Week Two Baby!

Temple Visit

Fixing pants

My schedule

GUYS I HAVE MADE IT TWO WEEKS HERE!! WOOT WOOT!!! Let me explain to you where I am living. It feels much like Salt Lake where there are mountains (small mountains) all around me but with crazy houses up upon every inch of the mountain. Then in the C.C.M. I literally feel like this is the community out of the Giver. It feels fake. Everyone is perfectly dressed, speaking perfectly, and just as kind as ever. Then theres me...wondering what's beyond the twelve foot walls circling this place. I swear this place is fake and someones just up on the mountain with binoculars like, "cue the train sound, cue the crazy Mexican concert music that no one would ever want to listen to. Cue the fog machines and the fire smells. Ok good they are probably thinking this is real, now cue the Adele music, and cue the dead cat smell, PERFECT we got them today!! Mexico never stops. It's some new smell, sound, music everyday! But it's so beautiful here! This week was AMAZING!! We went to the temple today. Such a great experience. It was closed so we couldn't go inside but it was beautiful and fun to see Mexico! KEV I don't know how I feel about you walking those streets... they were really scary looking!! 

SO I told you how we had an investigator Jorge. Well after five lessons he became our teacher... so great and so embarrassing! It's perfect because he knows exactly what we need to be better teachers but Im soooooooo embarrassed because he thinks I'm so weird and he straight up tells me that and just laughs at me. I have thee FUNNIEST stories from teaching him! I can't wait to tell you guys in person because they won't be funny over email. But for example we didn't know he could speak english so my companion and I said the stupidest things in english. Also we were teaching him about the word of wisdom and he was like, (all in spanish of course) so what can't i drink? and i went to a complete blank. I couldn't remember any of the words I had practiced to teach this lesson so i just say, "No Spiked Drink" in a Spanish accent. I felt like dad trying to speak another language. hahaha he was just laughing at me! I have so many more stories like that! hahaha

I need to thank you all for making this the BEST week ever!!!! Mom thank you thank you thank you thank you sooo much for all the donuts. I was the most popular girl for a second because I had such delicious treats! Everyone loved the donuts and Mindy seriously THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the letter and the package!!! sooooo good! And mom i LOVE this necklace you sent me for Valentines. I haven't taken it off mainly because it reminds me of you but its also so darling! and kev and rach your mini fiesta box is a hit. Random people come up to me and are like, "Are you the one that likes mini things?" We wanna see your mini box! Minds your treats and letter got me through the first week! I was made fun of for the treats but hey whats better than going to bed licking a baby bottle pop? I've also been flipping bubble tape for bobby pins and band-aids. They are a great treat! Kels thank you for your calendar. I looove looking at that everyday! and ads thank you for those earring and necklace. i love them so much!!! 

I have also never been more proud of a boy being a player in high school but heck I am so happy because we get so many packages from different girls Elder Love has kissed and I couldn't be happier....except for when I have to address letters back to them because he has horrible handwriting! 

While I've been here, every single night I've been dreaming of dad. Crazy I know.... your still alive right? First dream I had they told us I had one hour to go home so when I got home dad had planned this ice cream party for me and all the fam and some friends were there. But dad was freaking out because the ward had planned an ice cream party the same night so he had a megaphone and was like, "Judith we have mint ice cream! Jerry, Cristie we see you and we know we invited you!" I was like, Dad please stop, this is plenty of people ahhahaha. The next dream, I wake up and I'm walking to class and I see you in our old suburban towing the boat. Dad was blasting music and then I see Tanner, Abby Rigby, Meg Hop, and Ab Wag hanging out the boat. I was like what the freak?? i'm like dad this isn't like you, what are you doing?? He's like jump in! If we get to the Mexican lake before 4:30 we get in freeeeee!!!! I was like dad you know I cant do that? I can't get in the water. idk even know they are the most vivid dreams because I sleep like a log. 

For service this week we got to.... drum roll please.... WORK IN THE LAUNDRY FACTORY!!!! BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! You guys know how I feel about laundry and factories!! I love both of them so so so so much!!! I kept on telling the worker FUN in Spanish because that was the only thing i knew how to say... he was making fun of my Spanish so I was like, try saying my last name. TAKE THAT! NO ONE CAN SAY WAGSTAFF! IT'S SOOO SIMPLE PEOPLE! Anyway, back to the factory. There was Mexican music, assembly lines, lations everywhere, and me getting a farmers tan on only my right arm because it couldn't fit under the roof!! ahhh man I want to work at Costco or a tooth paste factory sooo bad! It would be amazing!!!!! 

I am also yet to have a warm shower here. I dread showering! The girls wake up at like 5 just to do their hair and I'm like ohhh heck no. So every morning I tell myself, "Come on Nats, just put your ski on and jump in jackson lake!" ha seriously feels like that just not as amazing and fun! BUT its great it wakes me right up! 

Tanner this week told me that he had the same teacher as me?!? how crazy is that. But I'm also not sure if he's just tricking me because he does that a lot so ill let you know.... 

Also this week I was getting so frustrated preparing a lesson. I was like, "Why in the world was I called Spanish speaking? This would be so easy in English. Why do I have to go to bed at 10 and wake up at 6?" So that night I prayed harder than I ever have to gain a testimony of what I was doing. I can tell you honestly the next day it wasn't that anything had changed just my attitude. I was GRATEFUL to be learning Spanish it became fun! God needs me here and he will help me. I know that this will be a slow but amazing process. I wouldn't change these experiences for anything!!! I'm learning so much! 

Ok I'm so sorry I have so many thoughts and this email is just craziness but our teacher showed us this quote that was hanging on this mans door and it made me think of our fam. "Burned out by drought, drowned out by flood waters, et out by jackrabbits, sold out by sheriff, still here!!"  It made me think of that family "debate" we had in California. There will be some gnarly things thrown at us in this life but we are still here and still strong we can beat ANYTHING SATAN THROWS AT US!! One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 18: 21 I think??? I don't have my scriptures with me but I hope that's the right one. It should say in it that God would guard us with all his armies but he knows we are stronger than all of world!! We can do this guys! I love our family so dang much and I'm honored to be a part of it!!! 

Love you more than a beaver on christmas! Dad, the singles ward sounds amazing, well of course it is with you and mom in it!!! 

mucho mucho amor! I think that's a lot of love in Spanish but hey who fetchin knows.

ha love you! nats nanners natsy tonny tini tinny ton 

First Week in the Mexico City MTC

Airport with Sister Hooker. 

Darling girl from Alpine Utah. 

We look like we are from Hogwarts.

  

my fav slide next to my casa

subject: SPANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH OH MY!
MY DEAREST FAMILY!!! 

HOLY MOLY has it been 17 hundred years... mindy is your baby 19, has grandpa hr been dead for years. I don't know. Also I would put question marks in here but i have no idea how to use this keyboard. 

ahhh I feel like I have sooooo much to tell you. First off, this place is WAAAYYYYY better than beehive camp. I haven't tried to call home yet and I've had no counselors named Ketchup so that's wonderful. Coming into the mission I was sooo worried about the Spanish. It was the only thing I was worried about. Now I'm realizing I should have been worried about being away from all of you. Everything else is so wonderful. The Spanish is coming faster than I expected, the gospel is always perfect, but I miss you guys more than anything!!

The first night I'll be honest I was like, what the crap did I just do. How do I get out of this. Maybe I could somehow give myself cancer and go home? (found the question mark! I use to be good at computers but not when they are in Spanish) yeah I know it was a rough first night. I missed you so much mom and dad!!! We are the best little threesome. And all the nieces and nephews. What the freak guys... you are killing me!  But I can tell you it hasn't gotten one ounce easier but somehow I've gotten strength and it isn't as bad! 

So let me start off with my district. We have me, then my companion Hermana Salazar (don't know how to describe who she's like) from san diego going to Denver Colorado, then Hermana Graham (track star in high school)  from Arizona going to Chile, Hermana Saunders (darling darling girl really quiet) from Springville going to Chile, Elder Love (mix between justin meier, john varner, and connor haller. We would have been friends in high school. He's awesome and the district leader. When everyone else is going nuts in the district we just laugh. His sister in law is Rachel Reynolds in our stake she also went to Oly)  from Arizona going to Chile, Elder Reyes (kinda reminds me of Zeke Egan in looks but funniest kid ever.)  from Dallas going to Chile, Elder Dawda (exactly like S. N. full of random facts)  from Colorado, and Elder Sandoval (exactly like Kev- smartest but most humble one here. His family sends him like 17 hundred letters and packages everyday!)  from San Antonio going to salt lake!! Our district is absolutely hilarious. We have the greatest time. I made us all do a talent show the first day just so ya know we would be comfortable.... worst decision I've ever made. Elder Dawda says his talent is slow dancing! like what? so he makes elder Reyes dance with him and I peed my pants right then and there. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen!! Elder Love says I'm like a mom so now the whole district calls me mom. Which is crazy because I need my mom!!! but they bring me their ripped pants, I make them do yoga outside when they all say they can't study any longer... kinda similar to the unbroken crazy arm things, and when they get stains on their shirts- I've got tide to go! haha its awesome. We seriously are having so much fun. The girls in my house were like, "The first time we saw you, we thought you would just be this sweet, little quiet girl but you are CRAZY!" They say I'm a new surprise everyday... not sure what that means! ha ha but its hard because none of them are obsessed with their family and I'M OBSESSED with all of you! You guys are all I want to talk about but I can't but its great.  Some of the gals aren't sure they want to get married. So what do we talk about you might ask? The gospel, cereal, books, dead things, plants, and then I tell them all my life goals and they again think I'm 3 years old. 

Anyway, so now we get to my slicker, in other words moms favorite purchase aka my raincoat! Praise the heavens for that thing, mom!! All the days up till now were FFFRREEEAAAZZZIIINNGGG. I never once took it off. I was like come on Mexico what is this crap you are trying to pull on me! Now all the outsiders just call me "blue bubble coat girl!"

So I hate to brag but I'm pretty ya know popular with the kitchen staff, ever since we had a service project to clean in there. Seriously all of the staff was sitting there watching me mop the floors singing and dancing to Les Mis "look down, look down, don't look them in the eyes" 24601. They also think I'm nuts. But head chef Esabon and me are so tight. He has me try the food before he serves it to make sure its good. He made snickerdoodles and he was SOOOO excited for me to try them. He takes me into the back of the kitchen and they were actually disgusting and hard as a rock but i was like ohhhh Esabon these remind me of MI MAMA!!! He was so happy! So now I'm always like, "hey can you get my salsa from the back fridge" just so the other Hermanas and Elders get all weirded out. It's a blast!! He also told me I've been swearing in Spanish... no bueno! oh also Marissa Reynolds from Olympus is in my zone so we do so much together. It's sooo nice having a piece of home and someone to connect with and talk about people we both know! 

But now I get to the most important part, the part why I'm here... GUYS I'M A MISSIONARY!! I never thought I'd actually say that! This place is amazing! I love studying from sun up to sun down, the most important thing I could be studying is the gospel! The first day I was here they asked me to say a prayer in Spanish and I was soooo nervous but now I'm praying they only ask me to say a prayer!

We have this investigator named Jorge right now. (aka operation jorge) It's crazy actually teaching and having conversations with him in Spanish. We've taught him three lessons so far. The first lesson we taught about Eternal Families because he said his parents were getting in a divorce which made him really sad. And I LOOOOVVEEE families so it was a perfect first lesson. I was speaking Spanish and this scripture came to mind... 3 Nephi 18: 21 its weird how the Lord is really actually just teaching these people through us missionaries because i could have never remembered the scripture on my own. And I testified to him that I've prayed specifically for my family and we were so blessed! So the next day our teacher comes to class and (shes darling by the way. Hermana Silva) she says Jorge wants to know where he can find the scripture you shared about praying for families. He said that really helps and it just made my heart sing I was so happy that Heavenly Father knew exactly what He needed. Because I sure didn't. But Jorge corrects my Spanish, English, and I guess French when I accidentally speak that. It was hilarious! 

My companion and I work really well together! Teaching together is amazing. I've never felt the spirit like this! I love being a missionary!! I'll be the first to tell you I don't have what it takes to be a missionary but through christ I'm being strengthened!! This mission is going to bless my life so much. It is so hard like sooo sooo hard. But I've never had to do anything hard in my life so I'm liking being challenged. Mom I'm sooo glad you told me to think of you when the sun is rising and setting. Seriously gets me through the day!! 

Oh I forgot to tell you about the food... the first night was a burrito. Well I'm actually not sure if it was a rolled up Sundance catalogue but it tasted very similar haha. But ever since then the foods been surprisingly wonderful!! If I get fat and am 300 pounds don't worry I'll try and work it off in between meals in Houston. They only have like one or two options and they aren't the healthiest options so i might get fat but whatevs!! 

You guys have no idea how grateful I am for you! I love you all so dang much. Sorry this is so long there was just so much to say... i promise it will be shorter next week! haha I'm blessed with the best!! And that's you guys!!! 

love you more than ever!!

Hermana Natalie Brynn Wagstaff

My zone and I'm kind of not in it.... sorry hahaha

My district

My Companion

My First Email

FAMILIA!! 

I AM HERE IN MEXICO CITY!! AND I AM AS HAPPY AS A PACK OF BUBBLE GUM BEING BOUGHT ON THE FOURTH OF JULY!!! 

Mexico City is awesome!!! There are houses on houses! Kev, I can't believe you served your mission here. It feels like a whole other world! On my plane there were 8 sisters and one elder. They are all DARLING girls and ready to work! We've already become such great friends.  My companera is Sister Salazar. She's a champ. I'm not sure what race she is because hey I don't even know what I am. 

 I had my first experience to teach this lady on the airplane. She is from Mexico and was in Boise to visit her father. She had never even heard of the church so it was awesome! I read the scripture Jacob 5 72  and it was just absolutely perfect to start my mission. The Lord will be serving with me! It felt so good to put on my badge. The CCM Presidents are darling and from Sandy! Their last name is Call. Sorry I only have 5 minutes. 

Love you all so much! I'm already loving it and it is wonderful here. Cute sisters and elders everywhere you turn!! Spanish is nuts and they are already having us speak it!! i love you guys!! my pday is wednesday so look for me then! 

hermana natalie brynn wagstaff

ahhh   i really do love you so much

The Airport Goodbye

Goodbye! I flew straight from SLC to Mexico City.  The flight was 4 hrs. I barely slept the night before. My family gathered at the airport at 7:30am to send me off. I left them about 8:20am to board my 9:50 flight.

My family was comforted as they watched me fist pump through security.  

Set Apart as Sister Natalie Wagstaff

Tuesday, February 10th, I got set apart as a full time missionary.  I became Sister Natalie Wagstaff.

My Stake President, Bishop, and every member of my family made it to my setting apart.  Kevin was in the Dominican Republic but sent the nicest thing to read aloud as we went around the room.  

I got rid of my cellphone that night.  Took my last selfie. Sent my last snaps. Had my last dance party to Fergalicious of course. I wore sweatpants all day long before I have to wear skirts and heels.

Our last family ice cream party.

Ironing and packing!

My Farewell

 

Abby made this darling print that says, "What e'er thou art act well thy part." 

We all laughed at moms layout she handed Mindy right after sacrament meeting.  She even labeled the south window like we've never been in her kitchen before.  Too funny!

So many yummy desserts.

The family stayed over late and watched Saturday night live clips and ate strawberries and cream.

Our last girls night

All the girls in the family went to dinner and a session in the Oquirruh Mountain temple for our last girls night.  It was so fun to all be together in a session. I will be cuddling this beautiful Texas flag quilt my mom made me every night of my mission.