Jan 6, 2014 Alecia's emails home

My email from Aleica: edited a little:


Okay! SO... this week has been nutty! And way busy! Turns out, here they have a tradition of eating twelve grapes at 12:00 midnight on New Years... We ate a great meal with our pensionista, and we went home to wait the new year!! It was fun! Anyway, the best story of the week is that we found a house that is literally overflowing with people ready to hear the gospel! Or more like they found us! We were headed to lunch, when two little girls asked us if we gave away Bibles! We said, sure, when can we come and see yall? And they insisted that we come every day! lol! And now, every time we go there, we find another person to teach! Their mom, grandma, cousin, dad, brother, sister, neighbor and so on! And each and every time they surprise us with how willing they are to listen! WOW! What a miracle! I just love it! We are also kind of wondering if I will be leaving this transfer or not... since Ive been here so long, it could very well be a possibility... But who knows? Only the Lord! Also, hma santa cruz is here!!! shes staying with us today and tomorrow so her compi can go do her papers and she can go to the temple! I am so excited!!! Oh, I made no bake cookies the other day! SO yummy!!! we shared them with the bishop and his wife, and they really liked them. And were really surprized by how fast it is to make them! lol! They went over pretty well!!! Also, I am working on a package right now... and will hopefully be able to send it before the end of January! Anyway, I love you SOOOOO MUCH!!! And will be sure to keep every one in my prayers! I am glad yall had such a great new years... and wish you all the best!!!

Love
hma alford

This is a story that Alecia sent to Brandon in his email this week:

Also, cool story! lol! Ya remember when you used to try and scare the tar out of me at home? Well, the elders here tried it out this new years, turns out they do a ´last joke of the year´ here... and they tried it out on us!!! We were headed to dinner, and they were waiting for us inside the gate with a camera to record our reaction... when I went to open the gate, they set off a bunch of fireworks right underneath me!!! lol!! My compi went screaming to the other side of the street... and i, becaus of so much practice with you, just opened the door with out a word, walked over the fire works, and told them, ´good job elders, good job´ LOL!!!! I have never seen such disbelief in a persons eyes!!! Oh man! You should have seen it! So funny! So, I thought Id share that with you, and thank you for trying so hard to scare me so many years! Because it really came in handy that day!!! Hahaha!


Anyway, love ya... work hard... be happy... and do what your big sis tells you!!! lol!

 Alecia and Hma G. her companion!

 Alecia likes parrots. LOL

Hermana Alford's advice to future Bolivian sister missionaries.

Okay, so this is the first time (if I remember correctly) that I will be directly addressing this blog... and all the people it reaches. The truth is, I didnt realize how many people would be affected by this thing! lol! But I am so excited that it is helping so many people out... especially those who are preparing to go out on their mission. I am hearing all kinds of people down here tell me that they loved the blog, that it helped them a lot, or that their moms have found it, or a few people who write me asking for tips... and so I thought I would go ahead and send a few tips directly to yall!

Here they are! Hope they help:

As for shoes: Well, I love clarks to be honest. They are so comfortable and last a good long while. I brought three pairs, (two for every day, and one a little bit prettier for sundays) and they are all doing great. A bit beat up in the front.. cuz I tend to trip alot on the rocks.. but they have lived through quite the beating! lol! Just dont forget to bring a ton of socks too.. because they die fast and the ones here are a bit choppy... Meaning they break easy, sorry, the slang here has totally stuck! lol! There are a ton of cool comfy socks here for tennis... and REALLY cheap.. but the half things almost dont exist. And the ones they have break with in a few days!

As for other tips? Its a good idea to look for clothes here if you can. Every thing is ridiculously cheap.

Also, read the book of mormon in spanish now! I have had the easyest time of learning the language here, because I have taken literally the promise made by the prophets. I dont remember who it was, but one of the many said that if we read the Book of Mormon in another language.. we will learn said language. I have picked it up so easily, its almost like I havent done a thing. It doesnt matter if you like it, if you understand, or if you think its working. Read verse for verse English and Spanish.. and I promise you you will see the fruits of your work. lol!

Oh, and by the way.. this is a mission that tries you. that pushes you to the limit... and makes you the person you are truly meant to be. I have seen miracles.. I have seen trials... and I have no regrets. When you come here.. come with the determination to do your best. Dont come with half your heart in your home... Put it all out on the table! Leave all youve got in the streets of Bolivia! Tell yourself every day, ¨tomorrow, I will do a little bit more¨ so that when the day comes to go back home.. You wont leave with a heart full of sorrow and regret. Do it and do it well... and see the blessings that fall into place! I think it was President Hinkley who said, ¨courage is that little small voice at the end of the day, that says ´ill try again tomorrow´¨ well, I try and do exactly that... Tomorrow, I will do a bit more... This is the best we can get Elders and sisters... the most we can do...We do all we can, and then we allow the lord to pick up the rest.


I love you all, I hope all can find something they need from this blog... excitement, information, comfort, advice, or whatever it might be... I just hope it continues to help!

Love
Hermana Alford

Alecia's last email in 2013 : ) Dec. 30

Well,

It was wonderful to hear you too mom! I love you a million more than you can ever say, and loved being able to talk to you. I am glad every one was able to have a nice Christmas, including you! lol! I was really excited about all my gifts, and had a blast finally opening them! It was SO tempting to open them before hand!!! lol! But I endured until the very end! And it was worth it! lol! Hma Gutierrez finally got to talk to her family, and all is well! woohoo! She also really enjoyed the surprise I planned for her! SUCCESS!!! LOL!  if you pray and ask the Lord, follow the principle and see the blessings... you will know that it is true and right. Anyway, I hope that all works out... And want you to know I had a great Christmas! I loved my gifts, and have been able to see the love of so many people here for me! Tell russel to keep practicing so he can keep up with me when I get back! lol! I am going to be nice and share my accent! lol! I hope yall have a great new years! love 

hma alford

Hey Dad,  yes I loved my gifts, and my surprise plans worked out in the end.. although I was a little scared there for a bit cuz my compi doesnt seem to need sleep! Its so wierd! She just refuses to go to sleep! Anyway, she woke up Christmas morning to find that Santa Clause had come to town!!! We took turns opening our gifts, and she just loved it! I was really excited, and we had a great time. We shared a few thoughts and Christmas videos we bought by the church... and then went hard at work to get little gifties we had made to all the kiddos we teach... and let me tell you! That was a ton of work, and so worth it to see their smiles, some of them got nothing else on Christmas but what we were able to muster together. Anyway, I truly loved this Christmas and am ready to begin a new year with new goals and a whole new out look. I have work to do, and am determined to get it done, with the help of the Lord... I love you so much and it was absolutely fabulous to hear your voice this Christmas! I hope you have a fabulous new years and that the Lord continues to bless you all! As for winters in Bolivia, I doubt it... I love it here, but I dont think Ill be doing that. anyway, Hope yall are all doing well, and that you always remember how special you are! lol!

Love

Hma Alford

Alecia Christmas morning. Her shirt says, "Someone in Louisiana Loves you" : )

Dec. 23, 2014 Pics and letters!

 This is Alecia showing off her Christmas gifts. She says to send a huge Thank You to all the family who sent her funds to help her get Christmas gifts and Clothes!

 This is Alecia at someone's home. She had helped decorate for Christmas.

 Notice her Christmas Tree. : ) That is all her "loot". Thanks again Everyone! 

Hey Dad!

Nope, no package yet... I am kind of bummed about that, but praying that it will come in our district meeting tomorrow! Justito for Christmas! I cant feel too bad though, cuz at least I have a package. My companion will never have a package in her whole mission... Because her family has no way to send one. SO... I have quite the surprise for Christmas!!! Santa is SOOOO on his way!!! lol! Anyway, we have quite a few invitations for Christmas Eve down here.. Turns out they celebrate more Christmas Eve than Christmas down here! I still have not opened my gifts... but I am SO tempted!! lol! 

It has been a bit hard here... I have had to pass through challenge after challenge after challenge... If its not my health, its some investigador that doesnt want to hear us anymore, or some kind of slip up in the language... But I have also passed through the greatest blessings of my life down here as well.. I can see the change in me when I look in the mirror... and more importantly, I can feel it inside. I know with more asurety than ever that I am doing what the Lord wishs for me. And I couldnt be more at peace. I dont feel trunky, because I know you are all better off in the hands of the Lord than you could ever be in mine. I do miss the food... a LOT!!! But at least I have food to eat... there are others who dont. 

I truly love this area. I love my companion. I love you and all our family. And most of all I love my God! And I truly hope to know at the end of all this.. that I have done all I could. And thus leave the rest with Him. The Almighty! 

LOVE YA!!!! HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! 

Hma Alford! 

Ps! Cant wait to talk to yall this wednesday!!!! ;)

Hey mom, 

Could you guys all send some special prayers this way for Hma Santa Cruz? Her dad passed away this week... And her whole family is spread across south america right now. Shes here in Bolivia, her mom is at home in Argentina, and her little sister is in the mission in Columbia... They need some real strength right now. I just wish she was here so I could catch her in my arms and tell her every thing is going to be okay... but shes all the way away in flipping Sucre! She was here for me through all my hard times in the hospital and every thing... and now shes hurting a ton worse...and I cant do a thing. Also, my poor compi  still hasnt received an email from her family... It really bothers her, even if she tries to hide it. 

Anyway, I am really excited about this Christmas! I have been slowly putting together gifts at night time for my compi! So she has something to open on Christmas! And I am hoping my other package comes tomorrow!!! Yall already have the info for the account I will be using right? I have 45 minutes... but I am going to leave the time in your hands.. lol! I will conveniently not have my watch with me that day! lol! Im hoping to send pics! Anyway, I bought myself a skirt and a few other things the other day. Its a bit hard to find clothes that are appropriate for a missionary here.. but we are going to go looking again today. also, I was wondering if you could trace the kids feet for me! lol! I am thinking about buying them bolivian shoes!!! They are so pretty! And that way I can size them up pretty good! lol! Maybe you can send it to me in my next package!! As for health, I am feeling okay. and I am eating tons of fruits, which we wash ridiculously well! lol! YUM! Hey... could you send me the recipe for no bake cookies? We want to make them in the morning for Christmas... YUM! 

Anyway... I cant wait to see you this wednesday! Talk to you... and hear your voice!!! I am so very excited!!! I wish you the very merryest of Christmases! And I am going to try and send some pics now okay? 

Love, 

Hma Alford

December 16, 2013 Email and pics! She is looking better!!!!! : )

Man, the activity had to have been really beautiful... as of yet we havent gone caroling... but we are planning with all the missionaries in our area to go out caroling in each area all together and find new investigaders for each companionship! Its gonna be great! and we have quite a few families that want us to come and see them on Christmas lol! One of our investigadors has given me her account name and password for skype so that we can skype! My companions name is Hma Gutierrez! lol! sorry. And she is great! Shes not going to be able to skype with her family, cuz they dont have computers where she lives. Please pray for her. She hardly ever gets emails from her family, and is having a reallly hard time with the whole Christmas thing. I am going to do something really cool for her though for Christmas. I have gfts planned out, and found her favorite Christmas treat from home... Christmas eve I am going to sneak it all under the tree with my gifts... so that she feels like Christmas too! I am so excited! Tell every one I said thanks a million and a bove, and I will definitely go get some clothes! lol! Ask ryan if he wants just leather, or jaguar skin... cuz they are really awesome too! I am totally getting me some for my english set! lol! And leather in general is really cheap down here. I bought my set for 120 bs each down here... thats like 20 bucks or less! what! And I bought a leather back pack too, really cool for 130... like 21 or 22 dollars! REAL LEATHER!!! And hand made! Way cool! And so cheap!!! I got one package... Not sure where the other one is.. I kind of opened the socks.. I was in serious need... sorry... But every thing else is all wrapped up and under our tree! lol! Way cool! I am so excited to see yall! lol! As for my week... it was so crazy! A ton of work! and we got to talk in sacrament meeting again. I felt so much like the Lord was using my mouth! We had an entire family in the church yesterday with us! They have 5 little kiddos! and totally crazy! And another three kids from another family, and a ton of less actives! WAY COOL!!!! Tomorrow is our missionary chirstmas conference... from 3 to 8! So long! We arent gonna get anything done! We are going to go shopping today... So I am going to take pics of what I buy for Christmas and send em over next monday! woohoo! That money is a whole lot down here you know? I am going to be able to get like whatever I want! lol! Things I have only dreamed about buying! lol! love it! Tell everyone I send like a billion kisses and love and thanks! Love that scripture! Way cool.. I think my fave scripture right now is Jacob 5... The whole thing is great! And so inspiring as a missionary! I have finished up my meds.. and I am feeling great! all good! Taking vitamins to keep up my defenses, and still eating a ton of yogurt! lol! I love you a ton! And hope your week is incredible. Please keep my compi and hma santacruz in your prayers.. they are both having quite a few problems with their families... 

Love

Hma Alford

Dec. 9, 2013 We have a diagnosis!

Hey Mom,

So, I have an infection in my intestines. They gave me a ton of weird medicines that I have to take for a week... And dont worry, I am being really diligent with those. I dont ever want to return to that kind of dr in all my life. As for my companion, she is AWESOME! And so like me its kind of creepy! lol! Like I have a latina clone! She is from a little part of Peru, has a family of 6 kids, loves to craft, does not like to make decisions, is 21 years old,  and loves every one here to the breaking point. She was really nervous when she got here, but is learning so quickly! And never complains about anything! I have put her to work, and she has done a fabulous job! I love training, it helps me learn so much! You know Ive always loved to teach, well this is a type of teaching that just doesnt compare. I have also started giving classes to my whole district in English. Every day at lunch time we take a bit of time to learn English! lol! I am going to give them new assignments tomorrow! Theyll have to start praying each meal in English! haha! So cool! So yeah, this week has been hard, but way worth it. We said good bye to hma Santa Cruz, had a service (of which I spoke in my letter to the president) that almost killed us but brought a ton of blessings, and went searching for like 15 investigadors to go to the Christmas Devotional at the Temple yesterday... and not a single one showed up. We literally put in the very last ounce of our effort to have SOMEONE there... We looked for an hour more, just to be sure that no one wanted or would be able to go... and nada. Nothing. Zilch. But yeah, it happens like that sometimes... And a lot more than we would like. Anyway, we have been working hard... and I love my companion. Its different... But I love her so much! lol! So, dad says yall got my packages! Did yall get them both? Or just one? I havent gotten yalls yet... But I could get it tomorrow! pray for us! We have three baptisms planned for this weekend... but I am a little worried they wont fall through. Anyway, I love you so very much! Dont stress out with all that craziness lol! And remember always how special you are!

Love

Hma Alford

December 2, 2013: Alecia's answers to my questions:

Question 1: How long have you been bleeding? I only bled for three days this past week

Question 2: How much weight have you lost? I have lost about 30 pounds as far as I know

Question 3: When is your appointment for the colonoscopy? It was this friday at 6:00

Question 4: How are you feeling emotionally? I am feeling fine right now, although it was really hard when I was in the hospital... I have never felt so trunky before in all my mission. However, the Lord placed me with Hma SantaCruz for one more transfer for a good reason! I needed her to be with me to get through it. 

Question 5: Do you know anything at all about what they are looking for? They wanted to see if I had some kind of inflamation or hemroides. 

Question 6: Can you get probiotic Yogurt, I am told that it might help you. Not sure if it will though! Yes, I can and have been eating it every morning since I got out of the hospital because they told me the same thing... 

Question 7: What can I do for you? Is there anything that I can send you? Just continue praying and remember that I love you. I am sorry I didnt tell you earlier.. I just didnt know how. I tried three times... and couldnt seem to type the words... 

I have been praying that your body heals completely and that you are able to continue serving the people  that you have learned to love without any Health problems. 

Question 8: Do you have a new companion? If so what is her name and how are ya'll getting along? I am going to TRAIN!!!!! LOL! Which means I wont know till wednesday in the afternoon who is my new companion. Hma Santa Cruz is going to Sucre... Could yall pray for her? She is feeling really bad lately with a urinary tract infection and they took out her wisdom tooth... Anyway, I will have to tell yall who is my new companion next monday! 

Question 9: Oh and how are you feeling physically! I am feeling fine. Nothing hurts... I have a TON of gas... always! But I am fine physically, it just was a bit wierd to bleeding that way. 

Mom, I am so very sorry that I worried you. I was so stressed out about that when Hma Dyer told me she was going to have to call youl. I just dont want yall to worry. I am fine. I was only in the hospital for a couple days so that they could put some electrolytes and vitamins in me. I had gone a while with out being able to eat as a result of the medicine to get rid of the parasites... My body had begun to reject all nutrition. So, since I couldnt get it in myself, they did it for me through iv. I was fine though, nothing overly serious. I am working and eating and playing now! lol! Dont worry about it! And I am really happy I have lost weight, and am now working on keeping it off! lol! 

Okay, as for my week... I am SO excited to train! But really scared too! I want to do the best I can! And I have gotten really used to Hma Santa Cruz! I dont want her to go! This is the hard part of the mission... the goodbyes that you just cant escape from! Oh, I am also in a choir for Christmas! We are going to sing at the temple this Sunday! With a ton of other choirs in Bolivia! Its gonna be great! We are planning an activity with the yws so that we can gain some more confidence in the ward! We are going to make brownies, invite invs, and paint fingernails! woohoo! lol! We are also praying really hard to have a baptism this weekend! Her name is faviola and is eleven years old... But we need permission from her parents first! Anyway, I have been pretty much working on my own with members all week because hma santa cruz is feeling so sick... I have really learned that I am capable of doing this on my own! I can totally train! I have been taught well, and am ready to go on. I think for a good while there I was getting really dependent on my companion... But now, the Lord has taught me that with Him all htings are possible! I can do this! Anyway, I gotta go... I wont know tilltomorrow what they found in the analysis... but I am really doing fine! lol! I lvoe you, sorry for the scare... And I hope you have an awesome week! Happy Bday! And happy thanksgiving too! 

Love

Hma Alford

I asked her another question: I asked if she needed clothes and this was her answer:

Yeah, all my clothes are kind of falling off! lol! But clothes are way cheap down here... so dotn worry about it!