Okay, well to start, today we found out about transfers
and whether or not we are staying or leaving our areas, and whether we will
have new companions. I already knew I would have a new companion b/c my
companion has been having a lot problems with migraines this cambio, and so she
is going home to get fixed up hopefully. (That’s why it’s been kind of a
strange 1st six weeks for me in the field.) I’ve had a lot of traveling to
Concepcion for doctor’s appointments and such with her. She also needed a lot
of time to sleep, so I got LOTS of study time, which I actually enjoyed b/c I
really like studying. I spent a lot of time reading about the gospel & such.
I probably should have spent a little more time on the language, but I figure
it’s more important I have a firm understanding of the gospel 1st! It got hard
after awhile to stay motivated, but I did it!! :D) Its interesting how I became
her companion since I have migraines too, so I could understand and maybe be more
empathetic than others who don’t have them. Even though it wasn’t a completely
normal 1st six weeks for me, I really enjoyed them and learned a lot. My
companion was great - she was patient and funny, so I’m sad she has to go home,
but I think it is right.
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| Andes Mountains |
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| Almost Looks Like Indiana |
So anyway, me and the other hermanas in my casa dropped
her off yesterday at the bus station in Chillan with some other missionaries
who are going home also. (its the end of their missions) That was sad, and I am
now in a trio for the time being with 2 other latinos! It’s a good thing I can
understand Spanish as well as I can. I definitely believe the Lord has helped
me learn and understand the language a lot quicker than I could on my own. Its
weird b/c in high school, I struggled with Spanish a lot, and to memorize words
I would have to write them over and over. Since being on my mission, often
times, I just have to hear a word once and its meaning and then I remember it!
I know more everyday! It’s so cool & crazy! Obviously, I still have a lot
to learn and I wish I knew more, but I am amazed how fast I am learning. It
really is crazy! Right now, I am at a point where I can understand quite a bit
of a conversation, but I have a very difficult time trying to talk and find the
right word and how to conjugate the verbs correctly. I hate conjugations. lol!
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| Local Home |
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| Packing |
So yeah, that’s that! Tonight I am going to have to pack
like crazy, and then tomorrow I will leave for my new area at like nine in the
morning! Luckily, one of the hermanas in my casa is also being transferred, so
we will travel together for a while. :) The other hermana of our casa is
staying in Coihueco, where she is going to "die" (another mission
term we say when someone is going to finish their mission. We also say where we
are "born" - so I was born in Coihueco, since that is where I started
my mission. Just kind of a fun & goofy thing we do) She will have a new
companion and there will also be two elders in Coihueco. This past 2 weeks, we
hermanas got to search to find a new house they could live in. This week we got
to help clean up & even paint a little to help it get ready for them. It
was fun. Hopefully the owner fixes the roof better though, b/c it had a major
leak in one room...she said she will, so lets hope for those poor elders sakes.
haha!
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| A Fresh Coat of Paint |
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| Cleaning Elders New Apartment |
Hm, okay, now for some random things!
Randoms:
-Apparently Chile is one of the earthquake capitals of
the world. Good to know huh? I’m pretty much guaranteed to feel some
earthquakes while I’m here. Hopefully none too scary. I know Chile is expecting
another big one sometime soon, but hopefully not while I’m here! lol! But, if
it does, I feel certain the Lord will protect His missionaries. I definitely
believe the Lord protects his missionaries if they are doing what they are
supposed to.
- Speaking of which, random, but cool... some of the
members in my ward in Coihueco were telling me about a big earthquake that
happened a couple years ago. Almost all the buildings and houses of Coihueco
were ruined or damaged, but they said that their church there in Coihueco was
completely unharmed besides a little bit of flooding from wild rains and such.
Not even the chairs that were leaning against the walls had fallen over! How
crazy is that! What a blessing! One of the teachers in the CCM told me a
similar experience about the Mexico City temple, and how during an earthquake,
lots of buildings had been damaged, but the temple was completely fine!
- Random fact about Mexico City- it is sinking slowly.
Since the temple was built, in the 80s I believe, it has sunk about 16 ft! I
would never have guessed. There is a pole at the temple that they’ve kept up
that is randomly popping up out of the ground from the sinking ground. Weird
huh? (I think it’s b/c the area used to be a lake)
- OH, & a random funny thing about how close the
cars in Mexico drive. To give you a picture- during our 1st bus ride to the
temple, some of the elders in my district were being silly, and when we came to
a stop, they put their arms out the window to touch the bus next to us. It was
seriously only an elbows length away. lol! Mexico city drivers were crazy! I don’t
know how they don’t have accidents all the time! Here in Chile, the drivers are
still quite crazy, but not quiet as bad as in MC. :P
- Also, my mission had a Facebook page if you guys are interested
in checking it out. I don’t know what’s on it, but maybe there are fun pictures
of our mission or something, www.facebook.com/misionchile.concepcion
-I’m a little worried about my ankle. It’s been 7 weeks
since I sprained it, and it still hurts when I put pressure on it at certain angles,
like when I’m kneeling. It still feels really weak. I don’t think its broken
since I have been able to walk on it since it happened with almost no trouble.
I don’t know what to think about it still hurting. The doctor said it should be
healed by about 6 weeks.
-And so far, my migraines have mostly stayed away! It’s
been quite a blessing! This week I’ve had a couple, but they have been pretty bearable,
and a lot less strong than I usually have! They don’t seem to last as long! I’ve
only had to take one medicine since I’ve been here! Also, good news, the
mission can provide me new migraine meds since they have it here! Yay! SO no
worries to you guys on that part at least! :)
-Also random, I guess it’s possible it’s just taking
longer to heal maybe since I twisted it again about 3 weeks ago while walking
down a grocery aisle. I have terrible luck with twisting my ankles/breaking
bones in the most uneventful ways. Lol
- Here, instead of knocking, ppl shout "Halo"
from the fence. (everyone has fences here) Very few ppl have doorbells, so we
have to shout out Halo all the time. My comp calls it "Halo-ing" :P I
feel so weird shouting out Halo to all the houses though. I much prefer
knocking. :P (And no, I don’t mean Hola. I mean Halo. haha!) My hermana roomie
from Guatamala said in her country ppl either knock, or ring doorbell, or shout
"buenas!" My other
roomie from Argentina said in her country ppl either knock, ring doorbell, or
clap! The Coihueco's president's
wife, who is from Brazil, said they mostly clap, but otherwise knock or ring doorbell,
or sometimes shout out the name of the owner. Weird stuff huh?
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