First things first. (And there's a LOT of first things). I'm going to be an AUNT of a little girl. Ash, that just made my day!!!!! I'm doing the David Archuleta dance right now. Congrats to mike and ash on the whole birth-giving business.

Okay, so much to tell all of you. First of all, shout outs. Shout out to everyone who has written me here. I've officially received more mail than my entire district of 14 people COMBINED. We also learned about having investigators make commitments this week...so will you, family friends and others, help me receive DOUBLE the mail this week? Just kidding. But a shout out to Tanna Fox who is absolutely incredible and inspiring (thank you for your prayers...I NEED them), Blob LeBaron (I need your address BLOB. dearelder it to me so I can write you properly), the fam, the grandparents, my MADRE (amazing encouragement thank you and love you), but most of all HALSY--who gets home a day after I leave. Halsy, I just absolutely admire, love and respect you for your service and love. Thank you for being so incredible.

Business Paragraph: Dad, I'm flying American Airlines and I DO NOT have the number so have it ready when I call you on Monday @ 2pm. (Mommy, I'll call you too. Have the cell ready!) Okay I'm going to tell you about the week.

I only know TWO things. One, that I am completely and utterly unqualified to represent the Savior in every way possible. Two, that stupid knee-highs make my feet stink to high heaven. Back to the first one. My feelings of inadequacy are just growing exponentially. Not only is my whole district native Spanish speakers...but they are incredible people as well. They bear testimony like no other and it's such a privilege to know 'em. They exceed my expectations of 19 year olds in every way and I learn so much from them. Sorry this is so scattered, but there's a red countdown feature at the top of my screen so if this isn't coherent...my bad. The theme of this week is weakness! All of you who know me at all know that I LOVE to be right or the best or first or anything like that. I hate being weak. Don't get me wrong, I love my MTC experience and can see ways every day that the Lord is blessing me even though I deserve none of it--it's just really hard. Zabet, picture first week of Junior Core over and over and over again except people's eternal salvation is your responsibility. (Speaking of Zabet. MARRIAGE! I love you Zabet and Flamm. Flamm, nobody on earth could do better than Zabet Zenger. You are a lucky man. Congrats. Also, Zabet you haven't written me. Also, I see your brother all over this place and he is just the most adorable thing on the planet. Him and a bunch of Russian elders sang at our Sunday night devo and blew the roof off the place.)

Okay, back on track--weakness. I was sitting in my 8th hour of class for the day when my teacher asked if we'd like to study some Christlike attributes. We decided on patience and I know that was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father just for me. I feel so frustrated with myself all the time because I just want to express my deepest feelings and convictions (or sometimes just tell a simple story) but CAN"T because I really don't speak Spanish. I'm frustrated because I think I thought that if I gave my best here every day the Lord would loosen my tongue and by this time next week, I'd be jammering away with the natives. I expected this blessing in my own time--and that's not the way to go! I need this experience because it tests my faith that the Lord will bless me in HIS own way and HIS own time. I need this experience because I needed my confidence in MY own abilities to be brought down. I needed to be the absolute worst at something to completely turn to the Lord and trust that I'll be okay. If that beautiful tender mercy wasn't enough, I was reading Ether 12:27 the classic that I always kind of brushed over (because COME ON, I'm Emily Bourne...joke!) I am coming to the Lord in a whole new kind of way over here and because of that, He has definitely shown me my weaknesses. Many, many of them. I am just humbled to the ground to think of how horrible I am in so many aspects of my life. I need to be so much better if I'm going to represent the Savior in Chile. I need to improve in every single possible way if I even have a shot. Luckily, I had the sweetest experience in the temple today. I just apologized to Heavenly Father for how bad and weak I am. My answer was the feeling of "It's okay, I can make you what you need to be." SUCH a great answer, NO? I've just been glowing all day with the strengthened hope and confidence that I'm not going to impede the work because God can make me something that He's going to need me to be so I don't need to worry so much...just keep swimming...just keep swimming. I think the whole "being in the MTC for only 19 days before getting shipped out" is a blessing that I needed. I know that if I would've been in intermediate, I'd have been just comfortable and fine--but I don't like that...so I'm taking this opportunity to be stretched as thin as I think I can be and then a little more. I'm so grateful to be here.

Holy cow, you're having a GIRL ash. I LOVE YOU.

Ummm....funny little things going on. I have had the hymn "Scatter Sunshine" in my head ALL WEEK and I'm going crazy. Ramirez knows I hate that hymn so she keeps picking it in class to sing!!! She's awesome. Also, I am definitely fatter than I was two weeks ago--no big deal. I'm sure there's a nice, juicy tapeworm waiting for me in Osorno. It was pizza day a few days ago--Andy, you know what that means! OH yeah, we sang Called to Serve for the very first time last week. It took SEVEN days until I sang that at the MTC...I feel jipped. Dad, Bill Murray (or his twin) taught us about Baptism being central to our purpose as missionaries and I just pictured him saying "well it's groundhog day again..." and other such hilarious lines.

 People, write to me! emails are great but I can only check them on Pdays--dear elders are the best AND dear elder goes to Osorno too! I'm box 92 and every dear elder sends me your home address so I can write you a good letter back. Funniest letter of the week...definitely BLOB. You need to tell me more about what happened with you know who and I hope you aren't too injured from your car accident...I'll pray for you, you fragile boy. Cutest letter, SOPHIE girl you are amazing. I cried when I got that. Family, I hope you know I love you. Mom, thank you for the hymn books (from my whole district) they love 'em. Family, I do love you though. Thanks for praying for me and thinking of me and writing to me. I can't wait to get out of the MTC (Heavenly Father knew I couldn't be in here for 9 weeks and He knew I needed to learn these lessons) on Monday. I'll be calling. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you all. (mom, pics are coming in the mail, I can't send them over email at the MTC. Poor Sam, I see him ALL the time. He's absolutely incredible (well done Sue and Dave!), but really wants to get out. Welp, my time is coming to an end. I hope you understood any of this email...I'm sweating because that DANG countdown clock (and probably because I'm getting HUGE from this food ;) ). Love you all. Thanks for the prayers and letters...

LOVE YOU. Em

mom and dad... I love you

                    

      

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.
> 
> Hermana Bourne!!!!!!!
> 

Emily with cousins and grandparents at her "setting apart", and saying good bye to her parents at the MTC...

Emily Enters the MTC!

Welcome friends and family to Emily Bourne's blog.  Her mom, (me!) will keep track of all her adventures for the next 18 months.  She has asked me to share her e- mails home and pictures that she will send. 

Emily was called to the Chile, Osorno mission.  It is in the southern third of Chile- down there by Antarctica, and just across the Andes mountains from Patagonia.  She is thrilled to be speaking Spanish as she spent 4 months living in Madrid and has been on countless humanitarian trips to South America.

 She was "set apart" by her father and the entire family got a chance to bear their testimonies and share their love.

We did the new "drive-by dropoff" at the MTC on Sept. 16th.  It was a little anti-climatic compared to the sob fest that usually go on at the MTC.  She was whisked away into her new life before we knew it.  We will certainly miss her, but mostly we are so happy to see her begin this new adventure, and fulfill this life dream... Stay posted!

Emily's addresses:

MTC: Sister Emily Bourne

           Chile Osorno Mission

            Provo MTC 

            2005 N. 900 E

            Provo, Utah 84604

Chile Pouch: Sister Emily Bourne

   Chile Osorno Mission

POB 30150

SLC Utah 84130-0150

USA

*Pouch letters must be 1 page folded in thirds and taped closed with address on outside.

Chile Packages:  Sister Emily Bourne

Chile Osorno Mission

Mackenna 987, Oficina 3

Edificio Paillahue

Osorno, X Region

Chile