Letter #29: July 23, 2012

Hey ya’ll! 

This week was pretty fun!  We taught 23 lessons, which is quite a bit.   Not really…but it’s more than we have been teaching.  My goal is to get to a point where I teach 50 lessons per week. Anyway, that is way sad about those things that mom told me.  We live in such a cruel world; it’s nice to be removed from it for this short time.

Latinas are funny…or maybe it’s just Chileans, but they have a lot of pride in their heritage like Americans and think they are pretty cool beans.  It’s funny to me because Americans think the same thing about themselves.  Well we’ve been having some warmer days in Quillota this past week.  It’s nice to get a little sun and to not see our breath in the pension.  We have an investigator, Felipe, with a baptismal date for this Saturday.   He doesn’t want to feel pressured, so we might wait a while.  He’s legit though.

So, I totally biffed it the other day.  Ha! Ha!  We were walk-running (like usual) when we turned a corner and my comp was super close to me and turned sharper than I had expected and I think I tripped on my shoe or my skirt or a small twig or the air.......and took nice little tumble......  Good thing there was cement to break my fall and a family in the street to get a first-hand eye witness.  :)  Oh yeah, I also almost got attacked by a dog, too...  Not in this moment…a different time.  I think it was Saturday.  This dog was barking so loud and mean as we walked past and then it started coming for me, but luckily there was a man in the street who chased it and scared it off.  Good thing I’m a blonde fatty so that the Chileans still think I’m pretty enough to save my life.... It was seriously so scary though.  My stomach pretty much fell out of my butt.... Anyway, all is well :) Sorry this is all one big run on paragraph; I’m too lazy to try to organize my thoughts today.

Hey Brando thanks for your e-mail!!  If you think I’m funny in my e-mails just wait til you see my journal....  Ha! Ha!  I crack myself up sometimes... If you promise not to judge me, I’ll show it to you someday. :)  Or maybe we could have an FHE where I tell stories and read my journal and show pics of my mission adventures one day.  That would be nice.

Mom, I need your recipe for banana bread and cinnamon rolls.  A member asked me to ask you. Don’t forget the frosting recipes.  This members’ name is Vanessa and she is about to have a baby like any second.  She’s huge (with baby) and wants these recipes.  She also said that there is some sort of beige cream frosting that you can put on top of the banana bread that is her favorite part, so if you could find some recipe for that too, that would be great!!  Thanks!

Dad, I have some questions for you... was Neil Armstrong Mormon?  Yesterday, a member told me that he was, but I didn’t believe it (but didn’t voice that of course because there is no arguing with Chileans), but I knew someone who would and that’s why I ask you… :)  Also, who is the president of the USA?  This same member told that is was Romney, but again I didn’t believe it. Let me know.  

Mom, I like hearing all the updates from home!  They aren’t distracting.  It’s actually relieving to know that there are other people out there.  Keep the updates a coming :)  Anyway, that’s all for this week.  We have changes next week!  We find out this weekend who stays and goes so stay tuned.  I’m pretty sure my comp is going to be changed because she’s been here for 6 months and I will probably stay, but you never know so we will see.  Hope everyone is doing well and having fun and loving life and reading their scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) and making their daily prayers and missing me!!!! Ha! Ha!  

I LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Sarah... I mean hermana Hermansen

Letter #27 and #28: July 16. 2012

Dear Family,

What up “home”ies?? (Ha. Get it?  Because you are all at home and I am here. Ha.) Well, I feel like I don’t have much to write about this week.... Also my memory is failing me... Ha! Ha!  I’m having a hard time remembering things from before the mission, and English and Spanish and others things that I can’t remember, but I know that I’ve forgotten them.  Ha! Ha!  But I’ll try to think the highlights and craziness of being in Chile from the past week.

First of all, let me talk about the dynamics of Chile. It’s pretty much a mini-America. Just not as advanced.  It looks like a dumpy part of California (except the terrain, the terrain is gorgeous!!!). The houses are small.  Our house is a mansion in comparison.  Rachel and Brett´s place would be a really rich family, and the size of Brandon and Lindsy´s apartment in Washington is like a nice version of what we have here.  They have supermarkets just like in the states and they also have a ton of little shops with candy, and produce, and other random odds and ends.

The food prepared by members is pretty much like the food prepared in the states... I think.  I’m having a hard time remembering specifics...but the food seems normal, except a few things.  They use oil for EVERYTHING and they use lard to make bread.  (That’s why it’s so good). Also, there is a TON of food at meals. For lunch we usually have soup, bread, salad, rice or potatoes or noodles, along with meat, and dessert.  The soup is usually a brothy number. Salad consists of tomatoes, celery, avocado, lettuce, cabbage, or onions, all swimming in oil. They don’t have salad dressing here.  They use oil to cook.  The meat is usually pretty hardy, too.  There is always a ton of rice, potatoes, or noodles and we HAVE to eat ALL of the food they give us.  Dessert ranges from fruit to ice cream to weird pudding to cake on occasion.  I’m hoping once I stop eating all this fattening food and am not being forced to eat so much of it
(after my mission), my weight that I’ve gained will instantly return to normal. (BTW, I´m exaggerating when I say I’m fat.  I’ve probably gained 10 lbs., but I feel fat is the problem) Anyway, I can’t remember where I was going with all this.... Ha! Ha!

We’ve run into a lot of drunk people this week... Ha. One talked non-sense to us (because we stand out because I’m blonde) and the others were so drunk they could barely walk.  I’ve never seen people so drunk!! And they were just walking down the street.  One of them in broad daylight…it was like 3 pm.  They look like zombies (the drunk people trying to walk) and I was slightly convinced that they were...Ha! Ha! Ha!  

Another investigator we found named, Felipe…he is pure gold.  We are going to put a baptismal date for him tonight. I hope he can make it!! Um....My brain is failing me... Sorry...


I peeled an avocado like a banana and ate it like an apple yesterday.  It was sooooo good. Ha. Ha. The avocados here are more sweet and they are called “paltas” here.  Chile feels like a normal place now.  Sometimes it feels like I will live here forever and am stuck in this time frame of being a missionary.  The members are my friends now and it’s no longer awkward when we hug
and kiss on the cheek.  Hmm....I don’t know what else... We have a lot to do today.  There is
never enough time on p-days to get everything done...they go by too fast.  Time is starting to speed up just a little bit and I’m no longer counting days.... well, I’m going to stop rambling now for the sake of embarrassing myself further... Hasta proximo semana!!!! I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Hermana Hermansen

Rachel,

So I got a dearelder from you this past week!!  Thank you for sharing with me your experiences of trek.  I loved trek!!  I hope to go again someday :) It’s funny that I should receive your
letter describing such events just shortly after having watched 17 Miracles for an FHE with a less active family.  I found myself sobbing by the end of the movie as I come to realize how great of a work the pioneers paved way to come forth.  They moved the gospel across the country and now missionaries are spreading that same gospel, that same great cause throughout the world.  It was NOT for nothing.  I was reading in the Liahona from General Conference, a talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks about sacrifice.  I found a cool quote that I wanted to share with you. He said, “Their epic sacrifices (talking about the pioneers... p.s. I love that an apostle used the word “epic”... :)) of lives, family relationships, homes, and comforts are at the foundation of the restored gospel.”  Now that I’m on my mission and can ever so slightly relate to some of those sacrifices, I can better realize how great of a work they actually did.

It’s amazing to me how much comprehension I’m receiving on my mission.  Its comprehension and understanding that can only be brought to pass by sacrifice and affliction.  Although each day is a struggle, a struggle to get out of bed, a struggle to find people to teach, a struggle to teach those people we find, and a struggle to follow the holy ghost, it is all 100% necessary for
progression, as are ALL trials in this life.  I look up to the pioneers who endured SO much for the sake of this gospel and hope that one day, I might be able to freely give such great sacrifices to the Lord, as well.

Thanks for being my sister and being nice to me and loving me and missing me.  You have no idea what a comfort it is to know that I’m being missed too.  Thank you for your example and for writing me. This letter you wrote me brought me to tears (surprise, surprise), but in a good way. I miss you and I can’t wait until we get to play again.  

Love Always,

Your Sister Hermana Hermansen

P.S. “You tell me you’re in love with me!!!!”.... “No I don’t!!” ;)

Letter #26: July 9, 2012

Dear Family, 

Well, I made it through another week..... So many things happen in a week, yet they pass by so slowly..... Ha! Ha!  All is well.  So I have a bunch of random thoughts and stories for you this week so sorry if this e-mail is a bit jumbled.....

- We had a really cool contact last Tuesday!!!  It went like this...  We were trying to place a Book of Mormon and talked to two ladies briefly who weren’t interested.  There was a young man watching us the whole time and we decided to go talk to him.  We started talking to him and found out his name was Felipe.  My companion was saying stuff and when it was my turn to talk, all I could think of to say was my testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and how its contents provide us with the means to live with our families forever.  I asked him if we would like to live with his family forever after this life.  He then contested to us that he would like that, that his dad died two days ago, and then he asked us where he could get this book..... :) We told him he could have the one we had of course!  He doesn’t live in our area but we took down his address and passed it on to the missionaries where he lives.  My heart was soooo happy!  I still can’t believe that really happened, but it was cool and I like to think of that experience sometimes. 

-Santiago Temple... So Cool!!!! The session in Spanish was fun.  It was easier than I thought, but that may be because I know the English session so well.  The coolest part about the temple was that we had 2 ladies from the ward going through for the first time and 2 men.  Three of the 4 people who went through are in the same family (father, mother, and son) and we got to see them be sealed as a couple and as a family.  IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!  I want to create an eternal family of my own one day.... :)  And I´m super grateful for the eternal family that I have now!!!! The other lady who was endowed is 73 years old and is a convert of one year.  She was taught by some sister missionaries and she’s the reason why we got to go to the temple with the ward.  She is so sweet and cute! I love her. :)  She’s super tall and big boned, but so fragile at the same time. Ha. Ha.  I heart the temple.

-We have interviews with our new president this Saturday.  We will meet him and I don’t know what else.  Should be good.

-So some weird things have been happening with what seems like everyone we come in contact with.... Weird things as in satanic things... Our investigator May was the first.  She told us about things that were happening in her house with the lights and weird feelings and her Book of Mormon would move and turn face down and stuff.  Because of this, she stopped taking the discussions.  Then, our investigator Alejandra started having horrible misfortunes since she started having the discussions... for example her washing machine broke and her husband crashed his car into a bull (no joke)... And our investigator Jorge had bad things happen with his job and family... And our investigator Leontina was having bad dreams with snakes and stuff. Same dream, over and over.... We were having discussions with Leontina in the house of a member and the same nights that Leontina had these dreams, the member had bad feelings and saw dark images in her house too.... Just weird things.......

One thing is for sure. The power of Satan is strong, BUT I know that the power of God is stronger.  Be strong against the powers of the devil!!  He is cunning!  Read ¨Devil¨ in the Bible Dictionary, it’s interesting....

-The Bishop loves to have us sing in sacrament meeting.... Ha! Ha! Ha!!  I’m not sure why..... We’ve sung 3 times now and have to again this coming Sunday.  Mind you that we do NOT have someone playing the piano.  That’s right, my comp and I sing acapella in front of the entire ward. It’s not pretty.... Ha.

-I miss indoor heating!!!!! We can see our breath in the pension! 

-The laundry lady (aka the bishop’s wife) lost some of our clothes.  I am down to one bra.  I have worn the same bra for the past 6 weeks straight.... Ha! Ha!  Don’t judge me.

-And last, but not least... it finally happened.... I broke down and cried a good cry.  I have been so frustrated with the language, many other things, and just being on a mission.  I’ve been putting everything in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore.... I cried.  I talked to my comp and she listened.  And we talked some more and I cried some more.  Ha.  But all is well.  A good cry was just what I needed.  There are just so many things that weigh you down on a mission.  It’s hard to explain and definitely hard to understand unless you’ve lived it.  Satan works in ways that he knows will have an effect on you. I know it’s him and I still let myself get down-heartened sometimes... But now I feel better and can try again to conquer him!

Anyway, those are my thoughts I thought worthy enough to share with you this week.... I hope all is well in the land of free!!! (aka The U-S-A). I miss you all and I LOVE you more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Hermana Hermansen

Letter #25: July 2, 2012

Dear Fam Jam,

I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This week was good.  We are working hard and found 4 new investigators.  We are super busy and do a lot of walking.  Ha! Ha!  The members in this ward are AWESOME!!!  They are my family here because you all are far away.  They feed us a lot
and they love us a lot.  I don’t know if I told you, but when we greet each other we kiss on the cheek and hug.  It’s nice.  I’ve never felt so welcomed in a foreign land in my life! (That may because I’ve never been to any other foreign land in my life, but still....Ha! Ha!)  This work is fun.  It’s hard, but it’s fun!  

I love bearing testimony. My testimony is massive now.  I know that much. I’ve learned incredible amounts about this gospel and my love and understanding has been expounded to such great heights.  (There’s a song pun intended in that sentence Ha!.... (Mom- such great heights is the name of a song)......) I cry a lot now.  Ha! Ha!  I can’t help it.  When I think of how great the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is, the spirit overwhelms me and my heart burns.

Here´s a cool story...

About 3 weeks ago we visited this family whom was less active. The man started coming to church, but his wife and 7-year old daughter didn’t.  So we visited them and shared a message
about the family and how the gospel blesses it and the family is central to God’s plan.  We watched a short video too. The conversation turned a little and we found out that the wife doesn’t really have a testimony of Joseph Smith or prophets or the Book of Mormon.  I remember bearing powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and promised if they
would read it their lives would be blessed.  The spirit was strong, I remember that.  Well, the wife has been coming to church the past 2 weeks and we visited her on Friday and there was a 180 degree turn in her attitude and demeanor!  It was amazing!!!  We talked about the
scriptures and she told us she doesn’t really have time to read, and we suggested one verse per day and she turned to me with a smile and said “give me homework”.  Ha! Ha!  So cool!!  Their family is so much happier now!!  You can tell a difference.  It’s awesome!

My Spanish is coming along.  I’m pretty confident in it and can say almost everything I want or at least describe what I want to say.  My companion says I speak really well and I understand almost all of what is being said by the native speakers.  And don’t worry… I’m teaching my
companion all sorts of good English phrases.... heheheh.  She now clearly states “I cut the cheese”, “cool beans”, “boof goof”, and “I need to go to the bathroom”.  Ha Ha Ha Ha :) Sometimes I still struggle with Spanish though... I think I know how Aiden feels when we knows
what he wants but doesn’t know how to say it...Ha! Ha! So frustrating...

Anyway...oh, one funny thing about public bathrooms here....

So when you walk in, there’s just a HUGE roll of TP and you take what you need into the
stall. You also use the same roll of TP to dry your hands after. Fun! Fun! :)

Well that’s all for now!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your love and support and for writing me!!!!!  I don’t think I could be here without it. I’m super appreciative and grateful for everything you do for me!!!! Until next week!!!

Love, Hermana Hermansen

P.S. What are your 4th of July plans?
P.P.S. HAPPY B-DAY LYNDSIE LOO, MY DEAR FRESIN!
P.P.P.S. How was Courtney and Steeb’s wedding?
P.P.P.P.S. Have fun with Brandon this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!