Familia! First off I just want to thank you Dad for writing me. It
really means a lot. I know you know this. Also, the mail here is super
slow and that includes Dear Elder. For the package that Jimbo was
going to send to me, if she hasnt already she should use my first name
in addressing the package and not hermana. Also dont put guatemala mtc
in  the address. Now on to better things. This week has gone so fast.
Some of the highlights are 1) On Thursday the Nortes got to go to the
temple. The Guatemala temple is a smaller temple and they packed 39 of
us into one session. It was actually pretty funny because some of the
sisters had to sit pretty close to the Elders and everyone was really
awkward. I got to do part of the session in Spanish though which was
really cool. 2) Here in Guatemala we have something called La Casa CRE
where we teach members. For our first week we got to be the members
being taught which was really fun, but this week we taught families
that had driven from Honduras to come to the temple. It is amazing to
me that they make the sacrifice every month to come to the temple.
There faith and diligence is inspiring. I couldnt understand a lot of
what they said but I am starting to pick up more words here and there.
3) For chuch this Sunday we got to leave the CCM and go to a little
chapel by the temple. The whole service was in Spanish so I didnt
understand a lot of it, but I definitely felt the spirit. They had the
Norte hermanas do a musical number and it just reaffirmed to me the
power of music in communicating the spirit. For Relief Society they
pulled the Norte Hermanas in a room and talked to us about the things
we can expect for bathrooms, etc. in the mission field and the kinds
of sicknesses people get... it was awesome. In the night we got to
listen to an address Elder Holland gave at the MTC about the spirit
and PMG. It was AMAZING. We got to watch it in the presidents
appartment which was like a little piece of home. All of the new
Nortes piled on his couches and it was kind of like being home on
Sunday night with the whole family. 4) I have been getting to know my
Latina roommates and they are so sweet. It is amazing to me to hear
their stories. Some of them have only been converts for a few years or
are the only members in their family. They help us with our spanish
and we teach the phrases in English. It seems to me that they are
picking up English faster than we are spanish and we spend all day
studying it! 5) My teachers are amazing. I have so much love and
respect for them. They are all Latino and teach us in a mix of mostly
spanish with a little english every now and again, but most
importantly they teach by the spirit. So many times this week, they
said or did something that opened my mind and heart to new knowlege or
a new perspective. One of those times was on Wednesday. I had been
having a really frustrating day and was starting to get discouraged.
One of my teachers could tell that something was different with me and
my companion and asked us to come have a talk with her. We were able
to talk out our frustrations but more importantly she taught me how to
meet the needs of the people you teach. She sat and listened and had
us act. Then she guided us to answer our own questions and finally
testified of truth with the spirit. This is what missionary work is!
Anyway, I am so happy to hear that all of you are doing well. I pray
for you throughout the day every day. I love you all. se que Dios nos
ama y que Jesucristo sabe nuestras pruebas y como ayudarnos. La
iglesia es verdadera. -Hermana Manning P.S. I am learning to roll my
Rs and I am getting closer!