Feliz año nuevo!!

This post is in 2 parts. The first is our skype session with Alyssa on Christmas and the 2nd is her email from Monday. Enjoy!

Q. From Abby - How are you doing in Panamá? Do you like it?

A. Good and I love it here.

Q. What has President Carmack inspired the mission to do?

A. Obey the rules because you want to not because you should.

Q. What is Sister Carmack like?

A. She is super sweet. 

Q. What has been your favorite meal from the member in the mission thus far?

A. Patacones

Q. What is your current mission theme right now?

A. Prepare ye the way of the Lord (she said it to me in Spanish but I didn't understand so I had her tell it to me in English)

Q. How often do you do laundry?

A. Every Monday

Q. What was the last miracle you witnessed?

A. Being in the right place at the right time. She said this happens a lot actually. Something will happen and they get delayed somewhere but then it puts them in the right place at the right time and they meet somewhere they were meant to talk to. 

Q, What do you like about your companion? How old is she?

A. She is very very nice and she is a really hard worker. She is 19.

Q. Do you have any inside jokes in your mission?

A. Suck a pineapple. 

Q. Do they have street vendors in your area and what kind of food do they serve?

A., Yes but we don't go there some of kind of iffy and you just don't know. Better safe than sorry.

Q. What has been your favorite pday activity so far?

A. Probably the causeway.

Q. Do you do a lot of service project in your area? What kinds?

A. Yes we do, a lot of painting, that is a really big thing here and cleaning.

Q. How do you find service projects to do?

A. As a missionary you are in the habit of asking people if there is anything you can do for them so people will just tell us what we can do. If it takes a lot of people we will get the district or zone together to help.

Q. What is the neatest thing you have seen in Panamá?

A. The waterfall in Boquete

Q. What is your favorite thing you smell?

A. At dinnertime when you are out walking you can smell people cooking plantains. It smells so good!

Q.How big is your ward?

A. We have like 150 people every Sunday usually. It is the only place I have been in a ward. All of my other areas have been branches.

Q. What are some of the local sayings?

A. A ya la vida and Que xopa

Q. What was the scariest thing that has happened that you felt like you were protected as a missionary?

A. Someone tried to get in our house at 5 am once. I think they were probably drunk

Q. How often do the members in this area feed you?

A. Everyday lunch and dinner

Q. How far away from the mission office do you live?

A. about an hour but you have to remember we don't drive a car, we have to take the bus and the train. In a car probably 20 minutes.

Q. What is the traditional Christmas dinner in Panamá?

A. Ham, rice and potato salad

Q. What other traditions do they have we don't?

A. Well the celebrations are mostly on Christmas Eve. That's when they eat and have parties. And everyone stays up until midnight even the little kids and they light fireworks at midnight. Everyone all over the city. The jolly old guy that don't really do that like we do. 

Q. What time does it get dark? Is is different at different times of the year?

A. 6:30 every night. No it's pretty much the same all the time.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Panamá?

A. All my friends I have made here. I will really miss them.

Hi! I feel like there's not much to say since I just talked to you. 

MIRACLE: two less actives are reactivating and we are working with others to get to that point! But one of them wants to go on a mission! And said that he is going to ask the bishop on Sunday about a mission!

Did you buy me a new sonicare toothbrush? I need to know if i can give mine and the left over heads to my comp?

Q. So one of your companion's in engaged. Do you want to guess who? or do you already know?

Who is engaged?? Is it Medellin??????????? If it is then send her this on facebook MUJER DE DIOS! TE QUIERO TANTO Y EXTRAÑO A TI Y TUS LOCURAS! FELICIDADES! and if it's not her then tell her the same thing except delete the last word, haha!

 Dear Alyssa, I love you! So I want to tell you what I got for Christmas. playdough, some new movies, clothes, uno, pens, markers, coloring stuff, buttons, candy, glowsticks. What did you get for Christmas? Alyssa, I didn't know that you had a cold like we do. Alyssa I love that we got to skype with you. I can't wait til I get to see you but this time guess what that will be at the airport! Did you like your Christmas presents? What did you like the best? to Alyssa Love Abby

Dear Abby, I am so glad I got to talk to you too! I love and miss you! And I cant wait to see you!! Don't tell anyone put I already started packing, that's how excited I am! (I just rearranged the clothes that were already in my suitcase that I have bought while I have been here) I really liked the Christmas presents, but my favorite was a super cute picture of you! See you soon kiddo! Love Alyssa

I don't really know where everyone else slept, I wasn't paying attention to anyone else, just Osorio, haha.

Q. Did you like the Christmas stocking I sent you? Did you think those were cute?

I liked all the stuff you sent! 

Hey ask Ben to ask that guy if they need translators.. because I´m really good at that!! And tell him I said hi and that I miss him and hope he is doing well (: and that he is awesome!"

Q. What goals do you have you would like to accomplish before you come home?

My main goal is just to help people come unto Christ by helping them to receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

These pictures are from last weeks pday

I love you!  

Hna. C. 

  Elder's V. and A. and Hermana B.

Roommates

Hellooooo! its almost Christmas!!!!

  Okay my notes!

I was sick this week! But the Priesthood is awesome!

We had Christmas dinner with a family in my ward, there are pictures don't worry!! 

Another family in our ward got sealed this week and the little boy B. was saying the whole time  "I look so handsome!!" hahaha

J. .... repartiò (I think she means passed) the sacrament!! I don't know how to say that in English........ (:

Osorio slept at the house one night this week cause they had Immigrations and it ended super late so they sent 8 sister to my house, yeah needless to say she slept in my bed were up late because we were catching up.

We have p-day as a zone today.

Elder's A. and B. and Hermana's V. and Wandell

Elder's H. and B.

 Hermano R.

 Elder F.

 Elder F.

Elder Q.

Q. So what about your packages? Did you like them?

A. Yes I like my packages! Thanks!!

Q. So where you live, is that in your area or the other sister's area?

A.We live in my area.

  

 Elder V. (MI HERMANO!!!!) 

And THE FAMILY PICTURE!!! Those are my kids and the father of my kids!! hahaha

Dear Alyssa, 

I am so glad you are coming home soon. I am so excited that we get to skype with you in 4 days. When we get the computer ready we have a little trick for you hahaha but i bet you can't guess what it is. Did you know I have a cold. I hope am better by Christmas. You are my favorite sister. Guess what I don't have school for 2 whole weeks! Did you know that Puff is getting really big. A little big. Hey Alyssa on Christmas will you sing a song with me on Christmas. I want to sing Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer. Alyssa I love you so much I love you to the moon and back. Alyssa I love you more than most. The end, I love you to Alyssa Love, Abby

Dear Abby, I love you so much and I am so excited to talk to you on Christmas! Hey I have a cold too!! haha!! I would love to sing with you Abs! I love you to the moon and back and I love you more than most! Wanna know something funny?? Every time someone sees the ring you gave me I have to explain in Spanish what it says and then they always ask "Ohhh is that from your boyfriend!!??" Hahaha and I always say "Nope! Someone way more special than a boyfriend! Its from my bestest best friend in the whole wide world! My baby sister!" The end. Love Alyssa

So these pictures are from Mother´s day, Hna. V. bought me a rose cause I am her mom! Haha

and I found a purse with my name on it!

I LOVE YOU!!! 

So i have pictures!! Lots in fact! But I left the camera cord at home...... Dont kill me!

We went to the temple twice this week, I saw the 3rd new video and then on Saturday we went with J. to the temple for his first time!

Hector´s daughter is in my district!!!

I HAVE A SON!! HAHAHA My District Leader is training and I am the "oldest" (I have the most time) sister in the district so I am his mom. And this district leader is also the dad of Hna. V. so now Elder R. and I have two children together! Hahahahahaha I always wanted a son!!

Hermana Wandell and Elder R. 

Q. Who is the new sister in the house?

A. Hna. C. (they were friends in the MTC) is the new sister in our house because Hna. Salguero is home now. 

Hermana's Wandell and C.

So when we went to the temple on Tuesday I got to see Astudillo for the last time and I was fine (for the 2nd time haha) or so I thought.  But then we had to drop Salguero off at President´s house on Wednesday and he was there and when I saw him I just started crying... he got teary eyed but told me not to worry cause he will come to Utah and I will go to Ecuador and yeah.. that was the 3rd last goodbye...

I bought my comp scriptures cause she needed them and her family doesn't send her money.

So the other day we were walking past a construction sight and the men started whistling and tsstt-ing and I got annoyed and I turned around and yelled, No soy una gallina!!

My friend Aguero left this week too but he left me something for my tronky book and he left me a little pink toy phone that has a water game in it and he wrote a note that said "don't have too much fun with my phone!" Haha I love that kid! 

The V./ S. Family is going to let us use their computer for Christmas! (: So I need you to tell me what time. Or maybe you could write her before Saturday (we have lunch with them) and tell her when we are going to talk so that she can tell me.

Dear Alyssa,

Did you know we get to Skype with you in 11 days? I am excited to excited to skype with you and I am excited for you to come home and I am glad that is pretty soon. I am excited to see you and I am sure you are excited to see me. Did you know my elf is so funny. You should see him everyday because he is so super funny. One day he didn't think there were enough bows on my Christmas tree so he got in my drawer and got all of my hair bows and put them all over my Christmas tree hahahaha. And I liked it so much I made mom leave all the bows on it. And one day he got into my toothpaste and toothbrush and tooth rinse and used them? Guess what we saw Robert the other day. Mom and I took him to the pizza place and guess what he gave me another play toy that I love so much (playmobile). Oh and guess what he gave mom for her birthday? A nutcracker! But guess what we don't have any nuts so guess what I cracked in it? the green things that came with it. (she means packing peanuts and as it is from Germany we won't be cracking nuts in it LOL) I love you Alyssa. You are the best friend I have ever noticed. Alyssa, I was sad when you went on your mission because see I was going to miss you but you know I am happy that you went because you got to help lots of people and that is so nice Alyssa. And guess what else, Hermana Chavez because if you didn't go on a mission then you wouldn't be friends and I know you love her so so much. And I will be happy when she comes to Utah. You are my best friend Alyssa, can I tell you my favorite colors? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. Alyssa I wrote Santa a note and I just know Snowflake took it to him because it was gone from where I left it and I asked him to bring me some playdough. If I get some will you play it with me when you get home? And guess what I am writing you a note but I am not going to mail it but I am going to leave it somewhere right where you will find it when you get home. I love you so so so much and thank you for helping the people in Panama and I bet they love you so so so much too. To Alyssa Love, Abby 

Dear Abby, I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE YOU!!!!! I will talk to you on Christmas!! Its right around the corner!! You are my bestest best friend ever!! I love you with all my heart and I think about you every day! I have pictures of you on my desk that I can look at each morning! I would love to play with your play dough! Be good! I will see you real soon!

Ok funny Abby story...So for my birthday she gave me this set of knives I wanted from Costco (actually I got 2 sets because Brent and Michelle gave that to me too but that is ok I took one back and got something else I wanted) well the other day I was using them and she says "Aren't you so glad I gave you those for your birthday? I saw you look at them at Costco and I knew you wanted them so I made dad buy them" So I said hey Abby what does Dad look at when you guys go to costco? What could we get him for Christmas? She thought for a minute and she said "Oh I know what we look at everytime and we could him that" I said ok tell me what it is, and she said "kitty litter" hahahahahahahaha

Kitty litter? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA She never fails to make me laugh!! 

Don't worry I am taking pictures!! 

Umm... when is this game night slumber party?? Cause you are gonna have to wait at least a week for that because I want to sleep and be with my little sister.

 Well I love you! I will see you realllllllllllly soon! Hug my Abby and tell Chavez and Astudillo that I love them and I miss them both and that I say Merry Christmas from their hermanita!