Hola mis amors!
Well, Today is the last day of my first change. I can´t believe it! And boy, it has been an eventful week! I am glad to hear from you all, and know that your Easters were enjoyable :)
Bueno. First, I am getting transferred... I will admit, I was so sad to hear this news, because I have become extremely attached to this people. I LOVE them with all my heart. I also was very conviced I would be staying because my companion has been here for a very long time. But... The good news is, I am going to the most coveted part of the mission; La Serena. When they announced my transfer, everyone was so jealous, so I am looking forward to seeing how beautiful La Serrena is (although I have a hard time believing it could be more beautiful that my area now.) The other sisters are jealous because they are telling me and I am hogging the most beautiful areas haha. Anyways, La Serena is a 7 hour bus ride to the north so tomorrow I will be spending much of the day traveling. It is a strange mix of feelings, sadness to leave these people that I love so much, and excitement to go to a new area! But I feel like I have received the confirmation that I am going exactly where the Lord needs me.
This last Saturday I had my first baptism! And boy was it a roller coaster of emotions! haha We Baptized Ronald and it was such a special experience. He is amazing. I cried a lotwhen I found out the kids wouldn't be baptized but I think they will be baptized this next change. Last night, we extended another baptismal date for May 14 and Catalina accepted. Oh, and what is so cool, is the Bishop said the Ronald will be able to baptize his kids! It will truly be an amazing experience to see our convert using his priesthood authority to baptize his family. My heart aches a little when I think that I won´t be able to be there for it, but I will be expecting pictures from them. Last night, we went to go visit them and Catalina drew a picture of me (I think she used a picture of Taylor Swift to draw it) but it is so sweet! Ronnie built me a little box filled with bouncy balls for me to remember them by. They also have a picture of me from facebook as their screen saver on their computer. Its very humbling to be so loved by these people, but what is more amazing is I know that I love them more than they love me. I look forward to the next time I will be able to see them.
Anyways; the baptism! Haha so the baptism was scheduled for 4 o'clock. Ronald and his family showed up at 3:30. 4:15 roles around and NO ONE SHOWS UP! I was so mad.Haha not even the Bishop was there. Finally around 4:30, people start to show up, but our ward mission leader doesn't arrive and apparently didn't plan the baptismal service. I was about ready to start lecturing the members for being so late, when I realized that this is just Chilean culture. Everyone is late to everything. About 21 mins before the service starts, the Bishop pulled me and Hemana Jacobo aside and says ¨OK. Hermana Jacobo, will you say the opening prayer, Hermana Royal, you will give the talk on baptism and after that you guys will sing a special musical number¨ haha talk about a spur of the moment talk. But it was special because I was able to share my testimony and excitement for the baptism and my companion said my Spanish was just fine. Then for the baptism, we had a recent convert who was going to baptize Ronald, and he was so nervous. Ronald ended up having to be baptized 3 times before it was done right. But regardless, it was still a very special experience. I don't think I will ever forget the wide range of emotions I had that day.
Also, This week we extended a baptismal date for May 14 to Rigoberto and he accepted! I thought I would never see this day come hah but again, its kind of bittersweet knowing I won't be here for it. All in all, It was a very successful week. I am grateful for all your prayers for Ronald and his Family! Keep praying for them!
Here´s a funny story for Kevin. In the picture attached is a girl named Cotte. (She is the one with the flute) She is 12 years old and is very very very energetic haha. We are teaching her family and yesterday she was looking through my pictures on my camera and saw a picture of Kevin. She looked at it for a very long time and then blew a kiss to the camerahaha. I told her it was a picture of my little brother and she asked me for a copy. Later in the night, I mentioned that I might be able to come back and visit with my parents if they come and she looked at me and said ¨Hermana Royal, will your little brother be coming too?¨haha. Looks like you have an admirer Ax man. haha
So Easter here in Chile is very different. The whole week, the catholics (so basically everybody) celebrates the Samana Santa. They don't have school or work all week, which gives us lots of people to visit :) unfortunately, nobody wants to talk to us haha. We saw lots of people run and hide from us as they saw us coming. Haha but it was actually cool to be here during Samana Santa because I was able to focus more on the individual events of the atonement. Sunday was Easter Sunday and all the kids were exited to eat huevoschocolate (chocolate eggs) haha (which reminds me. Latins eat very little candy. I will buy a candy bar and eat it and my companion will buy it and eat it bite by bite so it lasts for like 3 weeks. I have realized that is one things that I really miss. Candy/sweets/ and fast food) haha Also, I kind of miss eating dinner, because we only eat lunch. But luckily the food is great! Yesterday at church, one of our investigators found out we didn't get any huevos chocolates and he got up and left during sacrament meeting, went to the store near by and bought us chocolate eggs. Haha we were grateful but realized we need to re-teach the sabbath day to him. haha
I miss you all and I am excited to tell you all about my adventures in La Serena. I must admit, I am not looking forward to the bus ride, The buses here are called micros and they arebumpity bumpity and never fail to make you nauseous haha but eso es la vida. haha
MUCHO AMOR A TODOS
Hermana Royal
No comments:
Post a Comment