Nov. 25, 2011

Hola!!

Everyone THANKS FOR THE LETTERS AND EMAILS! You are all so awesome! If possible please send DearElders or real mail because I don't have time to email hardly!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!! My thanksgiving was sooo awesome. Seriously! It was amazing. We got to sleep in until 8:30 (we skipped breakfast so that we could do that) then we have RUSSELL M. NELSON COME SPEAK TO US! How awesome. Then we did a big service project, and then a movie 17 miracles. It was so good you should all watch it.

We had a whole bunch of free time in between that also, and turkey dinner of course. Earlier in the week we had D. Todd Christofferson come speak. Two apostles in one week? I am a lucky lucky girl. They were so awesome. I was going to bring my note book so I could quote some things, but we were rushed out of our room so I forgot it. Christofferson spoke a lot about missionary work and how it is a privilege. and Nelson told us a long interesting story of trying to get the church into "Godless communism" countries and the atonement. When Nelson bore his testimony it was the most powerful thing I have ever heard. No Joke. He said "God be thanked for giving his beloved son, and God be thanked for each of you" It gives me chills to even just write it. It was so awesome. Sorry I don't have any quotes to uplift and inspire you guys! I'll send them next week when I have my note book.

MOM I GOT YOUR LETTERS. I also got your thanksgiving package. My district and companions LOVED IT (along with me of course)- you're so awesome. So the Spanish is coming... slowly. But it's coming! I knew this would probably be the hardest part of the mission. But it's coming. It's hard to see my growth in the language because were around the same people and saying a lot of the same things every day. But I do see myself improving!

So, funny story: a one of the first nights I did something good (don't remember what it was) and my roommate (who is fluent in Spanish) said "Bien hecho" which is Good job... but it was right when we were all going to bed so I thought it meant "Buenos Noches" which is Good night. So I said Good night to you to! And then it was silent so I knew something had gone wrong. I asked what she had just said and EVERYONE started cracking up. so now my companions told the elders in my district and now my WHOLE ZONE says "Buenos Noches" when people do something good and Bien Hecho when were going back to our residence halls at night. HAHA. Man I'm embarrassing myself more and more every day!! But it's funny, and no one is judging. Stuff like that happens all the time!

Another funny story. so were in our classrooms for like 10 hours a day the doors are SUPER heavy so every time I opened the door I would hit my arm or leg or something and so half way through the day when I walked out and hit myself ( didn't think anyone was noticing) one of the Elders says "HERMANA MARCHANT THATS LIKE THE 7th TIME TODAY". So for the rest of the day when ever I walked in or out of the door the elders would hold it for me and told me I wasn't allowed to touch it. Ha-ha they're so nice I feel like they're my annoying but hilarious little brothers.

We took a "family" or district thanksgiving picture. Family: expect it sometime next week in the mail! I missed you guys and thought about you all day yesterday! Hope thanksgiving was awesome! I studied the topic of Desire to learn and serve this week. You guys should all do it. I loved it. Look up all the scriptures in the TG.

We have taught the first lesson like 10 times now. I feel pretty comfortable with it and as long as I have my companion to help me I can say a lot of it in Spanish! One more funny story: So the other day my Very conservative companion was trying to get a drink at lunch and a elder accidently bumped into her so he said in Spanish-"oh sister, I'm sorry" and she meant to say like "you're totally fine...no problem" but what she said in Spanish was "you are SOOO fine" and he looked at her and turned bright red thinking she was hitting on him calling him FINE (for you old people...it means good looking). We all laughed and laughed and laughed and its our districts joke now when ever someone says sorry for somthing.. But wait the story is not over. so a few days later we were standing in line and my OTHER companion bumped into another elder and she said oops sorry and he said "YOUR SO FINE" and she said 'WHAT??" -thinking he knew our joke somehow and he turned bright red and started continually apologizing over and over again. Hahahah it was so funny!! After being at the MTC for a few weeks little things like that turn into the funniest thing ever!! Anyway, I miss and love you all!!

Jenessa, WHATS YOUR ADDRESS? I forgot to ask in my last email and so I have been thinking about you all week I'm so sorry!! I LOVED YOUR letter.

Love,

Sis. Abby Marchant

November 18, 2011

Hello! This week was so good! You guys don´t understand how much I love it here! Some days are easier than others, but over all I know I am apposed to be here and I LOVE IT.

So my companion Sister Kappa ended up moving up to intermediate Spanish, and I am now in a trio with Sister Hobbs and Sister Carson. It's different, but still good. Trios are hard to make sure everyone feels included especially because Sister Hobbs and I have a lot more in common than Sister Carson and I. But it's still good and I LOVE both of them. We all have so much fun together! The day sister kappa moved we both cried like 4 times! It´s so crazy how close you can become to someone when the Spirit is involved. We promised we would be friends after our missions and we are both going to Buenos Aires North, so maybe we will be companions in the field!!

Aunt Sherry wrote me the nicest letter this week and shared a scripture that I ABSOLUTLY loved. It was D&C 115 5. Make sure to read the footnotes if you guys look it up. Thanks Sherry!! I shared it with my whole zone, and everyone loved it!

In my district and zone, the 3 of us are the only sisters. All the rest are Elders. They are absolutely hilarious. Every day of the week they have a theme. Such as Tall Tie Tuesday. That's where they make their ties as long as possible (until they get in trouble and change it); Comb over Wednesday (self explanatory); No English Thursday; Sweater and glasses Saturday. Definitely 19 year olds! Ha-ha but hilarious. When we're in testimony meeting or personal study time their spirits are so strong it's awesome. I don't know if I could have done what they are doing at 19 years old. They all have so much potential. We're our own supportive little family here, I love it!

At devotional on Tuesday Brother Tad Calister of the second quorum of the 70 spoke, and he was telling us that this year and last year the average missionaries in the field was 52,000 and because of seminary graduates and members of the church and a bunch of other statistics they were expecting around 45,000...but guess how many they have already with papers in? --- 56,000!!!! How awesome!

We get to go to the temple today for the first time! I can´t wait! It will be nice to be able to have a little break after going for a week! The first week, every one kept saying just make it to Sunday. After Sunday it gets tons better, and they were totally right! It was great and awesome before Sunday, but after Sunday I knew that I CAN DO IT. I doubted myself before that. I am learning so much every day and feeling the Spirit stronger than I ever have before!

I got our ´´investigator´´ to commit to baptism. Even though it's a fake investigator we were so excited! One of our teachers Hermano Parker is the best teacher in the world he asks us questions like ´´if Christ was in that room teaching the investigator how would he teach?´´. After thinking about it we decided that even though we can´t speak Spanish, the Spirit can still be there and he can know that the truth is the feeling, not the words we're attempting to say. So we keep in simple and apply the message to his needs only. Such an awesome lesson I learned for myself. I know that in time the Spanish will come and right now I need to focus on relying on the spirit to teach in a way that my investigators will understand. I studied a lot about the Apostasy and Joseph Smith this week it was awesome I learned so much.

I'm almost out of time so really quick. My testimony is stronger than ever, if anyone reading this is thinking about a mission - just do it! It's so awesome!! In just a week I've made lifelong friends, I've developed a testimony in a way I never even imagined before, and I know that this is right. I love you all and I'm doing great so don't worry about me! Write me!!

Mom how did your single ladies party go

Dad your letter was exactly what I needed that day. It was the day Sister Kapp moved and I was having a hard time. Thank you so much

Natalie Steve James and Halie. Thanks for your letter! I loved it! You guys are so awesome and supportive. I miss you all too! How's everything going?

Lizzie and Aunt Sherry your letters were so awesome. Really, they made my day. I'll reply and send it today. Lizzie your package was AWESOME. I ate some of the candy and played a Spanish game with the elders and gave it away as prizes too! They said to tell you THANKS AND KEEP IT COMING hahaha.

I love you all,

Sister Abby Marchant.

Hola mi famila y amigos!

So it's been 3 days now since I got here at the MTC. The computers times us, and were only allowed 30 minutes so I will type as fast as possible.

So how is everyone doing? I got here and right away we dropped off our bags in our room and went straight to class. The teacher walked in and spoke nothing for Spanish THE WHOLE TIME. It was super over whelming! But I do love it here. After class started he introduced us to our companions. Mine is Sister Kapp. She is so awesome. She from Highland, Utah and knows a ton of people here at the MTC. It's nice. Instant friends! We get along really well and have tons of fun. She's hilarious. I am so lucky!

The elders in our district are hilarious... definitely 19 years old but still hilarious! The first 2 days were kind of hard just getting used to everything and adjusting to only being taught in Spanish but yesterday was a lot easier. I can understand a lot more then the first and second day (as long as my teachers use hand signals ha-ha). Sis. Kapp was telling me that the best advice she got before she came into the MTC was "Elders don't fall in love with the sisters, and sisters don't fall in love with the teachers" ha-ha. I thought that was hilarious because the teachers are all BYU students about 23 or 24 years old.

Today we only get a half P-day because we have only been here for half of a week. From now on my P-day will be on Fridays, starting next week. So as you all told me, the MTC is VERY VERY structured. Every minute of every day is planned for us. The only thing I was surprised about is that language class is not structured at all. It's kind of like "learn what you want to learn at your own pace" so I kind of have to teach myself Spanish, and it's hard because I don't know where to start. Maybe it's just because it's the first week and as we go on the class will be more interactive and learning and hands on. It's nice also though because I know some of the basics so I don't have to relearn those and wait for the rest of the class to catch up. My companion is REALLY good at Spanish. Its good motivation! She might switch up to the intermediate class (I hope not because then I would be put into a 3 some with the other sisters in my district who I don't have as much in common with.)

Everyone is so nice here. You get greeted in like 20 different languages everywhere to go ha-ha. So in my Room it is my companion and me. Two sisters from my district (that I might become companions with if Sis. Kapp decides to move up) and then two other girls that speak Spanish fluently so we are trying to speak it as much as possible. We got sick of hearing "SYL Hermanas" (speak your language sisters) ha-ha.

I found out for sure that I won't be able to call home on Christmas, but I think we get to call home when we get our information about our flight to Argentina, and then again at the airport. So twice instead of once makes up for not talking on Christmas!

All around the MTC they have pictures of sisters and elders in the apartments on their missions and there are a few of them in Buenos Aires... let me just say I think I'll be in for a rude awakening on my cleanliness expectations when I get down there HAHA. We taught our first "investigator" (paid BYU students that speak Spanish) yesterday, I was so nervous I said "lo siento, mi ingles es no bueno" which means sorry my English is not good, but I meant to say espanol. Hahaha. Embarrassing! He was like "no, su ingles es muy bueno" ha-ha oops! We will teach him again today. Wish me luck!

Well times about up. I love you guys and miss you tons!! All is well here. I love it and I'm loving it more and more every day. It's hard, but I know I can do it! Keep my updated on you guys xoxox

Lizzie and mom, I got your Dear Elder letters. I LOVED THEM thank you so much. I didn't realize how excited I would be for contact from the outside world. Keep it up :) Liz, I lost the letter with your email in it. Please send it again! I can't believe John met Jenessa! How crazy. Small world! Tell Jenessa I love her so much and miss her ton and can't wait to hear from her!

Love, Sister Marchant

And so it begins....

The day the cutest Sister Missionary in the history of Sister missionaries goes into the MTC!

teachin' and peachin' and doing what missionaries do.

May of 2013 seems so far away, but I hear that it passes faster then ever. I leave for the MTC tomorrow at 1:10 pm. I am expecting at least 2 letters from everyone that read this... so get your write on. NOW! love and miss you... yes, you!

Before Jan 9, 2012:

Sister Abigail Marchant

Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission

Provo Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 East

Provo, UT 84604

After Jan 9, 2012:

Sister Abigial Marchant

Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission

Gral. Lavalle 1828

1646 San Ferando

Buenos Aires

Argentina

love, sister marchant

P.S. Look how cute missionaries can be now ;-)

Vegas, baby!

The one and only picture I got of the city....Man, why do I love the trashiest place on earth so much!? 

So what I thought was going to be a normal (still interesting) but normal weekend in the oh-so-fabulous city of Santa Monica turned out to be WAY more interesting than planned! I  had requested the weekend off of work for a prior commitment which ended up falling through. So there I am on Thursday night, and I got to thinking "woah, Abby! You have the weekend off...thats not a common occurrence...now that your a grown up and all.. You gotta take advantage of this!!" So I threw some clothes (not enough...I ran out) in a bag and drove to Vegas. I got there at 3am and my good friend Jamie Hickey & friends were there to greet me! There was the big basketball tournament this weekend and BYU was playing New Mexico (and we won..go Jimmer) and then the next day BYU played San Diego State (we lost..booo). I don't think "Sin City" has ever seen so many Mormons in its whole existence (well besides the fact that I heard Mormons actually settled and started Vegas...) so let's just say in it's modern/recent existence. Despite the fact that we lost that game AND there wasn't any time to lay out at the pool, the trip was super fun and action packed! OH YEAH, DID I MENTION I WON $300?? Oh, I didn't? Well that's because I didn't win $300. But I did win 20 one night so the next night I put down that lucky 20 and was up 80, but then lost it all....I broke even between both nights, which is o.k. with me :) Over all it was a successful trip and I'm glad I was able to catch up old friends and family (oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you. I met up with my brother Alex and his super fun friends one night too!) 

Highlight of the Trip: How unbelievably awesome our seats were at the game!!

 Yep, thats my man......I wish!

Let down of the trip: Way to many little kids crying after our tough loss to SDSU...and the homeless guy with the cutest saddest looking puppy. 

see ya next time vegas...love ya!

self expression...try it.

So I found this video and fell in love. I thought it was so funny and so true. I mean, who doesn't type and retype three things before they actually send something that ends up being super generic haha. it has inspired me to "express my self" I'm going to try it this week...I'll let you know how it goes :)

First EVER.

So this is my absolute first blog post ever! Yeah, I know...I'm a little late to be joining the blogging world...but it's new to me! My sister Lizzie will be sooo happy I've finally joined :) I've recently redone/ added to/ checked off certain things on my bucket list, and I thought "what better for a first blog post.... then my new and improved- super awesome- BUCKET LIST!?" so here it goes...

pretend the "----" is a check mark...as in yes, I've done it..yeah I know..I've only done 2 things so far...I'm still young :)

 oh and p.s: NO MAKING FUN. ok thanks. you may read now...

1.     Take voice lessons

2.     ----Meet Zooey  Deschanel

3.     Meet Justin bieber

4.     Get Justin to Retweet something I tweet

5.     Meet James Franco

6.     Meet Ryan Reynolds

7.     Meet the prophet of the church

8.     Convert someone to church

9.     Skydive

10. Take a world religion class

11. Take a geography class

12. Learn to speak French

13. Ride Mechanical Bull

14. Travel the world

15. Go jogging on the Great Wall of China

16. Scuba Dive in Australia

17. Hike Hollywood sign

18. Go to Belize

19. Invent something

20. Beach bum for a summer

21. Graduate From College

22. Married in Temple

23. ----Parasail

24. Have kids

25. Ride bike down the coast of California

26. Run a Marathon

27. Be in a rodeo

28. Road trip from San Diego – Maine

29. Change the oil in my car

30. Read the Davinci Code

31. Do something big and huge and don’t a tell a single person about it until after

32. Learn to cook

33. Join a book club

34. Write a book

35. Be in a demolition derby

36. Drive a racecar on a race track

xo abby.