Once upon a time a few weeks ago, our boiler (water heater) broke. We thought we ran out of gas, so a few days later we bought a tank (there's 265 pesos gone) only to find that it was, in fact the boiler. Over the course of the next week we figured out what was wrong and got it fixed. Finally the day came when it worked... and suddendly we didn't have water. Sigh. Cold shower is better than no shower... The house and I have been at constant war since I arrived here... but I think I'm winning.
We had intercambios (I'm not sure what they're called in English... exchanges?) this week and for the first time in 5 months, I actually left my area for the day. I had a lot of fun in San Juan Tepa learning how to be a better missionary (5.5 months in, and I still don't know what I'm doing...). I enjoyed my time, but was very happy to return to my hija, la Hermana Brioso. She did GREAT leading the way in Actopan during my absence 😊
Below is part of my letter to President:
We've been talking to people in the combis (I can't quite say "sin fallar," but almost) and managed to get some addresses. Now the question is, when are we going to have time to look for them... We really need to work on planning more eficiently so we aren't walking/traveling all over creation in one day. There's so much to learn!!!!!!! I really enjoyed the intercambios we had with Hna Luna and Hna Cebreros. I've only had one area and one senior companion, so I was really looking forward to seeing how other missionaries work and what it's like in a different area. I learned much from Hna Luna, she is a wonderful missionary.
Hna Brioso is doing great! She always has a positive attitude and is working so hard to learn.
Biggest frustration of the week- all the people who told us they would go to church and didn't, including the family we went to pick up Sunday morning. Grrrrr. Freaking agency.
Biggest pick-me-up--- The recent converts here. A few of them are struggling a little, but most are continuing to progress and grow. It's such a beautiful thing! Hno Oscar (the Hermano who can only come to part of sacrament meeting most weeks because of his work) and his wife came with us to visit a less active family this week and he bore his testimony and I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. The greatest miracle of all; to see the Atonement of Christ at work in someone's life.
Happy side note: This morning we went to Pachuca and Hna Brioso recieved her Patriarchal blessing! It was an incredible experience and we left the chapel walking on clouds. 😊
Eli: We had a great lesson on faith and Hno Arturo, a recently returned missionary who is going with us to teach Elias shared with him the story of the Prodigal Son. Eli was very pensive and I think the message about faith and repentance really sunk in. It's La Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Mexico so he has vacations. Hopefully we'll be able to see him. If not, we'll keep sending him messages to encourage him to read the Book of Mormon and pray 😊
I love you all! Sigan adelante!
Les amo,
Hna DeFranco
We had intercambios (I'm not sure what they're called in English... exchanges?) this week and for the first time in 5 months, I actually left my area for the day. I had a lot of fun in San Juan Tepa learning how to be a better missionary (5.5 months in, and I still don't know what I'm doing...). I enjoyed my time, but was very happy to return to my hija, la Hermana Brioso. She did GREAT leading the way in Actopan during my absence 😊
Below is part of my letter to President:
We've been talking to people in the combis (I can't quite say "sin fallar," but almost) and managed to get some addresses. Now the question is, when are we going to have time to look for them... We really need to work on planning more eficiently so we aren't walking/traveling all over creation in one day. There's so much to learn!!!!!!! I really enjoyed the intercambios we had with Hna Luna and Hna Cebreros. I've only had one area and one senior companion, so I was really looking forward to seeing how other missionaries work and what it's like in a different area. I learned much from Hna Luna, she is a wonderful missionary.
Hna Brioso is doing great! She always has a positive attitude and is working so hard to learn.
Biggest frustration of the week- all the people who told us they would go to church and didn't, including the family we went to pick up Sunday morning. Grrrrr. Freaking agency.
Biggest pick-me-up--- The recent converts here. A few of them are struggling a little, but most are continuing to progress and grow. It's such a beautiful thing! Hno Oscar (the Hermano who can only come to part of sacrament meeting most weeks because of his work) and his wife came with us to visit a less active family this week and he bore his testimony and I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. The greatest miracle of all; to see the Atonement of Christ at work in someone's life.
Happy side note: This morning we went to Pachuca and Hna Brioso recieved her Patriarchal blessing! It was an incredible experience and we left the chapel walking on clouds. 😊
Eli: We had a great lesson on faith and Hno Arturo, a recently returned missionary who is going with us to teach Elias shared with him the story of the Prodigal Son. Eli was very pensive and I think the message about faith and repentance really sunk in. It's La Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Mexico so he has vacations. Hopefully we'll be able to see him. If not, we'll keep sending him messages to encourage him to read the Book of Mormon and pray 😊
I love you all! Sigan adelante!
Les amo,
Hna DeFranco