Six Months Out!

Hermanas Alcala and Ludlam 

My street complete with balconies and hanging plants

Family!

I hit 6 months today! I am 1/3 done.

We had a very hot week this week, and not a ton of success. All our appointments fell through and we end up knocking on doors all until 9 at night. One of the little tender mercies is after contacting for forever, I met a member named Natalie. She said "I know your last name. Do you have a sister that served a mission?" And I asked where she served and she said, "Merida!" and so that was whack! I met one of Lia's companions from the mission! Who could've known I'd get called to the same area. Small world.

We did get to pass out a few book of Mormons this week, and they said they'd read it. The stinky part is usually after that, we never find them again. So then we have to go find more new people to teach. And that means more contacting.

Waiting for an appointment at church, Hna A takes a lap!

We had super last minute intercambios this week, so I went to Cambita with Hna Hoak-- Hna Rubio's mom! She's the best. I learned so much from her. We taught a bomb lesson about the restoration to some new people, and as we were leaving, Eric moved the coffee table so we had more room to walk out, and it knocked a glass cup off the table and it broke and cut his foot super bad! And Hna Hoak and I just stood there in the doorway super shocked because there was so much blood and we didn't know what to do. He kept saying "It's okay! I just have a lot of blood!" And his wife/ girlfriend said, "Yeah, he always bleeds a lot for every little thing." And Eric says "Yeah. I have a lot of blood. I drink a lot of juice." And that was funny.

Mac and cheese over fritos

Also what is funny: when someone wants to offer you their food (which is always-- even if it's their half eaten corn cob) they hold up their food and say,"Un buen tiempo," (a good time) with a very convincing look on their face. And if you don't want some, you say "buen provecho" which means bon apetit or something. Paulino and Marisol (people we're teaching) fed us delish food this week and this big lady showed up at the front door and sees us eating and she's like "Oh! I showed up at a buen tiempo!"

I had a good experience with the Sacrament this week. I just tried really hard to be focused. It's nice to feel clean, and to get another chance to be better every week. If you have advice on how to get more out of the Sacrament, you should tell me. I'm still not very good at it.

Also Mom, I am so glad I took a picture of your letter last week because I certainly didn't get everything out of it the first time. But I have to say something about your letter this week. You said I'm the only family member who gets to be a part of this most important work on the planet, and although I am the only one serving full time and with the keys to teach the gospel, I still want everyone else in my family to join in, too. Go sow some seeds. Find people for the missionaries to teach. Read Elder Uchtdorf's talk about how you can do this naturally in your everyday conversations with people. That is my spiel.

I just like this house

I am happy to be out here under the hot sun🌄, working in my Madre Vieja Sur vineyard here in San Cristobal. I love sharing my testimony with these people. I am excited for another year to keep doing this and to keep learning how to be an effective instrument.

Love you family!!

Hermana Ludlam