Hermana B in Bahia Blanca : We Broke Out of Spirit Prison

October 17, 2015

Okay, so first off...I don't actually think this place is prison...BUT if you think about it, it kind of is...we are stuck in a brick-walled classroom for 9 hours each day and there’s no real way out. EXCEPT when your companion needs to go to the doctor! Don't worry…she’s totally fine! She’s just had bad nose bleeds during gym so the doc wants her to see an ear nose and throat specialist. This means will be officially leaving the MTC campus sometime next week for that. But first he wants her to try this certain nose spray so we had to leave the MTC and walk to the BYU student health clinic down the road a couple blocks! It was completely approved but still WE BROKE OUT!!!

The Great Escape (You can barely see the brown brick MTC behind us)

The lovely classroom we spend 9 hours in every day! 3 hour segments, 3 times a day.

Alright so to answer all your questions...Yes it absolutely IS killing me that I'm not at the BYU football games. We can't hear the noise very often because we are in class listening to other noises that I don't understand at all (aka Spanish) haha jk it’s coming along. Our trip to Ecuador definitely helped, so thanks padres y hermana!!

My view from the Provo Temple...I miss LaVell's stadium

Dealing with BYU withdrawals with Hna Ashby
Nothing that a little Creamery Ice Cream can't fix

Our entire zone is required to do choir which is totally fine with me because it’s awesome! The choir director is so funny and has the best stories to share. This week we sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer at the devotional and it was incredible. I have never felt the spirit more when learning a song. I know now more than ever before how true that story of the first vision is. Speaking of devotionals, they are the best!! We had the administrative director of the MTC come on Sunday and Elder L. Whitney Clayton and his wife came on Tuesday, all great stuff!

Also, I haven't really been able to sleep super great since being here...which is frustrating. It just takes me forever to fall asleep. So cute Hna Brown has tried to "heal me" with her essential oils. Sadly, it didn’t work! Sometimes I just wish I was back home so I could play relaxing music on my phone when I can't sleep...but oh well, esta bien!

Well that’s about all I have time for today. I have to finish my laundry with my companion's "organic laundry detergent"...like who is she?! Haha, it cracks me up!

Dad to answer your question, no I haven't schooled the Elders in bball yet because I'm not allowed to play with them unless I have another Hermana to play with us too and no one else really wants to. I'm planning to play them in speed later this week…so pray for me to uphold our good Bartholomew name and win! ;)

Thanks so much for the packages and letters!! You guys rock! Everyone is jealous about how much mail I get, but then I remind them that the only reason I’m getting so much now is because I can’t receive any packages in Argentina. Argentina missionary probs ;)

Gosh I can't believe I've already been here for almost 2 whole weeks!! It’s said in the MTC that days are weeks and weeks are days. That is the second most true thing I’ve ever heard (besides the gospel of course;)

When you are the only Hermana in your room leaving the country...:)

Funny story of the week;

My cute companion was just walking the other day on our way back from gym and saw some women missionaries walking towards us and her first thought was, "Hey look…they have sister missionaries here!!" HAHAHA oh gosh...she claims she’s a red-head but I'm pretty sure she’s blonde... :)

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! Thanks for your love, support and prayers. I'm truly the luckiest missionary in the world!!

CON MUCHO AMOR,

Hermana Bartholomew

P.S. Please pray for my comp and her health - her doctors have been talking and they might not let her go to Riverside. So she might be reassigned, but we don't know yet. Pero, esta bien! The Church is true no matter where you go!