Ok. lots happens in just a little bit of time in the mish so I’ll try to abbreviate a bit… also because I have no idea how much time I’ve been on the computer but I’m pretty sure quite a bit.
Ok. I am in Beliz. The national language is English. I stepped out of the car when we first got here and the first thing I thought was: I AM BOILING ALIVE. I don’t usually notice humidity, but man, I notice it here! I contacted a few people and taught a few lessons in English and it was REALLY HARD. I don’t know how to be a missionary in English. I don’t even really know how to introduce myself to people in English. I learned everything about all that in Spanish and that’s what’s more natural for me…
It’s really hard to all the sudden switch to English, especially because my companion, Hna Duarte, pretty much doesn’t speak a lick of English… so I’m pretty much all out there in that strange English world on my own… I don’t even know where to start, it’s been crazy. Crazy hot too. Everyone speaks English with a strange accent, which I guess comes from Africa way back in time (sometimes i really feel like I’m serving in Africa because it’s just like I imagine Africa would be; very hot, lots of black people that speak English with an accent… everything is flat and tropical…) I haven’t really heard much of Creol since I’ve been here, but I guess “Creol” just means really bad English with a jamaican accent and lots of “man”s. Man, I totally know why I was called to serve here. These are my people. i must have been adopted.
Our area is called Belmopan. I am a little disappointed because I think it’s the only area in Belice where we DON’T get to have baptisms in the Sea. 🙁 It’s the biggest branch here (yep, not even a ward, there aren’t wards in Beliz). So it’s really different, but everything is going really well. The members brought A LOT of investigators to church without any help from us! They’re AMAZING and they want to work.
We also just randomly contacted a guy when we were looking to find a Chinese Restaurant (there are lots of Chinese immigrants here–YAY!!!!!) and invited him to church.
And he showed up with his wife and six daughters!!
Blessing? I’d say so. Pure blessing. I can’t believe it. We’d only been here wednesday to friday and we had a lot of new investigators this week and a lot of people at church and it wasn’t for anything special we did. Pure, undeserved blessing.
I will try to take some pictures. It’s a lot safer here than El Salvador, and even though we’re in the capital, there aren’t that many people…
When do you go to Belice?
Already here. Since Wednesday or something. We write on Tuesdays now.
How is Sister Ellis doing? I’m hoping she is getting better.
I hope she’s getting better too. Don’t know now.
Do you really think that the number of baptisms is the measure of a good missionary? I’m pretty sure you know better than that. Are you obedient? Do you work hard? Do you listen to the guidance of the spirit and try to act on it’s promptings? Do you love and serve the people?
No. I’ve learned that the best missionaries aren’t necessarily the ones with the most baptisms. I think the best missionaries are the best people who work the hardest. I think I’ve finally learned to understand what following the spirit is, and it’s a lot simpler than I thought it was before–it just means recognizing when you DON’T have the spirit and fixing it fast: by praying a lot. By asking forgiveness a lot.
Did you ever get to teach the guy you invited to church that Sunday on the street, Carlos?
Sigh. We tried. But he fell through with about 3 or 4 appointments when we tried to find him again so we had to drop him. I don’t know if maybe he showed up at church again.
Can you tell me a little more about Alonso?
….oh yeah. We dropped him too because they wouldn’t answer the door when they knew it was us.
How is Eduardito? Do Yeni and Fernando have any other children? Are they married? Have they been to church again?
Uh… they got baptized. Which is kinda a long story, remind me and I’ll tell you next week.
Reina and Roxana:
I got to say goodbye to Reina, but I was unable to see Roxana one last time before I left Modelo. It was sad. Reina started crying so I had to leave quick after that.
Love,
Bek