Como estan? If you are wondering, yes I am planning on being "fluent" by February, my 6th month mark. There are a lot of Hispanics here in Seattle and we use it a lot. On Sundays, I don't know if I hear any English at all. It's so great!
So first things first...let every man know that they will not be the first to ask me this question because I officially got proposed to this week. Yup, it's not a lie. We are teaching this guy, Renee from Honduras and we met his roommate. He had a hard time deciding whether to ask me or Hermana Boley so he basically asked both of us to marry him. When we told him 'no,' he asked if we could at least take a ride on his motorcycle with him. Also, one of our investigators asked us out on a date. So you can see it was a rather productive week! haha! No it's fine, we just have to stay out some certain areas at night to stay safe. One of the recent converts mom's told me that I have "the sexy smile." Now every time we get hit on Hermana Boley always says, "I am telling you, it's that sexy smile." Wow. No comment.
 |
| They see me rollin, they hatin, just because I am too white and nerdy! |
Sorry it's transfer week so P-day is Tuesday on those weeks. Hermana Boley and I survived transfers so we are here in the Seahurst Spanish branch together for yet another transfer. I am so happy! There is so much we want to do and their are so many people that could be baptized this coming month. Speaking of October, it's starting to get a little cooler and the leaves are changing. Love it!!!
 |
| My first Seattle District Elders Johnson, King, Bier, Gardner and Las Hermanas |
 |
| Some Missionaries are Goofs!! |
P-days are busy, but we try to take advantage of all the different people living here and get some cultural activities in. There are a lot of Somalians where we live so we went to one of the African boutique shops last week and bought some sweet shirts. Last week we went to the mall to stock up on Seattle souvenirs. We got Seattle skyline socks and a Christmas ornament. We got pineapple bubble Vietnamese milkshakes one day. On Saturday we were crazy busy so at 9:15pm we stopped by an Indian restaurant on our way home and ordered random things off the menu. And I found that I really like Indian food.
 |
| We had a long day... so naturally we wanted to try Indian food! |
As Spanish sisters, the only Spanish missionaries in my zone, we don't have time to tract. We spend a lot of our time contacting referrals from church headquarters and from other missionaries. We have been teaching a lot of lessons this week and getting a lot of work done. It is getting more normal for me to talk to everyone, but it's still hard. Life as a missionary is one BIG awkward moment. But it's so rewarding. We were trying to contact a referral at this apartment complex and we just had miracle after miracle happen. We met this lady that was baptized Mormon when she was younger. She kept saying that no matter where she goes, missionaries always find her. She said, "It's like the Holy Spirit actually works." Um, yeah it does! She invited us over for dinner sometime soon. We talked to another Hispanic guy at that complex that wasn't very interested, but we asked him if anyone he knew would be. He told us to visit the apartment above his. Low and behold the lady gladly let us in and she wants to learn more. The Spirit is a real thing!
 |
| Sometimes we play "Guess Who Lives Here?" |
My testimony of families, family history work and temples already had grown so much. Hna. Boley and I were able to help one of her recent converts start his family history work on familysearch.org. His father died last year so he was able to do the work for him. It was such a touching experience. Hna. Boley cried the whole way home because she was so happy. She will get to go to the temple with Ernesto and his family when they get sealed together in less than a year. Baptisms are essential, but the temple is the ultimate goal. So amazing!
It is so heart breaking to see people be addicted to drugs and alcohol. There are so many lost people here, and I just want to cry for them. A lot of them we try helping, but many of them reject us. That's why I love working with the Hispanics because so many more of them have accepted Christ into their lives so they are more willing to accept us and eventually accept the gospel.
Lately the emphasis in our mission is on talents. Find your talents and God-given gifts and use them. They want me to use my talent of piano playing more often. We have such a merciful and loving Heavenly Father that loves each and everyone of you. I love all of you too! Have a super awesome week!
Week 12 Challenge:
 |
| A toast to the end of my first transfer in the field. Complete with toast! |
Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard
 |
| Seattle at night. I was standing across the water in West Seattle. This is the closest I have gotten to the city center! |
No comments:
Post a Comment