Well, I don't know where I am, but I absolutely love it here.

Well, I don't know where I am, but I absolutely love it here.

I am not sure where I am, but I love it!

I pretty much feel like I'm back in Midway, back in the city kind of and I'm back in Spanish speaking and oh man, it just feels like coming home here. I've missed Spanish speaking and the city and everything.

This area is super similar to midway, but it's also SO much more diverse. Just in my walking around in it this week, I saw Korean, Japanese, Moroccan, Mexican, Egyptian, Indian, Ecuadorian, and Israeli places. All sorts of people are living here and I get to see and associate with a lot of them like every day! Who knew that when The Lord said, "go ye into all the world" that I could literally do that in my little area?? :) but I can't tell you how much I love it here- I've always loved traveling and learning about other cultures and other parts of the world and it's fascinating doing that here in my little piece of Chicago :)

I am here finishing training Hermana Buys- this has been her area the whole 7 weeks that she's been here so far :) so she knows her way around pretty good- we only got lost once. She's super great- she is from Florida and spent some time at BYU before the mission, and we just have a blast together :) her dad actually went to sunset high school (that's where you went, mom right? I think her dad is like 2 years older than you- his name is Dale Buys).  

Hermana Buys and Me

Oh and when Scott and I dressed up like batman and superman on campus and crashed humanities and stats class, hermana buys was there! She was in stats. So... I guess you could say we knew each other before the mission? :) ha but she's awesome and her Spanish is super good, so that's cool

We walk everywhere here. Hermana buys old companion accidentally took my bus pass with her. Hopefully we get that this week, but it's not too bad walking around.

Things I've worn everyday this week:

- my purple sleeping bag coat

- my gloves

- my scarf

- my boots

- my fleece lined tights

- either a hat or my flower headband things  

My Purple Sleeping Bag Coat

Ha oh man, luckily enough, I am one happy camper! It's nice and cozy with all that stuff so that's good :)

The ward seems really awesome- I'm still trying to get to know everyone, but they are so sweet and nice. W had the ward Christmas party this week- Noche de Jerusalén. It was so awesome! I loved it a lot- they set it all up like Jerusalem and served Mediterranean food and the primary kids did the nativity and hermana buys sang a solo  

Ward Christmas Party

We spent a lot of time this week trying to just find people. At one point we had a little extra time and started tracting by the church. W knocked on the door of this Filipino/Japanese guy. We asked him if he'd heard of the church before and invited him to come join with us! He stuck his finger at us and told us how we are polygamists and we hate Christ and we are going to hell. Then he talked our ears off for like a half hour and told us we had no right to tell him his religion was false (totally didn't even say that) because he's 80 and were 20 and have no experience In life. Ha it actually wasn't that bad, but that's what happened. Anyways... We had to get going, so as we were turning to leave, this man (willie) was like, "ladies I want you to do yourselves a favor. Tonight, pray and ask God if what your doing is really right, or if this devil church is just using you." I opened my mouth and took a breath in to say something, but the spirit told me to wait. So I did. And a second later, hermana buys turns around, looks him in the eye, and said- "actually, sir, I asked God last night if what I'm doing is right. And he told me that it is. I know that this is his true church" (BAM). The guy took a step back- he was kind of shocked. I was too a little bit- usually hermana buys is kinda shy in those situations. But it was awesome. Talk about testifying with the spirit- so proud of her :) we wished willie well and went to  the church for the activity.

It's been truly amazing throughout the course of my mission to see the power of a testimony, and to see the power of receiving a personal witness that this message is true. The spirit comes stronger in that instant than any amount of teaching or fact reading ever will. I love it :)  

Our Little Tree

One of the things that I was worried about when I came back Spanish speaking this transfer was whether or not I would be able to speak and understand. I've been focusing on Portuguese for the past month and I was worried I would lose my Spanish. But I've been blessed in two ways. First, hermana buys speaks awesome Spanish- I hardly have to do things for her- she is way better than she thinks she is, and way better than I thought a 6-week missionary would be. Second, honestly, my Spanish isn't lost at all. I've understood, and I've been able to speak. I'm kind of amazed. And incredibly grateful. I know The Lord has helped me a lot with that- there's no other way I would be able to speak and understand Spanish as good as I do now without his help. I love it :)

Hermana Buys and I went to the city today- our first time :)  we took cheesy pictures by the bean and went shopping.

Reflection in the Bean

We visited the Christmas market and I took a picture with human statues :) I loved being down there. I love Chicago with all it's character and humor and diversity.

Another picture by the Bean

I miss the mountains and the plains and the beautiful areas of Colorado and Utah, but Chicago has it's own city beauty, and I've grown to love it.

Well that's it for now- time to get back to work!! I love you all, sorry I've not been good at writing people lately, but know that I love you all and have an amazing holiday season. And a special happy birthday to Olivia!! I will be going to the temple that day,so I'll remember her birthday for sure :) 

Love you all- remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, and celebrate accordingly! :)

Love 

Hermana Walton

The Bean

Human Statues in Downtown Chicago