December 8, 2014
Hermana Latham and her newbie companion Hermana Brown.
Hola hola!
This week has been so nuts! Getting everything ready for both of us to leave from Radimadi was a lot of work. I felt so sad to have to just leave our sector like that! We worked so hard, and truly loved the branch and the people. We made a super list of all the people that the sisters need to visit and their addresses, all the information about the area, the house, etc. Then we had to do a deep cleaning of the house and pack up all of our stuff. It was sad to have to say goodbye to everyone! You would think that I would be used to that feeling by now, but it's still hard! The members were sad that we were both leaving, especially right before Christmas. But I know that Hermana Spencer and Hermana Ralph will strive their hardest to serve and love the people there. It is truly the most welcoming branch that I have served in.
So, Hermana Wadsworth and I packed up all of our stuff and we had to call two taxis to take us to the bus station...haha it's hard enough to fit two missionaries and three suitcases in a taxi, but with two missionaries and six suitcases...forget about it. haha. So we went to Osorno early in the morning and I got a training for trainers and met my new companion, Hermana Brown! Hermana Brown is from a tiny town in northern Nevada. She is great, and SO excited to be a missionary. The computers are not my friends here either, so I can't send a picture. We managed to get all of our suitcases into one taxi with the directions they gave us to get to our house...and we live with two other hermanas here in Osorno. So...Hermana Wadsworth is my roommate! And her companion is the mission nurse. It's been really fun. I've never lived with four hermanas before, but we are really enjoying it.
Hermana Brown and I are right in the middle of Osorno. We live in the ward that has the mission home, mission offices, and everything. The elders in the office have the city center in their area, and we have the area right outside of that. Our ward is called Centro, or Center. If you tell Mamita Pilar that I am in the ward that meets in Matta or the Centro ward, she'll know what that means. She is definitely my favorite mamita of all of the ones that I have had! She is so sweet to still be checking up on me!
Since we are both new to the area, we are pretty much glued to our map and our area book. When we come into the city for P-day, I remember what to do from when I was here before. But my area is totally new to me! We have been doing a lot of contacting and trying to meet as many members as possible. Hermana Brown is seriously so excited. For what she doesn't have in Spanish, she has in energy! She gets frustrated because she doesn't understand very much of what's going on, but I tell her that I felt exactly the same way when I started on the mission. So we are just praying and working hard to be able to give this area what it needs! On Saturday we helped clean the church building, and yesterday at church we taught Young Women, so the ward is already looking to us for help, which is so awesome! Sometimes it takes a while before the members trust new missionaries.
Yesterday we got to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! It was a live broadcast, so it was at 10 at night...we were so tired, but it was so WONDERFUL! I loved all of the messages and especially all of the music. There is something fantastic about the choir with the orchestra. My eyes filled with tears and my heart was full of joy. I was kind of surprised when I got called to come to Osorno again, but it has been so special because I have been able to see so many people I served when I was here before. José and Guisa's little girls gave me huge hugs! I was so filled with joy that they remembered me! I really loved something that I read this week in 3 Nephi 28:10 that says, "tendréis plenitud de gozo," or "thou shalt have a fullness of joy." I know that this work and this gospel fill us with joy, because they have us focus on Christ, and He fills us with joy. I loved that in many of the messages it was repeated that we should remember and celebrate Christmas every day of the year, and not just at this time. I know that the Christmas spirit is really just the spirit of Christ, and we can feel it and recognize it even when it is not December. But anyway, we are really excited for Christmas and all of the activities we have planned to do!
I figured you wouldn't be surprised that I'm thinking about teaching Spanish. I thought I would never want to do it because I hate grammar so much. But I LOVE Spanish, and grammar is a necessary evil in order for other people to love Spanish too.
I love you all SO SO SO SO MUCH!! I am just striving to soak up all of the goodness of being a missionary and give as much as I possibly can to help Hermana Brown and to help our area. I love to serve. I love the Lord. And I am so thankful to be here!!
Have a great week!
Gigantic hugs, Hermana Latham
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