Hey family! Guess whose companions are named Hna. Vazauez and Hna. Ramirez? Guess who is the only white person in her entire class? Guess who is the only missionary in her class who didn't grow up speaking Spanish? That's right...ME! Holy cow, this week has easily been the busiest of my life, but I feel nothing but gratitude (and a lot of frustration...but mostly gratitude). I arrived at the MTC just happy as a clam to be here and got swept away through about seventeen rooms to get tags, rooms, comps, teachers, books, sheets, and all other sorts of shrapnel. Then, we were sent right to our classroom. My district was made up of about twelve whities who had hardley ever heard Spanish and one elder who was proud because he knew a Mexican and he knew some slang...so he spent the first ten minutes kind of showing off. Then, our teacher walked in and I started speaking Spanish to him. The whole class was stunned and my pride level rose. Ha! I was WAY better at Spanish than these greenies. I thought I should be in a different district, but my comps were SO absolutely adorable and kind that I thought I just might stay. So by the next day, I was really feeling like I was wasting the Lord's time because I had had a whole 24 hours and didn't learn a thing. So I asked to be tested. I talked to the head of the Spanish department and he asked me some things in Spanish and we had a nice little chat. Then, he sat me down and said I was right on the line between intermediate (they are here for 9 weeks) and advanced (they are here for 2 weeks 5 days). He said I would be the best in the intermediate class and the worst in the advanced class and said I would get another transfer out in Chile if I were in the advanced. He made me decide right on the spot and you all know I like a challenge so I said I'd like to be in the advanced class if he felt okay about it. Since then, I have cried almost every single night I've been here. That pride I felt my first day of class has been murdered and I have realized exactly how completely and utterly inadequate I am. Don't get me wrong, my district is probably the single best district at the MTC right now. Every single one of the elders wants to do right, knows and understands the scriptures, is kind and helpful, and bears testimony like there's no tomorrow. My companion's are the two kindest sisters I've ever met and I feel grateful every day for their patience and kindness to me in helping with the language. So the deal with the advanced is it's for the native kids to come here to learn how to teach using preach my gospel...language isn't an issue for them...so the teachers teach in Spanish and we teach and practice in Spanish and it's already understood that we can do everything we need to in Spanish. I feel so frustrated sometimes because I struggle to say the simplest things when all I want is to express the deepest convictions and feelings of my heart. But, through these last six days, I have never felt the love of God more for me. Grandpa Hal send me the kindest letter that said he knew that God is there for us when he needs us. I know that is true. I made a commitment with Heavenly Father that I would get up every morning at 5:30 and read aloud from el Libro de Mormon to practice pronunciation and speaking fluidly and I know that I'll be blessed for my efforts. Already, I am understanding everything that they say to me and although I am really slow with my speech, I know that the language will come and I'm trying to focus on bearing testimony with the Spirit, because THAT's what matters in missionary work. If we don't have the Spirit, we are nothing. Also, scripture reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Every scripture I read now somehow relates to the Plan of Salvation or the Restaration in someway. It rocks. I'm probably going to be the worst prepared missionary out in the field because I'm trying to learn Spanish in two weeks AND Preach My Gospel IN Spanish in two weeks, but I have absolute faith that Heavenly Father is there when I need him. I know that is true. I haven't talked much about my comps, but they are such strong women. Ramirez is beautiful and kind and really sassy and serving in Panama and Vazquez is a little older and is either laughing or crying 24/7 because she is so happy in the work. We all wake up early and want to be obedient so I feel so blessed to be here. It's bad though sometimes because everyone is Latino...we kind of have too good of a time sometimes. Last night, we were trying to kneel and say a prayer together but had to start over about five times beacuse we all burst out laughing..I'm pretty sure God laughs with us though. 
> Mom, I love you so much and know you probably miss me (how could you not...LOOK AT ME! ;)) But I love you so much and I'm so happy with what I'm doing. Everyone reading this, my email is Sister.Bourne@MyLDSMail.net and you can email me whenever you want...(even friends) so that might be the best way. Spaffords, I've seen Elder Spafford a LOT and he is so happy and working so hard and he is just the cutest elder ever! Also, thank you so much for your package...love you guys! Grandpa, thanks for your letter...it came at a perfect time. Mom, I need you to find Kathy Jones' address in Ukraine STAT! Also, I saw Elder Flynn..I actually see him all the time. He's so smiley all the time and last night I saw him lolloping up some stairs with his comp with the biggest smile ever..so let DeAnn know. I'm almost all out of time and haven't even begun to tell you all that's happened here. OH YEAH! Today, we went to the temple and I had easily the best experience I've ever had there. I hope that I'm becoming more susceptable to the Spirit because I just sat there and felt warmth and peace and joy wash over me and I really just sat there and asked Heavenly Father questions and He answered them. I feel so much peace about where I'm serving. I already LOVE the Chilean people and can't wait to get out there. I leave on October 5...can you BELIEVE it. Neither can I...wow. I might be able to call and whatnot from the airport...I don't know yet...I'm not even moved into the MTC yet! anywho, the Gospel is true (obviously) and I know that the same power that was on this earth when Christ was here has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know it. I love you all! Thanks for your letters and dear elders. keep em coming! (Mom, my district was wondering where you got those hymn books in spanish with the beautiful leather covers...maybe you could give my district a little present because nobody has spanish hymnbooks here because they are on backorder...we'd need thirteen) I LOVE YOU ALL and mom, send me a pair of jeans. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LVOE L bahhhhhhhhhh I'm a missionary! Pictures coming soon.
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> Hermana Bourne!!!!!!!
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