Here I come Oakland, California

Hi Family,
 

It was so great to hear from you guys this week.  I loved the letters in the package you sent me, it made my day!  I am going to love getting letters from you.  And thank you for the package you send me.  I will try to fit the pillow in my luggage because it is really comfortable.  I will be sending some stuff home in the box because since I am going to Oakland first I don't need a couple of things that I brought.  I'll try to send it tomorrow and it should get to you guys later this week. I also need to pick up the other package you send to me.  It arrived yesterday but I didn't have time to pick it up. 

Well, the MTC has been great.  I have enjoyed my time here and I am sad to leave tomorrow.  I can't believe that I've only been here 12 days.  These have been the longest 12 days of my life jam packed with laughter, spiritual lessons, and learning experiences.  Life here is wonderful! Mami was right, the MTC is an amazing place.  I grew really close to my district and having to say good bye to them was really hard.  Some of them want to plan an after Mission MTC district reunion...Its a fun idea, but honesty, I don't think that its going to happen because we will forget and have different lives.  They keep talking about it thought, so I guess we will just have to see.

Everyday I wake up at 5:30 am and then have breakfast of cereal and cereal.  We then have class for three hours and then we have a break and then lunch.  After a hardy lunch of pasta, vegetables and a cookie I have more class and then district teaching.  District teaching is a lot of fun. Because I am in in the advanced Spanish class I get the opportunity to help the beginning level classes.  My companion and I found a class of like 12 boys all serving in Mexico and Honduras.  They were really funny and had tons of questions for us.  We taught them verb tenses, phrases to say and told jokes in Spanish.  The elders in our district never taught because they said that the only reason why we Sisters ever got to teach was because we were sisters (and the elders in the other classes would only want sisters to teach them, not elders)...haha the power of Sister missionaries!
 

Well, everyone in my district have pretty much left for their missions already.  Last night we stayed up a little bit later to help two sisters in my room pack.  And then, this morning 7 in my district left and we woke up at 3, 4:30 and 6:30 am to send each one of them off.  It was worth it to say good bye to them but I am really tired.  Good thing that I am almost already all packed and that I can go to bed at 10:30 tonight.  I don't want to stay up and miss my sleep.  Only 5 of us are left now, all of us waiting for our visas for Argentina.  4 of them though are staying another week at the MTC because they haven't been assigned yet.

 

About my reassignment, I am actually really really really excited to go to Oakland California.  I don't know why I didn't get my visa, why I am not on the tourist visa list, or why I am going to California; however, I know that there is a reason why I am going there.  I get to have two missions with two different experiences and people.  When I found out that I was being reassigned I just felt so excited for this opportunity to serve here in the United States.  I don't want you guys to get frustrated or try to get my visa to go through faster.  What ever happens will happen, but on the Lords timing. Don't try to interfere what He has planned for me.  There is a reason why I am going to California, and I am going to take this opportunity to do make the best of it and be the best missionary I can be for the Lord.  Be happy for me, because I am happy. :) Plus, I've always have wanted to go to San Francisco and here is my chance!  Also, when Loli gets you the list of people she taught in Oakland, I would love to visit them and tell them hi for her!

The MTC Devotional was really neat.  I sang in the choir.  I was amazed at the power of singing with so many Missionaries.  I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded my missionaries all around, who are going to go across the world and spread the gospel.  One of the things that I learned this week was that I am not going on a mission, I am going to become a missionary for the rest of my life.  My MTC teacher said that we need to decide here and now to be a missionary 100% because we can't go back to what we left behind at home, we can't go back to who we were before.  I am learning a lot in my class and from the people in my district.  Earlier this week we were split up and one of the elders in my district was teaching me as a pretend investigator.  I chose to be Fatima and then later Ines (from Peñalabra).  After he taught me, I told them the story about sharing  a little bit of the gospel with them. This elder later wrote to me and told me that after my mission I will be able to use the skills that i have learned to really share the gospel with Ines and Fatima.  I don't know why, but I started to cry because I know that I want to share the gospel with these two friends.  I feel like they are searching for something but don't know where to look.  I can't wait to go home to teach them.  The MTC really prepares the missionaries for teaching by the spirit.  And that is what makes a mission successful. 

I continued to see all my friends this week.  Sarah, I talked to Elder Day this morning and he said that the reason why we haven't seen Elder Harris is because he is at the England MTC.  I don't why I didn't remember.  I tried to get a picture with all of your friends but I didn't succeed... :( also, I am sitting next to elder Bryce Stephens at the computers.

I also saw elder O'Brien.  he told me to say hi to you guys and to say hi to his family.

Also, guess who I ran into??? Well, you don't know this person and I hadn't met her before, but her name is Hermana Fries.  I was talking with some sisters who are also going to the Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission.  I told them that I was from Kaysville and they asked me if I knew their friends from Kaysville.  Sister Fries asked me if by any chance I knew a Brooke Nelson. I said that she was my cousin and she just freaked out!  Brooke Nelson was one of her missionaries that taught her and her family!!!  can you believe that!  What a miracle for me to meet one of Brooke's converts!  When we get to Argentina we will send you guys a picture of us together and you can give it to Brooke. 

Talking about Brooke, I'm so excited for her and her fiance (don't remember his name)!!!!  Tell her that I love her and that I wish I could have been there for her wedding.  What a birthday present for Zach to have Brooke married on his birthday.

Thanks for the Dear Elder letter, papi.  The dear elder system is great for me to hear from you during the week and to be updated regularly.  It also helps me to know what to write to you guys and so that I don't have to spend time reading the letters and writing back :) And I hope you guys all got your letters I wrote to you. It was so much fun to actually write you guys letters because I was much more excited for you to receive them and to read them.

When I got your letter about Elder Ward I couldn't believe it.  I am so grateful that he is safe and that he was protected.  I told the girls in my room about it.  On Sunday, one of the branch counselors came up to me with his wife and told me that my cousin had represented the church well.  At first I was confused as to what he was talking about but then I remembered about Elder Ward.  Apparently one of the girls in my room brought it up during branch meeting.  They told me all about how he was on the news and how he represented the church very well.  :)

Happy Birthday Sofia and Soraya! I am so glad to hear that you guys had wonderful birthdays! All Sunday I thought about you two and I was wishing you a happy birthday!  I also sang  the "Happy birthday" to myself for you guys! I wish I could have been there but I know that you had fun even without me.

Well, tomorrow I am off to Oakland!  I will be calling you guys around 7 am if I have time in Salt lake before my flight.  If not, I will call you guys when I land in California before I leave the terminal around 10 am.  They told me that I can only talk to you guys for 5-10 minutes and that I need to make it quick.  I can't wait to talk to you guys and to hear your voices.  I have really missed hearing you guys. :) 

Miracles of the week:
 

1.  Having my prayers answered. It seemed like my prayers were answered each day thought something someone said in class, through a scripture, through a lesson my teacher taught or through pondering and writing in my journal.
 

2. Being able to speak spanish more easily.  It is still hard and I am still having to really concentrate on my spanish but it is coming to me much faster than ever before. Thanks papi and mami for having me learn spanish.
 

3. Not being so homesick.  I don't know why, but being here at the MTC I have been blessed with the comfort that you guys are all okay and that I don't need to worry about you guys.  There is a scripture that says that when I am on my mission I don't need to be worried for the lord will protect my family. 

Daniel:  Congratulations on your 2,749 names indexed!!! You are doing an incredible job! You are truly being a missionary as you help people find their family names!  Keep up the good work!  You may have "the brisket in the bag" but when you stop, the bag will get a hole and the brisket might fall out...keep going! Go Fast, but steady :)  I love you Daniel!!

Levi: You are almost done with your Eagle!!  What was your favorite merit badge that you got??  You are only 13 and you have 21 merit badges!! By the time you are 18 you might have all of the merit badges!!  I am glad that you were safe at scout camp and that you had a great time!  Keep working! Maybe you can beat Pablo and get more badges than him :)  I love you Levi!!

Carlos:  Can you send me a picture of your Lego ships??  you are  like the most aweseomest Lego builder ever! Also, you know how you love pokemon? Well, the boys in my MTC district yesterday were making an MTC version of the pokemon song.  I don't remember how it went but it reminded me of you! Also, keep playing the piano.  Its so important that you practice because you might be the only one on your mission who can play.  I was the only one in my ward here at the MTC who could play the piano.  I love you Carlos!!!

Sofia: How is it having Soraya in your room?? you are going to be an incredible big sister to Soraya! Just like I was the best sister, you can be the best sister for her!!! haha :)  I love you Sofia!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  You are now 9 years old!!

Soraya: Happy BIRTHDAY Soraya!! You are going to be a great 4 year old!! And you are a princess, a woman princess !!!  Also, have fun sleeping up stairs with Sofia.  How is your potty training going??

Sarah!!  Congratulations on your tests!!! I knew you had it in you! :) 

Papi and Mami:  I love you guys so much!  Thank you for all you have done for me and for being my parents! 

Well, today is my last day at the MTC! I am going to enjoy it by packing and doing laundry.  I have learned so much here and I am excited to go out to the field and start serving and sharing the gospel.  I am nervous and sometimes I feel like I am not prepared spiritually or gospel intellectually wise enough to serve a mission.  but I know that just like in Ether 12: 22-27 (I think these are the verses) that I will be blessed for my service and that with the Lords help I can do anything, even if it means speaking in spanish. I'll send you pictures later today when I get to the computers in the Laundry room!!1 I love you guys and I can't wait to go to Oakland California!!!!!! Just like Mami, I going to serve in California!

Love you!! I'll talk to you tomorrow!!

Hermana Zubeldia

First week in the MTC

July 23, 2013

Hi  Family!!!

I am so excited to finally write to you guys!! I 've been dying all week to talk to you guys and tell you all about the MTC!!  Well, the MTC has been been an incredible experience!  I have learned so much about myself and about missionary work.  I have seen so many tender mercies these past 6 days in the MTC.  This has been the most longest week of my life! The days seem to never end and by the time I am in my room writing in my journal I can never finish because there is just so much that happens each day.

1. I have seen so many friends here!! I see Hermana Silvana Pinzon 5-6 times everyday at Meal time and walking around.  Its kinda weird because I was used to sitting with her at the Cannon center at BYU and now I see her at every meal but I have to sit with my companion.  I am glad that I get to see her all the time and talk with her.

I see all my Jerusalem friends all the time and have taken tons of pictures with them (I've seen: Sister Butler, Sister Wagner, Sister Staples, Sister Guynn, Sister Kelly, and Sister Larson).  It truly has been a miracle for me to see so many people that I know so that I don't get so homesick.

Sarah, I have seen both Womack twins, and elder Day everyday!!  They all say hi and every time I see them they think I am you walking around.  On Saturday I was walking down the hallway between classes and one of the Womack twins called me Sarah but then realized that it was just me. :)  I took tons of pictures for you and will send them to you as soon as I can.

Oh, and this morning guess who I ran into????? I saw Alfredo from the Azuqueca ward in Spain! He didn't remember me but he remembered Sarah and Pablo.  He is going to France on his mission.  I never thought that I was going to run into people here because there are so many missionaries here.  It truly has been a tender mercy for me.

2.  The people in my district (district 12...like in Hunger games) are incredible people.  I am the only person in my branch (which has 3 districts) who can play the piano! I am grateful Mami that you had me learn to play the piano.  I know, I know..you told me that I would say that, but it is true.  It was great to play the piano for everyone.  In my district there are 14 of us, 6 sisters and 8 elders.  We apparently are a big class for the MTC, but since we are in the Advanced Spanish class and are only here for two weeks they just put us all together.  They have also been a blessing to me. The elders and sisters in my district are so knowledgeable about the gospel and about the scriptures.  Yesterday, we all taught an investigator together and one of the boys was just bringing out tons of scriptures from the Bible to help the investigator understand that "by their fruits ye shall know them" and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

I love the sisters in my district.  They are also my roommates and so we definitely have a great time together.  We have all become really great friends and spend the 30-45 minutes before bed just talking and laughing and eating the candy that our families sent to us.  Sarah, thank you for the Banana bread.  It was really good and it was like having a piece of home with me.

My companion's name is Hermana Sorensen.  She is from St. George but she lived in Chile for three years in high school and she is really funny.  She definitely makes me laugh and puts a smile on my face every day.

The other sisters in my room are: Hermana Judd from Washington (going to  Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina; Hermana Muñoz from Canada (also going to Comodoro Rivadavia), Hermana Rubio from California (going to Peru Lima) and Hermana Lopez from California (going to Ecuador).  All of us are going to South American but only one of us have gotten our visas. :(

Talking about visas.  Papi, the travel office here at the MTC told me to turn in my passport.  I went in and asked them if I have gotten my visa yet.  They called the lady in Salt lake and she said that no I hadn't gotten my visa yet and that she needed my passport.  Thet took my passport and sent it to Salt Lake.  They told me that out of all the people going to Argentina only 2 of us in the whole MTC have gotten our visas for next week.  So, I am getting reassigned!  I am actually excited because it is like getting another mission call all over again.  We should find out this Friday where we are going and on Tuesday next week we should be going to new areas.   But we aren't sure yet, so I still might be going straight down to Argentina next week. I'll let you guys know as soon as possible what happens.  I know that what ever happens is supposed to happen and that where ever I go I can still be a great missionary. 

3. The third tender mercy has been the wonderful spirit that I have felt.  On Sunday we went to a devotional they played for us that Elder Bednar gave four years ago at the MTC.  He said, "Be a good boy, be a good girl. Remember the covenants you have made in the temple, keep the commandments.  he will guide your steps and as i press forward put inspired words in my mouth and I cannot go amiss."  It was what I needed to hear.  he talked that we may worry that the impressions we receive are from the spirit our from our own thoughts, but that we need to Quit worrying about it and get to work.  I really needed to be reminded that as I press forward, I will be guided and the spirit will be able to work through me.

Well, I want to tell you that the MTC has been hard.  We have 17 hour days and by the end of the day I am so exhausted. I am kept so busy that I hardly have time to even be homesick. I am learning so much and have had many tender mercies in my life by just being here.  I have felt the spirit help me as I learn and teach our pretend and fake investigators.  There is stills so much for me to learn and so much that I still need to study, but I know that I need to be patient with myself.

I think of you guys each day.  Thank you guys so much for the pillow case and for all the messages you guys wrote on it.  I read it every night and just love sleeping on my pillow with your messages supporting me :)  I also sleep with the picture album I made of you guys under my pillow that I can look at your pictures when ever I want to.   I love you guys so much and I can't wait to talk to you guys again!! 

Sarah, I am so glad that you had a great time on your date with Logan! I am so happy that he called you and that you guys had fun together.  Keep me updated on what happens!!!! :)  haha, just don't get so carried away okay, I know you are  a mature bibbity bobbity 18 year old :)

Levi, I hope you have a great time at scout camp! Be safe and know that I love you so much!

Daniel! Good job on your indexing! I hope you win and brisket, but if you don't, just know you are helping tons of people get closer to getting the gospel in their lives!!

Carlos, be a good boy and keep smiling! I hope you are a great help to Mami!

Sofia, I love you! please send me a picture when you finish painting your castle

Soraya! I love you! I'd love to get a picture from you in a letter! Keep smiling!

I love you guys so much and I hope that you guys continue having a great time this week without me.  well, not so good, since I'm not there, but I know you guys can  make the most of it!! Have fun at the parade and say hi to everyone for me!

Hermana Susana Zubeldia

Here is my address at the MTC:

Sister Susana Isabel Zubeldia Barlow

JUL30 ARG-BABL

2007 N 900 E Unit 50

Provo, UT 84602

P.S.  If you want to send me letters I would love it!! And if you want to send me the rain jacket I will try to fit it into my luggage.  If not, I will leave it here with some other stuff I can't bring for you guys to pick up.  Could you also send my hard drive that Papi gave me for Jerusalem? First download the pictures somewhere and then send it to me empty. I would love that!! I have tried to figure out how to send you guys pictures, but I haven't been successful yet.  I'll continue trying and asking around.

p.p.s Silvana would also love a letter. Her address is in one of the texts she sent me.

Another Zubeldia missionary

Joining my brother Pablo in the service of the Lord.