Saturday, August 25th

Well as of the very early hours of Wednesday morning I have been in Guatemala!!!!  Let me tell you about the trip down here.  First of all I got to talk to some of my family!!!!  Best thing ever!  Kaela I hope you had a wonderful birthday playing games and sitting around with those at home, I hear Dad kicked butt with Apples to Apples!  

Then our first flight I was sitting by an Elder and a man named Max that is from LA, he was a really cool guy to talk to.  The Elder and I will be serving in the same mission, and his family happens to have a love for Tahiti as well.  We were talking about Tahiti for a while and he was telling me that his grandpa was asked once to be the king of one the the islands once, and he would have taken it if his wife would have been okay with it:) it was pretty great.  

At the LA airport it was hilarious to see the reactions of people to us.  A set of Elders gave a guy named Stephan a Book of Mormon on the first flight and so he came and found us again and was talking with us, it was pretty neat. Then you could tell who was LDS because they would cheer us on, or come talk to us, it was a lot of fun.  I knew the Spanish was going to start on the plane, but that is right it started in the foyer before we got on the flight, so we couldn't understand what was going on there, haha.  

Then on the second flight I talked to a man...I have no idea how to spell his name...but he grew up in Guatemala and his Dad died 3 years ago, and since then he´s been living in Canada and Nevada going to school and such.  He had a lot of questions, and we talked for a while.  I tried to rest since I was still pretty sick, but just as I started to fall asleep the steward tripped and spilled a drink all over me :( guess I wasn´t supposed to sleep.  Anyway the guy I was talking to poked my shoulder and said look, welcome to Guatemala.  It was a gorgeous view!  There were 3 volcano´s that I could see right first thing, the sun was rising, and it looked like it just got done raining.  Beautiful!  We landed and I gave him a Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it, so I hope he does.  He waited at the gate opening and he told me some things about Guatemala and living here, and such and then we parted ways.  It was pretty neat.  

Then we got all through customs and such, and got on the bus for the CCM (MTC) and our first site was a man in the back of a truck pulling on to one of the main road with a shot gun.  HAHA  Oh man here we go!  Also I just have to say both of my bags weighed 49 lbs.  well done me!  Mom don´t be to shocked, here we have to shower in 5 minutes, and who can do it?! That´s right, me!  I have 2 companions now, one is the same as the Provo MTC and the other is new to us, and she is a genius it seems, and is having a hard time seeing how much I am struggling with the language.  I hope it comes!  

KC do you know any of the Nielsens from the Granite Bay 1st ward?  Were you all able to see the Prophets birthday celebration?  I hear it was amazing!  What was it like?  Also I am pretty sure I weigh more than I ever have, it´s disgusting!  The chef here is AMAZING, and you have to eat all of the food, they think I am my brothers and can eat HUGE amounts...let me tell you I am not, but it is so amazing, I can´t even explain.  Sirens here are weird, and you hear then all the time!  Also last night I asked if any of my Elders had a grandpa named Thor?  Member that Elder I sat next to on the plane, and his grandpa was asked to be king of one of the islands in Tahiti, well yep that would be his grandpa Thor!!!  Funny right, it´s pretty great!  

Well I had a bit of a break down yesterday, I really hope the language comes, I can´t remember anything to save my life sadly.  Other than that everything is going well, I still feel like I am in the States since we are just inside the CCM all the time, so I am sure that will change when I get out:) 

I have come to love the Book of Mormon and prayer!  I think I was reading in Enos there is only one chapter, I love it because it shows us that we need to work for our knowledge, it won´t just be given to us, we need to show our effort.  

If anyone wants to write  it is Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71 (new line) Vista Hermosa 1, Zona 15 (new line) 01015 Guatemala City, Guatemala, C.A.  Just put Jasmine Wilcox and not Hermana or Sister.

 Well know that I love you all, I will write more when I have time, Keep smiling and stay strong! Love you all, also if you need look on line for pouch mail info if that´s not the address. 

 Love Hermana Wilcox!

Wednesday, August 15

Hey all!

I don't even know where to begin, and honestly the timer on my upper right hand corner is freaking me out:-).  How was everyones weeks?!  This week was much better with my companion, it is still hard, but I am doing my best to try and be patient in every possible way!  Some times I just need to talk to someone to let out my frustrations then I am fine, so my journal and bathroom time have become very sacred to me!  I know you all wanted to know that!

Kaela you crack me up!  I don't know how I forgot that I am an Olympian, you just don't forget those things, thank you for reminding me!!!  That was a day I needed a lot of laughter, and I got it!

 Last Wednesday we taught our second to last lesson with Carlos, we ended up asking if he'd follow the example of Christ and be baptized.  The spirit was awesome, I wasn't sure what to say many times, and found myself trying to piece together sentences with words that I was suddenly remembering, so lets hope I made sense :-)haha!  We finished with him last Thursday night, and met who he really is on Friday.  He is our second teacher and he's from PG, his name is Hermano David Doxey, and he's fabulous!  I like him a lot better than our other teacher, but he's not bad either.

 I mentioned this to Mom and Dad, but I got my flight plans last Thursday!!!  I will be in Guatemala a week from today!  I fly out of Salt Lake next Tuesday the 21st at 7:57 pm and get to go to LAX then fly out of there at 11:59 pm and get to Guatemala the next morning at 5:54 am!  I can't believe it!  But I get to call home that night from the airport, so stand by the phones!  I bought two calling cards today, so I should have plenty of time once I get all checked in and such!  Plus it's on Kaela's birthday!

KC, I thought about you all week last week!  I can't believe that you have been out a year already!  Half way there and I know you are doing great!  If you were a girl you'd only have 6 months left so work hard, since you have a year! 

So this week it is my goal to learn how to be funny in Spanish!  Laughter is wonderful medicine!  It'll make me work harder to, that way hopefully I'll figure it out!  On Monday we started teaching two new people (played by our teachers) and the one teacher I don't like so much called me out in front of our whole district and made me feel like poop because of what he thought I said even thought I said the right word.  I was not a fan, I know I am going to make mistakes, especially when I am just learning the language, but I would prefer he didn't make fun of me for it.  He has apologized numerous times since then though.  Then Hermano Doxey came in later that night and had heard about it, and told us about the times he had tried to be funny but it didn't work kind of thing, which made me feel a bit better. 

I actually have slept 3 nights in a row!  This is a proud moment since I had only been getting about 4 hours of sleep every night!  Also I am convinced they put things in the food here that prepares people for stomach problems in other countries!  It has made my stomach not so happy, haha. 

Also I love that Jackson is sleeping in my bed!  We talked about a little boy yesterday who would do sit on his brothers bed and wear his clothes because he missed him,  so it made me think of that a little bit.  That might not be the case, but I love it anyhow.  Also all week long I'll be studying and suddenly Blake's hispanic/scottish accent pops into my head and I can't stop laughing because everything I read is in that accent! How is Kalie and Jason's project coming along?  Also what information do I put on my suitcases for emergency contact stuff? 

KC  keep up the wonderful work!  I understand partially how hard this can be!  You are doing amazing!  I have learned so much how important it is for us to come unto Christ, and we need to put forth the effort, because if we don't it will not just be given to us.  I am trying my hardest to do all that I can to have him with me, because without the Spirit in our lives, it just gets hard.  I am not sure when I'll be writing next, since I don't know what my schedule is once I get to the MTC in Guatemala.  Also please keep Desi Quartey in all of you prayers!  I love the work, it is hard but I will get the hang of it, especially because of the amazing support I have from all of you!  I love you all more than you know, and I hope I can do all I can to help you and others around me know that.  I feel like I am forgetting so much, but I don't have to much time left on that stinkin timer!  Stay strong, and keep up the wonderful work!

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

SLY!

Scant Information about the Guatemala MTC

Also known as the Centro de Capacitacion Misional, here is a very little information about where Jasmine will be spending her next few weeks.

Guatemala MTC

From Week One

Hey all! 

Let me just tell you this week has been one of the hardest of my life!  Looking back at it it went by really fast, but at the same time it was the longest week of my life.  Don't ask me how that makes sense, because I have no idea!  I didn't think I'd miss home as much as I do, and the other day when we were out for gym I looked and saw the light onto Timpview Dr.  I could have just walked home...and got the thought, man I wish they'd let the people that live in the valley choose if they want to stay at home for the training or come to the MTC.

You should be getting the letter today that I wrote the second day I was here.  How is everyone doing?!  I seem to be doing fine, but I could be doing lots better.  On Sunday we had a mission conference, and one of the sisters that spoke was Sister McIff, she said everything I needed to hear, it was amazing.  She talked about an Elder that her husband and her had talked to after a fireside one day that was really having a hard time.  He felt like he could never feel the spirit, and it was hard because his district seemed to be having so many spiritual experiences.  I was pretty much in the same boat, I feel like I just haven't had the faith that I need to keep going.  She continued on to giving her own experience, she said keep praying, and doing the best that you can and the Lord will bless you!  I am still having a hard time with it, but I'm thinking it's more of the language that is stressing me out.  It'll come, I hope.

We had an amazing devotional last night about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, I wish that I had time to tell you all about it!  It was amazing and truly strengthened my testimony about the truthfulness the Book of Mormon contains and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet!

We have taught 3 lessons in spanish now, I wish I could memorize everything, but I haven't so I end up pretty much reading what I write down.  My companion hasn't talked much in any of the lessons, even though she's had more spanish than I have.  There are so many things that drive me up the wall about her.

Well I only have a couple of minutes left on the e-mail would you be able to get the address for Stephanie Sant (Kenlynn would know, Sydney Flygare (it was on my phone), and Tom asked me to read a scripture in Psalms but I can't remember what it was could you get that for me to?    KC do you know an Elder Rockwood or Rockwell?  I think he is the AP right now, he is from Colorado?  His brother is at the MTC right now and we were talking and found out you're both in the same mission!!!  Super cool.  How did the baptisms go?  How was Bear Lake for everyone?  I want you all to know how much I dearly love each of you, I didn't think I would miss home so much!  Mom and Dad, I think I really just need to know that everything will be okay, I don't know.  Also did you hear about Elisa?  I got a package from Tamera and Elisa today.

Well my time is up, I love  you all so much, and can't wait to talk to you when I fly out!  I might get my flight plans tomorrow! That'd be cool.  I love you all, I know this church is true, and can bring true happiness!  I will write you another letter today if I have more time.

Love your daughter and sister!

Hermana Wilcox

It Begins!

Welcome to the blog of Jasmine Wilcox! Here we hope to be posting letters and pictures so everyone can follow along on Jasmine's excellent adventure. Stay Tuned!