Hey Fam Bam
I got a letter from Hna Falcon the other day. She told me that Dad had contacted her about the trip and she wants me to reassure you that it wouldn’t be a problem for us to stay at their house. She also talked about tacos al pastor, and sprinting to the finish.
We’ve definitely seen an upturn this week.
On Tuesday while I was working at the Visitors’ Center a lady and her daughter came in after going to the temple. We chatted for a while about different cultures specifically Hispanic and Native American. We also chatted about all the usual things like where I’m from and how long I’ve been out. It was a nice little visit, and then they went back out to take photos by the temple. Hna Cottrell and I were watching them, and wondering how on earth they were so thin. Hna Cottrell was saying we should ask them when they turned around and came back in. The lady came up to the desk and said something along the lines of, “I felt impressed to tell you this and I always act on my impressions or I come to regret it for years.” I honestly thought for half a second she was going to tell me the secret to being skinny. Then she told me that the Lord is pleased with my service, and that I’ve made a difference here in Mesa Arizona. Even though I still have no idea how to lose weight. It was a really sweet experience. I’ve been struggling a little bit because I always imagined being crazy busy at the end of my mission and seeing huge miracles. Instead it’s just work as usual. Sometimes there’s good days and sometimes there are bad. It’s neat to see how God can use other people to communicate with us. Anyways, I’m still not a ‘huggy’ person, but I gave her a hug, and she was off.
The other day we went over to a member’s home to cut out hearts to put on the door of a recent convert’s home. Even their teenage son helped out, he helped me put tape on the back of the hearts for optimal speed when we got there. As we approached the door we could here Elena (the mom) talking in the living room, but this was no time for turning back. So we were silent as ninjas and sticking hearts as fast as we possibly could when the dumb dog started barking. We ran like crazy people right as she was opening the door, and the get away was sort of ruined by me dropping my hat, and Elena waving to us as we speed off in the back of a suburban.
This week I also had my most awkward experience on the mission. We were teaching the law of chastity to Augustin, and he kept staring at me during the lesson. While I was explaining something he interrupted to tell me he likes the way I talk. I sort of gave up on teaching and was letting Hna Cottrell and the member take control of the lesson after that. He told us that he had been living the law of chastity for a while, and that he had hoped something would happen with an American girl he’d been hanging out with but she called things off when he started learning about the church. He then proceeded to tell Sara (the member who was with us) how much he liked me. For reals, like I wasn’t even there. So we had to explain to Augustin and tell him that missionaries can’t date. At one point I even lied and said I had a boyfriend at home because I felt so awkward.
It should be a funny story but I feel kind of badly about it. Augustin honestly just doesn’t know any better. We had interviews with president the next day and I told him about it, but he didn’t take Hna Cottrell and I very seriously when he found out Augustin is around 70. Augustin is pretty serious about it though, he even offered to wait for me.
Also in my interview with president he informed me he sent me an email chastising me. I still don’t really know why because he seemed fine with me in interviews, but apparently he even told Hna Cottrell to watch for my reaction during email. I still haven’t opened it, because I figured I should go with the fact that I’m not cranky this week and actually write you all an upbeat email.
Yesterday was a really good day. We had a big miracle where we couldn’t find a member to come to an appointment with us but while we were walking there a member in the Liahona 3rd ward pulled over to say hi to us. We invited him to come with, and it was perfect. Judy has talked to missionaries a few times before, but has never been baptized, because she’s afraid of the commitment. Ramiro when he was baptized last December couldn’t make up his mind until the day of his baptism. He had told the missionaries he was never going to be baptized, and then the day his brother was going to be baptized he called them, and asked them to set up an interview so he could be baptized with his brother. Judy said that she feels like this time she’s ready and we set a baptismal date for Feb 9th. She seems really prepared to make changes in her life and there was definitely a special spirit in that lesson. We were also able to have a family home evening at our ward mission leaders home. Augustin came, and another family from the ward. Everyone had a good time, and I didn’t even have to teach the lesson so, it was great. Yesterday was also Hna Cottrell’s first experience eating cow stomach. Dulce invited us over for dinner, and I was really excited about it. When she asked if I wanted to eat my rice and “pansita” together or separate. I started to pray. This was my third encounter with cow intestine and I new what to do. As soon as the pray was done I started swallowing the pieces one by one. This time I didn’t even gag at all. Honestly, I think Dulce must be a pretty good cook because the flavor wasn’t bad at all, but that texture is horrible. So overall my best experience eating pansa yet. Hna Cottrell didn’t hold up as well, but she managed to put on a good face while we were there.
Anyways, sure do love you all. Is Hannah gone already? That makes me pretty sad.
I sure do love you all,
p.s. I’ve actually been exercising and I think my calves are going to kill me
p.p.s IT WAS ONLY 30 DEGREES THIS MORNING!