Hey guys!! sorry I didnt write an email last week. We had a zone pday where we did lunch and a bunch of games which was super fun but i didnt have a lot of time and didnt end up writing an email. But im alive and thriving haha.
this week was my cumplemes!! (birthday but every month in the mission haha). I hit 2 months of being a missionary!! Its flown by its absolutely insane. We got KFC at the downtown shopping center here to celebrate and I got a salad because all I eat is chicken and rice and lettuce is such a luxury now haha. BUT, we had lunch on sunday at a members house (the second couselor in the bishopric) and he grilled so much meat and pineapple for us. I had to eat so fast or else there was no way I was going to finish all of it. He gave us 5 different types of meat, a whole plate plus another plate of rice and beans and ensalada. I have only ever eaten that much at tucanos or thanksgiving. Me and my comp had to do our weekly planning session walking laps around the church because we were so full. Speaking of, Happy Thanksgiving!! The hermanas ordered Papa Johns and we bought chips and soda so that was our thanksgiving
side note- we always eat lunch with a member because lunch is the main meal here. They always serve some type of soup (sweating while eating a boiling hot bowl of soup, only in Machala haha) and then rice and a small portion of chicken or carne.
I also played piano for a Facebook video our zone made for Christmas which was super fun. I got asked to accompany for a special musical number for Zone conference this Friday. Im kind of stressed because I wasnt able to get any sheet music and wrote it all out myself by ear. I also have like a 5 day notice so itll be exciting but I honestly need to get out of my comfort zone and Im learning to be grateful for opportunities that push me.
The other hermanas that we live with had a baptism this weekend! It was so special. His name is Louis and his faith is so inspiring to me. He has cancer and struggles with loneliness because his wife left him, but throughout last week he had multiple doctors appointments and we werent sure if he would be able to physically be baptized. He kept saying God comes first, nothing will prevent him from going through with it. I had the opportunity to help teach him while I was doing intercambios and his testimony just radiates so strongly, its hard to describe. After the baptism, you could see such pure joy radiating from him. Throughout his testimony after the service, he just kept mentioning how happy he was. I couldnt understand 100% of what he shared but I could feel the power of his faith and testimony.
thats the cool thing about the language barrier. Ive been discouraged and dissapointed because I cant help more or connect with people more but Ive had a few experiences these past couple weeks where I stopped stressing about every single word that was being said and took a step back to focus on the Spirit that was present in our lessons. Ive also been so lucky to experience the gift of tongues, its truly amazing. When God needs me to speak, phrases come to my mind.
Another small miracle from this week I want to mention. there are birds here that are bright yellow, and theyve become so special to me because my first week I was feeling pretty discouraged and said a quick prayer and they flew right past me, and they were so bright you couldnt miss them, and I just knew they were Gods sign to me that Hes there and He sent them for me. Ive seen them 2 times since, and its always been after a prayer or when i needed a bit of motivation to keep me going. I know I always say this, but God is there, walking with us in our every step. I would not have the confidence to be walking the streets of Machala as a gringa barely being able to speak Spanish if I didnt know that I was here for a higher purpose and that there is a God looking out for me and my companion.
Pictures! I overcame my fear of having my little camera stolen and so here you go haha.
1. Nativity in front of the Catholic church haha
2. our thanksgiving dinnerrr
3. Machala is basically the banana capital of the world so we had to get a picture with that street art
4. little notes from my comp for my two months
5. our view from our apartment with the sunset
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