Hola Presidente Murphy,
It was so good to see you this past week for interviews. I'm always so grateful for the things that I learn from you, and I'm really grateful that you take time in your busy schedule to meet with us and talk to us.
The Family Ajavi has their baptism this week for the 7th of June (Wednesday), and they are beyond excited! They couldn't believe that they get to choose all of the hymns and speakers for their baptisms, and they are just the sweetest kids anyone will ever meet. They're so righteous and humble, and they are such good examples to their little siblings, their parents, and me. I have learned so much from them about being brave and independent in the church, and I can't wait to see the blessings that their baptism will bring to their lives. I can't wait to see how they will influence others through their actions and through their humility. I'm especially excited to see Willian receive the Aaronic Priesthood after he is baptized. His father is a member, but he's inactive, so it's amazing that Willian can be the priesthood holder in his family and bless their home through his worthiness.
Jonathan David has his fecha for the 17th of June, and he too is incredibly excited for his baptism. We were a little worried there for a bit about him not living here legally, but it's amazing that the church and Heavenly Father are more concerned with the joy that the Gospel can bring to a person's life. We actually had a bit of a hard time with the ward this week in ward council. There is some judgment against Colombians here in Ecuador, and no one really trusts Jonathan David because he's Colombian. They didn't seem to understand that all he wants is the Gospel in his life. He isn't looking for handouts or for help, and he isn't going to rob them like some of them think. He just wants to follow the example of his Savior in everything he does. He's already told us that he wants to serve a mission, because he just loves the Gospel so much, and he wants everyone to hear it. I'm really grateful for his example for me. He too has been very courageous. He left his home and his family to come to Ecuador to find work, and now he just wants to help other people find the gospel. He's basically already a missionary :-) I can't believe it's already the last week of this cambia, and I can't believe that it's my last week with Hermana Giles. President, thank you for letting her be my trainer. She is such an example to me, and it kills me that she never thinks she's good enough, or that she thinks she isn't doing enough, because I know that she is an incredible missionary, and I know that I'm a better person because I've had the opportunity to learn from her. It's going to be hard for me on Monday when we have to say goodbye, but I know that I have a lot to learn from other people too.
Thank you for all you and your wife do. I know that you both have sacrificed a lot to be here for us missionaries, but I cannot thank you enough for being here for us. We love you!
Have a fabulous week,
Hermana Kennedy
Okay, so we have an investigator. Her name is Marta de la Cruz. We actually met her before we officially contacted her, because she has a locale on the main road of Gonzalez where she sells food, specifically pig, every Friday and Saturday night. She's so cute, and you wouldn't know it from looking at her, but she's also savage. Let me explain:
Marta kills her own pigs to sell in her locale. We have seen her and bought tortillas de papa from her before, but then we found her house while contacting, and she was home, and we realized that it was her. Anyway, at the time, she had a live pig tied to her house, and when we asked her if she needed any help with anything, she told us "no" because she was about to kill the pig, and she didn't want us to be scared. Well, okay, so we left, and we have visited her a few times since, and she has this darling little family. Seriously, they are so darn cute. Anyway, so she was a backup plan for another family in Gonzalez this past week, and that family wasn't home, so we decided to go and visit her. We show up, and she and one of her daughters are outside the house with a giant dead pig and a blowtorch, and they're torching the pig in their driveway #ecuadorlife. Well, she was rather surprised to see us and told us that she couldn't talk right now, because well, the pig and all, but we asked if could help, so she asked us if we could peel potatoes for her. You should probably know that Hermana Giles and I are actually pretty adept at peeling potatoes with a knife now, at least compared to North Americans. Compared to Ecuadorians, we peel at a turtle's pace. But, it was still time that she didn't have to peel, so while she could finish a giant bag of potatoes in one hour singlehandedly, we peeled about a fifth of the bag in an hour with two of us. Anyway, I digress. So, we sit down and |
| My arm after peeling potatoes :-) |
So, Saturday morning, we are sitting at our desks for personal study, and Marta actually has a new locale being built across the street from us which she owns. She's renting the other one right now, but selling pig must make a lot of money. Anyway, this new locale also has an outdoor area, and Saturday morning we see Marta's husband in the outdoor area with two sheep. After a while, Marta and two of her sons join him, and we watch as they tie up one of the sheep and lay it on a table. At first, I think that maybe they're shearing the sheep or something, because we see Marta sawing something, and the sheep is still moving. Oh no. She was killing it. Her husband and sons are there to hold the sheep still, but she's the one actually killing it. We seriously couldn't believe it, and we were running from one window to the other so as to get a better view, and it was super awkward when one of her sons looked up and saw us watching, at which point, he tells his family, and they all look up. Meanwhile, we are trying to not be too obvious, because they probably think we think it's gross, but it's actually fascinating. Marta, the Sheep Slayer. Anyway, we got to watch the whole process, and it's just crazy how different it is here than in the States. And you really wouldn't ever expect this from Marta, because she's just so cute and quiet and sweet, but you give her a job, and she has no fear.
In other news, I think the lice may be gone. It's kind of hard to know for sure. After last Monday, we knew that there might still be eggs in my hair, and when Lisbeth checked again this week, I still had a few, though not as many as before (thank goodness), so I've been using the lice shampoo the last two days to try and kill any remaining ones. Thankfully, they're all little ones, so they can't have laid any eggs yet, so Imma keep using the shampoo until it's all gone so as to be sure that they're all dead. I took care of my sheets and everything by using Promethrin which is what we use on our clothes to keep mosquitos from biting us. Any bug that touches anything that's been sprayed with Promethrin dies, so any lice that may jump onto my pillow dies. But poor Hobbito. First, I put him in a bag and left him out in the sun for three days to kill the lice that may have been on him, and then I sprayed him with Promethrin too. I'm seriously hoping that all the suckers are gone, just because it's a pain to worry about. After the first day, I calmed down about them, but it's just annoying to think that they may still be in my hair. In the picture that President Murphy took, I did indeed still have lice. Darn buses. But it's okay. It's a pretty regular thing here for people to get lice, so it's not like anyone other than me was grossed out by it. They were all just very curious as to how my "habitantes" were doing. Okay, so family stuff. First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARKIE!!! I know that I'm several days early, but next time, I would be late, so happy birthday now! Also, happy official graduation, Glo! And I can't believe that Daddy is being released from the Stake Presidency. I'm so proud of you, Daddy, for how hard you've worked the last ten years, and I know that the Stake appreciates it too.
Also, MARK AND ALLISON ARE ENGAGED!! WOOHOO!! Would someone mind sending me details or something, or at least a picture of the two of them? Thanks. I do have to live rather vicariously right now through all of you, and nobody bothered to send me any details.
Also, I'm sorry Ethan and Rebecca that your rental house is a bust. That's super lame. But you know what would help make it better? A CAT :-) (just for you Rebecca :-))
ALSO, WONDER WOMAN!!! I'm so stinking jealous and everything, because it sounds so dang amazing and awesome, and Gal Gadot is so beautiful!!!!
Also, you're all so beautiful. I just love you all, and I'm so blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. Keep being you, tell each other you love each other, and know that I pray for you all every day. I love you guys so much, and please know that Heavenly Father loves you too. Sometimes, we just need some hard times in our lives to better appreciate the good times and so we can better understand our Savior and all that He did for us. When you feel sad or alone, know that you can find comfort and joy in knowing that god loves you, and that's why He sent His Only Begotten Son. I love you!
Love,
Hermana Kennedy
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| #tallgirlinecuadorproblems |
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| There were these random buckets where we teach our English class, so I told Hermana Giles to get in one. I seriously peed my pants laughing so hard! |
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