Hola Familia!
This is the first email I have been able to send. I'm hoping this will get to you before you leave on your cruise. I would have emailed Daddy too but I can't remember his email address. You should have another letter and a card coming, for a total of 3 pieces of mail from me. I'm sorry if I repeat anything from the letters I don't really remember what I've already talked about. I have received both packages, they get here within like 2 days. It's great! Our district leader gets the mail, and had threated to withhold it from us Hermanas if we dont let the Elders take our empty trays at meals. I have felt so loved this first week and a half. I have gotten dearelders from the family, my friend Alex, Aimee, Jen, Sista A and Christina! Thank you all so much. Plus, one of the best parts about being a BYU student is I have friends who work here, so I get to see familiar faces every once in a while. I saw Kristy at Sunday Devotional signing away and got to talk to her. Then Nalani came and found me in my classroom and so did Jake from my Birttany ward. I also feel so loved by my teachers. Mainly we have Hermana Millan, she is from Spain and so amazing. You can tell she really cares about us.
My district is great. There are 12 of us. 4 Hermanas and 8 Elders. Us Hermanas are all roommates, we have such a fun time. The other 3 are going to El Salvador Santa Ana y Beliz and two elders are going to El Salvador San Salvador like me. The rest of the Elders are going to Nicaragua, except for one who is headed to France Spanish speaking...and he already speaks French. Everyone keeps asking how our elders are and saying to have patience with them. Honestly, I think they are fantastic, spiritual giants. And they keep me laughing.
I love my companion, Hermana Harris. She's super silly and loves to laugh (and eat...) but she is so excited to share the gospel. She invited our investigator to be baptized after a first lesson! She's awesome at Spanish, which is very helpful to me. Spanish isn't actually that bad. The stuff we're learning right now is stuff i already knew from high school so the memories just come back. Mostly it's hard remembering church words. We didn't learn how to say things like "Atonement" and "Priesthood" at Apponequet. And yes our teachers speak Spanish all the time, in fact they ask us permission before speaking English-of course we always grant their request. It is weird always having someone with you. I almost feel the way I do when I'm babysitting, like I always have to be looking around to make sure I know we're she's at. It's also weird to wake up before the sun, but beautiful to see the sun rise over the mountains. And we're not allowed to say "guys", we're supposed to say "Elders and Sisters", I'm the worst at that but I'm getting better.
The food is great! They give me far too much though. I've been trying to eat healthy though and I think I'm doing alright. Plus we get an hour of gym a day which helps.
Oh I almost forgot, we got to leave campus! We had to go to the Police Station for background checks. I was so excited to go one a field trip but by he end I couldn't wait to be back at the MTC. I hadn't felt like I was in Provo the whole time and then I was downtown and it felt so weird. And we went on a Temple walk, I lived in Provo for 3 years and never knew how pretty it was behind the temple. We get to go to the temple today, I'm so excited!
Thank you for the "worldly update" about football. It's good to know my Pats kick butt. Speaking of football we had a fireside with an former NFL tight end. He was great! He served his mission in Taiwan and is the NFL embassador to China (because he speaks Chinese). He was SO funny. He told us about how the NFL asked him to translate the SuperBowl one year into Chinese. He agreed and then realized he was only fluent in church words. He said he spent the whole game "Testifying that Tom Brady threw true passes." Hahaha. I thought that was really funny. He also talked about climbing Mt. Kilamajaro with Teddy Bruschi (which of course made me miss my little guy). He said Teddy Bruschi is one of the best guys he's ever met and really funny. Apparently Teddy even spoke at a fireseide with him in Boston once. How did I miss that?!
How is everyone doing? Please tell me all about life back home! I don't have much time left to write but I am interested.
Conference is amazing here. We all watch it in the same room. I have never paid such good attention. Plus we the new missionary announcement it was amazing! I really love Elder Hollands talk. In one of my letters I wrote down a couple talks I was hoping you could send me a copy of. We have devotionals every Tuesday and a general authority speaks. Usually it's a 70 but this week Elder Bednar came. I was sitting pretty close to the front and was so excited when I saw it was an Apostle. I was sitting next to my district leader and he literally jumped out of his seat with a huge smile on his face and exclaimed "Elder Bednar is here! Do you see him?" It was cute...in a totally mission appropriate way. Hearing Elder Bednar speak was such a special experience. He shared with us how he studies conference talks. An Apostle of the Lord! He also mentioned how his call and ours is the same, to be representatives of Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful for my call as a missionary and the opportunity to serve my Savior in the best way I can. I cannot believe how much my testimony has grown in only 10 days. It is impossible not the feel the Spirit here. I love this gospel more and more everyday, which I didn't think was possible. I know this church is true and that this is what Heavenly Father wants for all his children.
I love you!
Hermana Victoria Giossi.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Bienvenido!
The following letter arrived today!:
Hola Familia!
I hope everything is going great for you. This letter probably won't be too long, my P-Day is usually Fridays but we don't get one this week so we have special permission to write a quick letter home so you don't worry.
Mom, I feel a little bad about not letting you take any pictures but don't worry I've already taken some.
Today has been absolutely crazy! After the nice Edlers picked me up curbside they dropped me with a host sister who excitedly showed me the ropes. I got my "Hermana Giossi" name tag - it feels pretty cool, not gonna lie! Please tell Elder Concha that I am in fact HERMANA! From there it was all a whirlwind. I went to class and met my teacher, she is from Spain so she has the lisp. My companion is Hermana Harris, she is super sweet and is going to El Salvador Santa Ana & Beliz Mission. Actually the other 2 sisters in my district are going there too, but I've met quite a few Elders going to my mission and a couple are in my district. Class was pretty fun and my teacher said I have a good accent - that's probably because all we had to say "How are you" "Where are you from" and "Where are you going" We'll see how the rest of this goes...
After class we had orientation, each member of the MTC Presidency & their wives addressed us. We also got some stats ( and I asked around about others) There are currently about 2000 of us living in this MTC. Each week 300-500 arrive. This week there were 88 new sisters (usually there are around 40) When it's your first day your tag has a bright orange sticker on it and EVERYONE.....and I mean EVERYONE welcomes you. It was like when I had the birthday pin at Disney, but worse.
Then there was dinner. The food was GREAT - maybe I enjoyed it so much because I was so hungry, I don't know.
We had this really cool teaching experience thing where we taught new "investigators" as a group of about 40. That was a really neat experience. Our teacher told us that as missionaries our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ and we could teach great lessons but if we don't "invite" we have not done our job as missionaries. So No Pressure.
So far (with my one day of experience) I like it a lot. The most surreal part was in the orientation when hundreds of us were singing "Called To Serve" I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I represent Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. I know that the church is true (and very organized :) ) and that this is where I am supposed to be right now. I love you so much!
Love,
Hermana Victoria Giossi
P.S. I'll be waiting for letters. I want to know what's going on at home!
Hola Familia!
I hope everything is going great for you. This letter probably won't be too long, my P-Day is usually Fridays but we don't get one this week so we have special permission to write a quick letter home so you don't worry.
Mom, I feel a little bad about not letting you take any pictures but don't worry I've already taken some.
Today has been absolutely crazy! After the nice Edlers picked me up curbside they dropped me with a host sister who excitedly showed me the ropes. I got my "Hermana Giossi" name tag - it feels pretty cool, not gonna lie! Please tell Elder Concha that I am in fact HERMANA! From there it was all a whirlwind. I went to class and met my teacher, she is from Spain so she has the lisp. My companion is Hermana Harris, she is super sweet and is going to El Salvador Santa Ana & Beliz Mission. Actually the other 2 sisters in my district are going there too, but I've met quite a few Elders going to my mission and a couple are in my district. Class was pretty fun and my teacher said I have a good accent - that's probably because all we had to say "How are you" "Where are you from" and "Where are you going" We'll see how the rest of this goes...
After class we had orientation, each member of the MTC Presidency & their wives addressed us. We also got some stats ( and I asked around about others) There are currently about 2000 of us living in this MTC. Each week 300-500 arrive. This week there were 88 new sisters (usually there are around 40) When it's your first day your tag has a bright orange sticker on it and EVERYONE.....and I mean EVERYONE welcomes you. It was like when I had the birthday pin at Disney, but worse.
Then there was dinner. The food was GREAT - maybe I enjoyed it so much because I was so hungry, I don't know.
We had this really cool teaching experience thing where we taught new "investigators" as a group of about 40. That was a really neat experience. Our teacher told us that as missionaries our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ and we could teach great lessons but if we don't "invite" we have not done our job as missionaries. So No Pressure.
So far (with my one day of experience) I like it a lot. The most surreal part was in the orientation when hundreds of us were singing "Called To Serve" I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I represent Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. I know that the church is true (and very organized :) ) and that this is where I am supposed to be right now. I love you so much!
Love,
Hermana Victoria Giossi
P.S. I'll be waiting for letters. I want to know what's going on at home!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Drop Off MTC - Provo Utah
Victoria reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah today at exactly 12:45 pm. It literally was a drop-off on the curbside where 2 young missionaries took her luggage and quickly escorted her into the building. Believe it or not it's better this way than having a long drawn out orientation where family is there and the tears just flow. When we pulled up one of the older gentlemen looked into the car and said "look at that smile! We love you already" I think that eased her fears right then and there.
Tori has been waiting and more importantly preparing for this mission for a long time - she is ready and we all know she will be a beacon of Hope, Truth, and Light to the people of El Salvador. If you wish to write, her contact and mailing information is linked to this blog. She will be in the Provo MTC for 3 weeks, then off to the Guatemala MTC for 6 weeks, then to El Salvador for the next 16 months. Watch for updates as I post her letters here.
May the Lord bless her and keep her. Via Con Dias!
Tori has been waiting and more importantly preparing for this mission for a long time - she is ready and we all know she will be a beacon of Hope, Truth, and Light to the people of El Salvador. If you wish to write, her contact and mailing information is linked to this blog. She will be in the Provo MTC for 3 weeks, then off to the Guatemala MTC for 6 weeks, then to El Salvador for the next 16 months. Watch for updates as I post her letters here.
May the Lord bless her and keep her. Via Con Dias!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Called to Serve
Dear Sister Giossi,
You are herby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the El Salvador San Slavador Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.
Words cannot express my excitement when I read those words. I'd been thinking about serving a mission for years. I'd heard countless others receive their mission calls to cool and exotic places. I'd spent hours at doctors appointments and filling out paper work and suddenly it was real; I finally knew where I was headed. In the weeks leading up to receiving my call, my family had discussed everywhere from Temple Square, to Jamaica, to Taiwan...but never the tiny country of El Salvador. Yet, as soon as I read it a huge smile broke out and I was filled with joy.
Because my experiences with the missionaries who taught me the Gospel is so meaningful to me (and those young men are so dear to me) I have felt like a mission was for me for a long time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others and watch it change their lives. I cannot wait to build relationships with people and help them in their spiritual growth. Of course I am also excited to learn Spanish...and speak like a total "gringa"
My Mom and Dad will be updating this blog with letters, emails and pictures I send them over the next 18 months. I would love for you to share in my experiences and maybe have your faith increased by the stories of the people of El Salvador (from what I heard they are pretty amazing...but maybe I'm a bit bias).
Love in Christ,
Victoria
Because my experiences with the missionaries who taught me the Gospel is so meaningful to me (and those young men are so dear to me) I have felt like a mission was for me for a long time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others and watch it change their lives. I cannot wait to build relationships with people and help them in their spiritual growth. Of course I am also excited to learn Spanish...and speak like a total "gringa"
My Mom and Dad will be updating this blog with letters, emails and pictures I send them over the next 18 months. I would love for you to share in my experiences and maybe have your faith increased by the stories of the people of El Salvador (from what I heard they are pretty amazing...but maybe I'm a bit bias).
Love in Christ,
Victoria
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