December 7 letter

WHAT IS UUUUUUUP?!?!?

This week can be summed up in one word: CHALLENGING! It started off fine, p-day was good, particularly uneventful, but what're you gonna do? We ate a really yummy lunch (which I will explain later) and just kinda kicked it back and enjoyed it. The elders were a little disappointed that we didn't play soccer with them, but I'm over it. The craziest thing that happened on Monday was that when we were walking to the Familia Basualdo's house, we saw 5 abandoned kittens playing on the other side of the road. As we walked and talked we looked at them and said, "ah, cute" you know, but all of a sudden, they saw us and started crossing the road toward us...uh oh...we had to cross the street towards them to make them stop crossing the street because this particular street isn't busy, but it's busier than it should be for the location...and there was a car coming.
Being the IDIOT that I am, and curse my feelings for baby animals straight to heck, we put them in the bucket that was there as well and took them to the Basualdo's. We bought them food and they chose the kitten they wanted, but regrettably, it was attacked by the neighbor's dog. I got to see a dog attack a little kitten and once again, curse my feelings for baby animals being attacked, I tried to pick up the kitten when the dog wasn't attacking it and it bit my finger. Hard. I think it's whole tooth went into my skin. I was more worried about my finger than I was about the kitten at this time, however, the dog was still in attack mode and even though it was being beaten unmercifully by Mabel, it would not stop. It was the most horrible thing I have witnessed I think since I have been here...I think. I might have to refer to my journal. Being bit by the dog wasn't that bad...getting pooped on wasn't that bad, my bad getting peed on wasn't that bad...watching dogs do naughty things to other dogs...that actually might be the same...anyway, it was very sad. The family took another one though and put it in a safer spot, however that one died this last week too because the same dog bit it's stomach and I'm sure it slowly and painfully died...
Tuesday in one word: TERRIBLE! I woke up at like 6 in the morning and ran to the bathroom because I had to vomit. I will never EVER eat a lomo again as long as I live. It's basically a long sandwhich with hamburger, egg, mayonaise, tomato and lettuce. It was coming out both ends and I wanted to die. I was sure I was going to die. I made the mistake, too, of wanting to take the kittens to the vet beacuse MISSIONARIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ANIMALS! I'm soooooo grateful for that rule. We didn't get rid of them until Friday, but when we did, I was so grateful. My companion didn't understand, she can't, she doesn't understand the obedience produces blesssings concept. Anyway, we went to four vets and none of them had room and if they did, they only took animals during the day. What is THAT about? I wasn't sure that I was going to make it home, we had to walk a lot. Let's just say that when we got home, I hit the pillow and rarely moved the rest of the day. It was SOOOOOOO awful. I had a fever of 101. I hate being sick. I have a pattern of getting sick once a transfer so at least it happened at the beginning right? I'm so grateful...I'll only be sick 3 more times...
The other two days, Wednesday and Thursday, were kind of a blur because I was trying to recover and we were getting things put together for Betiana's baptism. Friday was better, but I was still kind of stressting about the baptism, the class we were going to teach Sunday and just EVERYTHING. I was also more forgetful than normal this week, although I have no idea how that is possible. At this point, Satan wasn't attacking my weak points, he was attacking my strong points...my confidence and my attitude. Elder Guthrie, who was my district leader my first 3 transfers and who is now one of the assistants to the president called me Friday night and said:
"Hermana Shumway, how are you?"
"Good........" My acting skills definitely did not help me on this one.
"I was praying and I felt like I should give you a call, is everything okay?"
"Elder...you are soooooooo good." Holy junk I was so grateful. He asked me what was up and I basically told him everything. I told him how I'm doing the best I can with what I've been given, but it's really really hard. I told him I was concerned because our numbers were SUPER low this week and blah blah blah and just everything.
I said: "I know that all of these things aren't an excuse and I don't want to complain, just sometimes I just don't know what to do."
"Something that the president told me because I was stressed before and very forgetful and he told me that what I need to do is be organized. How we are organized is we make lists of the most important things that we need to do first and just work with that." Mom, as you know, I am SUPER forgetful and more superly unorganized, so I was so grateful for his council.
He said: "Hermana Shumway, don't get down on yourself. Numbers represent people, not hard work. We know your situation and do you know what? Before we even thought about who was going to train we thought, 'who can handle a mini? Who can do this work alone?' You were the person who came into our minds. You can do it. Just make lists of the most important things and do your best, the Lord understands."
"Thanks so much Elder Guthrie, I feel a lot better right now."
"I'm just an answer to someone's prayer. Someone was praying for you and I was the answer, I think you've got a mom that really loves you."
Whoever it was that was praying for me on Friday, YOU ARE THE BEST! Thank you so much.
Saturday was the baptism and it was so great! The only thing is, Betiana's dad got called to Santa Fe for something and couldn't come. He couldn't come, either, to her confirmation on Sunday. Freaking Satan. Oh well. I'm over it. I'm going to do what I can and if the rest of the people in this family are ready, they'll get baptized, if not, I have to move on. I don't want to, but hey, that's missionary life.
Another one of our investigators, Juana, came to the baptism and it was so great because she was talking to Diego and asking him if we do health blessings in our church. She has a bummed knee like me and she has a hard time getting around. He told her that yes, we did and asked if she wanted one. After Betiana's baptism, which she loved, she got a health blessing. The bishop, Diego and Fernando (another recent convert like Diego of less than a year), gave her a blessing and she said she felt a fire in her and basically promised to get baptized as well. She didn't come to church yesterday and we passed by her house and called her a MILLION times, but we didn't find her. I hope I hope I hope she will be able to progress, she's so ready. Pray for her PLEASE!
Anyway, I must be going now. I love you all, thank you for your prayers, I feel them and I am sooooo grateful. You are all the best! Have an awesome week!

hermana shumway