Hola
Familia!!
I am still
here in Ayapal with Hermana Lopez J We hope to be together until she
finishes the mission. That would be awesome. Our area is really starting to
thrive and I am grateful. Cambios were today and some of my friends that I have
grown close to are leaving which is sad. The mission is a strange time. Haha
but I am grateful to be having the experiences I am having here in Nicaragua!
Tuesday we
had our normal District meeting and it was a pretty normal day. It started
pouring rain in the middle of the day and we were drenched in about 2 minutes
haha. It’s a good thing I know how to swim because the streets literally turn
into rivers when it rains here. It is crazy, I think I am going to buy a raft and
when it rains we will just paddle ourselves to our different appointments haha.
The Bishops dad died and the Bishop invited us all to the funeral, I tell you what
if you are ever looking for an awkward experience go to a funeral of someone
you didn’t know. It was a little awkward… haha
Wednesday
we were walking to another appointment and it started pouring again so we took
shelter on the front porch of one of our investigators. While we were waiting
out the storm drunk Joseph found us again. ( I told yall about him last week)
Anyway this time he had a bowl with him and he would scoop up the water from
the street and drink it from his princess bowl. Then he proceeded to tell me
that he knows 4 different languages. He is quite the funny guy, but he always
seems to find us and he will always try to speak English but I swear he is
always drunk. It is quite humorous to be honest.
Thursday we
were with Emanuel for his baptismal interview and there has been an outbreak of
Dengue so they are fumigating like crazy. The funny thing is that they fumigate
very differently here. So we were sitting outside talking to Ingrid while
Elder. Vivas talked to Emanuel and all of a sudden there was this loud buzzing
noise. Ingrid stood up and ran into the street then came back and started
yelling, in what I think was Spanish, grabbed the chairs and ran to the other
side of the road. You can imagine my confusion. Naturally we followed and
coming down the street was this pickup truck with a big tank in the back. It
had a mister attached to it and it was spraying all the houses, kind of like a
big sprinkler, but only one side of the street at a time. So as it passed we
were all coughing up a lung because we were inhaling the pesticide, don’t worry
I am sure it’s safe to breathe... Haha It was a fun experience
Friday we
did splits and I was with Hermana Rojas. She is from Costa Rica but
served in
Nicaragua and was back visiting her recent converts. I learned a whole
bunch
from her and it was really good for our area. We went back to the house
for a second to get stuff to do splits and we walked in and there was a
bat flopping around on the floor. Scared the crap out of me and Hermana
Lopez haha. We had to sweep it out with our broom but very carefully
because we didn't want it to bite us. It was a little frightening I
won't lie. It was also the Cumplimes of
Hermana Lopez so we bought a pizza and Coke and for a moment I felt like
I was
home again. The pizza was super super tasty J
Saturday
Emanuel and Jerry were both baptized. I tell you what there is nothing quite
like watching people you have worked so hard with finally take the necessary
steps. It was a very tiring but rewarding day. Both families wanted to feed us
after plus we had our lunch appointment so we ended up having 3 lunches. I
almost barfed haha I haven’t been that full in a really long time.
Sunday was
a normal day, nothing too exciting happened. We were looking for people in the
morning to bring to church like usual and I invited this random old man and he
told me that he would come (which is
what they all say.) and then we were sitting in church and what do you know
Julio walked in (the old man). I was pleasantly surprised. As I was playing the
piano for the Hymns the fan was on high so the pages wouldn’t stay. So I had to
use one h and to hold the page and the other to play. It was really exciting. I
will have to try to figure out something to do about that.
Anyway I
hope you are all doing well and know that I love you! I am loving Ayapal and
things are going really well! I am taking extra precautions with the mosquitos
because 8 people have died in the last 2 weeks from Dengue.. don’t tell mom…
haha just kidding. Anyway I am sorry this email was a little boring. But I love
you all!
Love
Hermana Willardson
Monday, October 14, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Hola
Familia!
This week
was pretty normal, things here in Nicaragua are good! The rainy season is
ending so everyday it is getting hotter and hotter. I know I wanted to be
somewhere warm but woooweee haha, I definitely got what I was asking for.
Tuesday was
pretty good we had a District Meeting and afterwards we played Mafia. People
always underestimate me when it comes to Mafia which is why I enjoyed playing
it so much haha. Then we started teaching Emanuel. He is the son of Ingrid but
for some reason she didn’t want him to be baptized the same day they were. But
we started teaching him and he will be baptized this Saturday. He has a hard
time focusing on the lessons because he is only 9 so I bring him candy and when
he is good he gets the candy haha.
Wednesday I
got a sweet package filled with American candy. It was super nice!! Packages
are seriously envied here so when you get one it is the talk of the mission
haha. Anyway we met with Jerry again. He is the teenager that was going to get baptized
a couple weeks ago but it fell through due to family problems. Anyway the
problems are resolved now and he should be baptized this Saturday as well. I am
very excited. During the middle of the day there was a huge rainstorm! In 15
minutes the roads were flooded and the water was up to the middle of our calves.
CRAZY!! So we sought shelter in one of our recent converts houses. Thank
heavens. Haha.
Thursday
was pretty good we worked super hard this week because we could only go to
General Conference if we had investigators. So we would leave early and come
home late. It was some hard work I tell you what. But we finally met Jimmey. He
is the husband of Hazel. Hazel is Ingrids friend that told us she wants to get
baptized but she needs to get married first. So we met Jimmey and talked to him
about the church. He is kinda hard but I have faith that things are going to
turn out right.
Friday we
were teaching Hazel and Jimmey outside when all of a sudden this drunk man
stumbles up and sits down with us. We were all a little startled because drunks
are usually dangerous, especially for me. So we were all a little on edge but
he told us to continue teaching. So we did. About 30 minutes after he sat down
he stood up and said, “Hay una chalita aqui!” It took him 30 minutes to realize
I was white haha. So he started walking over to me with his hand extended and
he told me that he could speak English. So I said, “oh can you” and he told me
his name was Joseph. So I shook his hand, and said, “Goodbye Joseph”. He
saluted me and went on his marry way, telling the dogs in the street that he
talked to the white girl with eyes of the ocean.. Haha. I am convinced that
Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.
Saturday
all of our investigators fell through so we didn’t get to go to conference L So we just worked hard all day. We
had an appointment with our neighbor Mirna. She is the one we had a lesson with
and her bird flew on top of my head in the middle of the lesson. So as you can
imagine I was a little nervous to teach her again. So as we walked up to her
door, Juan the bird, appeared and flew onto my arm because I was prepared this
time and held out my hand for him to land on. He climbed his way up onto my
shoulder and sat there for the whole lesson. Haha we have become good friends.
He is a parrot and will repeat random stuff throughout the lessons haha. Super
hilarious.
Sunday we
got to go to both conferences and they were super great. Hazel and Jimmey came
and I know that they felt the spirit because it was awesome. The church had a
bus for the members because it was in the stake center which is pretty far from
here. So we had a big bus that we got to go in. Exciting! But to be completely
honest I didn’t get as much out of conference as I was hoping to. 1. Because it
was all in Spanish and apostles like to use big words
2. I wasn’t
very focused because I was in charge of keeping the kids quiet. So when
conference comes out on the internet I will be listening to it while I write.
Today we
went to the market to try and find some Christmas presents. The hard thing is
that I am white so people think I have money so they try to charge me double
what it really is. So we took the wife of the Bishop with us. Haha I found some
stuff to send J And
now here I am in the Cyber Faby writing all of you! I hope you all know that I
am loving it here, I have realized that this is going to be the best 18 months
for my life and every day I am grateful to be here. Regardless of the
difficulties of living in another country I am so grateful and so lucky to be
here. Every day I realize more and more why I am here. I am so grateful for
conference and for the chance we have to hear from a living Prophet. I love you
all and I can feel your prayers. Thank you for your love and support.
Hermana
Willardson
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Sept 30th 2013
9/30/13
¡Hola familia!
This week I learned a lot about how trials proceed miracles. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have learned this lesson even though it was a hard one to learn.
Monday I was having a rough day, I was homesick and physically sick and just not having a good day. But we got to move into our new house thank heavens! But as a was praying that night and asking for help I realized that my head wasn’t in the right place. I realized that I need to take the word “I” and put it away for the next 16 months. And I tell you what after I figured that out the week was much better. Now I am not saying that magically everything was fine but I have realized that when you focus on the work everything else will fall into place the way it is supposed to.
Tuesday I hit my two month mark and it is hard for me to believe it has already been two months. Although sometimes it has felt like longer hahaha after we finished moving the rest of our stuff we were sitting outside with the elders that had helped us move and we bought them cokes to say thank you. And as I was sitting there on the steps of a rundown apartment building drinking coke from a glass bottle it kinda hit me that I am living in Nicaragua! I was filled with so much joy I just started laughing. People thought I had lost my mind haha. That night Hermana Lopez was telling me that her calf was really sore so I let her use some of my Icy Hot and it was the first time she had ever used anything like it… hahahaha she was rubbing it on her leg and then turned and looked at me and said “HERMANA WILLY MY LEG IS ON FIRE!!” In this cute broken Hispanic accent. I laughed so so hard! It was really funny until I went to take out my contacts and I had forgotten that I used a little of the cream too.. haha. Let’s just say I don’t think my eye will ever feel the same.
Wednesday morning they came and fumigated our apartment which they didn’t give us any notice but its ok we just had to let it air out for a little while. But we went back in and resumed studying and I was reading my Book of Mormon and all of a sudden a dead cockroach fell into my lap. Hahaha I tell you what I have had more strange experiences with animals here in the past month than I have my whole life. Then as we were teaching one of our investigators their next door neighbors started to have a party and they were playing American music.. It was extremely difficult for me to not stand up and start dancing right then and there!! But for the sake of my companion, investigators, and the seriousness of the lesson I restrained myself. Ha but it was not easy. That night there was an awesome lightning storm with horizontal lightning! I can’t explain it very well but it covered the whole sky with never ending lightning! It was so so cool!
Thursday we had interviews with president everyone was nervous and I was calm as a rock. Rocks are pretty calm right? And I am still not sure why people were so nervous but oh well haha anyway we forgot to close one of our windows and there was a really good rainstorm. A few of my books got really wet and things don’t dry very well here so we will see if I can still use them. Hopefully I will be able to. While we were waiting for our interviews we decided to go contact a bus. I was a little nervous I won’t lie. Just because I am insecure with my Spanish but I stood at the front of the bus and invited everyone to be baptized haha. It was actually super fun but I probably won’t be doing that again anytime soon. We did get one person that was interested. But they live in a different area so we gave the other missionaries her information.
Friday we had to get everything ready for the baptism and wedding. Which was a lot of work haha we pay for the lawyer and buy them a cake on our little missionary budget haha. But I was more than willing to help out. They had their interviews and we faced some difficulties and cold feet but by the end of the day everything was ready to go.
Saturday morning we found out that the bus that was supposed to take us to the Ocean wasn’t going to leave until 3:00pm which would mean we wouldn’t get back until 9:00pm and Ingrid didn’t want to do that so we just went to the chapel, which was still beautiful. That morning we helped her get ready and made sure nothing happened to them before their baptism. And then at 12:00 they got married then baptized. My heart was so full of joy and love for this family that I love so much. I know that I saw a miracle this weekend and it made every trial that I have had worth it. I am grateful for the chance I have to be here and be a helping hand of a miracle. After the baptism at 6:00 we had a dinner and the cake and Hazel (Ingrids friend that we have been teaching too) told me that she wants to be baptized ASAP!!! Another miracle, we are hoping that on October 12th she will be married and baptized as well!!!!
This week has just shown me how the night is always darkest before the dawn. (Thank you Batman.)
I am grateful for every one of my trials because I know that it either means that I am about to witness a miracle or learn a lesson that I will be able to take into my life forever. I am learning so much here, not only about myself but about life as well. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Yes there are going to be hard days, but if it was always easy what would I learn? I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I know it isn’t easy for you all to have me be gone haha but I am grateful for your letters and support.
I love you all!!
Hermana Willardson
¡Hola familia!
This week I learned a lot about how trials proceed miracles. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have learned this lesson even though it was a hard one to learn.
Monday I was having a rough day, I was homesick and physically sick and just not having a good day. But we got to move into our new house thank heavens! But as a was praying that night and asking for help I realized that my head wasn’t in the right place. I realized that I need to take the word “I” and put it away for the next 16 months. And I tell you what after I figured that out the week was much better. Now I am not saying that magically everything was fine but I have realized that when you focus on the work everything else will fall into place the way it is supposed to.
Tuesday I hit my two month mark and it is hard for me to believe it has already been two months. Although sometimes it has felt like longer hahaha after we finished moving the rest of our stuff we were sitting outside with the elders that had helped us move and we bought them cokes to say thank you. And as I was sitting there on the steps of a rundown apartment building drinking coke from a glass bottle it kinda hit me that I am living in Nicaragua! I was filled with so much joy I just started laughing. People thought I had lost my mind haha. That night Hermana Lopez was telling me that her calf was really sore so I let her use some of my Icy Hot and it was the first time she had ever used anything like it… hahahaha she was rubbing it on her leg and then turned and looked at me and said “HERMANA WILLY MY LEG IS ON FIRE!!” In this cute broken Hispanic accent. I laughed so so hard! It was really funny until I went to take out my contacts and I had forgotten that I used a little of the cream too.. haha. Let’s just say I don’t think my eye will ever feel the same.
Wednesday morning they came and fumigated our apartment which they didn’t give us any notice but its ok we just had to let it air out for a little while. But we went back in and resumed studying and I was reading my Book of Mormon and all of a sudden a dead cockroach fell into my lap. Hahaha I tell you what I have had more strange experiences with animals here in the past month than I have my whole life. Then as we were teaching one of our investigators their next door neighbors started to have a party and they were playing American music.. It was extremely difficult for me to not stand up and start dancing right then and there!! But for the sake of my companion, investigators, and the seriousness of the lesson I restrained myself. Ha but it was not easy. That night there was an awesome lightning storm with horizontal lightning! I can’t explain it very well but it covered the whole sky with never ending lightning! It was so so cool!
Thursday we had interviews with president everyone was nervous and I was calm as a rock. Rocks are pretty calm right? And I am still not sure why people were so nervous but oh well haha anyway we forgot to close one of our windows and there was a really good rainstorm. A few of my books got really wet and things don’t dry very well here so we will see if I can still use them. Hopefully I will be able to. While we were waiting for our interviews we decided to go contact a bus. I was a little nervous I won’t lie. Just because I am insecure with my Spanish but I stood at the front of the bus and invited everyone to be baptized haha. It was actually super fun but I probably won’t be doing that again anytime soon. We did get one person that was interested. But they live in a different area so we gave the other missionaries her information.
Friday we had to get everything ready for the baptism and wedding. Which was a lot of work haha we pay for the lawyer and buy them a cake on our little missionary budget haha. But I was more than willing to help out. They had their interviews and we faced some difficulties and cold feet but by the end of the day everything was ready to go.
Saturday morning we found out that the bus that was supposed to take us to the Ocean wasn’t going to leave until 3:00pm which would mean we wouldn’t get back until 9:00pm and Ingrid didn’t want to do that so we just went to the chapel, which was still beautiful. That morning we helped her get ready and made sure nothing happened to them before their baptism. And then at 12:00 they got married then baptized. My heart was so full of joy and love for this family that I love so much. I know that I saw a miracle this weekend and it made every trial that I have had worth it. I am grateful for the chance I have to be here and be a helping hand of a miracle. After the baptism at 6:00 we had a dinner and the cake and Hazel (Ingrids friend that we have been teaching too) told me that she wants to be baptized ASAP!!! Another miracle, we are hoping that on October 12th she will be married and baptized as well!!!!
This week has just shown me how the night is always darkest before the dawn. (Thank you Batman.)
I am grateful for every one of my trials because I know that it either means that I am about to witness a miracle or learn a lesson that I will be able to take into my life forever. I am learning so much here, not only about myself but about life as well. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Yes there are going to be hard days, but if it was always easy what would I learn? I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I know it isn’t easy for you all to have me be gone haha but I am grateful for your letters and support.
I love you all!!
Hermana Willardson
Sept 23
9/23/13
Hey Family! I hope you are all doing well J
This week was pretty good and it flew by faster than I can even handle!
Monday after FHE we had to hurry home because Hermana Raymond and Hermana Gonzales were sleeping over because we all had to go to Managua in the morning and we needed to leave at 5:00, it was fun but our room is tiny so we really didn’t have much space. 4 girls on 2 twin size mattresses and bunk beds. We had a good time!
Tuesday we went to Managua and it was another 6 hour bus ride round trip and these buses always make me sick because the way they drive is absolutely crazy! Anyway we were in our training from 9-6 and it was super super super long. Haha especially because I was so tired! As we left we convinced the bus driver to go to Mcdonalds. So we had to go through a parking garage to get to McDonalds and the bus was too tall. I know because we scraped the top as we passed the bar that tells you how tall your car can be but the bus driver just kept going so when we got to the actual garage we scraped the top again really bad and then finally the bus driver decided we were too tall haha. So we went to another McDonalds and it was so good I was so excited! I wasn’t even hungry but you better believe I got myself a hamburger.
Wednesday we had splits and I went to another area. This area includes a city called Naranjo and it is so incredibly beautiful. It is like a jungle with little shacks for houses. It was seriously so awesome. A lot of people here have pigs for pets and we went to this one house and the pig had pigglets and they act just like dogs. They were really cute but smelled super bad
Thursday we had a district meeting and I got the letters from the family!! It was super funny that you send 4 different envelopes haha people laughed at that. Then we were tracting and we sat down on the curb for a second and I looked in the street and there was a dead rat so I took a picture and I will send it. It was super gross but for some reason I thought it was hilarious. We had 2 dinners and I thought I was going to throw up, haha I am starting to get sick of Gillopinto already.. this is going to be a long ride.
Friday we woke up early and went running, yes you read that right. I woke up and went running. I tell you what I am a changed person haha it was super hot but I actually really enjoyed it. Then we had to go to the Chalpia to get the marriage papers for Jose and Ingrid because they are getting married and baptized on Saturday J. We also started teaching a woman named Mirna and as we were teaching her this parrot (her pet)came and landed on my head. No joke. I was just sitting there talking about the restoration and then out of now where this bird lands on my head. It scared me pretty good and I screamed hahahahaha holy cow it was so funny!
Saturday we finally found a house and we should be moving tomorrow. President just needs to view the photos and approve it! I am so excited. It is in a complex called Colonial Ayapal I dunno if you want to Google earth that or not. Then the Elders came and taught Ingrid and Jose with us. I think Jose was happy to have men to talk to haha.
Sundays are always really great but I woke up and I was so exhausted because we had so much to do this week haha, I couldn’t believe it was already Sunday though. Jose and Ingrid came to church with us and their daughter Sarah, and her friend Maribelle that I talked about a couple weeks ago. It was really great!
Today we went and bought some stuff and cleaned and started packing to hopefully move tomorrow. I am still loving it here!! I have the funniest tan lines too. From shoes and my watch and my shirts, it is a nice farmers tan!
That is about all for this week! I love you all and I will talk to you next week!
Hey Family! I hope you are all doing well J
This week was pretty good and it flew by faster than I can even handle!
Monday after FHE we had to hurry home because Hermana Raymond and Hermana Gonzales were sleeping over because we all had to go to Managua in the morning and we needed to leave at 5:00, it was fun but our room is tiny so we really didn’t have much space. 4 girls on 2 twin size mattresses and bunk beds. We had a good time!
Tuesday we went to Managua and it was another 6 hour bus ride round trip and these buses always make me sick because the way they drive is absolutely crazy! Anyway we were in our training from 9-6 and it was super super super long. Haha especially because I was so tired! As we left we convinced the bus driver to go to Mcdonalds. So we had to go through a parking garage to get to McDonalds and the bus was too tall. I know because we scraped the top as we passed the bar that tells you how tall your car can be but the bus driver just kept going so when we got to the actual garage we scraped the top again really bad and then finally the bus driver decided we were too tall haha. So we went to another McDonalds and it was so good I was so excited! I wasn’t even hungry but you better believe I got myself a hamburger.
Wednesday we had splits and I went to another area. This area includes a city called Naranjo and it is so incredibly beautiful. It is like a jungle with little shacks for houses. It was seriously so awesome. A lot of people here have pigs for pets and we went to this one house and the pig had pigglets and they act just like dogs. They were really cute but smelled super bad
Thursday we had a district meeting and I got the letters from the family!! It was super funny that you send 4 different envelopes haha people laughed at that. Then we were tracting and we sat down on the curb for a second and I looked in the street and there was a dead rat so I took a picture and I will send it. It was super gross but for some reason I thought it was hilarious. We had 2 dinners and I thought I was going to throw up, haha I am starting to get sick of Gillopinto already.. this is going to be a long ride.
Friday we woke up early and went running, yes you read that right. I woke up and went running. I tell you what I am a changed person haha it was super hot but I actually really enjoyed it. Then we had to go to the Chalpia to get the marriage papers for Jose and Ingrid because they are getting married and baptized on Saturday J. We also started teaching a woman named Mirna and as we were teaching her this parrot (her pet)came and landed on my head. No joke. I was just sitting there talking about the restoration and then out of now where this bird lands on my head. It scared me pretty good and I screamed hahahahaha holy cow it was so funny!
Saturday we finally found a house and we should be moving tomorrow. President just needs to view the photos and approve it! I am so excited. It is in a complex called Colonial Ayapal I dunno if you want to Google earth that or not. Then the Elders came and taught Ingrid and Jose with us. I think Jose was happy to have men to talk to haha.
Sundays are always really great but I woke up and I was so exhausted because we had so much to do this week haha, I couldn’t believe it was already Sunday though. Jose and Ingrid came to church with us and their daughter Sarah, and her friend Maribelle that I talked about a couple weeks ago. It was really great!
Today we went and bought some stuff and cleaned and started packing to hopefully move tomorrow. I am still loving it here!! I have the funniest tan lines too. From shoes and my watch and my shirts, it is a nice farmers tan!
That is about all for this week! I love you all and I will talk to you next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)