#43

First of all, didn't get to watch the Women's Conference session. And that bummed me out biiiig time because I LOVE Women's Conference, but it's not that huge of a thing here so.. our district president kind of forgot about it so when I got to the chapel, there was nothing and.. yeah it was sad. Because we also had two investigators with us to see it but alas, there was nothing. But I just downloaded it onto my flash drive and I'm gonna have a great time tonight listening to it. I hope. And I hope that the general conference is enough of a big thing here so that the President doesn't forget that either.... I think I'll be good though. I'm pretty sure I'll see it. I just can't believe that it's already almost April! Because, Like I just watched October Conference! Gahhhh passes so fast. 

 

Well this week I ate some bad Choclo (That is corn on the cob.) and got reaaaalllly sick Tuesday night. Natalie once termed it as "Double dragon fire" and you can ask her what that means but that's what I was going through. My stomach hurrrrttt soooo bad and I couldn't sleep and then all day Wednesday I was confined to bed because I basically had nothing in my body and it was awful. And to be in my room all day stresses me out. I hate being sick for that reason because I can't leave and work. And then I feel even worse while I'm already sick because I feel like I'm not fulfilling my duty as a missionary and I hate that feeling and then I think it makes me even more sick. It's an awful cycle. But this week I learned a lot about patience. I didn't go out Wednesday or Thursday. And Thursday our Hermana Capacitadoras came to do divisions with us and that made me feel bad too because, even in divisions, I couldn't leave. But Something they asked us to study for our training was about patience. So Thursday morning while I was dying in my bed, I read about patience. I remember it said something like patience is the power to accept the things we can't control. And in my mind, I thought, Patience is accepting our imperfections. And I reflected on that a little bit. Like my body isn't perfect. I know one day it will be, but it's not right now. And I have to accept that. And I thought about the other imperfections that I have that sometimes just drive me crazy. Like how I can't roll my r's in Spanish and because of that some people can't understand me, but I can't control that. Or how sometimes our appointments fall through. Can't control that. There are soooo many things that I can't control, but I allow myself to get all worked up about them anyways. And where does that get me? Stressed out and sick in bed. We neeeeed to have patience with ourselves and in our situations because if we don't, it can be physically and spiritually debilitating. And that's when Satan takes the upper hand. When we feel like these things that we can't control are controlling us. So that's what I learned this week. Patience has aaaaallllways been my fight. I remember when I was little, dad was always talking to me about patience. And it's something that I am still working at. It's one of my many imperfections. And I have to patient with that too. So it's a cycle. A good cycle. A cycle we need. 

  

And also in these past days, I learned about compassion. It's hard for me when I can't leave the house. Whether it be for my own health, or that of my companion. Like when my comp is sick, gosh I try sooo hard to be understanding, but in the back of my mind it's like "No! I want to leave! I feel fine! I need to work!" And it also stresses me out. And sometimes I lose my patience with her and the fact that her health isn't perfect either. It's something that I really don't like about myself, like getting angry if she doesn't feel well. But my comp gave me a great example of charity and compassion. One morning I was awake and just staring at the ceiling and my comp was at her desk studying and she got up to go to the bathroom or something and usually when we slide our chairs, it makes a horrible scratching sound and it's just really loud and terrible. But I watched as she soooo carefully stood up, picked up her chair, then set it down oh so gently as to not make a single sound because she thought that I was sleeping. Then she literally walked on her tip toes to the door, opened it the slowest she could (it seriously lasted like 40 seconds) and then closed it without making a single sound. Just for me. Her whole process of getting up, opening the door and closing it, was prolonged by like 2 minutes just too make sure that she didn't wake me up. Even though I was already awake. Obviously she didn't know,but it really just touched me. And then that whole day, she did whatever she could to help me. My appreciation for her and her patience with me and my situation was magnified ten fold and in those moments, it was really like I was with the Savior. In the scriptures, it talks about having his image engraven in your countenance or something like that, but that really happened with her. Hermana Conde is such an example to me and I honestly love her with all my heart. She has given me a new resolve to be more patient and more Christ like.

 

As for the rest of the week, it was good. We found some new people to teach, we've been having a lot of success in that lately, and it makes me feel like my time is worthwhile. What else could I want? 

Well I've got to go now but I'm going to attach a few pictures. 

Hermana Rust

PS I'm all healed now. Not sick anymore. But seriously, that choclo did a number on me. Hooooorrrrrible! 

*Viewer's Discretion advised*

Two p-days ago, we killed, peeled, and ate cuyes. Or guinea pigs. It was really gross and really sad and guinea pig isn't even that good but I'm in Peru so I have to eat it and so I did. 

This is them already dead and already pealed. 

And that's cute little us atop  Llantuyhuanca. Talavera is BEAUTIFUL! 

#42

 I've been thinking about it, and I think that I  would like to teach a class when I get home from the mission. To help me stay in touch with my studies because I know me and how easy it would be for me to fall out of my studies. So something to help motivate me. I would like that I lot I think, Teaching youth. 

The branch is still hanging in there, we're doing what we can. We've had a lot of little miracles this week, like finding new investigators that are golden (That's never happened to me before.) and less actives. It was a fulfilling week. Really full. And I like that. I hate empty weeks. They stress me out. Gosh I sure do hope I have this same mentality when I come home. Like staying busy. But yeah not going to think about that now.

Alberto is still listening to us and is still the cutest grandpa ever. There has been a festival this past weekend called Pukllay and it's apparently the biggest thing to hit Andahuaylas since indoor plumbing (Although lots of people don't have that either...) But like people come from all corners of Latin America to the small town of Andahuaylas to dance. And I didn't see ANY of it! Because I live NOT in Andahuaylas. And I know that I'm not here to see an international dance festival, but hey it'd be pretty cool. And it was just outside my grasp. 10 minutes outside me grasp. But yeah it's come and passed and then supposedly there's going to be a HUGE strike here, like dangerous, today. But nothing has happened. so that's good I guess.

I don't send pictures because I don't take pictures because my camera has malogrado. I'm not sure how to say that in English. It's... not working? I think. But I've taken a few pictures on the camera of my comp and we'll see if she'll let me borrow her camera really quick to send pictures... but if not, yeah I'll try again next week! 

Also, I hate to say this, but I could really use some new shoes. Like stylish mountain climbing shoes... if that exists. Because those black ones already have wholes in the bottoms. And I've gone looking for shoes here, but there are none because my shoe size here is 42 and they have up until 39. that's like a size 7. so That would be greatly appreciated!

 

 I love everyone! Hope all is well! send my loooove!

Hermana Rust

 

 That first picture is my zone/district. That's all of us. We are a zone and District. I have given us the name "Distrona". And it sounds like a lightning bolt should strike everytime that you say it if you ask me. 

And this is from a p-day a couple weeks ago. We were going to play soccer, but Hermana Seaton and Harris brought water balloons and we had a water war instead. Elder Escalante won. 

#41 Transfers....

Well today are Cambios. And I'm staying here in Talavera!! Ha biiig shock. But I'm happy. Before, I kind of wanted a transfer.. I wasn't seeing the progress that I wanted here so I thought it might be better to transfer to a different place. But now that I know that I'm staying, I'm happy....

Because that means that I will be able to keep teaching the CUTEST OLD MAN EVER! His name is Alberto, he's 82 years old, and we found him looking for less active members. We knocked on his shop's door and asked for some girl whose name I do not remember, he said he didn't know her, we told him that we were missionaries here to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, he told us to come right on in because he loves Jesus, we told him we'd come by another day because we didn't have a woman to accompany us, he said he's be waiting for us the next Tuesday. He's so cute. He laughs at all his own jokes like Kelby Robinson does and told us about how his wife passed away and that when she was alive, she used to beat her kids with a wooden spoon, but it's ok because they deserved it. He was also a little afraid of his wife. Hahah in a cute way. And he told us that all his kids call him everyday, but he lives in Talavera alone making suits and the likes the Bible and he wants to know exactly what is Eternal life and how to obtain it.

We went with an Hermana in our ward, Hermana Fortunata, she's a whole other story of middle aged cuteness, and she invited him to the church. He said, and I'm taking some liberties with this "Honey, I wake up at 6:00 every morning. Come on over and we'll go together." And that's exactly what they did. I think Alberto might have eyes for Fortunata, but she's only 56 so I'm not sure how'd that work out... But when she picked him up. she did so in style! In her best jacket skirt combo, all blue and lace-y. She looked good. I'm taking more liberties, but he's just the cutest old man! He came in a suit that I'm sure he made himself and stayed for Sacrament Meeting.

 In the middle of the meeting, his phone went off and I think it scared him a little and he looks at us and asks "What do I do? Shall I turn it off?" all the while Hermano Juan is bearing his testimony, and annoyed that his testimony got interrupted by the movistar ring tone. And those of you who have been to Peru and have heard the movistar ringtone know that it's not something easy to ignore. But yeah Alberto pulled out his phone, very slowly, almost painfully slow, looked at the name, and told us "Mejor si lo contesto" or, "Yeah better if I answer." Well He's 82 people. So he doesn't hear that well. Nor can he hear when he talks. So he's yelling into his phone while Hermano Juan is still at the pulpit trying to testify of.. well really I don't know what because I was to busy trying to fight back laughter from this crazy incident that we were having with our new investigator. Luckily the call was quick and he hung up and went back to reading the Book of Mormon that Fortunata had given him. I feel like he's Brother Huntington. Version Perú. And that makes me happy.

Well that's really all I wanted to share with you all today. I hope you enjoyed the story, it was 99.9% true and it kind of made my week. 

Old men will always be the cutest. Or the creepiest. Remember that kids. 

Love you all and hope you have a greaaaat week! 

Hermana Rust