Week #4 A Really Happy Hermana

Family!

Once again thank you for the amazing email. You guys are the greatest. Happy Birthday Spencer! I hope you know I made our whole district sing to you on your birthday even though you aren't even here in Peru and they have no clue who you are.  Don't worry, I thought about you all day.

It was a great week here in Peru! Probably the best one yet. I have been so happy and I know that is because the Lord is helping me and giving me the strength that I need.

Classes were pretty normal this week. We are continuing to learn Spanish and practice teaching. Because it was pretty normal this week I am going to focus on the small things that happen in the CCM you might want to hear about.

We have hit our one month mark here in Peru! The newest group came in today. One of the kids in this group was in my BYU ward so that was soooo cool to see someone I knew before I got here.  It's crazy to think we are the oldest group here now; only two more weeks and I am out in the field! At the Temple today there were some missionaries waiting outside. Hermana Beatty and I talked to them and they are from Lima North! It was soo fun to connect with them. They even knew my friend Elder Johnson. It made me very nervous, but very excited to finally get out in the field.

Here at the CCM we have three ping pong tables outside. This week during our free time we decided to have a ping pong tournament. You guys will be so amazed. I did really well. Who knew I was good at ping pong? Obviously not as good as the elders, but I am one of the best Hermanas here.

Each night at around 6 pm the sun sets here in Peru and it is absolutely beautiful. The sky turns completely pink. The longer I am here the more I am realizing how amazing the surroundings are. There are a ton of birds as well. They make so much noise and I feel like I am in the forest some days.

So funny story... In Spanish, the way you say "sin" is pecado. However, fish is pescado. We were teaching a lesson this week, and I told one of our investigators that Christ suffered for all of our fish. My companion caught it, but I didn't.  However, once our investigator started laughing I realized what I had said. haha. I wont be making that mistake again.

Hermana Beatty and I continue to work really well together. It is sad that we only have two more weeks together. I am going to miss her, but I'm excited that we are in the same mission because that means I will be able to see her every once in a while.

So this week we spent some time practicing teaching with the younger groups. After we finished teaching them they told us our Spanish was soo good. Haha it's funny because I still feel like I know very little, but when I look back to where I was three weeks ago I realize I have come a long way. I am trying to keep improving each day and not waste any time here in the CCM.

So the girl in our group who hurt her knee playing soccer ended up tearing her ACL. She actually goes home today for surgery. It was really hard to see her find out she has to leave. I feel really bad, but she is taking it very well.

Thank you guys for your continuos support! I feel your love every day. I know it's because of your faith and support that I have been doing so well. I am actually going to miss the CCM when I leave. It has become my second home. Obviously I am excited to leave, but I have really grown to love this place.

I reccommend reading the talk "Swallowed up in the will of the Lord" by Neal Maxwell. I read it this week and it helped me remember what it means to be a servant of the Lord. I reccommend reading it as a family and thinking about what you can do to become even closer to our Heavenly Father.

I love you all! I hope you have an amazing week!

Love,

(a really happy) Hermana Vernon

Week #3

Hey hey family! Thanks again for an amazing email. I had a great week! The homesickness is sooo much better and I am really starting to enjoy my time here. I wish I had more time to answer all of your questions but I will try my best.

Thursday we went to Interpol to work on our visas. We took a car ride to a different part of the city. We were able to see more of the neighborhoods and they truly build their houses right up the mountains. When we got to Interpol we had to wait in line for a few hours. We of course got some strange looks, but I am learning very quickly that the Peruvian people are very nice. We had to get our teeth checked, which I don't quite understand why, but they took us into this room one by one and had us lay in this old chair while some guy practically stuck his face in our mouth. I passed, and they took our fingerprints and we are one step closer to getting a Peruvian ID.

Today we went to the temple again and it was beautiful. We took the younger group with us and showed them around the city. It's crazy that today is my half way mark of my time at the CCM! it feels like I have been here a day and also for years. I really am starting to love it here and I'm thankful for the experiences I am having.

I wear my hair curly every day becuase of the crazy humidity. On Wednesday I straightened my hair (or tried to) and 3 or 4 different elders in my district asked me if I did something different with my hair. I was told I looked like a model off of a hair commercial. haha. So I guess I look a little different with curly hair. So to answer a few questions….We have a fireside about once a week. There are only 90 missionaries in the CCM right now so we are a pretty small group. All the firesides are in Spanish, but they give us headphones to wear. However, I am trying my best to use them less and I am surprised how much I actually understand. I use my Spanish scriptures in all the lessons we teach, as well as during personal study. I am glad we bought them before because they really come in handy. The Spanish continues to improve. It's really hard, but I am working harder. Today in the temple I listened to the whole session in Spanish. I felt the spirit so strongly and it was amazing how much I understood. The gift of tongues is real. I am getting braver talking in Spanish as well. When we teach our lessons I feel like I can speak a little more freely and I love it. We got a new teacher this week and I love her!  She is just the cutest. She is a very powerful speaker but also so loving. She loves my curly hair so whenever we have breaks in class she asks if she can play with it. My district is super close and it's nice to feel like I have a little family here away from home. The girls in my district (same girls in my room) are wonderful. We are all so different, but that's the reason why it works so well. Four of us are from Utah, and one is from Florida. However, we all went to BYU at the same time so that's kinda funny. We have a lot of fun, but we also work hard. They are very dedicated girls and that helps us focus on the reason why we are here. I will miss them when we separate in three weeks. I am sending home a picture today of them.

Thank you for the Valentine's day cards! I loved reading them. I especially loved Dad's Spanish card. The cafeteria gave us a little Valentine's day treat so it was a good day. The days are starting to go by soo fast. Because the days are all so similar, they start to blend together. Classes are getting more enjoyable though because I am starting to understand more Spanish.

I don't get to play the piano a ton because a lot of the missionaries here play, but I have a few times. Thank you parents for making me stick with piano lessons. The hymns in Spanish are so beautiful. I recommend looking up "Nearer my God to Thee" in Spanish. It's beautiful.

One of the Elders in my group is from Gilbert, Arizona and knows Shawna and Brett. It's funny how many little connections we make here in the CCM. Because most of us went to BYU or are from Utah we all find a way to connect somehow. It's so cool.

Sorry you guys have been sick! Luckily I am still feeling very healthy here. The food is getting a little old, arroz y pollo cada dia, but i still like it. They treat us very well here. I think being here is a completely different experience then going to the Provo MTC.

Sister Beatty and I continue to get along and work together really well! She really is a great companion. She is a lot more outgoing than me, but I think we balance each other out. During our lessons we work well together though. She knows a lot more Spanish than I do, but she is patient with me and lets me teach, even when she could do it a little better.

I am finding joy in the little things. Each day I feel the Spirit so strongly. We have been learning how to teach with the Spirit and during one of our lessons this week I finally understood what that means. I have the first vision in Spanish memorized, and I shared it in our lesson. After I finished I bore my testimony and I could feel the Spirit so strongly.

Yo se que el evangelio de JesuCristo es verdadero. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios y trabuje el libro de mormon con de poder de Dios. Nostros somos hijos de Dios y el tiene un plan para nos.

I love you guys! I feel your support daily. I will send you a few pictures and tell you a few more things about the week. I hope I am writing enough so you can experience my stay here at the CCM along side of me.

I love you guys!

Hermana Vernon

Hermana Cox and Hermana Samuels from my district.

Another view of the CCM

My district. Awesome Missionaries!

These are the fake investigator houses that we teach in here at the CCM.

The girls in my room and district.

Another view of the CCM.

Week 2

Hola mi familia!

 First off, I loved getting your email! P days have very quickly become my favorite day. We went to the temple again this morning. We catch a bus around 6:30 in the morning right outside of the CCM. The buses are tiny and they pack in as many people as they can. It's quite the experience. The bus drivers are actually super nice. They know the missionaries go to the temple every Wednesday morning so when they drive by to pick us up they yell "la iglesia la iglesia!"  The temple is very beautiful. I hope one day, as a family, we get to go through the Peru temple. We also went shopping today at a store called Tottus. It's like a Peruvian Wal Mart. I bought a few Peruvian candies. The chocolate is different here, but it's good. There is this temple store that has really cool ties and scripture cases. Spencer and dad, I want to get you both ties. What color do you want? Do you want a llama or a temple on your ties?

Good news, the homesickness is getting better. Each day is better. I still have really hard days, but overall I am starting to love Peru more and more. I am learning to immerse myself in the work. Also, the language is coming along. Because we are surrounded by the language, that really helps. I can understand Spanish really well. The speaking it is a little harder for me (maybe because I am not very confident) but it is coming. I am trying to speak more and more during classes and in our fake lessons. Our teachers also have us teach the Latino missionaries all the time. That is super intimidating, but they are so warm and welcoming and help us a lot. We have also had them teach us a few times. Listening to them teach lessons is amazing. The spirit is so strong and it gives me hope that one day I will be able to speak just as easy as they do.

On Monday the missionaires who have been here for six weeks left. That was really sad because I had become really close with the sister trainer leaders. They have been so supportive through me being homesick and they were like my moms. On Sunday I was having a really hard day, and I had them come and give me some advice on how they deal with homesickness. They were so much help. They gave me some great scriptures as well as some great advice. It was hard to see them go, but the new sister trainer leaders are so wonderful! I will send a picture of me with them today so you can see them. Super cute girls who I have become really close with. That is the one nice thing about having a small CCM--you get really close with all the other missionaries.

The new north american missionaries came today which means my group isn't the babies anymore! It's crazy that I have only been here for two weeks. It feels like an eternity haha. I am really starting to like it. The days are sooo long, but the weeks are going quickly.

So on Monday we went to immigrations. That was exciting! We were gone for about 5 hours and it was my first time to really see some of the city. The immigrations building was hot, small, and really dirty. We have it pretty nice here in the CCM, so we haven't really seen a lot of poverty yet. Monday was our first experience. Interesting fact about Peru...they dont flush their toilet paper. We do here at the CCM, but everywhere else you don't. Because of this, the bathrooms really stink! Everyone just throws their toilet paper away in the trash can. Also, you have to bring your own toilet paper. I think once I get out in the field I will really begin to realize how blessed I have been in my home. We truly are blessed with so much.

Also, the drivers here are even worse than the drivers in Poland. There are like no traffic rules. People don't stay in lanes, and don't follow the stop lights. It is hard to explain how crazy it is, but honestly it's a miracle that I haven't seen a million car crahses yet. The buses are especially crazy. The drivers are swerving inbetween traffic and barely missing other cars. So yeah, I am not too upset I wont be driving here at all.

On the way back from immigrations I sat across from two elders from Colombia. For the 40 min drive back to the CCM they helped me with my Spanish. In return I had to help them with their English. They were trying to teach me how to roll my Rs haha I still can't do it. They told me to make a face like an angry dog. Well, I tried that and they only laughed harder at me. They told me that overall my pronunciation is pretty good. It is amazing to see how the gospel has no language. Spanish, Polish, or English the Spirit is the same. I have been in lessons or firesides where I don't really understand everything, but I feel the Spirit so strong.

Oh and a girl who is in my group was playing soccer the other day and hurt her knee really bad. They don't know what it is yet, but it might be a meniscus tear. So yeah, that is why I won't be playing soccer here at all. I don't want to chance anything. Just seeing her on crutches brought back a lot of bad memories from when I tore my ACL. I am continuing to work out everyday. I have to because the food they give us here is soo starchy. Bread and rice every day. Also chicken constantly. However the vegetables are also delicious and yes, I am drinking the juice. They have really good juice here and the fruit is always so fresh. I still haven't been sick from the food yet. I have felt really healthy the whole time which is such a blessing. I am super tired, but that is pretty normal. My room is really good at going to bed on time though. By the end of the day we are all so exhausted that we crash about 10:30pm.

I have started to keep a small notebook of tender mercies throughout the day of how I have seen God show his love for me. This has helped me stay positive and focused on the work. If we look for it, we can see how the Lord blesses us every single day. We just have to be willing to come to him. I love the scripture that says that we must abide in God for him to abide with us. That has been getting me through the week. This is the lords time, not Heather's time.

I am going to try to send a few pictures of the CCM. It is so small but so beautiful. It's super hot! I am staring to get a little tan! Haha barely any, but at least a little. Thank you for your prayers and your support. I feel your love every single day, especially today in the Celestial room. I literally felt like you guys were with me. I know I am here physically alone in Peru, but you guys are always with me in spirit. Thank you for being the best family. I hope this continues to answer a few of your questions about the CCM. There is so much to tell you! I am keeping a really good journal so when I get home I can share everything with you.

Until next week!

-Hermana Vernon

Sister Training Leaders and Hermana Vernon

CCM

Hermana Vernon at the Temple

First Week in Peru.

Hola mi familia!

Oh my gosh it was so good to hear from you guys. Just so you know, I am completely over my sickness. *Note from Mom (Heather was sick with a high fever and was on an antibiotic the week before she left for Peru). Thank you so much for all the prayers and fasting. The Lord truly blessed me. Peru is beautiful! we got to the ccm at about 2:30 am on Wednesday morning. I was completely exhausted. There was a huge group of us that came in (about 25 of us all together). Wednesday morning we got up and got to see what the ccm actually looks like. It is very small. There are about 3 main buildings that make up the whole ccm. One for dorms and classrooms, the administration building, and the cafeteria. There are only about 200 missionaries here all together. Because of that, I pretty much know all the North American missionaries by now. All the hermanas who have been here for a few weeks are SO nice and friendly. They have really helped me with the transition. the North Americans make up about 40 percent of the missionaries and the rest are Latinos. The Latino sisters are so nice as well. It's hard beause of the language barrier, but they try so hard to talk to us, and we try our best to talk back. We usually sit with them for a meal or two during the day.

the Spanish is hard, I will admit. We have one teacher and his name is hermano B. he is super nice and a great teacher, but he talks in Spanish the whole class. We have about 5 or a little more hours of class time each day and the whole thing consists of him speaking to us in Spanish trying to teach us about the gospel as well as teaching us Spanish. It's like being in school, but trying to learn algebra in a different language. There are 11 of us in my district (5 sisters and 6 elders). I dorm with the other 4 sisters. They are all really nice and funny. I will admit, their personalities are a little different than mine, but they are very sweet and we are all great friends. Spanish is hard, but I realize I know more from my high school years than I realized. the gospel vocab is coming as well. I can already pray as well as bear my testimony. It does get a little frustrating at times because I feel like I can't express my testimony yet in Spanish, but I have to remember I have only been here for a week.

So each day we are up at 6:30 and then have breakfast around 7:15. We have class from 8:30 until noon, then lunch, personal study, additional grammar study on the computer for our spanish, and then physical activity time. It is really nice to have time to exercise each day, it helps me stay calm. All the latinos play soccer. There is a really nice field here and they try to get me to play, but becuse of my knee I don't dare. I usually run with my companion and stretch and do a little work out. We eat a ton of rice and chicken. Like really, for every meal, but there are also really good vegetables and fruit. look up what a granadilla is. They are funny looking yet really delicious. the Latino sisters taught us how to eat them. After physical activity we have more classes, then dinner, then class again. The days seem really long, but I am learning a lot. Like I said, all the hermanas here are super nice. It's such a tender mercy to feel like I have sisters here away from home.

I will admit, I have been REALLY homesick. The first day I was ok, but after than I got really bad. The older hermanas kept telling me that it would get better with time. It has gotten a little better, so I hope it will only continue. Sunday was probably the hardest day for me. I am ususally fine during the day, it is just at night when we have more down time, or when I'm getting ready for bed that it gets really bad. Dad or Spencer…any advice in dealing with homesickness? The girls in my dorm probably think I'm crazy because I cry all the time, either from being sad, or from being happy and feeling the spirit so strongly. Don't worry mom...even though it has been the hardest week ever, there have also been some really amazing moments. I have realized how much I really need to rely on the strength of the Lord to be able to do this work. I cant do this alone, and I know I am not alone. It has only been a week but I have already learned so much about this gospel and what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

We have already started teaching one of our fake investigators. His name is Mario. The first lesson was kinda rough because hermana Beatty and I speak very limited spanish, but i could feel the spirit. Hermana Beatty has pretty good spanish (she speaks it better than me). She is super patient with me though and is a good companion. We are very different when it comes to personality, but we work well together. She doesnt cry, so when I am practically crying daily it probably freaks her out, but she just gives me a hug and knows I will stop soon. Haha mom I blame you for making me such an emotional person.

We went to the Temple today. What an amazing experience. It was truly what I needed. It was also fun to see some of the city outside of the ccm. The temple is very small, but beautiful. I will try to send some pictures.  I am already falling in love with this country and the people here. The Latino missionaries are so loving and I cant wait to get out into the field and meet the people I have been called to teach.

Mom I wear the necklace you gave me every single day. I have received a lot of compliments on it. It is really nice to feel like I have a bit of you guys with me here in Peru. I also found the letters you guys wrote me. Thank you so much. I am blessed with an amazing family. I hope you guys realize how much I love you. haha just ask hermana Beatty how much I cry and you would understand.

I have very limited time to write today, but i hope next week I will have more time to tell you about every day life here in the ccm. The weather here it hot hot. It was crazy coming from winter to summer. I hope I get a little bit of a tan though.

I hope you guys know I have a testimony of the gospel. Jesus Christ is the perfect example for us and loves us so much. Even though this week has been so hard for me, I have felt His love constantly. He is very aware of me and what I am going through.

I love you guys!

Hermana Vernon

P.S. The Latino sisters are obsessed with the fact that I am a dancer. They have me show them my feet all the time.

My clothes all fit well and my shoes are comfortable. Mom, we did a great job shopping.Will you send my email to grandma and grandpa? i didn't have time to write them.

We cant take pictures in the ccm so they have to be on our p days. That is why I can't really send you some of where I am staying.

I love you, I love you, I love you

I made it! January 28, 2015

Hey family!

So I made it to the mtc and I am doing well! We got in about 3 am this morning and were up and ready by 8 for breakfast. My p days will be on Wednesday and I think I will be writing around noon my time. So if i were you I would just write Tuesday night to be safe. Meaghan is my companion! we are the only two people in our group going to our mission. So yes mom, she made it, she just came in on a different flight.

It is super humid! I can already tell I am going to have super curly hair the whole time i am here. We just got our nametags and are spending most the day doing introductions and I will be honest I feel like a lost puppy but mom I am feeling better and think I am getting over my sickness. *Note from Mom (Heather was very sick the week before she left with a high fever and she was on an antibiotic). The power of prayer and fasting is real. I love you all so much!

Hermana Vernon

The whole family

Tuesday morning at the airport

Trying to hold back a few tears.

Emma will miss Heather but she is looking forward to an expanded wardrobe :)

Happy to meet other sisters traveling to Peru

A great group of sisters and elders traveling to Peru.

See you in 18 months!