Centipede!
Elora's companion, Sister Borrows
Elora's Mission - Montana Del Sur
Monday, August 8, 2011
August 8, 2011
Hi mom!
Haha! Yeah her last name is Borrows but her name tag says Kigueta because she's a fourth Ogibwei (she speaks the language too.) and since in spanish her last name Borrows would mean a donkey or someone who's slow of speech so she choose to use her Given name from her grandma. She's teaching me to say blueberry pie in that language. It's long! Yes she said she wanted to write to you guys as well as her family. That's how she descibes me to other people.
How're you feeling now? Almost back to normal? But ick, doctor. I hope you're doing well! i'm still praying for you!
Yeah bit of culture shock but I love it! This ward is the best and I'm soooo happy not to be serving in english! The hispanic people are so nice! It was a little odd learning how to kiss other women, it's a big part of the culture down here. You see someone you know, or might know, or have just met, and just got in for a kiss ont he cheek.
Thanks! I think I'll be set once I have my bedding. They had an extra blanket I've been using so I'm good! I love you mom! I'll be sending some things in the mail and pictures in a bit!
Monday, August 1, 2011
August 1, 2011
Okay so I don't have much time (there was a ton of emails!) So this'll just be a general letter to everyone and I'll work on answering things more next week. Thank you all so much for writting to me!
I love it down here! I have the best companion, Hermana Kigueta! She's from canada and a fourth ogibwe indian. She's great to work with and we get along so well! She's also really glad to have me because I know how to and like to cook. We're starting to eat pretty well!
The area I got sent to is very interesting. My companion told me as we were driving to it that it was down at the very southern most part of the mission by South Mountian. Our mission is called Montana del Sur, Sur. I really am serving in the best area of the whole mission. Now don't start worrying with what I'm going to be telling you next. My companion told me as we were driving to our apartment that we're down the street from the projects and are in one of the poorest areas of the mission. As we walked into the apartment she jokingly told me, "Yeah it's great. We have cockroaches for pets. Also sometimes it smells like either garbage or smoke from rhe other apartments." Yeah it's all true. We have a bit of a roach problem but the apartments are getting sprayed tomorrow so that'll help. I didn't know that they were green on the inside. Aparantly Elders had the aprtment a few months before they the sisters have been working on geting it clean since then. It was a mess!
And they weren't joking when they said it was a poor area. It's funny to me that these people are living in these run down old shanties with no AC but they have a phone with interent on them.
But honestly I'm sooooooo lucky to have been sent here! It's one of the more densely populated Hispanic areas in the mission and our ward is the best! We have an absoluitly amazing memeber support here and they just loves us! The calls us their principessas and angeles and take good care of us. Another great thing about the people here is that I've only had one door slammed in my face and got yelled at once by a guy. But it wasn't that bad. For the most part even if they won't listen they'll talk to us and invite us in. I hate when we knock on the doors of americans because they're always really rude to us, but the hispanics are super nice!
We'e got a baptism!!! It's this awesome girl named Stefanie. She's 16 and just amazing. She was a little standoffish when we first met her but has warmed up big time! They've been teaching her family for 10 months already but only her in specific for a few weeks. A recent convert Suzy is a huge help with her! We had a neat lesson the other day with her. Since she's so close to bweing baptised we had to sit down and tell her straight out that she needed to get rid of her lip ring. She was shocked and got mad at us a bit. She flat out told us that she would do anything but take it out. But we bore our testimoneies along with Jose Juan, a member who was there (he's awesome!) and all of the sudden Hna Kigueta was elbowing me and saying, "Look!" I looked and Stef was holding her ring in her hand and looking serious at it, then put it in her pocket. She has just lit up since then and gotten so excited for her baptism this friday! I just love her!
I'll send a letter with more stories in it to p[eople later.
So today! This morning we went for a hike on the mountain by us. We sat up at the top and looked over the valley it was amazing! But then it happened. I'll send you a picutre of what we saw so you'll know why we screamed and ran about twenty feet away. This monster had crwaled onto Hna's backpack right next to her arm! It was a giant centaped! I'd see a few little (3-4 in) milipeds running around but hadn't expected this this! It was at least a foot long and huge!!!!!!!! You'll see what I mean when I send pictures with the letters later, it scared us so bad!
Okay one more quick story! We were knocking on doors one day and an older hispanic lady answered. We smiled and said, "Hola, somos represetantes de Jesucristo-" andshe lit up and swung the door open and said, "Pasen! Pasen!" She all but kicked out the guy who'd been talking with her out the door and was sooo happy to talk to us. She told us how she was a catholic by tradition but had been really feeling lately that she wanted to find a church. We talked a bit and basically gave more of the first lesson (we didn't get to Joseph yet) and she was just loving it. Before we left we gave her a Book of Mormon, and you have to understand, we don't just do that down here. We mostly just give them our numbers and a pamphlet. But we could just see how excited she was. We'd read a bit with her (Alma 7:11-12) and she felt that it was right. So we gave her the book. We invited her to church and she was excited to go but didn't show on sunday. We called and turns out she had gotten pretty sick. But we're going to call again today to see how she is and to invite her out to Noche de Hogar. The members here just rock and every week they have a group family home evening together for everyone at the familia Jones' house. We're also having a birthday for one of the members tonight there to. He's doesn't know that yet though, we just told him that it was his turn to give the lesson.
I love this area! I love this ward! I love my companion! It's the best area in the whole mission! Cockroaches and all! But I don't mind those too bad anyway,my aim has improved considerably since I've gotten here. After all we get our own apartment and some privacy. The elders are in consecrated living (in a members house) and they don't have cockroaches there...they have scorpians. As in, in the house. A elder got stung twice because one had crawled into his towel. It got his ahnd and he dropped the towel and then it got his foot. He's okay though. I haven't seen any here but then our apartment is up on the top floor.
It is HOT. I about passed out when I first stepped outside. It's generally been about 105 here during the day. It's really odd that the sun comes up at around 5 and by 6:30 it's already baking at 95. It doesn't really cool off at night here. And I'm learnign that storms don't help. Because then it's both hot and very humid. Although we had our first real storm. It was awesome! The whole sky was lite up with lightning and it just flooded! It was awesome!
Well it's time to go, I love you all! Take care and I'll write as soon as I can!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July 26, 2011
Hola, from Phoenix!
Well it's blazing hot down here right now. It's 90 degrees and 70% humidity! They're telling us its nicest days so far this Summer. I was very surprised to get off the plane, get in the van, and look out to see green grass! Which I later found out is lovely to look at, but crackles underfoot and you can see millions of black beetles jumping around. I think I won't be sitting on it anytime soon.
It's beautiful down here! All brown with splashes of color from cactus, these old trees, and tons of red, orange, and pink flowers. Some of the big cactus are around 10-15 feet high! I'm at the mission home right now and in the front yard they have a gigantic queen palm tree (look them up, they're really cool!). Proportion-wise, it's a bit like this. <picture> We all thought they'd planted a pineapple in the yard.
It really feels like a different country here with all the plaster (?). Houses with red tiled roofs and giant plants everywhere. Although when we stepped outside for the first time in the heat, I just stopped to catch my breath. Quite a shock after the nice cool airport.
We got delayed by a few hours. They found a problem with the plane we were going to be on. They fixed it and found another problem. I guess it was pretty serious because they announced we would have to wait for a new plane to arrive that could take us to Phoenix.
Thanks dad for always fasting for me and thanks for all of you for your prayers!!
We got here safely and were met right away by some Elders who were heading home. Then they whisked us off.
It was so good to hear you all today! I was so excited to have the chance to call. Now I just need to count down the days til Christmas until I can call again.
Dad, just wanted to share that while we were all introducing ourselves a bit ago, I told all the Elders that a thing I like to do was go shooting with my dad. Made a few of them grin, and surprised a few more.
I love it here already and I"m so excited to get to work tomorrow at noon. There are amazing things happening (I swear the Spanish is messing me up down here right now). They're almost up to 100 baptisms a month here. With the temple being built, interest is being sparked and God really is preparing these people to hear His words and to know of His love for them. The work here is booming and the church has some great plans for this area.
Well, I don't have much more to say at this moment except to say that I"m so glad I did this. I love this work, I love my mission president. I'm excited and I so look forward to spreading to others what I know to be true so that they can feel the joy this knowledge brings and how it can change lives and families.
I love you all so much. I'll write you more on P-Day after my first official week as a missionary!!
Les Amo,
Hna Watson
P.S: P-Day is Monday.
Well it's blazing hot down here right now. It's 90 degrees and 70% humidity! They're telling us its nicest days so far this Summer. I was very surprised to get off the plane, get in the van, and look out to see green grass! Which I later found out is lovely to look at, but crackles underfoot and you can see millions of black beetles jumping around. I think I won't be sitting on it anytime soon.
It's beautiful down here! All brown with splashes of color from cactus, these old trees, and tons of red, orange, and pink flowers. Some of the big cactus are around 10-15 feet high! I'm at the mission home right now and in the front yard they have a gigantic queen palm tree (look them up, they're really cool!). Proportion-wise, it's a bit like this. <picture> We all thought they'd planted a pineapple in the yard.
It really feels like a different country here with all the plaster (?). Houses with red tiled roofs and giant plants everywhere. Although when we stepped outside for the first time in the heat, I just stopped to catch my breath. Quite a shock after the nice cool airport.
We got delayed by a few hours. They found a problem with the plane we were going to be on. They fixed it and found another problem. I guess it was pretty serious because they announced we would have to wait for a new plane to arrive that could take us to Phoenix.
Thanks dad for always fasting for me and thanks for all of you for your prayers!!
We got here safely and were met right away by some Elders who were heading home. Then they whisked us off.
It was so good to hear you all today! I was so excited to have the chance to call. Now I just need to count down the days til Christmas until I can call again.
Dad, just wanted to share that while we were all introducing ourselves a bit ago, I told all the Elders that a thing I like to do was go shooting with my dad. Made a few of them grin, and surprised a few more.
I love it here already and I"m so excited to get to work tomorrow at noon. There are amazing things happening (I swear the Spanish is messing me up down here right now). They're almost up to 100 baptisms a month here. With the temple being built, interest is being sparked and God really is preparing these people to hear His words and to know of His love for them. The work here is booming and the church has some great plans for this area.
Well, I don't have much more to say at this moment except to say that I"m so glad I did this. I love this work, I love my mission president. I'm excited and I so look forward to spreading to others what I know to be true so that they can feel the joy this knowledge brings and how it can change lives and families.
I love you all so much. I'll write you more on P-Day after my first official week as a missionary!!
Les Amo,
Hna Watson
P.S: P-Day is Monday.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Elora made it to Phoenix safely!
We have not yet heard from Elora since she arrived in Phoenix, but Todd just spoke with Elora's mission president! We have been very anxious to hear that she made it safely.
She made it to Phoenix yesterday a little delayed because her airplane had some mechanical issues. There were a lot of transfers yesterday as well as new missionaries and outgoing missionaries - so it was a little hectic. Her P-day will be on Mondays. She is in a car mission currently (great news!). The area she is serving in is Montana Del Sur (sp?).
He has two pieces of advice for anyone who corresponds with her:
1) Always send packages or letters to the mission home address in Glendale. They also request that we send everything USPS first class (not parcel post, UPS, Fedex etc). The secretary will re-send the items directly to Elora within a day of receiving it and this will lessen any confusion with transfers/address changes etc.
2) Don't communicate any distracting or worrisome information to Elora that will cause her to lose focus. Keep things positive and upbeat.
We are so pleased to know that she is in Phoenix and doing well. We were able to speak with her for a few minutes yesterday and she sounded great - and excited to finally be in the mission field.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 21, 2011 (Letter)
Hola mi familia!
Que pasa este semana? Que tal la chamba?
Things here are good but sort of crazy as we get down to the last little bit. Only a few more days!
I haven't checked my email yet today so I"ll just catch you all up first and finish this later.
We got our travel plans late Wednesday. Looks like we'll leave on the 26th at 5 and get there around 10 in the morning. Plenty of time for a full day of prosoliting! (Yeah, I know I spelled that wrong. The Spanish is messing me up because everything in it is spelled exactly how it sounds). Also, we'll be staying at the mission home that first night. We asked them and they said it would be best to have all that sent down by the time I get there. They'll just hold it till I come.
We got lucky again and are going to be part of this thing that'll announce Africa really being opened for some intense missionary work. So if you see anything about that look for me in the choir. I have a bright green shirt on and I'm in the front. Also I got to be in the second big panoramic picture for the MTC. Cool!!
So I got sick, and it started to turn into another sinus infection. So I got to the clinic as quick as I could and saw the doctor. He wasn't too surprised, he said it's pretty common to get them at the MTC because everyone's sick here with colds. He was good and we talked about the last bout I had with it and what we did about it. He told me to do all that again then gave me some antibiotics to help kill it now while its not too bad. He also gave me some good advice because he said that the climate in Phoenix will not be good for sinuses so he told me how to combat it. So pray for me please that I'll get better and won't have to extend my stay in the MTC!
So about the call you got on Wednesday. I think the filling on my tooth is having issues because it feels pitted or cracked and I've been having pain in that tooth. Thankfully, they can get me in tomorrow morning so it'll get taken care of quick. It was weird though because when they called I was right there so in a way I'm sort of glad dad didn't pick up then because then I could have heard him but not talked to him. Also mom I was going to call you since you have the info but I couldn't remember your work number and couldn't remember if you were back there or not anyways. Please send it to me!
Well, not much else going on. Except that our investigator Jose has agreed to be baptised! Yay! He took awhile to think about it but in the end got an answer to his prayers. He'll be baptised next Monday before we go if we can teach him all the commandments (Chastity, Tithing, and the Word of Wisdom) and refresh him on the 10 commandments in half an hour today. We're going to do it! Woohoo!
Well, off to check emails in a bit but first something funny. I already said this to Larissa a little. But I was talking to a Sister from Phoenix and she told me that they'll think we're crazy for being outside because no one goes out in the middle of the day because it's so hot. So they'll probably take pity on us and let us into their homes. So maybe it's a good thing I burn like I do. They'll see me and pull us inside. Ahhh air conditioning.
Oh! The letter to Kassandra Orton! Can you get it to her please? She sent me a nice letter and I wrote her back but she must have given me the wrong address because I just got this back. I think she's either a primary girl or in YW's in our ward.
Okay....so the email is being stupid. I went and printed them all off and only later found out they changed the rules so it only prints half of the page. So I didn't get what you all wrote. If you could send it again by dearelder that would be great. I spent all my time trying to get it to work. :( SO I can't really answer much here to you all.
I just showed the new sisters around. They're great and still a little shell shocked but so happy to be here.
I love you all so much!! Take Care!
Oh, what's this about grandpa falling?? Grandma mentioned it in passing in her letter but it sounds like it was pretty serious. What happened?
Alright I'll wait for your replies. As far as the airport goes I'll try to call around 7 that morning of the 26th but it may be later around 8. But probably not past 8:30. Also, if I don't call don't worry. I'll email you when I get down there to let you know I'm okay. If I get more info, I'll send you a letter. Tell me what number to call at through dearelder. I'll just call the house number if you don't tell me differently.
I love you all!!
Les Amo,
Hma. Watson
P.S. Tell Connor sorry again. He'll get his letter really soon! I got half way done with it before I had to run to class and dinner. I'll try to finish it soon.
Que pasa este semana? Que tal la chamba?
Things here are good but sort of crazy as we get down to the last little bit. Only a few more days!
I haven't checked my email yet today so I"ll just catch you all up first and finish this later.
We got our travel plans late Wednesday. Looks like we'll leave on the 26th at 5 and get there around 10 in the morning. Plenty of time for a full day of prosoliting! (Yeah, I know I spelled that wrong. The Spanish is messing me up because everything in it is spelled exactly how it sounds). Also, we'll be staying at the mission home that first night. We asked them and they said it would be best to have all that sent down by the time I get there. They'll just hold it till I come.
We got lucky again and are going to be part of this thing that'll announce Africa really being opened for some intense missionary work. So if you see anything about that look for me in the choir. I have a bright green shirt on and I'm in the front. Also I got to be in the second big panoramic picture for the MTC. Cool!!
So I got sick, and it started to turn into another sinus infection. So I got to the clinic as quick as I could and saw the doctor. He wasn't too surprised, he said it's pretty common to get them at the MTC because everyone's sick here with colds. He was good and we talked about the last bout I had with it and what we did about it. He told me to do all that again then gave me some antibiotics to help kill it now while its not too bad. He also gave me some good advice because he said that the climate in Phoenix will not be good for sinuses so he told me how to combat it. So pray for me please that I'll get better and won't have to extend my stay in the MTC!
So about the call you got on Wednesday. I think the filling on my tooth is having issues because it feels pitted or cracked and I've been having pain in that tooth. Thankfully, they can get me in tomorrow morning so it'll get taken care of quick. It was weird though because when they called I was right there so in a way I'm sort of glad dad didn't pick up then because then I could have heard him but not talked to him. Also mom I was going to call you since you have the info but I couldn't remember your work number and couldn't remember if you were back there or not anyways. Please send it to me!
Well, not much else going on. Except that our investigator Jose has agreed to be baptised! Yay! He took awhile to think about it but in the end got an answer to his prayers. He'll be baptised next Monday before we go if we can teach him all the commandments (Chastity, Tithing, and the Word of Wisdom) and refresh him on the 10 commandments in half an hour today. We're going to do it! Woohoo!
Well, off to check emails in a bit but first something funny. I already said this to Larissa a little. But I was talking to a Sister from Phoenix and she told me that they'll think we're crazy for being outside because no one goes out in the middle of the day because it's so hot. So they'll probably take pity on us and let us into their homes. So maybe it's a good thing I burn like I do. They'll see me and pull us inside. Ahhh air conditioning.
Oh! The letter to Kassandra Orton! Can you get it to her please? She sent me a nice letter and I wrote her back but she must have given me the wrong address because I just got this back. I think she's either a primary girl or in YW's in our ward.
Okay....so the email is being stupid. I went and printed them all off and only later found out they changed the rules so it only prints half of the page. So I didn't get what you all wrote. If you could send it again by dearelder that would be great. I spent all my time trying to get it to work. :( SO I can't really answer much here to you all.
I just showed the new sisters around. They're great and still a little shell shocked but so happy to be here.
I love you all so much!! Take Care!
Oh, what's this about grandpa falling?? Grandma mentioned it in passing in her letter but it sounds like it was pretty serious. What happened?
Alright I'll wait for your replies. As far as the airport goes I'll try to call around 7 that morning of the 26th but it may be later around 8. But probably not past 8:30. Also, if I don't call don't worry. I'll email you when I get down there to let you know I'm okay. If I get more info, I'll send you a letter. Tell me what number to call at through dearelder. I'll just call the house number if you don't tell me differently.
I love you all!!
Les Amo,
Hma. Watson
P.S. Tell Connor sorry again. He'll get his letter really soon! I got half way done with it before I had to run to class and dinner. I'll try to finish it soon.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Elora Leaves for Phoenix July 26
If you're reading this, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you!
Address:
Email:
elora.watson@myldsmail.net
Sister Elora Watson
Arizona Phoenix Mission
18001 N. 79th Avenue
Building C, Suite 50
Glendale, AZ 85308
18001 N. 79th Avenue
Building C, Suite 50
Glendale, AZ 85308
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