Week 1 in Minnesota

Hey family! Ok, I don't even know where to start! This week has been insane. It was so great talking to you! While we were flying over MN I felt so much excitement and happiness. Remember how I told you that when we flew here before I felt that way? It was basically the same thing, but even more and I felt the Spirit super strongly. Oh, and it is so pretty here. It is fall, and gorgeous. First thing, we went to the church by the mission home and received some instructions. I had my first meal in America in six weeks and I was almost in tears because of how happy I was to eat a sweet pork sandwich, salad, cowboy caviar with chips, and sweet pineapple. Oh and carrot cake! mmmm! It was the best. Wednesday night I said goodbye to Hermana Ficklin and hello to my trainer, Hermana Crosby! Hermana Crosby is so incredible. Besides being a great missionary and example, she is just someone that is easy to like. I know we are going to have so much fun! She reminds me a lot of Lizzie, so obviously she is awesome. :) Anyways, she is from California and is the oldest of 5. She has been out for about 8 months and her Spanish is very good. Dad, fun fact: Her dad went to Melbourne, Australia on his mission! I had been praying and fasting to have a good trainer that could help me a lot! She is definitely an answer to my prayers. My area is called Lakeville. It is this very nice suburb town. It is clean and a pretty rich area. Since we are Spanish missionaries we teach in a lot of surrounding towns, mostly in a place called Burnsville. The work is really moving in this area right now! I'm grateful for that... I basically have just jumped into the deep end and there is a lot to get used to and a ton to do, but that is how I like it. Busy, busy, busy!! We have a solid amount of investigators and taught a lot of lessons the last few days! Right now, Hermana Crosby does most of the talking. Our goal by the end of these twelve weeks is to be 50/50, so I have a lot of Spanish-learning and practicing to do! We are super lucky because we are living in a Member's home! We are actually the only Spanish-speaking sisters in the mission who are living in a home. The Jensen's are the best. They are probably the nicest people ever. They have six kids, but all are moved out except for the youngest, Charlotte, who is 16. We live in their basement. Sister Jensen is absolutely amazing at piano. Listening to her play is so fun. The second night I was here we crawled under their grand piano with Charlotte and listened. Fun fact about the Jensen's that I found out yesterday: Their son-in-law is the founder of Ragnar! Anyways, I love the Jensen family! We watcher the afternoon sessions of conference with them also... We watched the morning ones at church... in Spanish. So, needless to say, I will be waiting for the ensign to come out to get some personal revelation for myself! Haha, but it was good because we had some investigators come. So far, I have invited 4 people to be baptized and have also recited the 1st vision several times. We have taught quite a few lessons and so things are getting smoother. It is a little hard in the mornings to want to get out of my very warm, comfortable bed, but I just think about the people I get to help and that is what is motivating me! I'm so grateful that there are so many people we are teaching because it makes it easier to feel motivated, especially as I am starting off and getting used to everything. Ok, so obviously, today is P Day! So pretty please write me emails before Monday morning! Also, thank you for the watch and pictures! They turned out great! Can you guys please send me as soon as possible my winter stuff? Winter is getting close and I'm gonna need my things soon! Also, with that, could you send me my brown knee high boots? Or even just send those first and the other stuff later because that is what I really need right now! So, usually, it is best to send everything to the Mission home and they will forward it to me wherever I am. But, you need to please send it priority so they can forward it. My address right now though is 17781 Ikaria Ct., Lakeville, MN 55044. Unless something crazy happens I will be there until about Christmas time. So you should be okay to send anything directly to that address. :) Well, I love you all tons! Hope all is well at home! Let me know what is going on!! Love, Hermana Pierce