Moving and such things as that...

Okay okay okay. I have to start this off with a confession I have been hiding for awhile. 

I like fruitcake. 

Like I actually enjoy it and get EXCITED when people give it to us everyday. AND I ACCEPT seconds!! 

You know...that really dry bread with weird dried fruit and who knows what else inside. 

What is this place doing to me??
Also I have confused the smell of mold with the smell of home. hmmm

Time to move

And move we did. Finally!

Our new little apartment is lovely. As in it doesnt have mold..its a bit latrger than the last and its walls are a nice shade of lavender! Much better than the lime green. Sadly its in the sketchiest part of town. Like we cant walk back there at night...we have to take a taxi straight to the building. Nice going assistants. HA! But its fun! Except when we cant get a taxi and we have to sneak through fields and run away screaming from the literally naked men that chase us yelling stuff I am glad I still cannot understand. Oh its so fun! It really is. We havent seen any guns this week though! Thats always a plus. DONT WORRY! I AM SAFE! All the dogs will protect me. ;)

I wont miss taking twenty mins to prepare for bed. Prepare as in

drench my body in bug spray. Put tights on (2 pairs), then socks, really tight clothing that bugs cant crawl through. Then spray my mattress. Each sheet. Each blanket. And the air surrounding my bed. Open the window so we dont suffercate from the bug spray
and then turn little space heaters on so we dont freeze.

And maybe we will shower more now that we dont have to ....start a fire...turn the kitchen faucet on 3 times---run and turn the shower on after precisely 34 seconds--then run and turn the fire up...run back...turn off this faucet...and HOPE that maybe some warmish water will come out.

Yes we are enjoying our new little lovely lavender place!

Also our neighbors play in a mariachi band until like 4 am. So if we wanted to we could dance in our dance studio room (thats what we call the room we get dressed in and have all our suitcases) all night long! Maybe one night...:)

Our ward is so sweet. We had pretty much all the men in our ward come and help us move...plus all the elders in our district. But it turned out to be one of those cases where there are too many people and no one to direct. LUCKILY I have lots of moving experience and we were able to get it all done in an efficent manner. I knew there was a reason we moved so much!! Somehow in all that craziness I twisted my ankle. Im pretty sure its  not broken..just sprained. So I just soak it in salt water (the chilean cure for everything) and hope that walking 7 miles on it everyday will help it!! Fingers crossed! Right now it sill fits into my shoe so I think were good!

Our little house has had a fit of laughing attacks that has lasted a couple weeks. Its gotten to the point we cant say a prayer or sing a hymn without bursting into laughter and tears. Its kind of bad. But its like you have to be professional and focused for so long everyday...eventually your mind just cant take it anymore and it just crashes in the worst possible moments. Its fun though

We threw together a little thanksgiving activity for our ward last week. We played fruit basket. I am so used to playing that game really intensely though...litke pushing people over and screaming and turning it into a wrestling match. So first thing I know I`m knocking my investigators to the floor and throwing my companion into a stack of chairs. No one got hurt. Dont worry. ;)

We also made some pies for it...well we TRIED to make pies. We really made peach cobber with a topping hard as a rock. We didnt have a recipie or normal ingrediants so we just kind of threw stuff in. The members LOVED it though and asked how we made it..our response "how DIDNT we make it!?" Just throw your whole kitchen in. We also made cheesecake but since none of the ovens have temperatures and run off real fires-we rally burnt it. They still loved it though! It turned out to be a great activity.

We were invited to seminary graduation since we taught seminary. Our precious students gave us roses and we even got a certificate! I love them all so much! They are SO great!! And afterwards they had a dance! (we didnt stay for that). But they have dances all the time. Well not really dances they more of just turn on music and EVERYONE dances. Unlike our dances where no one does. So after the seminary graduation in the chapel they just opened the doors to the gym and everyone ran in there and did some tengo and quakas.

Today I got my visa! It took awhile but now I am legal! 

I`m having a hard time realizing its Christmas. Its been super hot and I was starting to think that maybe I wanted to be home for Christmas. But then I looked around and realized I AM home! Chile feels so comfortable and like home to me. I cant imagine wanting to be anywhere else. The people are so friendly...its hard to not instantly feel like family with them. And even though Ill be a sweaty and hot walking around knocking doors on Christmas day...eating more hot dogs, oil and mayonnaise than you would believe...I will be with these people! Who are the greatest in the world! Who are teaching me so much and love me even though I cant really speak their language and sometimes dont finish all their food.
Who care so much about everyone and always make very sure we arent hungry...and buy me socks when they realize I only brought 4 pairs (how did I forget that?)..and drop off fresh fruit everyday..and curtains for our new apartment...and make sure we know they want to help us with everything. I cant believe the generosity and the love these people are always shining with. They are so wonderful. Im frusterated at my lack of ability in expressing how truly amazing they really are. Just come see for yourself!

Transfers are next week. I am crossing my fingers for 15 more months in Chillancito! 

Go show some chilean love to someone today!
Here`s to a wonderful week!

-Hermana Orchard

Pictures: some people next to our Gracias board

Excited on moving day!
and my old bedroom. 

Is it too late for this?

HOOOOLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know Thanksgiving was LAST week but since we didnt even acknowledge it at all...we actually all forgot....here is my thankful list!! Whoohoooo!!!!

I am thankful for...

1. Dogs who are nice enough not to bite me

2. Times when my shower decides to grace me with semi warm water

3. Evenings...when the whole city is enveloped in a cloud of baking bread

4. People who let us in their homes and give us fresh raspberry juice...mmmmm

5. Meals that arent covered in mayonnaise

6. Meals that are not the size of ten thanksgivings

7. People who understand my spanish (or at least pretend)

8. The green mountains that tower around us

9. The taste of sea salt in the air

10. The lime green walls of my casa...it feels like we are inside a leaf!

11. The pet black slugs that crawl out and play during the night

12. The colors of Chile! Vivid green, pink, blue and yellow houses that line the streets and twist into the hills. The colorful giant flowers that cover the roofs, sidewalks, streets, streams, ditches, mountains and bridges of Chillancito. 

13. The HUGE roses that grow literally EVERYWHERE! 

14. The countless fruit trees that make the air smell like lemons

15. Fresh peach juice

16. Mango juice

17. Strawberry juice

18. The children who walk along the streets with us-holding our hands and saying "hola amigas"

19. Nights when we buy hot empanadas from the panaderias and have little parties in our casa

20. Sopa pies- they are kind of like scones but a lot more chewy and airy. They are amazing with salsa, or jam, manjar. Dont you fret...I got the recipie!

21. Lemon pie- kind of like our lemon merengue pies but 10000x better! The bottom is like a soft sugar cookie, then a creamy lemony custard middle topped with mountains of merengue! Its amazing...and there is a bakery about every ten feet that sells a slice!

22. My essential oils...they have been my best friend these last ten weeks.

23. My mini spanish hymn book-my other best friend

24. The fact that 99.9% of the woman here have the name Maria. So when I forget someones name...I can just guess Maria and I am right 99.9% of the time. Same goes for men and the names Jose and Juan

25. The ice cream here. I thought the ice cream in Mexico was good but here its just a whole nother world of creamy delightfulness! Flavors of fruit I have never even heard of...and why?? Its too good. 

26. The fact that almost all the members were evangelical before and spice up the middle of prayers with "hallejulah", "Amen", "Praise the Lord" or just singing, yelling, humming...its always hard to get through without having a laughing attack. 

27. The cobble stone streets. They are just so much more fun than regular streets. Little tough to walk on though

28. Days when they dont add sugar cubes to my juice or soda

29. Evening when we happen to be on top of the mountains and get to watch the skys do a little fire dance

30. That I still have teeth in my mouth...That is extremely rare here

31.That every person in Chile has their own rose garden...and that they are all blooming NOW!

32. That fruit cake is a real Christmas thing here. Its really gross but fun!

33. For the lifetime of camping that has prepared me for this 18 month camping trip. 

34. For the pills that make my blood taste like garlic so every bug in the country doesnt try and eat me up at night

35. For lavender to rub on my spider bites

36. That I never actually see the spiders biting me

37. For the mice and rats that clean our floors at night

38. That I dont have to sleep on the floor

39. For my plaque- and the opportunity I have to wear it everyday

40. For the heavyduty waterbottle- it is a gread handy weapon

41. For people who send me letters! (hint hint)

42. That Jacob promised to not to marry until my return

43. That as long as I say "permisso" first...I can get away with pretty much anything here

44. For Hermana Lees- not only is she also going through this whole first cambio of change and distress with me but she is also the funniest person ever. She is so blunt and honest and just makes me laugh all the time! She also has fire running through her veins instead of blood...thats always a cool thing!

45. For my planner...where would I be without that thing??

46. For spiders that are dead

47. For any other bug that eats spiders

48. That that one spider which is the largest in the world and originates here in concepcion....has not made an appearance yet. 

49. For the friendliness of chilean people. Always ready and wanting to feed us and make us feel at home. For their friendliness in kissing and greeting everyone. For their never ending kindness and generosity and the way they will give away everything they have at a momnets notice. For their complete inability to judge others. They are teaching me who to love and be a real person...totally deviod of all false pretenses or fake faces. I never realized how rude we are in America. Was there really a time when I didnt greet every person I came across...and just ignored people?? These chileans have got the just slow down and love people thing down! 

50. The opportunity I have to have a front row seat in the greatst miracle of all- The Atonement as it changes people`s lifes

YEAH!!! Okay. Ciao for now. :) 

Hermana Orchard

Week 9: Birthdays and soap

Hola Hola! 

I have a new address for all of you! The other one still works and I will get anything that you send there...but this one is just BETTER! :) 

Chile Concepcion Mission

Castellòn 1063 Oficina Norte 

Concepciòn

Bio-Bio Chile

This week was such a roller coaster. I really need to just sleep off all the craziness that happened...but there´s no time for that so I´ll just write about it instead.

I found out the hidden meaning to why I needed to take anatomy. So much of what I see here I wouldnt be able to handle without my cadaver time. Like...we visited a lady who was missing half her head...and a few people who were literally missing portions of there head tambien. She is a tad bit crazy now  but a super sweet lady who promised to teach me the queka-Chile´s national dance. We see dogs everywhere we go who are in every condition...missing eyes, feet, tails, legs etc. We also visit lots of elderly who love to show off their wounds and sicknesses. Yes...my anatomy study tolerance has helped me a great deal.

Contacting is a great way to meet all sorts of people! While out we contacted a man who`s appearance made me a bit apprehensive. While talking with him about how baptism can wash away his sins and stuff he got really excited and said ¨"oh that would be real good! I´ve got some blood one my hands a couple times". He then proceeded to act out on us how he stabbed someone or something. We got out of there pretty fast. And that folks, is why you dont go to the cerro! Have I mentioned yet that we get flashed at least ten times a day? We will just be walking by and men will start yelling or singing or something and just undress...in the middle of the street! There is nothing we can do about it though because its totally legal here. Its only happened while we are contacting them a few times though...

I´m having a bit of a hard time transitioning from english to spanish. And that is what it is...a transition. Right now I cant speak english...but I cant speak spanish either. Its just this weird in between language that only a select few are able to understand.  haha

About the whole food situation...it is BETTER! I bought a tuberware container and its basically my new best friend. I have used it a few times now and the members dont seem to be offended by it. I also have started asking for water instead of accepting the soda they give me. That always shocks them. We explain that in the US lots of people drink water...PLAIN! They laugh at that. I have learned and practiced how to say "Im full...I cant eat anymore. Its really good...can I take some home in my container?". Its working out pretty good. But its kind of too late...I already dont fit into two of my skirts. Whoops!

These past two months I have learned with a new depth how even our smallest and simplest prayers are answered. Three stories...okay here we go.

Last week after I emailed I was just so discouraged. I craved everything about home...warm showers, non mayonnaise coated food, a bed clean of fleas and bugs and being able to communicate with people. I needed to talk  to a friend. And then BAM! I looked up and there was my MTC companion aka my bff! ;) We hugged and screamed and cried and admitted that this whole thing wasnt the easiest piece of queque in the world. And somehow when our little therapy session in the computer lab was done...I was better! I am so thankful for all the people that God places in my life to help me just in the moment when I need it most!

Later on in the week I was discouraged again and was swirling into some dense fog of despair when another of my unspoken prayers was answered! I went on little mini cambio to santa Sabina. A BEAUTIFUL town right on the beach. Its also extremely rich and I felt like I was back in America! My companion was hermana Romney...she is wonderful and was SO kind and patient with me. She just pulled me up from my drowning exsistence and gave me hope and the ability to handle all of this. She also is the one on the womans BYU basketball team (on the poster) who is pointing out from the middle (fun fact- I knew I recognized her!). I was able to see a new way of being a missionary that allowed me to be ME! And their house was not a little shack full of rodents and bugs...that was nice too. I got what I needed most in those 24 hours..hope! Hope that one day I will be able to communicate with these people...one day it wont be a struggle every second with my companion and one day I will have a stove and a real bathroom again! And thats all I really needed to know. ··Added note. Hermana Romney also looked and acted like Aleza Yerkes. So ALEXA I saw future missionary you and you are a GREAT missionary! :)

Third story. Our living condition is pretty awful. I thought all mission houses were like this but after visiting a few others I realized we arent even on the same sphere as them. Me and my roommates health has been not as great  since we got here and I thought...maybe its the fact that the walls are literally BLACK covered in mold?  So we did some scrub a dub dubbing and got some of it off.   There are also holes in the wall the size of...well about 2 feet wide. Its just not super fun to live there and we are always literally tripping over each other because theres just not really enough space to move at all. So I decided to pray that we would be able to move living spaces. Cambios is in three weeks but I dont want any other missionaries to have to live here either. So I prayed. And we got a surpirse visit from the mission presidents wife who started crying when she walked inside. She also said "please dont tell your moms you live here". But I already told you before. Anyways, we now have a mandate from the president to make our first priority finding a new place to live. I hope to be out of there by this weekend! And Im sure we will be...either in a new house or a different sector. So dont you fret!

I think that has been the best lesson I have learned so far. That prayers are always answered. My prayers, our investigators prayers...everyones. Not always in the way we want or think would be best...but in the best way. I feel so protected here. I never worry about anything. God controls everything. And being able to see that so clearly everyday is SUCH a blessing!

Today me and my house went to the presidents house and helped Hermana Arrington make some food and we had a mini thanksgiving meal! It was great! It is also my two month birthday so they sang to us and we had a little party. Can you believe Ive been out for two months? I cant decide if it feels more like 10 years or 2 days.

Welp Im out of time. I am doing GREAT! Dont worry about me (Im tempted to delete my whole email now). I expect MIRACLES and LOVELINESS this week! Have a wonderful thanksgiving!!!

Love you ALL!! 

Hermana Orchard

 Happy Birthday Mom!

 My favorite lady ever on her birthday!

 The beautiful place where the ocean meets the sand...

Us at the presidents house for thanksgiving

Week 8: La Playa!

Hola Hola Hola!

Happy Birthday EMILY!!! and mom...later this week! 

Wow, what a week! This whole thing is just such a roller coaster. I`m not quite sure what to think about it at the moment. Lots to say...so I`ll just hop to it!

Our mission Presidents wife came and had a little mini cambio with me and my companion for a day. That was fun....especially since she cant speak any spanish so for once I wasnt the only clueless one! haha

Our ward had a talent show. They really love talent shows down here. Apparently they have them all the time. As missionaries we had to perform but didnt have any time to think of anything. So we ended up just rapping some hymn that Ive never heard before. These people are very courageous. Everyone got up and performed something. Even the investigator we brought spontaneously got up and performed! Most people sang a solo to a english song...it was pretty funny. And long. It was supposed to start at 8..but following proper chilean time it didnt start til 10....and went until like 1 am (we obviously didnt stay for the whole thing). This is on a wednesday night. Chileans are so funny. If you are out of the house by 10 am...you are the only one. Also at the talent show the bishop did a little jig to Rhiannas S and M I think its called. Whatever it is its a really bad song and it was hilarious.

I get a 2nd chance at seminary! We are the stakes seminary teachers! No one in the stake wanted that calling...so its ours! Its pretty fun. The kids are...fun. They have a blast making fun of my spanish. We also just started teaching english class as a way to find new investigators. Its a hit! Everyone wants to learn english. And they have more sympathy for me trying to learn spanish afterwards too....:)

My sector I have leanred has a pretty bad reputation for being the most ghetto and dangerous in the mission. Im not sure why hermanas are here...but rumor is we wont be here for long. Anyways...along with that comes lots of....compliments lets call them haha. My self esteem has been built up so much here. Every man we pass calls us "models" or "precious rubias" (im blonde here by the way). Lots of "I love you" too.  They will chase us down the street and we found out the hard way that when you go into their house-...they wont let you out! Dont worry, we found out that we arent even allowed to go in mens houses without someone else so that wont happen again. I got proposed to! It wasnt too romantic. They just slobbered all over my hand and said something I couldnt understand. What I am trying to get at is that pretty much everyone drinks here and smokes. There are lots of drunks....and they are always very willing to be taught. We try and not enter their houses though, but sometimes you dont know they are drunk until you are inside. One man always bows to us as we walk by. Not a little bow..but on the floor head on the ground bowing. I have learned to just laugh at the sometimes not so great attention. My companion told me by the end of my mission I would hate men and dogs. We had a few close encounters this week. I have finally figured out where all the drug dealers and gangs hang out and we try to not be there at night. Im fine though! Nice and safe! Dont worry

In the morning we go running up and down the staris of the hills. We are surrounded and in the mountains and hills. And they have stairs up and down them. We call them  machu pichu haha. Think stariway to heaven type stuff. When you get to the top you can see in every direction and its just gorgeous! This pleace is really just so green and beautiful. I forget that sometimes as I am trudging through the city getting chased by men and dogs.

The food is still a struggle. For sure the hardest part. During lunch is normally when I want to put my head down and cry....or throw up. Its just super unhealthy food and they give us SO MUCH! No joke its more than 10 people could eat together. And we have to eat all of it. Im just getting a little tired of throwing up everyday and feeling like Ive drunk grease. They dont drink water...and will get offended if you ask for it. I drink propbably a gallon of soda and juice everyday. The soda is better than the juice....the juice tastes like melted popcicles with added sugar (have I already said that?) Everywhere you go people will give you juice or soda. 

Let me give you an example of what lunch is like. 

1:30...they give you a big glass of juice. (sugar water)

they bring out a salad (iceburg lettuce with vinegar and salt on it...and sometimes some mayonnaise too)

they give you a loaf of bread to eat by yourself

This is when I am full. And then they bring out the main dish. yesterday it was pasta with heavy heavy homemade pasta. It was literally on a platter. Each plate was the size of two of our plates. It is just piled on there. 

You eat a little bit...and they refill it. You drink a little and they refill it. 

1 hour later the plate is empty and its basically the biggest acheivement of your life. Then you notice you still have juice. So you drink that without getting sick. 

And then they bring out dessert. Basically a whole cake for each person. And more juice. 

I have never prayed as hard as when I am eating lunch. There is no other way to get through it. Im hoping my stomach adjusts soon. They say it takes a month or two.

Anyways, enough about THAT! 

We found a really amazing FAMILY this week! They came to church yesterday too! The parents are just wonderful and they have two teenage boys who already look like missionaries! We are hoping to baptize them all on the 7th of december.

One day I hope you can all meet the Gonzalaez family. They are so amazing. They became members a year ago and are just about the sweetest people on the planet. I wont try to explain them more. I wouldnt do them justice.

My companions and roommates are just the best! EVER! They are all so great and just so much fun! They all kill the spiders for me and do it silently so that I dont even know when we are being attacked by them! I dont know what I would do without them!

Today we had a zone activity to the "embarkadora". Which is just a secret word for beach! It was beautfiul! It looked kind of like prarie creeks beach except it was hot and just more beautiful basically haha. We played frisbee and climbed to the top of this look out spot. I also got to take a little siesta in the sand...something I didnt think I would do on my mission. But it was wonderful! So beautfiful and no one else was there. It was just this random little secret bit of heaven. Ill send pictures next week when my camera isnt dead.

Okay Im out of time. This letter may not have been as inspirational as it should have been...but Im just glad I made it through the week haha

Dont pray for me...pray for these people down here. They need prayers so much more than I ever could.

Love you all!!

-Hermana Orchard

ps yesterday I counted how many people I kissed...96. 96 kisses in one day. Beat that! ;)

Week 7: I Arrived!

Hola from the land of the cutest children and babies this world has ever known!

Sorry I never got the chance to call home. The airports were craziness.
But I am here and I am alive and HAPPY!

Leaving the precious CCM was hard. The elders cried...none of the sisters did though. Maybe boys are more sentimental than girls. Anyways, as we were driving out of the gates into the real world some of the elders in my district ran after our van screaming. I had forgotten one of my bags! The elders are always helping me out.

The plane ride was long. And lasted all night long. We boarded the plane at 7 pm and landed in santiago at 8 am. I didnt sleep at all. I tried but the guy next to me was kind of drunk and they kept turning on the lights and serving food. Like at 2 am they turned on all the lights and handed out breakfast. Who wants breakfast at 2 am?? But we landed and a bunch of us lost little puppies hobbled around the airport trying to figure out where on earth to go and what to do. A nice man took our hands and led us to our connecting flight. We landed in Concepcion and met our president and all that jazz. The airport looked like the inside of a cabin haa.

And thus started the longest day of my life. I cant really remember what happened except that I was dreaming of bed and normal food and sleep. Somehwere in there I got assigned a trainer and we started the haul of my luggage to a bus stop. In case you cant remember what my luggage looks like...it is big and HEAVY and getting it on a crazy bus was...well crazy- The busses dont fully stop so you kinf of hop on and off while it is in motion. Its a roller coaster. Especially with luggage we all just fell over and and rolled around with on the floor. It was pretty funny. And I was a little overwhlemed.

I got a bit more overwhelmed when we arrived at our "house". Its pretty much a tin box type thing-. Its an adventure. Well leave it at that haha Fun sidenote....it has dirt floors! And a plant is growing! Yay for gardens inside the house! haha

Let me back up. So I am in Chillancito. Its a city about 10 mins outside of concepcion. About 7 miles from the ocean. You can taste the salt in the air. Its wonderful. Chile is gorgeous. Its just rolling green mountains and hills. Lots of wild flowers and and trees. Lots of trash everywhere. Lots of rabid dogs we spend our days running away from.

We live with two other sisters. One who I came with from the MTC. Sister Lees...actually the first sister I met coming to the MTC. And then another sister whos blog I found before I came. So I know all about her and get to creep her out with my extensive knowledge of her haha. My My companion is awesome too. I love them all SO much! This whole thing would be really hard without them. But we have a ball together. Singing and staying up way too late talking. Its fun. Its a blast really.  I also sleep realy really well at night. haha Dont ask me why the font just changed into italics. Thats an accident.

Some fun things about Chile. Everyone here thinks I am blonde. We get lots of whistles and men running and calling after us. Its a little creepy...but most of the time they are drunk so its okay. Lots of cobble streets and horse drawn carriages...on the freeway. Ill have to get a picture of that sometime hha. Chileans love to stay up late. Like ward activites go to midnight...and if you are out of the house before 10 am....you are the only one up. People are always trying to touch my face and hair. Im not sure what is so fascinating about it. Or take pictures of us. Everyone kises here. The bishop kisses the relief sociey ladies and everyone just kises everyone. All. the. time. As missionaries we can only kiss other girls. Its like a little kiss thing on their cheek. Even strangers. We spend half ur day just kissing people. You walk into church and have to kiss every girl or they will be super offended. And then when you leave you kiss them all again...and you cant miss anyone. You see someone on the street..you kiss them. Lots of kissing...not sure how to emphasize how big a part of this it is. Ill be coming home much more affectionate I am sure. 

People basically live at the church building. Any time we stop by there there are always families in their baking or just hanging out.

Back to the first day...we taught some lessons and then went to the church for a ward activity. I couldnt understand a word anyone said...nor could they understand a word I said. It was kind of sad. Some people, are really mena about it too. That night I was so exhuasted and overwhelmed I just wanted to lay in the corner and cry. But I made it to 11:30 when I finally got to lay in bed. I fell asleep so fast I didnt even notice the multiplude of bugs that live with us. And live with us they do...since there are like 3 foot openings in the walls.

Food.....ahahahaha oh boy. Lunch is a big BIG deal here. They dont really eat breakfast or dinner...but it is chow time at lunch! We eat with a family every day for lunch. They give you the biggest portions I have ever seen...and if you dont eat it all they get really offended and never come to church again. No joke. You also have to acept seconds. The food is basically rice, chicken, mayonnaise and oil. The walk home is normally a game of who is going to throw up first. They say I will get used to it soon...but for now I would just rather not eat anything. The bread is really good though! So thats a good thing....Everyone gains a ton of weight here just because you eat a ton of super unhealthy food. There is not much choice in that. So perdon me if I dont send home any more pictures of myself haha. Also the oil is obviusly not good for skin or anything. Oh these people need some nutrition lessons. But for now just lets all accept that I wont be coming home looking the same. Oh well. Its all worth it!

We are in a super poor area. Most people are esentially homeless. They live in little shacks made of scrap wood and metal. And are about the size of one or two closets. It is extremely humbling. Its hard to describe how these people are...I almost dont want to try. But they are the best. They are so humble and so sweet. We visited a man last night who is a new convert. His name is Raul. He reminds me of grandpa Orchard. Just so sweet. He sat on his bed (his house was basically his bed and a table) and he taught me about how to truly be a disciple. He then gave us bread to eat...I know if was the only food he had. It was worht it to come all the way here for 18 months even if I only am able to have that experience with him. I want to write more but I am out of time. 

The people are so sweet. It seems like they have nothing...but really they have everything. We could all learn so much from them. There are so many people here who are lost and broken. It seems the world has forgotten and overlooked them. They live next to train tracks and and in alleys among the dogs and trash. They need to be found and shown light! Let us all try and find those lost overlooked people and help them find their way home.

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Hermana Orchard (no one here can pronouce my name either)

So Long, Farewell!

Hola for the last time from Sunny Mexico! 

I leave in....TWO HOURS for the airport to hop on my 16 hour plane to CHILE! 

I´ll go over my emotions in a bit...

This week was soo BEAUTIFUL! It was also extremely HOT here! Which was kind of nice. We drank a lot of mango juice and studied in the sun. mmmm

The Mexicans are so funny. They are SO brutally honest. They will just insult you and laugh and think nothing of it. They are not being mean...thats just how they are. Blunt. Its kind of refreshing...sometimes. We have fun with it. They are also the SWEETEST people! and I am going to miss them SO much! Yesterday our branch president and his family surprised us with a Day of the Dead party after church. It was the best. They made us mexican hot chocolate (which tasted more like hot cinnamon), Dia de la muerte bread-basically these huge sweet rolls absolutely DRENCHED in sugar....I got the sugar ALL over me somehow. It looked like I had just taken the bread and rubbed it all over my shirt and skirt. And these jello things with skulls inside. Have I ever mentioned how obsessed they are with jello here? Lots of weird fruit jellos that taste like medicine. Anyways, they had it all set up for us and we had a little fiesta! The branch presidents wife couldnt speak any english but she kept coming up to us and kissing our cheeks and making us eat more. It was so sweet. 

I accompanied some of my district on the piano for the MTC yesterday.  I wasnt very excited to actually perform but I got to play the piano for the first time in 6 weeks and it was HEAVEN! Another girl also brought out her violin last week and let me play it for a little bit. That was wonderful too! Oh, the piece I played for the MTC thing was I need thee Every Hour...that arrangement by...oh I cant remember his name. 

This morning I got to spend 3 hours with President Pratts wife in the salon while my companion got her hair colored. Hermana Pratt made her dye her super blonde hair brown because she would stand out too much in Chile. My companion was NOT happy about it...but it was fun talking to Hermana Pratt the whole time. She knew all about our mission and was prepping us for it. She also said that Chilean spanish is super weird and we wont be able to understand anything for a LONG time. She said ¨Get ready for the longest month of you life¨. And its starts tomorrow after a all nighter on the plane. Whoo hoo! 

I am super excited to go to Chile but I am devastated to leave this precious CCM. I just got here! And its so beautiful and perfect....and the people are so wonderful and my district is so great!

Ahh....but it is time to move on. 

My companion and three of the elders in my district are coming with me to Concepcion. But everyone else is going to California or Arizona. Lots of tears. 

My district has been the best! They are all just my best friends now and some of the greatest people I have ever met. I´m going to miss this. 

But this place has been such a blessing! The amount I have learned here....is ´probably comparable to what I have learned in all my 19 years. As my dear friend Elphaba once sang.. ¨Something has changed within me....something is not the same.¨ 

Hopefully I am still alive next week and you´ll get an email from me. :) 

Main point of this email- send me chocolate please and come visit the CMM one day!

Cheerio ya´ll!

-Hermana Orchard

Pictures

hermanas at the temple

and an awkward picture of me in our soccer field. 

Great people.  The girl in the purple next to me is "hermana mamma" no joke.  She is hilarious.

My casa!

Branch Presidency and Day of the Dead

My district with our teacher the day of the dead party.