So first off, you should probably know that today at a district activity, I hurt my ankle. We were at a park today, and there were these very high slides, and I went down one, and the first time, it was fine, but the second time, I landed wrong and something popped. I'm basically uncoordinated. #thisiswhywedomusic It's nothing serious, probably just twisted, and it's only at the insistence of other missionaries that I'm going to have an appointment at the hospital in Quito this week. Really, it's fine. I can still walk on it and everything, but it's a bit swollen, and I think I may have hurt it like I did back in November. Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to leave the house for a few days (in order to rest it) which stinks because we have appointments and investigators whom we need to visit. I'm mad at myself that we will have to cancel those appointments because I'm stupid and uncoordinated. Anyway, here's my letter to President:
Buenas tardes, Presidente Murphy,
Well Presidente, I want to start with my story about the power of The Book of Mormon in conversion. As you know, at the beginning of June, Lisbeth, Willian, and Lillian Ajavi were baptized. It was especially amazing to me to see Willian baptized, because when we first started teaching him, he didn't want to pray or want to read The Book of Mormon, or really participate at all in the lessons. However, it was once we divided the lessons that we really saw a difference. I was writing verses for Willian to read every day in order to help him find a love for The Book of Mormon. By the third week of doing this, he was coming up to me in church each week to ask if I had his verses for him. However, I knew that at some point in the future, I would be leaving San Pablo, and I couldn't keep doing this forever. So, instead of writing verses, I started writing "Read the Book of Mormon" on pieces of paper, and I gave those to him. Now, he doesn't need anything, and he's still reading every day. He's now the most participatory in the lessons, and he can't wait to learn each time we go over. And yesterday, Willian passed the sacrament for the first time. Last week, he received the Aaronic priesthood, and he was the very first person to church yesterday and was there to watch the teachers prepare the sacrament. And, he was wearing a tie! I know that may not seem like a big deal, but ties aren't really a thing in this ward, and at the beginning of teaching the family, he was saying that he wasn't going to church because he didn't have a tie and didn't know how to tie one, and he hasn't worn one before, but he wore one yesterday, and he was the only deacon to do so. I know that The Book of Mormon is what helped him gain a testimony, and a love for this Gospel. It was ultimately the door for his conversation, and I'm so grateful for the promptings of the Spirit that helped him learn to love The Book of Mormon.
Unfortunately, our baptismal fecha (date) for Patricio Quilumbaquin fell through because he feels like it's too soon, and he wants to be sure that this is the true church. Really, it's our fault. When we extended the baptismal date to him, he started talking before we said the date, and I'm not actually sure he heard it, so we felt the need to present it to him again, but at that point, it was only thirteen days away, and he felt like it was way too soon. I am really sorry about that.
However, Mariana Antamba is right on track for her baptism. We taught the commandments last night, with extra emphasis on el dia de reposo, because sometimes she works on Sunday mornings, so we talked about that, and we are so hoping that she will cumplir with the compromise. I really, really love being a missionary, President. Yes, the work is hard, and sometimes it seems like nothing comes of our work, but seeing Willian pass the sarmanet was amazing for me, and Sandra Paucar wants her daughter to be baptized in August, because she's turning eight. I know that his church is true. I know that God and Jesus Christ restored the true church on the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet, and that even today, we are receiving revelation from our loving Heavenly Father. I know that The Book of Mormon really does hold all the answers to the questions of the soul, and we can come closer to God by abiding by its precepts. I love the mission, and I love these people. Thank you for all you do to help us, and thank you for the sacrifices you have made so that you can be here. Have an excellent week!
Hermana Kennedy
Okay seriously, I almost cried seeing Willian pass the sacrament! He's such a boss! But unfortunately his family was late to church, so they didn't get to see him pass the sacrament, but I did, and he was great! Oh, I just love that kid!
So, funny story from this week. We had something called Invasions (no Daddy, the aliens didn't come this week) which is where all of the missionaries in a district head for a specific sector to contact and help out the missionaries there to find more people. Anyway, the hermanas de cayambe wanted to have their invasion in this legit park in their sector. Seriously, it's so Ecuadorian, and so definitely not American, because all of the playground equipment and everything is super high and probably dangerous, but who cares?? Anyway, so we had a table with pamphlets and everything, and near the end, the elders decided that they wanted ice cream, so they headed to this little stand and bought this type of ice cream called Manicho. Ugh, it's so delicious. We buy one every week, because they are just so dang good. Anyway, normally they're only 75 cents, but the elders said that they bought them for 80 cents because the vendor told them it was 80 cents, and they tried to argue, but said that there wasn't anything they could do about it. Well, that sounded like a challenge to me! I told them that I knew I could get it for 75 cents, and they didn't believe me, so I headed up to the stand and asked if he had Manichos. He said, "Yep, there they are." So I said, "75 cents, right?" To which he responded, "No, we are in the park, so it's five cents more." So, I respond with, "Oh well, I only have 75 cents, so thank anyway", and I started to walk away. I then hear behind me, "Wait! Wait! Just one?" So I walked back to the other missionaries with my 75 cent Manicho, and Hermana Bustos was witness to my triumph. The elders were very jealous :-) Yep, I still can't back down from a challenge. #slytherinforever
Also, my Spanish has reached the point where I can express my normal sense of humor (hurray!). I just about had our mamita in stitches the other day while relating how horrified I was to eat soup with a chicken foot in it. So yeah Mark, I'm pretty much a boss now :-)
So, something funny about Ecuadorians. They pirate movies. Like, hard core. There are movies that just came out that they're selling in their stores, and I have to admit, sometimes it's tempting to buy them and bring them back to the States, because they sell them for 75 cents (don't ask me--everything seems to be 75 cents around here). We were passing a movie store the other day, when what do I see on the cover but Wonder-freaking-Woman. I just about died. I had to keep telling myself, "Just one more year. Just one more year." It really is funny, because some people don't exactly understand what it is to be a missionary. They can't believe that we don't have a TV or books, and that we are outside all day teaching. They think that we stop working every day at like 5 o'clock, and that we go home to a nice movie and a pizza (not really, because pizza doesn't exist here, but you get the idea). But it really is amazing, the life we live. In our apartment, we have two desks, two beds, and a wardrobe. That's all the furniture we own, because in reality, we don't need anything else. It is crazy, but at the same time, I know that we receive so many Wonder-ful (get it?) blessings from living a life of hard work and diligence in this work of God. Yes, he requires a lot from us at times, but He is always ready to rain down blessings on us too for the sacrifices we are making being here. But maybe not human sacrifices :-)
And the next day, our mamita had The Living Scriptures playing on her TV, and I felt like it was Heavenly Father telling me that's it okay. I may not be able to see Wonder Woman for another year and a month (who's counting?), but He will help me make it through :-). And you better believe I remembered all the songs and what was going to happen and everything in those Living Scripture videos :-)
Also, I like to think I'm getting closer to becoming an official Ecuadorian now, based on my cooking skills. I can make a lot of their food, and I can degrain corn and peel potatoes with a knife like a boss. I'm excited to come home and make everything for you. Unfortunately, most of it is fried which makes it very difficult to lose weight here. Seriously, some of our mamitas give us five meals worth of food, and I'm starting to see it in my face. I'm trying to eat healthier and exercise more, but combined with the fact that women naturally gain more weight at high altitudes, my best bet at this point is to get a parasite. For realz :-) |
| We don't own a can opener, so I use a knife to open my cans of tuna #likeaboss |
I am feeling a lot happier now. I think that once a transfer, I just have a few days that are always hard. In my first week five, Hermana Giles and I both kind of broke down, and we didn't leave the house until 3 o'clock one afternoon. I think it's just an hermana thing. We are super hard on ourselves, and sometimes we feel so much pressure. Especially being a trainer, I feel like I'm not doing a good job, but Hermana Bustos took initiative this week, and I really do love being a missionary. A day without trials is a day without progress, so I'm grateful for how I'm progressing :-)
And what a cute quartet name for Glo. She's been telling me all about Diego. He would probs accept the Gospel :-). Also, of course he's cool--he's a violist :-) #underrated #beloved #secretlythebest. And I'm glad you loved the guacamole at Don Juan's so much. It'll be hard for me to go there, because that piece of classical music has brought me more misery than all the others combined #tonepoemdeath
That's my week! I love you all so much, and seriously, I can't tell you how much your emails mean to me every week. Hermana Giles always called her letters from home the Gold Plates, and it's very much true. They are precious to me, and I cannot express how grateful I am for them. I love you all so much, and please keep doing good things in your life!
Love,
Hermana Kennedy
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| Yet another picture of me crossing a very sketchy bridge in our sector. #idontwanttodie |
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| Lillian Ajavi loves the pamphlets of the lessons, and she made the chastity pamphlet the cover for one of her notebooks for school! How cute is that? |
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| We had exchanges this week, and my companion, Hermana Pincay is almost as tall as me! #miracle |
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