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