Seriously? One month?

WOW how has it been one month since the longest plane ride of my life and the beginning of my adventure in Santiago? I can hardly believe it! 

So many great things happened this week! The girls in my hall started something called a Journal Jam, where we all crowd into a room and turn on music and combine all our goodies and write in our JOURNALS and we wear our JAMMIES and we JAM to efy and motab. Sister missionaries are the best, no battle! So fun!

This week, on the 18th, it was Chile's Independance Day. There was a fiesta at a nearby park that we got to go to, with live music and dancing and vendors selling food and clothes and all sorts of fun stuff. It was delightful! I got a Chilean beaded bracelet and the most amazing, life changing empanada I have ever experienced. Chile is the best ever!

I found out this last week that Elder Warrick, one of the elders in my district, has a smash book that his Girl Friend made for him, the little one! I had a mini freak out moment and blabbed about how I'm famous and stuff. He didnt get it. But there is another Hermana here with a smash book, and then me, and then ELDER Warrick! It was a moment that is worth writing home about.

Hermana Mittelsteadt and I taught in Relief Society this last Sunday, which also happened to be our last Sunday in English meetings. For the last two weeks here, everything is in Spanish. So I am very thankful to be asked to teach in English. She talked about prayer, and I talked about following the promptings of the Spirit. It is currently my favorite topic ever. I was able to talk about us moving to Utah, choosing to serve a mission, bearing my testimony in spanish, and I used my F. Enzio Busche quotes. I read that every morning as we walk to class. It is the best way to start out the morning. I love teaching Relief Society, but teaching the missionary discussions in Spanish is my favorite. Also, side note, I got a pocket size spanish hymnal from the distribution center this week. It is debatably the best thing I have purchased since coming to Chile.

This last Sunday, I got to meet my mission president! He and his wife spoke at the Sunday evening devotional we have here every other week, so everyone going to the Oeste mission got to go up and meet him and chat a bit. That is something that is so unique to the CCM, getting to meet your mission president before entering the field. I know that at first, I was really wanting to go to the Provo MTC, but every day I am thankful for the chance to train in Chile, to know everyone in the CCM, and to have the temple right there out my window. An older sister missionary told us last week that we live on the Chile Temple Square. And it's true! How delightful is that!

Today has been particularly eventful. Presidente told us this morning that our disctrict is being combined with district 2, the group of people we flew here with. So Elder Cowin, Bishop Bronsan's nephew, and I will be in the same district. But...Elder Mcchardy and Hermana Mittelsteadt are being transfered into Latino Disctricts because their spanish is so exceptional. So Hermana Mcrae, from Canada, is going to be my new companion, and tomorrow, I am moving to Al Contera, a mansion about ten minutes away that half of the missionaries stay at becuase we cant all fit in the CCM. I will admit, I am having mixed emotions. I love Hermana Mittelsteadt! She has helped me so much with my spanish, we work very well together, she is the kindest person I have ever met, and we have become "one soul" as she puts it in these last four weeks. She said "Presidente pulling us apart is like making a horcrux...hes taking a part of my soul." (Dad will love that). But on the other hand...an adventure! Im moving to a mansion! Getting a new district! Its hard, but why look at it as a trial when you can look at it as something to look forward to?

Here. A funny story from this week. We were talking about feminine vs. masculine. La Biblia and El Libro de Mormon. Hermana Mittelsteadt said "heres how you remember; theyre married, man and woman, and in the quad, they become as one heart." I have the best companion. 

Elder Cowin, Bishop Brosnan's nephew, and I

The most amazing, life changing empanada I have ever experienced

District 7

District 7 being ourselves

Sister Mittelsteadt and I enjoying p-day

Lemon pie granola bar - it's a good day

I love you all, thank you for your emails, your prayers, your love! Ciao!

Hermana Harkins