Last Week In the CCM and 1st Encounter with a Little Bugger

I love e-mail time so so much! First off, Mom, I am so glad you decided to have a large family! You and Dad have done such a great job! Not a one of your children feel cramped or forgotten, not a one of us think you're worn out or can’t pay us all the attention we want. I have never NEVER felt cramped in our family. I just wrote Amber a card telling her how glad I am that she will always be one of my best friends. If we were all three to four years apart, we wouldn't be best friends. We couldn't sit together at lunch and have the same friends. Daniel and I couldn't be serving missions at the same time. Amber and Hannah and Michelle couldn't enjoy young women’s together. Lisa and I couldn't go on group dates. I think the way our family is set up is absolutely perfect. Honestly, if you had fewer children or we were more spaced out, we would all be turning outside the home to find friends and support, but having so many siblings so close in age has only done the opposite. It has only drawn us closer, made our family life more fulfilling, established deeper roots of trust and belonging. We would feel like the world was empty if we only had three siblings.
I ended up not sending out letters last week, funny thing...I either got a pansy parasite or a strong food poisoning. I spent the week sleeping and trying to keep food in my body. It hit right after e-mailing last week. I woke up feeling much better today. The sisters in my district say I should count my blessings, while everyone else has been putting on weight, I've been loosing. It's actually been a huge blessing in disguise. I've gotten to know Sister and President Steimle a lot more because of it. I also received a really wonderful priesthood blessing from the Elders in my district that taught me a lot about which blessings I should seek. There have been a ton of other little blessings as a result of this little bugger too, but I wont bore you with all the details. I have come to realize the church takes really really good care of it’s missionaries! You can't even complain of a stomach ache without being cared for. This morning in my personal study I realized something cool. I was studying key indicators...the weekly report we submit to the district leaders...and I realized that next week, I'll get to submit my first one. WOW! This time next week, I will be meeting my trainer, seeing my first apartment and area, meeting my first investigators and first ward, my mission president!! I really get to do this! I really get to be a missionary! What a cool blessing. I feel so lucky to be here, so lucky to be able to share this wonderful message with Heavenly Father's children here. This is such a wonderful blessing. I know the church is true. I have absolutely no doubt of it. I love being a missionary and know that the Lord really is at the head of this work. I felt His care and guidance so many times, always really. Know that I couldn't be happier. This is the greatest experience in the world! Know that I am working hard every day. Spanish is coming VERY VERY well! I have no trouble communicating with the natives. My testimony is broadening and deepening constantly. I go to bed every night with the great feeling that I am giving my all to the Lord. I love you all and am praying for you! Rebekah