Jessie's first day at the MTC (Jessie's comps, Sister Bower (left, white sweater) and Sister Huish (right, yellow skirt)

 The Elders

Jessie's District 

 Out shopping and taking in the culture and the people

Playing soccer for exercise

The Latina Sisters

Applying for a Visa

Family!

Well this week was extremely hard but I feel like I fulfilled the scripture in DC58:4---where it says....After much trial...come the blessings!

So....I met my companions after a while of wondering around not knowing where to go haha. I am in a trio with Hermana Huish who is always laughing and bubbly----she is from Washington. My other companion is Hemana Bowers, she also went to BYU (small world) and she is from Cali! They are both super fun! My district is awesome---there are 4 Elders and 9 Hermanas which is pretty funny!  4 of the other Hermanas are going to Arequipa with me and the rest are going to Lima North. We are all Americans...I thought at first we were paired with the Latinas. However, we have 2 Latinas living in our room. One of them is from Chile and her name is Hermana Madera---she is tiny and super sweet. The other one is from Columbia and her name is Her. Ruerta...and she is literally Anna Wright in a Latina body----but I love her so much! She makes me laugh 24/7. They are constantly singing and dancing in our rooms and always want us to have "Englisssss class"---because the mission president told them they need to learn English because it is the language of the gospel---which is pretty cool. And then they give us Spanish lessons in return---I learn more from talking to them than I do in my classes haha. Whenever I talk with them they keep telling me that I sound like a Mexican (haha thanks huggy!)...mostly because they say I have a good accent and pronunciation! I really don’t know how to say anything so at least I have that going for me!

We have class all day and the teachers are really sweet...assuring us that it is ok if we mess up haha. We plan lessons for investigators...their names are Mario and Yolanda. It is a great experience figuring out how to understand how to teach. We have physical activity at 2 everyday...which is like the hottest time of the day but it is pretty fun! We just play futball with the Latinas the whole time...love it!  The food is good here but I am just trying to get used to all the meat and rice I am consuming---but they feed us well here---it is forcing me to eat breakfast now.

On Saturday we actually went out to proselyte. Wow, that was a huge eye opener. I was paired up with Her. Chavez from Mexico...she is so sweet. Her parents are mission presidents in Mexico.  We got dropped off in Lima north and paired up with another Hermana Goodpasture who has been out for 8 months---she was from Florida and super laid back and fun. Walking around seeing the life these people live was unreal. Stray dogs, kids without shoes, and such poor living conditions...

I will tell you an experience I had....
We were walking around and we saw a lady outside her door. She said she didn’t have time but my companion asked for one minute of her time so she accepted. We proceeded to pull out a hymn book and the 3 of us started to sing. And although there was chaos around us....the spirit gave her peace and I could see it. My companion turned to me and asked me to bare my testimony. ahhh I was completely surprised. But I was given the gift of tongues in that moment....but not through words. I was just given a calm mind and heart to be able to express what I had studied before----because the gift of tongues is not a free gift. We gave her a pamphlet and she accepted an invitation to go to church. It was such an amazing experience. She was such a humble and sweet lady.

Today we went to the temple...and I cannot tell you how much I needed that. It helped remind me of what my purpose is here. It is not baptism we are getting these people to...it is the temple. Ahhh the temple just gave me so much peace today....never take it for granted! After that we went shopping out on the street which was pretty fun!

This week was one of the most trying week I have ever experienced. But I could feel your fasting and prayer were working on me. With the strength of the Lord I was able to let go of myself and just go to work. I only have 18 months out here and an eternity to look back on it! I couldn’t get through this without your love and prayers. YOU, my family, are my strength. I miss you all so much! I love you!

Jess

"Everything is well"

I just want you to know she is well and doing great.

I felt that I have to be in touch with you since I saw you the first time in that way you and especially she will feel your love trough me, don't worry. She is great and she has two wonderful companions that really love her, best wishes and thanks for fasting and praying for her, she feels your love and support, love Hna Gonzalez 

Mónica De González (Mission President's Wife)

First day in Peru

Hey!

So I am here and I am pretty confused about a lot of stuff haha. Yesterday's trip was a little crazy. We got off the plane at LA and they took us quickly to the next plane so we didn't have any time to eat...so thanks Mom for the Hi-Chews...they pretty much saved me! I wasn't able to sleep at all on the plane but your letters made the flight better so thank you! We got off the plane and went through sooooo many customs---if Sister and Pres. Gonzalez were not there I don't know where I would be! We were greeted by the old President and his wife...it was nice to hear a clear American accent in the midst of all the Spanish I had been hearing.  Then they drove us to the MTC---the streets and the surroundings remind me of a lot of Mexico.  It was about 3AM when I got to sleep...because I was trying to find my way around in the dark and trying not to wake up the other sisters haha.

This morning I woke up at about 7AM to the other Spanish sisters chattering away...I was planning on sleeping in a little longer but before they left they came over to my bed and said "Sister Bennett...Levantanse"----haha apparently I am Sister Bennett now. :) All of the other sisters in my room went to the Temple early in the morning so I got up pretty confused. I didn't know where to go or what to do. So....I just walk around trying to find someone to talk to. Finally, I ran into a cafeteria worker and he got me some food---but I didn't have much of an appetite. Someone came and led me to the women who I was supposed to meet and she was surprised I was up already haha. But, since then, she has been showing me around and getting me situated. It kinda feels like I have been running around with my head cut off....and I am still trying to find the other half of me right now---But I am sure I will find it eventually!

The grounds and the buildings here are very beautiful! I don't have any pictures yet because I just got in this morning but I bet I will get some to you next week! I can tell this is going to be a hard week for me. But I am sure this is how every other sister feels when coming here for the first time. I know Heavenly Father will help me! 

There is not much else to say considering I have only been here for a few hours!

But, I miss you already...which isn't a good sign...but I love you all so much and I can feel your strength and prayers----I really really need your prayers right now.

Thank you for all you have done for me! 

I love you all!

Love, Jess

"Safe at the MTC"

I just want to tell you that your daughter is doing great, today will be her first PD, her district will go to the a Temple today but she can sleep for some hours because the sisters must be ready a 6 o'clock and it will be just 4 hours for her to sleep so she will wait until next week, she is so happy here and I will send you some pictures with her companion in two days, thanks for letting her to serve a mission. 

Mónica De González (Mission President's Wife)

At the SL Airport about to travel to Peru with President and Sister Gonzalez