First Transfer done
Another crazy busy week. Just when things get settled for a second, we are hustling to the next.
Monday. Haircuts, bought food for the week, and played basketball outside of the Momos church. Then later we went to this cancha to have a soccer game, and we played against this semi-pro team with matching jerseys and gear. While our team was just whoever shows up who wants to pay to play against this team. Because I guess the pro team needs people to practice against. We lost. 9-2. But I scored one of the two goals, so I'll take it.
Tuesday the craziness started. We went to Canquixajá because President said we should stay a week there in our area. So, we went to Momos, and then to CanQ because there aren't direct fletes from Panca. Once we got to the apartment, open the door, no joke a million spiders everywhere. Somehow there are more there than in Panca. And the best part was that we forgot our bug spray in Panca, so we had to kill every single one with our shoes. The best story, of the many I have from that day, was when I reached up to grab a blanket off of the dresser type thing in our bedroom, a 2-3 inch black widow was an inch from my hand. I joked with my comp that if you get bit by it then you go home, and he said "No . . Morir" (to die). So I am glad I'm not muerto ahorita. But then, it gets better, I went to kill it with our broom, and it crawled back into the hole in the ceiling before I could. So that night I said a very, very sincere prayer that it wouldn't come down during the night. It probably came and tucked me in once I fell asleep.
Wednesday, by far the busiest day in the mission since the first week. Had my first Zone Conference in Momos. It was really good. For the closing song, we sang "Called to Serve" in Spanish, and one of the main things I hated the most about not having in-person MTC was not being able to sing, "Called to Serve," with all the missionaries who are leaving their families to go and serve the Lord. So to be able to do that with the 40 missionaries we had for Zone Conference was very cool for me. The Spirit was so strong. Afterwards, we had interviews and President told me I would be staying in my area for another transfer which is good news. I like it here and don't want to leave the people here yet. Then we stayed in Santa Anna which is about 30 minutes north of Momos. But the missionaries we stayed with had appointments so we did intercambios (switch companions for a day). But we only did it for the evening and separated so that we could make all of the appointments they had. In the lesson that we had, the gift of tongues was so strong. I was speaking better than I ever had and was saying words I've only heard before and never used. The lesson was so good and strong with the Spirit. The lady we taught recently had a C-section so we gave her a blessing and her 10-day-old baby as well. That night, the other missionaries only had two beds, so I slept on one of their box springs that is just wood boards every couple inches, was not good.
Also, Wednesday, still can't believe this happened, but we were in the Santa Anna church after our lessons because the bathrooms in the church are better than in the apartment. So we all have had a long day and needed to use the facilities available to us in the church. Not a good idea to use them all at once. While we were in the men's bathroom, all of the toilets in the women's were flooding because of our efforts in the men's. Horrible. Flooded the whole women's bathroom and a lot of the hallway. So we spent over an hour mopping and brooming water into the ONE drain that wasn't close to the majority of the flooding. Will never forget some of the words used to describe that scene.
Thursday, travelled back to Momos, payday so we got money from the bank. Then back to Canquixajá. I swear spiders just spawn in that apartment. After killing and cleaning. Studied and then contacted. Canquixajá has more people that live closer together which makes it a lot easier to contact than in Panca. Then had a lesson with the President of the Rama's family. I had one of the kids choose a sticky from my scriptures and I gave a lesson based on the scripture. It went great. That night, as I was getting in the shower, I almost stepped on the biggest spider I have seen yet. Instinctively, I ran out of the bathroom and made some noises that I can't remember. So I had to fight this spider, naked, with no spray. Very fun experience. I wish I could re-watch that scene over again.
Friday, we woke up and helped the President of the Ramas family organize their corn. It's a very cool process how they do it. A lot of work.
Then we went and had six lessons with member families! I led every one of them and was able to bring the Spirit and invite them to read the Book of Mormon as a family more often. The gift of tongues was so strong with me all week. Then, during my interview with President on Wednesday, he said that we should have a soccer game to bring people to the church and meet new people. So we did, not too many people came because we learned that every Saturday, they have soccer games there, not Fridays. But it was still fun and met new members.
Saturday, we came back to Panca because they aren't having church Sundays in Canq. Tried to have lessons with a couple families but they were "sleeping." Also, Hermana Lidia, who is the one that feeds us all the time, said I look "mas Gordo" (fat) . . . So that night I ran Suicides on the basketball court outside our apartment and timed myself. No way I'm going to get fat on my mission. Come to find out Sunday, she was talking about my muscles . . . She said I have muscles like John Cena. And that she thinks I'm too skinny. Either way, it was fun to run again like during basketball season and push myself.
Sunday, we tried to bring people to church in the morning including the first counselor's family who is inactive. It's frustrating because the first counselor gives 0 effort to try and bring his family to church or even help us to teach them or invite them. It's like he doesn't want them to know about the church. But anyways, had sacrament meeting and then studied a lot, then talked with President of the Rama about who we should focus on teaching.
Today, meeting up with other Elders who are leaving our area because of transfers. Including the one other gringo In my zone. Not sure if I will be the only one, but I will find out this week.
Overall a crazy busy week and a lot of teaching. So happy with how the first transfer has gone and hope the next one is just as good. Also, I love all of the emails and support. If you know of another missionary serving right now, send them an email because all missionaries love getting them. Love you guys.
- Elder Copeland
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