November 1st.

Hola Todas!

Ok, so here are basically the stages I´ve been going through. My first two days or so I was like ¨There´s no way I'm going to survive 18 months here¨Then it was ¨Ok, I know I can do it, but I´m still kinda miserable¨ and now I´m really starting to like it. The mission president promised me that if I work hard, I won´t have to just endure my mission, I will really start to love it. It´s coming in small steps, but It´s coming. I was sick this week, really sick. Couldn´t get out of bed for 3 days sick. It wasn´t fun at all, but I´m feeling a lot better now. This morning our zone took a trip up to a national park with something called ¨Aguas Calientes¨ it rained the whole time, but I loved it. It was gorgeous. My camera ran out of batteries, so I can´t send pictures today, but I´ll try for next time. I just realized It´s a little frustrating to try to type on a Spanish keyboard when you´re on a time limit, but I will learn!

Ok, international mail is super expensive, so even though I love all of you at home, don´t expect a ton of mail.

We have some really great people we´re working with. It´s easy to get discouraged here because there are so many menos activos that sometimes I feel like it´s hard to get excited when people accept commitments because I´m skeptical about how long it will last, I guess I just need to stop being so pessimistic.

One thing that I learned this week in training that I really loved was when president said (he was quoting someone but I don´t know who) ¨ Humility isn´t thinking less of yourself (as in tearing down your self-esteem or thinking you´re not good enough), true humility is thinking less ABOUT yourself, and thinking more of what you can do for others¨. I think, well actually I know, that as I start having more of that attitude, that the time will fly by and I will love it here. I think one of the things that I´ve learned this week is that when we say ¨All things are possible with God.¨ It doesn´t only apply when it´s for something we want. If we have faith in miracles when it´s for something we want, we have to have faith that things are possible even when we don´t want to do them. For example, saying ¨It´s impossible to get 20 contacts a day¨ but then saying ¨I completely believe that God can give me a miracle for whatever it is that I want¨ is a little hippocritical. If we expect the miracles for the things we want, we have to be willing to have the faith to act on them even when it´s something we don´t want.

I´m not sure if any of that made sense, but I´m tired and still wet from this morning, so just go with it.

I still love my zone, everyone is so awesome and I love my companion a ton. She took very good care of me when I was sick, you would be proud.

I´m starting STARTING to get more used to the weather. I´ve still got a long way to go.

I´m tired and cold, but much happier. Discouraged, but hopeful because I know everything will be ok because my Heavenly Father loves me and I know I have His support. I know I probably won´t write back much, but I would love letters! They really would help me out. We only get them on Tuesdays though. Also, I found out everyone, family, friends, whoever, can e-mail me, I just can´t e-mail back. So let everyone know they can feel free to shoot me an e-mail if it´s easier.

The mail system here is fine, things will get to me. Just don´t ups or fedex stuff, it costs me money when they deliver it. USmail should be fine.

Well, I´ve got another 15 minutes but I´m out of things to say. If you get a chance ask how Scott is doing and let him know I am thinking supportive thoughts for him constantly. Dan and Ryan too if you see them, let them know I miss them!  I know that I´m in the right place and that everything will be ok. It´s 18 months of work for an eternity of blessings.

Love,
Jamie

Aguas Calientes