2nd Letter in one Day!!

So I'm having trouble with the pictures, the computers are super restricted for obvious reasons. I probably won't have time to borrow sister grover's thing today, though i think it's the computer, not my drive. I'll look into it, there's a little note on the computer on how to do that. Sorry, I really wanted to send pictures! I'll try to do it again later next week and send double the pictures. I have to admit thoguh, I'm pretty bad at remembering to take them. I have breanne's address, but could you send me grandma woolley and grandma weber and grandma bills? I'll try and write them when i have time. And there's no offical rule about writing letters on days besides pday, but i think i'm going to try and only do them on pdays from now on. Sorry. I"m trying to be exactly obedient and make sure to give the Lord all his time.

I have more time than I thought I would, I guess I type fast than I thought. So double letters today! I love hearing from everyone :)

Yesterday a teacher who had gone to Spain on her mission came in and talked to us about spain. It was super nice since all the other teachers we know went to Mexico. The spanish is slightly different so it was nice talking with someone who knew Spain spanish. I can't tell you how excited I am for my package. I actually haven't had a chance to open it yet, we picked it up right before coming to email. But I've been hoping for days. When the district leader, E. Butters, handed me the slip to pick up my package I totally did a fist pump. I got the drops too. It's funny, but both Hermana's think we're total hippies when it comes to medicine because of my drops and healing save. I let one of them borrow it because she was getting a nasty bruise on her shoulder. she ran into a podium on accident.

I love it here. Now that I've gotten used to the routine it's such a great place. There's so much to learn. Some days I wish the day was longer because I need more time! I have a hard time setting down my scriptures and never seem to have enough time to figure out a new grammar thing for spanish. It's crazy how the time moves here. I'm glad everyone seems to be having a good end of summer. Jenna seemed very excited about her new clothes, they sounded cute. Thanks for the pictures, though I couldn't open the dropbox ones because of restrictions. But thats fine, the one's you sent directly in the email were great. It was so nice to see everyone. How are Steven and Kari and Scott doing? Any news about Tisha? You should tell me in a dear elder so i have more time to read it. It's funny, because I can see you're reply to my last email but shouldn't read it. I'll save it for next week.

h, woolley

Hey Family,

The MTC has been awesome. Our lessons are going great. Juan (our fake investigator/teacher) agreed to be baptized and even set a date! Our new investigator started this week, Diana. She's toally different from Juan which is great practice. Unfortunately both of our teachers are going out of town at the same time so we'll have subs for a couple days. Hermano Ball is going to be gone for a whole week so we might not see him again. We took picts with him, he's the one with blonde hair in the pict. We spend a whole day trying to talk in spanish with a goal of 75% in spanish. We didn't quite meet our goal, but it was still amazing how much we were able to talk. I totatlly expected us to not talk much. I can understand almost everything peopel say in spanish, i'm just really working hard on being able to speak.

Funny story from yeterday. One of our zone leaders, Elder Stone, has this crazy skill. He can steal anyone's food with out the person noticing. Yesterday he was teasing his companion and telling him his name was on the board during lunch (thres a computer screen that lists names of ppl who need to go to the front desk). He kept squinting at it and saying "elder, i think you're name's up there."  his companion doesn't have veyr good eye sight so he was squinting to look and Elder Stone kept stealing pieces of his cookie. The poor elder didn't even notice that half his cookie was gone for five minutes! I was having a really hard time not laughing. He did it again this morning to Elder Merkley from my district and took a huge bite out of his bagel by distracting him with the birds (we were eating outside for breakfast today. So nice!). It was the funnies thing ever. Yesterday E. Stone decided he didn't like onion rings because the onion part came out of his and looked too much like a worm. I told him that was the part I liked and he didn't believe me. I had to take one of H. Grover's and eat the onion plain for him to believe me. He was super grossed out, the whole time I was thinking of Parma and my oniony background. I love that stuff!

I have been getting so much help from Hevanly Father with my spanish. Earlier this week I felt like I was in a rut and wasn't really learning much. I was trying but couldn't seem to remember anything, especially verbs. Those verbs are killer. But yesterday I pleaded with Him to help me because there isn't time to fall behind in the MTC and I could feel myself sliding. Yesterday I spoke the best spanish I have ever. I led one of the lessons we gave, jumping in when Herma. Grover couldn't think of what to say (she's the best at spanish in the district) and was more comfortable with my spanish in Juans lesson than ever before. It was a true and true miracle. The Lord really does want me out here learning Spanish.

This week two elders left for the Madrid MTC. They got thier visas monday and left tues morning. Don't worry, they emailed thier family's their flight schedule so they could talk during layover. It's wierd, our district only has 3 companionships now. It means we get a lot more teaching time, wiich is good practice!

I got the package! Thanks soooo much! Much appreciated :)

For sunday night's devotional Dallin H. Oaks daughter cmae and played the violin. It was so inspiring. Her family is one of the im a mormon videos. And i'm having the strange feeling I already told you about her, though I don't know why. Maybe I wrote a letter home that night or somehting. Anyways, the spirit was so strong as she played. She didn't talk much, but she was an amazing artist. Mom, you'd love her, you should see if she has a cd. Her name is Jenny Oaks something. you'd be able to google her.

This week has been so amazing. I've learned a lot and I'm getting so excited for spain. I get along great with the whole district. Oh! and I have been assigned to be the music coordinator for sacrament meeting. With only three sisters in the branch (The others are leaving this next week) and only one newbie elder who plays the piano, there weren't many options. I"m hoping I do a good job and pick good songs! I love you very much! Thanks for everything and your prayers :) I know that the Lord needs me out here. I know this church is true. There is no doubt in my mind. There is nothing more special to me than this gospel.

Loves!

Hermana Woolley

once there were 4 now there are 3 but they are all smiling still :)

Sisters headed for Spain eventually

Whole District

Kelsey's pics in MTC

Hey Family,

Thanks for the cinnamon rolls!!! I shared them with my district and everyone loved them. Theres 9 of us. I'm pulling back on sugar though since I was just sickish so no sweets is okay with me! Also, I'm sending home my temple clothes because it's free for missionaries to rent and the temple is going to be closed most of my time here. ANd I couldn't tkae them up anyways since we aren't supposed to take bags up to the temple. Just make sure and don't lose them! :)

At the end of every day we have what we call DBT after our daily planning session. District bonding time. Normally we go arround and everyone answers a question. It's super fun. the last few days one of the elders started taking down quotes and i copied them down too. it was just like i used to do so I couldn't resist.

"I was pretending to bwe a zombie the whole time"

"I have like a weird little numb spot righ tthere"\

"dad, dad pet my kitty"

"This fat kid from Burley fell on me."

"I put a hole in the wall w/ my brothers head once."

"So people could put thier fingers in your bellybutton?"

There were a lot more but these were the best ones. DBT is the best part of the day. It's twenty minutes of laughing and such a fun way to wind down from the day. I feel so close to everyone already. Time basically doesn't exist in the MTC so it feels like I've known them forever. We've shared so many stories it's like we practically have.

Our teacher left this week to help the new MTC in Mexico get established. She was replaced by a couple of teachers, all of who are awesome. Our investigator Juan started teaching us too (Hermano Bell) and he does a great job. I'm so excited by how much I understand. I still speak really slow and haltingly because I have to think about every word I say, but I can feel myself growing. Its hard sometimes to not compare myself to the others in my class as they learn faster. But I'm learning at the perfect rate for me and working hard. We spend almost all day in class so sometimes its hard to focus, but H. Grover and H. Adair and I have found an empty classroom we go to to study in when the Elders are being too distracting.

I sung in the MTC choir for the tuesday  night devotional. it was such a powerful experience to sing with so many people! And it was the only chior I've ever been in where the elders out number the sisters. It sounded great. I doubt they put the devotionals online, but if they do you should listen to the song.

We start teaching an invesitagor every day next week. We'll have two investigators and TRC. I'm trying to not be too nervous since we aren't supposed to have any notes now! Our last lesson was hard for me because I forgot vocab. My main problem is I get nervous, so I need to learn how to relax more in the lesson/. And practice more! I've started having mental conversations with myself as I brush my teeth so I can practice my vocab and talking faster.

Having 3 companions makes teachinig the lessons harder but we've worked it out alright. We try to assign certain parts to people so that everyone shares something. We are all at different levels of understanding and speaking so sometimes its not even, but it's a good experience.

Thanks so much for the letters everyone! I'm really appreciating them. I'll try and write back as often as I can. And yes mom, Dear Elder is different. I get the letter that day instead of on p-day. It's like writing a physical letter but it gets here as quick as an email. Cool stuff!

One Elder in my district, E. Farley, is from Orem. So his family keeps sending him packages of food. It's funny because it's reached the point where he is growing to hate donuts. The Elders share with us all the time. I don't really eat much of it, but the other sisters love it!

We did our first service block this week. It's funny, but I loved sweeping and moping the bathroom floors. It felt so good to work physically and not mentally. Funny how you grow to appreciate things like that.

I know this church is true. I feel the Spirit so strong here every day. I can feel the difference when we leave the MTC campus to walk to the field. This place is so hard and sometimes frustrating, but it's so amazing too. I tear up all the time during devotionals. MY emotions are on a roller coaster (thankfully usually up in the highs) :)

Love,

Hermana Woolley