Spanish, Splits, and the Spirit

The time at the MTC has absolutely flown by! I leave in 4 days and I couldn't be more excited to get out in the field. We'll have a few hours on the bus on Tuesday morning and then we'll be in Santiago.

 

This past week feels like it was 3 days. The longer I'm on my mission the faster the time goes. Even though our days are filled to the max sometimes the entire 16 hours I am awake feels like it has only been 5.

 

One of the benefits of being at such a small MTC is that you get opportunities that aren't available to anyone else. Last Friday we went on splits with some of the missionaries in the Santo Domingo West mission. It was a really cool experience and got me excited to go out for real. The sisters I was with showed me their apartment and said it was the nicest in the mission. It had a bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen, and living room. They didn't have electricity but had running water. If that was the NICEST apartment in the mission...then I'm a little bit afraid to see what I'm going to live in. But also very excited for the adventure.

 

We were mostly just getting to know some referrals they had received but kept busy the whole night. We taught one man that was deaf and could read lips but I didn't understand anything that he said. I had a hard time hearing a lot of the people because you teach out on their porches and the city is really loud. I'm definitely going to need to work on really concentrating on what people are saying and also get ready to rely on my companion for help the first few months.

 

The people were pretty friendly as always. We definitely stick out in such nice clothes and shoes and then I have the added factor of being white with colored eyes. Whenever I walk past people they get close to my face to see the color of my eyes.

 

I saw a level of poverty that I have never seen before. We taught most people outside because their houses couldn't fit all of us. I went inside one of the houses to help bring out chairs and their entire house could fit in our office at home. There was a room wtih a table and chairs and a stove and then a blanket was hung up to separate another room that contained a bed on the other side. These houses have a community toilet and bathtub that they share with about 10 other families outside. The kids had tattered toys and either no or extremely worn shoes. One lady had a huge sore on her ankle and there were just flies everywhere. I worried for her. It broke my heart to see how little they have and made me feel so horrible for ever having complained about not having something. These people live in a tiny one room house and share a toilet and shower and can't afford shoes. And there I sit with my clothes purchased especially for this time, neatly laundered, and my leather shoes to keep my feet safe the next few years. We really do have so much and remain so ignorant.

 

We taught 2 lessons during that time. The first was to a lady in a very poor situation as I just described. I taught the fiest few points. Luckily I had made notecards with scriptures on them according to topic because my companion just turned to me and asked me to share something in Spanish while were were there. So when she put me on the spot I was ready. I try to use as many scriptures as possible so that they speak the Spanish for me. My language may not be perfect but I know that the scriptures are.

 

The 2nd lesson was with a 12 year old girl whose friend had referred her. She was much better off and her house seemed very similar to something you would find in North America. Her spirit was so incredible. They had challenged her to read the introduction to the Book of Mormon last time and taught more about it this time. They had me teach a few paragraphs. Luckily I had read it in English the day before (the Lord prepares us!) and so I knew what it was saying even though this was in Spanish. I bore my testimony of how I know the book is true and how the spirit will testify of the truth to her. She prayed at the end and the spirit was so strong and I could actually understand what she saying.

 

The rest of this week has been great. I have definitely had the chance to use my training from Sunrise and fulfill my calling as a Sister Leader. So many sisters (including my companion) have just been very overwhelmed and discouraged this week. I was able to talk with each of them and encourage and listen to them. I am so grateful that I have not been overcome with that much frustration yet. I still love my mission and am patient with myself knowing that in the Lord's time I will learn the language and recognizing the progress I have already made.

 

A few funny things that have happened this week because my companion is still working on her Spanish...

Hermana Stuber blessed us all with tongues this week. She also couldn't remember how to ask to go to the bathroom so in the middle of class she exclaimed, "Por favor bendiceme con bano!" (please bless me with the bathroom)

 

We watched a devotional on Sunday about recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost with Elder Bednar. He said, "How do you know if it's the Holy Ghost or just you? Quit worrying about it." If you are keeping your covenants, living how you should be living, and striving to be a good person then whatever good thoughts you act on will lead you to where you are supposed to be. Many times you will not realize something was a prompting until after the fact. One of my favorite sayings is "You can't steer a parked car." If we want to receive revelation and direction in our life from the Lord then we need to start doing. As we are striving to do His will and move in the direction we feel is best He will direct us and lead us to where we need to be and what we need to be doing. "If you are good then every good thought that you have comes from the Holy Ghost." I challenge you this week to act on those good thoughts and see where the Lord takes you. Understand that He trusts you enough to make your own decisions most of the time.

 

I love you all! I know that this gospel is true and that through the Holy Ghost we can know the truth of all things. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and we are never lost or forgotten.

 

Love,

Hermana Ewell