This
week we learned a bit more about what is ahead of us. We had some
lessons on health, prevention and safety. It wasn't the most settling
news, and it sent some girls into a panic. Somehow my companions and I
handled it pretty well, but unfortunately one of girls will be returning
home to America this week. I have been so sad about it, and just heart
broken for her. However, they believe that this will be better for her
anxiety and overall health. She is a wonderful person with a lot ahead
of her and I pray that she keeps that mindset once she is home.
We
have been teaching mock investigators lessons in Spanish since our
second day here. This week however, our teacher decided it would be a
good idea to give us a real investigator without telling us until
seconds before we walked into the room. I guess our teacher has been
impressed with our mock lessons and wanted to see how we would do. She
brought her friend who really has no interest in the church. I was
terrified. We somehow gave a lesson that this man who speaks no English
could completely understand, and we could completely understand him. He
cried, we cried, and what was doing his friend a favor turned into some
small miracle. He is coming back next week, and we are so excited.
On
a more embarrassing note: we taught a mock investigator yesterday, and
it was the most terrible thing haha. When you don't understand what
someone is saying, as long as they have a smile on their face, you kind
of just nod your head and say "Sí" .. Well, we somehow managed to
confirm to this man that we were Jehovah's witnesses and worshiped the
Virgin Mary in the first five minutes. Later into the lesson Hermana
Ashton realized what had happened and whispered it to me and Hermana
Speth.. We were dying. We all tried to fix things, but you can't really
backtrack from that. Hermano Gomez says that he will never forget that
lesson. At least it was fake.
I woke up this
morning to a crazy earthquake. Don't worry, there wasn't any damage and it
didn't freak me out too much, but it was pretty surreal. The weather
here is crazy but I love the thunderstorms. They are so pretty.
There
are the sweetest Latina Hermana's here and I love them so much! We sit
together at meals and play basketball everyday. One from Santa Ana who
always gives me the biggest hug and tells me I am her best friend. They
all help me with my Spanish pronunciation, and I can finally roll my tongue! Big accomplishment from this week, haha.
The
truth of it is that yes, this is really difficult. This is the hardest
thing I have ever done and I have yet to step one foot in El Salvador.
It takes almost everything I have to not get discouraged. We have 16
hour days filled with nothing but the Spanish language, something that
was completely foreign to me 2 weeks ago. Everyday results in a
headache, and the hours couldn't be longer. But, there is always
something to smile about, always something to look forward to. I have
seen the Lords hand in my life more this week than ever before in my
life. I have had prayers answered instantly, and spiritual experiences
that I will never forget. I know that the Savior lives, and that he is
watching over each of us.
I send my love to all of you, thank you for your support and prayers.
Hermana Houston
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