Bucket Showers & Gas Tank Fires

The hair is the result of a bucket shower and no electricity.  The Ostrich likes it!

       A'ight, so I am almost out of time so this is going to be pretty short. But if I had to sum up this week in one word it would be Miracles.  We saw so many miracles. Parra is a bit overwhelming because we are the first ones in awhile to work there so we are starting from scratch.  We are just trying to find menos activos and right now we have a list of about 60 and there are soo many more.  We have kind of decided to focus in on about 10 though and really work with them and then work our way down the list. President was thinking about closing the area so we have been working like crazy to make sure that doesn't happen.  We even invited him to come work with us sometime soon so we are pretty excited for that.  This week we had 32 menos activo lessons which is a whole lot.  And the best news is we had 19 menos activos in church between our two wards.  We were so, so happy.  There is still a ton of work to do but we are seeing progress.  This transfer has already been so exhausting, physically mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  But I am so happy, and I know it is all worth it.  It's easy to get frustrated with menos activo work but the thing I have learned is to find the blessings in every day because they are there.  Find the miracles and focus on those.  Also, I have just learned to laugh even at the dumb things. 

       Our English class in Parra is a huge success.  Last week we had 30 kids there.  Great, but kind of hectic.   We taught them the head shoulders knees and toes song and they love it so much.  It's great!   So there's this menos activo in Parra named R and she is 17.  We didn't have much hope for her but in one of our lessons last week we randomly asked her to give a talk in church on Sunday.   When we went back she had written the whole thing and it was a solid talk.  We were so proud! She got really nervous to give it so she is going to give it next week.  

        So for a couple days this week we had no light, no water and no gas. Bad luck right? We don't know why it all happened in one day but it did and we had to use candles and take bucket showers. I totally felt like I was camping.  Welcome to the D.R.  Also, yesterday our gas tank caught on fire. We don't know how but it was scary and we thought we were going to blow up. But we threw some water on it and we did not die.

         Secret confession, I have the best area. Hermana D got our investigators but I love this area so much.  But I also miss my people sooo much.   On Saturday we had a mutual activity with the kids from Sabana Larga and Parra.  We played baseball and it was soo fun. We didn't know we were supposed to play so we totally had to play in skirts.   Also, I learned how to play dominoes like a Dominican.  Sorry this letter is so scatter brained but I can't really remember what we did this week.  We got a couple of bolas (rides) from some really nice people. I ate eggplant which is literally the grossest thing I have ever eaten. Usually I can choke things down but it was making me gag. It tastes like you are eating a campfire. I also drank tamarindo juice.  Also really gross but nothing compared to the eggplant.   Later today we are going to pick two huge avocados right outside our window.   It's a little tricky because there are bars.  We have to tie a bag to a stick and a knife to another stick and try to cut it down and then catch it with the bag.  We have been planning this for a week so wish us luck. 

       I don't really know what else we did.  Just menos activos. I could brag about some of them for so long. I am just so proud of them and so excited for what's going to happen.  Oh also, the president of the rama called the president of the mission and told him we need two more  hermanas here.  And when the president asks, it usually happens.  President Rodriguez told him he could probably send two more next transfer. I am already freaking out. First we are going to have 6 hermanas in one house.  That's a lot of hermanas.   Next, they are going to split Hermana B and I.  They are going to let one of us work in Parra and the other in Las Flores and give us both new companions. I don't have favorites but i definitely hope I get to work in Parra.   Anyway, there are still 4 weeks left and I am already scared.  I am also sad because I would love to stay with B.  She is really great!  But who knows, maybe it won't even happen. 

       So I was reading in Mosiah this week in chapter 23 about trusting in God and its definitely been something I have learned in the work in Parra.  We just have to do our best, work our hardest and leave the rest to God. It's hard and its humbling and sometimes we have to have patience, but God's way is the best way. I love you all, talk to you next week!   Hermana Rush