Alright so this week flew by. Like I am not even sure where it went. Maybe to the other side of the country. Idk. Last Tuesday was Pday and we got to walk around the city. We found a grocery store named Liders. BEST PLACE EVER. It has so many American products. I am in love and buy secret stashes of chocolate. Shh dont tell. Today we are going there again and I am sending out some post cards. And I am buying more so people look forward to get some in  a few weeks.

Highlights of this week:

one of our investigators Carolina is getting baptized. HOLA at your girsl! We are shooting for the 15th of Octubre. A little info of all my investigators.

Carolina- was a Catholic. Likes her coffee. But she read the BOM and knows its true. So she is getting baptized. SHE IS GOLDEN.

Alejandro- 27 and a pain in my butt. He just does not care about us or our messaged. He is just taking the discussions for his mom and his gf. IM LIKE HELLO THIS IS YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION. Dont worry we are going to get him.

Roberto: inactive member. has stage 4 cancer and we are trying to get him to come back to church and remember that there is a life after this one.

Rafael- loves gringas....awk. He asked me if I had a bf. MOST DEF. STAY AWAY. He wants to be a rockstar and doesnt believe in God. Dont worry you will when we are done with you.

Remember how I fell on my face? Prime I know. Well I still have the bruises and scrapes. Yuck!

My District. D2. is the bees knees seriously we are going to be amigos por siempre! We are famous for our slang/catch phrases.

De nads- No prob

Me mal- My bad

Mismos- Samies

Toats- Totes

Paz fuera- Peace out

Historia verdad- True story

We famous. No big.

Also our Brazilians have some pretty funny one liners in English. I will share a few they say all the time. They probably wont make sense but I dont care.

Keep Calm!

Why would you take it!

I don´t speak english.

Mi districto es mi familia. Le amo.

I taught in Relief Society yesterday about Baptism and I got to share a little of my story. But something I focused on was the ability we have when we are baptixed to be Born Again. We dont always have to feel sad. We can start over by being born again into Christs restored chuch. Its amazing how bran new I felt when I joined this church. There is a life after this one. I know it with all my soul. Thank you for all of your prayers. They keep me strong every day. You are constantly in my prayers and I think about each of you all the time.

Spanish gets easier every day. I just use Elder Cowan as my walking dictionary. He speaks so much Spanish. Jelly belly. JK

OH THATS ALSO ONE OF MY SLANG WORDS.

instead of jk I say

 jota ke (hotu kay)

Soooo funny......

If I have learned anything from being here it is that The Lord will carry you in your afflictions. I know this is hard. I miss each of you so much, every day. But this will pass and Christ will never leave us alone. This is so worth it and I love it here.

I will go and do the things the Lord commands. And now I know it is His will that I am here in Chile. BRING ON THE CHILEANS.

Oh btw their spanish is so hard to understand I just shout at them LISTO LISTO! (Slow, slow!)

I love being here its amazing. I miss alot of this but I would not want to be anywhere else. I am here to helpe people come unto Christ and feel the sweet peace of being born again. I LOVE YOU ALL SOO SOO MUCH!

Two lines of the week this week:

1. ´´Elder Peel will you please bless the food´´

Elder Peel- ´´How do you bless it again´´

´´Bendice la comida´´

Elder Peel- ´´THATS WHAT WE´VE BEEN SAYING THIS WHOLE TIME.´´

#smh

2. This one takes some explaining so all the new elder came to AlCantara and a lot of them are latinos. So Elder Cowan in my disrtrict was trying to ask one of them to pass something down. Assuming he only spoke spanish he started speaking realllllly slowly and making giant hand gestures: ´´CAN....YOUUU...PLEASEEE...PASSS...THATTT... OVER HERRRREE´´

The Elder: ´´The yogurt?´´

Yup. He was from Cali and spoke perfect english. I WAS DYING! ahahha failure.

I love youu all. I smile and laugh every day.

So you keep smiling too.

Love you forever,

xoxo

Hermana Upton

Well I took lots of notes on what I wanted to say to you and then I left them in class. Hahah oops. Two important things:

1. I have no idea when I will be having P-day and email time. It changes every week

2. I have no idea what my address is so no one send me any mail until I leave the MTC. I have no idea whats going on here.... haha

This week was so bitter sweet. I have gotten to walk around the streets of Chile and it is beautiful. Its basically like LA, SLC, and NYC all in one. Just with a lot of Chileans instead of white people. But whatevs.

Everything is pretty cheap here and they have a lot of American stuff.

Food in the MTC. I want to die. I miss salad so much. They just feed you a bunch of carbs and there is BREAD AT EVERY MEAL. Even breakfast. My Spanish is so much better. I can actually understand conversations. And I can create complete sentences and alomst teach a lesson without having to look down at my notes.

One of our ´investigators´ is getting baptized. The other ones hates us. JK but they are guys and just feel weird around us...probably cus we wont date them? Im not sure haha.

My companionship is the best in the world. I love them so much. Although it is a little weird having to be with someone ALL THE TIME. I miss me time.

There are tender mercies every day, like going to sleep a littlbe earlier, meeting a cute little girls, getting brownies. The Lord loves his missionaries and my goodness does he spoil us so much.

I have never been so tired in my life. It is so stressful learning another language becuase I understand them but dont know how to reply. Im just like ohhh.....sí? hahaha

Oh well life goes on. Don´t worry about me getting fat. I run every morning and im actually losing weight.

Today was so sad because our roommates left for their missions. I was bawlingggggg. But we are getting a new group of missionaries tomorrow so we are going to be the new big sisters. There are only 10 of us right now in a house built for 50. Its so empty haha.

Oh and there are stray dogs everywhere. Like when I say everywhere. I mean every where. EVERY WHERE. And there are no squirells. Its so weird.

My district has become my new family. Its going to be so hard to leave them. Like I have no idea what I will do. It won´t be as hard as leaving home, but its going to be hard. They make me laugh every day and help my testimony of God´s love flourish.

I am healthy and so happy here. I am so excited for this journey and believe it or not I am not scared at all. There is a special comfort here that I know I will be taken care of.

The Gilberts keep us safe and sound. They are awesome, like a Ma and Pa.

There are two Brazilians in my district so I learned how to sind happy birthday in porteugese. GET ON MY LEVEL.

Oh and I pray every day in Spanish now. I don´t even remember how to pray in english.... its weird.

Sundays are my favorite days because I will do is watch church movies and go to church. LIKE THE BEST. And this Sunday I learned a lot of the things. First, the number of baptisms we get is not as important as the number of conversions. Jesus didnt go around during his ministry looking for people to merely get baptized. He was looking for real converted souls. This isn´t a race for who can have the most baptisms. But rather who can help bring people unto Christ. SO next time some one comes home from their mission ask them their favorite memory not how many baptisms they got.

Second, the Lord wants us to come from our missions with at least one convert. And that convert is US. Every thing we want for our investigators the Lord wants of us. You want them to be obeidient. The Lord wants you to be obedient. You want them to come unto Christ. He wants you to come unto Christ. We are the first and most important convert in thsi work.

I have such a testimony of this gospel and I will bare it in Spanish:

Yo se que esta iglesia is verdadera. Yo se que Dios vive y Él ama todos Sus hijos. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y el camino a vivida eterno. Yo se que El Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios. Me amo este Evangelio con todos mi corazon. En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.

Pretty cool huh? Just use google translate to figure out what it said. Thats what I did all of highschool. oops. I don't have google translate now.... I just have a reallly fat dictionary hahaha.

I love you and can´t believe how many of you email me. I signed on with 19 emails. Like holy cow! Sorry I can´t respond to all of you there just isn't enough time. But I love you all so much and can't believe I am really a missionary! AHHHHHH.

More to come next week <3

Line of the week:

Elder Sousa (from Brazil)

"Shutup please"

In Brazil they prounounce syrup as shutup. I just about died.

Oh and we are teaching the Brazilians English. They are going to be trilingual.

I cannot believe I am going to speak another language. Like I do speak two lanuages....WHAT. Never thought I would make it this far. This gospel has blessed me so much. Started from the bottom now I´m here.

Love you and can´t wait to here from you :)

Oh and mama I sent you a letter this morning should get there in a few weeks. I LOVE YOU!

xoxo

Hermana Carly Upton

Week one: A La CCM: September 2, 2013

I have almost been here a week. So the time zone in the CCM (MTC) is really messed up. I feel like each day is a week. But at the same time this week went by fast. THE DAYS ARE SLOW, THE WEEK IS FAST. I am loving everyhting about Chile. I have to make some corrections:

I live in Alcantara. That is the house. Every one there is like a giant family. 

The food is interesting haha. I really miss spices. Everything here is really bland and salty. I drink SO MUCH water. And I eat all the fruit because I hate the desert here. So its acutally a blessing in diguise haha. I only have a half hour left to email so I will try and make this quick.

Learning a new language in a short ammount of time is indeed the hardest thing I have ever done. But I already have learned so much. I can have a pretty sucessful conversation. I know how to bare my testimony in spanish and I know how to pray in spanish. Prayers and testimonys in spanish are SO MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL. It really is the language of love. jk no one has time for romance here. Its stricting eternal salvation.

Lets talk about Ceciela she does our laundry and is like the mom in the house you are afraid to mess with. She speaks no english. Speaking of speaking english...I can´t anymore haha. Learning spanish is messing up my english. So I can´t speak spansih and i can´t speak english.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

My CCM President and his wife (Elder and sister Allread) as awesome. My Alcantara parents (Elder & Sister Gilbert) are awesome.

TAYLOR! I mean...Elder Kozak, Clara Johnson is here!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is the best.

Thank you for all of your letters. They are awesome and just make me smile and cry. I really love it here. It is winter and kinda cloudy. But I am constanly inside so don´t worry I am not getting sick.

Oh and girls coming to the CCM stay away fromt he bean soup spagetti. You can thank me later.

My District is THE BEST

Elder Cummings: District Leader and just a boss and his name is Hunter! And freaks out when people say Hunner. Reminded me of my BIL <3 shoutout to Hunter Kozak. Miss you best friend.

Elder White: Sweetest guy ever, he reminds me of a teddy bear

Elder Horne: uhmmm haha. kinda off but he really loves people and never judges anyone like ever

Elder Sousa: He is fron Brazil. I never understand him but he is awesome

Elder Amorim: Also from Brazil and can never understand him

Elder Peel: Has a twin named PORTER! I know.

Elder Cowan: he is from Mesa and is just a great guys

Mi Compañeras:

Hermana (sister) Macrae: basically Emma Heywoods twin. She is from Canada and talks weird so we always make fun of her.

Hermana Gibby: She is so awesome and knew Jacque Bench my roommate at BYU. We make fun of her last name

We are just all immature here. Sorry not sorry.

I went to the temple on Saturday (don´t worry I got English headphones) it was amazing. What I love about the church is that it is the same all over the world. like this has to be the true church. no other church is like this.

A quote I wanted to share: Miracles happen when you do waht most missionaries wouldnt.

We have three investigators: Caroline, Ismael, and Alejandro.

We taught Caroline is Spanish.....so rough. I understood everything she said. But did not know how to reply!!!!!!!!!! It was so dissapointing, but I am over it. You just have to move on. We stopped by Ismael´s house (oh btw guys our investigators are fake ahah they are our teachers, but the symblize real people they know and it is really helpful to be able to practice and treat them like real people).

Ismael went good! He has never had sister missionaries before

HOLLLLA AT YO GIRLS. Don´t worry Ismael we got your spiritual back.

Anyway, I am just about out of time. I love you all and want to share my Districts motto with you. We all love eachother and the Savior and are one grande familia

Nosotros vivimos nuestros vidas para Él porque Él dio su vida para nos.

We live our lives for Him because He gave His life for us.

I LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU ALL NEXT WEEK.

Kisses!

Line of the week:

Some Hermana at the lunch table: I´m 10% redneck....

Yeah she is weird.

Oh and no pics this week lo siento (I am sorry). I forget my camera. ahahaha. Oops. Next week forsure. 

I love you all!

Espically Mom, Dad, Colby, Gma, Gpa, and the Kozaks.

Thanks for keeping my stuff up to date mama! I LOVE YOU. You are the best.

xoxo
Hermana Upton

Hello everyone,

This is Carly's mom.  Here is her first email home. :-)

So the flight was longgggggggg and miserable but I lived and basically made a new best friend. We are pretty much soul mates her name is Hermana Macre. She is exactly like Emma. I am not staying in the <Santiago MTC instead I am staying in a GIANT house nearby with 37 missionaires. It is called Al Cantera! It is beautiful and has been around for 100 years. It used to be the Swiss Emassy for 50 years and now it is the Mission home. Pretty sweet. Every one is nice and the food is good. We had lisagna a pasta. Yum! I am a little dizzy from flying so much. But I am unpacked and got to take a nap so life is good! haha Sorry I couldn´t call you. The telephones were soooo dumb and did not work. Also there was NO time when I landed in Chile. I am loving being a missionary and it still doesn´t feel real. I just learned that my email day will be on either Thursday or Monday for an hour. So stay tuned. Thanks for the letter mama upton & the kozaks. Love you guys and read all those advice cards on the plane. Made me cry. There are so many elders here. Like 1000000 jk like 11 but still I feel like there needs to be more chicas. GET ON IT GIRLS. Being a missionary is so much fun because I still get to be myself. It is the best and I am always laughing. I am staying in a room with 6 girls....should be intersting. There is a volley ball court here and a basketball court, and a pool! but no swimming for us. ohhhh well #missionaryprobs

I LOVE YOU ALL AND WILL WRITE AS SOON AS I CAN. 

I will reply to all of your emails when I get an hour to write. Today I only have 10 minutes.

Line of the Week

¨I just got flash mobbed by Jesus.¨

yahhhh... don´t ask. I still am horrible at spanish ahah we will see if it improves.

ALL MY LOVE & KISSES

xoxo

Hermana Upton

P.s. Some pictures coming your way when I have time to email!

Mission Pictures

You saw the props, now here is the final product!
A special thanks to my photographer Nicolette DeLuca, she really is amazing.
If you are interested in any of her work you can reach her at: littledeluca18@gmail.com

Thanks again Nic!
You're the greatest :)


xoxo

Hermana Carly Upton

Mission Photo Shoot: Ideas & Crafts

And the countdown begins...well it began like 80 days ago, but the real countdown starts now.
I have 17 days till I fly out to Santiago Chile!
I could not be more excited. My heart is so full of joy & gratitude as a prepare to serve the Lord.
The last couple days have been nothing but stress:

Mission Clothes Shopping
Farewell Party Ideas
Farewell TALK
Mission Photo Shoot Ideas
Package Ideas for my boy T
Packing...oh the packing
And so much more.

I'm getting stressed just thinking about it all.

The purpose of this post is to share a couple of the crafts I have created for my Mission Photo Shoot:



As usual I was inspired by this gem, Catelyn Shaia. I found some of her photos on Facebook and decided to use them as a template.

What you need:

tooth picks
tape
scissors
card stock
thin black sharpie
white or silver sharpie
mini wood letters (from Walmart)
paint
paint brushes
time

 

BLOCK LETTERS

 

 

NAME TAG

 

 

TIME DURATION

 

 I'M GOING TO

 

TO BE CONTINUED

I had a ton of fun creating these little crafts and I can't wait to see how they turn out in my pictures! I will be sure to post them as soon as I can :)


Have a great week every one.




xoxo

Hermana Upton

Holiness to the Lord the House of the Lord: My love for the Temple

Ever since I have joined the Church I have thought temples are the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is a goal of mine to visit as many temples as I can before I leave this world!

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to enter the Los Angeles temple and receive my endowments. I loved it and hope that each of you make it a goal to enter the temple. I have never felt so beautiful, loved, and comfortable in my life.

"I love the temple. Not because I understand everything, but because of the peace I feel when I am there."

~ Sister Melisa Kozak

Could not have said it better myself <3

St. George:

Salt Lake City:

Rexburg:

Las Vegas:

Idaho Falls:

Provo:

 

Mesa:

Los Angeles:

The Temple is no longer just a beautiful building I used to admire: it is now my home, my school, my sanctuary, my little piece of Heaven, and my castle. It is my favorite place in the whole wide world.  I hope one day to marry my Prince in there.

"I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen, and to pray. For the temple is a house of God."

I'm so glad my "someday" was yesterday. I love the Temple and I love the Lord! God be with you all <3





xoxo

Hermana Upton