¿Hola?

Note from HerMama Thomas: We are still waiting for test results for McKenna. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy her letters as much as we do. I am thankful for her positive, can-do attitude!

¡NachOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyways.

I'm slowly running out of creative ways to begin my emails. So let's just jump right in, shall we?

First thing's first: Dad. No, I haven't had a concert for all of Chile yet. Hahaha yes, some people know that I sing, but I don't want to run around with a big sign saying "PICK ME PICK ME I'M SUPER GOOD" because...because no. :) But President Warne knows that I sing, and so do his Assistants, so if they want me to sing at a conference, I'll gladly do it. I do sing in lessons, though! Sometimes. Every once in a while Hermana Pineda surprises me by telling the person we're teaching that I've prepared a hymn to sing to them. That's when I smile like we planned this, and frantically thumb through the pages until I find a song I know that I know...but the spirit is always there! 

I don't remember if I've already shared this, so here goes: during one of our first lessons with our family of investigators, the mother said that one thing she likes more in her church than ours is the hymns. She said that she doesn't feel anything during our songs. Then her husband told me to sing a hymn in English...I don't know why, because they had no idea that I sing! I was pretty nervous, but I made it through "Savoir, Redeemer of my Soul" with only two voice cracks. (Ugh.) But that didn't matter, because in the end, the mother was crying. Not because I can sing, and not because she could understand the words (because she couldn't,) but because the spirit was there. It was really awesome. She hasn't said much more about our hymns since... :)

So...spanish. I only have two things to say about Spanish this week. One, it's a suuuuper beautiful language...BUT. There is one word that is so ugly to me. I hate this one word. It's the word "nosotros." For those of you who don't speak spanish, let me tell you, it's unfortunate that I really don't like this word, because it's used in every other sentence. It's translation is "we" or "us." I really don't know why I don't like this word. Maybe it's because half the people say "nos-oh-ch-ros." No sè.

Second...I've learned that it's easier to just speak spanish and not try to translate what you want to say into english first...also, I was not surprised to find that it is not offensive to talk about how fat someone is getting/already is in this culture. (Don't worry, these two points relate.) Sometimes I don't remember someone by their name, and I ask Hermana Pineda, "wait, who is that again?" Almost every time, she responds with "el gordito." (or "la gordita" if it's a woman.) (Also, I might not have spelled that right.) Well, "el/la" translates to "the," and "gordo/gorda" translates to "fat," and "-ito/-ita" signifies that something/someone is little. So..."Who is this person, Hermana Pineda?" "el gordito"...the little fat?!?! Great. So...everyone in Chile? Bueno. Vamos.

This week, I met someone who believes full-heartedly in Thor. Yep, Thor. Like the guy who runs around with a hammer in a cape and tights (and works it.) (Am I allowed to say that on my mission.) She's a less-active, and when we asked her if she still had a testimony of the gospel, she said, "yeah, but my husband and I just made a small change of religion. It's pretty much the same thing." 

Also, we had a taxi driver trying to convince us that legal use of marijuanna is a gift from the heavens for people in the world today, and we need to take advantage of it, because it's part of righteous living.

In an attempt to strengthen the unity of our ward, my companion and I worked with the ward mission leader to plan a Noche De Hogar (Family Home Evening) for the ward on Friday! We had about 30 people show up, which isn't too shabby, considering the fact that we have an average asistencia of 60 people at church every Sunday...we had a spiritual lesson, and I introduced all of them to the game "20 Seconds..." They all called it a "juego-gringo." But they liked it! Our family of investigators were there, too! Hopefully we can have more people attend next time! 

Another thing: everyone here is totally into music in english. (Not a surprise.) But honestly, I never listened to music in Spanish before my mission. I can't lie and say that I did. But I like to know what I'm listening to, and to sing along...so why would I have listened to music in Spanish? Anyway, it gets a little awkward when people realize that I never listened to music in Spanish before...they're like..."why not. We listen to music in English. Why don't you like our music." So...I guess I'm in for that awkwardness for the rest of my mission. (Chloe Davis, if you're reading this right now...I already know. I already. Know.)

Also, I love when Hermana Pineda sings a song that's in English. The other day, she was singing under her breath "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars...and let me tell you...I'm pretty sure none of the words she said were in English...she just sings the sounds she hears! Maybe one day I'll correct her. Or pretend she said a really bad word in English or something. (Just kidding.) (Seriously I'm just kidding.)

You guys! I love you all. This mission is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done. But I think about all the people supporting me, and all the people who are such huge examples to me, and I find the strength to keep going! 

I've been reading "Jesus the Christ" these past few weeks...it's kind of a huge book, but I'm about half-way through, and the spirit is really strong when I read. My love for the Savior has grown even more...and I didn't think it was possible! I know, without a doubt, that he is the Son of God, my older brother, and that through Him, I can return to live with my Father in Heaven, with my family forever. I am so grateful. 

Sorry for the lack of information about my investigators, but this week was kind of...I don't know! We had a lot of lessons with a lot of new people, but nothing spectacular. It was a little difficult to contact our progressing investigators, but it was a good week!

Thanks for you love and prayers. KEEP PRAYING AND READING THE BOOK OF MORMON. I'M SERIOUS.

I love you guys!!!

Love, Hermana Thomas

Lovin the TB...wish you were here!

HerMama Thomas' note: Thanks for your prayers for McKenna and the other sisters who've tested positive for TB. It is humbling to sense that her faith is undeterred. It's amazing--the strength of her generation. The MOST disturbing part of this email is that Kenna is ASKING for recipes????? This makes me wonder if she is really very ill--I don't know anyone who hates cooking more than she does.

¡Hola mi familia!

I looooove you! LOOOOVE YOU. Thanks for your letters...I flipping love to read your emails. I think about you guys every other thought! ¡Enserio!

Everything is great here! This week was a little rough...we had a lot of moving around, doctor's appointments and whatnot, and I'm a little tired! But that's what P-day is for, right? Wrong. Missionaries don't sleep. Ever. 

Just kidding. We do.

By the way, it's getting difficult to write in English...I keep accidentally switching to Spanish subconsciously...#mishlyfe2013

SO. This week. Story time.

On Tuesday, we had a lesson with a woman named "MaQuena." Yep! Ma-Kena. ¡Que extraño! I didn't think it would be possible to find someone with my name...but there you have it. Anyway, she invited us into her casa, and we just talked about what she believed and our purpose, and the usual first-lesson stuff. Near the end, Hermana Pineda asked if she would like to say the closing prayer. To our surprise, she said yes! (We had explained how to pray just before...but people usually don't want to pray with us...and definitely not with this much enthusiasm.) Anyway, we all bowed our heads, and we waited for her to begin praying. After about ten seconds of silence, we looked up...to find that she was praying to herself, her lips moving super rapidly and making weird whispering noises. We looked at each other, and tried not to laugh...we watched her, watched her, watched her...waiting for her to finish...well, three minutes of this passed (three minutes. I looked at my watch,) and finally Hermana Pineda said really loudly, "...AAAY-men." MaQuena jumped, probably a little startled, and mumbled an amen, too. No sè...fue chistoso. 

(By the way, you Spanish-speakers...if I make a mistake in these emails...just try to remember your first three months in the field. Ha.)

Here's a classic: so, I'm a gringo, right? Surprise. Anyway, I'm used to people staring. I honestly don't remember what it feels like to walk down a street without making awkward eye contact with literally every single person you see. Well, the other day we were contacting, and we came across a fourteen year old girl who is Adventista. She let us into her house, and we talked with her mom for a bit. They were both...a little different...but anyway, we were talking, and the daughter was sitting at the table with her camera phone...trying to discreetly take a picture of me. Unbeknownst to her, however, was that her phone had the flash feature turned on. You wanna know how many pictures she took of me? Sixteen. Sixteen pictures of me. It was hilarious how careful she was trying to be, not wanting me to notice. I was fine with it until I saw on our way out that her instagram account was open as well. So hollaback, I'm an instagram celebrity on some random girl's account. (Dad, I can't remember if you said this to me or if it was my own brain, but I've been trying to come up with a title for myself here in Talca, and the best I have right now is "The Grin-kshow." Ideas?)

Also, yesterday I found a slumbering bee on my shirt. I think it was there for at least five minutes of tracting. It was curled up, sleeping. Taking a little bee-nap. 

Hey, if anyone of you want to send me really simple recipes, I'm down for it. I'm getting a little tired of the food I've been preparing for two months! 

Probably the crowning moment of the week was a lesson we had with a new investigator. This investigator has had contact with missionaries before--in fact, seven lessons of contact--but when it came to baptism, he didn't want anything to do with it. We found him tracting one night, and he said we could teach him, but that it would be impossible for him to change. From our two lessons with him, I believe that he received his answer way back with those missionaries before...and now, he's doing everything he can to justify himself. He's full of contradictions. This lesson, we taught him the story of Joseph Smith. When we asked him how he felt about it, he said that he couldn't believe it because he didn't believe in God...we talked about this for a little while longer, and at one point he said "if all the world lived the word of God, the world would be a better place." ¿What? The whole lesson was full of these contradictions. It started becoming frustrating...but one Christ-like attribute I've been studying this week is "patience," and so I just kept breathing and listening. At one point, I was trying to explain the Book of Mormon. He asked why it was important to read it, and I said that it was the evidence that there is a God, and this is his church. I then proceeded to begin to promise that if he read this book, pondered and prayed about it, that he could recieve and answer. But as soon as I said, "Yo prometo," he started saying "no, no, no, usted no puede prometer..." I tried a little more firmly, but he replied a little stronger, "¡No prometa! ¡No puede prometer!" ("Don't promise! You can't promise!") Suddenly, I felt confidence fill me up, and I cut him off, and said, "NOPE. Yo. Puedo. Porque soy un representante de Jesucristo, y cuando yo digo que este libro puede ayudarle saber que Dios existe, es un promesa." Then I bore my testimony of the truthfulness and blessings that will come from reading the Book of Mormon, and he didn't even try to argue. We left him a copy, and while I'm not entirely sure that he's going to take me up on this promise, I felt really awesome afterwards. Sometimes you just have to be super duper direct! 

I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ on the earth, and I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, Redeemer, Older Brother, Defender and Friend. I wouldn't want to do anything else than help other people come to this knowledge, too. Guys...share the gospel! I'm serious! Be grateful that you have the ability to do so in your own language, because that means that nothing can possibly hold you back but yourself! Have confidence in Christ, if you don't have confidence in yourself, and I promise you can do it.

Read the Book of Mormon. Again and again and again. And keep praying. I promise that someone is listening!

I LOVE YOU GUYS. TO DEATH ENSERIO.

Looooooove, Hermana TBhomas