Week 2 Letter

Hey everyone! Hows it going over there in Indiana?? I miss it there and all the green. The mountains are muy bonita, but nothing beats the corn fields back home. 

This week was a bit better than last week. My stress level has gotten better and I feel more in control of my studies. it started to really look up last Friday afternoon. 

So everyday, we have 2 blocks of classroom learning. And in the beginning of the day we have our one teacher, Hermano Lloyd and for the second classroom learning block, we haven't really had a teacher which was sort of frustrating. BUT, last Friday afternoon, our old investigator Roberto, walks in and announces that he's our actual teacher and because he's been our investigator that's why we haven't really had a teacher. 

But anyways, he's taught some really great lessons on making a study plan and also how to manage stress. Ever since last Friday, I've felt a lot more in control about what and how to study everything. because before, i just felt like they piled a butt-load of information on me- the language, teaching someone in Spanish, the grammar, the gospel- it was just a lot all at once. And i really didn't know where to even start so i just sort of shut down. but it's been better and i can feel ya'lls prayers, so thanks!

I am getting a long a lot better with the other sister, Hermana Kite and Hermana Siufanua. They are just a crack up, esp Hermana Kite. She's a wild one and she definitely brings a certain (good) personality to our district. Her and I had a pretty hard day Monday and last night we just talked so open with each other and I've really come to love her. she's made some past decisions that weren't the best, and i know shes repented, but she still feels like she's serving a mission to sort of prove something to her parents that she is a good kid, if that makes any sense. I'm praying for her though and i'm glad that I've made a close friend here. 

So yesterday was a pretty cool day because we got to take a "field trip" to SLC (on the outskirts of the city) to visit the Mexican Consulate to finish up the process of our visas. All they had to do was take our pictures and scan our index fingers and that was it, but the trip took all day up until dinner time because there were 17 of us and travel time on the trains took awhile. Hermana Pitcher (my friend from Facebook) was there with us and i sat with her all the way there and we got to just sit down and talk and get to know each other in person which because we don't have anytime here for socialization, was really nice to do. 

And so because it was Tuesday, we had a devotional and Russell M. Nelson came and spoke to us!! it was so crazy awesome! that's now the second apostle I've heard speak here. I don't know if you got my letter in the mail yet, but since i sing in the choir, I THINK they broadcast the devotional on BYU TV and there's a good chance that you'll be able to see me because they film the choir when we sing. so look out for me next week! it starts 7 my time, so 9 your time. 

Hermana Perryman

This is when i got to see richard at the airport!! i was soo happy. best day of my life. not even kidding.

francesca dropping me off on my first day May 14, 2014. I'm so thankful for the materns for doing that for me.

my beautiful room and my beautiful companara. my bed is actually super comfy.

mi companara on our first night. don't we look lovely....

that's my district elders. on top: elder grey. in the middle: on the left: Hermano Thorson (our teacher) on the right elder hyde (he went home after the first week bc of heath issues. we miss him a lot) on the bottom: Left- Hermano King (another teacher, but he moved, so he no longer works at the MTC) middle: Elder Travis (has a crazy awesome singing voice and plays guitar) on the right: Elder Taufa (he's tongan and really funny)

this is an example of my planner and what a typical day looks like. So much to do in so little time...

Hermana Frost and I on our first sunday. We looked good, i promise. This pic just is terrible.

my lovely roomates/district sister. on the Right: Hermana Kite on the left: Hermana Siufanua

Me and Hermana Kite

Look Richard, i found the spanish scripture covers in the book store. Now we are matching :)

This is my whole district together. We are one sad looking group...

Elder Travis sporting one of his many paisley ties. Literally every guy here owns a paisley tie. It must be the "in" fashion for me right now...

We adopted this as our "motto" basically. 

My elders from my district on the left. Then some other elders who i honestly don't even know but just jumped into the pic. This was last week going to the temple for the first time on our first pday.

Week 1 Letter

Sorry for not posting this last night. Here's Hannah's 1st week's letter. It seems like she's been gone a month rather than just 1 week. Her email address is hannah.perryman@myldsmail.net. She'd love to here from you.

So I've survived my first week!! yay!! it was hard, it really was. I haven't had a full melt down, but i have come close. You all know about wed, and richard, and how i almost missed my plane to Utah, so if you could dad, just post that story on my blog for me. Thanks! 

My companion is soo awesome. Her name is Hermana Frost and shes from Mesa, AZ. Shes kinda a nerd, okay she really is a complete nerd. Shes really great with Spanish and we get along just fine. I just can't see us becoming best friends, ya know? 

okay, i don't have any time at all to write this. I don't have anytime at all here to do anything, it kinda sucks, but i love the work. 

The CCM is okay, i guess. I'll say I love it, but not with my whole heart... yet. It's only been a week and i still feel like i'm adjusting to it. Although i will say I love being on West Campus. I feel like there's a lot more "freedom" but maybe that's bc we have to walk outside to get to everywhere. We live in really nice apartments and have to walk across the st to get to our classrooms which are interestingly enough, more apartments. They just changed all of the apartments & bedrooms into classrooms with whiteboards. But the grounds of our classrooms, (so the complex) has a gorgeous creek running through it with lots of trees for shade and benches and lawn chairs. It's pretty perfect bc whenever mi companara y yo get stressed or we feel like we've been inside too long, we can just go for a walk and clear our heads. it's pretty nice :)

My first few days here were soo stressful. The second i got here and to my classroom, it was Spanish time. Not even kidding. No time is wasted here. When mi companara y yo finally got used to how to plan effectively, it's crazy how literally every min of your day is planned from 6:30 am-10:30 pm. And when you somehow find you have 15 mins extra, I feel like i have to be doing something, i can't just sit around and "take a break". I have to be kept busy or i might just break down. 

There is so much of a change there is. I've only been here a week and i can already feel it. And my knowledge on literally EVERYTHING has either grown, shifted, or changed completely. But i go love it. I love the work i'm doing and the feeling of rightness i receive as i do it. This work isn't easy but it is so satisfying. And I've only been out for a week! i can't imagine how it'll feel when i'm in the mission field! 

I have met Victoria and she's wonderful! Shes the cutest thing ever. We aren't in the same district or branch, but she does live right across from me and I see her all the time at meals and devotionals. All the sisters in her district are way cool and we (the girls in my district) have become good friends. It's just nice to know someone, ya know? 

The language is going okay. I actually feel like I know quite a bit and when we teach "investigators" (they are hired by the MTC to role play someone they know in real life. it's weird bc i know they are members, but they do a crazy good job at acting their part) I feel like I can speak better than learning the grammar part of Espanol. Which is weird bc that's the total opposite of what it was for me in high school. 

There was soo much adjusting to get used to! but even when you feel like you can't carry on, just pray. seriously, do it. i don't want to sound "preachy" but without my heavenly father and my savior and my ability to communicate to them, then this whole mission thing i would've failed. They are the ones who help me get up in the morning and who help me get through a full day and who help me fall asleep at night- all without having a melt down and freaking out. 

okay, i'm sorry this email is really sporadic, but this is all the time i have to write to you guys. I love you all  and can't wait to hear back from you next Wed. 

other than that, i'm good. 

love you all!

Hermana Perryman

Hannah reported to the Provo MTC last Wednesday. This is something I wrote on Richard's missionary site about how they were able to see each other at the Phoenix airport.

Before going into the story, keep in mind Hannah left for the Provo MTC this morning flying to Phoenix for a short layover before leaving for Salt Lake. Richard and Hannah would miss each other by a day as he travels to Oregon on Tuesday and she on Wednesday. We often thought how nice it would be for him to get diverted to Salt Lake or her to Portland so they could meet up. With that in mind, read the rest.

Richard's original flight was leaving Mexico City for Dallas, TX at 1:15 CT then onto Portland after a short layover. I monitored his trip itinerary and saw that his flight was getting delayed because of storms in Mexico and Texas. His flight was to be delayed till 8:30 PM. For reasons I'm not sure of (I know but will let you guess), American Airlines switched he and his companion to a different flight at the last minute. This flight was going to Phoenix then onto Portland after a very short layover. He arrived too late to catch the connecting flight to Portland so AA put he and his companion up in a hotel, gave them food vouchers, and booked them on an early morning flight for Portland. Of all the things they could have eaten, they ordered pizza and felt like they were eating like kings.

Richard called us at 1 AM to let us know of the change. While on the call, we started comparing his new flight and Hannah's. He was leaving out of Terminal 4, concourse A. She arrives in Terminal 4, concourse B. I wasn't sure how far apart their gates would be but thought if he got the airport early to find her arriving gate, they could see each other for 5-10 minutes before they'd have to go to their departing gates. They both cried with the thought of seeing each other again before starting their missions. I really hoped it would happen. The complication was Hannah was leaving for Salt Lake 25 minutes before Richard. I was concerned they'd get to see each other but one or both would miss their flights.

As it turns out, Hannah's arriving gate, her departing gate, and Richard's departing gate were very close to each other. Hannah's flight was on time so they were able to see each other for 5 minutes!!!!! They hugged each other and cried. It was exactly what both needed. Hannah said later that she needed to see him and he said that he needed to see her. Although it was only 5 minutes, it's exactly what both needed.

Hannah didn't know at the time that her gate had been changed so she had a longer walk. The gate door had just closed before she got there. In a panic, she went to the customer service to plead to let her on the plane. They said she was in luck because they just called for maintenance to look at something so they'd be delayed at least 5 minutes. They let her on the plane (I've never heard of an airline letting a passenger on after the gate door closes). They also upgraded her seat to business class. Hannah's plan was delayed 26 minutes which is a minutes off Richard's flight. They lifted off 2 minutes apart.

It's no coincidence Richard's flight was diverted to Phoenix just late enough to miss the connecting flight, their gates were close together, her plane was delayed 26 minutes, their flights left Phoenix at the same time; all so they could spend 5 minutes together. Heavenly Father knew how close they are and how much they missed each other. He blessed them not only with the ability to see each other again but both as full time missionaries. Laura and I feel like we've witnessed a miracle.

Life is good.

Just One More Day!

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! After months of waiting and waiting, my report date has finally come. I honestly thought that May 14th would never really show up, that somehow, the world would just skip right over the date. But here it is! I'm so excited to be blessed with the amazing opportunity to serve my Savior. I know that through my service, not only will I be blessed but those around me will as well. I'm really new to this whole blog thingy, so I don't quite know where you can go to find my email address, so i'm just going to post it here: hannah.perryman@myldsmail.net
If you would like to hit me up with an email to just say hi, or you get a little lonely and want to stranger to talk to, I'd love to hear from you!!
As I will not be able to access this blog while I am serving, my wonderful Dad will running this blog for me. The posts you will most likely see are going to be from emails I send back home which he will then post for me so that you can all know what it's like to live life as Hannah.
Enjoy my blog and I'll (a.k.a. my dad) be posting next week from the MTC in Provo, Utah.
Much love,
Hermana Perryman