Letter #10 - That Awkward Moment...3.16.15
Dear Family & Friends,
Ahh I look forward to writing you guys every week so much! Yay for Mondays! Haha! I love you guys soo much and miss you everyday! Can you believe another week has passed! It flew by for me!!! Hopefully, your week was wonderful!!! Thanks for your emails! I love hearing about everything that is going on in your lives!
Doctors Trying to Hug and Kiss You
Yup, it happened. Not joking. It would be awkward if this happened in the States, but it is even more awkward when you are a missionary because you cannot hug. When we were leaving this doctor came into hug me and I pushed him back saying "No puedo, no puedo". I do not know what he was thinking because after I pushed him away saying that he thought it would be ok to give me a kiss. Thank goodness, I think I made big enough of a scene that he stopped, but now thinks I am weird. Every time I see him he puts his hand out and backs away even if we are not that close. He makes a funny face when he does it too. It is funny and always sooo awkward.
Taxi Drivers
We take a lot of taxis because the hospital is too far to take the bus. We talk with most of the taxi drivers to share the gospel since we do not have a ton of opportunities to contact when we have a lot of appointments at the hospital. We really are not aloud to contact unless it comes up in a conversation at the hospital. Anyways, we had a really funny experience in one of the taxis this week. Another, awkward moment....
Taxi driver: How many boyfriends do you have?
Me: None
Taxi driver: PORQUE? (WHY?)
Taxi driver: Have you ladies been robbed yet?
Us: Ummm no
Taxi driver: Someone must have robbed your beautiful hearts though, right?
Taxi driver: Why are you beautiful ladies not married? When can you get married?
And then 1000 more questions like that....
I do not think that I have heard someone use "beautiful" so many times in one conversation. We were really excited to make it home (safely) to say the least.
Have you ever had a taxi driver stop and get bread?
Well, it happened this week. He was hilarious.
Then, one of the taxi drivers went and got gas and filled up his tires...haha.
Otavala/Ibarra
I think that it actually hit me on our trip to Otavala that I AM IN ECUADOR. We went on Friday to check out the hospitals that we have contracts with. It was about a two hour bus ride. The buses were really nice compared to the ones that we usually take. They played awful music the whole way though. It was like Alvin the Chipmunks singing the whole way. We wished we brought earplugs. I did not care though because I was preoccupied by scenery outside. Ecuador is truly BEAUTIFUL. So so many mountains, green fields, and rivers. We went to Otavala first. I thought that I had seen poor in Quito, but I realized I had seen nothing when I got to Otavala. The people there are soo poor. It was sad to see, and very humbling. Many of their houses were small cement houses. Many of them were missing walls and doors. There were tons of dogs everywhere that had broken legs, half their hair was missing, and just looked sick. There were some dirt roads. The town was really quiet compared to Quito. I kept asking my companion, "where is everybody?". I have gotten really used to the crazy noises of the city. Many of the people there wear the traditional dresses of their culture. It is a long blue skirt with a white blouse that has flowers. Then, a really colorful thick belt. Sometimes they wear a smaller colorful belt in their hair. If you want to see a picture then google Otavala, I am sure it will come up. I felt a little awkward saying "hey, can I take a picture of you" when they do not know me, so I am sorry! Google it though! Then, just imagine a whole town wearing that! It was really special because you do not see that now a days very often. All the guys have long hair and it is in braids. I guess that it is a sign of rebellion if they cut it.
We first went to the hospital. It looks like an old museum. It was really dirty and falling apart. The emergency room was two beds. I am really grateful that we had the opportunity to go see it because now I know what conditions I would feel comfortable sending the missionaries there for and those I would rather them go to Ibarra for or come into Quito.
After, meeting administration and looking around the hospital we went to this shopping block in the middle of the town. It was a lot like the one we went to in Italy (Nicole and Kendra). They sold a lot of handmade bags, ponchos, and blankets. We were a magnet there. After, we went to this Colombian restaurant. YUM! It was HUGE. See the picture if you do not believe me! haha! There was sausage, fried banana, pig tail, rice (of course), steak, and salad! They had really good lemonade there too! We went to this really good ice cream place after since now I am obsessed with ice cream. So weird. It takes more like sorbet here than ice cream to me. We had a little extra time before we had to head to Ibarra so we went and taught one of my companion's old converts. He was baptized last August, but he had become inactive. It made us really sad to hear. It was cool though because he said that he was just thinking he needed some motivation to go back to church and then we knocked on his door.
It was really pretty in Otavala. The town is surrounded by two Volcanoes and mountains. We headed to Ibarra which was about 30 minutes away. We also went there to look at their hospitals. It was more wealthy there. It was like a mini Quito. The first hospital we went to, I was really really impressed! The administrator was really helpful and gave us a tour. They had a lot of different specialties and then also an emergency room, surgery, and rooms that patients could be admitted. I feel really comfortable sending the missionaries there for appointments!
Surgery and E Coli
This week was another crazy week at the hospital and this upcoming week will be too. One of the missionaries called complaining of a bump on his back that was causing him a lot of pain. I asked him how long it had been there and he said it has been growing for the last 4 weeks. I asked him to send me a picture so that I could see it and it blew me away! I thought it might have been a bug bite because of how he explained, but it was the size of a tennis ball!!! He went to the doctor and they diagnosed it as a lipoma and he will have surgery this week to remove it because they are concerned that it will keep growing and get close to his spine.
We continue to have a lot of stomach issues. The Mission President's wife notified me of the missionary who died from E. Coli. Sooo sad. We actually have a missionary who has E. Coli now and has not really recovered from it so we are trying to figure out what the best way to help him. They are thinking that he will have to get an endoscopy and probably do a bunch of other tests. He tried a new medication this week which really has helped him which is really comforting to us and Hermana Richardson.
Miracles-There is one EVERYDAY!
This week we only had 5 hours to teach in our area because we were so busy at the hospital, BUT it sure was a great 5 hours! We only have one person with a baptism date right now. She is awesome and if she gets baptized her kids will probably also get baptized. They are all really interested in the church. She just has some things that she needs to work out before it can happen so we have to move her date back to 3/28. I love teaching her and her cute kiddos. We decided to contact people who we had not taught yet. We went to one house who we had met previously just on the street, but she was not home. Then, we prayed and felt like we should try the apartment above that house. No one answered then I told my companion that I felt like we needed to go more up because the front door was around the back. It was really hidden. We went up and knocked. No answer. Knocked again. No answer. Then, we heard something so we tried one more time. A 17 year old boy answered the door. He said that he lived with his family of TEN. We were able to teach him lesson 1. He was really interested and involved in the lesson. I felt really strongly to pull out a Book of Mormon (which I have learned never ever to go without one). It was a lot like when I felt like I should take it out when we were at the train station in Europe. I do not know exactly why, but I knew that I needed to give it to him. We were able to make another appointment with him and with his family for this week!
Afterwards, we went by the house that we left a sticky note on earlier and my companion noticed that it was not there anymore. So, we decided to knock again. The daughter answered with her two kids. We introduced ourselves and then immediately she invited us in which never happens might I add! Very, very cool. Her kids were 2 years old and 4 years old. The 4 year old boy has down syndrome. When we sat down my companion started teaching and she had to go do something so I leaned over to my companion and told her that I felt like I needed to teach the Plan of Salvation instead of lesson 1. She said that she felt that too! We did not know exactly why we needed to teach that, but at the end we asked her if she would be baptized and she said no because she was Catholic. She really found the Plan of Salvation fascinating though and said she had never heard of something like it. She also asked how our church was different from all of the other ones. She said that she felt different when we were teaching her. That she was at peace and could feel something when we testified. I think we needed to teach the Plan of Salvation because that was what she needed to hear. She told us she had been struggling with her son that has down syndrome. I think Heavenly Father knew that she would be more accepting of our message if we started with the Plan of Salvation.
Another cool experience that I had during this lesson was my companion started talking and then she leaned over and said "I want you to testify of Jesus Christ now. I think she needs to hear your testimony." It was right in the middle of the lesson and took me off guard, but of course I agreed. I suddenly started crying when I started because I felt His love for her and her kids. I felt that it was not just chance that we stopped at her door. We stopped by because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love her. That Jesus Christ KNOWS her difficulties and challenges and sent us to her to teach her about something that they knew would bring her true happiness, hope, and help in this life. I really felt the power of the gift of tongues when I was testifying. It is true that when you open your mouth the words just come. I said things that I probably would not have said without the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues. I straight up told her that Jesus Christ wanted her to accept the gospel in her life because He knew the happiness it would bring into her life. She did not accept to be baptized on Saturday, but she did want to be taught more. We have an appointment with her tonight.
Did I mention... I LOVE being a missionary? Haha!
Trust in the Lord
I read the most amazing talk this week. It is called Trust in the Lord by Richard G. Scott. All of you should get on the computer and look it up...NOW.
Two parts that I loved was when he talks about when we have trials it is really easy to ask why did this happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? But all of those questions are pointless and get you no where. Instead we should be asking..What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?
You guys I testify of this. When we do this and ask these questions we will grow from our trials, be able to help others from the things we learn in our trials, and we will be more happy. I have seen it in my life. We are given trials because Got LOVES us. He knows what we can become and we need to reach our full potential. I have seen every trial I have had build my testimony and teach me valuable lessons. I would have not learned half the lessons I have learned without them. Remember these questions when life gets hard and I promise as you do, you will see how trials, hardships, and problems are actually blessings! They help us and can help others! God knows what we need to reach our full potential. Trust in him.
The other part that I really loved was when Richard G. Scott said:
"The Lord’s plan is to exalt you to live with Him and be greatly blessed. The rate at which you qualify is generally set by your capacity to mature, to grow, to love, and to give of yourself. He is preparing you to be a god. You cannot understand fully what that means, yet, He knows. As you trust Him, seek and follow His will, you will receive blessings that your finite mind cannot understand here on earth. Your Father in Heaven and His Holy Son know better than you what brings happiness. They have given you the plan of happiness. As you understand and follow it, happiness will be your blessing. As you willingly obey, receive, and honor the ordinances and covenants of that holy plan, you can have the greatest measure of satisfaction in this life. Yes, even times of overpowering happiness. You will prepare yourself for an eternity of glorious life with your loved ones who qualify for that kingdom."--Richard G. Scott
I know that that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives today. I know that both our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each and everyone of us. They know us individually.
I love you guys soo much! Thank you for being you! I miss you guys everyday and am so grateful to have you in my life. You make me a better person everyday! You give me strength on the hard days! Until next week!
Love always,
Hermana Pemberton
