8/24/2011 post from Karen in Peru

Hey FAmily! We just got back from a small tour of Peru. Where we got to go out and do some shopping, see the ocean, and see some cathidrails. It was awesome. I got a sweet beenie for 4 bucks that says Peru on it....be jealous haha jk This week has been wonderful as usual. It sounds like you all had fun in the valley with mom and dad. Lots of new things have happened here at the mtc. We got a new MTC president because the old one, president whetten, got sick and isnt able to serve anymore. The new ones name is president cavanaugh. Its nice to get some guidance again. We havent had a president here every since we got here. Yesterday our latino companions went out into the field. That means I only have three more weeks in the MTC. Crazy! We got to go proselyting again. It was wonderful and I learned alot. It was neat because we taught this one lady that we came across that was an inactive member. It was good because we got her to pray. She had such a sweet spirit. The spirit was so strong in her little home when she started saying her prayer. She thanked Heavenly Father for her life and for the church.  Afterwards she said she was going to go to church the next day. Another thing that was cool this week is that I got to see the elders in my district give a blessing. The priesthood is so powerful. It reminded of when dad and spencer gave me a priesthood blessing before I came to the mission. Oh yeah! Also tonight Elder Oaks is coming to the Peru MTC. I am super excited. Sorry this letter will be a little short. I love all of you very much. Know that everything is good here. I want to hear from all of you. Also I want to see some pictures of little Bridges-Please:) and thank you! Hermana Wilhelm Ps mom and dad can you update me Address on facebook. My mission address Misión Ecuador Quito-Calle Robles 640 y Amazonas- Quito -Ecuador. Ok Talk to youll later!

1 Week in Peru

Hola Family, It has been a great and busy week. They sure keep us on our toes here in Peru:) We are learning lots and I love learning here alot better than Provo. Today is Pday and that means we get to go out shopping. Im so excited to see the outside world. This will be the first time since being here that I will see the streets for real. The temple is closed this week unfortunatly but we will be able to go next week. One thing that is really cool about this MTC is that on every Saturday they have everyone and their latino companion go out and teach REAL people. Im super excited and kinda nervous. One thing that was kind of sad this week is that my Latino companion, Hermana Velez, left for home this morning. She had a really hard time being away from family. She is the only member in her family so I think that made it even harder. She is so sweet and awesome. So probably today they will re-assign me a new companion. Its sound like you all had a very crazy week at the family reunion. A little about Peru and the MTC: it never rains (just a super heave mist), the sun comes out probably 3 times a week, there is a sweet soccer feild with lights and everything, sand volleyball court, and the food is pretty good. Oh yeah dad sorry I totally spaced telling you about what scripture I like and my service dates. I dont have my scriptures with me right now so I will just have to tell approximately were its at because I dont remember exactly. Its the scripture on charity in Moroni 8. I really like that scripture because it really applys to my purpose right now as a missionary:) My service dates are from July 2011- January 2013. Also I was going to send you a ,letter in the mail that I wrote in the plane but now I cant find it. So sorry haha. I sent maria a letter - that has my mailing address and all of that information. She should get it in like a week or so. So ask her for my address and PLEASE write haha Im loving it so far.) You all are very wonderful. Thank you so much for everything. Im running out of time. but I am still kinda companions with Hermana Eldridge from the Provo MTC. We are in the same district and do everything else that we dont do with our latino companion. There is also another Hermana with the name of Johanson. She is from AZ also. There is actually three Arizononions that I know of haha. Love ya all! Cant wait for next weeks email time! Love Hermana Wilhelm

Peru!

Hola Family!! Im in peru! Sorry this key board is really weird so if I have many typos please disregard them. It is nice here. All of the hermanas and Elders are super nice. I have a new companion who is a native to ecuador. She is seriously like half my height. Its awesome. I think she is taller than Aubrey but just by a few inches. I havent had much time to spend with her because she is in a different district. We will be doing teaching times together and companion sudy. The rooms are actually alot nicer here then they are in prove mtc. They still have bunk beds but they are wooden and the mattresses are wider. Today Im pretty tired. We got in at 2 AM last night  and didnt really get much sleep on the plane ride over. It was sooooo nice to talk to-mom, dad, kirsty, and spencer! Its sounds like everything is going pretty good at home. Im so happy little Bridges is here. He sounds so cute! I would love to see pictures of him.) I wrote a letter on the plan last night to all of you. Hopefully you will get it next week or so. I am also sending a small picture of me and my last district. Everyone is pretty chill here in peru. The food is pretty different but its ok. I love all of you so much! It sounds like the boat is awesome. I told kirsty over the phone that she should totally redo the interior like her friend did to her trailer. I think I will learn a lot faster here. I like the schedule alot better. They have it broken down into thirty minute incraments instead of having hours of study time like they did in provo. So this letter is really random. I didnt know I was going to write just this minute. Anyways. I got to see alot of Lima last night on the bus ride over to the MTC. The drivers here are crazy. Im so glade that I dont drive. From what I hear I guess Quito has alot pretty senery around -with green mountains and stuff like that. In lima there are tons of advertisment boards every where and its lhas a really getto down town pheonix type look to it. All the people are super nice. I got to talk to a native peruvian on the plane ride over.... Well Ive got 2 go. I love all of you. Be expecting a letter in snail mail from me... Oh yeah the very first thing they told us when we got here was to tell family NOT to send packages. I guess the packages have to go through customs and its a big pain in the bum. Any whoo love yall. Love Hermana Wilhelm. XxXxoOxOo