Where the girls are all named hermana and the boys are all named elder

Here are the rules for working the road sustem here in Peru:

1. look both ways before crossing the street... seems pretty normal right?

2. If there is enough time for you to run across the street really fast and you didnt take that time to cross the street than you are a slowpoke and should go back to America where they have crosswalks that tell you when to go. Obvously Americans are not smart enough to cross the street by themselves.

But wait, there's more

3. Do not wave at any cars, even trying to be nice, they will stop and ask if you want a ride

4. Get really comfortable with the people around you waiting for a bus because odds are you will be close enough to kiss them as soon as the guy working the bus door crams as many people as will fit onto the bus

5. Wonder why youve never had so much life threatening fun in America before, seriously, the bus system is a blast

Basically if you want to learn spanish you make friends with the latinos, which really isnt very hard to do. Theyre the nicest people youll ever talk to. But the Latinos from the last group left on tuesday (sad day) because theyre only here for two weeks due to the fact that they already speak Spanish....

Anyway when they left on tuesday it was only us white people here so we played some Gringo soccer during physical activity time. Weve all been around the Latinos so were all pretty decent. My goal, if nothing else, is to come home with wicked awsome latino soccer skills.

We got a new group of Latinos in Yesterday evening and one of them, Hermana Guzman, when I introduced myself 1) said that I spoke spanish very well (I think she said like a castillana or something like that, I think its a white spanish speaker like from spain or something and 2) that she knew who I was from an email. One of the Latinos from the previous week had emailed her about me

There is a crazy timewarp here. I cant remember if what I think I did yesterday actually happend like a week ago. I feel like I got here yesterday and that I was born here at the same time...... But I love it.

Today we went to the temple and when we came out we were able to meet some little Peruvian primary children and take a picture with them. When we were done all the little girls came up and gave the hermanas a kiss on the cheek (its a custom here to greet and say goodbye to people this way) It was the most precious thing that has ever happened to me.

Everyone looks beautiful in the Daddy daughter dance picture

Hannah: I hope your birthday was great and I just want to let you know that I am currently memorizing the first vision in spanish so I hope youre memorizing a scripture in english for the month :)

I love you all, thank you to everyone who has helped me in even the smallest way :)

God be with you til we meet again

Con Amor,

Hermana Blanca

Props to anyone who got my hercules reference

¡Arroz es vida!

Lets just start with the airport shall we.....it took me about half an hour to get through security at the Dallas airport because my bag had to be checked by hand and then it came up hot or something like that.... and then my shoes came up hot so they had to check stuff multiple times and do a pat down.

I was able to meet up with a bunch of people in the atlanta airport (there were seven elders and eight of us sisters). I sat by a girl going to Peru to teach first grade. Shes been on several mission trips, has the most adorable Georgian accent Ive ever heard and was just the sweetest thing to talk to for seven hours (no sarcasm implied)

Every two weeks a new group of Americans come in, we were this weeks new group so they only get about 16 Americans every two weeks. The CCM is super small and only has about 70/80 missionaries here right now, its been really fantastic to get to know everyone. Every two weeks a new group of Latinos come in (and then leave every two weeks so theyre always changing out) but its been super cool to talk to them. Theyre really patient with us americans as we try to communicate with them. Ive actually been able to make several latino friends though. My companion and I play voleibol with them every day during physial activity time (after running of course, yes, I know, its ok to pass out from the shock).

Meals, ok get ready to be jealous, Ive had passion fruit desserts and juice several times (maracuya), basically the most delicious fruit youve ever had. Oh and granadillas look like monkey brains but they are super good too..... you should look up a picture of one. I came because of fruit and (1 nephi 8:12) and if there were no other reasons Id be staying because of fruit. Every day for breakfast we get eggs and for lunch and dinner.... rice and chicken, chicken and rice, and sometimes Ill get crazy and mix them together. Its all delicious though. Arroz es vida.Americans have week stomachs though... ever heard of montezumas revenge??? yea, we call it monty around here, we're super familiar with him around here.

Compliments of Hermana McDonald

Companions!!!! companions are the best. Mine is Hermana Larsen. Picture libby, but 5'4". She's really struggling with spanish but I think thats why we were placed together. God is in the details. Ive been able to help her with spanish and shes been able to help me with keeping me happy. I havent cried yet but I think I got a little depressed for a couple days.... thats ok, Im better now :)

Speaking of spanish, I can speak it better than most of the people that have been here for 6 weeks. Its been improving everyday and one of my teachers asked me to assist with the other students in the class. We've learned the vocab needed to pray in spanish and to bear our testimony. Hermana Larsen thinks shes falling behind a little and she gets so frusterated but she knows more than she thinks she does. We taught our first lesson today (they have time set apart where our teachers pretend to be investigators) and I taught most of the lesson but she was able to bear a beautiful simple testimony and say a prayer. Our efforts really our enhanced. 

El dia del san valentine! Thank you so much for the card. It really, truly was an awesome surprise.... although I must admit I did not wait until valentines day.... my bad. There are two companionships in our room, Hermana Larsen and me and Hermana Pali and Hermana McDonald (our teacher calls her hermana hamberguesa). But hermana McDOnald is an artist and drew us all little valentines cards. Ill take a picture of mine and send it next week.... I have no pictures because we're only allowed to take them on P-day... but Ill have some next week.

Everything is fantastic here. The people are amazing. Although its been a hard transition its been a good one. 

I love you all, please send pictures!!!

con amor, Hermana White

Oh! The Latinos that play voleibol with me call me Hermana blanca :)

Oh OH! there's a girl here with a miranda voice better than caties

"dont cross your fingers, cross your arms" -Hermana Pali

Hermana White Is Off To Peru!

Hermana White Leaving For Peru CCM

Yesterday morning Hermana White began her journey to the Peru CCM prior to reaching Huancayo. She flew out of the Dallas-Ft Worth airport to Atlanta where she met up with a group of missionaries also traveling to Peru. Her flight from Atlanta arrived in Lima, Peru at 00:05 Wednesday 11 February, 2015. 

We actually had no communications how her travels went at all, however in this case I believe it is a case of 'No news is good news'! Others had received emails upon arrival indicating that they had arrived safely, so we were anxiously awaiting the email. It popped up at around 08:00 this morning, and in the true style of Hermana White was very informative. Here is what she sent.

I love you all. The plane was fantastic. Most common phrase heard yesterday by group traveling: sister white, what does this mean? :) guess I'm pretty good at what I do :)

This did not really surprise us. While she was on the FHS swim team, she was nicknamed 'Mother'. I can see the nature spilling over here as well, and I'm pretty sure she enjoys it! :)

Having said all of this though, we still had no idea when we would hear more from her. As if sensing our question, another email quickly popped up.

oh and I have my name tag, talk to you all on P-day

All is now clear...