Estoy aqui!!!

FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Estoy aqui en Peru!!!!  Luckily, the adventures of trying to figure out which flight I was actually going to take yesterday, worrying about the weather everywhere, and knowing if I would actually make it to Lima died out a little once I got on the plane in Atlanta.  Everything went smoothly, and I met up with the other 4 missionaries on the plane (one didn´t make his flight out of Salt Lake, so he´ll arrive today).  About 20 people didn´t make it to the flight in Atlanta, so I switched seats to go by the window.  The flight was not very filled at all.  An older sister serving as a health counselor or something was on our flight returning to Peru because she went home to help her daughter who just had a baby.  She was so sweet and really when we got off the plane, because she knew what to do with all the paperwork and bags, where to go, what to do if you didn´t get your luggage (2 of the elders didn´t get their stuff), etc.  Yay for being an unexperienced international flyer!  It wasn´t as hard as I thought it would be, though.  I´m a pro now.  The flight from Atlanta to Lima was six and a half hours, and actually wasn´t too bad.  They fed us, which was wonderful because I hadn´t eaten pretty much anything all day.  The rest of the flight, I slept, wrote in my journal, followed the flight progress, and read what everyone wrote in my book.  Thank you so much for your words of support and love.  They´ve already helped me out a lot.  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

We met up with a sister in the Lima Airport, and then a bus took us 30 minutes to the CCM (or MTC...Centro de Capacitacion Misional).  It´s still weird to think that I´m actually here in PERU!  It´s definitely a different world down here in South America.  The buildings are lined up across the street, quite a bit of basura on the streets, everything is blocked in with bars or fences, etc.  It was so hot and humid when we arrived last night; I hope I can make it!  We got to the CCM around 1:30 a.m. and we're actually in the same time zone here as New Hampshire!  When we got there, they gave us a paper with information/schedule/keys on it, and then just kind of sent us on our way, so it was really nice when a sister in my room woke up and told me what to do a little.  I made my bed and was sweating the whole night.  Luckily, on the first day here, we can sleep until 9 a.m. so I did, then showered and got ready for the day.  I think I´ll be wearing my hair up every day for the next 18 months because it is way too hot to have sitting on the back of my neck.  No gracias.

I don´t have a companion yet, so this morning, I just had to find someone and ask for help knowing where to go and what to do.  I can´t tell you how grateful I am that I took Spanish.  I definitely knew more than I thought I did, and the hermana I talked to was impressed that I hadn´t had any previous MTC Spanish training.  A couple of the other elders only took one or two years in high school, so they´re really having a hard time.  We are the FIRST group to come to the CCM without any previous MTC time in Provo.  So it´s been an adventure for everyone.  I don´t have my schedule on me, so I´m not sure what I have planned for the rest of the day, but I´m excited to meet the mission president, unpack, and get a companion.  Everyone loves that my last name means yesterday in Spanish, which doesn´t come as any surprise.

I love you all so much and am so grateful for everything you´ve done for me.  I pray that the Lord will be with me every day here so that I can learn the language and learn how to teach with the Spirit.  I´m going to miss you so much, but the blessings in store for us are going to be awesome!  I know the church is true and I´m grateful for how you have helped me prepare for this new experience in my life.  I´m glad I got to talk to each and every one of you one last time before I left, and please know that I love you so much.  Good luck with all your endeavors, and I look forward to hearing from you on Pday!

Con much amor,

Hermana Sarah Ayer

P.S.  Do NOT send ANY packages to the MTC here.  They wanted to make sure I told you.  If you want, you can send stuff to me when I get to Ecuador, but I would try not to send a lot because it will be wicked expensive.  I think I might be able to go out and buy things I need if I find out I´ve forgotten something here, but just make sure you don´t send me any packages while I am here.  I love you!  :]