Hot dogs are so predictable...

For all of you Sister Lyons followers out there... a couple of snippets from her most recent email. Her Tagalog is coming along extremely well... and her English spelling is getting really creative, don't you think?

"So this week has been another rollercoster. So let's get started. Sunday was amazing! For Relif socitey we usually have some one from one of the womans auxillerally board members come and speak to us, but this sunday we had Sister Wixom, the gerenal primary president. It was so good! She started off saying that 1 million primary children are praying for the missionaries, so we cannot fail. Isn't that so cute and so true! He whole talk was based off the primary song, "I am a child of God." She told us this is one of the most important messages we can share with the children. She challenged us to learn it in our language and then teach it to every child we meet. Because everyone needs to know they are loved and they have a loving heavenly father."

"So after this spritual high, Branch Pres came in our room and wanted to talk to me. He asked me to be the new coordinating sister. Whaaaa? That's what i said and you probably are saying the same thing, but more like what is a coordinating sister? It's basically the female zone leader/closest thing there is to a RS pres in the branch. It means I have to go to a ton of meething, do orientation of the new sisters, interview all the sisters, and report back to President Stott. Gah! I of couse said yes, but then felt extreamly underqualified and stressed. But no worries God loves and so all is well!"

"Sister Snow is still the best. She is doing so well with the language, and we taught our first lesson without any notes! English or Tagalog! It was one of the best lessons we have ever taught. We also added another investigator the week. We will be teaching on of the other companionships. That means we have 3 progressing investigators that we have to teach 2times a week... plus TRC. If I have done my math right that is a lesson a day! Ano byon! Anyway super cazy and super exciting!"

"Sister hoopes' sister went to Bagio on her mission (and her sister's first name is danielle, how epic) anyway sister hoopes said that after about a year her sister had to have someone make her a jacket because she was cold. So I am planning to send you my coat but keep my black cardigian with me. So I will just wear that to the airport. Let's pray for good weather. I do not have a backpack, but all the teachers say all you really carries is a Book of Mormom, your planner and a TON of water. We are required to drink a certain amount each day. Oh, and a hankerchif to wipe off the sweat."

Yay for handkerchiefs. Nay for hot dogs. How much do you think she'll be willing to pay for a hot dog once she realizes she's stuck with fish every day? 3, 4, maybe 12 completos? :) 

The Sister Missionary Diaries

In an attempt to protect the author of these writings, I have left out the "Hey mom, can you send me some more underwear?" style comments and have copied over what you've all been waiting for... excerpts from the Sister Missionary Diaries. Abridged, but unedited. Pure Danielle. Enjoy.

Welcome to the MTC... Her very first email...

"My companions name is Sister Snow. She is from Alberta Canada. She has so much energy and is so happy all the time, it''s great! We live in a doram room with 4 other sisters. So it''s like freshmen year, just with all of us in the same room. The first day was a whirlwind! I haven''t time to be homesick ever since. So no worries. They started in full Tagalog right away. No English. Crazy! It takes basically all day so I barely have time to think in english. But I think that is a good thing because I can pray, bear my testimony, and tell people where to find things in the scriptures. Tagalog is like a mix between spanish, samoan, and japanese. Funny story. Here we great people in our lauguage, so we say Kamusta! which sounds an aweful lot like como esta. The spanish elders look at us like were stupid and then when we answer back Mabuti! they just look confused. It is one of sister snow''s and I''s favorite things to do. Their faces are priceless."

I'm sorry for saying I'm sorry... I promise I'll never say it again...

"So to start off I want to share with you my new most embarrassing moment ever. It was just a great day all together I tripped on nothing and totally biffed it right in front of a whole group of Elders. Pretty sure I flased them on the way up and the way down. I also fell asleep during personal study which casued be to startle awake and drop my pen much to the amusment of my Elders. And then here comes the cake. So we were teaching Rodrigo (Our pretend Investigator) for the 3rd time. All in Tagalog. Anyway, he was telling us this whole sob story about his family... yada yada yada... when I decied to give him a heart felt we're sorry. Sorry in Tagalog is 'Pacensiya' (Pronounced pa-sent-cha) and out came.... wait for it... placenta. That's right I said as clear as day placenta. Good thing he was pretending or eternal savaltion down the drain! Anyway I turned bright red and my companion started businting a gut, so we just walked out. When we got back to class, all the Elders wanted to know why we were laughing so hard. Um... yeah. So finaly they dragged it out of us. Two busted up laughing. Two laughed because they felt awkward and then the other two laughed because everyone else was. Can you imagine the converstation they had that night? "Hey, so um... Elder... What's a... you know... a placenta?"  Classic!"

She's such a missionary!

"On to more spritual stuff. So a few days ago we sang God be with you till We Meet Again in tagalog. I almost started to cry. I had this feeling that someday I would sing this song for reals. As in the right words, but more importatnly with people that I love and will leave and probably not see them until the next life. I already miss people that I haven't even met yet. Also, Sister Snow and I taught the First Vision yesterday (without any books) for the first time. It was sweet to see how even simple phrases of broken tagalog can bring such a spirit into the room. But there really is power in saying, "I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and he resotred Christ gospel on the earth." Also reading the accont of the fist vision, even though I hardly understand anything, brings a feeling of excitment and the spirt. I am finding out the meaning of pure testimony even more and more here. That is because that's all I can say, but that is all that is needed. The language is hard, but they keep stressing the language of the sprit is the most important language to speak. Although sometimes I wish they had called me english speaking. But sister snow and sis hoopes both put no language. So The Lord send you where you are suppose to go. The language is really hard for sister snow (although she is doing better then she thinks) but I keep getting the feeling it will be ok. God will be with me and helping me."

And just a little extra snippet for fun...
"Mom, just so you know, I love your cooking. These past couple of days I have not felt like eating. (Don't worry I do, cause I'm starving all the time) I just miss your food and all the different flavor so much! While I like 19 year old boys, I do not like the food they eat. So thank you!"

Note: I hope Sister Lyons will forgive me for including her embarrassing moment in a blog for the world to see. For any potential blushing this post may someday cause, I am truly placenta.