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