Monday, August 19, 2013

Letter #83: August 19, 2013


"Who doesn’t want to marry me???"

Dear FamJam,

Ok first of all, you have to know that I stole my subject title from Hermana Andreasen... She wrote it home one time (I’m not that witty and creative anymore...Spanish has killed my English wit!)  Second of all, how goes life for all? Everything sounds cool and fun and just classy.  Third, so as we all know (a little TOO well, family...hint, hint. a count-down-chain, really... Bahahahahah!  JK  I love you guys, I’m excited to see you all too!!)  I only have 5 weeks left here in Chile as a missionary...

The thought is still haunting to me, but I am finally coming to terms with it.  The reality of this all coming to an end is sinking in.  It’s interesting, though; that the Lord is still constantly teaching me important lessons, which is a pattern that I hope will follow me throughout my whole life.  I’ve been noticing and learning A LOT about the power of a positive attitude lately...

The situation that I am in right now (with our ward, my personal trials of being sick, etc. and other things) is less than ideal and has been weighing on my soul at times, but I have taken the firm determination to NOT let things get me down.  I still wake up everyday and strive to be obedient and do what I know the Lord wants me to do.  It’s amazing what a difference just accepting God’s will in my personal attitude has made.  I had obviously accepted God’s will physically (not just because I didn’t have any other options, but in my determination to work hard), but in my actually wanting to be here attitude. 

I was slightly saddened…and after a few difficult weeks, it was getting me down.  Within the past 2 weeks, I’ve decided that I really do want to be here.  That I really and sincerely do want what the Lord wants for me.... and let me tell you my friends how much lighter my burdens have gotten.  I am choosing to be happy... And things are NOT getting me down... :)  I love how merciful the Lord is to patiently teach us lesson after lesson.  Sometimes (or more like often times) it is the same lesson, just in a different form.   I’m grateful for His infinite love and patience with us, His imperfect children. 

Fourth, some hilarious events that happened this week while trying to lure in some lost sheep:

While contacting a lady at her house, a group of three men casually walk up and stop at the same house that we are at... After being rejected by the lady, she nicely thanks us for our message, but says that she is just not interested.  We just assume that the men are family or friends or something because they are waiting for us, but as we bid the lady adieu, one of the guys pulls out an FBI badge and says, “Now we are here to share a different message”... and we then quickly walked away... Ha! Ha!  So awkward...

While contacting another guy, he says that he will come to church if I marry him... (He looked about in his 50’s and had a beer in his hand...nasty!)

Some lady gave us a ride home from the field part of our area so we start contacting her... Turns out she’s a J.Dub... (Jehovah’s Witness) and can’t accept that the Book Of Mormon is true because “The Americas” didn’t exist 600 years before Christ... We explained = Well, maybe not the name, but this continent didn’t just magically fall out of the sky one day... she wasn’t convinced, nor would she accept the book after a few more persistent tries, but at least she was nice about and we got a free ride…score!

Interesting fact:  I STILL continue to get yelled at/ whistled at/ cat-called at/ proposed to everyday of my life...Multiple times a day even...I’m going to feel so ugly when I come home and guys DON’T yell things at me...sad.

Also, apparently, I’m from Germany, because my last name is 100% German and I look like a European porcelain doll, FYI.

Fifth, that’s all for this week!!  I love you guys sooooo much!!!  Have a great week!!  Enjoy missing me while you can because in 5 weeks you won’t be able to!! Ha. Ha.

Much love, 
Hermana Hermansen

P.S.  Same area.  Same companion.  What started in Quillota, ends in Quillota...

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