Hola Family

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:28:37 +0000> > >

mom, dad, and family,>

Thank you so much for the e-mails (those who wrote to me). It is so great to hear from you.> A good way to describe the MTC here is to say it´s like trying to drink water from a firehose. There are so many things to learn that it´s kind of overwhelming sometimes. The good news is that I´ve only had one breakdown (in the middle of one of my classes) where I just started crying because I felt so overwhelmed. Aparently this is normal among sister missionaries (and some elders)... it was a little embarressing, but I expect I´ll have a few more of them before I leave the MTC. > I really am loving it here though. The latinos are so fun and love to talk to us. (80% of the missionaries here are natives of S. America) I still struggle to communicate with the natives (and my sharade skills are getting pretty amazing), but talking to them in my spanglish is really helping me speak the language a lot better. I´ve already had comments about how I´m improving in the language (I still have a long way to go though). One of my roommates commented the other night (as we were trying to talk to eachother) that I sound like Tarzan. I laughed when she said that because I know it´s true. I can´t congegate worth beans!>

My companions name is hermana Bailey and she is just wonderful. We get along really well and the natives here love to talk to us at mealtimes. Speaking of mealtimes, the food here is different then I´m used to, but it´s pretty good. They do serve cow tongue regularly, but it´s never the main dish. (it´s just there as an options)> >

Isaac- Thank you for your e-mail, it´s nice to know your life didn´t crumble after I left. :) > The MTC experience is the hardest thing I´ve ever had to do, but it´s also the most fulfilling. Prepare as much as you can, because it is tough!! I love you lot´s and I´m glad I don´t have to learn Swedish. Gooood luck.> >

Aaron,- I expect lot´s of letters from you! I hope school is going well for you... write me and tell me about it okay.> >

Anita- happy birthday! I thought of you a lot on your birthday and wrote happy birthday at the top of all my papers. :) how does it feel to be 15?> >

rest of the family- sorry I don´t have time to write to you all. I love you and will write you letters.> > My P-day is every Thur. and I write e-mails at 1:00 pm.>

Love you all, > Hna, Grindstaff

The time has almost come!

I have been waiting for this time to come for a long time now. It is finally time for me to leave on the mission I've been so excited about for the past year now (well, I've probably been looking forward to it for longer than that actually).
Preparing to serve a mission has been quite the process, but it was worth it. It was worth all the times I've had to be (ruthlessly) stabbed by a needle. It was worth all the hours spent searching (and stressing about) finding the proper clothing (I spent hours and hours searching stores and coming out with nothing. I've never disliked shopping so much in my life!)....(and thanks to all those who so kindly spent hours of their own time to help in that agonizing effort). It was worth all the studying (which I have not been as diligent about as I should have been). It was worth all the hours spent scanning groceries (to help pay for the mission). Yes, it was ALL worth it!

I received my mission call (for those who don't know, it's a big white envelope that comes in the mail) on the 28th of November 2008. As soon as my older brother (Scott) walked in the house after checking the mail and started talking about the mission call envelope, that I'd been anxiously waiting for, my heart started beating extremely fast. I couldn't stop smiling and it was even better that I got to share my excitement with most of my family (who were still there the day after Thanksgiving). It was on this day that I learned that I would be serving for 18 months in the Uruguay Montevideo mission.

This coming Sunday will be my, uh, last Sunday here in Texas (okay...it's my farewell). It should be fun. :)