Dear Family,
I have officially
survived my first week in San Ignacio. It has been kind of an adventure of a
week as I have tried my best to adjust to the new area. I must say that the
biggest change are the HILLS!!! When I say hills, I mean MOUNTAINS! The whole
city is built on these crazy steep hillsides. It is one thing to have to walk up
and down these monsters but on a bike it is just next to insane. My poor
companion has had to wait for me at the bottom a lot because it just terrifies
me to ride down the steep, most of the time gravel, streets. I have had enough
time on a bike to experience the fear and pain of pumping hard and having the
chain come off or braking hard and the chain falling off (the bike only has
back brakes, none on the handle bars). It is not enjoyable. And my bike here is
slightly falling apart. The chain is loose so it falls off easily, the handle
bars are loose and always twist on me, the peddles wobble, and my seat is too
high so I have to leap off when I want to stop. Needless to say, I don't trust
it much so it has been a long week in that regard.
Sister Hirschi has
been causing me some problems this week. And these problems are something new
that I have never before had to deal with and I am not sure how to handle. She
is flat-out hilarious and says all of these hilarious things with a straight
face in the lessons or when we are contacting people in the street. It takes
all my control not to bust up laughing at very inappropriate times. ha! Its a
hoot. Every day something happens that has us on the floor laughing. good
times. Nevertheless, we still manage to have the spirit with us in our lessons.
We are teaching these two young men right now, Ryan and Jason, who are really
positive and want to make changes in their lives. They are both preparing to be
baptized soon. The work is progressing. :)
We went to visit a
less-active member the other day named Pancho Diaz. He is from Nicaragua and so
it was fun to listen to his Spanish. Poor Sister Hirschi didn't understand much
of what he said but I was surprised to realize that, without really trying, I
understood about 95% of what he said. Miracles happen! But it was pretty sad to
listen and learn his story. He is about 60 years old, was baptized at age 17,
served a mission, and has been in leadership positions for all of his life. He
was the district leader here in Cayo for 12 years, has a wealth of gospel
knowledge, and has personally met Elder Richard G. Scott and other apostles. He
was upset about how he was released from the district president and basically
has never returned to church since. How sad. We need him in the branch but his
pride was hurt and thus he has became inactive and some how has convinced
himself that that is okay. What?! This experience just made me realize that you
are never safe, it doesn't matter how strong you are in the church, how long
you have been a member, what callings you have had, etc. The adversary is powerful
and we always have to be watching our backs. We always have to be growing our
testimonies, humbling ourselves, and trying to improve. ALWAYS!!
Well, I love you all!
Hope you all have a great week.
Sista Heap
New Address:
Sister Heap
PO Box 79
San Ignacio, Cayo
Belize
No comments:
Post a Comment