Monday, August 11, 2014

Baby Shower Bonanza

So this week passed by quicker than Mama can rearrange a house.( Shoutout to my mama.) We hald a bab shower for one of our investigators Juana, her fiance Diego and their mother Emma and their daughter Camilla. In the U.S. baby showers are like a time for women to just eat sweet treats, talk about their husbands and share cute little clothes. In Peru however, pretty much everybody and their dog attends.  (Literally there was a dog there named Lucas.) We bagan with a prayer, ate cake and catapulcra( basically Peruvian sphagetti), and yucca, the best thing ever. And we danced the night away, or at least me and Mendoza watched everyone dance until 9, when we had to leave, because yeah we are missionaries. I was super stressfull because I have no idea how to plan a baby shower, but it ended up being a really good experience for Juana anad Diego and Emma. And Camilla, their daughter, had alot of cake. Now they are all at home i the ward, which is how we want them to feel. They really are like our family now, and we have changes in 2 weeks! At least I am going to get top see Emma get baptized and maybe get a glance of Juana"s baby. 
O am super proud of all the progress that my whole family and group of friends are making. Keep remembering to read your scriptures and enjoy your time at home. And have fun! Life is way too short. A package is coming your way this week. 
Hermana Addington

Setting Chinca on Fire: Missionary style

 First off, this email will not have photos because this internet pace is a little old, and I do not want a virus in my memory. So, just imagine these things in your minds until next week!
We have been setting Chincha on fire this week, WITH CHANGES! No but really, it was time for a change in this área. I have already been here for 3 months, and really we needed to be receiving more references, have more lessons, and find more new people. So, first we had an activity with all the relief society proeslyting in the main park, iwth plaques and everything. At first they had the same looks on their faces that I had the first time we cntacted in Lima Norte, my ol CCM days. But eventually they learned how to be relaxed and share their phamplets. They are alot more willing to be present in the lessons now, just because its easier than street contacting! Still we need to train a couple of them to share less, because one hermana spread the Word to a couple that we as members are condemned if we use Facebook, and that he could receie the priesthood and bless people in the street.  lol  Then we had alot of less actives proselyting with us too, sharing their testimonies and whatnot. One part of a lesson went a little risky when one member started interlacing the law of chastity with the Word of Wisdom,sharing his experiences in rehab, (I told her, "Hermana, you said that you husband has not had a drink for 20 years, but did you know that he is cheating on you?") But eventually me and Mendoza pulled the reigns back in. That is one thing I have learned now, how to be more direct and motivating, and how to control time.
And we had 2 services helping Ignacio build his house! We lifted about 50 bags of cement in the Street, and then filled a foundation. And it was great to get attention from the people in the Street, especially those thinking me and Mendoza were training for the navy, because we were the only sisters among 20 elders.
Teaching Ignacio has been really interesting. Because he cannot really speak full words or hear well, we have been using all the photos and phamphlets we can find to explain stuff. Today we are teaching tithing, heaven help us. But he really is Smart, and remembers things really well. We just need to learn a few different signs together because he was not taught sign language officially. But it really is fun. Hma. Mendoza studied acting before so she can explain things a little more easily, but I am gonna learn! The gift o" signs, people, it is real.
Also we have been preparing Juana, Emma and Diego for their baptisma and marraige. Juana is also going to have a joint baby shower with the Bishop"s wife. The theme is " We threw this together becaues we are still 20 something misioneras and do not know all adult things yet." But it will be great, I am excited.
¡Chao! Hermana Addington

Missionary Power

Just so you know Meg, this key in this keyboard is horrible, so please correct everything with amor, kay? 
So, I do not mean to sound like sacreligious or anything, but I feel like I have become more like Jesus thi week than ever before. Its begins with the lessons. making them easy enough  for an eight year old kid named Rodrigo and a man who cannot speak or read named Ignacio can understand. We are pretty lucky though, because Iagnacio is meno activo, and wa taught all these things through hi family and elders, and we are just bringing them back to hi memory. He i incredibly sweet and hilarious. Me and Mendoza probably look like silly chicken, trying to learn his sign during a leson. His signs are totally different than normal ASL, and they actually make more sense. Also Rodrigo is helping us to find different words to explain prophets and revalation. Really, I love simplyfying stuff. That is how God and Jesu always teach, and that is how we always need to explain stuff. 
We are trying to find more families right now, and although it really is not the eaiest thing in the world, we are strengthening the members, because with their references, everything is better. I never knew how much power the members in my home ward had when they were working with the missionaries. When I go home (whoah, no right now, hold your horses), I am going to give the missionarie like 5 ref. a week. (Family you better check me on this when I get home. I am a woman of my word.) 
I am so happy to hear about all of the success everybody is having right now in their new citie. Amy in her pequena apartment. (yes it is kinda like the mission, minus cucaracha, dirty water, and a dirtyshower curtain;) Mama and Dad in their new jobs, Grandma Judya nd Grandpa Clayton preaching the gospel in Oregon. (I have a 7couple here in Chincha exactly like ya"ll named Joe and Maritza Mendoza. They are going to serve a couple mission in I do not know where this year.) Meg and Abby geeting ready to start school in Utah and shake things up over there. And I am almot sure that all my other past roomates are already married and have like 6 kids each by now. Chiste I hope not! Enjoy your single lives ladies! 
Really everyone is doing great, and I am really loving hearing about all your accomplishments. Jut do not forget to leave time to spend with one another. something great to read all the time i the Proclamation for the Family.
When I figure out how, I am gonna send a video of me and Mendoza. It is hilarious because I cannot dance. 
Hermana Addington