Wednesday, May 25, 2016

WEEK 20: Dyed my hair black. #noregrets


hi friends!

this week was a weird oneeee. but a good one. I feel like I say that about all of them but I mean hey its true!
First of all, I am writing a little late today becauseeeeeee: me and hermana norton may or may not have dyed our hair black today.

heres the story: last night, we went to visit a less active member with our ward mission leader (who reminds me of my dad SO MUCH BY THE WAY) and as we were walking, we say to him, "hey, what can we do to help our español? because its struggling." and he says to us, "if you want to be a latiña, you have to look like a latiña." we joked around for awhile, and then he said, "hey, I'll buy you sushi and Dr. Pepper if you both dye your hair black tomorrow." 
and so yeah. hashtag no regrets.
lets see what else. We have been visiting lots of less active members these past couple of weeks. Because there are so many in this ward! and it was so funny the other day because we went and knocked on the door of what we thought was a less active mom and her two kids, but actually happened to be a less active old man and his daughter! I got my addresses mixed up, but it was actually kinda cool because this old man (named Manuel) got knee surgery about two months ago and still cant walk or do anything, he's been in bed for two months! and he's so lonely! he said he had been praying for someone in the ward to stop by because he needed some spirit in his life. so that was definitely a miracle, definitely in the right place at the right time. :)
Oh here's a funny story for the week: We were contacting in this neighborhood, and we hear someone start yelling, "elders! elders!" we were super confused, and we turned around and saw this lady running towards us. She informed us that she was from Angol and she just left her husband but she had been taking the missionary lessons and she loves our church and she loves missionaries. She then proceeded to ask us if we had money to give her or a place to sleep. We quickly informed her that he didn't have any money and we would look for a place to her to stay. then she yelled, "I just need a drink of water!" So I pulled out my cute new water bottle I had just purchased the week before, and offered it to her. Well. She took my water bottle and started running. hahahaha. It was soooo funny. I was a little sad but I guess I can survive with out it, she obviously needed it more than me.
but yeaaaah! thats basically my week. Maria was super sick this weekend and couldnt come to church, but we have an appointment with her tonight so hopefully everything works out okay, fingers crossed!
pero este no mas! tenga un muy buen semana.

con amor.

hermana por favor

Week 19: Reunited with Hermana Norton again

holaaaa amigassss 

thisss week was a week of miracles.

it was also kinda a super hardish week.

it started super early tuesday morning as we left to the bus terminal to drop of Hermana Nelson, Naranjo, and Aros. Everyone got transferred except for me! I had to wait until four in the afternoon for my new/old comp to show up. hermana norton is the best! we got along sooo well in the CCM, and so its been really fun. We also live with Hermana Stone, and Hermana Tesch. hermana stone has like 7 months in the mission, and hermana tesch has like 7 days. Also yes, I live with three other gringas. I'd be lying if i said i wasn't a little bit worried about my spanish this transfer hahahah!
The next day we had a lesson with Maria, our investigator. And I was so stinking nervous because I usually just sit and nod my head while Hermana Nelson would talk. Well, I can't really do that anymore! But actualy i was super suprised about how well the lesson actually went. #giftoftonguesisreal haha! I was able to understand and communicate and I guess I just don't really give myself enough credit aye?
Sunday was the day of miracles though. First of all, Maria came to church! She is like best friends with one of the members, and we called this member the night before and we're like "hey, you have to go pick up maria tomorrow." well, she did! And we were so so so suprised when we saw her! It was such a miracle. all of the talks were perfect for her and aww it was just so so happy. her baptism is still on for the 4th of June! Im so excited! 
Also you would not believe how many less actives showed up to church yesterday! It was so so happy. This is going to be a cambio of miracles, I can feel it.
But yeah. Thats pretty much it. I love it here and i am super super happy.I am happy to be here with Hermana Norton and I am happy that I got thrown out of my comfort zone, because now I have to work more on my spanish! 

WISH ME LUCK!

I love you all! have a good week 

love 

kate the great

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

WEEK 18: Successes, Skyping the family and more pictures of Kate hugging people

HI FRIENDS
okay this week has just been #crazy
had to say goodbye to hermana peralta
which SUCKED
first of all, yesterday was probably the best day in the mission so far. It started out with church and it was soooo cute. Everyone kept coming up to us and saying, "hey, tell your mommies happy mothers day from your mommies here in Chile." aww so cute. But the best part of church yesterday was when a super less active family showed up! Hermana Nelson and I have been visiting them with our ward mission leader, and they probably havent been to church in 10 years. Well, his wife just had a baby and they are definitely struggling, money wise, as well as marriage wise. Our Mission Leader is super duper awesome, and he looked that guy in the eye and said, "I promise you, in the name of Jesus Christ, if you go to church tomorrow, you will find answers to all of your questions." OH MY GOSH THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG and Carlos was like, "alright, we'll be there!" Annnnnd they came. was fantastic. The talks were ALL about tithing and eternal families too! Ahhh its was so cool. CHURCH IS TRUE
Also skyping my family was sick yesterday. It was so good to see them, being here in the mission makes me realize everyday how awesome my family is and how blessed I am, and I was just so happy to see them awwww. :)
BUT heres the best part. After we skyped, we kinda were both feeling super lame. So we went back to the house to change our shoes and so I could take some medicine for my ear (because I may or may not have the worst ear infection #ever) and when we got there, our bedroom door was locked. WE NEVER LOCK OUR BEDROOM DOOR! it
cutie comp and cutie pink church
was so weird. We tried everything to get in, we prayed like six times, and still NOTHING. sooo we prayed again, and both felt like we just needed to work and that we needed to visit a less active. SOO we were both frustrated but we left. And let me tell ya, it was the best desicion to leave. This family is struggling a little bit, and they needed some boosting up. We felt great. As we were leaving, The hermana said ,"oh hey hermanas, hold up one second, I have something for you!" (hey mom, don't read this part) she then proceeded to pull out CANS OF DR. PEPPER FOR US! guys. you don't have any idea how hard it is to find dr. pepper here. I may or may not have started crying hahahahaha.
ohhhh yeah and transfers. get this. Hermana Nelson is leaving to Temuco, Hermana Naranjo is leaving to San
dr pepper the dream
Pedro, and Hermana Aros is going to Yumbel. Sooooo I'm going to be the only oldie here. BUT GUESS WHO MY COMPANIONS GOING TO BE!!!!! hermana norton. from the CCM! I AM SORTA FREAKING OUT! We are both babies still, but we get along real good so I know its going ot be okay. I'm very excited. but also super sad that hermana nelson is leaving. definiitely mixed feelings. but I know everythings going to work out okay. 
todo esta bien. :)
but yeahhhhhhhhh. thats allllllllllllll.
have a rocking week! wish meeeee luckkkkkkk.

love kate the great



WEEK 17: #happykate

hi friends.

can you believe its may? I sure can't. I cant believe I have 4 months in the mission either. Time flies when you're having fun right? right? right?

This week was a good one. #happykate

we had fhe with the cute flores family and this is anita
and shes literally the cutest
first of all, last wednesday we had ANOTHER intercambio. But this time, Hermana Nelson left the sector and I had to lead the area with Hermana Ruiz. I was super nervous at first, because I was like, "how am I supposed to lead the sector? I'm just a baby!" but then the more I thought about it the more I was like, "wait. I lead the sector everyday." hahaahah but its just because I have been here longer than Hermana Nelson and I know the area better. I seriously had a day of miracles with Hermana Ruiz though. We contacted so many people and taught a couple of lessons and I went to sleep that night feeling like I was on a spiritual high. twas spectacular. 

The next day, we had interviews with our president! I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to understand him, but no big deal, I just understood EVERYTHING. At the end of the interview he looked at me and said, "hermana poyfair, I am so proud of you. Your spanish has gotten so much better, you speak very clearly and very well, and I can tell you understand too. This is the gift of tongues my dear." I may have shed a tear or two. It definitely is a miracle.

also the cutest. dog. 
President Wilhelm gave us some super good advice though! I told him our sector has been struggling a little bit, and he told us to study about Ammon. Ammon didn't walk up to the king and say, "Hi, i'm, a missionary of the church of jesus christ and I am here to share a message with you!" because obviously the king would have thrown him into jail. Ammon went, and served the people for years and years, and then after the king ASKED him for his message! We are here to serve missions, and that means serving the people too right? SO. The next day Hermana Nelson and I did a day of service. We helped the relief society president with some of the less actives in the ward, we helped patricio (our investigator) fix his gate, and we helped a new family move into our ward! it was kinda the best day ever. 

We also have two new investigators! there names are Nacira and Catalina. They're super cute and super young and interested. And the best part is last week, while we were teaching them, I actually helped teach like half of the lesson! normally, since i'm in my training, i'm just expected to bear my testimony at the end. BUT. I contributed a lot and I feel great! which is good because I FINISH MY TRAINING NEXT WEEK WHAT IM ALMOST A REAL MISSIONARY!

but yeahhh. thats my week! lifes good, im happy, and the church is true. 
love katethegreat