Emma of the Jungle

Hey FAMILY!

Yup it’s true that I am in the jungle and I absolutely love it! Namely

because there isn´t one single bug bite on my legs J  YESSSS!!  The

weather has been perfect.  Yeah it super hot but I am here with my

best friend and an awesome second companion.

The music is perfect.  Thanks Hannah.  Also mom please do learn

Spanish.  It’s so fun to speak Spanish and lots of the funny things

that happen are usually in Spanish.  And no they don´t give us worm

pills…. But that doesn´t mean that we don’t have worms….

Oh and to answer your question about ward names… usually they are like

American names but pronounced completely different.  I am sure that

you are pronouncing the name of Carolina wrong. But yeah the names here

are completely different and almost sound Asian, it will be

interesting to learn them.

Well I didn’t want to leave Puno.  I was happy there and working

really well with Hermana Minaya.  I guess I got comfortable because

God always knows when we need a change and he knew that I was getting

used to it…ahhh man…. Puno is slash was amazing.

WELL I am here in Puerto and training to be a trainer was amazing.

Tuesday and Monday I said good bye to everyone and it was really sad.

Tuesday at like 12 we traveled to Cusco.  There was a bunch of sisters

that had changes so it was fun to travel together.  It was great to be

with Hermana Minaya for a little bit more time.  In Cusco we spent the

night in the house of the sisters and we anxiously waited for the next

day.  Wednesday we all got ready and went to the chapel for training

with Presidente before we met our companions.  It was a super awesome

training… I loved it and I am so excited to train and be with my mom!

Then I met Hermana Alailima.  SHE is from Hawaii and so cute!! She’s a

big Y fan and literally already acts like a normal missionary.  She

has really good Spanish and is not afraid to speak it.    We all get a

long great and have been enjoying the tropical weather storms which is

a crazy rain that I have never seen in all my life!!  OPWOW  its

beautiful here.  The drive was amazing.  Cold showers are great. And

it’s a great sector.  WE are really busy and have a lot to do which I

like.  Three gringos is definitely a rare thing in Puerto.  As we went

home this week we closed the gate behind us to find aty least 7 little

kids all staring at us.  They asked us where we were from and when we

told them the United States their little mouths just dropped open and

hung in amazement.  Super cute!!  The kids are so cute here.  I kinda

feel like I am in the movie Rio and the town kind of looks like the

movie Because of Winn Dixie.

I decided that instead of ungoogable facts because I am completely out

of them, I would do man vs. wild.  But this time Missionary vs. Jungle…

Because lots of time this climate just does it’s own thing.    So

first…. Cut my bangs three weeks ago… the humidity makes them go crazy

wavy and I have pulled them up since… bbye banges.  JUNGLE 1 Hna

Russell 0.    Cold showers every day… the highlight of the night… Hna

Russell 1 Jungle 1….. but then the cold showers give you a cold

Jungle 2….I feel like I  could write a book like the one dad would

always read to us when we camped outside..  that’s bad.. no that’s

good!  Haha J

I learned this week that God really is in control.  Presidente pulled

me out to talk to me while we were doing something and told me how

this change came to pass.  I know that it was truly inspired. And I

couldn’t shake the feeling all the change before that I needed to be

with Hermana Holland and that she needed me.  I know the Lord answers

prayers.  He is so great and his way is always better.  I read a talk

by Elder Anderson this week that said this.  We each try to do out

part but He is the grand architect.

I love the mission.  It’s going to be a huge amazing adventure here in

Puerto but I am so excited!!

Love you guys so much!!!

Con amor, Hermana Russell

Together again with Hermana Holland! And a New Hermana!

Saying good bye is hard. This is the sweet sister that has been feeding Emma every day.

Emma's new companion