Monday, February 18, 2013

Monday, February 18, 2013

So much has happened this week. First, thank you for your emails. Love them. So your last week’s things.....

Dad and Mom, So, you are trying to fix up our home – new couch? Our home is like a mansion compared to homes here. It's so sad. There are some that are really nice but they're still on the lower end if compared with the states. Many homes have tin roofs even if they have money. Everyone has a TV. It's always a given. We have one family (the family of our recent convert) whose home is the size of my room and bathroom together with one light bulb, a bed, bunk beds, kitchen, sofa and a place to shower and do laundry. To top it off, they might have to find another place to live because they might build a street through that set of homes. It's so sad. I have really learned to be grateful for all the blessings that we have. It's incredible how people live. I never drink water from other homes like theirs. Just too sketchy not being mean. Just truth. But they are so kind and friendly. We have many people who ask us to help them with money. So sad. They just need better jobs. But the pay here sucks. For someone who works in a little soda like a food stand, they make what is equal to a dollar an hour. Then pay for a family and children. So crazy! You don’t need to change anything about our home.

Mom loved all your questions and I'll answer them next time. Just know that my comps: Rebecca Cartagena (El Salvador), Francene Rodriguez (Columbia), and my current companion -  Ericka Salgado (Hondorus). She was born into the church and she has no siblings. She’s an only child and wants to be a teacher after her mission with kindergarten. She studied graphic design and education. She wanted to come on a mission since she was little and finally made it happen. Her parents are awesome and just went to the open house of the temple in Honduras. They finally have one there! So awesome. She's great. She's an awesome missionary and has totally improved. I think she needs changes this week for a new area to spike up her energy to finish her mission strong. She needs a new adventure. She's just bored and doesn't want to work sometimes. She's tired and is ready to go home. Just typical super trunky. I have had a real variety of companions so far. All the experiences you are supposed to have on your mission, I’m having. I have learned a ton from her. She's a lot more chill so I really have calmed down. But I have taken over doing all the area book stuff. Just get frustrated at the old missionaries who weren't organized. Ha-ha. I made a map last night of our area for the area book because we didn't have one. Ok...maybe I'm a little bit too organized. Ha-ha. But I'm a Jones so no big deal. But I did organize all the papers and looked through the baptisms to see what new recent converts we could teach. I was really frustrated last night at how missionaries filled out the information. Just not detailed at all. Ha-ha. But whatever. My district leader and zone leaders keep teasing me about being a trainer in this next change. Apparently my district leader (Elder Gandara) from Mexico 18 years old and is from the sketchiest part of Mexico) went to San Jose for an interview with President because we have some stupid elder drama in our district. Just pride really. Anyway President asked him about each of us and asked if I'm prepared. Elder Gandara said of course and said they talked about some "other things" whatever that means. Who knows really. I told them I have no desire to train. I love making decisions but love not having the stress and responsibility. Ha-ha. If I train, yikes! I'll be super responsible. Don't know if I can handle that. But we find out tonight what happens. Then changes are on Wednesday. My shoes finally died. ha-ha. I have holes in them but they are super small so I'm still using them. I can buy some rubber ones here in San Jose for a couple bucks that will do just fine. All the sisters use them and said they're comfortable. Not crocs but they'll do just fine for the rest of my mission. :) So no worries.  For Valentine’s Day, we bought chocolate (had to, it's love day) and a little stuffed animal for the other comp (my comp to me and me to her). We sat in the park for a little bit, took pictures and said happy v day. We also had our district meeting. The elders loved their cards and my comp and I had matching heart earrings. We had fun. But all our appointments fell through because people were out with their significant other. Honestly, this week was super frustrating. We had to drop 4 of our investigators because they were not coming to church or reading the book of Mormon assignments we gave them. grrrr...Satan. So maybe later in life they'll accept. We have received tons of references from the members and just need to contact them all. So awesome. This ward is so supportive and way fun. I love working with them. With our new convert Jahleel -(wants to serve a mission), the relief society and young women’s are putting together food and some clothes for the family to help them out. They are the ones who live very poor. It's so cool to see the people embrace our new convert. They are making sure he attends seminary every morning and the young men have started talking with him. It's been great to watch. Also, the bishop is so great! He totally wants to meet you guys. Ha-ha. He can speak a little bit of English. It’s funny. But the ward is great. Our baptism with Jahleel was awesome. He shared his testimony and everything! So happy. Our next baptism is the first part of March with a girl named Stacey! She’s a sweetheart and totally progressing. She's the only one. All the others, we dropped. So now looking for references.

My day: 6:30 wake up and stretch (ha-ha great exercise eh? changing it with next comp and running in the morning at 6), 7:00 shower and eat breakfast, 8 personal study (15 min read BOM in English for myself and president added the JS-H section also for the restoration) then the rest of the time studying for investigators or lessons that day, 9 comp study, 10-- the 12 week training program which all are required to continue, 11 language study (BOM in Spanish for 30 min, then a study book for 30 min on something I struggle with. Sometimes I read an article in the liahona) 12 was lunch but kids have started school so we changed it to 1. With next comp I'll do an appt. at 12 before lunch but for now, we just extend study time. Then lunch at 1 with a recent convert and the elders, 2-9 teaching appts., 9-930 plan for next day, 930-10 I usually write letters, write in my journal, and prepare for bed, talk with comp, 1030 or so bed. That’s our schedule every day. It’s so fun. Ha-ha. And then p days are the breaks like Ty said. An elder in our area calls it the Sabbath day. Ha-ha. Or day of rest. It’s funny. But we never rest because we want to be out seeing Costa Rica. Like today we went and saw the volcano. So freezing cold!!! Fog, rain, wind everything. It was like a snowstorm on the top of a ski hill without snow. SO COLD! Like legit to your bones. I know cold and this was COLD! Sweatshirt and jacket still freezing. Like football game against BYU at the top of the stadium feeling the wind and all. Ha-ha. Couldn't really see the volcano much but such an adventure that we all loved it. I have tons of pictures of it that I'll send next week. The truth is that it's not worth the money to drive up and park your car then walk half a mile to see the volcano that you can't really see. Ha-ha. Just look on the internet for volcano Irazu. But way fun with the elders. Then we sat in the "lodge" until the bus was ready. Ha-ha. It was like the lodges after skiing. Everyone pilled in drinking their hot chocolate, cups of noodles (yes they have that here and top ramen Landon). Super expensive so we did not buy. But it reminded Elder Bergeson and me of our homes in Salt Lake.

Tell the little ones I love them. Oh shoot and have a pic to show Cam! TOTALLY SAW A WICKED AWESOME ANIMAL THAT LIVES BY THE VOLCANO!

Landon: thanks for the Livy video! So glad you got a job Landon! That is awesome and such a blessing from paying your tithing. Totally going to use your example in my teaching lessons! Wow. Tithing is so powerful. Keep doing it. You are so awesome and I just appreciate and love you so much. I brag about my cool brothers and the fun things we did growing up in Park City. Everyone gets amazed when I talk about skiing and your cool tricks. Ha-ha. Miss you guys every day! Oh and totally listened to total eclipse of the heart in Spanish. hahahahahahahhahaha busted up laughing in the store. Wish you could have been here with me.

Glad you all did some lovey things for Valentine’s Day. Ha-ha. Sheesh. lamos! Get it together. jk. Yes they celebrate it here but only those who have money. The others just literally inform us of their sexual activity. No joke. Lots of law of chastity breakers here. Working on it. The next holiday is Landon’s bday and then St. Patrick’s Day! Totally wearing green this day. I've told some people about it and they said they'll wear green too. Starting a little tradition here. Ha-ha. Love St. Patrick ’s Day. It’s basically honor the redheads day. Ha-ha. Right, Ty? Anyway... probably should get going. My area is in the mountains. Super pretty. I’ll send pics. We are 30 min or so from San Jose. It’s pretty cold here but I’m loving it more. For February, its normal rain, sun in these areas and the beaches are always HOT! Oh and zip lining is in Guanacaste by the beaches. More about my area.....it's hilly, city, tons of homes, with a cute park, lots of stores, it's just like Concepcion. Really. It’s pretty spread out but very beautiful. I don't like the gutters where all the bathroom garbage is. Smells so gross! Just plain nasty. Won’t miss that. And the streets, a little dirty. But all is well right? Just living and loving the experience while I have it. Miss you guys every day. Literally. Think about you all often. Hope you all are doing well and happy. Oh made t-shirts (I did the quote from conference talk of Ann Dibbs in Spanish) and the guy, who did them, read my shirt about being Mormon and said: been to Utah, visited your temple, saw the conference center, listened to the choir, went to the museums, saw the big statue of Christ, and.....I LOVED IT! The people there gave him a book of Mormon. He's been reading it, visited with some missionaries but just works all the time---owns a store and works every day and lives in San Jose so we can't teach him. But so awesome. The difference you can make internationally in Salt Lake City. It was fun listening to his experience in my home area! ha-ha ok...got to go. Hope I answered and gave all. Oh investigators.....had to drop them all think I told you that. But we do have one progressing for baptism in March. Wow think I already said that. Not sure. Pray that we can find more! Love you xoxoxoxo sorry if I didn't answer all. Just time limited. But have a fun and happy week! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

ciao, Hna. Jones (p.s. Spanish....gradually better. ha-ha)