What is up family and friends?
This week was great because I'm in a new area and I'm in a ward. The cool thing about changes is that it gives us a chance to improve or change some things that we didn't do well in our last area. Not to say that I didn't give it my all in my last area... there's just always something that you can improve on as a missionary.
So this area is WAY different from Padre Hurtado. Holy cow is it "quico." This area is very very well off. It's honestly like serving in the United States, but everyone just speaks spanish. This is definitely what you get when you're serving more in the city! Elder Culbertson and I are in a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with 2 floors. Yeah, it's way too big for just the two of us. Our ward has an average of about 190 members show up for sacrament meeting. THAT IS UNREAL BIG! Oh and our shower has water pressure and it's always warm! As far as feeling really comfortable, I'm doing great! The problem is that Elder Culbertson is still rather new to this sector too and his last comp basically lead the sector this last change. So it's like being in a whitewash (when two new missionaries enter a sector). We only had 16 lessons this entire week. We did a ton of contacting! The people are mixed. Some are really nice, some really just don't want anything to do with us, and then most just don't know how to feel about us mormons. It's been interesting to say the least. This is what you get when you're in a quico area, the people aren't humble enough to accept Jesus Christ because they already think they have everything.
Elder Culbertson is leaving at the end of this change, but he still has a real desire to work hard and finish strong. I LOVE IT! We're EXACTLY obedient as a companionship. As a missionary, we really don't have the normal day to day temptations, so when you don't follow the mission rules to a T... Ya feel horrible. We're working really well together though and Elder Culbertson told me that I'm his favorite comp that he's had in the mission!
One thing that I kinda like and kinda hate about being in a total gringo companionship is that we both talk equally during the lessons. Elder Culbertson is convinced that my spanish is almost better than his, so he let's me talk a lot. He's also convinced that I'll be training this next change... I doubt that. When I bore my testimony this past Sunday in front of our ward I basically just expressed how I want to get to know the ward really well and work with the members to try and have some real success in this sector. The bishop is a machine! We had our consejo de barrio ayer and he just is a total stud. He wants to work hard with the missionaries and he has a real desire to help us out! There's definitely a different feel in this ward than I had in the other ward. Padre Hurtado will always be my place of birth, but this ward functions a lot like the wards in the US and it's very organized. It's just a different area and therefore a different way to do things.
The members that we've had almuerzo with so far LOVE me. I made it a goal to always share a scripture and a thought at the end of our lunches because the members deserve it. It doesn't matter how simple my message is or how bad my spanish may be, I want to express my appreciation. I usually just read a few verses from Alma 8 where Alma goes back into the city after an angel tells him to go back. There he finds Amulek and Amulek feeds him. Alma blesses Amulek and his house for feeding him and then they go out and just do work in the mission field! I usually just tell the members how we can't work if we aren't fed and I tell them that they're basically the Amulek family to us. WORKS LIKE A CHARM. They love it and they all have said that they want to feed us more often.
This ward is super nice too. They all have told me that they thought I had 1 year in the mission because my spanish is so good. They can't believe that I only have 4 and a half months. They all loved my testimony too on Sunday, so I feel like I have the ward on my side. I can only see positive things in our future here in Pajaritos 3!
Our sector borders the Santiago North mission. So now both of my sectors so far have bordered the South and now North missions. The only thing left is to go to Republica and I'll border the Santiago Este mission!
The mission has it's ups and downs, but the cool thing is that I CAN CONTROL IT. I'm basically leading the sector and every lesson and I make the plans at night, so it's a lot more work for me now! I'm a lot happier when I'm working and not just following. I'd challenge all of you to start being leaders in your own way and don't just follow. Go out of your comfort zone and just do your very best. That's all that God expects.
I'm a little sad I'm missing the Bolder Boulder. First time in what? 11 years? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ADIN!!! 13!!!! Go and enjoy your PG 13 movies bud! I sent you something today, so you'll probably be getting it in a few weeks! I hope you like it!
I love all of you so much and I love this mission! There's really no other place I'd rather be right now! This is God's work!
CON MUCHÍSIMO AMOR Y SINCERIDAD,
Elder Weaver
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