Hermana Escalante: We're Cousins!

Hi Mama (and family and friends)!

You say I'm early? Do I have a usual time I send emails? I guess it's all sort of a blur for me these days.

Thank you for reminding me about Elder Packer and his association with my brothers! I do remember, now that you told me, but it didn't click that that was he! The conference is tomorrow, actually, so I'll have to tell you about it next week.

As for the ward newsletter thing, I'm not sure...sorry. I guess just stuff like...being excited for the upcoming baptism of Don and the conference. Oh! And while doing this family history stuff (thanks for the chart! by the way), I found out that Elder Jessup (new Elder in the ward, originally from the Riverside mission) and I are related! He is a Farnsworth! I don't remember exactly how we're related, but his grandma was a Farnsworth and he is from Beaver. His Grandpa owns the cheese factory, so maybe you or Grandma can figure out exactly how we're related, or maybe we can compare our trees at the conference tomorrow. Random...but fun! So now we're telling all the members that we're cousins! J We look nothing alike and have different last names, so most don't believe us, but it's great! Last week he was teaching me lots of tricks too, during district activity. I can now rope, do cool soccer tricks, and spin a basketball across my arms and chest. Cool, huh?! He's a great cousin J Anyway, as for the newsletter, maybe you should just type it up with some random updates since my emails are sort of all over the place. Sorry about that.

We had exchanges again this last week, and will have them again this week, with Hermana Whicker and Hermana Painter in Murrieta, and it was great fun. Sister Johnson stayed here in the area with Sister Whicker and she got to lead out again, which is great. Sadly, EVERY appointment fell through! How ridiculous is that?! We actually had 6 set appointments for the exchange, so that is really ridiculous. But anyway, it was great and they kept on working and did get to teach a few other random lessons. She had the great opportunity to lead out and figure out what to do when everything falls through, which happens sometimes J

Sister Johnson is a great missionary! I do love that girl! We actually get along best out of all the girls I have trained. I find myself on a higher level of stress when I train, and therefore, usually less patient, but for some reason Sister Johnson keeps me pretty calm and light hearted, so that's great. Oh, and Murrieta was fun. We ran into Daisy again! (unintended this time) which was pretty fun. Hermana Painter struggles with some issues that I struggled with at the beginning of my mission, so it was good to talk with her. Well, I thought it was good, at least. We'll see if any of it sinks in with her. And it was fun to teach and study in Spanish again, of course. Did I tell you Hermana Schwegler went home last transfer?! Man, that girl changed my mission. I love her.

Oh! Real quick! Before I forget! There is a talent show coming up for the Christmas conference (which will be Dec. 17th this year, instead of Christmas Eve) and I was wondering if you could get me a copy of some music! If you could get it to me by next week, that would be great! I was thinking of "Let It Snow". Could you send me a PDF of the music or something like that, by chance? If you can't get that one for some reason, any classic Christmas song would probably work. Hermana Sheffield will play piano, I will sing...behind stage....and Elder Solomon will lip-sink on stage. It will be great! We may also sing a song for the spiritual part of the program, but I'm sure we will do a hymn, so no worries about that one. This one will be more for the kicks and giggles part of the conference. Should be fun!

Don is doing so great. He is just as solid as a rock. His baptism will be the day after Thanksgiving, so that his family can make it. His ex-brother-in-law will be driving out from Menifee with his family and will be baptizing him. We are keeping busy with that as well as with our newer investigators. A woman named Lima and her daughters came to church this Sunday as well, so the ward was excited about that, though they only stayed for the first meeting. They are Filipino as well (did I tell you Don is half?), but thankfully everyone's families are okay over in the Philippines. We are trying to turn more of our other lessons into member presents, because we still have more others than members at this point, but it is a little difficult because our investigators are a little flaky (besides Don) and the lessons that we do end up having are more often on the spot because we stopped by, and not so often because it is planned.

Also, we are having a hard time finding female members to go out with us. It seems like we have had plenty of the brethren step up and help out with Don, but it's harder to find willing women. Maybe it's because this is the first time in over 15 years for the ward to have sisters, so they are not used to having to go out with the Sister Missionaries. We are working with the WML (Ward Mission Leader) on it though.

To answer your questions... I think I have plenty of warm things for winter, though it is still pretty warm here. It was in the high 80's just a week ago. Ridiculous. Maybe just some more tights or nylons, but I can just grab some from the store. What is your conference all about? How did it go? JThe Elder's texted us this morning, telling us we have mail...but wouldn't bring it to us or let us pick it up...so I still haven't gotten the package, but I know it's here because the AP's called me about it last week. Did I tell you about that? I emailed Ariana about it, so you can ask her. I think that would be great if you can get her to email me next week. I don't think she has in over a month, maybe close to two months, so that would be greatly appreciated.

That's fun that Mike and Jodi are in Mexico! Looks beautiful! Do you know if Wesley got my card or not? We are going to the Schrock family for Thanksgiving. They have a daughter out on a mission (in Utah actually), so they signed up extra early to make sure they could have the Sister's for Thanksgiving dinner. What are your plans?

I keep getting asked about Christmas...and I really, honestly have no idea what I would want. I don't want clothes. My shoes should last me until the end of my mission. I have a beautiful camera. I don't really want junk food (except maybe some Rice Krispie Treats), and I have pretty much what I need. Sorry, I will think hard and maybe have some ideas by next week, but as of right now, I have no idea. Maybe you can just send me a card and some pictures and save the money for when I get home.

Anyway, I love you tons and tons. Hope all is well. Tell me all. Oh, I read the book of Esther this morning, for the first time actually. It's awesome. I love the scriptures.

Con amor,

Hermana Alyssa Nicole Escalante