Hmmmmmm......

Family! Did you know I love you? Because I do.

This made my heart smile (in the words of a dear friend). I LOVE Erin and Lindy!!! Always thinking of her sisters!!!

So. Chile. What's up with that, am I right?

First thing's first: inactivity. THROUGH THE ROOF so much inactivity! It's so sad! I don't know what it is. I swear, every other person we run into has already been taught/baptized by missionaries at some point in their life (yes, yes, in OUR church,) but they absolutely do not want to come back to church. It's so sad, because they have the truth and the way to happiness in the palm of their hands, but they choose not to take advantage of it. 

EVERYONE READING THIS LETTER: IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, and you ever ever EVER stop going to church, me and my friend Elder Holland will come to your doorstep and personally drag you by your feet to the chapel. 

Now that that's out of the way...we have two investigators! Oh man, they are awesome! They are both young-ish mothers with a lot of interest in the church! One especially is super great. She has a son who is four months old, which she had with her live-in boyfriend (called a pareja,) and this kid is absolutely adorable. Absolutely. And he has a really weird fixation with me. Seriously! I don't know if it's because I'm a gringo (spelling?) or what, but every time I speak...okay. We taught the first lesson to her, and every time Hermana Pineda was speaking, he was squirming around and making a little fuss. Then I'd start talking, and all the sudden he'd freeze and stare at me with his big blue baby eyes. When I told the story of the first vision, he peacefully fell asleep. I dunno. I dunno. Maybe me awful accent is soothing to babies. ("Baby" in Spanish is "Wawa." or "bebe." But I like "wawa.")

Anyway, our investigator asked me to say the opening prayer, and when we were finished, you could tell that she had gotten a little teary. She told us that she didn't know which church she wanted to baptize her son in. And during the story of the first vision, again you could see her eyes becoming misty. We asked her how she felt afterwards, and she said she felt really, really great. This is my first experience really teaching with the spirit to someone who is receptive! I just love it. We even gave her a brief idea of the Law of Chastity, and at the end she nodded her head and said that it made sense...which is awesome, because she lives with her boyfriend right now...she didn't say she'd live it or anything, but she still wants to learn!

Oh, remember that time when a bird pooped on my hand instead of my head? Well, I've got another tender mercy for ya. We were tracting a few nights ago, and on the doorstep of someone's house, as we were speaking with the resident, a dog flipping peed on me. BUT I was wearing boots. So...miracles happen every day in the life of a missionary.

So you know that awkward moment when you accidentally make eye contact with someone on the street, and you both really fast look away, and pass by, and pretend it didn't happen? Well, buck up, your life is not that hard. Welcome to my Chilean LIFE. Literally

every single person I pass, I make eye contact with, because--breaking news--I'm a gringo! Yep, surprise! EVERYONE is looking at me all the time! 

Don't think I'm being conceited right now. This is honestly my life right now. 

Oh, that reminds me...okay...so my second day here, we were contacting, and this really old lady, hard to understand, I think she had some mild turrets or something, let us into her casa. (The reason I remembered this story is because this lady told us very directly that the only reason she was letting us into her casa was because I had a "cada bonita.") Anyway, we taught her the third lesson (The Gospel of Jesus Christ.) Mind you, this is my second day in Chile, and I literally don't understand anything. 

So this lesson is going, and it seems like it's good, Hermana Pineda and this lady talk a lot, and then we leave. I thought it went really well. Hermana Pineda said something to me as we walked away, but I didn't understand, and so I just nodded my head.

Anyway, two nights ago, I asked Hermana Pineda what ever happened with that lady...why we'd never taught her again? Hermana Pineda said that she already told her, but I reminded her that I had the vocabulary of an intelligent rock my second day here, so she re-told me what happened. I guess that this old lady said that if we were really sent from God, we needed to touch her husband's foot and heal it with our godly powers. 

Yay for Spanish.

So that was weird...but everything else is great! Mom, I haven't gotten that package yet...hopefully it gets to me! 

Man, I love you guys all so much. Oh! Go read "Our Search for Happiness" by Elder Ballard, please. It's not that long, and he's an incredible writer. It might be my favorite book every! (It's in the missionary library.) Right now I'm reading "Our Heritage"...there have been so many miracles in our church's past. And so much sacrifice. It makes me realize that I have a legacy to live up to, and it motivates me to do better every day! Please go read that first one, and then the second! 

Chile is great! Everything is great! This week I've been especially grateful that I have so many people supporting me--friends, family, ward members--I LOVE YOU ALL. I pray for you!

Please keep writing. And read the Book of Mormon!!

Love, Hermana Thomas (pronnounced doh-mahs)

Hermana Thomas and Hermana Pineda

"Oh...the Places You'll Go!!!"

 

English.......??? First 'real' letter from Chile!!!!

What the heck is English?? No recuerdo English!!

HOLA FAMILY! GREETINGS FROM TALCA. Literally, this is the most English I've used in a couple days. IT'S CRAZY.

First of all, did you know that there are dogs in Chile?? HA. YEAH. THERE ARE. Many many many many doggies. Every single house has at least one dog...then there are the dogs on the street...some of them are really mean. The other day, Hermana Pineda and I almost got eaten alive. I wish that was a joke. BUT then there are dogs who decide that they like you, and follow you around for hours. The other day, we had a dog that followed us for about 3 hours. We named him Phil, only Hermana Pineda says "Feel"...so I guess his name was "Pheel...?"

I love Hermana Pineda! She is the best. Yes, she is from Guatamala, and she's a doll. She JUST got finished being trained, so I'm her first "daughter." In our casa, it is our companionship with one other, Hermana Bokovoy and Hermana Contreras. (Hermana Bokovoy was in the MTC with me, and Hermana Contreras was Hermana Pineda's trainer just before. She knows Taylor! Both she and Hermana Pineda were originally called to Concepción...Hermana Contreras has been here 12 months, and when I showed them pictures of my family, she recognized Taylor as her old zone leader! Crazy!) 

Hermana Pineda is trying to learn a little English from me...the other day I was rubbing my stomache because I was so full, and out of nowhere, she says, "you are fat." In her cute accent! (She probably thinks I have a cute accent, too...or maybe not so cute...) Anyway, she's funny like that. We laughed. We laugh all the time, actually! 

In the mornings, we get up at exactly 7:00 for exercise...Mom, you would love Chile. They just have public little...exercising places? They look like playgrounds, honestly, but no. They are for exercising. It's pretty funny, but they are super effective. I'm totally sore!

Then we get ready for the day, and plan and study and all that fun stuff! THEN we study the language...which really is just talking and having her really correct me. Then we usually eat...by this time, it's about 1:30 here. 

YEAH THEY GIVE YOU A LOT OF FOOD. Usually, we have some soup along with tomatoes/veggies drowning in...I want to say it's vinegar...? It's actually good. I love it. Then you have your entree, with the food literally PILED on the plate. Mostly, it's been chicken with either rice or potatoes. I really like it! (There was one day, though, that I literally was gagging down the food. It was probably the worst thing I've ever had. Thought it was meat...wasn't meat.) 

Then we go to our appointments. People usually aren't there, though, or maybe they see us through their windows and decide that they don't feel like it. (Probably.) But that's okay, because we use that time to contact! Aquí en Chile, you shout "ALO" at the gates of people's houses...I really like it, because it's the closest I get to come to belting! I really really like it. Usually a dog will drown it out by barking. Dumb dogs.

Oh, I got pooped on. (Not by a dog.) A bird. I was just walking, minding my own human business, when I reached up to fix my hair...and right at that moment, a bird turd landed on my hand. I guess I should be counting my blessings...it very well should have landed on my head. Just further proof that the Lord protects his missionaries...?

Hermana Pineda told everyone.

Anyway, there's so much to say, but not enough time! I had to spend half my time on the computer today receiving instruction from others on what I needed to do...so I don't have much time left! I love you guys. So dang much. Wow. I've thought about all of you every day.

Ireland, braces are not fun, but not awful. At least you won't need them for THREE YEARS. Count your blessings, love! Why haven't you emailed me recently?!

Erin, you're dumb. JUST KIDDING I LOVE YOU. Congrats on the play!! Stuff it, Saxe Middle School.

Dad, I juuuust got your email. You have this uncanny way of emailing me riiight before I run out of time. I LOVE YOU.

Mom, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I TALK ABOUT YOU A LOT. To everyone. It's almost embarrassing.

Keep praying. Hey, someone should take a Spanish class so that I we can speak when I get home. Or maybe...wait until I get home. Then I can help you with your homework. :) 

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Thomas

PS: look at the picture of the floor, and then think about why I am going absolutely crazy when I see this.

[HerMAMA Thomas' note--She sent a bunch of pictures BUT I am having some technical difficulties loading them to the blog. Will get them up ASAP.  The picture of the floor she is referring to, really makes me laugh because Kenna has a OCD 'thing' with symmetry. Poor kid....stay tuned....I will post it.]