Guatemala MTC

This is a picture of Kara's MTC group in Guatemala


Here are some parts from Kara's emails while in the Guatemala Mission Training Center.

September 1, 2009
Okay, um so much has happened I'm not even sure where to start. I got moved up to intermediate Spanish which has been good, I feel like I being challenged a lot more. We are only allowed to speak Spanish so my Spanish is increasing rapidly. However, a guy from Panama gave a talk on Sunday and he spoke so fast I couldn't understand a word. I am SCARED, it has been really frustrating for me to be unable to express myself in lessons, I feel like I can't even fully bear my testimony. But I'm trying to be patient with myself and hopefully it will all come.
I LOVE Guatemala, I haven't been able to see much as I don't really ever leave the MTC except to walk to the temple and a nearby house. It is so green here, even the water is green and the weather is amazing, it doesn't even get that warm here it's like a more humid version of California.
It has been weird getting used to having people staring at me all the time again, I've forgotten what it feels like to live outside of the US and stand out so much. The other day I had a little kid chuck some dirt at me. No joke. He was like 4 or 5 I think it was his version of a spitwad of something like that.
I love the food here, we have that bread that is kind of like french bread here that you were telling me about. I can't believe how much people eat here, it is insane. The Latins have like 3 little loaves of bread and soup and vegetables and a full entree. Insane. Everything tastes amazing but it has been kind of weird getting used to frijoles and eggs for breakfast. I definitely have lost some weight already as there are no sweets here and no vending machines...
This past week was incredibly hard for me as I got a new companion, we are incredibly different and it has been a challenge for me to get used to her. But, you would be so proud of me, I talked to her yesterday and things are 100 times better. I feel so much love for her and hopefully over time I will learn to really like her as well. If the Lord thinks I can do it, then I guess I better do my best. I have been working so hard, and have often felt discouraged at my inability to accomplish as much as I want. The other day when feeling particularly discouraged I felt an incredibly strong impression from the spirit that the Lord is proud of all of my hard work and the sacrifices I have made. It was so amazing, I felt surrounded by his love.

September 8,2009
I am doing okay, this week has kind of been a difficult week but I am pushing through.
So funny story for you all, this week in class I was reading a scripture out loud for everyone to read and the teacher said alto, which has several different meanings, I interpreted it to mean louder please as it is kind of hard to hear in the room and we are often asked to speak louder. So I reread the scripture again louder this time, when I got to the end my teacher said thank you but that she had meant for me to stop. Alto can mean tall, stop , or louder. So we all got a good laugh out of that one. At least I know I'm understanding some Spanish even if it is the wrong Spanish.
Another challenge, I was pulled aside by my teacher and asked to try to not look attractive. Apparently some of the Latino elders have a crush on me. I am not sure how to accomplish that one as I haven't really been wearing makeup and I basically dress in grandma clothes. I have been very careful not to be too familiar with any of the elders but I feel kind of frustrated at being singled out when there isn't a whole lot I can do... Overall things are good. I am constantly learning and growing. This week was my one month mark which was pretty crazy. It doesn't feel like I've been a missionary that long.


This is Kara's District in the MTC in Guatemala.

September 15, 2009
I went on divisions and was a real missionary for a day. It was such an awesome experience, I had a Latin companion and a north American companion. They were both awesome sisters and it was a lot of fun to be with them all day. I know the lord truly blessed me that morning as I was really nervous about trying to teach in Spanish. We were in the gas station buying some water bottles and a man came up and asked us if we wouldn't mind coming to teach him as he had always wanted to know more about our church. Yep, missionary dream come true, but it gets even better. He had lived in the USA for 10 years and wanted to practice his English, so he wanted us to teach him in English. So, I got to talk to him about the first vision in English, and didn't feel afraid or anything. I was able to testify so strongly, I am so grateful that the Lord was mindful of me. I experience so many incredible tender mercies daily at his hand. As I begin to count my blessings and be more in tune with the spirit I recognize more and more everyday.

September 22, 2009
This Sunday I gave my first talk in Spanish. We are told to prepare a talk each Sunday but we never know who will be called on to speak until they announce the line up in Sacrament Meeting. I was joking before hand with one of the branch presidency counselors about being unprepared. BIG MISTAKE. I was the first one called on to speak. But it ended up going really well, I spoke on patience and I don't know if everyone understood all of what I was saying, but the spirit was really strong, so that is all that matters. It is amazing what I can do in the hands of the Lord.

September 29, 2009
I am doing pretty well, not feeling sick anymore other than a sore throat that just doesn't seem to want to go away. I am loving being a missionary and I am so excited to go to Panama. I cannot believe I am really going out in the field. It feels like I will just be staying here in the CCM forever. I have divisions again tomorrow and I am excited to get out from behind a desk and talk to real people again. I am nervous but I am ready to be in the field and move on to the next step.


This is a crazy bug Kara found while out hiking in Guatemala. Trust Kara to be finding the weird bugs!!! She is our Nature girl for sure.

Kara flew to Panama on October 5, 2009

First Transfer

August 18, 2009

After only two short weeks, Kara received notice that she would be leaving Provo the following week and heading to the Mission Training Center in Guatemala. Here is part of the email she sent home to let the family know of the changes.

Hey,
So normally I can't email on Tuesdays, but I got a surprise after dinner last night - I am being sent to the Guatemala MTC and I leave next Monday night, the 23th of August. Apparently I should have received something in the mail from Salt Lake telling me earlier but never did... So I will finish my next 6 weeks in Guatemala and definitely learn Spanish much faster. At first I was really surprised and kind of upset but now I am really excited. I am sad I won't be here when Kyle gets here though, I was looking forward to seeing him, but I guess the Lord knows best.
Luckily my companions are going too so I won't be all alone on this adventure.

Here is part of the email she sent before heading to Guatemala:
So today is my last day in Provo. WIERD. It has finally sunk in that I am on a mission, being in the MTC has kind of been like an extension of BYU, so I didn't really feel like I was "gone" yet.
This week went by incredibly fast, I have continued to learn and grow so much. This week I was studying charity and I came across an awesome talk I recommend for everyone to read - it's by Dallin H Oaks I don't remember the title exactly but it's something to do with becoming. I'm sure you can find it on lds.org in the search thing.

Kara called home from the airport in Atlanta on her way and we talked for about an hour. It was great hearing her voice again and it was hard to say goodbye again!!!!

Email from Mission Training Center

August 17, 2009

My life here is kind of like going to spiritual school. I wake up in the morning at 6am and work out for 30 min, while the gym is open only for sisters. Then I get ready, eat breakfast and head to class. Everyday I do 1 hr personal study, 1 hr with my companions and 1 hr language study when I can study whatever I choose. Then the rest of the day is filled with class time where either of my teachers come and teach us Spanish and gospel doctrines, gym for an hour where I usually end up running or playing knockout with the elders as my options are kind of limited, then each day we have a devotional or big group meeting of some kind. At night, we plan out our next day and then head back to our resident hall to go to bed. Oh I forgot to mention the most exciting parts of the day, lunch and dinner! I have started watching what I am eating this week because I think I have gained a little weight already, we don't get much exercises here and we are provided a lot of food. The food is actually pretty good but it is kind of frustrating to not get very many fresh vegetables and fruits. Also, it can be pretty repetitive - not a lot of choices. So all in all that is my day.
It is pretty cool because they have several different ways for us to teach teachers and volunteers each week so we can even better prepare for the field. Once a week we teach volunteers who are often native Spanish speakers - unfortunately last week we ran out of volunteers so we just taught another companionship in our district again - but I am sure it will be really cool when I get to teach outsiders.
For the most part I am loving it here.

In the MTC in Provo, Kara had two companions. Here is a picture of the three of them left to right. Hermana Dalton, Hermana Porter and Hermana Bloomfield (Kara)

Entering the Mission Training Center August 5,2009

Saturday, August 1,2009
We met the Stake President, Pres. James Speirs at the Church at 10:00am and Kara was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was now official!! We returned home to have some family time and say our good byes and then it was off to the airport. Mom and Dad would be Kara's companions for the next few days until she entered the MTC. Time was spent visiting family and friends, last minute shopping and going through the SLC Temple.





On Wednesday morning, the time came to make the drive to Provo. Kara received a Father's Blessing from her Dad and we were off! We parked the car across the street from the MTC and took the famous MTC pictures in front of the sign at the entrance.



After taking pictures, we got back in the car and drove through the entrance and parked along side the curb where we were instructed to go. We got out of the car and were told by a volunteer that we had a minutes or so to say goodbye and take pictures. We did as we were told and we hugged and cried lots and said good bye. Kara turned and walked away through the doors and began her journey as Hermana Bloomfield.

The "Call"

May 15, 2009

After checking the mail at her apartment in Provo, Utah twice on Friday afternoon, the second time was productive. There it was, the big white envelope addressed to Kara Lou Bloomfield from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kara with excitement ran up the 4 flights of stairs to her apartment and called Mom's cell phone to let her know it had arrived. Mom and the little girl's (Olivia and Cassi) had just set their stuff down at the pool (at Lifetime gym)when the call came. they quickly gathered everything up and headed back home calling Dad and the boys to all get home. Previously we had a plan that when the call came, we would skyp so we could all see Kara open the letter. After some time of getting on-line, we were all situated and ready for Kara to open the call. She read "you have been called to serve in the Panama, Panama City Mission and are to report on August 5, 2009". Wow what a shock! Kara scrame with joy and excitement. She was so excited that she almost past out. She jumped for joy on her bed. This was a day when the family was so grateful for technology as they were all able to take part in the excitement with her.

Now the preparations would begin. Kara flew back to Austin the next day as Mom and Dad were going on a trip to China and she was going to stay with the kids. We immediately went to work and had her church records transferred home, got an appointment with the Stake President and by the time Mom and Dad returned 10 days later, Kara was ready to go through the Temple for the first time and have her endowments taken out. She went through the temple on May 29, 2009. We had a wonderful evening at the San Antonio Temple.

Dad (Steve), Kara and Mom (Kris) in front of the San Antonio Temple stain glass front doors.

Kara in front of the San Antonio Temple (to bad the lighting was so dark).