Dear ya'll

Email hour is the fast hour of my life. Sorry I didn't have time for one last week.

Many of you wanted a copy of my farewell talk. I forgot who. So please let me know again if you want it.

AT THE AIRPORT

I met Elder Call and Elder Lillywhite, They're going to my mission too.

ON THE PLANE

I saw Pentatonix, and a spider. cool right?

And my stewardess was form the Dominican Republic, so when she realized I was going there (this was on the way to New York) She began giving me A LOT of food, 4 bags of pretzels, 7 granola bars, and a banana. she just automatically loved me. It was a good first impression of what Dominicans will (hopefully) be like. When we landed, I saw a sign in the airport that said "Th Dominican Republic opens its doors" So far I've been well received. In the airport we met Elder Lualemaga, Elder Fenn, Elder Taylor, and Hermana (Sister) Henry. 

CCM

We had an absolutely terrifying car ride to the CCM (MTC) but at the CCM, it's like were'e in a bubble, protected form any craziness. THE CCM is right next to the temp,e, and surrounded by a beautiful white wall. 

OTHER MISSIONARIES

There are only 26 of us in the entire MTC. Next week, 19 of them will leave for their missions, but we'll get more. There are 4 districts

7 Native English Speakers going to Santiago (Me)

8 Native English Speakers going to Santo Domingo West

3 Native Spanish Speakers going to Santo Domingo West

8 Native French-Creole Speakers going to Haiti.

A FEW FUNNY ELDERS

Elder Jackson is just like Jackson Dean. Because you have to say his name at least 20 times before he  hears you.

Poor Elder Taylor doesn't have any Spanish background. The rest of us had some Spanish in ?High school, but Elder Taylor took German. He's really struggling, but he's always smiling - si it's kinda funny. And he usually gets called on the most, which makes it funnier. For us. Not him, he's pretty upset.

After a serious of pranks, some Elders took it too far when they set an alarm for 2:20 in the morning and dropped it in a hole in the wall of some other Elders' room. They can't get it out, or turn it off. I feel so bad for them.

3 LANGUAGES

Don't stress about me being in a foreign MTC. They speak a lot of English. All though all of my classes are in Spanish. They talk slowly and simply. The only problem is when we gather everyone for a meeting like sacrament or a devotional. Usually these are in English. So the Latinos have to wear a head set connected to their translator's mic while he stand in one corner of the room. And in the other corner is the Haitian's translator. Oh, and if a Haitian has something to say, it gets translated form Creole into Spanish, and then form Spanish another translator will translate it to English. It's a process, but it works. 

The most spiritual moment so far was when we sang

"Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"

Everyone sang in their Native Language, it was so messy and chaotic, and my companion was annoyed, but it was one of the most beautiful things I've heard. Everyone singing their hearts out in their home language. Please look up the words to that song. It's one of my favorites.

SANTO DOMINGO TEMPLE

The temple here is the only one in the Carribean. And my companion is form Jaimaica, so she's never been.l So on our 2nd day, I had the opportunity to go with her through the temple It's so beautiful. We actually get to go every Tuesday.

EL DON DE LENGUAS

In case ya'll didn't know, that's "the gift of tongues."

I thought I had forgotten most of the Spanish I learned in High School, but the minute I got here, the Spanish wanted to be in my mouth. I don't even know what to say, but it fits. my tongue wants to speak Spanish.

So that's pretty neat. 

I'll leave you with this profound thought from President Gulbrandsen 

"God cannot answer unasked prayers."

Please send me your favorite conference talks! I love printing them off and reading them!!

With joy and sunshine,

Hermana Pollard ☀