HIII FAMILY!
So the more time I have in the mission, the more it gets real weird to me that I had a life before this life haha. Life at home just seems so foreign to me. I've been out 7 months, today! How weird. Speaking of, the other day we went grocery shopping here at a store called Carrefour. In my last area, all the shops are just super tiny markets, but this place was like WALMART. It BLEW my mind. I totally had forgotten about how nice grocery stores are. SO much selection! It was wild. Basically I fell in love.
Anyway, this week was soo good! It's been weird being in a new place. It was especially weird at first because I felt like I did when I left home. I felt like I left my family again (my san se family) because they were just gone, and I couldn't talk to them. It was super weird. The four of us missionaries up there were like family, so it was strange to be put in such a foreign world all over again.
BUTTT I looovvveee my new companion. Hermana Findlay. She's from Salt Lake and she did a year of school at LDS business college. She's super cute and super sweet. She's taller than me, so we look like a super tall pair walking down the street haha. She's brunette though.
Anyway, so I'm starting to figure out what whitewashing an area means.. its wild haha. I think 9 out of the 12 missionaries down here are new. They basically just cleared this place out. I think its because most of them really struggled in this area to find people to teach and such so they just did a complete wipe out. We definitely have a ton of work ahead of us, but I'm super excited for it. I'm ready for the challenge.
So basically we have been trying to figure out our area all week haha. This city is huge and there's a whole complex bus system we are learning. Luckily we found the church and our area, so were golden. We've been trying to get to know all the members that live in our area. So we passed by a few this week to visit with them, we literally know nothing about anyone.
Ok so this is cool. So the ayudantes in the mission told us to map out a route in our area for how we will pass by investigators and menos activos and such. So when we don't have stuff to do, we can follow a route mapped out on certain streets. This way, in between visits, we can contact everyone on the way, and then try and stop by peoples houses as we get to them. If that makes sense. That way, God will always know where we are and He can put people in our path. So we divided our area into five groups and made separate routes. I wish you could see what we did, but honestly it's genius. It gives us so much more purpose as well, cuz it's not just like we are wandering and contacting for hours, we actually have a route of where to go and people to try and stop by. It'll be sweet. It'll really help us to get to know our area as well and make really good use of our time.
Anyway, yesterday was our first Sunday and it was way fun. The branch here is super cute. The president and his wife are INCREDIBLE and all the leaders are super pumped about missionary work. So that makes it way fun. The next three Saturdays in a row we have missionary activities with the members. It'll be fun to help them have more animo about the work.
So basically, the Hermanas before only had one progressing investigator. His name is Kleber from Ecuador. He's incredible. He's been reading the BOM and is already in Alma 32 or something. The only thing is, he just moved in with his girlfriend, so he can't be baptized yet. But we will work with him. He always comes to church and always keeps his commitments. Other than that, they really didn't have anyone, so were starting from scratch. Kinda intimidating, but kind of fun. Our last area we always had people to teach, we rarely had extra time ever. So this is a huge change. But I feel super blessed to be here. I feel so grateful to know that God trusts my comp and I with helping the work progress here. He could have sent anyone, and He trusted us. I'm pumped.
We're still lost everywhere we go, but it's a huge adventure and I love it. It's fun to whitewash because we learn everything together, the members get to know us together and we learn the area together. It's super different than before. Anyway, I'm doing well, especially cuz its getting warmer here! And bonus, it never rains. Just windy sometimes. I love you all so much! Thanks for everything,
love,
Hermana Fry
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Zaragoza - Week one
HIIIII!!!
Soooo I'm still in San Sebastian!! Haha jk. not. So I got transferred! I'm in a big city called Zaragoza. This is where Hermana Woodbury got transferred from so she was so excited I was coming here! What are the chances?!! So I'm still in the north... well ish. Idk really. More towards the east. But it's flat as flat can be. And not rainy. But I hear its super windy here. Also you didn't hear this from me, but it's not as pretty as SanSe. But it's okay, I was ready for a little more ghetto in my life. So there are 12 missionaries here. A ward and a branch. I'm in the branch. There's 2 sets of sisters and 4 sets of elders. I think. If that adds to 12. Also Mom, Elder Ballam got transferred here too. The sweet thing is that us four sisters live together, so I'm pumped about that. The piso here is super nice. My new comps name is Hermana Findlay. She's not here yet actually. She's coming. She is one transfer ahead of me. She was comps with Hermana Woodbury in the mtc. She was in my zone for my first transfer so I kind of know her. Basically she's super cute and I'm way pumped to work with her. She will also be a sister training leader here. So we have a big adventure ahead of us.
Also I miss Hermana Woodbury. I'm having withdrawals. We were twins. It was hard to leave her. She's actually gonna be training this transfer. And I think she's getting a native cuz four out of the five newbies are natives. Hopefully!
So this last week in San Se was good! It was weird to say goodbye to the ward. They were my family! It's all I've ever known. But I'm excited for the new adventure here. The hardest part was leaving our Peruvian family. I sent pics. The boys are planning to be baptized on March first and couldn't be more excited. Their uncle who is a member is coming down from Las Arenas to baptize them. I love that family so much. I am having a hard time with the fact that I won't be there for their baptism. Gosh, they will be great.
We also had a lesson with Jeudi (Thursday) this week. We taught the word of wisdom and it went super well. I was glad cuz that's a hard one sometimes. The only thing is he doesn't have much prisa to be baptized. He just wants to take it slow and not rush into it, so well see. Well Hermana Woodbury will.
Okay moment of truth, I hardly remember anything about this week. Tyson mentioned Valentines Day in his email and I was like wait, that was this week? So sorry, I don't have many stories haah. This week was short anyway cuz we had conference Monday and Tuesday, preparation day Wednesday, and Hermana Woodbury was sick Thursday. So we didn't have a whole lot going on. Lots of last minute visits with people. Also Max fell off the face of the earth. We couldn't get a hold of him before I left, so I was sad about that. Hopefully he will get baptized someday soon..
Oh ps I think I ate animal tail yesterday. All I know is a member was telling us what was in his "ragu de todo" or ragu of everything and he told us there was tail meat in it, I don't know what animal.. or what kind.. but I think I ate tail. whatever it was, it tasted normal.
Oh also we had a lesson with a new lady on a bench the other day. She was saying the closing prayer and during it, I heard someone grunting.. at the end of the prayers I opened my eyes and this homeless wild man was standing right in front of us and mumbles "hola guapas" haha it was hilarious. My life here is so strange, I love it so much.
K well thats all really! I am SUPER PUMPED for this new adventure. It'll be wild. We are white washing which means both of us sisters are new to the area. So we don't know any of the investigators they were teaching before, or the members, or anything haha. We don't know this area at all. So it'll be an adventure figuring it out. I'm pumped for the challenge. I love the mission so much. I love you a lot! Thanks for everything!
Love Hermana Reid
Also Shannon... I got my hair trimmed. so I think it's shorter than yours. I'm sensitive. It wont grow. My life is so hard.
Soooo I'm still in San Sebastian!! Haha jk. not. So I got transferred! I'm in a big city called Zaragoza. This is where Hermana Woodbury got transferred from so she was so excited I was coming here! What are the chances?!! So I'm still in the north... well ish. Idk really. More towards the east. But it's flat as flat can be. And not rainy. But I hear its super windy here. Also you didn't hear this from me, but it's not as pretty as SanSe. But it's okay, I was ready for a little more ghetto in my life. So there are 12 missionaries here. A ward and a branch. I'm in the branch. There's 2 sets of sisters and 4 sets of elders. I think. If that adds to 12. Also Mom, Elder Ballam got transferred here too. The sweet thing is that us four sisters live together, so I'm pumped about that. The piso here is super nice. My new comps name is Hermana Findlay. She's not here yet actually. She's coming. She is one transfer ahead of me. She was comps with Hermana Woodbury in the mtc. She was in my zone for my first transfer so I kind of know her. Basically she's super cute and I'm way pumped to work with her. She will also be a sister training leader here. So we have a big adventure ahead of us.
Also I miss Hermana Woodbury. I'm having withdrawals. We were twins. It was hard to leave her. She's actually gonna be training this transfer. And I think she's getting a native cuz four out of the five newbies are natives. Hopefully!
So this last week in San Se was good! It was weird to say goodbye to the ward. They were my family! It's all I've ever known. But I'm excited for the new adventure here. The hardest part was leaving our Peruvian family. I sent pics. The boys are planning to be baptized on March first and couldn't be more excited. Their uncle who is a member is coming down from Las Arenas to baptize them. I love that family so much. I am having a hard time with the fact that I won't be there for their baptism. Gosh, they will be great.
We also had a lesson with Jeudi (Thursday) this week. We taught the word of wisdom and it went super well. I was glad cuz that's a hard one sometimes. The only thing is he doesn't have much prisa to be baptized. He just wants to take it slow and not rush into it, so well see. Well Hermana Woodbury will.
Okay moment of truth, I hardly remember anything about this week. Tyson mentioned Valentines Day in his email and I was like wait, that was this week? So sorry, I don't have many stories haah. This week was short anyway cuz we had conference Monday and Tuesday, preparation day Wednesday, and Hermana Woodbury was sick Thursday. So we didn't have a whole lot going on. Lots of last minute visits with people. Also Max fell off the face of the earth. We couldn't get a hold of him before I left, so I was sad about that. Hopefully he will get baptized someday soon..
Oh ps I think I ate animal tail yesterday. All I know is a member was telling us what was in his "ragu de todo" or ragu of everything and he told us there was tail meat in it, I don't know what animal.. or what kind.. but I think I ate tail. whatever it was, it tasted normal.
Oh also we had a lesson with a new lady on a bench the other day. She was saying the closing prayer and during it, I heard someone grunting.. at the end of the prayers I opened my eyes and this homeless wild man was standing right in front of us and mumbles "hola guapas" haha it was hilarious. My life here is so strange, I love it so much.
K well thats all really! I am SUPER PUMPED for this new adventure. It'll be wild. We are white washing which means both of us sisters are new to the area. So we don't know any of the investigators they were teaching before, or the members, or anything haha. We don't know this area at all. So it'll be an adventure figuring it out. I'm pumped for the challenge. I love the mission so much. I love you a lot! Thanks for everything!
Love Hermana Reid
Also Shannon... I got my hair trimmed. so I think it's shorter than yours. I'm sensitive. It wont grow. My life is so hard.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
San Sebastian - Week Twenty-three
Hi family!
Soooo how is everyone? Who knew the olympics was on! We saw it on a tv we passed the other day, guess it's not really a big deal here in Spain haha no one has talked about it.
ALSO I GOT MY VALENTINES PACKAGE. BEST DAY EVER. And yes I ate all the Munsons already. judge me I dare you. THANK YOU. We put up all the decorations. I'll send pics.
So this week was good! I'll be honest I don't remember much of what happened haha. But I'll try. So Monday and Tuesday we had a two day conference with our President. It was absolutley incredible. It was really good to help all of us refocus. I love being with a bunch of missionaries as well. It just made me feel so blessed to be here on a mission. It just helped me realize all the ways I can become a better, more consecrated missionary. It is really the best decision I have ever made. The mission is the best.
Also mom.. I met elder Ballam! It was weird, because we both realized we were related.. but we have no idea how. And we couldn't figure it out. But it's weird cuz he knows Kaths family really well. It was fun to talk to him though. Also we took a picture together, don't worry. Also he said he lives where we used to live in Logan? On that bench part? Give me some details on that...
So I dont know if I told you about Bisente yet, he's a new investigator. He's from Bolivia and about 23. We met with him last week and he was super interested. We taught the restoration and he asked a bunch of questions and had a lot of animo about reading the Book of Mormon. We're meeting with him again tonight and are super excited about it. Hopefully we can get him a baptism goal soon.
So our Peruvian family came to church again on Sunday, so they are able to be baptized. We took the bishop with us last night to our cita with them and it was incredible. The boys have decided they want to be baptized on March 1st!! The mom wants to be baptized as well, but she hasn't been able to come still to church because of her job. The bishop promised them that if they pray morning and night this entire week to be able to be baptized as a family, as well as fast all together for it this coming Tuesday, that God would give them a miracle. So HOPEFULLY their whole family can be baptized together on the 1st. The only bummer is, I think I'm being transferred this week. I've been here 6 months so most likely I'm out. I was almost in tears last night thinking I won't be here to see their baptism. It breaks my heart. I love that family so, so much. But the important thing is they are being baptized. Gosh, they really are incredible. The boys LOVE church. The older one brought a backpack last week with his Book of Mormon in it and his hymn book to be prepared for church. So cute. I feel so blessed to be able to teach them.
Also this week we went an hour away on train to visit a menos activo. When we got there, she introduced us to a spainard friend of hers! A cute little 60 year old woman who is super interested in reading the Book of Mormon. She even said to us, who knows, maybe I'll even become a Mormon someday! Way cool. We've been trying to focus on working with our less active members lately to find people to teach, so that was a cool miracle that her friend came.
Anyway, that's all really, Max finally returned from his trip so we will see him tomorrow. He told us he went to go to church in France though! So that's good. He's progressing still. I'll keep you posted.
So next week are transfers! I think I'm out of here.. we will see! I'll email on Tuesday though, not Monday. I LOOOVEEEEE YOU AALLLLL!
love,
Hermana Reid
Soooo how is everyone? Who knew the olympics was on! We saw it on a tv we passed the other day, guess it's not really a big deal here in Spain haha no one has talked about it.
ALSO I GOT MY VALENTINES PACKAGE. BEST DAY EVER. And yes I ate all the Munsons already. judge me I dare you. THANK YOU. We put up all the decorations. I'll send pics.
So this week was good! I'll be honest I don't remember much of what happened haha. But I'll try. So Monday and Tuesday we had a two day conference with our President. It was absolutley incredible. It was really good to help all of us refocus. I love being with a bunch of missionaries as well. It just made me feel so blessed to be here on a mission. It just helped me realize all the ways I can become a better, more consecrated missionary. It is really the best decision I have ever made. The mission is the best.
Also mom.. I met elder Ballam! It was weird, because we both realized we were related.. but we have no idea how. And we couldn't figure it out. But it's weird cuz he knows Kaths family really well. It was fun to talk to him though. Also we took a picture together, don't worry. Also he said he lives where we used to live in Logan? On that bench part? Give me some details on that...
So I dont know if I told you about Bisente yet, he's a new investigator. He's from Bolivia and about 23. We met with him last week and he was super interested. We taught the restoration and he asked a bunch of questions and had a lot of animo about reading the Book of Mormon. We're meeting with him again tonight and are super excited about it. Hopefully we can get him a baptism goal soon.
So our Peruvian family came to church again on Sunday, so they are able to be baptized. We took the bishop with us last night to our cita with them and it was incredible. The boys have decided they want to be baptized on March 1st!! The mom wants to be baptized as well, but she hasn't been able to come still to church because of her job. The bishop promised them that if they pray morning and night this entire week to be able to be baptized as a family, as well as fast all together for it this coming Tuesday, that God would give them a miracle. So HOPEFULLY their whole family can be baptized together on the 1st. The only bummer is, I think I'm being transferred this week. I've been here 6 months so most likely I'm out. I was almost in tears last night thinking I won't be here to see their baptism. It breaks my heart. I love that family so, so much. But the important thing is they are being baptized. Gosh, they really are incredible. The boys LOVE church. The older one brought a backpack last week with his Book of Mormon in it and his hymn book to be prepared for church. So cute. I feel so blessed to be able to teach them.
Also this week we went an hour away on train to visit a menos activo. When we got there, she introduced us to a spainard friend of hers! A cute little 60 year old woman who is super interested in reading the Book of Mormon. She even said to us, who knows, maybe I'll even become a Mormon someday! Way cool. We've been trying to focus on working with our less active members lately to find people to teach, so that was a cool miracle that her friend came.
Anyway, that's all really, Max finally returned from his trip so we will see him tomorrow. He told us he went to go to church in France though! So that's good. He's progressing still. I'll keep you posted.
So next week are transfers! I think I'm out of here.. we will see! I'll email on Tuesday though, not Monday. I LOOOVEEEEE YOU AALLLLL!
love,
Hermana Reid
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
San Sebastian - Week Twenty-two
Hi everyone!
How was the week? It's cold here, but not as cold as there I don't think haha. It hasn't snowed here yet. But it did nearby. Apparently the weather and wind was so bad here the other day that it destroyed a bridge. Crazy right? Missed it though.
So this week was pretty uneventful. In fact, I don't have much to say at all haha. Monday we had a great FHE with Jeudi and a family here. He loved it. It was way fun. It's nice when the investigators start to bond with the members! We've been trying to focus on getting more members with us to our visits. It helps a ton. Also I got sick this week. Super bad. I wasn't feeling well the whole beginning of the week and then Friday I woke up with a fever of 104. Rough. I had super bad stomach issues too. We called the Presidents wife and she helped us know what meds to buy and stuff, but we were in piso for three days without leaving. My poor companion. It was rough haha. Luckily we had some church videos from the 80s to watch for part of it. I feel better today though, so I'm guessing the worst of it is over. Don't worry mom, my companion took really good care of me!
So as far as investigators go, the Peruvians couldn't come to church on Sunday, so were gonna have to move their baptism to the week after. I was pretty bummed about that, but it happens. Also Max decided to go to France haha. He went on a trip with his niece and will return in about a week and a half so his baptism date will be put off as well. Besides that, nothing else is new really haha. Sorry, not an exciting week to write about.
Watch those Doctrine and Covenants videos.. they're not half bad! haha
Anyway, love you all!
Love Hermana Reid
How was the week? It's cold here, but not as cold as there I don't think haha. It hasn't snowed here yet. But it did nearby. Apparently the weather and wind was so bad here the other day that it destroyed a bridge. Crazy right? Missed it though.
So this week was pretty uneventful. In fact, I don't have much to say at all haha. Monday we had a great FHE with Jeudi and a family here. He loved it. It was way fun. It's nice when the investigators start to bond with the members! We've been trying to focus on getting more members with us to our visits. It helps a ton. Also I got sick this week. Super bad. I wasn't feeling well the whole beginning of the week and then Friday I woke up with a fever of 104. Rough. I had super bad stomach issues too. We called the Presidents wife and she helped us know what meds to buy and stuff, but we were in piso for three days without leaving. My poor companion. It was rough haha. Luckily we had some church videos from the 80s to watch for part of it. I feel better today though, so I'm guessing the worst of it is over. Don't worry mom, my companion took really good care of me!
So as far as investigators go, the Peruvians couldn't come to church on Sunday, so were gonna have to move their baptism to the week after. I was pretty bummed about that, but it happens. Also Max decided to go to France haha. He went on a trip with his niece and will return in about a week and a half so his baptism date will be put off as well. Besides that, nothing else is new really haha. Sorry, not an exciting week to write about.
Watch those Doctrine and Covenants videos.. they're not half bad! haha
Anyway, love you all!
Love Hermana Reid
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