So last time I wrote to you, I was in Fajardo, and that evening I went to Trujillo Alto to work with the 2 sisters over there, one of which just so happened to be one of my daughters, Hermana S! I was super excited to be able to work with her and catch up with her. We were giggling late into the night because we were just so excited to be reunited. Her companion is from Panama and is super great, too. We laughed a lot during the two days I was there. Every single person we visited in Trujillo gave us Coca-Cola, and I still can't say I'm a huge fan of it, but I can drink it without any problems. A lady we contacted fed us some weird vegetable soup and I have NO idea what was in it. But I haven't died yet, so apparently its contents were okay. I just feel like we met so many crazy people there because one lady said that she knew the Catholic church wasn't true but had had visions of "the Virgin Mary with a dead Christ in her arms with a BIG heart above them, all floating in the air." Sometimes, I just feel awkward because they share these "spiritual" experiences with me and I have no idea if they're lying or not, but I feel like they are but I don't want to be rude, so I just kinda sit there. What would you do in a situation such as this? How do you react? What's the appropriate response? I just don't know yet.
I went back to Cidra on Friday morning and worked with Hermana S's companion, Hermana A. (from Bolivia) until Sunday. It was just kind of awkward being back when I'd told everyone goodbye just a week ago. But I love Cidra and I love the weather there, so I didn't complain. We met a young man named Luis who decided to quit smoking weed. He is really really cool and super intelligent, regardless of the fact that he is destroying his body. I hope he accepts the Gospel and turns his life around. He just really needs help.
Since I was back in Cidra, I got to teach W__ again! It made me really happy. We taught him about tithing and fast offerings. It was a good lesson. We always talk about the deepest doctrine with him and I love our lessons with him.
We had the Caguas Stake Conference Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It was good. It was all about furthering the work of salvation. Woot woot! But oh my. We had a funny experience yesterday morning because when our ride came to get us to take us to the stake center, we ran out the door, and Hermana A. didn't realize that she was still wearing her "at home" shoes (a pair of really ugly, super dorky-looking NO OFFENSE neon, speckled crocs). We got down the mountain, about 3/4 of the way there, when she looked down and realized what she was wearing. I DIED laughing at the thought of the Mission President, his wife, and the presiding Area Seventy all seeing her like that. Luckily for her, though, we turned back and got her a pair of appropriate shoes. Man. Greenies. Gotta love 'em.
I'm at the Mission Home right now. I spent the night here, and I"ll be going out to Ponce this evening to work with HERMANA G. and give her companion a break. Not sure how I feel about it, but I'll go where the Lord needs me to go. She doesn't know I'm coming yet, but when she finds out, I know she'll be really happy. She calls me often and when she heard about my new calling, she said she couldn't wait for me to come down there. (Little does she know, though, that a visit from me isn't necessarily a good thing...) But I'm excited! It'll be a fun experience. And on Thursday, if all goes as planned, I'll be back in Fajardo with Hermana D. for a day.
But back to the here and now, I'm pretty much living here when I don't have anywhere to go. I'd been lugging all my junk around this past week, and it's nice because I get to leave it all here. I have my own room and bathroom! It's like I'm back home!! I found a dead lizard in my closet, even. :)
So now I'll answer all your questions.
- Do I have a companion? No. Will I get one? Probably, but I have no idea when, who, or where I'll be serving. From what he was saying last night in a meeting we had, the President will probably have me train in a new area again after all this craziness is over. But I kinda really like it, so I hope it doesn't end. :)
- Do I have a car? Yes. With a GPS, too! But I only use it toget to where I need to go. I drive by myself. I've done it twice so far, and I really love it. It's nice being alone sometimes, and I forgot about that. But I will admit that last night was SUPER weird sleeping in a room by myself.
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| A view of St. Croix |
- Do I get to visit the islands? Apart from the visit I made to St. Croix last week, no. The islands are the other sister trainers' responsibilities. I'm glad, too, because I don't like flying that often.
- Am I like one of the Three Nephites? (Kyle's humor) Haha, no. I wish I could go anywhere, but I can't. I get my assignments as needed. I'm in an area for a few days, and then I get a text from the President that lets me know where I'm needed the next day. It's kinda cool because my life is like an adventure. :) I just feel so weird sometimes because I have no idea what I'm supposed to do when it comes to reporting the Key Indicators each week (number of lessons taught, etc) because I don't work in a specific area like normal missionaries do, so there's really no way to track the work I'm doing. But we'll figure it out I guess. I'm just excited to be doing this and happy that the Lord trusts me enough to work with his special daughters here in the mission.
- How many "Sister Missionary Trainers" are there in the mission? There are 5: two live in Rincon, and the other two live in Old San Juan, and me, obviously. I could have "lived" in either house (technically, just left my stuff there), or come here, and I decided (obviously) to come here. I feel like I'm at home! Kinda. Just without you guys. Last night was like my first real Sunday I've had in almost a year, where you just sit at home and don't really do anything. I felt super uncomfortable, like I was neglecting some important task. :) And this morning, at breakfast time, I felt awkward too, cuz none of the food that's here is what I bought, and I felt like I was stealing. :) But whatever. I'm over it. Last night for dinner, we had grilled chicken, and it made me think of Dad's Korean chicken. Good stuff.
I love you and hope you all have a good week! :)
-Hermana Erickson
Oh my gorgeous.... maybe I should go visit (: This is STUNNING. She looks great!!!!
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