May 23, 2011

So I don´t have a lot of time today, but my new companion's name is Hermana Bertagnole and she is AMAZING! I had known her from when we were in the same zone in Osorno, so we're already off to a great start. She is the epitome of the missionary that I want to be, so I am very excited for this cambio. We have found some really awesome part member/less active families this week, and we've had some really good lessons with them as well as with Sofia, who has SO many questions, but is really excited to learn. I'll try to include more details later, but we are working hard here in Villarrica!

Love you all!
-Hermana Gebara

P.S. I am still healthy.

May 13, 2011

So let me just tell you about some of the funny things that happened this week. First of all, we bought some wood. We weren´t freezing before because we were using our hair dryers for heat, but just because it was Mom's birthday, we bought some wood. It´s cheaper if you buy it in the neighborhood up top, so we asked two of the young men to help us carry it to the bus stop and then to our house. They, anxious for service opportunities, agreed. We bought the wood and these two kids nearly killed themselves carrying it, but be it male ego or whatever, they refused to let us help. We get out to the main street where a collectivo( like a taxi, but only with a set route) took pity on us and agreed to take us down directly to our house for the same price. Ramón, however, did not hear and kept walking to the bus stop. We were yelling after him "Ramón! Stop! He´s going to take us down! Ramón! RAMÓN!" When he finally got to the bus stop and noticed that we were not behind him, he turned around, saw the taxi, and said "Well why didn´t you say anything!?" Anyway, we have wood now. Part two of funny miscommunication moments happened on Saturday. We were teaching Fernanda, one of our investigators, and Ramón came to help. Just some background to set this up, Ramón´s family is less active and his mom has just started wanting to have family home evenings with us. So anyway, we were setting another appointment with Fernanda and Ramón whispers to us "Family home evening, my house, 7." I said "Great idea! Fernanda, we are going to have a family home evening with Ramón´s family and he wants to invite you, I don´t know why he´s whispering..." She agreed to come, and he just smiled and explained how to get to his house. After we left he turned to us and said "I was just telling you that my mom wanted to have one, not to invite her!" We had to call and reschedule...

Anyway, things are still going pretty well here. We had a movie night where we watched "Legacy." I´m pretty sure it´s my new favorite movie.

Thanks for all of your love and support!

Please send pictures.

Thanks!
Love,
Hermana Gebara

May 2, 2011

It´s been a pretty good week. I heard Prince William got married, our Mamita was very excited about that. Apparently a few years ago Prince William took a trip to southern Chile, so the people here are very fond of him.

I am in the process of writing letters to everyone, but week after week something happens and I´m just not able to get it done. Please assure the family that I do in fact love them and miss them very much. I haven´t heard from Kerrie in a while, how is she doing? Is she mad at me? Please apologize for me if I said something in one of these e-mails that offended her. I really miss you all!

Hermana Kelley is ending her mission in 2 weeks, it´s interesting being with someone who is so close to seeing their family because it makes me feel like I´m close to seeing mine as well, only to remember that I´ve got another 9 months... but anyway, I love you all very very much and I am very sorry for my inability to communicate often.

Anyway, talk to you soon!

Love,

Jamie