Dear Family,
Thanks for you letters and support. I have been learning more and getting used to Huanuco. I'm going to answer your questions first.
The rules about internet are really strict, which is good. There are internet places on every street, where you pay to use the computers, but we go as a zone to a specific one that is run by a member. The ZLs check to make sure we are only sending and receiving from our designated family member, and we have exactly 45 minutes.
In my area we have the ward Amarilis, the branch San Cristobal, and the branch San Luis. They are all really small, but the strong members are great. They have like 5 callings and they support the missionaries a lot. There are a lot of inactives, and about everyday when we contact, we run into inactive members. None of the units have a full presidency or bishopric. In San Luis, the smallest, there were only 3 priesthood holders to bless and pass the sacrament.
The living arrangements are like this: we have a bedroom in the house of the stake president, but it's separate from the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms of the rest of the house. We have a bathroom that has a toilet and a shower (you can sit on the toilet and take a shower at the same time). There is a faucet out side the bathroom. I feel like I'm living a camping trip. Sometimes there is no electricity, sometimes no water, and I'm constantly dirty because it's really dusty. It's pretty primitive. During the day we hike around the mountains trying to get to the houses. The pensionista (wife of the stake pres.) cooks for us and does our laundry (by hand). During the week we do it ourselves if we need something washed. I don't really think the clothes get very clean though. For Liz (I hope you read this), I appreciate the toilet seat covers, but the toilets hardly ever have seats. Yesterday we used the bathroom in the chapel, and there was no toilet seat, no toilet paper, and no water.
I'm not sure what the altitude here is, but it is high. I haven't had any trouble adjusting though. I'm not sure what way is north, so I don't know what part we live in. It`s almost all on the sides of the mountains though. Ours is the more humble part of Huanuco. I've been trying to figure out what people do for a living. Some people have normal type jobs, but for the most part, I think people sell things, fruit, vegetables, candy, internet, whatever. A member that accompanied us one day last week sells maca, the stuff I did my research on.
I'm glad to hear that everything is good at home. Keep me updated on Casie. I'm excited for her. Mom, Here are my requests for the package: stamps (we can write letters, and they take them to the US to mail them, but I don't have any US stamps), cookies and or candy, especially de peanut butter, and my favorite deodorant, secret platinum protection solid asian pear. Also, I would like a few recipes. Maybe, a couple kinds of easy cookies, a roll recipe, and brownies. The family we live with always asks about what I know how to cook, but I need a recipe for most thing. I miss eating sweet stuff, although we had really good mango yesterday.
This week the baptism we had fell through because it turns out the couple isn't married. Most people here aren't, and you have to be really specific and say, are you legally married or living together. The church has an agreement where couples can get married for less money and less time, so that helps. We have two people who want to get baptized but can't because they aren't married, and their spouses don't want to get married.
This week we got a good reference of a family who wants to be happier, and we also contacted a family that seemed really interested. We teach a lot of kids because the kids here and the parents are really interested in what church the kids go to. We are helping a youth and 2 boys get ready for baptism in June.
We are teaching a 19 year old boy, who is really smart and interested and knows the Bible really well. It's nice to teach him because he is really sincere, but he asks hard questions, that I can't answer in Spanish yet. His family are members, but he lives with his godfather.
Today for p day we are going fishing with the district. I'm not sure where, but I'm excited to see more than my area.
I love you all,
Sarah
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Dear family,
I have a lot to write, but we get 45 minutes for internet. First, I can only receive email from Mom's email address, so to email me, just send it to Mom, and she can send it to me.
Wednesday we went to the mission office and home to get trained a little and have our entrevistas with the president. President and Sister Linstrom are great. He grew up in Ucon, Idaho, and one of their sons was in my freshman ward. We had lunch at their apartment, and it was good to eat real American food. I finally learned about my mission. About half the mission is in Lima, half in the provinces, including the mountain highlands, and the jungle. There are only 14 hermanas, and only 4, including the 2 of us who entered are NorthAmericans. Last month, the mission had 305 baptisms. I am sad because they closed the jungle area for hermanas, and I hear that it is gorgeous. The Lindstroms finish their mission in July.
In the afternoon, we got our assignments. My first area is the area of Huánuco. I stayed the night with some sisters in Lima, and the next morning, those of us going to the province left. It was almost a 12 hour bus ride to get here, and the road is high. The Andes are amazing. That night we arrived, and I met my companion, Hermana Espinoza. She is really nice, and about a foot shorter than me. Our pension is in the house of the stake president, and the wife is the pensionista. President Lindstrom said she is one of the best in the mission, but so far I haven't been too impressed.
Friday, we started working. The people here are very humble. Some of the houses only have a little bed, a table, and a chair or two, and some sort of animal running around. Before I left the CCM, I was thinking about how I missed hiking, but realmente, we have to hike to get to the houses here. I don't know how the antiguos do it. The area is pretty, but it hasn't rained in awhile, so it's really dusty. Mom, I can't tract in my brown shoes, but it's okay, because my black shoes are all brown now. The dogs here are terrible. Hermana Espinoza almost got bit last night, but the dog only got her clothes.
We have a baptism set for Saturday, but we need permission for it because the hermano has only attended sacrament meeting 2 times, and the requirement is 4. The past few days we had 3 really good first lessons from referrals, and I am excited to see how they are doing. The first day here, after the first lesson, we did a street contact, and the family had gone to a baptism that was last week. We have an appointment with them tomorrow. In these miracles I can really see the Lord's hand in the work.
We have 1 barrio and 2 ramas in our area, so yesterday, we had to go to all three to see which investigators went to church. I was called on to share my testimony in one, and the branch president asked me to teach the members a hymn in the smallest rama. The music here is terrible. Nobody knows how to play the piano, so they do without, and they change the notes of the songs. It was also really slow, and I almost started laughing because in one branch we sang Angels we Have Heard on High.
I am happy, and I love the work. I don't know my address here, but when I do, I'll send it. Huanuco is pretty far away from civilization, so I don't know how long it will take for mail. Thanks for the mail. When I got to the mission office, there was a stack of mail for me.
To Janet-Good job with the hat tricks! And I have something for your birthday, but I don't know when I'll be able to send it. So, be patient and know that I remember.
To Mom- I'm thinking of stuff I would like in the package. So far, I'm pretty interested in cookies and candy. I'll probably send some pictures next week. Do you think you could have some of the pictures I send printed at like Wal-mart or somewhere? About the family newsletter, you can just send it to the mission office. For Carolyn's letters, I don't know, but I'll think about it. Sorry about the typing errors, the keyboard is really loose.
Love,
Sarah
I have a lot to write, but we get 45 minutes for internet. First, I can only receive email from Mom's email address, so to email me, just send it to Mom, and she can send it to me.
Wednesday we went to the mission office and home to get trained a little and have our entrevistas with the president. President and Sister Linstrom are great. He grew up in Ucon, Idaho, and one of their sons was in my freshman ward. We had lunch at their apartment, and it was good to eat real American food. I finally learned about my mission. About half the mission is in Lima, half in the provinces, including the mountain highlands, and the jungle. There are only 14 hermanas, and only 4, including the 2 of us who entered are NorthAmericans. Last month, the mission had 305 baptisms. I am sad because they closed the jungle area for hermanas, and I hear that it is gorgeous. The Lindstroms finish their mission in July.
In the afternoon, we got our assignments. My first area is the area of Huánuco. I stayed the night with some sisters in Lima, and the next morning, those of us going to the province left. It was almost a 12 hour bus ride to get here, and the road is high. The Andes are amazing. That night we arrived, and I met my companion, Hermana Espinoza. She is really nice, and about a foot shorter than me. Our pension is in the house of the stake president, and the wife is the pensionista. President Lindstrom said she is one of the best in the mission, but so far I haven't been too impressed.
Friday, we started working. The people here are very humble. Some of the houses only have a little bed, a table, and a chair or two, and some sort of animal running around. Before I left the CCM, I was thinking about how I missed hiking, but realmente, we have to hike to get to the houses here. I don't know how the antiguos do it. The area is pretty, but it hasn't rained in awhile, so it's really dusty. Mom, I can't tract in my brown shoes, but it's okay, because my black shoes are all brown now. The dogs here are terrible. Hermana Espinoza almost got bit last night, but the dog only got her clothes.
We have a baptism set for Saturday, but we need permission for it because the hermano has only attended sacrament meeting 2 times, and the requirement is 4. The past few days we had 3 really good first lessons from referrals, and I am excited to see how they are doing. The first day here, after the first lesson, we did a street contact, and the family had gone to a baptism that was last week. We have an appointment with them tomorrow. In these miracles I can really see the Lord's hand in the work.
We have 1 barrio and 2 ramas in our area, so yesterday, we had to go to all three to see which investigators went to church. I was called on to share my testimony in one, and the branch president asked me to teach the members a hymn in the smallest rama. The music here is terrible. Nobody knows how to play the piano, so they do without, and they change the notes of the songs. It was also really slow, and I almost started laughing because in one branch we sang Angels we Have Heard on High.
I am happy, and I love the work. I don't know my address here, but when I do, I'll send it. Huanuco is pretty far away from civilization, so I don't know how long it will take for mail. Thanks for the mail. When I got to the mission office, there was a stack of mail for me.
To Janet-Good job with the hat tricks! And I have something for your birthday, but I don't know when I'll be able to send it. So, be patient and know that I remember.
To Mom- I'm thinking of stuff I would like in the package. So far, I'm pretty interested in cookies and candy. I'll probably send some pictures next week. Do you think you could have some of the pictures I send printed at like Wal-mart or somewhere? About the family newsletter, you can just send it to the mission office. For Carolyn's letters, I don't know, but I'll think about it. Sorry about the typing errors, the keyboard is really loose.
Love,
Sarah
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Dear Family,
I am excited to be in the last week at the CCM. I have liked being here and I have learned a lot, but I am ready to go. Things are pretty much the same here. Every day we learn more about how to be more effective missionaries and how to prach the gospel. This week I have been working hard to speak as much Spanish as possible. It is really hard to speak Spanish when you know your companion or district understands English. It has been especially helpful when we practice teaching lessons to the Latinos. Last Sunday I translated part of the devotional for the North Americans who can't understand much. It was so hard! It is different to be able to understand enough to know what they are saying, and to understand enough to translate every word while still listening to what they are saying.
Also last Saturday we taught a group of youth preparing to go on missions. We usually end up teaching girls, and they never participate very much in the lesson, so it makes it hard. We don't know whether they can't understand, or they just don't want to answer.
This week instead of going to the temple, the missionaries in my district going to Peru missions went to Immigrations to get our Peruvian IDs. It is always nice to be able to go outside the walls of the CCM, but we just sat for about 3 hours waiting. I did talk a little bit to a guy who is from the US, but grew up in Peru, and lives here now.
I am excited for Saturday because we are having another proselyting day. I am probably going to go to Ventanilla this time, which I am happy about. It is a poor area, and the missionaries who went there last time had more success, probably because they are more humble. Plus, I am happy to use my Spanish to teach the gospel.
Thanks for you love and support! I am sad I won't be able to talk on Mother's Day.
Love,
Sarah
PS Tell Dad thanks for his letter. I was happy to hear from him. And I didn't know Em and Preston were for sure living with you. I hope that goes well.
I am excited to be in the last week at the CCM. I have liked being here and I have learned a lot, but I am ready to go. Things are pretty much the same here. Every day we learn more about how to be more effective missionaries and how to prach the gospel. This week I have been working hard to speak as much Spanish as possible. It is really hard to speak Spanish when you know your companion or district understands English. It has been especially helpful when we practice teaching lessons to the Latinos. Last Sunday I translated part of the devotional for the North Americans who can't understand much. It was so hard! It is different to be able to understand enough to know what they are saying, and to understand enough to translate every word while still listening to what they are saying.
Also last Saturday we taught a group of youth preparing to go on missions. We usually end up teaching girls, and they never participate very much in the lesson, so it makes it hard. We don't know whether they can't understand, or they just don't want to answer.
This week instead of going to the temple, the missionaries in my district going to Peru missions went to Immigrations to get our Peruvian IDs. It is always nice to be able to go outside the walls of the CCM, but we just sat for about 3 hours waiting. I did talk a little bit to a guy who is from the US, but grew up in Peru, and lives here now.
I am excited for Saturday because we are having another proselyting day. I am probably going to go to Ventanilla this time, which I am happy about. It is a poor area, and the missionaries who went there last time had more success, probably because they are more humble. Plus, I am happy to use my Spanish to teach the gospel.
Thanks for you love and support! I am sad I won't be able to talk on Mother's Day.
Love,
Sarah
PS Tell Dad thanks for his letter. I was happy to hear from him. And I didn't know Em and Preston were for sure living with you. I hope that goes well.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Dear Family,
I had another good week in the CCM, I'm ansy to go out to the field. The new missionaries came in last week. There are more than the last group, over 100 I think.
Today is a holiday in Peru, It's like Labor Day, but they actually celebrate it. Not everyone could go to the temple because it was so much busier because of the holiday. My group got to go with the missionaries who haven't been to the temple yet, and we were their escorts. It was a neat experience, even though I couldn't speak very well to my missionaries.
The president of all the MTCs has been visiting here this week. He gave a really good devotional (in English) last night about how missionaries need to serve the bishop and the members in order to gain their trust, and then in return and in time, the members will help them by giving them references. He used the example of Ammon, and it was really effective.
I don't really have that much exciting news to write about. I had a funny story I was going to tell, but I don't remember it. I am happy to hear that eveything is going well at home, and I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures of my namesake. I thought maybe Joseph had written me a letter, but no, it was Mom. Thanks Mom. Mom, and or Janet, could you burn a copy of the 2007 EFY cd and send it to me? Thanks a billion.
I love you all, and I'm happy to be doing the Lord's work.
Love,
Sarah
I had another good week in the CCM, I'm ansy to go out to the field. The new missionaries came in last week. There are more than the last group, over 100 I think.
Today is a holiday in Peru, It's like Labor Day, but they actually celebrate it. Not everyone could go to the temple because it was so much busier because of the holiday. My group got to go with the missionaries who haven't been to the temple yet, and we were their escorts. It was a neat experience, even though I couldn't speak very well to my missionaries.
The president of all the MTCs has been visiting here this week. He gave a really good devotional (in English) last night about how missionaries need to serve the bishop and the members in order to gain their trust, and then in return and in time, the members will help them by giving them references. He used the example of Ammon, and it was really effective.
I don't really have that much exciting news to write about. I had a funny story I was going to tell, but I don't remember it. I am happy to hear that eveything is going well at home, and I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures of my namesake. I thought maybe Joseph had written me a letter, but no, it was Mom. Thanks Mom. Mom, and or Janet, could you burn a copy of the 2007 EFY cd and send it to me? Thanks a billion.
I love you all, and I'm happy to be doing the Lord's work.
Love,
Sarah
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