Olah Familia!!!
This is my one week mark for being here in San Ang. It's been eventful. Throughout the week i have been writing little notes on post-its so i could remember the things i wanted to write home about. Forgive me if it seems fragmented.
The animals here are different. I saw my first armadillo, but it was dead. I wonder if they are fast critters? Reminds me of an over sized potato bug. This one was bigger than Jill's armadillo mandolin! There are squirrels everywhere!!! Sometimes it requires self discipline to focus on the investigator at the door instead of the squirrels in the yard. In the heat, it can be hard to focus - period. It's been around 100 degrees for days! But oddly enough, i really don't mind it. The wind blows all day which keeps us sweaty missionaries cool. I caught a fly with my bare hands yesterday and though of Grandpa Orr. Skills.
There are two different kinds of people here- those who drink the water and those who purify it for themselves AND their pets. It's pretty bad. Does someone want to be an Erin Brockovich and google who poisoned the water hole? I'm super curious. The sacrament water had the consistency of clear milk. But it's holy still, right?
We have been assigned to a student/young married/military base branch. The turnover is high, seeing as most of the military personnel is only stationed here for 4 months at a time and students at ASU come and go regularly. I actually ran into an old friend from my old avenues ward in SLC! Mark Streeter (military stationed) who married a buddy of mine Leana. It was weird to see a Utah face all the way down here! Super cool. There aren't too many members in the branch, but it really is a great one. The branch president is absolutely amazing. He really goes out on a limb to help the members and the missionaries. I feel as if the members loved Sis. Tall and I even before we got here! We have an extensive list of people who want to come teach with and feed us. They are already so missionary minded.There is something special about majority of the people I've met here while knocking on doors. They'll talk all about their trials but always make it very clear that they aren't angry with God, ex's, or others. I've met less than a handful of people who are actually angry or bitter because of their situation, whatever it may be. We see more sorrow and despair, apathy and denial than bitterness and resentment. It's as if they aren't as quick to lash out and get offended. It's such a blessing to them and us as missionaries, because they are more teachable that way. Anger and pride are some of Satan's greatest tools to keep us from having the ability to learn by the spirit.
I have never said so many prayers in all my life, of course, I have never seen the Lord's hand so frequently in all my life either. At home I could thrive without the spirit but as missionaries we can't teach, let alone function properly without that unseen support system. Every night we make a plan for the next day who we want to teach and visit. Funny thing, we rarely get every person on that list checked off. Branch President Davis gave us a lengthy list of inactive and former members of the branch for us to visit. So, each day we make a list of people to go see. Funny thing, we RARELY find the people we have planned to find, but we always find SOMEONE.
Last week, Sister Tall and I met an older man in the driveway of someone we weren't able to find at home. He is the perfect image of what I had originally pictured western Texans to look like, (don't laugh!) overalls and a plaid buttonup, cowboy hat, boots, handle bar mustache. Around 70 years old out taking his dog (looks JUST like taco, if you remember him) out for a walk. We started to talk to him and he was very receptive to our conversation. Apparently his wife died not too long ago and has been in despair ever since. We were able to set up an appointment to go explain to him about the Plan of Salvation and how he can see her again!!! He was so sweet. We will probably have to hand him over to the elders since we only work with the students and young marrieds in the city, but I hope to be able to meet with him again. That is just one instance this last week that we ended up finding someone else who needed the message. We met 2 others just yesterday the same way.
Funny story. A few days ago, we went to visit a man in a place Sister Tall and I call "Lil'Mexico." Because it looks like.... a little Mexico. Naturally, the man we went to visit wasn't home so we went to talk to a guy a few doors down who was checking his mail. I was ahead of my comp, so i started the conversation and we talked about his religious background and such. Not too far into the conversation, i discovered that he was mentally disabled. So I explained things a little slower and he had some great insight and experiences with religion. Sister Tall kept giving me the sly "time to go" glare, but i really felt like this man needed to hear our message. We talked longer and i gave him a Book of Mormon with the promise that he would find comfort and answers through reading and praying to know. When we were walking away, Sis. Tall said "We probably shouldn't do that again. He was so drunk." Mental news flash: not disabled. Just.... intoxicated. I laughed. Hard. But I sincerely pray that when he doesn't have a hangover, he will be able to feel the spirit from reading what we gave him.
I am constantly in awe at who we are able to reach and who is already for the message. For the first time ever, I understand it for myself. Throughout my life, i have done what i was supposed to because it felt right. But after studying the gospel in depth, it really makes sense. The Bible is rad, it's been fun to see how it really is comparable to the BofM. Texas is the bomb. I love getting "yes ma'am" s. For some reason it is endearing.
My companion and i are getting along great. We eat rice cakes together and have MoTab dance parties. Sometimes after a long day, you just have to let loose to some Called to Serve. Good news, music isn't just limited to Hymns and MoTab. I could really use some Copeland and maybe some of hopes orchestra stuff? If you get a chance.
Love you all!!! I look forward to the letters.
Heart you mucho.
Sister Orr
