chiste, chiste. i just say that cause i am currently in love with the book of mormon.

welp, i am now 1/3 of the was through my prisonly probation. I'd be lying if i said it's gone by way fast, but i'd also be lying if i said i was ready for the field. i have a lot more studying in the book of mormon to do and more spanish to learn. PLUS the MTC is where it's at! at least the general authorities seem to think so...my first week we had elder scott, then elder ballard, and this week was elder bednar. and let me tell you, when general authorities come, the mtc gets a little brighter.

obviously it was good week. it finally started snowing! AND sheri dew spoke on sunday. i love her. she's probably the 2nd coolest woman i know (my mom is in first, duh.) during her talk i realized, yes i love my family more than anything else in the world, but Christ loves my family more than i possibly could-seeing as i'm human. Really, the Atonement is amazing. Read D&C 6:20 or Mosiah 2:41 or John 14:13-17?ish. currently some of my favorites. also, a wise man once told me "by divine design we don't learn much on smooth waters. it is only when the storm comes that you become a real pirate." (family, i'll give you one guess as to who told me that..you will laugh if you figure it out.)

and your favorite part of thursday i'm sure....awkward stories of the week... first, i was at gym and i was going up the stairs to do my workout and one of the elders in my zone was weighing himself. when i walked by he asked, "hermana russell, how much do you weigh?"
"uh, that's something you probably shouldn't ask girls."
"oh, well you look like you weigh 100 lbs."
"um.....thanks...?"
the elders are precious but sometimes i wonder...
next-there is a teacher on our floor, hermano jimenez. he is from mexico. he's like 5 foot nothin. or less. i was standing there with my companion who is 6 feet tall and he was asking her how she was doing--all of this was in spanish. then he asked how lunch was and said "que comio?" well, my comp doesn't really speak spanish very well and thought he said "come here". so she stepped closer to him so she was right in his face. estaba muy comico. pero you had to be there.
and finalmente...this morning i was waiting outside my bedroom door for my comps to come out. there was an MTC worker laying out clean sheets on the table so her back was to me. i heard her say something in her walkie-talkie and realized i recognized the voice--it was taylor, my roommate from california my freshman year at byu. i told my comps we needed to leave...if you remember correctly she didn't like me very much.

that's all for now. to my friends, send jordie lots of letters. she just got here yesterday and i was soooo excited to see someone i know so well! also, thank you family and friends for your letters and love and food. cottles, those pumpkin cookies were divine and mama the bread was also divine. you are all trying to make me fat or something. so i share. my zone loves you all and get excited when i get a package...and don't worry, i still play b-ball everyday and am actually getting pretty good. i can hold my own against the elders nowadays which is good since my partner in crime left for chile last week. tangent. sorry. i love you all. have a fabulous week--i know i will!

les amo,
lupita

p.s. mama please keep sending me news stories at night. i'm sending you a hand written letter today. also, what is dad's address so i can send a hand written letter? also, kerri i wrote you this big old long letter this week and apparently the mailman didn't like my handwriting cause he couldn't read your address. i'll send it today.

peace+love