Cena con Nacho Libre

Yikes, missionary work with no skirt or shoes

Cooked crepioca for my family, a Brazilian dish I learned from my companion. Had a surgery, my first time back to the hospital since I was born, and I got to say I was so pumped. I don't know why but after a priesthood blessing and checking in, I got my IV and a hospital gown that looked like a tapestry. Once they filled me with anesthetic, jiminy, I was waking up to the RN pulling off my oxygen mask :) My teeth chattered from the anesthesia for a little but then I was up and going that day.

Ready for hernia surgery

Had dinner and FHE with Gabe, a convert, and a member from Mexico.

When I speak with Hermana Laurie from Concepcion, she thinks it's funny how much street talk I picked up while tracting. Here's a few of the chilean idioms:

1. Ciao, pesca[d]o = See you later alligator (literal translation: Bye, fish)
2. Lo pasamos chancos = We loved it (We passed it like pigs)
3. chinita = ladybug (little Chinese woman)
4. Tienes malas pulgas = You're in a bad mood (you have bad fleas)
5. Salto lejos el mani = Mind your own business (The peanut jumped far)
6. Que pavo = How dumb (What turkey)
7. po = um (no meaning whatsoever but a favorite for all)
8. buena onda = good vibe (good wave); Que onda = What the heck
9. muy de piel = very loving, good natured (very skin)
10. al tiro = right away, immediately (to the shot)
11. No me pesca = He doesn't pay attention to me (He doesn't fish me)
12. palta = avocado - a very important condiment for them :)
13. taco = traffic (taco)
14. cachipun = rock, paper, scissors
15. nispero = loquat (apricot)
16. tantos porotos/tantas lunas = it's been awhile (so many kidney beans/many moons)

Stepped on a bee in barefeet and felt like I had elephantiasis for a couple days and wore a couple ice packs around because of post-op symptoms, haha. Besides that, I was feeling grateful for having grown up in Utah. Heavenly Father really picked some good real estate when he led the pioneer saints to this place that we can now drive 15 minutes to the mountains, 4 hours to the desert, and 10 hours to the ocean. 

While teaching the Restoration to Socorro, God shined light through her window right as we were telling the 1st Vision. He sure works in mysterious ways :) Later Hna. Solis wanted a shaved ice near an investigator's apartment. We decided to first see if she was home. When she opened the door, she was crying. We gave her hugs and she told us she had just had an argument with her husband. I definitely don't know yet what marriage is like but I was glad I had the Savior's Atonement to be able to help her know that He knew. Christ's suffering does not take our own hurting completely away, but rather because He knows how we feel He knows what blessings we need more than just what we want. He gives us another chance, a source of hope. Before we left, we sung to them "I Feel My Savior's Love." Don't forget that with or without clouds, the sun is still shining for you. Went to Juan's baptism who about a year ago he fell from a building, so three priesthood holders lowered him in the water. Helped 5 missionaries cook arepas (Argentinian fried bread) and ate them Navajo Taco style :) Ate a corn on the cob like Nacho Libre's (Elote – rolled in mayo, queso crema, and Tajin) at a member's. 

Arepas Mexicanas ;)

I read that in regions of S. Africa, when someone wrongs another, they are surrounded by the tribe while they say all the good they have done. To them, each person is good, yet sometimes we make mistakes as a cry for help. The belief is that unity and affirmation alter behavior more powerfully than shame and punishment. 

For Sunday School, the lesson was on our spiritual gifts. I thought of the parable of the talents. Although talents were a currency, talents can also be unique abilities or gifts. We shouldn't burry our spiritual gifts. Instead, we should work and serve and utilize them to further develop and discover more about ourselves. After all, our spirits are wise beyond our years as eternal beings. I think it's pretty fun to get to know everyone better since we've all forgotten who we innately are. One of our greatest flaws as mortals is we often forget our worth. Though not in comparison to God's Only Begotten, maybe the symbolism of Abraham sacrificing Isaac was also for you and I. Maybe God feels somewhat similar when He sent each of us to earth to suffer and have sorrows and sin; but He knew something we must learn to discover: the sacrifice will end in joy because of the Lamb of God.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Farm stop with the missionaries to see the baby alpacas (I think I'll have an alpaca farm in the mtns sometime ;))