This week has been a good one.
Sista T and I are still rocking Snang (snan-j. like San Ange but less syllables). According to the Walgreen's sign, yesterday was 114 degrees outside. It felt pretty close to that. Living in an oven.We have been knocking a lot of doors and I am still trying to learn everything at an accelerated pace. Sister Tall has given me more weight to pull in teaching, and as of yesterday she is training me to teach by doing all of the talking at our door approaches. It's hard, but it helps me learn faster to be thrown in the fire. She is a rad teacher, so naturally it's a completely different experience when I am solo. I pretty much bomb it. Not always, but enough. ahahhahaha. The best thing i can compare it to is learning how to swim. When things start to go south she thinks to herself "I'll let her swallow a little bit more water... then jump in." Luckily she does before things get too confusing. Poor investigators. Once again, i feel like the salvation of others is being sacrificed at the expense of my learning experiences. But all in all, its comforting to know that even if I bomb it, the spirit can still testify. Faith?
We've had some cool door conversations and first appointments, but lately its been hard to get a second appointment. They'll be set up but we'll get no-showed or they will cancel. Not sure why. We need to trouble shoot and figure out what we can work on better. Followups? perhaps? We are still finding investigators (gators, we call 'em) regularly.
I am finally fluent in the language!!!!! Heh. People here love to say "I'm fixin' to...." It cracks me up. Perfectly normal for Texas. I may need help when I get home learning how to speak again.
We don't feel so lost in the city anymore. Getting a grip on where things are. I look forward to the day when my mission feels like LIFE rather than a lonnnng trip to Texas. Time will flow better when my mind is always on the mission. I do love it here, but we are definitely foreigners.
Last week, sister tall and i were knocking when we met a guy Stan. We talked a little bit, then i asked him what role religion played in his life. He shut me down faaast. For the first time, i was told that it was none of my beeswax. Which i totally understand, but it was different. Texans love to talk about God and religion! Then we found out he wasn't from Texas. Crazy. Never be afraid to talk about God, k? Within reason, naturally. It shouldn't be something you keep to yourself.
Saw lots of new critters this week!! Saw my first possum, a cardinal, and some HUGE vultures (eating squirrels at the end of our street. Sister Tall couldn't quite focus on them and thought they were chickens. hahaha.) And I am up to catching 5 flies with my hands. I always wash them afterwards, no worries.
Dad, they have delivery steak here. No joke. Like the pizza man in his pizza car, but STEAK. I forget what its called but it's catchy. I laughed and thought of you. Are you all going to have a BBQ for fathers day?? I am craving madre's potato salad with dad's grilled chicken. (love the ribs too, but chicken is the fave. kind of a purist.) Take pictures for me if you do? How is miss Jenni and my soon-to-be niece? Did Brandon and J get to see that picture i mailed? of the balloons?
We had dinner last night with the Spanish speaking elders in a Hispanic family's home. It was really cool. They spoke English about half the time, but we could kind of pick out words when they spoke. I am bound and determined to pick this language up. I am still working on reading the SP BofM. Whats really cool is they have 6 kids. One of them, Dillon, is adopted and is white as the rest of us. But he speaks fluent English, Spanish AND french. (french from school) Smart kid. They made real Mexican fajitas that were to die for. Their salsa and pico were amazing. When Sister T and i sing hymns in the morning, we will replace words here and there with spanish words. Wakes things up a little.
Three days a week we go play volleyball at the church at 6 am with the Elders. We are reallly bad.... and the elders are really good. But we bring treats and they let us serve multiple times, so its a good trade. We have really good elders in our area.
So a dog peed on Sister Tall's foot the other week. Apparently it happens often. She compared herself to a walking fire hydrant? hahaha. Sister Doxy (sp?) of the General RS board told us in the MTC that when you have the light of Christ with you you not only attract people but sometimes animals too. needless to say, Sister T fits the description. :)
Some of you have been wanting to know more about my comp. She's a 5'0'' blondie from Sacramento, vegetarian, loves water sports and is super smart. She and i get along really well. She's super social and loves to teach. Lots of energy.... like a cricket. or Tinkerbell, if you will. heh. There is nothing boring about her, and is excited for the work allll the tiiiiime. I pray everyday that God will continue to bless her with patience for me and my flukes. its working so far. Some days i feel so.... green. But I'm lucky to have a trainer that's aware of that. :)
I got the letters from the ward!!! It was so fun to hear from so many people. I loved it :)
Anyways, i love you guys. sorry the letter is so short and .... stuff.
Quote of the week, "I don't care if we are Mormon or not, we are getting SEALED!!!"
Sister Orr
p.s. no joke. saw a squirrel the size of a cat. it was insanity.
