Verguenza Hits

So I read Sass' (Savanna) letter and it was pretty dang funny.  I too, would have to say my week was... interesting.  Tuesday started off by helping Jl with his family history to take to the temple this Saturday. He has 14 names! He's stoked, we're stoked. Our whole ward is getting super into family history which has been a huge blessing to see.  Family history here in the DR is a little different because there are no records or anything and people don't even know their own birthdays so it's a lot of guess work, but ya it's cool.  Wednesday was a really great day. In the morning we stopped by to teach Er, an investigator from my first week in this town. We had dropped him because he wasn't progressing but all of the sudden he started coming to church and stuff and has a lot of animo (desire). Definitely strengthens my testimony that sometimes we are just the seed planters for people who will some day be really strong members. Then we went out with Dl, a member, which is a miracle. He really has a ton of time to kill but he doesn't want to go out in the sun in the afternoon because then he will be darker. Jeesh, If only I had that problem. He's 22 so we are trying to get him out on the mission and good news is he LOVED going out with his. He thinks missionary work is the best. Basically all we did all day was contact because we are running low on investigators. We didn't find anyone great but then Daniel was like "oh you should teach my friends"... and right there we went and taught 3 of his friends who are awesome! We are super excited. And later he posted something on FB and now we have 3 more citas (appointments). 

Thursday... was a little bit chicle. We were having a pretty good day and then we went to Tl and K$ (our investigators who was supposed to be baptized this week). So I love Tl and k$ and their family soo much. If you don't remember, we started teaching their family, specifically K$ about 5 months ago. We ended up being really good friends with the mom of the family and the kids. So ya, its been a long time with the family and Oa, the mom left for Panama this week. So we show up at the house and we are really excited and I ask the dad if he was going to his kid's baptism and that's when he started his hour long speech of how his kids weren't responsible to make their own decisions (even though their mom had already given them permission), a lot of stuff about the catholic church, yada yada. Long story short I was crying and Tl and k$ were crying and he kept saying "Rus, now don't be offended....". But, I know God is watching out for Tl and K$. I know he knows them and is aware of their situation and he has a plan for them. The best part is the dad said they could still go to church and so ya they of course came on Sunday. I know they will be baptized someday. Oh, same day Gy was practicing my name because he can't say it and can't read and what came out of his mouth was "hermana Rayos"... which directly translates to "hermana lightning" but when someone says "ah rayos" it means oh darn it. We laughed pretty dang hard about that. 

Friday... happy valentines day! we had a really delicious lunch of Ritz chicken, mashed potatoes and cheese garlic biscuits. Then, after lunch President Danilo, aka numero uno, aka president of the country, just dropped in to say a quick hey. But really, there is a big baseball field in front of our house and Danilo casually landed in his helicopter in the baseball field. Everyone was running and freaking out but we just stood on our roof and waved. So ya, that was definitely exciting. Then we had to stay in (I swear this is just a time of sickness and we don't usually stay in) which wasn't really fun but my comp has a parasite so.... I was able to study a lot though, so It was alright.  Saturday we had district meeting and the elders told us to wear something pink in honor of valentines day.  So instead of a little pink we wore full pink outfits. We looked pretty ridiculous but it was worth it.  And I got my package!! What great timing right? Thank you soo much I loved it a lot. Saturday we met with Gregory because his baptism is THIS WEEK (we hope). We taught Er, and the sister of Er. and Oy, who is for real thinking about going on a mission. Also, she is so excited for the temple and she is even buying a new skirt. Yesterday, same ol'. Church was great of course, then we did the rounds. We are really excited about some of our new investigators. 

The work is so great here, everyone. I have been soo blessed to have been here these past 6 months. It's pretty probable that I will be leaving in a week:( which makes me pretty sad actually) but I sure have had a lot of amazing experiences here. Sunday night we had mission prep and they are all so great. I think our little branch will be sending out like 7 missionaries in the next year, including Oy and Lo. One thing I have learned here is to let God do His thing. If we think we are adequate to do the work on our own, we are wrong. God definitely has a plan for our areas and each one of our investigators and he definitely gives us his full support as long as we trust in Him. So I am thinking my next area is the capital? Or maybe I will be seeing 7 and a half months in this town. Either way would be great. But, thanks for all the love and support, you guys are the best!

Sass talked about houses with bars... houses with bars in the DR= super rich.  

 02/10/2014

So last Monday on our way home from Azua I was in the back of the truck with my companion just minding my own business when I noticed a lady just staring at me. So I ignored it but then she said to me "SI yo fuera un macho me casaria con ti" which translates to "if I were a man I would marry you".............. so I didn't really respond, I just looked at my companion and then the woman says " WHAT, is it cause I'm Haitian?" In my head I was like actually it's because you're a woman who told me you want to marry me but out loud I had to tell her it was because I was a missionary and possibly after my mission I could maybe marry a Haitian.

I like to call Tuesday "the day I got really sick and threw up in the street". Yes, it's true and I have verguenza. So Tuesday morning we went to district meeting but I felt fine and after lunch I felt a little bad but someone once told me  "dont stay in the house unless you think you are almost dead", so we went out.  After the third lesson I was super dizzy but I didn't want to go home, but then my companion made calls and the President's wife called and threatened me so we were on our way home when I just threw up in the street. It was bad and super embarrassing but luckily only like 2 people saw. Well we hurried home and then commenced the worst night of my life. I had a pretty consistent temp of 103.5 all night and threw up a ton and couldn't sleep so I just layed on the floor in the bathroom and focused on breathing regularly. So then I was pretty sick Thursday, Friday and Saturday and I just slept a lot. I felt super bad for my companion but she actually went  out a lot with Hna Sr because Hna hz has to stay in anyway from her surgery.  Anyway, I am better now. 

Yesterday at church was great. I FINALLY got to go out and it was the best. All three of our people who are getting baptized showed up at church so we were happy people. We had basically wrestled  a baptism signature out of Tl
's mom. I was really surprised because I have known her for almost 6 months and the two of us are great friends but she was withholding her signature for "disciplinary reasons". But we talked her down and he is getting baptized! We had mission prep class and Oy showed up. I think she is going on a mission and I am soo happy! Today we are just bummin around and shopping and all the jazz. This week we should have 1 or 2 or 3 baptisms so we are pretty excited! Anyway, hope you are all doing great love youuu! Hermana M. Rush