Oh my goodness I have so many things to
tell you all. First off, since I am using Google Chrome and typing in English,
spell check thinks all of the words I type are wrong haha kind of funny.
Saying goodbye to the CCM was
sooooooooooooo hard. I love those people so much; they really feel like family.
I loved the CCM. Of course it had its moments, but it was great. The 4th of
July was so fun at the CCM. All of the nortes (northerners, slang for Americans
probably) wore red, white and blue. That day I had to go to the immigration
office to sign stuff, so we got a little tour of the city. My companion wasn’t
with me because she already went.
The guy driving us to the immigration
office served in Xela and loved it so much. He was hilarious and was making fun
of how nortes speak Spanish. It’s so true, we say “um,” and “yeah,” and a lot
of filler words because we don’t know the word we want to say next. After that
we did some teaching and all that and then went to lunch. They made us American
food and made our flag out of cupcakes—it was the cutest. They gave us all American
food that day. It was great and my teacher took pictures for us that day.
 Lindsie’s CCM District Photo 1 (7-4-13) |
 Lindsie’s CCM District Photo 2 (7-4-13) |
 Lindsie’s CCM District Photo 3 (7-4-13) |
 Lindsie’s CCM District Flag she helped sew |
The night before I left the MTC, my
district had a testimony meeting. The spirit was so strong and afterwards we
got everyone’s emails. Hermana Garis and Clark had to leave for Quetzaltenango
at 2 AM; I know because I didn’t sleep well that night because of nerves. So I
said bye to them, which was sad.
Later that morning Hermana Lisonbee and
I left at 7 o’clock for a 4-hour bus ride to Xela. I have never been so car
sick in my life. There were so many curves that I wanted to die. We stopped at
a gas station, which was literally an answer to my prayers because I was about
to puke, and spent some time there. It was a pretty gas station that was
located just outside of Xela.
Before we got to our ultimate destination, we visited the mission home. There we met the mission president and his wife. I looooooooove President and Hermana Bautista! They are so nice and lovely and don’t look anything like they do in their photo. The mission home is gorgeous; it feels like a temple in a way. We had orientation and a whole box of pizza each for lunch.
Later they announced our mission
trainers. Hermana Lisonbee has a good trainer and I hope they are getting along
ok. There was some mix up with my trainer and she wasn’t there, so I had to
wait for her with the mission home’s nurse and her companion. I was excited at
first because I thought it would be fun, but their personalities drove me nuts.
It was ok though because we decided to visit some local members that were new
to the area. We were supposed to teach them lessons, but of course no one was
home. The first night I stayed at the mission home was horrible, and I was
homesick for the CCM and America. I was sick at the CCM before I left and I
thought I was over it, but it decided to come back that night. It was the
worst; I was coughing up a lung.
The next day we had district meeting,
and I bore my testimony. After the meeting was over, the president and his wife
drove me and some other missionaries up to our new areas. We took a mini bus to
our new area and we literally had to jump on the bus and I about fell on
everyone when I did. We had to jump off the bus later on too.
It was so fun driving with president
and his wife. I love them soooo much, words can’t describe it. We talked about
missionary work and the new approach to it. We talked about our lives and the
president shared some crazy stories. We even pulled over to see a church
building that was built on a cliff in the mountains it was awesome. There were children
everywhere it was fun.
- - -
My new area is Huehuetenango,
pronounced like way-way. I have never seen so many motorcycles in my entire
life. Everyone here has one, even the kids that I’m sure aren’t supposed to be
driving yet are riding them around. Motorcycle in Spanish is moto, so I call
this area Mototenango.
 |
| The leftmost red dot is the location of Huehuetenango. Source |
I am in a trio companionship and my
trainer is Hermana Lopez. She is from Guatemala and is adorable. My companion’s
name is Hermana Gonzalez and she’s from Guatemala also. Hna. (short for
Hermana) Gonzalez is waiting for her visa in Venezuela and is serving in
Quetzaltenango in the meantime. I love them both. At first I felt like they
were judging me because they thought I had tons of stuff, but in actuality they
have way more than me. Either way for my next transfer I’ll need to make my
suitcases lighter because I won’t get to ride with the president next time.
I’ll have to use public transportation instead.
Our apartment is pretty nice and
biggish, but according to my comps it’s expensive. It’s 70 bucks a month for me
and for Hna. Lopez, so they have been keeping an eye out for a new apartment. I
didn’t really want to move at first because I felt safe where we are at, but I
prayed and asked Heavenly Father to give us a nice and safe place to live if we
move. Well Heavenly Father came through, as always! Turns out a member is
moving in August and said we can move into their house for 800 quetz./month. So
when you split that in half, I pay $50/month for a house! Not an apartment, a
house and it’s so nice and big! It has a place to do laundry and
everything—it’s the best! I can’t wait for August!
The first day I got out on the field, I
really didn’t have a clue what in the world was going on. Yeah the CCM helped,
but nothing is like being in the field and hearing the locals speak Spanish. It
made me realize that I really don’t know the language at all. We went around
and introduced ourselves to the members since we are all new. Later that night we
had a zone conference, and Elder Dalton and Hna. McGill are in my zone. It was
so good to see them, and I can’t tell you how good it was to see Hna. McGill. At
the conference we had pizza, marshmallows, and strawberries.
When it was over, my companions and I
all walked home together and had a meeting with a less-active. You know how I
have cute-old-man syndrome? Well this old man set it off. He is so tiny and so
cute, even though he is so unhealthy and was shaking like crazy. It was so sad,
my heart was about ready to break. His house is also in horrible condition, and
he doesn’t go to church because he’s so sick.
We came back another day and visited
with his wife too. We are trying to find a member with a car so they can go to
church and get blessings for their health. When we visited the second time, she
told us about her daughter, who can’t speak anymore because something happened
to her. Or something like that…I don’t really know because I don’t understand
Spanish, but the spirit told me to share D&C
121:7-8. The spirit was so strong it was awesome.
We have been visiting other people too,
and getting to know the members and our investigators. One lady is basically
totally deaf, loves to talk and definitely loves Jesu Cristo. She is kind of
crazy, but adorable.
There are also two recent converts who
are kids, and they come around with us. They are dirt poor, but the happiest
children I have ever met. They are going to be awesome missionaries when they
get older. One is a 14-year-old girl and the other’s a 10-year old boy. They
helped us find the members’ houses.
There is a lady that has an infection
in her leg, and the doctors told her cold water is the cure for it, which is an
absolute joke. It’s so bad; I wish I was a doctor already so I could help these
people out. We saw her today and she told us she’s going to the hospital. Hopefully
the doctors there know a little bit more.
So the second night I was here, we had
to teach the members about the Sabbath day. We have a meeting with the members
every week and we teach. I was freaking out, but the spirit definitely helped
me teach. The members are so nice and all look at me like, “you poor thing, you
don’t understand a thing do you?” It’s so true; I only get in like 4 words in per
half an hour. It’s getting a little bit better, but basically I really don’t
have much of a clue of what is going on.
After the meeting we all piled into the
back of someone’s pickup truck and he drove some people home. It was crazy and
everyone was laughing at me because I was the only gringa in a truck full of
Guates. We went up a hill, and because there were so many people, the truck didn’t
have enough momentum to make it up the hill, so two people jumped out and
pushed. So hilarious.
There are two things I miss a lot since
I’ve been here: the English language, and the sanity of America. God really did
bless America, and we really don’t have much to complain about. And even though
I have been to Guatemala before, it’s not the same as living here.* I’ve had so
much culture shock. It’s not too bad, but it still shocks me every day. And I knew
I would stick out, but I never realized how much, and let me tell you, the men
here love the gringas (white women). I get hit on all the time it’s ridiculous.
Even when I look so nasty, and no white man in their right mind would ever
think I am attractive, the men here still think I am. It’s sooooo annoying. You
can take your life back mom ‘cause I don’t want it haha.**
- - -
So Sunday (7-14) was a great day. I
understand a lot of what’s said because they use gospel/scripture vocabulary. We
went and greeted everyone in the ward. Church starts at 8, and even if you’re
in crazy Guatemala, the church is true no matter where you are—Relief Society even
gets out late here. After church I saw Hna. McGill and it was so good to see
her. She is feeling the same as I am, and it’s so nice to know I’m not the only
one struggling.
During the past couple of days, there have
been big fiestas and parades here in Huehue. And after church, a new convert
and her two kids wanted us to walk with them to their house. One of the little
girls held my hand, and the other held my companion’s, it was so cute. Well
because we walked with them, we ended up on a road that was having the parade.
And because there was sooooooooooooooooo many people, we had to walk along the
parade. I am taller than basically every human being here, so I was trying to
crouch so people could still see. It was hilarious. I should’ve thrown
pamphlets out to people while I was walking.
Once we got out of that mess we went
back to the apartment for personal study and lunch with the bishop and his family.
It was so flipping good. After the meal I developed a migraine and had to go
sleep it off for a bit. Then we went to a house we had an appointment at. The
wife is willing to have us there, but her husband isn’t. I saw a frog at the
side of the road on the way there too. It was cool. Sorry I am being random,
but I just want to tell you everything.
There’s also another creature here that
loves gringas way too much: fleas. I have them and they are the most vile
things on the planet. Every flea can burn in hell forever. I am trying to get
rid of them by spraying all my clothes with Off!
and wearing the bands too. I have no idea how to get rid of them, but I am
trying, and the triamcinolone cream is a blessing from heaven. Anyways I am
going to try to write some personal emails back.
Love you lots,
Hermana Lindsie
P.S. I love my companions, they are the
best!
Editor's notes:
* Lindsie was in Guatemala for a month
on a medical explorers’ program trip to help teach Guatemalan kids about proper
hygiene and such.
** Lindsie’s mom is from Scotland and
got hit on frequently when she was younger by questionable men, especially when
she lived in France for two years.
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