1st Letter From the MTC in Lima, PERU!!!

Mi familia! The enter key doesnt work on here, just as a heads up, and i dont know where the apostrophe is either, so this email will be badly punctuated. But uhhh, Im in Lima at the CCM aka the MTC. What to say? Yesterday was a long flying day, but it actually went quite well. No complaints--I think Im fairly used to long flights now. My companion Hermana Olsen gave out a Book of Mormon in Miami, so that was cool. We had a group of 14 coming here, and then another group of about 30 after us. Im very happy to have the other North Americans here. Our flight left Miami over an hour late, so we got into Lima around 11. Its super humid here. My hair is going crazy. But we got to the CCM around 1 am I believe. Im in a room of four girls--one North American who has been here for 3 weeks, and two natives--one from Guatemala, one from Ecuador. My companion is Hermana Chacon from Guatemala, going to the Arequipa mission here in Peru. She will be here for 3 weeks, and then I will get another companion. She knows some English words, but so far we havent communicated much. My district is made up of North Americans, so I have my real companion, and then my district companion. Sounds confusing, right? The Lima temple is closed for 3 weeks. Im just writing things that come into my head. Oh, addresses: Sister Martha Maxwell, Av. Melgarejo 159, Urb. Campo Verde, La Molina, Lima, Peru. Each comma represents a new line since the enter key doesnt work on here. Mom, please send me some stamps! They dont even have a store at the MTC here, and I need to send mail by pouch, so I need stamps. Could you send me a pack of stamps and a few 10cent stamps as well so that i can send international mail as well? Just send them in a letter, por favor. They´ve instructed us not to send or receive packages since the taxes are really expensive here. Im sorry Im so continually in need of things to be sent to me :( I didnt know much of what to expect here. This morning was actually kinda hard. I got feeling homesick--but actually just for the Provo MTC. I really miss the people there, and I had just gotten used to the schedule. So I ALMOST cried this morning, but Ive since plucked up and am feeling much better. We just played some soccer--the MTC here has two great soccer fields, sand volleyball, ping pong, foosball, etc. Its a super nice facility here--much more so than Provo for the most part. Its beautiful--a nice courtyard with a fountain, flowers, green grass. Its mid-summer here in Peru, so its HOT. Hotter than I had anticipated. Its about 75-80 degrees, but the humidity just makes it so much hotter. Playing soccer was super dee duper hot. Its embarrassing to play with the natives here since theyre so pro at it, but Im happy to be able to play at all. The food has been fine so far. Pancakes for breakfast, then for lunch we had some kind of soup, spaghetti, a very strange yellow potato-ish kind of dish that I dont even know how to describe. Lima is a very interesting place. I only saw it at night, but the housing is crazy. They just stack and stack box-shaped houses on top of eachother. Apparently the wealthy live in the low areas and the poor on the hills--opposite of most US cities. I think its fascinating to see the houses here. I wish I could send pictures. Perhaps on PDay (Wednesday, by the way), I will try to hook up my camera and see what I can do. As for Spanish--hmmm....it is a struggle lol. The hermanas who are natives are super nice, but they just dont speak slowly. My companion is super cute and small. I feel like a giant next to her. Shes kind, but its hard to connect with someone you cant even communicate with. It will get better as I learn more. First thing i said to her was a prayer in Spanish. I said it pretty fast, so I think she got the idea that I speak pretty good Spanish haha. Not so. But I feel blessed because I understand more than any of the hermanas I came with. Today is pretty much a free day...which is kind of nice since I want to take a nap, but it also provides time for homesickness and all that. One of the hermanas I came with is super homesick today--her first time out of the country. I feel for her...its actually nice to have someone who needs comfort because then I dont get to focus on my own needs. There are only about 150 missionaries here at the MTC. Super small. But apparently we get to go out contacting once a week in the real world. Should be interesting lol. Im excited for PDay next week because we get to go to the store! No idea how the store will be. Apparently its like Wal Mart, but who knows what that means. We had interviews with the Mission Presidency this morning. I was actually a bit disappointed because it wasnt nearly as welcoming a feeling as going into the Provo MTC. I feel I was really spoiled at the Provo MTC--I felt so at home there. But this MTC will provide a good transition for Bolivia. I cant imagine how I´ll stand the heat in Bolivia when its already killing me here haha. But I feel blessed to have this experience--transition is always interesting. There are some nice hermanas from North America that I get along with. Other than that, lets see...it was nice talking to Mom and Anna on the phone yesterday! I miss all of you! So thats that. Im doing fine here--keep praying for me, please. I really do appreciate and feel it. I need it here a bit more than in Provo haha. But I will keep you posted on the happenings of Hna Maxwell in Lima. Exciting stuff! I really do love love love being a missionary. I need to get confident enough to open my mouth to the public, but Ive loved my experience thus far. You can write me on DearElder, I believe. We receive mail daily but our mail only goes OUT on Mondays. Thanks for all your support and prayers! I pray for you every day. Love always, mi querida familia! Hermana Maxwell 

MTC, First Day

This is Martha's mom just updating everyone.  Martha received a beautiful blessing as part of her setting apart by the stake president, and entered the MTC on Wednesday.  The family received an email from my cousin Kathy Lund, who oversees room assignments and other arrangements at the MTC.  In it was included pictures of the missionaries in Martha's district and her companion, Sister Emily Olsen from Manti, Utah.  Sister Olsen will be going with Martha to Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  We don't know when we'll first hear from Sister Maxwell, but will post updates and excerpts from letters as we get a chance.  So keep visiting her blog!

48 Hours --> Hermana Maxwell

Today was my last day of church here at home. Kinda weird...It was a great day of church, though. As I mentioned before, I'm pretty much always on the verge of tears. If you doubt it, I got teary-eyed in a movie preview earlier this week. How long do movie previews last? A minute, tops? Yeah, that's embarrassing lol. I also had to say bye to my brother Peter this morning. Gee whiz, I sure hate goodbyes. Yuck.
Anyway, less than 48 hours til I get set apart. Apparently it'll be at 8:30 Tuesday night. So I have tomorrow and Tuesday to get everything done. Can't believe it's actually here! I'm so excited and yet still nervous. If I can shake off the goodbyes-scene, I think I could do fine lol. Tim will be living at the French House, directly across the street. Uncle Mike is a branch president at the MTC. Josh Bradshaw works there. Aunt Kathy works there lol. Should be interesting. I'm excited to be challenged--it's encouraging to know that even if it's the most challenging thing I've ever done, I'll be constantly nourished spiritually during the whole experience.
I'm actually getting a little more worried for my dad...Peter left this morning, Tim's off to BYU tomorrow, I go into the MTC Wednesday, Sarah leaves back to Cedar on Wednesday. He's already getting pretty sad, I think. Seeing my dad cry...ugh. It's the worst. I'd really rather skip the dramatic, traumatic goodbye scene and just take the bus to Provo lol. But it's gotta be done.
Anyway, the family watched Sense and Sensibility tonight (at my request). And now Sarah and I are watching Emma. I'm reading a Georgette Heyer since I think I'll miss that a bit while I'm gone. But it's time to sleep so I can wake up at a decent hour and get things done tomorrow. Packing, cleaning, arranging things for departure, etc. I need to get a father's blessing as well. For sure.

BYU vs. UTEP

After the game--some random chick decided to ruin our picture. RRRR.

Christmas Eve

Daddy's Girls

Mina, Martha, Kirsten, Ana--after I spoke in Sacrament Meeting

The outgoing sisters--NZAM, BSCM, FJM

Isi, Me, Leima

My Muti Fam, Mina, Ana, Haini

Getting the food out of our teeth for a pic lol

Audra's homecoming party from Russia--Lei, Mina, Les, Audra, Me, Ana

I just LOVE these two

Nikki, Les, Me at Provo Towne Center :)

...6 Days...6 Dias...6 Jours...

A week from now, I'll be getting ready for my first night at the MTC. So weird! Time's running out. I feel like time is so precious, and yet mostly I just wanna sit at home lol. As the time comes closer, my emotions get more and more intensely bipolar. Sometimes I'm so very excited. Other times I get sooo nervous and can't help but ask myself, "What the heck am I doing?" I wish I could skip over saying goodbyes to my family. Ugh. I'm really bad at that kind of stuff. It's just hard to gauge or prepare because different people say such different things. Some people are extremely homesick and struggle with so many different things on their mission. Others (like my sister Sarah) don't get homesick, don't struggle with companions, and just love their experience so much. So where will I be on the spectrum? I suppose it's mostly up to me to decide that. Is it strange that it overwhelms me to think that it's all on me to decide how to react? Because then I know if I'm having a bad/hard experience, I mostly have myself to blame.
Dear self, please choose to enjoy yourself and focus on the positive lol.
Also, if anybody--for some strange reason--had a desire to become a human watering-pot, I'd recommend preparing to serve a mission. I don't know what it is, but GEEZ. I'm like always on the edge of tears. It's out of control lol. I think it's because I know I'm getting myself into something that's gonna take all the faith I can muster.  But, really, I've been happier these past few months than I can ever remember. It's like I had forgotten what life was supposed to be like. I didn't even know how heavy all the crap was that I was carrying until I finally let it go. I was holding onto those things so hard for so long--terrified of change--but, man oh man, if I'd known what I was missing out on...
Anyway, a lot of my family went to the Timpanogos Temple today. I really need to work on how I talk about people. I have no room to talk about anyone, really. You just NEVER know why people are the way they are. I've got a lot to work on in that area. I'm grateful for my family and friends. I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. I really like getting to know people. I think I had forgotten that for awhile...lol.
Sleep time..

So...if anyone was thinking of going to the doctor, let me give you some numbers to think about before you make that decision. The first number is 150. That's how many dollars it cost total for my 6 minutes with the doctor. 1500. That's how much he could make an hour at that rate. Let's break down the 150. 87. That's how much me just having any sort of appointment cost. 63. That's how much it cost me to breathe into a plastic tube. 0. That's how much help that visit was since the doctor had no idea what was wrong with me.
Next time I'll breathe into my own plastic tube, thanks.
On a happier note ♪, I went shopping with my mom today. Wal Mart, Costco, and Granato. Pure delight. Here are the reasons:
1. I got red lipstick
2. Costco samples fed me lunch
3. I got Haribo candy (Build-a-burger and cherries) and an oh-so-cute package of Mini Ritter Sport chocolate

Last night, we went to the Mo Tab Christmas concert. Umm WOW. So amazing. Basically I have a huge crush on David Archuleta. Probably along with everyone else who was there. He has such an amazing voice--on tune the WHOLE time. He's also just adorable--so obviously sincere and humble. Nuff said about that lol. But Michael York told stories of WALES! I was so excited lol. The choir sounded incredible, as usual. The organist, Richard Elliott, did a solo that was sooo cool to watch and hear. I never realized how complicated it is to play an organ. Wow. The decorations were sooo beautiful, the dancers did great.
It was a bit sad to me to see how PACKED it was and to know that it's not even like that for conference when the prophet speaks.

So THIS is what it feels like...

..to be HAPPY. I've been wondering what it is about my life that has made me so happy recently...That probably sounds silly. When happiness comes, you just accept it, no questions asked. Right? Maybe that's right. If it is, I failed. I thought I'd get to the bottom of it and figure out the cause so that I can make sure that happiness doesn't go anywhere. It's an interesting feeling I've had recently. It feels like I got something back that I didn't even know I was missing. I don't remember a time when I felt happier. It's not that I don't have problems right now. There are always plenty of those. But I really think I've tracked down the source of the contentment I've been feeling. I've been working so hard in my studies recently, preparing like crazy to be a missionary. I know that not everyone has the luxury of spending so much time studying. People have families, school, demanding jobs. But although the amount of time I've devoted to my studies contributes, I'm sure, I don't think that's where the answer is. It's the motivation behind those studies.
Going on a mission is a big leap of faith for me--it's a leap of faith for anyone, I realize. I'm scared half to death by a lot of the situations I'll probably encounter, by the tests my personality and character will run up against. I'm sure the feeling is shared by most missionaries, but geez, it's a powerful one! When I was younger, I thought I'd serve a mission. Then, the closer I got to mission age, the more I thought that it was probably just too hard. I never felt very propelled in that direction, but I never really prayed about it either. My decision to serve a mission was thus very sudden but very powerfully-inspired. And you know what? The preparation alone which I've done for my mission has been worth it. I'm a different person than I was 4 or 5 months ago. I know that my mission will challenge me more than I've ever been challenged before--it will also bring me the most happiness I've had.
But back to the subject--as I've been studying these past few months, I have had very specific and poignant concerns constantly on my mind and in my heart. That has made all the difference in the world. For once I feel like my will is in alignment (at least relatively so) with God's. In the past, I studied so hard--I really did. I studied during times that tried me where I never thought I'd be tried. But I was still holding tight to my will. I didn't want to listen to God's answers to me because I was scared of what that meant I'd have to give up. It took me 5 whole years to finally let go of that one situation. And now that I've let go, I realize what I chose to miss out on because of pride, because of a refusal to truly trust God with my life, because of an unwillingness to believe that God knows what my life really should be like. I took the long way. The really long way. The not-so-scenic route, covered in stinging nettle, poison ivy, and rocks. I took my way--which I thought was synonymous with "the easy way." But I've learned a lesson. Boy, did I ever learn! And now I hope I'm doing it His way. If that means diving into waters whose depths I don't even know, so be it. I don't even know how to dive! But I'll take that any day over what I put myself through these last few years. Because what I did was taking my burdens to the Lord, telling him about them, crying to Him, but refusing to believe that those were burdens I didn't have to carry.
As the year 2010 comes to a close, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Life didn't look so promising at the beginning of this year. In fact, 2010 was my hardest year yet--by a long shot. I've discovered weaknesses I never knew I had, I've had to let go of people I thought would always be in my life, I've had days where I felt like I was worth next-to-nothing. This year was an emotional rollercoaster--if there are rollercoasters that just keep taking you down and down lol. But I don't say all of this to complain. I say it to give contrast. Because I'm ending this year on a great note. And I know what has made the difference.

Babysatting 'n stuff

Tonight I babysat my cousin Trevor's kids--Jace (3 yrs) and Lexi (6 mos). Jace walked in the door and immediately took off his jacket and shoes, all chucked on the floor, and headed to the piano to start playing. A promising start to an amusing night.
Anyway, after playing on the piano for a bit, petting the cat, and commenting on how the pine needles were falling off the Christmas tree, Jace announced that he was going upstairs. He went into the spare room and kept saying, "There are so many toys in here!" He got into the lego bin and expressed disappointment at the fact that there was no engine so that he could make a train. I told him we should take everything downstairs so we could make sure Lexi didn't wake up and cry.
We took the bin downstairs and Jace said, "There are so many movies!" The legos were completely forgotten. He picked out 101 Dalmations and screamed, "I'm going to watch 101 DALMATIONS!" He stuffed that VHS tape into the VCR, and we started watching it. That's right. A VHS! Haven't watched one of those in years. Can't even tell you how amusing it was to watch with him. He was completely enthralled. His facial expressions were priceless. He was laughing hysterically at the "twilight bark" part of the movie. The energy of that kid was incredible. He was bouncing up and down. Never stayed in the same position for more than a minute at a time. Here are some photos I took of him watching the movie:

Concentrating hard

Sitting still

Bouncing up and down

Super stressed because the puppies were trying to escape in the movie

At this point, Jace starts yelling, "Can we POD the movie I have to go POTTY!!!" "POD the movie! I have to go POTTY!!" hahaha We were all laughing so hard. He came back and said, "I'm done now." 

Back to being relaxed...

Amazingly he looked at me for a shot. Most of the time he was unresponsive to any attempt to talk to him.

My personal favorite

He was hanging and swinging on this at one point, all the while watching 101 Dalmations and Lady and the Tramp

Smiling at the movie :)

Such focus

When his parents came partway through Lady and the Tramp, our attempts to turn off the movie were pretty traumatic for him. We let him borrow the movie instead. Never seen anyone more grateful for something than he was for that lol.
Anyway, Lexi slept most the time. She finally woke up though :)   

Just woke up from a long nap

Happy face :)

Nice hair!

Jealous of the dark eyes and light hair

She got into the movie, too lol

So that was the night. It was good to be around little ones for a change. Adults can be tiring. Here are some other pics I haven't posted...

Decorating the tree for FHE

Ornaments :)

The Eiffel Tower!

Grandpa Neal

My view of the Temple after an endowment session

Tim and I put up the Christmas lights today. Mostly Tim did lol. But it was in the cold rain, so it wasn't very fun. Afterward, Tim came in and goes, "Bad news. I think we did it the wrong way." We started with the wrong end of the lights :( Which means Tim had to redo it all later...especially since half the lights came down hahahaha. Yay for Christmas!