sure if he has a drinking
problem. Our missionary leader talked most the time then towards the end,
just as be committed him to not drink and smoke, he said he doesn’t smoke.  I

 pointed at his cigarettes, and he said, oh yea well not anymore. I
asked him to give me his cigarettes.  Then Brother Mendez, the
missionary leader, kept talking trying to have him hand over his
cigarettes.  He finally did and the missionary leader crushed his whole
pack up right in front of us all.  I stared at Aneil and could tell he
was devastated, like really wow and he told us he would not smoke or drink
any coffee.  It was amazing to see him give it all up right then and
there.  Now we will see how he keeps it up.

 love ya tons and make it a better week love ya all tons hermana ericson

October 22, 2012

hola familia this week was very interesting ok so last monday was really fun me and hermana rodriguez went with all the elders paintballing with 2 other hermanas and 20 elders is was a blast i did get one big bruise on my arm but is better dont worry. on tuesday i think we were walking  to an invetigators house and a car pulled over and was  really friendly hola hermanas how are you good my name is blah ha dont remember but he said he was a member in a different ward and that he would give us a ride this is all in spanish i understood a little bit but anyways so he gave us a ride and my comp started asking him questions well she asked him how long he had been a member oh my whole life he said oh cool when were you baptized oh my pastor baptized me it was when i was little OH really huh mi hermana oh you mean your bishop? oh yea my bishop ha ha so she looked at me with a  crazy face and i said, " la casa es aqui mismo gracias ha ha he kept talking and driving and he was still very nice oh aqui huh ya gracias h a i shouldnt tell you this but it was very weird and the first and last time we get into a car we still have to be careful with the taxis also i try to look down because they all love that am american and live to say. " hey baby i love you" im used to it but it makes my compaion mad because everyday someone has to say it to us as we pass by.  Santiago and jeremy are not yet marrried we have only shared one lesson with them and wanted us to come back the next night they ordered pizza for us and are very nice jeremy is 20 and santiago is 23 they live in a house with lots of family cousins grandma grandpas siblings i dont know how many but anyways we at pizza and wanted to share with them a movie of la restauracion the family was playing cards/ poker in the kitchen and we watched the movie in other room with another sister and a there friend while santiago played cards oh and plus they where all drinking it was a little awkward but the girls wanted to learn more and and want us to come back and are going to come to church with us so we have alot explaining to do with santiago but just a short little story.  I hope everyone is doing well write and send me more pictures, of the whole family i need pictures to show people they think i dont have parents ha ha but anyways im doing good speaking more spanish and understanding a lot. My comp called the presidents office to ask a question and i asked her the elders name and ha it was elser haws so i talked to him for 5 min or so and he is doing good. We had a lesson yesterday that went really good i usually dont speak that much but it was good practice for me to help  my comp teach.  I have 2 min so i have to go but make this week a better week and try a little harder each day to be better love you take care. le quiero¡

October 15, 2012

This week Rachael's email was very short, but I did get some pictures FINALLY in the mail today.  Thank you to all of our friends who have been a great influence on Rachael.  She loves people, and I know this gift will open many doors to bring others unto Christ and his teachings.  It is because of your love, support and guidance that Rachael is able to serve as a missionary, and I can't say Thank you enough.     
 

October  15

Happy birthday Michael and Brynlee.   Last  week was great,  we had 2 baptisms on Saturday.  This week we are trying to get the mom married so she can also get baptized. I do have to say it was very hard teaching the kids.  The mom has 5 kids and none are disciplined and we maybe had 10 minutes of their attention.  But everything went well.  

Well not much new, still teaching and finding new investigators.  My Spanish is getting a little better everyday.  On Sunday we spent like 3 hours with our Mission leader and our bishop.   I was exhausted, listening to Spanish for that long.  Me and my new Companion get along great. There days we just have to laugh at each other because we don’t understand each other but thats ok. I’m learning a lot from her and we are working hard.  Honesty not much has happened since we worked hard getting those 2 baptisms.  They are 11 and 8 but are not very obedient so it was difficult but i hope everyone has a better week love ya tonz. hermana ericson

October 08, 2012

Thanks for the pictures, they are adorable. Ok,  yes  I did hear the  talk in general conference about “ask the missionaries”, and I hope investigators don’t ask me those questions because I don’t know anything about my ancestors,  ha ha.  It was good,  I  had to watch the first session on Sunday in Spanish, but the other sessions I was able to watch in English.  I got my new companion on Wednesday night,  her name is Hermana Rodriguez and she is from Guatemala.  She really is amazing and a really hard worker.  She doesn’t know mush English.  I probably  know more Spanish than she does English but it is really good for me.  It is helping me talk a lot more and contact people.   I do understand a lot, only sometimes when they talk really fast I don’t but it’s because I stop listening.  It has  been so great,  we have 2 baptisms on Saturday.  This week we are going to work hard to get this  couple married so that they both can be baptized.  Its just hard because it costs about 50 dollars and not everyone has the money to do so.  I sent everyone a letter let me know when you get them.  Today we went to the beach again and played soccer is was really fun and we cooked hamburgers and hotdogs.  It  felt like I was camping, the sand tastes great.  I really don’t know what to send me.  No  food really cuz I can get anything I want.  They  have most everything.   I do want some CTR  rings,  just some cheap green Spanish ones.  

Have a good week. Love everyone.  Sister Ericson 

September 24, 2012

HOLA this week was a little crazy we had our 5 baptiisms on Saturday.  It was a family, a single mom with four kids.  Two of the children were baptized and also the mother’s her little brother that is 14.  It was amazing.  Also another dayana was also baptized,  her husband is already a member.  It was a happy day!! On Sunday they were confirmed.  That day was stressful because the new members  were not there at the beginning of sacrament and my companion freaked out a little bit.  But don’t worry, they came in right after the first lady  was confirmed. Oh and I had to do another mission minute  so I shared about the baptisms and then I shared in ( ha I think john 14:15) if he love me keep my commandments. After that, I don’t even remember what I said ha ha.  But I was still really nervous and shaky.  Today for p day we are doing an amazing race thing so we will see how that goes. On Friday we had interview with our president and it went really well. He told me my next comp was going to be latina so I’m excited. Now I can start my Spanish. Ha it’s been difficult but I know my next comp will be patient so I’m excited for that.

    Sounds like everyone is doing well. What did you decide on my car and the house?  I’m fine if you keep my car did, Andrew get a car?  That’s so crazy everyone is getting married and really fast. Dad I have not gotten your letter yet it takes a couple weeks longer ha since I’m far from the city. But I know I’ll eventually get it.  I’ll try my best to write letters I just want to wait one more week for changes.  I really want to work hard and get my goal of 140 contacts by the end of the week. My my comp is done and is ready to go home, so she is a little bit trunky. But I’m going to push her this week cuz bishop asked us to work hard.  Although  she told me that the Presidnt said she can relax.  Ha I don’t know what to believe but I think it’s a waste of time.  Maybe it’s because I’m still new. i duno.  I’ll  talk to you next week,  love ya and miss you all.  I’m so happy to be here and I  can’t tell you how much I love the people,  even though I pretend to know, and laugh when they speak.  I don’t understand but I love it. This next change I know will be a big change and finally I will start working hard.   love ya Rach

September 17, 2012

Hola, mom I got your letter and one from  Shantelle from about a month ago.  I also got one from  my friend that came to Europe. I got her  wedding invitation  and I got Corinne’s.  Wow that was fast but I’m so excited for them.  Mom, as for  my car whatever you think is best. I’m fine keeping it just have someone drive it sometimes. It was great talking to you and will you send me Aarons e mail address so I can e mail him.  What did you do on wed when you took him to Provo?  

On Wed we did service all morning for a member and really deep cleaned her house.  I felt so good and wow it was dirty but hopefully they felt good having a clean house.  I still hate spiders and webs and they were all over the house,  ya gross.  We have been working with a few families. This Sat we should be having 5 baptisms, I’m so excited and I’m growing so much closer with them.  And with one family of course things have to go wrong the week of their baptism.  The cops showed up while we were teaching them.  Some teenager said that her brother who is 14 that is getting baptized,  stole from her and all this weird stuff.  It was a good thing we where there cuz she told them the missionaries were here teaching us and that he had been home all night. ya people in panama, some are crazy.  We don’t really contact since we are working so hard for these baptisms but when my comp goes home I’m sure I’ll be doing a lot of that since I don’t know that many people. Its good we both have different ideas, I’m just quite and follow her.  So this week I’m going to try to speak up what I feel ha ha.  Its so amazing and I’m so happy. When I see the investigators the very first time and know they are so much  happier.  We have them teach us what they learn from the Book of Mormom.  Ii have started to re- read it with them and it makes so much more sense.  But the bible ya thats too difficult to understand to much for my brain right now ha ha.  We have an amazing bishop who  lives an hour away. We  take the bus and that is part of our area.  It is so big but we have been trying to work with families up there.  Its just difficult since the church is so far away.  We got soaking wet it rained so hard up there the bishop made us shower at his house cuz he was affraid we would get sick, which is great but a little weird.  Me and my comp get along just fine, there was only one day she yelled at me so thats good.  It  was because I was a little sick in my stomach and I wanted to keep working but she insisted we go home. ha I won.  That was the 2 weeks I was new here, so we are a good different. Its fine, I learn a lot every day from her. 

Say hi to grandma. I’ll be sending some pictures home to show her and I’ll write to her.  I can’t forget the other night, I saw a cockroach on the floor. It was gross I told Hermana Fannin to come take care of it.  It was funny ha ha, it was already dead.  So today I got up early and cleaned a little better since there are geckos that sleep in our house.  Its weird seeing them on our walls but hey they kill the bugs.  Don’t worry I’ll live if I don’t see any more cockroaches,  at least if they are dead.  I have been speaking more Spanish every day. I either share my testimony or pray. The investigadores love to call on me since they know my Spanish is not the best, but hey its good practice and I’m getting better at it.  I can say more than 3 word in my prayer ha ha.  I will have lots of recipes when I get home.  A member brought by some banana bread that is so good and I think I’m more excited to come home and cook it ha.  

I’ll talk to you next week next week I’ll try to send pictures, this computer I can’t becuze I can’t plug my card in.  Just wait.  But I love and miss you all so much thanks for everything have a good week and have a good attitude.  Try to be a little bit more kind ha ha ha love Hermana Ericson

September 08, 2012

Rachael called home last night to tell Aaron good-bye, just before he was set apart by our Stake President.  Yes, she did have permission from her Mission President.  She talked to all of us on speaker phone for about 15 min.  and told  Aaron good luck in Spain, and that “a Mission is hard”. She sounded great, and still talks quite fast.  

Rachael’s letter from Monday:  I’m so happy, I have learned so much.   K about sending me a package, stilll put Jesus pictures and catholic (?) pictures on the mail or package. Whatever don’t send anything expensive I may or may not get it. The mail system is weird and sometimes the missionaries don’t get eveything their families send.  Ha, I want fire cheetos and slim jims.  Ha ha, it is like the states.  At  the grocery store so I can get whatever I want (I wish I could say the same)  Tell Michael to tell chuck I said happy birthday last week.  I did use my debit card once, I spent I think 50 on a few groceries and an  I pod deck to listen to music and also a birthday present for a family that we are teaching right now. I’m so excited we have 5 baptisms on  Sept 22,  and on Sept we have 3 more.  I’m doing just fine and hopefully I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

 Last week was a rough week.  I'm trying to learn my area and it is huge.  but this week was so great and I’m learning more Spanish every day. I’m not perfect yet, and can’t speak but I can understand a lot more than I think I can.  Today for p day we went to the beach it was a blast and most everyone got in.  I didn’t but I got my feet wet a little but no one swam. ( her brother’s gave her the “clear” word of caution against getting in the water in our phone call ) I just got really wet but I guess our president is fine with that, I’m still learning all the rules. I can’t believe you went to the byu game. That is awesome, see they are fun.  I love you so much and hope everything is going well. I have not been sick since I have been here. And about gaining weight,  yes I am, but oh well I knew it would happen since we eat rice 3 sometimes 4 times a day and its rude to say no.  In sacrament meeting the bishop called my name  to the stand to give a few minutes scripture. I was so nervous but it was good for me, and the ward knows my Spanish is not perfect, ha ha. 

 love ya .. I  emailed a lot of people back today so I don’t have too much time but I’m sure you will get a call tomorrow night from me probably  only 10 min but make sure Aaron is home.  If not, good luck Aaron. I’m realizing that Josh, Shantelle and Michael never really told me how the mission was going to be, and I didn’t expect to do what I’m doing but, I love it and I know you will do great.  Please be mature and older than 19 years old ha ha, at least in the MTC.  But  it is hard and it is never going to be easy,  love ya so much,  love rach 

Panama

Her email is rachael.ericson@myldsmail.  YES, you can email her....Monday is her P day.  I haven't mailed a letter yet, but I think it is $1.05 to mail a letter to Panama.  

hola famila.  k sorry about the pictures we couldn’t do anything in the mtc since they took our cameras away. Next week I will figure things out and send them in my e mails or send they home.  My president is amazing, he is relaxed and I get a lot longer to e mail so now tell people to e mail. Did you get the new address Sister Ward sent you? Because it’s a little bit different and letters usually take 3 weeks to get there. Have Aaron e mail me part of his talk. I will be e mailing every Monday since that is my p day and its usually in the morning.  I have not heard from Natalie or Michael. Have them e mail me and did they get my letters?  Get on facebook and ask my friend Shantay Carson what her e mail is please, and Shaylee Williams.  

Well this has been a great first week, spent the first two days in the city with the president and his wife and had amazing food. On Wednsday we met our new trainers for the first 12 weeks. Her name is Hermana Fannin she is from American fork and yes we do get along we have been trackting a lot. I’m getting to know my area a little better. Its called David and its 8 hours away from the city. The first day we didn’t get here till midnight. So yes Ii was tired but was excited to see where I would be living for a while. I’lll just tell you this mom, you would never in your life spend the night there. Ha, I don’t know how I’m doing it. Yes I’m  sure there are millions of spiders but I don’t look for them and usually there are little bugs on my bed but I try to ignore them.  Ii did clean the place up a litttle bit, I have a cold shower every single night it’s great.  This week I committed to people for baptism, and get this, my area has not had a baptism for 5 months.  It’s crazy so hopefully they will both be baptized on September 8th.  We are teaching other people. There is an 18 year old girl and her family was catholic and for 2 years they have been evangelicals so it’s very interesting. I understand mostly everything, but I can’t speak as well, but I don’t care.  I make mistakes every day and I share my testimony.  It has been good weather though it does rain pretty much every day. I usually wear sandals.  The president is fine with it so most of the Hermanas wear opened toed shoes.  OK, the food here is amazing, rice beans and chicken every day in the same place for lunch. My companion skips breakfast, but today I think I’ll buy cereal.  I found out she was feeding me moldy toast a few times for breakfast and I didn’t know it until I showed her. Ya nasty, it tasted fine but not after I saw the mold ha ha.  But really the food is so good. The members feed us also for dinners. Last night was so good. We had mashed potatoes bbq wings and fried bannanas which are my favorite and a piece of cake which you know how I don’t like cake. Here it’s a little different. The cake is moist and really good ha. I don’t know how to explain, but most important I have not been sick at all since Ii have been here.  I have not seen Andrew Hawks. He is in a different area and when I was in the city he didn’t have  a change but a lot of missionaries said hi to me from him.  I think I answered most questions you would ask. But today me and my Hermana are going to visit her old converts. She only has 5 more weeks left of her mission, so I’ll get another soon.  Mom are you sending my e mail to everyone?  Well I miss everyone and I’m doing just fine. Don’t worry. Love ya all so much talk to you next week.  Rachael

Panama

hola happy birthday devin today, and chuck on Saturday. I hope you both

had a good birthday and hope you are doing well. ok,so last Monday for p

day my companion wanted to go see one of her old investigators. So I

went with and had to use the bathroom so bad ha, so I went out back and

the little daughter showed me to their rusty out house. ha mom I had to

pass, ha ha and that was only my first experience so far. We have been

teaching a lot of people and have four baptisms for this month but we

will have to see how many will keep their commitments. I’m still

learning my area and figuring out how to do things. Our area is so big

and when I got here the bishop was not very happy with the other

missionaries before me because they have not had a baptism for 5

months. So hopefully it will be successful this month. The members are

so nice and we get fed a lot. one day I didn’t want lunch so I mac n

cheesed instead they have a lot of American food I can get pretty much

anything I want for food but I usually just make French toast for

breakfast or cereal. How did Aaron’s farewell go? I can’t believe he is

already leaving in 9 days send me his e mail address so I can e mail

him.   SORRY this letter is way short but I didn’t get any letters or e mails so e mail and let me know if you are getting them. love all ya and hope

everything is alright. Sister Rach Ericson

Panama!!!

Here is the link to Rachael's mission blog. She arrived in Panama and there are a lot of pictures posted on the blog.

http://www.panamamission2010-2013.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-missionaries-arrive-in-august.html?m=1

Guatemala MTC

HAPPY birthday to Brooklyn and Savannah Releyea, I love you both so much
and wish I could celebrate your birthdays with you. Have fun in school
Savannah, I’m thinking of you and hope you have a great birthday, love ya
so much.  Brooklyn you are so sweet, I miss you so much and I hope your
water party is (or was) fun.

   So,  a lot has happened this week.  It was so great specially being my last week. Well, the day after my last e mail I had a feeling I was going to speak in sacrament meeting,  and they don’t announce
who is speaking until after the sacrament is passed.  Then you go give your talk 10 seconds after, so Sunday I hurried and wrote a talk for about 5 min, if that. And it had to be in Spanish so that was a little
crazy.  It was on an apostasy which I had no clue how to give a talk about it.  So I just gave an example about it, ha. It was 5 min long.  I did have to read it in Spanish and went really slow. I’m sure all the
Latina and Latinos were laughing inside, cuz I’m not sure if I translated everything correctly, ha ha.  Tuesday was so fun.  We went proselyting for a few hours just close by the MTC. The first door we
knocked on we gave a short message on the resurrection and she was interested and wanted us to come back.  We invited her to come to church but her family was coming in town.  She was catholic but still wanted to hear more.  The next person we talked to was a guy named Adrian.  He was so sweet. He was on break from working a vet. Hospital.  He was sitting on the grass with another friend we started talking about the book of Morman,  since he saw it in our hands.   Then he kept asking us questions. Hermana Francisco started talking to a guard and Hector since they didn’t know anything about the book.  Well, Hector kept talking to me, and it was so weird, what do I know?  I could understand everything he was saying for the most part.  I would never think of talking to someone in Spanish without my companion translating.  It was for more than 30 min, it made me feel so great. He told me about how the missionaries are teaching him right now and that he has been reading the book of Mormon.  Then he shared his testimony with me about how he feels when he reads it.  He put his news
paper down and said he wanted to read the book of Mormon, ha, so I gave him one.  We had a couple of copies we  were giving away as we proselyted.  He was so sweet and I bore my testimony and how I felt and he asked me if I would be able to come back tomorrow to talk with him.  But I couldn’t  because our schedule is different and its really for practice.

I  finished reading the book Morman this week and I’m so happy.  I’ll read it again and I’m starting
it in Spanish now. We got about 7 referrals the rest of the day so that was success for us .  I can’t wait to get to panama. I leave on Monday in the afternoon.  I have no clue when our flight is.  They don’t
tell us till Monday.   But when I get to panama they let me email.  I got the  dear elder letters from  mom and Shantelle.  Thank you so much I love getting letters, and it’s crazy how everyone is getting married.
Last  Thursday  it was our last time in the temple in Guatemala. I will see ya soon and hope to here from everyone.  Jacob I hope you’re doing better and Fernanda.   Do have any plans what you’re doing or moving or anything exciting i guess being home right ? love you both so much.

I can’t tell you how happy I am right now.   love ya  so much,  take care and write to me ha ha

Guatemala MTC

hola comó está. Hope everything is going well. Andrew how is your new
job? Anything new? Mom I got your package 2 days ago thanks so much I
was so excited, especially for the slim jims. Today is Hermana
Canfields B day. She was my companion in the Provo MTC and I woke
up at 5 so that I could decorate her bed and sing feliz cumpleaños to
her when she woke up. I bought her a few things when he went shopping
a week ago but I’ll give it to her later on tonight. I also had
the chef make her a cake tonight so I’m going to surprise her all day
ha.

  Thursday we did a session in the temple and it was all in Spanish.
It an amazing experience ,I could understand pretty much everything
I’ll go one more time next week and then I’m done in the MTC. 9 more days
left, it’s so crazy but I’m super excited.

  On Tuesday we go proselyting, not with a Latina this time. We will see how that goes. I’m excited and speaking a lot more Spanish not in the correct way but at least good enough for others to understand me. I’m going to work on grammar a little bit this week but it’s not that important to me yet. I’m not
worried about it.

cada dia enseñamos nuestto investigadors and it is
always interesting trying to figure out there problems and to teach
them the right thing, but we learn from our mistakes. And learn to teach
different every time. Dad how is your new job going? How is Jacob
doing? Anything new?  Aaron did Spencer Richards go back out? What
are you up to? Fernanda how is your job at Las Costas? or whatever
the name is I forgot. I hope you are doing good, I love you so much and
can’t wait to tell you all my experiences it’s amazing and I’m so happy
I’m learning so much about the gospel and how important it is for all
of us love you.

  My panama address is Sister Rachael Ericson, Panamá Panamá City Mission, Carrasquilla Entrega General/ AP 0834, Ciudad de Panamá, provincia de Panamá, Panamá. It takes 10 days for letters so you don’t need to send anymore letters to the MTC.

 I have to go love ya tons.  Oh and mom a couple of the Latinas really wanted pictures of our whole family so I gave both of them away will you send me a couple more when you write a letter thanks. Hope grandpa and pat are doing
better tell them I love them and I’ll send a letter to our house so
that you can give it to them. Tell grandma I love her and hope she is
having fun in Bear Lake. Say hi to all the cousins and tell them I miss
them and that I’ll write to them, if they write me ha, since I don’t get
much free time. Love ya tons Rach

Guatemala MTC

hola como esta This week went by so fast I don’t even remember what happened.  On martes the president and his wife took us on a city tour of Guatemala. All of Latino elders and Hermanas’ left since they were only here three weeks so there was only 16 of us nortes, but it was a
fun day to get out.  

They took us to the middle of the city and showed us this huge map of Guatemala made on concrete. Then we got to go shopping. It was fun just a market like Peru but I didn’t buy anything
for me. I did get my old companion from Provo something since she is here and her birthday is next Saturday. We went to Wendys  after and I was so excited to get a spicy chicken sandwich. I didn’t know how  to say no mayo in Spanish so I ate it anyway.  About 20 min after, I was so sick I wasn’t sure what it was from but I guess American food did not agree with me. One of the Latina Hermanas’ didn’t get her visa or had problems, so we were a trio for two days. She was happy to be with us for one more day.  When we  first  got to Wendys,  she said she was scared her family might see her since they live in Guatemala.  I was trying  to understand her, but  she said my family is up the stairs they had a clothing
business.  So I went over to the president and asked him if it would be alright if we went up to say hi.  He came with us and it was so cool to meet her family.  It was her 2 sisters and her grandma and they were all crying.  They are not active in the church but it was neat to see them together. On our way back to the CCM I was not feeling good. We were going to the temple when we got back,  but I still went.  I’m learning something every time I  go. The next day for class none of the elders were in our class. We found out that more than half of the elders were sick, too.  So, I’m  not sure,  but it was probably the food at Wendys.

 Bekah, thanks so much for the package,  that made my day. Ha.  My rice crispy was opened, not sure if
you did that on purpose, but it was pretty funny. And no, I am not the shortest. Most the Latinas are short but I am probably the shortest American ha ha. Thanks so much love you!  Mom if you have not sent that package don’t send it. It won’t be here in time before I  leave.  It takes about 2
weeks or longer.  If you want to send stuff send it to my panama address and I’ll  give that to you next time.

Fernanda hos is your job at la costa? I can’t wait to come home and speak in Spanish to yolu i miss
you and I hope you are doing good without Jacob I know its hard but my family is there for yolu if you need anything don’t be afraid to ask. Dad how was your first week of your new job? and what is it
what do you do ?
 Sorry, have to go love ya  Rach 

Guatemala MTC

comó está ! This week was very interesting.  On Wednesday we went out proselytizing. We took a bus across town which was crazy and an adventure, we where so squished.  When we got to the area we knocked doors and talked to people on the streets it was so much fun even though my Spanish was not all that great but we had a Latino companion for the proselytizing part.  Most of them were catholic and a few people didn’t answer their door, but I guess I need to get used to that .  We  just shared a short message with most of them but we invited a couple to come to church and asked if we could come back and they said yes.  The only thing is we don’t really get to go back, but they will find other missionaries to go teach them.  It was crazy one lady we started to talk to on the street, she was trying to tell us how our church was not the right one. And when we asked her why, she could not tell us why and started to walk away but Hermana Caal just followed her and kept talking. She finally started to listen and we walked her home.  It was an amazing experience to see her feel something about the message. She wanted us to come back so I guess that is a good sign.  We did get to go to the temple again and do a session.  Everyday we practice teaching and its good practice. I’m learning so much.  My companion had a tooth ach so we took an adventure to the dentist
across town and she had to get a root canal. Good thing that it is not me, it was  no fun.  I have a latina in my room Hermana Romero. She is short and so funny. We always have crazy nights with her like really crazy.  But it is fun trying to understand everything she says cuz she doesn’t know 1 word in English. The other night she was not feeling really good and she put lotion in my hand. And I didn’t get what she wanted me to do. 
She started rubbing her belly and I guess she wanted me to rub it on her since, she was not feeling very good todes modes really weird but.  The Latinas only are for  3 weeks so they all leave on Monday and then Tuesday we will get all knew Latinas and Latinos so that is exciting.  Yesterday was such a good day.  In the MTC here they have people staying here from Honduras and it is fun teaching and practicing Spanish with them. Its like a hotel attached to the MTC. I guess it is for the families that go to the temple since it’s next door. Its fun to see and talk to the little kids that are staying here. It makes me miss all the little kids I babysit. Sorry,  i have to go love ya!