This week has gone by so quickly. I feel like I was just writing my last PDay email. We are all starting to settle in as missionaries and we have a pretty good routine down. Our district has made some goals on focusing during our study time (that's been a struggle, because talking about home can be so tempting). But I think we've all benefitted greatly from the efforts we're putting forth.
This week was especially trying with my language study. My teachers have noticed that I don't speak very much during our lessons for our "investigators." The beloved Hermano Granados had a solution that he used his North American companions while he was out in the field. He made me teach an entire lesson by myself. In Spanish. Hermana Haws was only allowed to bear her testimony at the end. Talk about stressful. I was really overwhelmed by the request, so I asked for a priesthood blessing from the Elders in my District, and my teacher Hermano Granados. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood.
When I taught my lesson, my heart was calmed and I was able to teach. I read most of what I had to say from my paper, I couldn't pronounce everything correctly, and I didn't understand everything that was being said to me. But I did it. And that's a start. I am grateful that my teachers understand my weaknesses and have been inspired to help me, even if I didn't particularly like their tactics initially. It was an experience to remember.
We have been waiting on immigration hooplah for the last few weeks. We were supposed to go work on that today in the city, but we've been postponed for another week. Last week the Peruvian FBI came and took all of our pictures and fingerprints. We received our travellers' visas, but we're still working on getting the long-term stuff in order. I'll let you know about that when we know. At this point we are just doing what we're told.
Um, let's see... Today we went to a less "American" style store called Metro. It was like an Ikea Walmart Grocery Store. It's three stories tall, and has delicious food (cakes, ice cream, meatballs, sandwiches, etc.). I am very pleased to tell you all that I have found Dr. Pepper, and I am overjoyed. It was a momentous occasion. I have also picked up some Inka Cola (sp?), which is a weird drink that tastes like bubble gum cream soda. I haven't decided how I feel about it yet.
It's crazy to see how chaotic the city is. The traffic laws here are more like traffic suggestions. Everyone swerves in and out of traffic, and instead of using turn signals they honk. So everyone is constatly honking. The buses are pretty crazy too. We probably had 50 people packed onto a bus that was designed to hold about 30. Quite the adventure, to say the least. To cross the street, you literally just walk into the street and hope that the cars stop. Most of the people are very nice. The women like to hug you and kiss you on the cheek.
We met a really sweet old man today in the temple that was probably in his 90s. Everyone in the temple is always so gracious to the missionaries. This was the first week that we went through an entire session in Spanish. It was a little overwhelming, but they have cards to read off of for the North Americans. We definitely treasure the time we have in the temple.
My classes have been going pretty well. I really love our teachers so much. Hermano Granados makes us go run outside around the soccer field if we are tired... We found that funny and frustrating at the same time since all of the Hermanas were running around in skirts. Hermano Meza is bringing his 3 month old daughter, Vania, to class tomorrow. I'm sooo excited to meet her. We've seen pictures, and she is so precious.
The weather has been really nice this week. There was lots of sunshine. I dare say, I might actually be tan by the time I get home. (Pretty hard to believe, I know.)
Hermana Haws and I have become much more unified in our teaching. Our district is getting to be so close. We're sad and excited that we're already halfway through our CCM experience.
Until next week!
Hermana Schroader
This week was especially trying with my language study. My teachers have noticed that I don't speak very much during our lessons for our "investigators." The beloved Hermano Granados had a solution that he used his North American companions while he was out in the field. He made me teach an entire lesson by myself. In Spanish. Hermana Haws was only allowed to bear her testimony at the end. Talk about stressful. I was really overwhelmed by the request, so I asked for a priesthood blessing from the Elders in my District, and my teacher Hermano Granados. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood.
When I taught my lesson, my heart was calmed and I was able to teach. I read most of what I had to say from my paper, I couldn't pronounce everything correctly, and I didn't understand everything that was being said to me. But I did it. And that's a start. I am grateful that my teachers understand my weaknesses and have been inspired to help me, even if I didn't particularly like their tactics initially. It was an experience to remember.
We have been waiting on immigration hooplah for the last few weeks. We were supposed to go work on that today in the city, but we've been postponed for another week. Last week the Peruvian FBI came and took all of our pictures and fingerprints. We received our travellers' visas, but we're still working on getting the long-term stuff in order. I'll let you know about that when we know. At this point we are just doing what we're told.
Um, let's see... Today we went to a less "American" style store called Metro. It was like an Ikea Walmart Grocery Store. It's three stories tall, and has delicious food (cakes, ice cream, meatballs, sandwiches, etc.). I am very pleased to tell you all that I have found Dr. Pepper, and I am overjoyed. It was a momentous occasion. I have also picked up some Inka Cola (sp?), which is a weird drink that tastes like bubble gum cream soda. I haven't decided how I feel about it yet.
It's crazy to see how chaotic the city is. The traffic laws here are more like traffic suggestions. Everyone swerves in and out of traffic, and instead of using turn signals they honk. So everyone is constatly honking. The buses are pretty crazy too. We probably had 50 people packed onto a bus that was designed to hold about 30. Quite the adventure, to say the least. To cross the street, you literally just walk into the street and hope that the cars stop. Most of the people are very nice. The women like to hug you and kiss you on the cheek.
We met a really sweet old man today in the temple that was probably in his 90s. Everyone in the temple is always so gracious to the missionaries. This was the first week that we went through an entire session in Spanish. It was a little overwhelming, but they have cards to read off of for the North Americans. We definitely treasure the time we have in the temple.
My classes have been going pretty well. I really love our teachers so much. Hermano Granados makes us go run outside around the soccer field if we are tired... We found that funny and frustrating at the same time since all of the Hermanas were running around in skirts. Hermano Meza is bringing his 3 month old daughter, Vania, to class tomorrow. I'm sooo excited to meet her. We've seen pictures, and she is so precious.
The weather has been really nice this week. There was lots of sunshine. I dare say, I might actually be tan by the time I get home. (Pretty hard to believe, I know.)
Hermana Haws and I have become much more unified in our teaching. Our district is getting to be so close. We're sad and excited that we're already halfway through our CCM experience.
Until next week!
Hermana Schroader