Hola Familia!
Melissa and Clarissa were just baptized yesterday! They are both so cute. Their brother Felix who was baptized about a month ago got to baptize them. It was a really incredible experience. I feel so close to their family.
Well, actually this week I realized that I probably feel a little too close, because I think that poor little Felix has a crush on me. He is 18 and just graduated from high school, so he is about the same age as James. We were focusing on him a lot this past week trying to help him feel comfortable getting ready to baptize his sisters, and also trying to get him motivated to think about serving a mission. He wants to be a doctor, so he feels like it wouldn't be smart to interrupt his schooling. We tried to show him how cool missionary work is by taking him out tracting and contacting formers for a couple hours the other day on our bikes. It was really fun, and I kept thinking "Oh, look at cute little Felix- he reminds me of my brother James. It would be so much fun to do missionary work with James." But then the next day he sent me a big bouquet of red roses, as a sort of thank you for helping him find the church, but it wasn't addressed to me and sister garcia, just to me. Plus they were like these beautiful red romantic roses. Poor guy. Sister Garcia thought is was HILARIOUS, and told me that she is never going to let me live it down. We're going to let the elders help teach him more now, and we're not allowed to take him out with us anymore. I'm not really worried about it, I just feel bad if he does have a crush on me. :P Man, and I thought that I was going to be able to come on my mission and escape from boys for eighteen months. I guess not, ha ha.
We had our last Zone Conference with President and Sister Blackburn this past week. We get a new mission president tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamic of the mission will change. I loved the Blackburns, they were so dedicated to obedience and high standards for the mission, but at the same time so personable and loving. I wish I would have had the chance to get to know them better. Its hard though being so isolated from everything out here. I'm barely getting to know other missionaries in the mission, and that's because Sister Garcia knows everyone and is really cool and popular, so as she says I'm "guilty by association." I love that she is helping me break out of my shell, and that she is brutally honest with me and tells me when I'm awkward or being lame, or fake, or whatever.
I love the zone that we are in; everyone is really nice. We are the only sisters and so they always love to play sports. We played basketball today and it was so much fun. They have a rule though that sisters can only be guarded by sisters, and sister garcia couldn't play because of her finger, so they let me play but they couldn't guard me and I couldn't guard them. It was still fun though. It has been so long since I'd played, and I love playing basketball. Especially with guys that actually know how to play.
Well, that was my week. I actually really don't feel like writing very much today. I'm doing good. We're working hard trying to find people to teach, and spending a lot of time riding our bikes which I love. I hope you are all doing well and having a fun summer.
Love,
Sister Dansie
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Cudahy: Translado 4: Semana 2 GOOOALLLL!!! June 21, 2010
Hola familia!
Its been quite a week. In case you hadn't heard, Mexico won their game in the World cup on Thursday, and the Lakers won the NBA title. How do I know? Because the city went crazy with celebration. I've never seen or heard anything like it. The soccer game was in the afternoon, and luckily it was going on while we were doing weekly planning, because they would not have been happy had we tried to go tracting and interrupt. When Mexico scored we could hear all of our neighbors yelling GOOOOALLLL!!!!, and when they won people went out into the streets and drove around honking their horns and going crazy. Later that night the Lakers won and it started all over again, and the celebrating lasted all night. Good thing I can sleep through anything, but my poor companion had a really rough time getting any rest. Its funny because I feel like sports is kind of a religion in and of itself, and there are some real fanatics out there. I'm growing to really love and appreciate soccer. It is a big part of the Latin American culture- everyone loves it. We've been playing it a lot as a zone lately and I've been trying to learn how.
We had a really neat special temple devotional this past Wednesday where the entire mission, about 500 missionaries, came and we all did a session together. It was so powerful seeing all of the missionaries together. I felt kind of overwhelmed though being surrounded by so many people and not knowing hardly any of them. My companion likes to tease me a lot because I can be really awkward sometimes, especially when I'm in big crowds like that, and especially when I'm trying to be careful so the elders don't get the wrong idea when I'm just trying to be friendly. It is funny how weird the elders are sometimes, especially like when we are playing sports. I feel like I have a bubble around me and they are all afraid to actually play, which gets me frustrated because I always want to play like I'm just one of the guys. :)
I feel like I have been really blessed this transfer with my companion Sister Garcia, because she has really helped me break out of being another robot, super missionary that has to pretend to be perfect all of the time. She's helped me to be myself more and not be so hard on myself. It is hard to be a missionary, and its ok to admit that. I have had some really rough times, but that is all part of the experience. I think that it is also hard now that its summer and we've been conditioned our whole lives to go into vacation mode for summer, and we can think about all of the fun things that are happening back at home, but as missionaries have to keep working hard and pushing forward. I haven't been super "trunkie," I'm just saying that I let myself admit that its hard but that its ok if i feel like its hard sometimes, as long as I keep pushing forward and working my hardest, which I am.
I like how in Alma there is so much good council for missionaries, and I love reading about how it was hard for them too, but they were able to overcome it. There is a part that I just read about how Alma and his sons and the sons Mosiah all went on a mission to the Zoramites, and it says basically that all of their suffering were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. God always reimburses us more than any suffering and sacrifice that we make. I know that is true, because this has been the hardest thing I've ever done, but I've also never felt so much joy. I love the friendships I've made here and the people I've seen come unto Christ, and I love knowing that they will literally be my friends forever, and that I was a very small part of the incredible changes they have made in their lives.
I love you!
Sister Dansie
Its been quite a week. In case you hadn't heard, Mexico won their game in the World cup on Thursday, and the Lakers won the NBA title. How do I know? Because the city went crazy with celebration. I've never seen or heard anything like it. The soccer game was in the afternoon, and luckily it was going on while we were doing weekly planning, because they would not have been happy had we tried to go tracting and interrupt. When Mexico scored we could hear all of our neighbors yelling GOOOOALLLL!!!!, and when they won people went out into the streets and drove around honking their horns and going crazy. Later that night the Lakers won and it started all over again, and the celebrating lasted all night. Good thing I can sleep through anything, but my poor companion had a really rough time getting any rest. Its funny because I feel like sports is kind of a religion in and of itself, and there are some real fanatics out there. I'm growing to really love and appreciate soccer. It is a big part of the Latin American culture- everyone loves it. We've been playing it a lot as a zone lately and I've been trying to learn how.
We had a really neat special temple devotional this past Wednesday where the entire mission, about 500 missionaries, came and we all did a session together. It was so powerful seeing all of the missionaries together. I felt kind of overwhelmed though being surrounded by so many people and not knowing hardly any of them. My companion likes to tease me a lot because I can be really awkward sometimes, especially when I'm in big crowds like that, and especially when I'm trying to be careful so the elders don't get the wrong idea when I'm just trying to be friendly. It is funny how weird the elders are sometimes, especially like when we are playing sports. I feel like I have a bubble around me and they are all afraid to actually play, which gets me frustrated because I always want to play like I'm just one of the guys. :)
I feel like I have been really blessed this transfer with my companion Sister Garcia, because she has really helped me break out of being another robot, super missionary that has to pretend to be perfect all of the time. She's helped me to be myself more and not be so hard on myself. It is hard to be a missionary, and its ok to admit that. I have had some really rough times, but that is all part of the experience. I think that it is also hard now that its summer and we've been conditioned our whole lives to go into vacation mode for summer, and we can think about all of the fun things that are happening back at home, but as missionaries have to keep working hard and pushing forward. I haven't been super "trunkie," I'm just saying that I let myself admit that its hard but that its ok if i feel like its hard sometimes, as long as I keep pushing forward and working my hardest, which I am.
I like how in Alma there is so much good council for missionaries, and I love reading about how it was hard for them too, but they were able to overcome it. There is a part that I just read about how Alma and his sons and the sons Mosiah all went on a mission to the Zoramites, and it says basically that all of their suffering were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. God always reimburses us more than any suffering and sacrifice that we make. I know that is true, because this has been the hardest thing I've ever done, but I've also never felt so much joy. I love the friendships I've made here and the people I've seen come unto Christ, and I love knowing that they will literally be my friends forever, and that I was a very small part of the incredible changes they have made in their lives.
I love you!
Sister Dansie
Monday, June 14, 2010
Cudahy: Translado 4: Semana 1 / June 14, 2010
Hola familia!
So, we just had transfers, but I'm still in the same place, they just changed the name. I'm so glad I get to stay because I have come to know and love the Maywood branch so much. They feel like my second family. My companion is still Sister Garcia, the fiery little mexican. I love her, she is really loud (in a good way) and not afraid to get in there and talk to people really bluntly and honestly. The only thing that changed was that sister Cass was put in Vernon with another companion. Its funny because they are both very white and blond and learning spanish, and they're in an area with about 80 percent hispanic and 20 percent black, so they have people shouting at them and whistling and they draw a lot of attention. It was sad having sister Cass leave and feels a lot lonelier with just the two of us now, but we're excited to be able to focus completely on one area, and now that the mission has been changed back to separate english and spanish we've been made a spanish area, and so we only have to focus on the Maywood branch. it has taken a lot of stress off os us. Last transfer was really intense, and I hate the feeling of not being able to do my best because I feel stretched too thin. In the same respect it forced us to rely a lot more on the Lord, and we saw a lot of amazing miracles because of it.
I love working in the Maywood branch because they have been getting so excited about missionary work. We just had two more baptisms this past Sunday. One was Hermana Naranjo, who I told you a little about- she has basically been a member for the past couple of years but just hadn't been baptized. What finally helped motivate her and change her mind was that we found and started teaching her best friend, Maria, and Maria convinced her to get baptized together. Maria is so amazing, she just barely got baptized, but as soon as she came to church that first time she started helping with the Relief Society and all of the activities as if she was one of the presidency. She is so motivated and good at organizing events and decorating and all of those kind of things, so she is going to be a big strength to the ward. We found her because she is actually Felix's aunt, and they referred us to visit her, and the first day she did not seem interested at all and was super busy and seemed really frustrated- so it just goes to show that you need to be careful not to judge someone right off the bat. It was so amazing to see them be baptized, especially when Hermana naranjo's family has been waiting for so long for her to do it. Her 17 year old daughter and her husband were baptized about 3 years ago, so they were so happy to see her finally be baptized and see their prayers answered.
It is so sad to see families where part of them gain a testimony and join the church and are so focused on the importance of being with their family for forever, and then they have part of the family that just chooses not to accept or even try to listen. Felix has been having a hard time because his dad doesn't even want to try to come to church. He doesn't mind his kids going and that Felix has made the choice to join, but he just doesn't even want to think about changing from what he is used to. The mom and daughters also want to be baptized, so he is the only one that is choosing to be left behind and it has been a big challenge for their family. They have a lot of faith though that Heavenly Father will help them, and that little by little the dad will come around.
We also got to see Jisell be baptized this past Sunday. She was a little girl we were working with in Vernon that we finally got permission from her mom to baptize. It was sad though because her mom didn't even go to the baptism, but at least Jisel has a really strong support system from her aunt who is a really faithful member and always takes Jisel to church.
We are so excited and happy to be out here working the field still for this last transfer, because we've heard that they're trying to get all of the Visitor's Center sisters in to the Patron apartments by the temple because they are trying to open it by mid-July. I'll be glad to go there when it does open though, I'm sure I'll probably be sick of working out in the summer heat by then.
Well, have a good week everyone! Don't forget about me while you're all out having tons of fun this summer. :D I miss you all, but I'm doing great and I'm loving my mission. I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I love you all!
- Hermana Dansie
So, we just had transfers, but I'm still in the same place, they just changed the name. I'm so glad I get to stay because I have come to know and love the Maywood branch so much. They feel like my second family. My companion is still Sister Garcia, the fiery little mexican. I love her, she is really loud (in a good way) and not afraid to get in there and talk to people really bluntly and honestly. The only thing that changed was that sister Cass was put in Vernon with another companion. Its funny because they are both very white and blond and learning spanish, and they're in an area with about 80 percent hispanic and 20 percent black, so they have people shouting at them and whistling and they draw a lot of attention. It was sad having sister Cass leave and feels a lot lonelier with just the two of us now, but we're excited to be able to focus completely on one area, and now that the mission has been changed back to separate english and spanish we've been made a spanish area, and so we only have to focus on the Maywood branch. it has taken a lot of stress off os us. Last transfer was really intense, and I hate the feeling of not being able to do my best because I feel stretched too thin. In the same respect it forced us to rely a lot more on the Lord, and we saw a lot of amazing miracles because of it.
I love working in the Maywood branch because they have been getting so excited about missionary work. We just had two more baptisms this past Sunday. One was Hermana Naranjo, who I told you a little about- she has basically been a member for the past couple of years but just hadn't been baptized. What finally helped motivate her and change her mind was that we found and started teaching her best friend, Maria, and Maria convinced her to get baptized together. Maria is so amazing, she just barely got baptized, but as soon as she came to church that first time she started helping with the Relief Society and all of the activities as if she was one of the presidency. She is so motivated and good at organizing events and decorating and all of those kind of things, so she is going to be a big strength to the ward. We found her because she is actually Felix's aunt, and they referred us to visit her, and the first day she did not seem interested at all and was super busy and seemed really frustrated- so it just goes to show that you need to be careful not to judge someone right off the bat. It was so amazing to see them be baptized, especially when Hermana naranjo's family has been waiting for so long for her to do it. Her 17 year old daughter and her husband were baptized about 3 years ago, so they were so happy to see her finally be baptized and see their prayers answered.
It is so sad to see families where part of them gain a testimony and join the church and are so focused on the importance of being with their family for forever, and then they have part of the family that just chooses not to accept or even try to listen. Felix has been having a hard time because his dad doesn't even want to try to come to church. He doesn't mind his kids going and that Felix has made the choice to join, but he just doesn't even want to think about changing from what he is used to. The mom and daughters also want to be baptized, so he is the only one that is choosing to be left behind and it has been a big challenge for their family. They have a lot of faith though that Heavenly Father will help them, and that little by little the dad will come around.
We also got to see Jisell be baptized this past Sunday. She was a little girl we were working with in Vernon that we finally got permission from her mom to baptize. It was sad though because her mom didn't even go to the baptism, but at least Jisel has a really strong support system from her aunt who is a really faithful member and always takes Jisel to church.
We are so excited and happy to be out here working the field still for this last transfer, because we've heard that they're trying to get all of the Visitor's Center sisters in to the Patron apartments by the temple because they are trying to open it by mid-July. I'll be glad to go there when it does open though, I'm sure I'll probably be sick of working out in the summer heat by then.
Well, have a good week everyone! Don't forget about me while you're all out having tons of fun this summer. :D I miss you all, but I'm doing great and I'm loving my mission. I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I love you all!
- Hermana Dansie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
