Pics of Tess's big day!

Tess just about to enter the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Feb. 13th, 2013. 

It just happened to also be her grandmother's 92nd birthday! And they happen to share the same middle name, Lorraine. :)

She's on her way! We will miss her.

Tess with Elder and Sister Wilson (her uncle Rich's parents who are serving a mission too) just after entering the MTC.

Sister Wilson and Hermana Crawford (sporting her new "dork dot" on her name tag)

Email from Tess on Feb. 22, 2013

Hola everyone!

It's FINALLY P-Day (Friday) and I finally got the chance to use a computer! The computer apparently doesn't have an SD card reader like they said it did so I'm really sad that I don't get to send you the pictures I took.. It's been quite the week. It's insane how much can happen in a week up here. In my last letter I was a little frustrated with the fact that I wasn't getting along with the girls in my district super well, and I don't even really know how this happened but they're becoming some of my closest friends now! I'm almost able to be completely myself around them now, which is making this experience so much more enjoyable. Hermana Hales and I laugh together pretty much all day when we're not studying. She went to BYU too so we were talking about how we're so mad that we didn't meet there and become friends earlier because we have so much fun together- she's transferring to USC when she gets back so we won't be able to see each other after either :/ Hermana Page is pretty much the big sister I never had! She's so friendly and fun to be around. She even made up this song about me the yesterday, it goes like this: *to the tune of the Spongebob themesong* "Who lives in a residency at the MTC? Hermana Crawford! Who sings like an angel with Lamanite glee? Hermana Crawford! (and then my name is just repeated 4 more times)". Haha apparently they've caught on to my love of Spongebob and they made me sing for them the other day so that's why the angel part's in there. The Lamanite thing's an inside joke.. Hermana Fairbanks is also like my big sister but she's like the wise one who keeps us in check. Hermana Scheiss is becoming a great friend too and she's good to have around because she's always optimistic. My companion is still the one I have a harder time connecting with but she gives me a different perspective on things which is good. 

Anyways it sounds like things are going great back at home! The funny things you tell me about always make my day. I also got letters from Alli, Ali, Lucas, Grandma Crawford, Grandma Rain, Sister Wirthlin, and Maile. I also got a Valentines day package from my BYU roomies (although it arrived 5 days late haha) and that was the best thing ever. I've seen a ton of people that I know here too! Here's the list, as far as I can remember: Kelley Muro, Jenna Fuller, Larissa Price, Austin Simas, Luke Heywood, JD Cook, Colton Shiflet, Dean Sobczak, Hannah Casper, Michael Gerber, Steve Forsyth, Joseph Walker, Adam Vore, and some other people from my ward at BYU whose names I can't remember right now, but it's been so awesome seeing friends around! 

My week here was quite eventful. After the rough first few days I somehow made it to Sunday, which was such a nice break. I finally got to hear some music (we're not allowed to listen to it here...) and that was incredible. Our meetings were spread out throughout the day which was nice. It was just good to get a spiritual boost and kind of recharge. The rest of the week is pretty much spent waking up, getting a sack breakfast because we don't have to change into our missionary clothes for that, then we go to either gym or class depending on the day, we usually have a few hours of personal, language, and additional study time before we have our 3 hours of class where the teacher only speaks Spanish (though she has been speaking in English a bit to help us with grammar), then we go to lunch, afterwards we have more studying and we usually teach (well... attempt to teach) an "investigator" in Spanish. That's pretty all we do! Today we get to go the the temple which I'm excited about because I'll be able to get some answers to my questions. My Spanish isn't great but compared to a week ago it's amazing how much I've learned. 

I'll use my last few minutes to talk about the food.... It's horrible. It's not that all of it actually tastes bad (most of it isn't good though..) but it just does weird things to our bodies- especially the girls. Yesterday I found 5 bones in the chicken on my salad.. I'll survive though. I hope everyone's doing ok and I love you all!! 

Adios for now!

Con amor <3,

Hermana Crawford

Tess's first letter home! (transcribed)

Hola mi familia-   (Feb. 16, 2013)

I started writing this letter because the computers were down but now it looks like they're up again so you'll probe be reading this after you read the email (if I ever get a turn on the computers, that is). Thanks so much for the V-Day package! IT made the first few days (which were pretty rough) a lot better. WE didn't really do much to celebrate because we were so busy but we did have a lesson on loving others which I guess was kinda fitting. That's hilarious that all the kids got Valentine's from some "special friends." IF they get into trouble I'm going to beat them up when I get back. Anyways, my schedule is...well I'll let you judge for yourselves. I'll send you some pics of the schedule I have so that I don't have to write it all down! My first day wasn't great because it was just way too much information way too fast. We had our first class and Hermana Haglund (my teacher) only spoke in Spanish so I had no idea what was happening. The only cool part was that we had some actors come into our bigger classes who pretended to be investigators and we had to try and teach them as a class. It was a lot more helpful to see the work in action as opposed to just reading about it.

My companion's name is Hermana Smith (original, I know). She's only 4'11"ish, she's 21 and she's from a typical big Mormon family in Utah so I'd say she's a bit sheltered. We're getting along fine but we don't have much in common besides the whole mission thing so it's hard to connect but I'm doing my best! The other Hermanas in our room (by the way we're only the 2nd people to live in our residence so it's super nice- that keeps happening to me) are pretty cool. There are two other 21 yr. olds who are companions that are also from Utah. To be honest I'm surprised they're not married instead of being missionaries because they're very pretty and out going, but they're sweet and hanging out with them isn't too bad although they don't share my sense of humor (none of my roommates really do actually which is kind of hard because I'm trying to be more normal but it's probably for the best because it's forcing me to be more serious). The other two Hermanas are my favorites- Hermana Scheiss & Hermana Hales. Hermana Scheiss is the only other 19 year old in the room (I think she's also from Utah) and she's the sweetest, least worldly person I've ever met. She always has words of encouragement when I'm struggling too. The one that I have the most in common with is Hermana Hales. She's from L.A. and she's 20- she also goes to BYU. SHe easily has the best sense of humor in the room (besides mine, obvi) and we like a lot of the same TV shows and music artists and all that kind of stuff.

Anyways, it was really awesome seeing the Wilsons a couple of times the first day because they're leaving soon. I've also seen a lot of people that I recognize from BYU- some from my ward, even, and I've also seen Jenna Fuller (She's leaving soon and is really excited to not have to eat MTC food anymore. I'm Jealous). I haven't seen Hanna yet :( But Elder Smith, the Smith's in our stake's cousin is in my district. He's a funny guy but his Spanish is pretty rough at this point like mine is. Speaking of Spanish I'd say that's the hardest part about this whole thing so far. I really wish I would've taken Spanish before this because I'm super lost and the people that took it in high school/ college at least have somewhat of a clue. I think I figured out that people who told me they hated the MTC before I came here were the ones who were going on missions that weren't English speaking and the ones who liked it were... I can see why they felt that way cuz it's super hard to teach the gospel in English- let alone in a foreign language. I don't hate it here though. I have faith that I'll be able to improve more and more if I study hard and have the Spirit with me. I ain't comin' home if that's what you're wondering! I love you guys and please keep the letters coming because they really do keep me going (I know that's what everyone says, but it's true). I miss you and I hope you're staying safe! Give Jasper a kiss from me.

<3 Tess
aka Hermana Crawford

Here's a pic from me in class, and yes that's drool.

p.s. I drew my hair wavy and my eyelashes less luscious than they usually are because I have hardly any time to shower, let alone do my hair/make-up... but my clothes are cute!

Tess's First Letter Home!!!