Airport with Sister Hooker.
Darling girl from Alpine Utah.
We look like we are from Hogwarts.
my fav slide next to my casa
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!
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!!
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
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