A Day in The Life

Because the manner of mission work is a little different in Mexico then in the good ole U.S. of A. Ive been asked a lot what our daily schedule is like.  I will tell ya right now, no day is like the other.  But I will try to give you a glimpse into what its like.

6:30 to 8 am:  Wake up, exercise, get ready, and eat breakfast.

8 to 9: Personal Study

9 to 10: Companionship study

Now here it gets tricky.  Depending on the day, we either have District Meetings, weekly planning, or some other reunion to go to.  But if there isnt anything else planned, and because Im still a tranie, we have an hour of entrenemiento followed by another hour of language study.  So usually we dont get to leave the house and teach until 12 in the afternoon.

From 12 to 8 pm we are out teaching.... except for 2 pm.  Thats when we go to members homes to eat.  Everyday a member signs up to feed us.  Its awesome how willing everybody is to just give us food.  Sometimes so much that I feel like Im going to explode.

But back to teaching.  Usually we try to have as many appointments as possible to fill the day because we cant fill up hours tracting.  But here is a fun fact about the Mexican culture.  Making an appointment with someone does not mean you have an appointment with them.  It means, sure, you can pass by around that time and if I am here we can have a chat...but no promises.   It is soooooo frustrating.  Everything we do depends on other people, no matter how hard we work.  We might have walked half way across the city to get to their house and then find out they arent there.  In this manner, a lot of our time gets eaten up with walking from place to place and waiting for people who are late and so on.  But the lessons with progressing investigators make it all worth it.  They never let us down.  They want to be there, they dont want to miss what we have to say, and I always walk away from those lessons with a big smile on my face.

So to answer another question I was asked, the amount we teach each day totally depends on other people.  On the members, investigatores, contacts.  We just do our best to be there on time and ready.  So each day differs.  It is very clear that we are not in control.  He is.

Because we live in Tijuana... and it is a tad sketchy at night,  us Hermanas have to be back in our apartments at 8 pm.  Then we plan and PRAY for the next day and go to bed at 10:30.

In two weeks we will have transfers again.  I will have a new companion and wont be training anymore so we will have to see how the schedule changes.  I will be sure to keep you updated.  But now when you are sitting at home with your bowl of ice cream watching Once Upon a Time  9 at night... you can imagine what Im doing :)

Oh!  P.S.  I have now learned what everyone who ever goes to Mexico needs to learn.  How to make legit tortillas!  We learned from one of the sisters in the ward last Monday.  Enjoy the pictures!!

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Barrios

Nothing out of the norm has happened this week to talk about.  Some investigators are doing fantastic.... others not so much.  The usual.  So I figured I would answer more from the extremely long list of questions I have been asked.

Q: Is the rule of working with members only for Tijuana or all the Mission?

A:  It is the whole mission.  Actually, it is the rule for all of Mexico.  Wowzers right?  We arent allowed to knock on any doors unless they are a reference from a member.  It really is the ideal way to do mission work because if the investigator is a member reference, then they already have a friend to guide them in the church and someone to join in the missionary discussions.  The only problem is that as missionaries, we are entirely dependent on the members to get new investigators and only a handful of members have the desire for mission work.  Every lesson we have with a member we ask for referencias and everyone claims that they dont know anyone.  It can be frustrating, especially when appointments fall through and we cant go tracting to find new people.  But those few members that have that flame, and want all of their friends to hear of the gospel and love joining us in lessons with investigators, they make our days great.  I cant stress enough to you folks back home how important members are in mission work.  Everything works 100 percent better when members help with references and lessons.  Plus, when you do that, you become the missionaries favorite people... and you know there has got to be blessing that come from that. 

Q: Are the wards big?

A:  Just like the US it depends where you are.  Some areas are just branches, but most of the wards in the Tijuana city area are average sized.  And if we could get all the less actives to reactivate they could be twice their size.

Turns out I didnt have as much time as I thought to answer more questions, but I promise I will get to them!

Exclusive Interview

Nothing fancy has happened this week... except for mission work.  That is always awesome.  So I just thought I would answer some more questions that I have been getting.

Q: Have you been able to see the ocean?

A: Sadly no.  But at night I can see the lights of San Diego.  Sweet sweet America.

Q:  Do you prefer snail mail or email?

A:  I am a lover of both.  Its so great to be able to log on each week and find so many letters to read and it is  perfect to get information to me fast.  However, I am a little bit old fashioned too.  Nothing beats a handwritten letter.  Especially the surprise of getting one at District meetings.  The only downside is that it takes awhile for them to reach me.  Two weeks mas o menos.  So if you need to let me know something fast or need a response fast.  Email.  If not,  and you have legible handwriting, I would love a handwritten note too!

Q:  How do you like the candy?

A:  For those unfamiliar with Mexican culture, here is a fun fact for you:  They eat chili with everything.  Burritos, tacos, enchiladas, hamburgers, hot dogs, hot chocolate, potato chips, the list goes on.  And yes, it includes candy as well.  Every type of hard candy is coated in chili powder.  It is... interesting.  Ive tried it a few times and it is no doubt something you have to get used to.  Usually after what seems like and hour of sucking on fire, you hit the sweet fruity center.  By the end of my mission I will be addicted to them and forcing them down my younger siblings throats.  Consider yourselves warned. 

Q:  Is it dangerous?

A:  Its aight.  They take really good care of the sisters in this mission.  There are only a few cities that we are sent to and they are all close the the mission home so that if anything happens to us the mission president can get to us as soon as possible.  Also, in parts of the city that are un poco mas peligroso, it is a rule for the sisters to go back to their apartments at eight instead of nine.  

For those have been concerned about my welfare, thank you so much but dont fret.  Im doing just fine.  I never feel like Im in any danger.  And for those who havent cared a smidge about me..... I will pray for you.

here are some random pictures of the beautiful city I am in.... and what I like to do in my free time.... missionarys arent as wise as you think we are :)

My 1st District in Tijuana

Tijuana at sunset

"Hola Senor"
( Eden's companion in the background says, "Huh, Hermana, can we continue with our companion study now?")

Spiritual Tan Lines

Time for a question answer session...

Q:  How do you feel about walking around?

A:  I love it.  Tijuana is very beautiful in its our special way and I love getting to walk around and see the colorful houses covering the mountains, tennishoes hanging from telephone wires, and even the graffeti covering the walls.  Not to mention all the taco stands we get to pass by and smell (one of which I got to try last week.  TAN RICO!!).  I´m glad we are a walking mission, but it does get frustrating when we walk muy lejos for a lesson to find that no one is home.  That´s when Heavenly Father sends us a stunning sunset to keep us company as we continue to another appointment.  I´m proud to say that due to all the walking in the sun I am officially a real missionary now.  Tan lines included.  My companion complains about getting a tan line from the straps on her shoes but I´m all for it!  Bring it on!  I was so happy the other day when I took off my shoes and washed my feet to find that the lines weren´t from dirt and dust but my actual skin. I´m ligit now!

Q:  How is the language coming?

A:  Slowly.  But in this manner my patience is improving.  It´s still very frustrating when I can´t say exactly what I want, but I accept it now.  I can understand most of what I hear, or depending on the speed of talking, follow the general topic.  I´m really good at pretending to laugh at the appropriate times when everyone else understands the joke but me...  It´s much more difficult for me to talk.  I know a decent amount of vocabulary but grammar kills me.  The order of words is always changing and don´t even get me started on conjugating verbs.  In the next life I´m going to search out whoever it was that thought it would be a fun idea to make six different ways to say one word... and then another six for past tense and so on... and when I meet them I´m going to give them a piece of my mortal mind.  And then we´ll hug it out and I´ll forgive them with my immortal heart.  But seriously, it´s ridiculous.

Q:  Do you like the food... is it too spicy?

A:  I love the food, and the food I don´t love I´m trying to slowly get accustomed to it.  There are a couple of drinks that are sort of funky and were tough to force down the first time.  But each additional sip gets better.  Everyone is pretty good at not giving me too much spice.  They bring out two types of salsa.  The usual for my companion and a baby version especially for the American.  But that doesn´t stop me from trying it.  After all, chili makes you speak better Spanish right? 

I was never a big fan of Mexican food in the U.S. but now I realize that that was because it wasn´t real Mexican food.  The stuff down here is much better.  Tacos are HEAVEN!  And don´t even get me started on enchiladas.  Hermana Torres and I have a long list of all the places we´ve passed by that we´ve smelled and have to try.  The only problem is that they have no portion control.