Thank you for your support!

 We are really good, yes I had a good week.

Dear world, thank you for all of your support! If I can give anyone advice it would be to live the principles of the gospel to a T! It's hard sometimes but blessings come from exact obedience. Pay tithing! Keep the Sabbath day holy! (that includes wearing Sunday clothes alllllllllll day!) Be generous in your fast offerings and serve in anyway possible!

So our investigator had her baby and she is fine!! 

Q. What was the hardest thing you have done on your mission thus far? 

A. The hardest thing thus far was finding someone, teaching them everything, preparing them to be baptized, leaving the area but confident that all would work out and then later hearing that she had doubts and the day of her baptismal interview she decided she wanted nothing to do with the church. that was the hardest.

Q. Hna. C. is so cute, what is her personality like? 

A. she is a lot like me, if you annoy her, you´ll know, if you love her, she will love you right back. We have never had any problems, one time I asked her how it was possible that we never argue and she told me because in the pre-earth life we promised each other we wouldn't fight.

Q. So do you remember months and months ago that you told me this....Apparently two years ago, Elder Russell M. Nelson came and spoke to everyone and he said that the missionaries that are called to Panama are the most valiant of spirits and that they were the ones at the front of the battle field defending Christ’s side during the war in Heaven… kind of awesome!!! An apostle said that… let’s just let that sink in!…

So I shared that with some of the other Panama moms and someone asked me this..."I would love to know the reference to that! Was it a talk he gave to people there? Was it recorded?" I said I would ask you. 

A. That was in a zone conference, only the missionaries heard it and sadly no it's not recorded.

LEARNED SOMETHING NEW AND COOL!! So I learned that there is a reason why the people with disabilities like down syndrome or prader willi, etc. why they will go straight to the celestial kingdom. They were the people to defend Christ first! and satan was sooooo mad that they did that, so he somehow cursed their bodies (but obviously not their spirits) because he wanted them to suffer, he knows he can't do anything to their spirits but to their bodies yes.

Dear Alyssa,

I really love you and I want to spend a lot of time with you because I love you very much so smile for me Alyssa. Alyssa I am going to stay 5 for 4 more days and then I am going to turn 6. I cannot wait for my birthday party!! Dear Alyssa I really want you come to my birthday party next year that will be after you come home so can you come? Please I want you to come and so I won't have it until you come home. Alyssa did you know my birthday is on Thursday but Lucy's birthday is on Friday but she is going to be 9. Isn't that so weird that my birthday is first but I will be 6 not 9. Alyssa, what did the farmer say when he losed his tractor? - (Where's my tractor?) Alyssa, what did the math book say to the other? (I've got a lot of problems)  I love you very much and I am really excited for you to come home in 6 months and I really love you and I am sorry that Panama will not let us send candy to you. I love you so so so so much Alyssa Love your sister Abby

Dear Abby,

I love you and I miss you! I hope you have a fantabulous birthday and that you send me lots of pictures! I didn't see any pictures of my birthday party that you had for me.... I would love to come to your birthday party next year!! I like your jokes!! I have one too!!! Okay so one day there is this doughnut and he is on a cruise and he really really really wants to drive the boat! So he goes to the captains deck *knock knock knock* "captain!! Please let me drive the boat!!" and the captain says "No, you are a doughnut..." so all sad the doughnut goes back to his room and the next day he says "I am gonna ask again and maybe just maybe the captain will let me drive the boat!" *knock knock knock* "Captain!! Let me drive the boat!!" and the captain says "NO, you are a stinking doughnut!!" so once again he´s all sad and on the very last day he says I AM GONNA DRIVE THIS BOAT! IF ITS THE LAST THING I DO! so he goes and... *knock knock knock* "Captain, please please please!! Pretty please with cherries on top!! Let me drive the boat!!!!" and do you know what the captain said??? "NOOOOO YOU ARE A DOUGHNUT!!" and then the captain picked him up and threw him in the ocean!!!!!!!

Did you like my joke?? no... okay i got a better one!! 

So one day there is a boy and a girl at a dance at BYU and they talk all night and then the next day he calls her and says "hey uhh do you want to go on a date with me to Hawaii??"" and she´s like uhhhh duh!! yeah lets go!! I will start packing!! so they go to Hawaii and they are on this nice boat having dinner and dancing when suddenly the boy gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him!! and she starts jumping and says yes and is so excited that she accidentally hits his hand and BOOM the ring falls in the water!!! and they both dive in to try and find it! ... But they can't.... so they go back to shore and they are like--- well we are in love and it's just a ring so oh well, lets go to dinner!! so they go to dinner, and she is kind of bummed and they ask the waiter what the special of the day is, and he says fish, so they are like alright that's fine, we want that. and the waiter says ohhh you are in for a treat!! this fish is realllllllllllllly fresh!! so the food comes to the table and she starts cutting into it and *tink* there is something inside her fish!!! and *tink* again!! so they open it up and what do you think was inside this fish!!!??????

THE DOUGHNUT!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...... 

Love Alyssa,

All is well here, please tell Abby I love her and that I will see her soon, I am going to send her a birthday pressent this week, so it should get there in like a month... better late that never?? Haha Give her a hug for me Anyways I love you!

I forgot to explain the pictures!! our sexy panamanian pants!! (it's cause for some reason people  think it is okay to leave the house with pants like that...) the brisas sign and salguero and 

Hermana's Wandell and S.

Hermana's Wandell, C. and S.

Hello World!

Hermana Wandell

She only answered my questions this week, no news only pictures. 

Q. So who is now companions with Hna. B?

What about Hna. M.?

A. B. is with P. (they closed one of the areas and made it one big one so now there are only 2 missionaries in Los Altos) and I don't know about Hna. M., if you find out let me know!

Q. How is your new area? How long has Hna. C. been there? Are you in a branch or a ward? Do you get to take investigators to the temple ground tours Pres. Carmack does?

A. This week was good. Its hard to find new people here but we are working hard. Hna. C. only has one change here but I think we will be together two changes (I will kill her = I´ll be her last comp)

We are in a ward and the chapel is realllllllly pretty!! Yes the members feed us. We do get to take investigators to the tours if they can go.

Q. What kinds of new things are you learning?

Do you guys have any investigators?

A. Yes we have investigators. Haha. There is one lady who is super awesome. But her family keeps telling her she is crazy for talking to us. But she doesn't  care. She is pregnant and last night she called us to tell us that her water broke and to ask if we could pray for her cause the lady in the room next to her in the hospital, the baby was born without ears and without a foot.

Q. Oh how sad L Oh my heart just hurts for that lady but as a mom you will love your kids no matter what. Did your investigator have her baby ok?

A. we don't know yet. 

Q. Did Elder K. like what I sent him? What about A. and C.? I can't remember what else was in the package. beside index cards did I send anything for you?

A. Yes K. liked what you sent, C. too, and A. hasn't gotten it yet. He wont get it until August. (you know the index cards are only until October right?) 

Q. So had you met Hna. M. before you got transferred? Did you know who she was or did she know who you were?

A. I met moss briefly once before. I´m working on the pictures.

Q. Does anyone live in your house besides you 4 sisters?

 How far is it to your church? What is your favorite thing about Hna. C.? 

A. Yes its far. just us 4, a ward. and that I can be myself and I don't have to worry about if my comp is mad or not because we do not fight whatsoever. We can talk about anything and everything. She´s really more like a sister than a companion.

Hermana's Wandell and C.

Hermana's H., C., S. and Wandell

Dear Alyssa,

I love you very much and I really miss you and I am really glad you love your companion and you got Hermana C. that you like your best friend. It's kind of funny that you got the same companion twice but I am super happy for you. I love you Love Abby to Alyssa

Dear Abby, I love you! Did you know that?? I am super happy that Hna. C. is my companion again! And I hope that we get to be together for two changes! 

Ok this is your last chance to tell me anything you want me to send to you or Hna. C. in this package. I ordered one thing and it should be here Tuesday and then I am putting it in the mail. I want this to get to you while you guys are comps. So if you need or want anything speak now!!

I don't know. uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh maybe...... uhhhh.... I dont now! Snow?? I have no idea. I cant think when I´m hungry!  But just remember that not to go over board because the majority of the stuff you send will probably get left in Panama or be given away. (the Christmas package can be something small and we can do Christmas in February.)

Did Elder Hanson get transferred??

All is well here. I am enjoying it, and definitely learning lots of new things. I love you guys!! 

Pictures:

Turtles, puppets ( yeah we do weird things, a sister asked us for help to make puppets - really we made them and she watched - and then we helped her do a puppet show are her kids' school...) and the sisters in my house

C., S., and I   A.K.A. Las chicas super poderosas!! Burbujas, Bellota, y Bon Bon

 (we were at a birthday party for a member)

Hermana's S. and Wandell

Okay I have to go now! I love you! Hug my Abby please!

Don't look at the picture until after you read the email!!! capeesh???

So my Heavenly Father loves me! A lot!! And so I am just going tell you about how much he loves me but I'm going be really vague so you have to sit and wonder and I am going to put a picture of who my comp is but I am not going tell you who and you have to read the whole email before you can look at the picture. So I am in the Panama zone, Elder K. is my district leader!!!!!!!. I have now followed him to a 3rd zone!!! (he only has 3...) I also have some other friends in this zone but I'm not going tell you who they all are because that's part of the fun. But one of them is an Elder from Brazil, he´s cool. The assistants are also in my district, but they don't come to the meetings... also we had a cool activity in my new area on Saturday. It was the plan of salvation. They decked out all the rooms in the chapel to be the parts of the plan of salvation mixed with family history work. My companion and I were both in the celestial room, and one of my friends ( :D ) was in their with us playing the piano. It was cool and their are pictures to follow. I love my new area but I do miss the people in Chorrera. So our house is huge. We live with 2 other sisters but we each have our own floor. My comp and I upstairs (with a balcony) and the other sisters downstairs. 

Now I will respond to your letter to let the suspense continue. and no cheating mom!! 

Q. How are you today?

A. I am extremely good!! and you!!

Q. Did your package with the camera cord and the Birthday present for Elder A. ever get there?

A. The package is here and I will get it tomorrow. 

Hi Alyssa,

I love you so so so much. Did you know it is almost my birthday? I am going to have a party and I am really happy. Alyssa did you get a new companion because I asked mommy and she said she didn't know. From Abby to Alyssa I love you so so so much and I can't wait until February. from Abby

Dear Abby, I know it is almost your birthday! Are you excited?? I love you too and yes I got a new companion and she is amazing! 

yes I knew that Germany won, we heard it from every house that we walked past. 

So as for the companion.... (scroll down)

My companion is.......(scroll more)

HERMANA CHAVEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (: 

I´M IN BRISAS DEL GOLF!!!!

(The minute I saw this picture, I had tears of joy streaming down my face. My heart is so full of gratitude this week. Yes, Heavenly Father's loves us all and he truly knows what we need when we need it )

Hermana's Chavez and Wandell

(She was Alyssa's 2nd companion whom she loves like a sister and will be one of my "adopted" kids)

Hermana's Moss and Wandell

(she is pretty special to us as I got to know her a bit via email before she left and I really really wanted them to be together at some point because they both sing like angels and I know how strong the spirit can be felt through music)

(I am not sure if this is the zone or the district)

The 4th of July in Panamá

Her zone

So this fourth of July was the weirdest one ever....yeah this fourth was super boring and all I did was sing the national anthem at 7 in the morning and all the other patriotic songs I could think of. haha....

So I am going to run out of index cards soon because I haven't received any packages lately.

If you are gonna send a calendar for the last part of my mission, now would be a good time...

I still don't know if I have changes.... President hasn't told us anything, we wont know until 2.

did the USB I sent ever get there??

Dear Alyssa

I love you. I am really excited for when you come home. I love you very much. I miss you very much. Did  you know I went in a parade at preschool? I decorated my scooter for the parade. We went to the fireworks and I loved them very very much and I am sorry you didn't get to see them. But next time on the 4th of July do you know you will be home and go with us to the kablamo fireworks? It will be so so so so much fun. Did you know we went swimming, Me, Mommy, Delores and Lindsay? It was at a pool I really like because it's not too deep and Lindsay has these rings you throw and pick up. It was so so so fun and we will take you there when you come home and Lindsay went off the plank even the high one. I love you Alyssa, I hope you like Panama and find lots of people to help. To Alyssa from Abby

Alyssa, did you know that I am really excited for you to come and we have a surprise for you and I can't tell you because it has to be a surprise and just so you know we might go to Disneyland. Love Abby to Alyssa

Dear Abby,

I love you too, I miss you very much as well, that's cool that you were in a parade!! what does kablamo mean?? Are you going to start swimming lessons soon?? I love Panama! I don't like surprises unless I don't know that they exist.

Things are good, it was a good week.

Q. Alyssa you never cease to amaze me. I have not heard of any other missionaries doing their personal progress again. Is that something lots of sisters are doing or did you do it to help the young women?

A. a lot of the sisters do it. I started with Hna. Valdez.

No I didn't delete anything but i know the video is there. or it should be. ... (The video of her and Elder Kipp singing from quite awhile back)

My comp is funny sometimes, she's making fun of me right now... hahahaha. 

Q. I am glad you had a good week.  Do know if you are getting transferred? 

A. I wont know until 2 o´clock. ... so you probably wont know until next week.

I love you I love you I love you! I dont have pictures, sorry. Hug my Abby

I only have 3 more minutes. I love you and I miss you! I will talk to you next week. Maybe Hna. Ruiz can tell you if I have changes or not. I will ask her. Hug my Abby please. Chao for now!

My 1st baptism in 8 months!!!!!

 

So J. got baptized!!! (pictures to follow) It was so awesome! I could feel the spirit testifying to me that this is where I need to be, that he and I are both children of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and that I was helping someone come closer to Christ. It was awesome! He told us after that he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders when he came out of the water. This kid has kind of become like my brother, and seriously I can tell you I love him like a little brother. he´s such a good kid and he was so prepared. The Wednesday before his baptism, we went and he had read the two pamphlets we had left with him and he was now in 2 Nefi 20! (A LOT OF MEMBERS DON'T EVEN READ TO 2 NEFI 20 SOMETIMES!!) Anyways he is my golden convert (: 

Hermana Wandell and J.

 Hermana's Wandell, Hermana B. and J.

We went to the temple on Tuesday and the missionaries from Alcalde Diaz were there and Hna. L. told me that all my converts are doing super well and are active!! 

We had interviews with President and I told him that we were going to have a baptism and that it would be my first in 8 months and his reply was "sometimes that happens and I know it wasn't from a lack of work". I am glad someone feels that way because everyone else tends to think that baptisms = success or obedience... not always the case. 

So I have been doing my personal progress again and I only have 2 experiences and 4 projects left and I will finish. (She finished it the first time before she was 16 and then she also got her honor bee, so proud of that girl!)

So Panama has really cheap shopping, just so you know... (: 

So when I get home I want to make a journal of all my letters I have written home, just in case I didn't write something in my journal. Maybe you could help me by printing them out?? (maybe she forgot who she was talking to lol)

Dear Alyssa,

I hope you are going to send me a present for my birthday. Alyssa did you know I am going to have a princess party?. Alyssa did you know I got a scooter and I like it very much and it can go super duper fast. Alyssa did you know Elder Hansen got transferred but not to a new companion but now he is back and I am glad. (she means he went on splits, she thought he got transferred transferred and she was not happy about it LOL) Love Abby to Alyssa. 

Dear Abby, I love you a lot! So I have a present for you but I don't think I will be able to send it, so you will have to wait until I get home. It will be like the present waiting for me on my bed. I am so glad you are going to have a princess party! When I come home we are gonna race on our scooters and I hope that yours isn't faster than mine, because mine is fast, but its not super duper fast... I am glad that Elder Hansen came back! I love you kiddo! Love Alyssa!!

Q. That was nice of you guys to let your investigator dress you all up. Did she like it? Do you think she will get baptized?

A. I think she will get baptized, but it will be a while. Her son is L. R. (the one who talks to you on Facebook) 

Q. I know cambios are coming, if you get transferred will you be sad to leave your area?

A. Yes I will be sad to leave. I told J. that I am probably leaving and he looked so sad, it broke my heart, and he asked me "are you going really far away?" and I told him not to worry cause I would still be in Panama and I will call him a few times to see how he is doing. I want you to meet him. He is such a good kid! he´s 15.

Q. I can't wait to hear all about J. I am so happy for you guys. How did the baptism go? I didn't even know about him only the lady in the orange house. How did you find him? How long have you been teaching him?

Q. J. lives with a member, he was a reference. We have been teaching him for like 6 weeks. 

Q. So now there is no transfer meeting how do you find out if you are getting transferred? And where you go? 

A. We get an email that says if we have transfers or not and where we go if we do. 

 Tell grandpa that I have decided that they should come be temple missionaries in Panama!! It is so awesome here they would love it!

 All is well Here. I miss you! Bye I love you! Hug my Abby please!

Hna. Wandell