Here is a photo of my rama (ward).

Click on the photo to make it larger.

Fourth letter from the Guatemala MTC dated November 24, 2014

HOLA FAMILIA!

Its about 4 am for y’all so I'm excited that you guys will be able to wake up and read this!  But I am sad that you all forgot about me this week, and it’s only the fourth week!!!  Nahhh just kidding!  Y’all probably didn’t realize I would be emailing on Monday since I emailed you the last two Tuesdays and the first Wednesday.  Just to let you guys know again, I have no idea when I will be able to email. Sometimes it might be Monday, or Tuesday, or even Wednesday.  So if you guys can, please try and send your emails on Sunday night.  :)

But this week has been so fun and had such a huge learning curve.

Last p-day after I emailed y’all we had literally ALL DAY to do nothing.  They wouldn’t let us in our classrooms to study and we aren’t allowed to study in our bedrooms either.  That made trying to study pretty hard so I wrote Luke a letter.  You guys should be getting 3 letters in the mail. This week pday I am writing Josh a letter. :) My goal is to write each of you one snail mail letter before I leave the CCM.  But anyways... After I wrote the letter to Luke my district and the other norte district had a volleyball tournament.  4 Hours of volleyball.  It was so much fun.  My district had worked really hard all week at working hard and being focused so it was the perfect relaxer for the week.  It was fun.  Surprisingly, I don’t suck all that bad at volleyball.  But then again, all of the Elders and other Hermanas aren’t exactly... hmmmmmm…. well….. lets just say we wont be making it to the Olympics anytime soon.  Ha ha ha  But it is still fun!  I asked Presidente if we can have a Volleyball Turkey Bowl here in the CCM.  He said it would be fine, if I organized it.  So I am going to try and do that if I have time.  Our deportes time is so sacred to us.  It’s like one of the rare times during the week that we get to go outside and feel sunlight and breathe fresh air and work up a sweat. So it is so nice.

I got your “Dear Elder” this week Mom. I am so confused as to why it takes so long to get here!?!?   If you are still sending “Dear Elders” to me please send them to the mission house in El Salvador because I don’t think they will reach the CCM before I leave.  That goes for  anything else you are going to send to me, letters or the box.

The address at the mission house to send LETTERS to is :

Hermana Chloe Kava

El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission

Apartado Postal #81

Correo Multiplaza, S.S.

San Salvador,

El Salvador, C.A.

The address at the mission house to send PACKAGES to is:

Hermana Chloe Kava

El Salvador San Salvador West/ Belize Mission

Boulevard El Hipodromo, Local 537

Colonia San Benito

CP San Salvador, San Salvador

El Salvador

Ok to answer some of your questions in the Dear Elder that I received....

·      The weather is so bi-polar.  The mornings remind me of Fall in Idaho. ITS COLD!!  But I like it!  The evenings are HOT like Hawaii... I like that to!  So basically the weather here in Guatemala is perfect.  Our classrooms have AC so we don’t get to enjoy the weather very much.  But still, I like it!

·      Do I have enough clothes?  I have sufficient for my needs.  I do have ENOUGH, but if you send some I wont complain.  :)

·      No, there isn’t spell check on here either so I have no idea if things are spelled right or not. So sorry if it’s all crazy.  Ha ha ha

·      No, I didn’t get busted for not memorizing chap 3 of PMG. But I do wish I had studied it more! TELL MELE AND VELA TO STUDY IT!! AND THE WHITE HANDBOOK! AND THE BOOK OF MORMON!!! AND EVERYTHING!!!  SERIOUSLY!!

·      No, the other missionaries have not talked to me about the photo memory card adaptor or how they plan on sending their photos home. Then again, none of us have our cameras right now so photos aren’t really a huge topic of conversation. :)

Okay so now about our investigators…the spirit is so strong in the lessons. We pray and fast for our investigators like crazy.  We love our investigators!  Even when they aren’t willing to do keep their commitments or when they are in bad moods in our lessons.  It’s been a struggle with Josue because his heart is so hard and he just won’t soften it to the Spirit.  We are trying so much to soften his heart!  Please pray for Josue, please!!

These past two weeks my companions and I have been tested with OBEDIENCE so many times, and a lot of the time, we failed.  It has not been good.  But I know that I have learned so much!!!  The mission field has a lot of rules... but the CCM has about 100 times more rules.  It’s crazy.  The hardest part is that they don’t really tell you all of them. They tell you the important ones and then you kinda just find out the others once you’ve broken them.  For some reason my companions and I have all taken turns breaking rules.  I am pretty sure we have not gone a single day where we haven't broken a rule.  It has been so discouraging.  We kept thinking…. WHAT THE HECK!! WHY CANT WE JUST BE GOOD??!!  We started to get really down on ourselves about it.   We didn’t do anything super bad or anything, for example here are some of the things we have gotten busted for....

·      Wearing a jean shirt

·      Lights on past curfew

·      Asking Elders in our district for advice on lessons

·      Playing Big Buddha as a district

·      Not carrying our money on us at all times

·      Talking to the Elders in our district at meals

·      Hermana G said a bad word in Spanish

·      Wearing cap sleeves

·      Sharing our email addresses

·      Having our window open at night

·      Going to the bathroom too much

See, so they aren’t serious things, but still, we try to be obedient and then we break a rule without even knowing.  I know I shouldn’t get too upset about it, but my goal was to be SUPER obedient on my mission and I am already breaking the rules.  I know I just have to keep trying and keep striving to be better.  I’m not perfect and I am still learning and so everyday I wake up and say “I am going to do better today than yesterday”.  I told my companions how grateful I am for these past two weeks and how happy I am that my Heavenly Father is teaching me the importance of being obedient while I am still in the CCM.  I would rather learn that in here then out in El Salvador were it is 100 times more dangerous.  So for that, I am so grateful.  It has been such a good learning experience.  I know I need to know ALL of the rules and be familiar with them, so that there isn’t even a chance that I could break a rule.

Another thing that has happened this week, which has made things a little difficult, is with the Latinos.  Most of the Latina Hermanas are so sweet. However, we have activities where we practice teaching the Latino districts as if they were our investigators.  After the lesson they give us feedback.  Some of the Latina Hermanas aren’t very nice about our language skills.  They say some pretty mean things to us about how we need to be speaking Spanish more and practice more, and how we aren’t dedicated enough to learn.  So, I guess you can say that they are pretty harsh.  I am trying to just take it with a soft heart and learn from it and just keep working hard on my Spanish. Geez, I thought my Spanish was pretty good until then!  :(  I feel bad for my companions though. They got CHEWED OUT about their Spanish…. and their Spanish is better than mine!  Luckily, I taught a lesson by myself and they taught their lesson together and the Latina Hermana that they taught was way mean to them.  But oh well.  ITS ALL GOOD!

Another issue has been that some of the Latino Elders are very....... uhm….. well….. BLUNT!!  And they aren’t afraid to get close to the Hermanas. SOOOO... We have had to keep our distance.  It is kinda funny because my companions and I each have an Elder that has big crush on us.  What isn’t funny is that they keep trying to pass us notes, and they stare, and all kinds of weird stuff that they shouldn’t be doing while on their missions.  We told Presidente’s Wife, Hermana Cox, and she took care of things.  It was so uncomfortable for a while to go to meals but now things are getting better.  It has been a really unexpected issue but I think that it was a good learning experience to have here at the CCM so we know what to prepare ourselves for when we get out in the mission field.  This group of Latinos leaves tomorrow morning anyways so then it will be fine.  The missionaries that are already native Spanish speakers only stay here at the CCM for two weeks.  They leave for their missions as well as the other Nortes who were here before us.  It’s going to be hard saying goodbye to the other Hermanas though!  

This week should be exciting.  The big group will all leave Tuesday morning, then our pday is on Tuesday too and we are taking a bus to the oldest part of town for a tour and then going to the biggest market to shop a little.  The market is called Samako.  Our goal is to pass out 3 Book of Mormons while we are there.  Hopefully that works!  Then we get to come home and chill.  Tuesday this place is going to be dead.  Just 5 Hermanas and 20 Elders.   But come Wednesday we are getting 170 NEW LATINOS!!!  IT’S GOING TO BE A MAD HOUSE!!  I’m not sure how many of them are Hermanas and how many are elders.  I am so excited… and nervous.  This group will be the Latinos who will be serving in our same missions.  I am so stoked to meet them!  Thursday is Thanksgiving and sweet Hermana Cox is cooking a big, old fashioned, Thanksgiving dinner for us!  Yes!  And best of all….we will have a live devotional from one of the Twelve Apostles!  We don’t know which Apostle yet but we are all soooo excited!  After that, we get to have the Turkey Bowl and then to top it all off Presidente just got the movie MEET THE MORMONS so I’ll get to watch that again.  This week should be awesome.  I am super excited.

I am sad that I’ll miss Thanksgiving with y’all and our ward’s Turkey Bowl and Daddy’s imu and just being with everyone.  I hope that the ward invited lots of non-members to the imu and that everyone does a ton of missionary work.  But PLEASE send me lots of pictures for next week. OKAY!

I love you all so much and I miss you all like crazy.  I spent too much time on this email so I can’t send personal emails to everyone today... but please know that I like you all so much, and I love you all so much and I think about you!  I am also glad that during the week I am so so busy and focused on the work that I don’t think of you all too much.  I mean that in the nicest way possible. :)  It makes me not so homesick.  I love you all!

Please tell Uncle David, Paine, and Bishop Hallstrom that I am praying so hard for them to get better!!!

I love you Mommy!!  I love you Daddy!!  I love you Joshie!!  I love you Lukie!!  I love you Sissy!!!  I love you Maui!!!  I love you Kimmy!!!

--

--Hermana Kava--

The Guatemala Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

My district!

Lucas District!

Third letter from the Guatemala MTC dated November 18, 2014

Hola Familia!

Wow!! I cannot believe that it has already been 3 weeks here!! Tomorrow marks our half way mark here in the CCM.  We have all started crying already.  lol  It’s funny...we cry when we first get here and then we cry because we have to leave.  Ironic.

This week feels like it has flown by.  That is good and bad, I guess.

To answer all your questions Mommy...

We don't get to print anything here. So that’s a bummer, but oh wells.

The little mall here didn't have much so please send me some good quality shoes in the box if you can please. The ones we bought from Ross are dying already!  Maybe a pair like Aunty Ben talked about.

We wont be able to go back to that little mall by here anyways.  Next pday we should be going to a market, but I’m not sure if we will.   

Oh yeah mom, sorry I haven’t answered your question as for what I want you to send in my Christmas box.  But here goes…..

·      Can you send me some socks, the ballet ones and the kb ones. 

·      The most important thing is photos!  Can you please print out some photos of all of you guys and everything please! 

·      If you can print out those quotes you emailed me too that would be awesome. 

·      A small Hymn Book in English.

·      A razor stick cuz I forgot mine at home. I brought all the refills but not the stick!  Duh.  I have one in the shower and one in my drawer. 

·      My blank journals.  I was such a fool to leave them!  I use the ones I did bring so much!  They are in my bottom drawer.  I should have made room for them in my suitcase.

·      Scripture crayons “Eagle” brand.  They are like $4 from Deseret Book store.  Mine are already super short!

·      A Rock Man t-shirt.

·      Could you please print out some work-outs?

·      The Zumba workout dvd’s if you can buy them.  I think they are expensive though so if no can no problem. They said we will have little dvd player things out in the mission field and it will be safer to workout in our apartment.

·      Can you print out cut outs of the plan of salvation and laminate them PLEASE!!!!

·      Not so important but if there is room in the box can you put li hing mui gummy candies from 7-11 and hi chews candies in the box?

If it is too expensive to send this stuff then don’t worry about a Christmas box.  It is not a problem at all.  REALLY!

Things here at the CCM have gotten crazy.  We got about 100 latinos this past week. So the CCM is BUMMIN!!  But really...they moved us to different classrooms and changed everything up on us so that has been a little hard.  But we can handle.

They also gave us a new schedule this week, which has taken its toll. We used to have deportes, which is sport time, right before dinner but now we have it right before lunch.  That makes us so tired after lunch.... I feel bad for our teachers but I am trying my hardest not to be tired. 

So here is a little outline of my schedule since you have been asking:

Wake-up at 6:15

personal study 7:00

language study 8:00

breakfast 8:30

language study 9:00

class till 10:15

then sports till 11:15

lunch at 12:00

then classes till 5:00

5:00 dinner

more classes till snack time at 8:00

then companionship planning at 9:00

prayer and song with totas hermanas at 9:40

lights out at 10:30

hahaha nothing too exciting.

Anyways, now onto this week.

I had the most awesome experience in one of my lessons.  We were teaching our investigator Josue, or Joshua, in English.  We were planning on teaching him about the Atonement.  When we walked in and asked how he was doing he shared with us that his grandma had just passed away and how hard its been for him.  I just remember praying in my mind to my Heavenly Father to help me know what to say and to help me help him.  I also cried to Grandma Lahi in my mind and asked her to be with me.  I was overwhelmed with the spirit. It was so strong.  I didn’t even say very much in the lesson. I just felt Grandma Lahi’s arms around me and I started to tear up.  I tried to not show that I was crying.  I prayed that Heavenly Father would help my companion know what to say cuz I couldn’t get the words out.  The lesson was beautiful.  Josue was touched and so were we.  I know that my grandma was there and that the spirit helped to comfort Josue.  After the lesson we walked out of the room and the first thing, Hermana Galland turned to me and said: "I felt your presence in there so strong".  I just started to ball.  Both of my companions asked what was wrong and I shared with them what happened to Lahi.  They both told me that they could feel my grandma’s love and spirit as well.  It was amazing.  I know that our loved ones that have passed away are still so close.  I love my grandmas so much.  Both of them!

Thanks dad for those awesome stories of how our family has left a legacy of service.  I thank you and all of my family for the amazing example of service that you all have set. It is true that so much joy comes from serving others. I have been trying this week, when I have a moment of bad attitude, to do service to someone.  Whether it’s my companions or the staff or teachers or elders or whoever.  It always makes me feel better!  It is interesting how when you are doing something good for someone else you end up being the biggest beneficiary! 

That night after our lesson with Josue my district was outside planning for tomorrow and all of a sudden a 10 minute long firework show goes off.  It was so beautiful and so unexpected. I don’t know why, but I started to cry again.  I just felt my Savior's love so strong for me and I am so grateful for that.  I also thanked Grandma Lahi for helping me in that lesson, because she really did.

Another awesome thing that happened was on Sunday.  We have district meetings after devotionals were we talk about personal things with our district.   We were outside and an elder named Elder N., who barely ever talks, says "I feel like we should go around and talk about why we are on our missions" and everyone was like SURE!.  So we went around and everyone shared their “why”.  My, can I just tell you how grateful I was for that.  Hearing everyone’s conversion story and the story of them coming out here was so amazing.  These missionaries are coming from all over the US and they all have such different backgrounds yet we all have the same desire…. to help share this wonderful message of hope and love!  To share with the Central American people that Christ lives!  Even though coming out here was harder for some than others, I am so thankful for each and every one of them.  I love them.  Elder S. shared his story and I felt the spirit so strong.  Due to time, I’ll make it short.  He has an older brother who has chosen not to follow the gospel.   He said that part of his reason to serve a mission was to help his brother.   He shared about his love for his brother and I just couldn’t hold it in.  Elder S. almost didn’t make it out on his mission due to financial issues but the Lord works in mysterious ways and he is out here.  His brother is starting to read the Book Of Mormon and he shared how thankful he was to the Lord for helping his brother and for answering his prayers.

I love this gospel so much.  I am amazed at how much my testimony has been able to grow just within the first 3 weeks.  We talked and learned a lot about the Atonement this week.  How awesome it is! Elder Holland gave a talk called “Missionary Work and The Atonement" and I don’t know that exact wording but he was talking about missionary work and he said something along the lines of...

“I am convinced missionary work is not easy because Salvation is not a cheap experience.  Salvation never was easy.”

I forget it all now but next week I’ll write the whole quote.  I don’t have my notebook with me!  You can read the talk on www.lds.org and just search for the title of the talk.  Read it!  It is so awesome!  Write me and tell me what you think of that talk.

I am running out of time on the computer!  I love and miss you all. I’m happy to hear that Uncle David and Paini Leka are getting better! What about Bishop??  Hope you feel better too mommy!

I love you all and I miss you like crazy but I know I am where the Lord wants me to be.

LOVE YOU!!!

-Hermana Kava-

Second email from the Guatemala MTC dated November 11, 2014

AHHHH!!!! FAMILY!! I miss and love you all!!

I can't believe you guys pulled Secret Santa names already.  Thanks Josh and Sweetie for telling me who you picked.  I always had too big of a mouth.  Mine was never a secret!  Lol

I'm bummed I missed all of Nela’s fun mission farewell stuff this past week. If he didn’t leave to Ghana yet, tell him I love him and will pray for him. Tell him it’s hard but the blessings are so worth it.

Hey I have thought a lot this week about Uncle David?? HOW IS HE DOING???  How is Paini Leka?? I pray for them so much.  I hope that they will get out of the hospital soon!

I have a rule. No crying when reading my emails. That makes me cry. Lol  The elders all look at me like I’m a freak. Then by the end, they lean over and ask for a tissue. Ha ha ha ha

But I have started to write things down during the week so I remember what I want to email y’all.

This week flew by.  It’s crazy how fast it went.  We lost contact with our old investigator Junior.  :(  But this week we got 3 new investigators.  Which is AWESOME.  The lessons are getting much better.  I have gotten pretty good at Spanish already.  But I still need the LOADS of work.  I thank my success with Spanish completely to the Lord.  In the beginning of the week, my district realized that our Spanish wasn’t where we wanted it to be.  We were getting frustrated.  So we decided as a district that we wanted to fast.  Not just a no-food fast…we went on a no-english fast.  Probably the best thing I could do.  24 hours with no English kinda forces you to pick up Spanish.  It was hard, no doubt, but my Spanish since then has improved so much.

So for today’s p-day, to answer grams question... We did go out. Every p-day we have the amazing opportunity to go to the Guatemala temple.  Then right after the temple we did like a 5 minute walk to this little mall.  It was cool.... THEY SELL MY MACADAMIA HAIR PRODUCTS!!!  Best thing ever.  I was so happy.  Then we came back to the CCM and ate lunch and played volleyball.  I wrote sweetie a letter and I think they send them out tomorrow.  Last p-day I wrote mom a letter.  I’m trying to write one every week.  But they say it takes 12 days... so we will see...  Grams I miss you and Papa so much and hope that you guys have fun in Hawaii for Christmas.  I will be thinking of you guys. 

BTW DONT SEND A PACKAGE TO CCM!!!  Send it to the mission home.  I don't think it will get here in time.  I’m not sure what I need though Mom.  Let me think about it and I will try to write it to you next week.  If that is ok?

Elder Tufuga said that IS his aunty!!!  What a small world.  Elder Tufuga is from California and will be serving here in Guatemala.  Elder Ngungutau... is from Dallas, Texas.

No one in the CCM is serving in my mission except for one elder.  Elder Sione Fua.  He is the Samoan elder and he is from New Zealand and is my district leader.  He is awesome and so I am excited to able to serve along side him.

Hey, please tell Kawehii Hall that one of my teachers served in Las Vegas and she knows KAWEHII!!  She had her 2 last transfers when Kawehi came.  THAT MADE ME CRY!!  Felt so good to hear someone knew her.  I miss her.

BTW I love the photo book.  I use it like everyday….In lessons, class, and basically everything.  I have a problem with showing my family off.  BTW can you add Maui and Kim to the emails?  I miss them and have thought a lot about them this week.

Another thing that’s super random... Idk why, but I lead the music for every class.  Don’t ask me why they ask the tone deaf one to lead. Ha ha  But whatever.. I like it.

Today is a super exciting day for the CCM!!  Since we got here... it has been all North Americans but today we finally get some Latinos!! It’s so exciting!  So far we have only gotten one elder from Argentina. He is awesome and really good at volleyball.  But I’m excited to meet the sisters.  We should be getting 17 Hermanas.  So I’m super excited!   Hopefully they can help me with the Spanish.

Fun fact: Every Sunday we have to prepare a talk in Spanish and the bishopric will call on someone last second.  It’s crazy nerve raking... but at the same time exciting.

Okay btw I am so thankful for my Polynesian side and my latina side. I don’t think I have ever been more grateful for who I am.

So thank you mommy and daddy...

I hope I answered everyone’s questions.

Okay now for the good stuff...

This week was awesome.  I feel like every week has its ups and downs.  This week it was mostly up but when I was down, I realized something.  I realized that you need to be constantly striving to do your best.  I learned that you can't be lazy for one minute or the Lord will pull blessings from you. There was one day that I was so tired I didn’t say my morning prayer and I didn’t have the best attitude. Worst day ever!!!  I know now that the Lord doesn't just want, He needs me to work my hardest 24/7.  He needs me to be the best missionary I can be because I have a purpose here.  I am not just here to learn and grow.  I am here to bring Heavenly Father’s children back to Him.  He needs them back with him.  It's not my time. It’s the Lord’s time and I wouldn’t dare waste the Lord’s time.  My love for my Heavenly Father and Savior grows more and more every day.  I love this gospel with all of me.  Lessons are sometimes frustrating because I fell the spirit so strong and I feel this huge burning message I want to share and there is only a tiny window that it can come out of.  I look forward to the day I can let it all out.

Read 1 Nephi 7:12.  This scripture has helped me so much.  It always reminds me that with the Lord all things are possible and that I can't loose faith.

Side note:  I love reading and studying everyday... I feel like I learn so much!!!

My district sang a song at a devotional and I wanted to share part of it with y’all....

"We are as the Army of Helaman.  We have been taught in our youth. And we are now the Lords missionaries.  We'll bring the world His truth."

I loved it.  And I love you all... And again thank you all for your prayers.  I honestly feel them.  I feel your love every minute of the day.  

Tell Daddy I love him so much... I pray for him so much.  I was at the temple this morning and I managed not to cry…..Until I started to pray for my family… I BALLED!!

It’s okay though, everyone is getting used to my crying already! lol

Please tell Vela and Mary I pray for them every night and I pray for aunty Wendy.... That she will be able to let Mary go. Lol

Tell Aiona thank you so much for the “novel” and that I will write to her next week oh….. and …..HAPPY 18^th BIRTHDAY!

Mom I don't have Bishops’ email... But can you tell him I love him and am praying for a quicker recovery. I hope he feels better!!!

Please tell Aunty Benita Happy Birthday too!  She is so awesome.

I love you all... My sweet sweet family!!  Hang in there!!  You guys are so awesome.  Thank you for being the kind of family that I love to talk about and I love to brag about.  LOVE YOU ALL!!!

 LOVE YOU ALL!!! KISSES FROM GUATEMALA!!

--

--Hermana Kava--

My first letter from the Guatemala MTC dated November 2, 2014

Hola mi Familia!

OHHH MY GOODNESSS!!!!

It feels like I have been waiting a life time to send this email. First of all, ignore the misspelled words and what not. We only have a short time to write and so I am just going to rush through this cuz I have a lot to say...

Thank you guys so much for all of your e-mails. They made me cry before I even opened them. I am going to be honest with you guys... This week has been the longest, shortest, happiest, and saddest week of my life. The first 3 days were the hardest days I have ever endured. I stayed up all night crying. I didn't think that it was possible for me to miss you guys all so much. Being here has made me realize how much you guys mean to me. And how my family is the most important thing in my life. I thought I would miss my phone and facebook and my room. But I don't care about any of that. All I care about are my family and loved ones.

This week I have learned so much. The lanugage is difficult but I am getting the hang of it. I have the best teachers!! They say Hola! btw. But I am so grateful to be here. I have never felt so close to my Savior and Heavenly Father in my life. The spirit is so strong. I see the spirit in everything I do. In talking to my companions, my teachers, the staff, & everyone. We have an investigator named Junior. We teach him a lesson every night in SOLO ESPANOL! Which is difficult but the spirit leads us to know what to say. I can give a lesson in spanish!!!  Who would of ever thought I could do that in 1 week!!!  The gift of tongues is SOOO REAL!! I can bare/bear my testimony in espanol as well.  Its crazy!!  Everyone here is soooo kind.  I wish I could explain how strong the spirit is but I can't.  Everyone wears a smile. Its so beautiful.

The first 3 nights when it was the hardest, I would cry to my Heavenly Father and beg Him for peace and comfort. I have never felt so miserable in all my life. I kept praying for H.F to bless me. Then the 4th night as a I kneeled by my bed to pray I started crying again. Not because I was sad. But because I was mad at myself. Here I am praying for the Lord to bless me, when He already blesses me everyday. He loves me so much. I felt so bad, and knew that I needed to get back to praying for others and for the people I love. That night I prayed for like 2 hours (like dad's prayer) and just thanked Him for so much. And I asked him to bless all of you back home with specific blessings. I've never felt so close to my H.F before. I felt like He was proud of me. And I knew then that I am in the right place and that the Lord has so much He needs me to do here in Central America.

 I now know why everyone says to wait till Sunday before you decide to go home or not. Sunday was the MOST spiritual sunday I have ever felt. I was a big crying mess!!! Which is normal for me considering my eyes never seem to be dry. But we learned about gratitude and how if we are grateful no task seems too hard. And I can testify of that. Because the moment I stopped be selfish and started being grateful everything seemed glorious and happy. I know that we all have hard times but if we make the choice to be grateful for the little things that are good, then even the hard times aren't that hard.

I just love this gospel so much and I can't wait to spread it to God's children.  I love the people of Central America.  They are so special.  And I feel like I have a tiny bit of God's love for them because all I want to do is serve them.... I love you all too!!

OKay now time for the fun stuff..... I am in a threeio in my companionship.  My campañas are Hermana Galland from California, and Hermana Woodword from Utah!  I love them so much!!!  They have been there for me so much. It's good because when I have a bad day they keep me happy.  And when they have a bad day I can keep them happy.  They are super fun and so sweet.  I love that we get along so well.

Our district is called LUCAS so remember that if I bring them up again.  The name reminds me of Lukie Bukie every time. It's funny cuz when we got to the CCM (ce-ce-eme) I thought the boys were like 15 years old. I swear Luke looks older than some of them. But the more I get to know them the more I see their desire to serve the Lord and His children. I have grown to love everyone in my district. They are just awesome.  I taught our lesson on Sunday and they all gave such good feed back and the spirit was so strong.  I have 3 Poly's in my district which helps so much!!!!  When I hang out with them I feel like I am just chilling out with Josh, Luke, Paula, and all the boys.  There are two samoans and one TONGAN!!  Elder Ngungutau, Elder Fue, Elder Tafunga(who is Sterling and Evan Moes cousin).  They all deal with my tears so well.  I love them all like brothers!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. I dont know how but I feel them so strong. Whenever things are hard I can feel the prayers of the members all over the world, and my ward family, and my family. I love you all!!

Any way... I should end this so it's not like a novel.

But I love and miss you guys all soo much!!

I have come to understand the word "Love" so much fuller now.  Be safe and make good choices!!  Btw you can send packages to the CCM.  And dear elders here... so get on that mom!!  haha I love you!!!  And kiss Zizi babbyyy for me please.  I love love love love you guys!!  I don't think I say it enough.

BTW... They took our cameras and ipods away (thanks to past missionaries) so no pictures for 6 weeks... It stinks but it's okay.  I should send a picture that Presetente's wife took of our district... maybe next week...

LOVE YOU ALL HUH!!! Thanks for your email.

P.S. Sophia.... I miss your sweet little smile and you cray cray laugh more than you will ever know.

Thank you so much daddy!!! I think about you everyday too.. The poly elders remind me of you so much. Elder Ngungutau is a big guy and he kinda looks like you. He makes me cry because I think of you. Thank you for the scripture references, I will read them tonight. Thank you for your sacrifice in sending me on my mission.  I love it.  And I will work hard for you and for my Heavenly Father.  BTW... Tell mom that sometimes my p-day is on monday tuesday or wednesday.  Kinda annoying but just to let y’all know.  I love you and don't worry about me. I  always "Fly like a butterfly, and sting like a BEE!!"  Love you PAPA!!!!  I thought a lot about grandma this week.  I feel her looking out for me.  And I feel her love so much.

Love you daddy. Stay strong, and don't worry about me too much. You got 5 other kids to focus on.  Even though I am far away, I’m the safe one.  Love you!!

Sorry I can't answer everything mommy.. I ran out of time.  I will next week for sure.  But with the eggs and beans... ALL 3!!!  ahahaha  I love and miss you.  You are my bestest friend!!  I miss you more than you could ever know.  I wish you could be my companion for life!!  Lol  I so look forward to spending eternity with you.  I went to the temple this morning (we go every p-day) and I thought of you and daddy so much.  I know we are so far…. but at the same time I feel your love so close.  I love you mama... And I promise I will answer all the Q's next week!!  Lo siento.  Lol

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--Hermana Kava--