Well this week was just quite fabulous. Christmas here in the mission
really was quite special. Im so grateful for the opportunity to be here. Well
I know i told you a little over skype how it was but ill resummarize again. So
the 24th is actually the more celebrated day here. basically christmas eve and
christmas were just more days to work for us. The problem was that most people
were super busy doing other things on the 24th and then on the 25th everyone
goes to the beach. We visited a lot of members these two days. but we also
worked. We continued to contact with singing christmas hymns. Im really going
to miss contacting with the christmas hymns, i loved that. on the 24th we ate
SO much food. Wow. You havent been a missionary unless at some point you have
said a prayer in your heart to help you finish eating a meal haha. First we
were with the family trejo and then after we went to Familia Sintigo where
hermana estevez skyped her family and they also gave us a huge plate of food.
It was fun to be with some of the members. When we got back to our apartment I
opened up my traditional pj pants. Mom just so you know i got my companion
saying "tradition...tradition!" haha it was funny. Here it is the tradition to
stay up until midnight and then TONS of fireworks go off. and i mean TONS. and
super close to the houses haha. obviously we were back in our house sleeping,
but i set the alarm so that i could wake up and give my companion a hug at
midnight because that is the tradition and then we watched a few fireworks from
the window. Then christmas morning I woke up and opened up the rest of the
packages. Loved everything, thank you so much everyone! At this point i almost
didnt want to talk to you guys, because i was feeling fine and i knew after i
was going to be sad...so i just didnt want to talk...but obviously i did. It
was so good to talk and see everyone. Next time I want to talk more in spanish
haha. Afterwards obviously i was sad saying goodbye...but it wasnt because i
missed you guys...like obviously i do and im sad im away from you for
christmas...but really i was crying. Just because of the confidence that you
guys have in me. Really im sure you guys can tell but i dont have a ton of
confidence in myself...but to know how much you all support me and how much you
all trust me and how proud you are of me meant the world. It makes me know that
im out here for something and that I really can do this. So thank you so much
for your support. After i ended the call we spent a little time with the
members and then went back to the house for lunch. At the house i was feeling
kind of sad...but the minute we were back out in the street talking to people,
investigadores and members i didnt think about it at all. Really im out here to
work and im so grateful for the opportunity to just share this gospel whether
people accept it or not. We didnt have any amazing christmas miracle or
anything like that, but just spreading the love of christ is all we can
do.
Thursday was a normal day, we had district meeting in the morning and also
practiced some songs with the other zone for the christmas activity with the
mission. Thursday night the ward hard a christmas dinner and it was a lot of
fun...super long though haha. We had to leave early, but we had some
investigators there, including albas husband. it was fun to celebrate with the
ward.
Then Friday was the activity with half of the mission. SUPER FUN. The
morning was all fun activities, we ate pupupsas for breakfast and then played
games, and we got tshirts, and probably the best part of all is we got to watch
a DISNEY MOVIE!! ahhhh haha it was so great to feel the magical christmas
spirit. it was something like Arthurs Christmas or something like that, i hadnt
seen it but it was super cute. The thing was i was super tired, but i was
trying to stay awake because its the only time in 18 months i get to enjoy a
disney movie haha. They also showed the slideshow of a bunch of peoples
pictures haha thanks for sending some in. Then in the afternoon after lunch we
had more of a spiritual thought. Talking about how we can have the spirit of
navidad with us every day. Really that is what the mission is. Spreading the
love of Christ every day. Also we got some clothes as gifts and candy. Wow our
fridge is full of candy....its just like at home, muchas dulces para navidad.
ALSO GUESS WHAT. presidente announced that on the 23rd of january Elder
Quinton L Cook is coming here and we will be with the other two missions in El
Salvador for a conference with him. SUPER SUPER SUPER EXCITED.
Anyways that was the excitement of the week. Back to work. Always
working. We are still working with Eloisa and Marcos for baptism in January.
The problem is both of them have very different problems/doubts and so it is
hard to teach both of them and answer all of their questions. But i have faith
that they just need a little time. We are going to focus on teaching Marcos a
little more and hopeful as Marcos feels ready, so will Eloisa. Really they are
so great. I love them so much and I really hope that everything works out with
them. But i will keep you updated with that.
Tonight we have a noche de hogar with alba and her family and la familia
orellana and la familia zaldaña. We are going to make pupusas after we have the
lesson so im excited for that. Right now this week we are going to start
visiting the members a little more, because they really need our support...I
feel like a lot of the members have problems between each other in the ward, and
there is a lot of pride, so we are trying to help with that. Also we are going
to start visiting even more menos activos and hopeful find some new
investigadors through their families.
Anyways im glad you all enjoyed christmas and it sounds like you all got
some cool things! I cant believe its the new year. Im really excited that i
have a full complete year in the mission. All of 2014 I will be here in the
mission. I havent set goals for sure yet, but Im excited that all of my new
years resolutions can be related to missionary work. I challenge all of you to
put atleast one new years resolution to share the gospel in some way.
Thank you for everything, for your support, your love, your prayers, your testimonys.
Thank you for everything, for your support, your love, your prayers, your testimonys.
Hermana Groneman
PS Tell grandma i got her package and i loved the clothes and all of the
candy and everything!
Also i am going to see what i can do about gloves for my hands.
And dad I was wondering if you could maybe photo copy a few entries out of
your mission journal and send me them in a letter. I just think it would be
neat to read a few entries you could pick out about special experiences you had,
hard days, funny memories you had, or things with the language. Just if you can
or when you want. Dont send them by email because i dont have time to read
those, but in a letter.
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