Hermana Despain's Odyssey: Week 17 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 1)

I'm still in Tampa!! I've been working with the same people for 4 months, but I've moved twice, lived in 3 different apartments, taught in 2 languages, had 3 companions, and driven 3 cars. I still have a year left of this adventure, and I've already done a lot! But it's awesome!

My new companion is Hna. Miller. She was Hna. Russell's MTC companion. She says it's weird to be companions with the trainee of her MTC companion. I'm really excited to be her companion. She says she understand spanish a lot better than she speaks, and I speak a lot better than I understand. So we're gonna help each other out. But I'm pretty sure I'll learn a lot more from her than she will from me. I'm really excited!

This week was a little different, just because there was a lot of changes to make. When I got the Tampa 5, there were 5 full-time companionships, then it went to 4, and then 5 zebra-companionships, and now it's 2 full-time and 1 zebra companionship. Basically we're starting over with areas, phones, members, organization, and everything. But it's going to be great. I think this is going to be best for Hastening the Work. I'm really excited to see what happens!

Another reason why the week was different was because of Night in Bethlehem. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! You can check it out at http://nightinbethlehem.com/ and I'll send a couple photos too, but they aren't as good. Basically it's a life presentation of the nativity, and it's awesome! The stake does it every year, and it's a huge missionary activity. People come from all over, and they can take a Book of Mormon, or DVD's or whatever to learn more if they want. I think I'm going to come back every year because it's just awesome!

Most of our lessons this week were introducing Hna. Miller to people, and me to her people, nothing too exciting happened. Probably the best part of the week was Thursday when we spent 7 hours in our room. We're living in an apartment with another companionship, so it was a little smooshed. The first night, we had air mattresses and our study tables. The next day we got beds, but we didn't have anywhere else to put our study tables, so we just rearranged things so all of it could fit. On Thursday we had studies, and then weekly planning and getting ready for the day and lunch. It was just a little ridiculous! I forgot to take a photo, but I will for next week!

It really doesn't look like Christmas around here, but it's coming up pretty quick! I hope you're all focusing on that one person that Elder Ballard invited us to invite to church or something :)

Les quiero, mucho!