This past Friday I went on divisions with someone in my zone. He´s a big guy from Washington... Spokane actually. His last name is Workman. Red hair. He said he didn´t recognize Heather and Darren´s name, but I didn´t know what specific area they lived in. anyways, we went to visit this inactive member, and his exwife was there. They had 5 or 6 people living in a very small room, about half the size of my room at home, and it had a stove and 3 beds, tv, and tons of other stuff. Such a small room with so many people was really quite humbling. Apparently she had had bad experiences with past missionaries, and how they seemed trucho (fake or crappy), and we were able to talk to her a lot and she opened up to us. She ended up really liking us, which is bad for me since I probably won´t ever see her again, since she´s not in my area... Oh did I mention that E´ Workman has only been out a transfer longer than me? And he can speak spanish pretty good. He lives in an apartment with 3 native speakers, so he has been kind of forced to speak spanish, but wow I was really surprised. One of the people we contacted was catholic or evangelist or something. I don´t remember, those are the only 2 religions we ever meet down here. Anywho, he was actually able to carry on a conversation (the lady was more arguing with us, saying the same thing repeatedly) about the godhead. She thought it was all the same person, and we obviously didn´t. But it was interesting to see how adamant some people can be. We decided not to bible bash (since neither of us had bibles with us... hah) but it was interesting none the less. We ate lunch at this members house, and we were talking a little bit of english when there was nobody around. Well the daughter walked in, who was 10 or 11ish, and she asked if I understood english. I told her I could only speak it, but I couldn´t understand it. She actually believed me, it was pretty funny.
Oh, here´s a good story. Thursday we had to go to the offices so that I could start my Argentina papers or something like that. We went to Capitál and did all this stuff, had to wake up at 530 to be there at 730... but anyways, the story is our ride to the offices. In order to get to the offices we have to take a bus and a train. Well, the bus was pretty full, as it was the working class traveling to work and stuff. But when we got to the train station... wow. I mentioned a few letters ago that the train was really full and we couldn´t get on. Well this time, we had to get on. We were the last people on the train... and there were people like football player size pushing and shoving people into a train to get more people on. People were literally packed like sardines in this train. Ok, so we got on. We literally have our faces against the train door, and we can´t even put our arms down because the train is so crowded. Well, we need to get off in 2 stops. Bad news? The train stop at that location is on the other side of the train, and the doors on our side don´t open. So it comes to the stop, and we need to get off. So we start yelling "permiso" which is basically saying excuse me, let me through. Well, needless to say, with 100 people between you and the door, and nobody got off on our stop, we were only able to pass 1 person (which moved us about 3 inches closer to the door) before the train took off. Well, we decided we would get off at the next stop. Nope... station is on the same side of the train, and nobody got off. We actually ended up going out of our mission before we could get off the train... it was ridiculous. So we just boarded another train back to the stop we needed to go to. It was fun.
At lunch on Wednesday (we eat lunch with the same people every week) they spent 5 minutes trying to tell me the correct way to say ´colgate´ in castellano. Oh, did you know they call their language castellano and not spanish? and they pronounce it cast tay shawn no. I just kept saying it the way we say it in the states, even though I knew what it was in castellano. that was pretty funny as well.
That night we also visited a more or less inactive member. She is divorced, has 4 kids. 3 of them have kids of their own, and only one is above the age of like 20. Anywho, she told us she had started smoking and stuff to relieve some of the stress in her life. Things like her gym teacher being a pervert to her (she works out a lot... she looks like she is 30ish and is really like 45). Anywho, we talked with her for awhile, and she ended up coming to church on Sunday. I thought that was pretty cool.
And that reminds me of something else. Last night, we had our schedule all set up... and we decided to change it and go to someone elses house for a few minutes before going to the rest of our appointments. Well, we ended up staying for about 35 minutes, and right as we´re about to leave, one of their friends walks in, and was actually interested in what we were doing. she was asking us all sorts of questions and things... so we gave the first lesson and gave her a book of mormon. So hopefully something comes out of that.
We visited another inactive member whos mom lives with her, nonmember. I shared 1 Ne 7:8. She thought I was totally bashing her, but then she started laughing when I turned it around and said her mom needs an example like her. That was pretty funny as well. This week has just been a funny week, I guess.
On Tuesday, we normally get our mail at zone meeting. Well, they never showed up. We found out the car was in a mini accident (the elder swerved to avoid a car that cut in front of them, and ended up popping 2 of the tires). So we just sat around waiting, since they said they would come when they got the tires fixed. We got a call about 15 minutes later. He said "I have good news and bad news. Good news - i just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico. Bad news - You won´t be receiving your mail this week". None of the natives really got it, but all the stateside missionaries were laughing. But then I just ended up getting my mail on thursday when we went to the offices.
And then there is yesterday. Yesterday, I gave a talk in sacrament meeting over missionary work. Not sure how well that went.. but whatever. we talked to mario (the guy with the huge blue torta cake) and he said he was getting his marriage papers this wednesday, so hopefully we can get him baptized before this transfer is over! and then we had a drunk guy start talking to us... and i´m not sure what it is... but I don´t think i ever talked to a drunk person in the u.s. this guy was weird... we tried getting away, but he kept talking to us, and he kept saying the same thing over and over again "im catholic. i believe in jesus and the virgin mary" anywho, he wanted to buy us a drink to show that he didn´t want to hurt us (lol...) and so he went to a kiosco. Well, he got frustrated for some reason or another, and he tried a different kiosco. as we were walking off, the lady looked at us and gave the "crazy" sign, pointing to the guy. it was funny. Well, we needed to get away, since we had other appointments, so we´re both hoping a bus drives by. What do you know it? A bus that only comes once an hour drove by right as we were passing the bus stop. So we took it and drove off, waving at the guy.
Today, I bought hair clippers. The electric kind. Yes, I am going to cut my own hair. I didn´t want to pay 30 pesos for a stinking hair cut, which is what my companion pays. He goes to this professional place... what a rip off. Anyways, the clippers were only 119, so it pays for itself in 4 haircuts. And its cordless too :) so hopefully I don´t ruin my hair, as we have interviews tomorrow with the mission prez. Wish me luck... haha.
Other than that... I think that is about it.
Til Next week, I suppose...
We love the pics keep them coming, we messed up a couple numbers on your letter so it was sent back but we are making sure you get stuff this time. Have fun.
ReplyDelete