November 12,
Report from the
frontlines.
There is a
phrase in Spanish that translates to "mini-clothes". Why do we not
have that phrase in English?
We contacted
505 people one day for the mission's "Semana Perfecta".
It was
absolutely nuts. I contacted CLOWNS.
And as Hermana
Coleman put it, "I think I'm contacting gangs."
(This telegram
style thing is killing me. Must stop.)
I love that
it's completely normal here to describe people asi: "Oh, the short fat old
lady on the corner." "Oh, this is my fat child and over there is my
skinny one."
'Mazing
investigators, 'mazing converts, 'mazing ward, 'mazing area. I get the feeling
I'm not staying in Amatitlan after this change and I already miss it!
Sorry my
e-mails are so weak sauce these days, but know I love you all como loca.
Con todo mi
amor,
Hermana Brower
November 27,
[Insert Cheesy Title Here]
(I think "The Miracle of the Rice and Beans" will do nicely.)
From left to right: Edgar, your favorite missionary, Sarina, Mica.
This is my Amatitlan-ian family.
Edgar is a quiet, sweet man who is experiencing the miracle of how the gospel doesn't just change what we do, but who we become - more like Christ.
Sarina is the ultimate huggable Latin mama, and a woman of incredible faith. We're getting there.
Mica is my little model twin. Because we look exactly alike, I don't know, I'm sure you guys can tell.
Sunday morning, we had an (amazing) session of Conference where Elder Scott and Elder Eyring spoke to Guatemala. (Elder Scott did his talk in Spanish, And used "tu" form because his wife always said it showed more love. So I love him or something.) And Sarina came with us and about halfway through the meeting, leaned over and asked us if we'd like her to bring by beans and rice that night, when we got back in the house - she really worries that we don't eat dinner. We said if she was already making some for her family, then she could bring us leftovers if she wanted, that would be amazing. And that was the end of that.
That night, about two hours before she was going to come over with the beans and rice, we ran into her in the street carrying a huge pot.
She told us this story.
That morning in Conference, she had been worrying about what we were going to eat for dinner (I'm telling you, she mothers us to death and I love it). She felt like she should offer us rice and beans, so she did. After, she sat there in the conference and thought, "I don't have rice or beans. I don't even have food for my family today. What am I going to feed them?" But she said she knew it would work out somehow.
Later that day, a neighbor came knocking...with 3 pounds of beans. A couple of hours later, another came knocking - they just had this huge bag of rice lying around, did she want it?
And there was rice and beans for everyone.
And that is the miracle.
And for her, she felt like it was the sweetest reminder from God that he never looks away from our trails - that he's always mindful of us.
And I would say that rice and beans have never tasted so good because of the sacrifice and faith and miracle behind them,
but they were just really good. Mama Sarina can cooook.
Love you all.
Be faithful and trust in good things to come.
Love,
Hermana Brower
December 3rd,
That picture should probably just make you really happy. #ILOVEAMATITLAN
