Its funny that you all wanted me to talk about my new area, because I'm in the same area but with a new companion! Everyone was surprised that I didn't have cambios and especially that Elder M did because he has less time here than I do. So by the end of this transfer, I'll have spent 7 and a half months in this area! then (hopefully), Ill get to change.
So I get to show the area to my new companion Elder R. He is from El Salvador and has 13 months in the mission.
So I get to show the area to my new companion Elder R. He is from El Salvador and has 13 months in the mission.
So there is a new elder in our district who is from Utah Elder K. this is his first area, just like me! but he knows less Spanish than I did, and his comp knows less English than my comp did, so things are pretty tough. The first day while I waited for E. R to get here, I stayed with them and helped translate during their studying, and encourage E. K. I loved talking to the other missionaries when I first started, and I want to do that for the new missionaries. he said he is really glad for my advice, so that makes me feel like I can be good at talking to people. my favorite part was when I got to explain how to take a bucket shower. I went into the bathroom, scooped up some water with the little bucket, and dumped it out. but I just laugh because I was in the same situation, and It gets better, it just takes time!
Shoe News
Last week when we were shopping in the city, I spotted a pair of Teva sandals, and I had been looking for a pair of sandals. I tried them on and they were my size, and they didn't have someone else's footprint in them, so I bought them for 18 dollars, which I think is a good price for these kind of durable sandals, and they're Tevas! But good shoe news comes with bad shoe news. I spotted a fatal wound on the left brown shoe sole. it's from bending my toes, and thereis a lateral crack. so I think I'll just wear them until they don't work, or leak water, and try and repair them, or buy a new pair here and see if the shoes here are any good. Man I've been here for a while, haven't I? I'll let you know if it's worth buying an expensive pair of Eccos in the states.
Service
This week was good! we did a service project on Saturday for Hna. O weeding her backyard. She said it'd be best to pull them out by hand, but Elder R was using a machete (which, I'll give him a break, because it's very hard to have a machete in your hand and NOT use it). So we were almost done cleaning, and E. R chops clean through the end of a 1 inch pvc pipe that was sticking up, capped off, and was their water line. So instantly water starts pouring out. I went over to the hole where we could shut off the water supply to the house. I lifted up the concrete block and looked in and just saw mud. O said the valve (is that the right word to use?) was in there, so I had to man up and stick my hand in what I hoped was just a mixture of dirt and water, and scoop about 10 scoops of mud out to get to the rusty valve to almost shut it off. That didn't fix the problem all the way, so we had to walk a mile to the store that sells the pvc that we needed IN THE 11 O'CLOCK SUN. I wore my hat, but still not enough. We ended up fixing the problem alright.
Shoe News
Last week when we were shopping in the city, I spotted a pair of Teva sandals, and I had been looking for a pair of sandals. I tried them on and they were my size, and they didn't have someone else's footprint in them, so I bought them for 18 dollars, which I think is a good price for these kind of durable sandals, and they're Tevas! But good shoe news comes with bad shoe news. I spotted a fatal wound on the left brown shoe sole. it's from bending my toes, and thereis a lateral crack. so I think I'll just wear them until they don't work, or leak water, and try and repair them, or buy a new pair here and see if the shoes here are any good. Man I've been here for a while, haven't I? I'll let you know if it's worth buying an expensive pair of Eccos in the states.
Service
This week was good! we did a service project on Saturday for Hna. O weeding her backyard. She said it'd be best to pull them out by hand, but Elder R was using a machete (which, I'll give him a break, because it's very hard to have a machete in your hand and NOT use it). So we were almost done cleaning, and E. R chops clean through the end of a 1 inch pvc pipe that was sticking up, capped off, and was their water line. So instantly water starts pouring out. I went over to the hole where we could shut off the water supply to the house. I lifted up the concrete block and looked in and just saw mud. O said the valve (is that the right word to use?) was in there, so I had to man up and stick my hand in what I hoped was just a mixture of dirt and water, and scoop about 10 scoops of mud out to get to the rusty valve to almost shut it off. That didn't fix the problem all the way, so we had to walk a mile to the store that sells the pvc that we needed IN THE 11 O'CLOCK SUN. I wore my hat, but still not enough. We ended up fixing the problem alright.
Baptisms
J is16 years old and she is soooo awesome! she got baptized February 21, and I feel like I got to baptize a future missionary and Relief Society president. She is pretty much the mom of the house because her grandma works long hours, but she still goes to seminary, and all the youth activities. It was amazing to see her transformation. There are good people out there that are just waiting for the last piece of themselves which is the Gospel! She's going to the temple this Friday with the youth and she's bringing family names with her!
E and A: They got baptized the 21st of February. They were a reference from the seminary teacher (seminary teachers are awesome in all parts of the world, this same lady helped us befriend J) and we probably wouldn't have found the house by contacting because its a wood shack hidden behind another house. She cleans the beach and houses of the rich people that have vacation homes, and A works in a Pulperia. She doesn't look like much, and she has a simple occupation, but this lady has potential because she READS WELL! and finding poor people that can read well is hard. She's the kind of woman that could do something more with her life and family if she had more opportunities and money. That's what makes me sad, is to see naturally gifted people be burdened down by poverty, but she has the most important book full of the most important knowledge in the world!
J is16 years old and she is soooo awesome! she got baptized February 21, and I feel like I got to baptize a future missionary and Relief Society president. She is pretty much the mom of the house because her grandma works long hours, but she still goes to seminary, and all the youth activities. It was amazing to see her transformation. There are good people out there that are just waiting for the last piece of themselves which is the Gospel! She's going to the temple this Friday with the youth and she's bringing family names with her!
E and A: They got baptized the 21st of February. They were a reference from the seminary teacher (seminary teachers are awesome in all parts of the world, this same lady helped us befriend J) and we probably wouldn't have found the house by contacting because its a wood shack hidden behind another house. She cleans the beach and houses of the rich people that have vacation homes, and A works in a Pulperia. She doesn't look like much, and she has a simple occupation, but this lady has potential because she READS WELL! and finding poor people that can read well is hard. She's the kind of woman that could do something more with her life and family if she had more opportunities and money. That's what makes me sad, is to see naturally gifted people be burdened down by poverty, but she has the most important book full of the most important knowledge in the world!
Gecko Rescue
I was surprised when I saw this gecko here, and especially because I was able to get so close for a picture, because most of the time they squiggle away really quickly. This one just stayed put, even when I poked him. I figured it must just be an awesome place to catch bugs, and hes not giving it away for nothing. So I left him alone. Then I look back 2 days later and hes still there! I thought maybe he had left and come back to his awesome bug catching spot, but when I pick up the salsa jar to try and get him to jump off, he stays put. He ain't going nowhere. The mean human in me says I'm not gonna let him win, so I shake the salsa jar to get him off. It turns out hes stuck to the salsa jar. I had peeled off the label, but it left the sticky residue and with his awesome sticky legs he got too stuck. So then I instantly felt bad for scaring the poor little guy so I went out onto the balcony and used our spoon to pry off his legs from the salsa trap. Once all legs were free he took a brave leap off the balcony and I think I heard a "Gracias" as he fell into the bushes.