NEWS
(INVESTIGATOR'S NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO MAINTAIN ANONYMITY)
DECEMBER 9, 2013 - Cambios (Changes in Spanish)
Well you see... by the title of my email.. Things are changing around here. And so are the languages. Yup family. All your dreams came true. I am officially in the Spanish ward. The only one in our mission by the way. But hold on, it get's crazier. Not only am I white-washing. (meaning neither I nor my companion have ever served here, so we don't know the area/members etc). But, he's only on his second Transfer. His name is Elder Lala Hariniaina (he's from Grenoble which is actually IN our mission so he's french with origins from madagascar). So I'll be finishing his training.. Oh.. and on top of all of that. They made me district leader for the Genève district. Yup. I'm a little bit overwhelmed/humbled by all this awesome responsibility. :) phew! Oh. And my companion doesn't speak spanish yet... so pray for me.
BUT! let me just tell you. There's quite a dramatic difference between a French ward and a Spanish ward. HAHAHA. For example. (i'll be honest, I still haven't stopped laughing about how awesome this is). But next saturday we have a Baptism, and the next thursday another, and the next week another 2, and 2 or 3 more potential baptisms this transfer. I feel like I got transfered to serve with Bri or Mason in the Latino world. :) Life's too easy here... oh wait, except now we have another monster to tackle. We have 350 less actives in our ward. and tons more that we don't even know or have information about. what on earth are we supposed to do with 350 less actives? But hey! Looks like we might be getting wet this transfer, so that'll be fun. :) The spanish ward actually had a baptism last night. Geez, they're on fire with the baptisms, but then where do they all go?! psh.
Well. Just a couple people to write about.
Henrik. He's a Science Fiction writer that's from Sweeden that my comp found on an exchange. We've taught him 3 times, and he's considering baptism. He really is awesome. Anyway, he came to church yesterday which is a pretty big deal. :) He progresses slowly, but he progresses surely! :)
Ok.. back to the miracle we all want to hear about. Yovana.
Alright. last week, all you heard was that she couldn't come to church. Well.. it get's crazier.. We called her and called her, and passed by her house all week. Nothing. Until one day her sister was home and told us that she WENT TO SPAIN!. what the? so.. we didn't see her all week. we had no way to contact her. etc. Until yesterday. (sunday). I get a phone call in the morning, it's yovana. I flipped one. She says. "Hey, I'm coming to church with my daughter, is that ok still?" AHHHH!!!!!! :)
OH MY WORD. They were in HEAVEN. You should have seen her and her daughter at church. The best thing is, she decided the spanish ward was more practical for her. so it looks like she's coming with ME to the Spanish ward. Oh my word. The members invited her over to go eat dinner with them after church. Her daughter didn't want to leave church, and is planning on coming forever. Yovana even told me, "it's so good to know what I'll be doing every sunday the rest of my life. The best thing is, I'm so excited for Sundays now". Then, she and her daughter came to the baptism last night. And they absolutely loved it. They're in heaven. Her little daughter is the most adorable thing in the world at church. She talks to EVERYONE. and tells them all that her mommy is going to be baptised, and that she wants to be baptised too one day. So cute. I'm so excited for them. We talked to the Bishop because technically they're supposed to come to church 3 times before being baptised but the bishop has the authority to change that if he truly see's that they have real interest in staying. And he okayed her for her Birthday on the 20th. Wahoo! :) I couldn't hold back the tears last night when I saw the two of them at church with the biggest smile on their faces. Best feeling ever. No words can explain it.
SO... for now. I'm just trying to handle the stress between finishing training and teaching spanish. Balancing all the millions of RDV's. Preparing 6 people for baptism this transfer. And figuring out how on earth to be district leader.
I don't have a whole ton of time today, what with being transfer day and stuff. Plus, apparently every monday, I will be teaching a French class at the institute. (yup, I'm teaching tonight. What on earth am I going to do? haha). Plus, the apartment is a mess. ugh.
Here's my new address:
Les Missioninaires
Elder Lago
17 Rue de la Prairie
CH-1201
Genève Suisse
I love you all! Thanks for everything! :)
Have the best Christmas of your lives! :)
Love,
-Elder Lago
BUT! let me just tell you. There's quite a dramatic difference between a French ward and a Spanish ward. HAHAHA. For example. (i'll be honest, I still haven't stopped laughing about how awesome this is). But next saturday we have a Baptism, and the next thursday another, and the next week another 2, and 2 or 3 more potential baptisms this transfer. I feel like I got transfered to serve with Bri or Mason in the Latino world. :) Life's too easy here... oh wait, except now we have another monster to tackle. We have 350 less actives in our ward. and tons more that we don't even know or have information about. what on earth are we supposed to do with 350 less actives? But hey! Looks like we might be getting wet this transfer, so that'll be fun. :) The spanish ward actually had a baptism last night. Geez, they're on fire with the baptisms, but then where do they all go?! psh.
Well. Just a couple people to write about.
Henrik. He's a Science Fiction writer that's from Sweeden that my comp found on an exchange. We've taught him 3 times, and he's considering baptism. He really is awesome. Anyway, he came to church yesterday which is a pretty big deal. :) He progresses slowly, but he progresses surely! :)
Ok.. back to the miracle we all want to hear about. Yovana.
Alright. last week, all you heard was that she couldn't come to church. Well.. it get's crazier.. We called her and called her, and passed by her house all week. Nothing. Until one day her sister was home and told us that she WENT TO SPAIN!. what the? so.. we didn't see her all week. we had no way to contact her. etc. Until yesterday. (sunday). I get a phone call in the morning, it's yovana. I flipped one. She says. "Hey, I'm coming to church with my daughter, is that ok still?" AHHHH!!!!!! :)
OH MY WORD. They were in HEAVEN. You should have seen her and her daughter at church. The best thing is, she decided the spanish ward was more practical for her. so it looks like she's coming with ME to the Spanish ward. Oh my word. The members invited her over to go eat dinner with them after church. Her daughter didn't want to leave church, and is planning on coming forever. Yovana even told me, "it's so good to know what I'll be doing every sunday the rest of my life. The best thing is, I'm so excited for Sundays now". Then, she and her daughter came to the baptism last night. And they absolutely loved it. They're in heaven. Her little daughter is the most adorable thing in the world at church. She talks to EVERYONE. and tells them all that her mommy is going to be baptised, and that she wants to be baptised too one day. So cute. I'm so excited for them. We talked to the Bishop because technically they're supposed to come to church 3 times before being baptised but the bishop has the authority to change that if he truly see's that they have real interest in staying. And he okayed her for her Birthday on the 20th. Wahoo! :) I couldn't hold back the tears last night when I saw the two of them at church with the biggest smile on their faces. Best feeling ever. No words can explain it.
SO... for now. I'm just trying to handle the stress between finishing training and teaching spanish. Balancing all the millions of RDV's. Preparing 6 people for baptism this transfer. And figuring out how on earth to be district leader.
I don't have a whole ton of time today, what with being transfer day and stuff. Plus, apparently every monday, I will be teaching a French class at the institute. (yup, I'm teaching tonight. What on earth am I going to do? haha). Plus, the apartment is a mess. ugh.
Here's my new address:
Les Missioninaires
Elder Lago
17 Rue de la Prairie
CH-1201
Genève Suisse
I love you all! Thanks for everything! :)
Have the best Christmas of your lives! :)
Love,
-Elder Lago