WEEK 7 - Cómo están y'all?

Hola a todos!

Dad, the subject line was for you. I hope you appreciated it. It's proved to be a pretty accurate description of my experience so far, actually.

So, wow SO much to tell! I'll start at the beginning.

So, I miss the MTC a lot! It's so funny because I knew this would happen. I was so excited to leave and I kept thinking "I'm probably going to miss the MTC when I'm in the field", and I was right. But it's ok, I'll everyone again before too long!

Monday morning we left for the airport at about 4 in the morning! We ended up arriving in Richmond in the evening, and we met our mission president and his wife at the airport. We drove to a stake center from there, and set up our iPads! Can I just say how much I love that we have iPads?! They're so amazing for missionary work! It's so nice because almost all of the stuff I used to have to carry around is on my iPad! And it's so cool because we can pull up Mormon messages to show people during lessons! It's also so easy to look up scriptures super fast and our area book and daily planner are on the iPads and that is SO nice! We can look up people in whatever area we're in throughout the day. The iPads are such a blessing. Dad, you would certainly appreciate the efficiency of these in missionary work.

So, that night we drove to the mission home. The neighborhood it's in is basically a forest. I was in awe. But it got even better. Because we drove up to the cutest, most perfect and picturesque house you've ever seen. And President said that it was the mission home! I couldn't believe it. It just seemed too good to be true that I was finally here in Virginia and I was spending the night in this picturesque house that was pretty much in a forest. Probably the only thing that could have made it more dreamy would be if there were some nice southern folk in period dress waiting for us on the front porch, maybe with some lemonade. But it's ok, I'll take whatever charm I can get.

And speaking of charm, that brings me to my next subject. Yes, I am most definitely in the south. My first night here, I saw lots of churches and a Waffle House, so that was my first indication. And while driving the other day we saw a truck with a giant confederate flag waving proudly from the back of it. So I think it's pretty safe to say that this is considered the south.

And that brings me to what area I'm in! Dad, I know you're excited to hear! And my first area is... Culpeper! It's this little town that's about an hour and a half north of Richmond. The drive up was beautiful. This is beautiful country I'm in here! And literally, we are in the country! So it's this little country town, and there are two English wards, with a Spanish group. We cover both wards. And so we're working with both English and Spanish speakers. It's interesting because we have to switch back and forth all the time! And Dad, for your statistical information there are 10 missionaries in this area. Us, a set of Spanish elders who cover both wards and then a set of English sisters for one ward, and English Elders and sisters for the other one.

Another thing that confirms this is the south are the accents! At church yesterday, lots of people had a southern/country accent. It's awesome- I love it!

But it's so interesting, because while there are all these country folk, there are also a lot of Latinos- more than I expected I think. Most of the Latinos we meet are either from Honduras or Guatemala. And a few are from Mexico, but I would say that the majority are from Honduras. Oh and, I had my first encounter with Latino food the other night 😧 I was scared- I thought, "oh no, I finally have to start facing my fear." I looked at the plate in front of me that contained fried bananas, a fried egg, rice, and beans, trying to gather up the courage to try something on that plate. So I tried the banana, and let's say it was interesting... Wasn't a fan but the rice was really good! And the passion fruit guava juice or whatever it was was good. Oh and there were tortillas too. The lady we were eating with was so cool, and she was so sweet and she kept telling me that it was ok if I didn't like the food. So yeah, I didn't eat all of it and felt bad, but I just couldn't. But its ok, mi compañera ate the rest of my bananas.

I've already had so many cool experiences! I love the people. The Latinos are so kind and loving. Last night we taught this sweet lady who had so much faith. We started teaching the restoration, and when we talked about the Book of Mormon, she said she already had one. And she had read from it and she knew it was true! That night, we were looking at her teaching record and it turns out that she had been taught quite a lot by missionaries. There's something holding her back from baptism, so we're going to try to help her. So hopefully she can be baptized on the 9th like we invited her! I hope everything works out! She is just so ready and so prepared.

We found this other lady earlier this week while we were looking for someone else. Her name is Evolia or Evolina- I'm not sure which. But we taught her a little bit and asked if we could come back the next day and she said yes! So we came back and taught her the restoration the next day! It was hard, because of kids and noise, but we tried to do the best we could. And at the end of the lesson, I asked her how she felt and she said she felt peaceful! I told her that it was the Spirit! We had planned to come back the next day, but she wasn't home :( and then we went back later and she wasn't home :( I was really disappointed. We're going to stop by again this week and I really hope we can keep teaching her! 

So, Spanish is getting a little better! My companion speaks really well, and can understand really well, so she's a lifesaver when we're talking to people because they talk so fast! I can pretty much get the gist sometimes, but sometimes I have no idea what they are saying. So I'm so glad my companion knows what's going on! And I feel so dumb sometimes talking to people with my gringa Spanish. But a lot of times I'm able to say things a lot better than I think I can!!! The gift of tongues is real!! I'm getting there!

My companion is awesome! She's so sweet and nice. I love her, and we teach really well together.

Another cool experience that we had- we were visiting with these two less active girls who I love. They're so cute. They and their brother are the only members in their family, so they don't have a lot of support. We read a chapter from the Book of Mormon with them, and then they started asking us questions. It was so cute cause they really opened up and were asking us about things that they didn't really understand. We loved answering them, and the Spirit was there- it was really cool. And so as we were nearing the end, I got the sense that one of the girls still had a question she wanted to ask, but we were on a different subject. 

It was getting late and we had been there for awhile, so I didn't know if I should ask her if she had another question. But I felt like I should, so I did. And there was something she was concerned about that my companion was able to answer so well!!!! The Spirit was so strong. She shared a scripture that was just perfect. After, my companion told me that she had been thinking about that scripture all day. I'm telling you, the Lord is so involved in this work!

Well, sorry if I wrote too much, but it's been and eventful week! I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and that the authority of God is here on the earth today. Heavenly Father loves us so much. That's why He's again restored the Gospel- because He wants us, His children to be happy in this life and the next- and so that we can live with our families forever. I love Moses 1:39- God loves us so much and all He wants to do is help us. He's provided a way! We just have to accept it. And He lovingly waits for us to do so. I am so grateful for this knowledge that I have gained, and felt. I love being a missionary! I miss everyone, but I know that this is where I'm supposed to be right now!


Con armor,
Hermana Eddington

Hymn of the week: Lead Kindly Light

Scripture: Mosiah 8:18