Hola!
It's been a month. Yup, you heard me right. I know, I can't believe it either. It's crazy. I just don't understand. And because I have been out for a whole month, that means that I am leaving for el campo (the field aka PUERTO RICO) on Tuesday! So, no more DearElders. I won't get them if you send me any more. Thank you so much for the DearElders if you sent me one! I love them all! You can send me email or snail mail to Puerto Rico. Its just the price of a postage stamp :) I won't know where I will be serving until I get there, so you can just start sending them to the mission home and I'll get it!
So, this week started off in el CAMPO!! I went out into the real world of the Dominican Republic people! And let me tell you, it was an experience. It was basically the most humbling experience of my life. And it was definitely.... So, my companioln was Hermana Searing. She was awesome! So, I went out into the field for 8 hours. All 12 of us missionaries squished into a van and met the missionaries at the church building. After dividing up into companionships we were on our way. We had on lesson scheduled so we went to that. It was a lesson with this adorable 10 year old girl named Karina. Basically her life is hard. She is living with some members of the church because her family situation just isn't good. So, she is taking lessons from the missionaries. It was so sweet. We colored pictures of the temple for the lesson. Yup, my life was complete after that. After that we just contacted and talked to people. My Spanish is coming along, and I can't really understand a ton of what people said, but I am proud to say that I was able to introduce myself and my companion, and introduce the church and talk a little bit before my companion took over. I even talked in the lesson with Karina! The people here LOVE God and anything to do with Jesus Christ, so it is really easy to have a good gospel conversation with them. I really love that. It's fun just talking to them about how awesome it is to have Jesus Christ in our lives. So, interesting facts that I learned here about the D.R. Taxis are just normal cars that you stuff 6 people in. They have no personal bubble space. If you want to get around, and you don't want to walk you cram yourself with 4 other strangers. Okay, this is what humbled me the most. Think of your garage. Yes, your concrete box where you put your car. Now, put a window in it and pretend that is your home. That is how most people live here. People don't have doors they just have metal gates, or sheets. When you are going around to peoples houses you just say "Buena!" and they will come out to greet you. It's crazy awesome. Also, before every lesson the missionaries sing a hymn here. It is literally the greatest thing. Music here is big. And not to mention my district is the "musical district". When we start classes, the teachers like to come in our room and sing with us. It's awesome :) We are learning hymns that are only in Spanish and they are absolutely beautiful!
Oh, Since we are on the musical topic. I am learning piano! I can officially play 4 hymns from the hymn book. Basically one of our teachers told us about how it was such a blessing to be able to play on his mission. He hadn't played since he was little but he said that when he was able to play hymns it was a blessing. So, I had the impression that I needed to learn a few songs.
I learned so much about my self this week. And I came so close to my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he is my savior, and he loves me. I know that I can't learn Spanish on my own, but as I work hard, diligently, and stay obedient I will learn.
I love you all! Cool thing about this week, so remember at general conference when a man named Elder Zivic gave a talk? He came this week, so we got to meet him. He's awesome! And I can say that I met that guy who spoke in general conference!
Okay, well, I love you all! Thanks for the letters, support and prayers! Remember you are loved!
Love,
Hermana VanKammen
P.S I have learned so many languages here, it's crazy. I have learned Pottawatomie (Jamaican) French, Spanish, Creole, and English. I love it here.
It's been a month. Yup, you heard me right. I know, I can't believe it either. It's crazy. I just don't understand. And because I have been out for a whole month, that means that I am leaving for el campo (the field aka PUERTO RICO) on Tuesday! So, no more DearElders. I won't get them if you send me any more. Thank you so much for the DearElders if you sent me one! I love them all! You can send me email or snail mail to Puerto Rico. Its just the price of a postage stamp :) I won't know where I will be serving until I get there, so you can just start sending them to the mission home and I'll get it!
So, this week started off in el CAMPO!! I went out into the real world of the Dominican Republic people! And let me tell you, it was an experience. It was basically the most humbling experience of my life. And it was definitely.... So, my companioln was Hermana Searing. She was awesome! So, I went out into the field for 8 hours. All 12 of us missionaries squished into a van and met the missionaries at the church building. After dividing up into companionships we were on our way. We had on lesson scheduled so we went to that. It was a lesson with this adorable 10 year old girl named Karina. Basically her life is hard. She is living with some members of the church because her family situation just isn't good. So, she is taking lessons from the missionaries. It was so sweet. We colored pictures of the temple for the lesson. Yup, my life was complete after that. After that we just contacted and talked to people. My Spanish is coming along, and I can't really understand a ton of what people said, but I am proud to say that I was able to introduce myself and my companion, and introduce the church and talk a little bit before my companion took over. I even talked in the lesson with Karina! The people here LOVE God and anything to do with Jesus Christ, so it is really easy to have a good gospel conversation with them. I really love that. It's fun just talking to them about how awesome it is to have Jesus Christ in our lives. So, interesting facts that I learned here about the D.R. Taxis are just normal cars that you stuff 6 people in. They have no personal bubble space. If you want to get around, and you don't want to walk you cram yourself with 4 other strangers. Okay, this is what humbled me the most. Think of your garage. Yes, your concrete box where you put your car. Now, put a window in it and pretend that is your home. That is how most people live here. People don't have doors they just have metal gates, or sheets. When you are going around to peoples houses you just say "Buena!" and they will come out to greet you. It's crazy awesome. Also, before every lesson the missionaries sing a hymn here. It is literally the greatest thing. Music here is big. And not to mention my district is the "musical district". When we start classes, the teachers like to come in our room and sing with us. It's awesome :) We are learning hymns that are only in Spanish and they are absolutely beautiful!
Oh, Since we are on the musical topic. I am learning piano! I can officially play 4 hymns from the hymn book. Basically one of our teachers told us about how it was such a blessing to be able to play on his mission. He hadn't played since he was little but he said that when he was able to play hymns it was a blessing. So, I had the impression that I needed to learn a few songs.
I learned so much about my self this week. And I came so close to my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he is my savior, and he loves me. I know that I can't learn Spanish on my own, but as I work hard, diligently, and stay obedient I will learn.
I love you all! Cool thing about this week, so remember at general conference when a man named Elder Zivic gave a talk? He came this week, so we got to meet him. He's awesome! And I can say that I met that guy who spoke in general conference!
Okay, well, I love you all! Thanks for the letters, support and prayers! Remember you are loved!
Love,
Hermana VanKammen
P.S I have learned so many languages here, it's crazy. I have learned Pottawatomie (Jamaican) French, Spanish, Creole, and English. I love it here.