Hola Todos familias y amigos!
This week has been just absolutely wonderful. We have such wonderful people here out in Cabo Rojo. Many of them are in their elderly years and they love us missionaries, and they love to talk to us and FEED US! People keep telling me I am so blessed to be out here for my first area. The roomer is that it is the best area in the mission. I would believe it.
So, funny story. You know how I am learning, or rather, attempting to learn Spanish after taking French for 3 years? Well, if any of you have tried to learn a language, you like to switch words around, or leave out certain words in a sentence, or make up funny French/Spanish/English accents and combine them all. And then people laugh at you and life is just a joy. So, here are some funny stories for the week.
Story #1: We are teaching this family who has 5 adorable kids and they know I can't speak a lot of Spanish. So, they are all talking and telling this story that I can't understand, but of course I was trying to understand. Apparently I looked kind of lost because their oldest son (who is 14) turned to my companion and said, "Hermana Davily, I think you need to translate". I picked up on what he was saying, and I just frowned at him in a sorry-I-can't-speak-the-language look. Well, that just made the whole family crack up and for the rest of the lesson they had Hermana Davila translate certain parts so I could understand....
Story #2: So, it was a particularly hard day, where EVERY single appointment fell through and no one seemed to be home so we decided to get a bite to eat to figure things out. Well, they have these things called empanadillas so we got those. They are like pizza pockets, but they have different kinds with meat, fish, seafood etc. Anyway, I was trying to tell the order person that I didn't like fish. You see, in Spanish fish is pescado" but I said pecados which are sins. So basically I told the guy that I didn't like sins. My companion laughed, he laughed, and then I realized what I said, so I laughed and said sorry and corrected myself. Luckily I have an awesome companion who embraces these many awkward moments of mine.
Despite my awkward moments we are seeing so many miracles my companion hasn't seen for the whole 7 months she's been in Cabo Rojo. Our eternal investigator committed to keeping the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom is for us to keep our bodies clean and that includes staying away from things like coffee and tea and drugs, alcohol etc. because they are not good for our bodies. So, for the first time in 50 years, he didn't have a cup of coffee. It was a huge step. If he keeps it up for 2 weeks we have to buy him a snickers bar. He is very excited for that.
I know the Lord has his hand in our lives. I have felt the Lord work through me to help others return to our loving Heavenly Father. I challenge each of you to read and study about Jesus Christ. Then pray to feel his love in your life. As you study, and pray, I testify that you will feel closer to your savior Jesus Christ and you will feel his help guiding you through trials and your life here on earth.
I love you all. Thank you for your letters, prayers, and support!
Love always,
Hermana VanKammen
Pictures:We threw a birthday party this week for a little boy who turned 7.
Me and my companion
The sunsets here are absolutely BEAUTIFUL
The little boy with the tractor was an activity on the apostasy, and the wanted to wreck it. It was adorable.
This week has been just absolutely wonderful. We have such wonderful people here out in Cabo Rojo. Many of them are in their elderly years and they love us missionaries, and they love to talk to us and FEED US! People keep telling me I am so blessed to be out here for my first area. The roomer is that it is the best area in the mission. I would believe it.
So, funny story. You know how I am learning, or rather, attempting to learn Spanish after taking French for 3 years? Well, if any of you have tried to learn a language, you like to switch words around, or leave out certain words in a sentence, or make up funny French/Spanish/English accents and combine them all. And then people laugh at you and life is just a joy. So, here are some funny stories for the week.
Story #1: We are teaching this family who has 5 adorable kids and they know I can't speak a lot of Spanish. So, they are all talking and telling this story that I can't understand, but of course I was trying to understand. Apparently I looked kind of lost because their oldest son (who is 14) turned to my companion and said, "Hermana Davily, I think you need to translate". I picked up on what he was saying, and I just frowned at him in a sorry-I-can't-speak-the-language look. Well, that just made the whole family crack up and for the rest of the lesson they had Hermana Davila translate certain parts so I could understand....
Story #2: So, it was a particularly hard day, where EVERY single appointment fell through and no one seemed to be home so we decided to get a bite to eat to figure things out. Well, they have these things called empanadillas so we got those. They are like pizza pockets, but they have different kinds with meat, fish, seafood etc. Anyway, I was trying to tell the order person that I didn't like fish. You see, in Spanish fish is pescado" but I said pecados which are sins. So basically I told the guy that I didn't like sins. My companion laughed, he laughed, and then I realized what I said, so I laughed and said sorry and corrected myself. Luckily I have an awesome companion who embraces these many awkward moments of mine.
Despite my awkward moments we are seeing so many miracles my companion hasn't seen for the whole 7 months she's been in Cabo Rojo. Our eternal investigator committed to keeping the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom is for us to keep our bodies clean and that includes staying away from things like coffee and tea and drugs, alcohol etc. because they are not good for our bodies. So, for the first time in 50 years, he didn't have a cup of coffee. It was a huge step. If he keeps it up for 2 weeks we have to buy him a snickers bar. He is very excited for that.
I know the Lord has his hand in our lives. I have felt the Lord work through me to help others return to our loving Heavenly Father. I challenge each of you to read and study about Jesus Christ. Then pray to feel his love in your life. As you study, and pray, I testify that you will feel closer to your savior Jesus Christ and you will feel his help guiding you through trials and your life here on earth.
I love you all. Thank you for your letters, prayers, and support!
Love always,
Hermana VanKammen
Pictures:We threw a birthday party this week for a little boy who turned 7.
Me and my companion
The sunsets here are absolutely BEAUTIFUL
The little boy with the tractor was an activity on the apostasy, and the wanted to wreck it. It was adorable.