Buenas!
Ok, first of all I have to warn you that this email is going to be
LONG. If you get bored, just stop reading! haha. But I figure next
week I am not really gonna want to write much, so you`re going to get
it all this week!
It was another great week in the mission, with lots of ups and downs.
Unfortunately Viviana and Federico won`t be getting married this week.
She is unsure about getting married, but sure about getting baptized.
So we are going to work with them and see what happens! I have no
doubt that she will be baptized, but they are having troubles with
their relationship.. so I hope we can help them work everything out!
Please keep them in your prayers!!
Jaqui and Daniel are doing so great!! If everything goes well today,
they will get married this friday and Jaqui will get baptized. Daniel
can`t be baptized yet because he needs to go to church and also quit
smoking, but I have no doubt that within the next month he will also
be baptized. They are such an awesome couple!! They were pretty
shocked and sad to hear that I am leaving soon, but are happy that I
will be there for the wedding. I am so happy too!! Obviously, my
presence isn`t that important haha I am just happy with their
decisions but it will be great to be able to be there if all goes
well!! It`s so nice to finally see some fruits of our work here in
Centenario!
This week we had another quiet miracle.... literally, a quiet one!
Hermana Ovando and I both felt impressed to go to a certain house on a
corner that we always pass by. There we met Hector... he is
sordo-mudo (deaf). Somehow (I`m still not really sure how) we
communicated enough to set an appointment, and then on Saturday we
halfway taught him the first lesson! Haha. We have to use lots of
pictures and write lots of words, because he reads but doesn`t
understand complete sentences. He is so awesome though. He came to
church on Sunday! I`m not sure if he liked it or not because he
couldn`t understand anything in Sacrament Meeting obviously, haha but
I helped him in Sunday school and it was really awesome! We will be
learning a bit of spanish sign language this next week!
Also this week our apartment flooded. What?? It rained REALLY hard,
and I woke up stepping into a lake, hahah. The good thing is that
nothing really got ruined. The REALLY sad thing is that one very very
important thing happened to be on the floor.... my journal!!! Ahhh! I
almost had a heart attack when I lifted it out of the water to find it
COMPLETELY soaked! Luckily we had it drying in front of our heaters
and fans all week and although the papers are all crinkled and messed
up now, it is all still legible an the ink didn`t bleed too much,
haha. What a blessing!!
So I have been thinking a lot lately. This is my last real week as a
missionary. Next week will be filled with only a little bit of
missionary work, lots of packing, goodbyes, and traveling. I can`t
believe the time has come. It is the weirdest feeling! I have been
writing a lot of my thoughts in my journal, and everyday have realized
more and more things that I am going to miss about this incredible
year and a half.
I am going to miss this country and the culture here. Walking down
the dirt roads with dirty and dying dogs everywhere, haha. The sound
of birds chirping and roosters crowing. Homemade heladitos that every
other house sells... they save us everyday in the heat! All of the
street vendors and the silly phrases they use to sell their products
such as ¨chip chip chipaaaaaa¨, ¨diaaaaarioooooooo¨, ¨manzana naranja
banana mandarinaaaaaa¨. I will miss hearing music blasting from every
house.. especially the silly music that is so popular here such as all
the cumbia, and groups such as Nene Malo, Wachiturros, and
Colisueltos, haha. I will miss the incredible sky and sunsets,
especially here in Formosa, and the beautiful fields... the campos,
sceneries, and jungles. I will miss all of the kids playing soccer in
the streets with whatever ball and goal posts they can find, and all
of the annoying little boys that play video games in the cyber, haha.
I will miss having kioscos on every corner, and walking by greeting
all of the friendly people on the streets and those who sit outside
all day drinking máte or tereré. I will miss seeing people carry
every imaginable thing on a motorcycle, such as pets, woman
breastfeeding their babies, mattresses and furniture, and entire
families of five. I will miss all of the silly shrines and saints
that the catholics worship and their obsessions with Maria. I will
miss the clothes and styles here... babuchas, strappy sandles, jelly
shoes, reaaaaally long hair and buns on top of the head, legit side
pony tails, fanny packs, mullets, belly shirts, and army boots. I
will miss walking around in the siesta when everyone and their dog is
sleeping and the city is so quiet. All of the fiest and cumples, and
the biggest 1-year old birthday parties you have ever seen. I will in
all seriousness miss the HEAT, and even the humidity. All of the
little mini pools that everyone owns. Greeting with besitos. Popular
argentine phrases... che, chamigo, pues, si te digo te miento, gracias
a Dios, si Dios quiere, and the guarani words that everyone uses such
as ayjue, mitai, and áca. I will miss all of the horses roaming
around loose, and all the cute baby animals that we find everywhere
including kittens, puppies, baby horses, chicks, ducklings, and
bunnies. I will miss seeing the people ride around in their carts
with horses like in the olden days. All of the toads and the noises
they make at night. The random things that are popular here such as
the simpsons, snow white, chucky, and soap operas. The kids playing
with marbles or wooden tops in the streets. All of the FOOD!
Milanesa, guiso, chipa, helado, tallerín, torta frita, tortillas,
pasta frola, alfajores de maizena, sopaparaguaya, banana licuados,
banana con dulce de leche, empanadas, tarta, enselada con aceite,
pastelitos, pan de leche, tortilla, asados, enselada de fruta, arroz
con queso, bonbon, chorizo, choripan, hamburguesa con huevo, and
gridos. The rainstorms, and the mud when it rains. The obsessions
with cleaning shoes, how people freak out when someone`s sick, and how
everyone floods their house to clean the floors and throws water on
the road to stop the dust from entering in the house. I will miss the
absolutely crazy bus and taxi drivers. I will always admire their
absolute FAITH in God. And their strength in all of the sad
situations. How simply they live. Their sincerity and boldness, or
their flat out lies that are hilarious, haha. The trees and the
leaves and plants. Eating mayo with everything. And the Argentina
pride.
I will miss being a missionary. I will miss having one purpose...
helping others come unto Christ. Being a literal representative of
Him, and proudly wearing His name on my nametag. I will miss living a
disciplined life, wearing a skirt everyday, living on an exact
schedule. Studying for 3 hours a day. Standing out from everyone.
Meeting different people everyday. I will miss preaching with power
in the name of Jesus Christ and being able to promise blessings in His
name. Praying at least 15-20 times a day and being in constant
connection with my Father in Heaven. Constantly seeking out and
following the spirit. Being on a spiritual high and receiving so much
revelation, inspiration, and understand from the spirit. I will miss
helping people open their hearts and accept Christ in their lives.
Helping people learn the truth for themselves from God. Helping
people feel and recognize the spirit. Living for others and not for
myself. Being obligated to talk to people, and not being scared to do
so. Living on a higher plan than the world... living SO in the world
but so NOT of the world. Being respected for what I do. Learning to
sincerely love. I will miss being a defender of the truth, and part
of God`s army. Receiving extra help and strength and energy to do
things that I otherwise couldn`t. Having a special protection. I
will miss communicating by letters, and not being able to use facebook
or distract myself with things that are of little importance. I will
miss constantly sharing my testimony and declaring what I know to be
true. Seeing people CHANGE. Watching them grow, and being with them
in those moments so special as they are connected to god and receive
their testimonies. I will miss dedicating every minute to God.
Tracting. Finding a new world behind every door. Finding people by
the spirit and seeing what person Heavenly Father wants me to talk to
next. Hearing about how the people received their answers... seeing
it all click inside of them. That special moment when they share
their feelings with us, and we as companions look at each other with a
deep satisfaction and joy, knowing that great miracle is taking place.
Being 100% focused on the things that are most important. Learning
to understand how people work and how God`s plan works by observing.
Only listening to church music. I will miss feeling the pressure of
pushing myself a little further, and being a leader and example to
other members. Not being sheltered in my own life... seeing the worst
of the worst and the best of the best. Judging people 100% for how
they are inside instead of outside. Seeing miracles everyday. Having
one of the greatest responsibilites on earth, and knowing that God
trusts ME to do His work.
I will miss all of the everyday details that made my mission special.
Hearing all of the little kids, with all of their different voices
excitedly call out ´hermannnaaaaaaaa!´. Fernanda, Yeni, Agus, Keira,
Benja, Lucas Abi and Edu, Juan Axel Mili and Yeni, Sofi and Florencia.
Their voices and words will be forever marked in my memory. All of
the nicknames people called me... ´la gringa´ ´la rubia´ ´la rubia con
ojos celestes´, and even ´la gordita´ :) hahaha. I will miss the good
Sundays when a lot of people came to church, especially inactive
members. Sewing and re-sewing everything... shirts, shoes, and
backpacks. Not worrying about eating dinner. Being friends with and
getting to know all of the hermanas. Living with raid glued to hand,
ready to attack whatever critter sneaks into the pension... including
(but not limited to) cockroaches, spiders, crickets, fats, ants,
mosquitos, flies, lizards, worms, frogs, etc. Walking EVERYWHERE, and
being used to not walking anywhere barefoot. Living in the world of a
different language. The delicious meals from the members. Banana
licuados everyday. Hanging my clothes to dry, and even hand-washing!
Feeling a constant pressure to keep up with my journal. Always having
the desire to study study study, and learing SO much about my past as
I learn by the spirit. The sigh of writing the goal each night of
baptismal fechas.. knowing that planning is over and it´s finally time
to fall into bed! Falling asleep on the floor all the time during the
closing prayer after planning each night, haha. Weekly appointments
with grido. Water fights and pranks. Trips to the centro and
mercaditos. Playing the piano each week surrounded by a million
little kids and trying to concentrate on playing and also stop them
from playing at the same time haha. Also playing the piano in zone
conferences. Having to tough it out with food... whether it`s the
dirty plates/silverware, or the weird food itself! Having to be
careful with bridges and sewers.. and sometimes falling in! (ok, that
only happened once haha). The workers in all of the kioscos, stores,
and cybers that know us. Deep chats with companions... talking about
anything and everything while walking or studying. SINGING...
especially with my companions that sang. Having an extra
protection/side kick/sister. Hearing the Argentines ´sing´ hymns :).
Hearing investigators read James 1:5 for the first time, or telling
the first vision. Talking with people who literally and honestly
think we`re spies, hahaha! Teaching people who come from the craziest
backgrounds... drugaddicts, gang members, those who have been abused
and/or raped, alcoholics, murderers, orphans, homeless, club dancers,
thieves, ex-convicts, etc. Living more simply... no microwave, no tv,
no dishwasher, no high-tech electronics. Hugs from all the little
kids. Ridiculous tan lines from shirts, skirts, shoes, my watch, and
even my pony tails haha. Toughing it out everyday with health...the
heat, sun, and humidity, walking all day everywhere, the scary
bathrooms, the famous dirty water of Formosa, garbage and animal poop
everywhere and the zanja, and being surrounded by giant tropical bugs
and animals! All of the crazy dueños from all of my apartments.
Getting my self-esteem boosted everyday as all of the creepers made
creepy comments hahah. Living amongst poverty... watching and being
amazed at how the people so easily live in a house made of wood posts
and nylon or cardboard. The contrast every Sunday walking to church
and seeing the drunks sleep in the streets, haha. Late night
hamburger orders from our neighbors´ kiosco :). Getting letters each
week. Entering in the air-conditioned pension after being outside in
110 degree and 90% humidity weather. How fast my hair and nails grow
here. All of the awkward moments of not understanding the people or
saying something wrong haha. Church in Spanish. Sacrament prayers in
spanish. All of the people... the members--their service, sacrifices,
their testimonies and stories and dedication. All of the
acquaintances, the investigators, and especially the converts that I
love SO much. I will miss changing so honestly and sincerely
everyday. I will miss so much being Hermana Hunt. I will miss this
incredible adventure that my Father in Heaven has allowed me to go on.
I can`t believe my time is up here. It has been a wild adventure
filled with every possible emotion. I have learned and changed and
grown so much. I will miss every minute, but I kno it is my time to
move on and I am excited for the future. I know my mission was not
the peak of my life... it was only the beginning of a lifelong climb
that I am now going to make.
I absolutely know 100% that this is the work of the Lord. I know that
Christ is real and exists, and I know that this is His church because
I have asked God and He has answered me, and I will never ever be able
to deny that. I am so grateful for this year and a half that I have
had... I will forever be grateful for my mission and the change it has
made in me. I am so grateful for all of you and your examples and
support. One more week of emails and then we will be talking in
person. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!
--Hermanita Hunt
