Last week the Canicula started. It's what they call the really hot season. It lasts until the end of August. Every person that we have a lesson with asks us why we are out when it's the Canicula. One good thing from the Canicula is that more people are in their house because no one wants to go outside. The bad thing is that I sweat my face off within being outside for twenty minutes, but I was called to serve, not called to look good, so it's ok. We had a meeting with all the Hermanas in the mission on Tuesday; all 11 of us. Hermana Monson, Palmer, and I are the only american hermanas. I'm the second tallest hermana too. When it came time to take pictures, I went to the front out of habit, and they looked at me and said "Tall hermanas in the back." It's new for me to be the tall one. After the meeting was over, they had lunch, and for dessert they had the best flan I have ever had. I could have eaten a huge plate of the flan.
In other news, a dog peed on me last week. It was a puppy, and I think it got a little too excited. Luckily it wasn't a lot, and I was able to clean it up. We also fasted last week, and it was one of the hardest fasts I have ever done. I only fasted food, because I didn't want to pass out in the street, and I still got dizzy a couple times. I think I might need to be a little bit more careful next time. But the fast worked! We found a bunch of people who seem like they are open to the gospel. One of them though has a super catholic family. We were teaching her about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel, and the dad, who was drunk, didn't think anything of it until we invited her to go to church. Only then did he realize we weren't Catholic, and he said "if you aren't Catholic, then open the gate!" He was waving his hand telling us to leave. We quickly said a prayer and said goodbye. As we were saying goodbye, he tried to hug Hermana Monson, and she quickly tried to explain that she couldn't hug him because of the mission rules. It was a weird experience all together.
On a more spiritual note, I received answers to a lot of prayers this week. One instance, we were knocking on a contact's door, and we hadn't had much success that day, so I prayed that she would be home and have time to talk with us. About thirty seconds after I finished my prayer, she came out of the house and let us in for a lesson. Also since none of our investigators went to church last week, we tried really hard to invite a lot of people to church this week. No one showed up for sacrament meeting, but I prayed that someone would show up, maybe to go to the other ward's sacrament meeting. In about ten minutes, a contact came walking down the street, saying sorry he was late, but he wanted to go to church. He stayed for sunday school and priesthood meeting; two hours! He had to leave before the other sacrament meeting, but he said he wants to come back on Sunday! Everyday I see tender mercies from the Lord, and they remind me of how much He loves me and the people here. The mission is hard, but I think it's supposed to be the way, because it makes us trust in Him more and have more faith in His word. I know I'm here for a reason, and I know this experience has already made me into a better person. I hope all of you will have a great week!
Until next week!
Hermana Stevenson
In other news, a dog peed on me last week. It was a puppy, and I think it got a little too excited. Luckily it wasn't a lot, and I was able to clean it up. We also fasted last week, and it was one of the hardest fasts I have ever done. I only fasted food, because I didn't want to pass out in the street, and I still got dizzy a couple times. I think I might need to be a little bit more careful next time. But the fast worked! We found a bunch of people who seem like they are open to the gospel. One of them though has a super catholic family. We were teaching her about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel, and the dad, who was drunk, didn't think anything of it until we invited her to go to church. Only then did he realize we weren't Catholic, and he said "if you aren't Catholic, then open the gate!" He was waving his hand telling us to leave. We quickly said a prayer and said goodbye. As we were saying goodbye, he tried to hug Hermana Monson, and she quickly tried to explain that she couldn't hug him because of the mission rules. It was a weird experience all together.
On a more spiritual note, I received answers to a lot of prayers this week. One instance, we were knocking on a contact's door, and we hadn't had much success that day, so I prayed that she would be home and have time to talk with us. About thirty seconds after I finished my prayer, she came out of the house and let us in for a lesson. Also since none of our investigators went to church last week, we tried really hard to invite a lot of people to church this week. No one showed up for sacrament meeting, but I prayed that someone would show up, maybe to go to the other ward's sacrament meeting. In about ten minutes, a contact came walking down the street, saying sorry he was late, but he wanted to go to church. He stayed for sunday school and priesthood meeting; two hours! He had to leave before the other sacrament meeting, but he said he wants to come back on Sunday! Everyday I see tender mercies from the Lord, and they remind me of how much He loves me and the people here. The mission is hard, but I think it's supposed to be the way, because it makes us trust in Him more and have more faith in His word. I know I'm here for a reason, and I know this experience has already made me into a better person. I hope all of you will have a great week!
Until next week!
Hermana Stevenson