AMIE
CRITCHFIELD, YOU LOVELY WOMAN. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR MISSION CALL.
Also, I know why you're leaving so soon. It's because I've had a secret
wish that you'd not have to wait to leave too long, because I don't
want to have to wait for forever to see you when I get home in a year
and a few months!! So you're welcome. (Trust me, you did not want to
wait 4 and a half months.)
So, HEY, GUYS! Man, oh man. Do you know how awesome
it is to get emails as a missionary? It's the best. I love it. It's
fanTAStic.
This week! Was crazy! ¡semana loca!
It was the week of independence for Chile, and people partied hard!
Consequently, not many people were very patient with us...but that
didn't stop us! I just wanted to say to everyone I passed, "I'm sorry,
but I'm starting to get concerned about your salvation and stuff."
(I really hope that most people reading my emails
have seen Nacho Libre. If not...awkward. Because I think I've quoted it
quite a few times in the past.)
Our neighbors have partied all night and into the morning (I'm talking 5am
in the morning) almost every night this week. I'd like to help you
visualize what it's like to live next to these people: Imagine that
you're standing in a...25x25ft room. Then imagine that you are about
10ft away from a cannon. That never stops firing. Ever. And the only
thing separating you from the cannon is...a sheet of paper. And it's a
really drunk cannon.
My bones were vibrating with the music coming through the wall.
The
language! It's coming along! Man, it's gonna be cool when I know what
people are saying! I'm totally psyched for that day. In the meantime, I
can just keep saying "¿Què?" (This has become my catchphrase.)
Hermana Pineda continues to become dearer and dearer
to me. I love her guts. I can't even say enough about it! OH. This
reminds me of my animal story of the week.
So,
we have Nutella, right? And cookies, right? And I'm an unhealthy
person, right? (Just kidding, Mom. I'm doing really good at eating
healthy. Don't have a heart attack.) (That's my job.) (Just kidding.)
Anyway, every once in a while, I just really need a cookie with Nutella.
So I purchased the ingredients necessary, and then I accidentally got
everyone in the casa absolutely addicted to it. Anyway, one morning I
really wanted a cookie with Nutella, and Hermana Pineda said no. I asked
why, and she proceeded to show me a paper she'd printed from Hermana
Jett (who is the woman in charge of the health of the missionaries
here.) This paper said to eat very little chocolate, because it caused
headaches, and all these other problems, and then Hermana Pineda
practically bore her testimony about how we shouldn't eat too much
chocolate.
So, feeling reprimanded, I refrained. Two minutes
later, the lights went out, and as I was working to restore the power, I
saw out of the corner of my eye someone in the kitchen, reaching for
the Nutella and cookies...yep! Hermana Pineda had FIVE COOKIES in her
hand, and one stuffed in her mouth! I abandoned my work with the power,
and pretty much tackled her. This wrestle lasted for about five minutes.
I don't remember much of it, it really was a blur, but by the end I had
bite marks on my arm as proof of the battle.
Yep, my companion bit me. So this is my animal story of the week.
I guess another animal story can be that Hermana Bokovoy accidentally ate a worm. It was in her apple.
Back to the festivities...I loved them! We had a ward party on Friday,
with a lot of dancing and food and food and FOOD. Also, I learned a lot
about the history of Chile! It was really interesting. The missionaries
judged the events the whole night, and it was a great opportunity to
bond with the members.
At this party, there was a family of really awesome
people who were not members. A girl in our ward had invited one of their
daughters to attend, and the whole family came! Hermana Pineda and I
talked with them a bit, and visited them the next day. Only the mother
was at home, but while we taught her, she said that she felt something
really deep in her heart with us there, and that she believed that we
could do something to help her family very much. She was crying, and we
told her that this was the spirit. I got to bear my testimony about how
families are eternal, and I cried, too, because I love you guys so much,
and I'm so grateful to know that I get to live with you guys forever!
 |
| At the Ward Chile Independence Day Celebration! |
She and her daughter attended church with us the
next day! We are really excited about this family. They are very
receptive. I know that the Lord guided them to us, or us to them. We
have another appointment with them tonight, and we are really excited
about it.
I've learned here how difficult it is to accept a
prophet in this day. When I think about it from an investigator's
perspective, it's pretty difficult to believe! I am so grateful that I
have already developed a solid testimony of living prophets in my
life...man, I'm just grateful that I've been raised in the gospel in
general!
I know, without a doubt, that this the Church of
Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth, and that God exists. I
think it's important that everyone who is a member of this church
develops a really firm testimony of this...honestly. You guys should read Preach My Gospel and then read it again! It has so many great
scripture references to help build your faith. It's amazing.
I'm so grateful for the trust Heavenly Father has in
me. I am so imperfect...it's amazing to realize that He can still use
me as an instrument in His hands! I love being a missionary. I'm so
proud of my friends who are serving with me right now, because you know
what? This is hard. It is by far the hardest thing I've done in my life
thus far. But I know that I'm growing from it every single day, and that
this is the foundation for the rest of my life--my marriage, my family,
my education, my occupation, everything! This is a grand opportunity,
and I don't plan on wasting it!
I love you all with allll of my heart! ¡Con todo de
mi corazòn! Read the Book of Mormon! Pray every morning and every night!
I absolutely promise that your life will be so much happier, despite
difficulties.
Love, Hermana Thomas
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