This week we taught Alejandra and Ramon and they have baptismal dates and they are superrrr cool. They are 16 and 13 and their parents got baptized like 8 months ago but the elders didn't teach the kids... so we are doing that now and they are awesome. They are a... bigger family... so we always eat a lot when we go there which is the best. I don't think I can count how many tortillas I eat in a day here haha. This week in weekly planning we dropped pretty much everyone we are teaching. This week we are gunna be doing a lot of knocking I reckon, its good though and overdue but Sister Kang is a little more patient with people than I am. I don't like feeling like I need to drag people, "here it is people, eternal life, take it or leave it" haha. Hermana Castillo and Jesus Avila are now considered 'active' on the new ward list we got, which is super cool since we have focused a lot of attention on them, really great to see them progressing. I forgot to mention that I gave a talk last Sunday in church,I think it went ok. Mine was deff more entertaining than the elders (we have pretty boring elders in our district now) so that's a plus.
We found out that one of our English referrals from knocking is getting baptized! Yay, we talked to this guy Christian on his door step and gave his info to English elders and look what happened! Hooray! I am still the last Spanish sister that has come to the mission and apparently next transfer they are all English sisters coming in too, so I guess I am destined to be junior comp forever haha, it's all good though, Heavenly Father knows what he's doing.
We recently had a lesson with Cecilia and we did a visual aid where we had this thing that you light on fire in their hand but then at the last minute it floats up into the air.. well she got nervous when the flame was getting closer to her skin and she yelled "S***!!!!" Like super loud and it was the funniest thing ever. We were like, "where's your faith!?" so that was classic.
8.30.2010
8.24.2010
Week 13
From the sounds of the emails everything is going good and you are all just adjusting to normal life again after so much excitement! I am so happy to hear that everything went so well. I loved the picture that mom sent- yay for my cute little sister getting married- you guys looked great.
We have NO time today because we didn't end up getting back from the temple till 4, and p-day ends at 6... its now 5:40 sooo we havent really had time to do anything. Temple was super awesome, I really loved it. The LA temple is a really cool temple and they just recently opened the new visitors center and of course they did a really good job on it. Really spiritual, lots to learn, I love it.
This week was really good, can't really remember anything too monumental. I have been very careful with my skin since I've got here cuz the sun is so strong you can like feel it giving you wrinkles so I am addicted to my sun block but I'm still getting burnt. This lady in our ward had these wrinkle creams she got free from her work and she gave me and Sister Kang some so I am using that every night haha, I have suddenly become very aware of aging- and Im only 21! yikes.
Sorry I dont have more time, I love and miss you guys tons, love to hear from you and eveything thats going on.. Hugs and kisses!
We have NO time today because we didn't end up getting back from the temple till 4, and p-day ends at 6... its now 5:40 sooo we havent really had time to do anything. Temple was super awesome, I really loved it. The LA temple is a really cool temple and they just recently opened the new visitors center and of course they did a really good job on it. Really spiritual, lots to learn, I love it.
This week was really good, can't really remember anything too monumental. I have been very careful with my skin since I've got here cuz the sun is so strong you can like feel it giving you wrinkles so I am addicted to my sun block but I'm still getting burnt. This lady in our ward had these wrinkle creams she got free from her work and she gave me and Sister Kang some so I am using that every night haha, I have suddenly become very aware of aging- and Im only 21! yikes.
Sorry I dont have more time, I love and miss you guys tons, love to hear from you and eveything thats going on.. Hugs and kisses!
8.16.2010
Week 12
Hey Family! Whats up!? Im sure this has been a very eventful and crazy weekend! Wow- Emily is married huh!? Like, she has a husband! what the heck! My computer crashed as I have been trying to transfer all my pix to a flash drive cuz I almost accidentally deleted all my pix this week so I really wanted to do that, but the comp couldnt handle it. I am veryyyyy excited to read these emails!!! I am sure everything was great so it makes me happy that you could have some good family time while celebrating this crazy new beginning in Emily's life. I loveddd the pix from the reception in baltimore, the patio is RADDD. Dad you are a miracle worker, it looks so awesome! I am really excited to relax there in October... oh shoot, it will probably be cold by then... oh well we can all squash on the hammock with a blanket! yay!
I dont have much time sadly because of technical difficulties but this week was super awesome. Juan got baptized yesterday!!!!!!! I cried like a little girl. I have never cried so much in my entire life in comparison to how much I cry here in the mission, haha not sad tears, dont worry. He bore his testimony and he was really complementary to Sister Kang and I and it was really touching for us, we sang a childs prayer and he was crying haha, it was a good emotional/happy event.
Highlights: last p-day all the sisters went and had lunch with Sister Pike at the mission home and it was pretty cool. It was pretty formal and quiet so it wasnt a blast or anything but the food was good.
We taught Cecilia and her family ten commandments this week and it was hilarious because Alberto, her husband, goes, "is it stealing to change the price tags on things so they are cheaper?" maybe you had to be there but we were like "uh, yeah, duhhh" haha they are such a cool family.
All of our new investigators dont speak spanish very well cuz they all speak their native dialect Chimenteco (I dont know how to spell it), we are trying to find ways to use more visual aids as they are struggling to grasp what we are trying to share. Transfer calls came saturday night and Sister Kang and I will be embarking on our third transfer together here in Covina. I am happy as I LOVE this area and dont ever want to leave.
Plus Sister Kang and I are tight so Im happy to spend another transfer with her as we have become good friends over these past few months. I am now driving as it is her second to last transfer so shes not allowed to drive, starting today, Im happy as her driving was a sources of my tested patience haha. Transfer calls were fun, we have coordination so we are all together as a district for calls (our district leader is the only one leaving and apparently the new guy coming is super strict so we are all a little anxious about what we've heard about him as we all get along really well).
I love and miss you guys tons. Take care. Laura.
I dont have much time sadly because of technical difficulties but this week was super awesome. Juan got baptized yesterday!!!!!!! I cried like a little girl. I have never cried so much in my entire life in comparison to how much I cry here in the mission, haha not sad tears, dont worry. He bore his testimony and he was really complementary to Sister Kang and I and it was really touching for us, we sang a childs prayer and he was crying haha, it was a good emotional/happy event.
Highlights: last p-day all the sisters went and had lunch with Sister Pike at the mission home and it was pretty cool. It was pretty formal and quiet so it wasnt a blast or anything but the food was good.
We taught Cecilia and her family ten commandments this week and it was hilarious because Alberto, her husband, goes, "is it stealing to change the price tags on things so they are cheaper?" maybe you had to be there but we were like "uh, yeah, duhhh" haha they are such a cool family.
All of our new investigators dont speak spanish very well cuz they all speak their native dialect Chimenteco (I dont know how to spell it), we are trying to find ways to use more visual aids as they are struggling to grasp what we are trying to share. Transfer calls came saturday night and Sister Kang and I will be embarking on our third transfer together here in Covina. I am happy as I LOVE this area and dont ever want to leave.
Plus Sister Kang and I are tight so Im happy to spend another transfer with her as we have become good friends over these past few months. I am now driving as it is her second to last transfer so shes not allowed to drive, starting today, Im happy as her driving was a sources of my tested patience haha. Transfer calls were fun, we have coordination so we are all together as a district for calls (our district leader is the only one leaving and apparently the new guy coming is super strict so we are all a little anxious about what we've heard about him as we all get along really well).
I love and miss you guys tons. Take care. Laura.
8.09.2010
Week 11
Hola Familia!
How is everyone? From the skimming I just did of the emails recieved it seems like everything is going good and you are all ready for the big event! wooowww. So this Saturday is almost here! I announced that Emily is getting married in good news minute in relief society and they were all like, "woww" then they were like, "oh no! you wont be there" haha, tragic. When I said it was my little sister they felt even worse for me hahaha, I told them "no hard feelings." So even though mom was falling asleep at the temple I am excited to read emilys email and hear how that went for her, hopefully it was awesome! Glad the bridal shower was fun, Im sure Ashley and Jenna did a great job, they know how to throw a party. Tell Sarah & Les and David & Jane that I say hello, Im excied to hear how your west coast vacation goes when you get internet access.
This week I learned to make empanadas, its such a long process, I now know why people dont like to make things from scracth, sooo time consuming. President Pike forgot about the baptisimal interview with Juan so we have to wait another week, its all good though. While we were waiting for him to come I called this number for a paper that Juan wanted me to translate but it was confusing cuz it was a legal document so I called the number thinking it was no big deal and accidentally got caught up in a criminal investigation of Juans cousin haha, who is one of our investigators, and President Pike was not very impressed when we called him asking what we should do haha, ooopppppss.
Sister Kang got into BYU so we celebrated by buying ice cream then that night Juans interview fell through so we were depressed so we bought ice cream, the next day we went to In-N-Out to celebrate my 3 months in the mission and sister kang's 3 months left in the mission. We were laughing because we were saying that we are gunna get fat if we keep using food as our reward.
We had comp exchanges on Thursday so I was with Sister Casperson in Chino and we had a super good time together, she is legit and we are a lot alike, deff a cool hermana. We stayed up way too later talking and I was struggling the next day. I got to drive so I liked it, next transfer if I stay with Sister Kang I get to drive so that will be good (she they arent allowed to drive their last 2 transfers of the mish). We are headed to Sister Pike's house today for a lunch with other sister missionaries, I will be on my best behavior, dont worry haha.
The work is deff coming along, people are progressing slowly but this week we gave 3 tours so we got 4 new investigators, which is good. I always quote that part from the movie 'the notebook' where he yells at the girl and says, "get in the water!"... thats what I want to yell at people when we show them the baptisimal font on the tour haha.
Gotta go, love and miss you guys tonssss. BESITOS. Laura.
How is everyone? From the skimming I just did of the emails recieved it seems like everything is going good and you are all ready for the big event! wooowww. So this Saturday is almost here! I announced that Emily is getting married in good news minute in relief society and they were all like, "woww" then they were like, "oh no! you wont be there" haha, tragic. When I said it was my little sister they felt even worse for me hahaha, I told them "no hard feelings." So even though mom was falling asleep at the temple I am excited to read emilys email and hear how that went for her, hopefully it was awesome! Glad the bridal shower was fun, Im sure Ashley and Jenna did a great job, they know how to throw a party. Tell Sarah & Les and David & Jane that I say hello, Im excied to hear how your west coast vacation goes when you get internet access.
This week I learned to make empanadas, its such a long process, I now know why people dont like to make things from scracth, sooo time consuming. President Pike forgot about the baptisimal interview with Juan so we have to wait another week, its all good though. While we were waiting for him to come I called this number for a paper that Juan wanted me to translate but it was confusing cuz it was a legal document so I called the number thinking it was no big deal and accidentally got caught up in a criminal investigation of Juans cousin haha, who is one of our investigators, and President Pike was not very impressed when we called him asking what we should do haha, ooopppppss.
Sister Kang got into BYU so we celebrated by buying ice cream then that night Juans interview fell through so we were depressed so we bought ice cream, the next day we went to In-N-Out to celebrate my 3 months in the mission and sister kang's 3 months left in the mission. We were laughing because we were saying that we are gunna get fat if we keep using food as our reward.
We had comp exchanges on Thursday so I was with Sister Casperson in Chino and we had a super good time together, she is legit and we are a lot alike, deff a cool hermana. We stayed up way too later talking and I was struggling the next day. I got to drive so I liked it, next transfer if I stay with Sister Kang I get to drive so that will be good (she they arent allowed to drive their last 2 transfers of the mish). We are headed to Sister Pike's house today for a lunch with other sister missionaries, I will be on my best behavior, dont worry haha.
The work is deff coming along, people are progressing slowly but this week we gave 3 tours so we got 4 new investigators, which is good. I always quote that part from the movie 'the notebook' where he yells at the girl and says, "get in the water!"... thats what I want to yell at people when we show them the baptisimal font on the tour haha.
Gotta go, love and miss you guys tonssss. BESITOS. Laura.
8.02.2010
Week 10!!
Wow- what a busy and exciting weekend! I'm glad to hear that the reception went well, I am extremely excited to get those pix in the mail and to receive pix in the future of the actual wedding day and reception in Oregon. Tomorrow Emily heads to the temple- whooaaa. I should have been more open minded when I went for the first time so that would probably be my advice. The second time I prayed while I was in there and asked, "is this legit?"... turns out it is! the spirit was really strong and it all makes sense from the small amount of temple attendance I have had thus far, it will be nice to go more after the mission, and like emily said- it's nice to go to temple and be able to come out without wet hair! That's cool that the house was so busy and that people wee helping out- . Dad sorry about your toe but it sounds like the patio has turned out awesome so it was totally worth it!
As for me, all is well here in Covina. I had my first companion exchange this week so it was me and Sister Beazer (she is from Cardston, Canada and knows Kayleigh Quinton- small world), so it was the 2 junior comps together in my area so I was senior for the day and it was pretty cool slash a little stressful. Every single appointment we had for the day fell through- even dinner and even our backup plans haha, soooo we said lots of prayers and it turned out to be a good day and a nice breather, I like being in charge so it was good. There are only 2 weeks left of this transfer so we will see what happens on the 16th. We had president interviews this week also and that will be the last one till 3 transfers from now which I guess is a new thing in all missions so it's not just here. It was good, brief, and we got our new DVD player that we haven't used yet.
This week was pretty slow but we had 6 people attend sacrament meeting this week which is good. We just had a very cool experience a few hours ago, we have been having a hard time getting hold of Cecilia this week then she called us this morning and said she wanted to meet with us so we met her at the church at 8am and she has a lot of family and life problems but she has been so wonderful and received an answer to her prayers that the Book of Mormon is true etc but she has had to make some changes and this morning after talking about her problems it went quiet and she goes, "I want to be baptized".... YAY! So we didn't even have to ask- she did it for us. So hopefully Juan will get baptized this Sunday and Cecilia on the 15th. Cecilia is a mother of 2 little kids and her husband Alberto is really cool but not as proactive- but he will get baptized too, just a little later. So yay! I really love them, they are one of my favorites. We are teaching a lot of people but a lot are not progressing very well so we were talking about how we may need to drop people to find other people that are ready- we will wait and see what feels right. I love the people though, I have become very close with quite a few people in the ward and they are so wonderful. I will probably always stay in Spanish wards in the future- they need the help and I like the feel better, no offense to you gringos haha. We went to a primary activity on Saturday to help out, we didn't end up helping at all but we did eat all the food haha. There are new eating rules too, you are only allowed to eat with you and your comp at a house, like 2 sets of missionaries can't eat together with members. We already weren't allowed to eat with Elders but now it has got more strict, so that's interesting.
We met a mind reader this week and she told me everything I have been thinking and worrying about so that was super crazy. Cool but weird. I have been writing poems because I have a lot of things (both good and bad) built up and I need a constructive way to get them out. Some are pretty funny, I'll show you after my mission, reminded me of those children's books I wrote haha, I am a loser.
I miss you guys but its good because I am pretty used to being away from home. The lack of communication is the real bummer buttt, everything has its purpose so it's all good. Sad to miss all of the exciting events in Emily's life right now but we've got a lifetime to catch up so no worries there. My skin smells like mom, that's random but for real, I noticed it when I was in Chile but I don't know if I ever told you- when I smell my skin it makes me think of mom haha, creepy maybe? I like it though. Everything is good here, today we are headed to Korean market and to run all the other errands that we need to get done on Pday. Take care and enjoy your time in Portland! Much love yoo. Laura
As for me, all is well here in Covina. I had my first companion exchange this week so it was me and Sister Beazer (she is from Cardston, Canada and knows Kayleigh Quinton- small world), so it was the 2 junior comps together in my area so I was senior for the day and it was pretty cool slash a little stressful. Every single appointment we had for the day fell through- even dinner and even our backup plans haha, soooo we said lots of prayers and it turned out to be a good day and a nice breather, I like being in charge so it was good. There are only 2 weeks left of this transfer so we will see what happens on the 16th. We had president interviews this week also and that will be the last one till 3 transfers from now which I guess is a new thing in all missions so it's not just here. It was good, brief, and we got our new DVD player that we haven't used yet.
This week was pretty slow but we had 6 people attend sacrament meeting this week which is good. We just had a very cool experience a few hours ago, we have been having a hard time getting hold of Cecilia this week then she called us this morning and said she wanted to meet with us so we met her at the church at 8am and she has a lot of family and life problems but she has been so wonderful and received an answer to her prayers that the Book of Mormon is true etc but she has had to make some changes and this morning after talking about her problems it went quiet and she goes, "I want to be baptized".... YAY! So we didn't even have to ask- she did it for us. So hopefully Juan will get baptized this Sunday and Cecilia on the 15th. Cecilia is a mother of 2 little kids and her husband Alberto is really cool but not as proactive- but he will get baptized too, just a little later. So yay! I really love them, they are one of my favorites. We are teaching a lot of people but a lot are not progressing very well so we were talking about how we may need to drop people to find other people that are ready- we will wait and see what feels right. I love the people though, I have become very close with quite a few people in the ward and they are so wonderful. I will probably always stay in Spanish wards in the future- they need the help and I like the feel better, no offense to you gringos haha. We went to a primary activity on Saturday to help out, we didn't end up helping at all but we did eat all the food haha. There are new eating rules too, you are only allowed to eat with you and your comp at a house, like 2 sets of missionaries can't eat together with members. We already weren't allowed to eat with Elders but now it has got more strict, so that's interesting.
We met a mind reader this week and she told me everything I have been thinking and worrying about so that was super crazy. Cool but weird. I have been writing poems because I have a lot of things (both good and bad) built up and I need a constructive way to get them out. Some are pretty funny, I'll show you after my mission, reminded me of those children's books I wrote haha, I am a loser.
I miss you guys but its good because I am pretty used to being away from home. The lack of communication is the real bummer buttt, everything has its purpose so it's all good. Sad to miss all of the exciting events in Emily's life right now but we've got a lifetime to catch up so no worries there. My skin smells like mom, that's random but for real, I noticed it when I was in Chile but I don't know if I ever told you- when I smell my skin it makes me think of mom haha, creepy maybe? I like it though. Everything is good here, today we are headed to Korean market and to run all the other errands that we need to get done on Pday. Take care and enjoy your time in Portland! Much love yoo. Laura
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)