Three Months Down!

Hey!!

So I hit my three month mark last week. Woot woot! Only 15 more to go!! haha Thanks to everyone that has sent emails or letters. They are much appreciated! And sorry that I can`t get back in touch with everyone in a very timely manner. Communication is a bit limited here..

The hardest thing when I first got here was the dirt. We walk dirt roads pretty much all day every day and come home absolutely filthy. And the dirt is just everywhere no matter how hard you try to keep things clean. So if you`re a germaphobe, be warned. I was not happy with this at first but it`s good once you resign yourself to the fact haha. But I call first shower when I get home. So somebody mark the calendar--November 23, 2013. ;) And if I come home any color different than when I left, please don`t be confused that I may have gotten a tan. It`s really just dirt.

The Spanish is coming along well. I have a new companion (I got transferred after 3 weeks) and she is la Hermana Adams from California. She and I work really well together. And we have an absolutely fantastic barrio (ward) with an Obispo (bishop) that is phenomenal. I really love being here. The people are fanstastic as well. They don`t have a ton and they live pretty humbly but they are very loving and giving. I am so grateful for all they`ve done for us--to help with the work or really anything we need.

We eat really well here. Every day we have lunch with a mamita from the barrio. The staple food here is arroz (rice). So every meal is a plate full of arroz with a couple of sides. I really love the food here but I do kind of miss all things sweet because most everything is salty.

Funny story-- One of the people we are teaching is named Jesùs. He was a reference from some of the Elders and when we were looking for his house the other day we kept asking people "Do you know where Jesùs lives?" I think they thought it was some kind of joke--missionaries asking where Jesùs lives (we didn`t know his last name). But we eventually found him and he`s super awesome. His work is making and selling jugo (juice) de caña. I think it`s kind of like sugar cane. He makes the juice by putting the caña through a handcrank machine he owns. It`s really good. Dad, you need to start growing caña so we can make it at home.

So all in all everything is good down here. I am working with the most awesome companion, zone leaders, and barrio. They make the mission fun. And it`s so cool to help people change their lives. I can`t wait til my Spanish is better so that I can do a better job. This is definitely a humbling experience in all aspects.

That`s all I have for now. Thanks again to everyone for all of your notes of encouragement. :) I have to run now but I hope everyone is doing well!! I love you all!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Williams

Two Weeks in Peru!

Hola!

 

I've been in Peru for two weeks now but I feel like I just got here.. let me back up.

 

The end of my time in Provo went by so fast. I was dreading leaving there and every time someone talked about it I would tear up a bit. I gave my first Spanish talk the last Sunday there on the Santa Cena (sacrament). I wrote it myself but I don't really know what I was saying at the time I was giving it. Everyone said it was really good though--definitely more the Spirit than myself, I'm sure. The night before I left Provo was a sad day.. I cried so much saying adios to my district. Myself, Hna Buzan, and Hna Warner left behind our 7 Elders and Hna Mangum who didn't get her visa for Peru yet. Hopefully she will be joining us soon.

 

We left the MTC at 6:00 on a Tuesday morning. We arrived in Peru around 11:00 that night and got to the CCM (MTC) here in Lima around 2:00 in the morning. We all just crashed. Adjusting here was kind of hard at first. In Provo they were all about being exactly obedient but here it was really hard to be obedient at first. Mostly because our first day or so was very unstructured. It was kind of frustrating, not knowing where you were supposed to be and what you were supposed to be doing. I was definitely a bit home sick for Provo.

 

There are about 90 or so missionaries here in the CCM. About 1/4 of us are Norte Americanos. The Latino missionaries don't speak much English so there is a ton more Spanish than in Provo but we still get to speak English amongst ourselves (which we probably should try not to do). I was really surprised at how much I understood when I first got here. I get the idea of most conversations and every day I understand more and more. My speaking is still pretty slow but it's so much better than in Provo. I have a Latino companion, Hna Diaz from Argentina, and a North American companion, Hna Asay from Provo. All of the hermanas here are super sweet and we laugh a lot together. And all of the Latino missionaries in general are very helpful with the language although they do remind us of how slow they have to speak for us.

 

A few of us will be moving up to be in a full Latino district next week. This means only Spanish all the time. I hope I survive it haha. I'm excited for the opportunity to learn more though. Our teachers for these past couple of weeks have been fantastic--Hna Flores and Hna Chipana. Love them! But we'll have to get new ones next week.

 

I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of Peru (can't wait for Ecuador!). It's like China in a lot of ways... All of the houses and establishments are pretty much gated. It's very smoggy and most days the sky is just a blue/grey smear. However, there are mountains and everyone here speaks Spanish so that sets it apart.

 

Since being here I feel like I've been able to focus better on what I'm supposed to be doing (there are definitely less chances for social distractions when you can't speak the language). Studies have been really good and I'm learning so much about the gospel, about Spanish, about the gospel in Spanish. It's kind of funny because I understand most everything I hear until we get onto subjects other than the gospel. My vocabluary hasn't progressed that far yet.

 

All in all it's been a good experience so far here in Lima. The people (and missionaries) here in South America are so amazing. They have a humility and love for the Lord that is unlike anything I have seen. One of my roommates is an angel, I'm pretty sure--Hna Ibarra. It's very humbling and a privilege to be able to meet and interact with these amazing individuals.

 

Time is almost up, gotta go! I'll email everyone again before I leave Peru. Hope all is well in the States!

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Williams

Two Weeks In

Hola!!

 

I've on been at the MTC for 2 weeks but I feel like I've been here a year! I leave for the Peru MTC on Tuesday and I don't want to go!!

 

The day I got here I was dropped off at my classroom and my teacher spoke only Spanish!! ALL of the teachers spoke only Spanish. It was a bit of a shock. Luckily, I was able to just laugh about the fact that I could understand nothing (it's either laugh or cry). We arrived on Wednesday and we taught our first lesson in Spanish on Friday. No joke. Luckily my companion is pretty good at Spanish so she helps me out a lot learning the language. Every day I get a little better. I can pray and have some little conversations. I am so slow at translating my English thoughts into Spanish speech though. It's not so bad if people don't speak too quickly but pretty soon I'll be in Peru and EVERYTHING will be in Spanish. Prayer and faith, that's all I have to say. This is a very humbling experience.

 

I absolutely LOVE my district (42 A) here!!!! There are 7 elders and 4 hermanas. We are from Texas, Utah, Washington, Alaska, and South Carolina. We are going to missions in Washington, Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. The elders and hermanas in my district are the main reason I don't want to leave here. My companion is Hermana Buzan of Washington state. Each and every one of them are completely solid. We've only been together a couple of weeks but we're like family. I have so much love and respect for the missionaries in District 42 A--words are inadequate to express how I feel about them. I love spending time with this group, especially when we sing together! We have sopranos, altos, tenors, basses... It's the best feeling ever singing as a district and brings the spirit so strongly. I imagine it's similar to what heaven will be like. I am definitely going to be crying some legitimate crocodile tears when Monday night comes around.

 

I've had some pretty cool experiences here. Sacrament meetings are in Spanglish. Fast and testimony meeting last week was awesome--so spiritual. I love my zone of missionaries! We have devotionals and firesides twice a week. There are always really good messages there. Elder Jensen of the Seventy was here Tuesday night. Apparently he's getting released soon as a Seventy. His message was so powerful, you could feel him radiating love. There are so many things that happen in the MTC that cause you to grow. I think my major growth so far has been in love for others. It's almost like being at a temple while you're here--it's actually difficult to have bad thoughts.

 

I had a couple of meetings the past couple of days about the medical aspect of my mission. I feel so inadequate! It sounds like I'll be the only nurse in my mission and I take care of any health needs of all of the missionaries (along with the medical coordinator/doctor and the mission president's wife). They keep saying to all of us that the Lord will qualify you for your call. I have faith that he will but it's still a bit nerveracking. Like I said earlier, lots of prayers.

 

That's about all I have for now. It's hard to think of what to say when you're put on a clock. I hope all if going well at home for everyone!! If anyone wants to get in touch with me, use dearelder.com instead of email if you can because I'll get those messages the next day. Starting Tuesday address any mail or dearelders to the Peru MTC.

 

I love you all!!!

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Williams