Road work ahead... ah... si, yo espero que si

 

Hola las personas,

This week honestly feels like at least two. Kinda the official start of the official mission stuff. It was also my introduction to making myself have a real social media account, which I haven’t had before. It’ll definitely be a transition. That and having to find when the best time is to stand in the middle of a semi-busy street and help my companion back the car out of a parking spot. All very interesting predicaments. 

We taught two English classes this week—one combined with a Gospel lesson, and one to a stalwart member of his church. The first one felt a touch more chaotic, and the second one was interesting because we did it with the branch president and his wife. I especially loved driving to the lesson because we went over rolling hills and through corn fields and forests. Later that day we happened upon another English speaker who was interested in the Book of Mormon. She was so sweet and so genuine. She didn't know if she was interest in lessons, but she said she would be interested in reading the Book of Mormon. Plus we saw two shirtless teenagers with fishing rods and we are in Missouri it felt fitting. I definitely thought of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.

I made bread! It was a struggle to find time, but it was cool to be able to give it to some recent converts who appreciated it. The first family we visited is the sweetest, and the kids are so attentive and all around wholesome. The second family is so funny, and clearly like each other a lot. We got to play a little bit of a game and I think we will do more of that in the future. Plus their youngest slapped my bread, so I appreciated that. 

We also met with one more recent convert who I found out I had been messaging on facebook as if he were a nonmember because i didn't realize it was the same person because he had a different last name. And later I realized I was doing the exact same thing to another recent convert. In other words, I don't think there are a lot of Spanish speakers here and they use different last names on Facebook.

About three days ago we found out we were going to have to move apartments in three days, which was a touch stressful. However later that day I was able to set up my first lesson, and when we taught the restoration, I got to teach about the First Vision. I am excited to keep teaching him. And incredibly we set up another lesson with someone who had been dropped earlier. It was especially exciting when he picked up the phone after no one else picked up after we had been tracting for an hour unsuccessfully.   

I got to do family history this week which is an absolute win, and I found out one of my Irish ancestors lived in Kansas City. I want to look more into other ancestors who lived in my mission especially since I know more did. 

This leads me to my main takeaway. I do not speak Spanish, but God does. I keep having these moments where I think, “I do not speak Spanish,” but then I listen to Spanish and I speak Spanish (not well but i do it). Almost every night this week, I thought about everything I did and said, and it just was not me or at least definitely not me alone. I'm so grateful for that because when I think about everything i'm trying to do, it is pretty dang intimidating. And there is a part of me that thinks maybe I can't do it or I don't know if I know enough Spanish or can learn enough Spanish. And yet, here I am. Continuing, step by step, wobbling here and there, but standing nonetheless. Because of God and Jesus Christ and because of the Book of Mormon. And I would be amiss to forget how much my family has helped me. And how my parents have raised me. And boy howdy! If you are learning another language read the Book of Mormon (in that new language).

And the scenery is really beautiful. 
Adieu, Adios, and Ahhhh.
Hermana d-of-eve-gnee