Only YOU can prevent your dad from thinking that lighting all the fireworks at once is a good idea.

July 8, 2013

Bueno bueno bueno. 

so we're going to take a pop quiz. SURPRISE!----- Don't worry, it's only one question and it's open note, open-neighbor, open internet, open that-one-coworker-that-kind-of-speaks-spanish. 

QUIZ:

1. What does "agua" mean? 

.......everyone finished?

Yes, you can correct your own test, but no cheating. You're on your honor here. 

ANSWERS TO QUIZ:

1. Not water. let me say that again. Agua does NOT MEAN WATER. Confused? Welcome to the first three weeks of my Californian existence. Apparently, "agua" means any liquid that could possibly be digested by a human stomach (excluding soda, which they appropriately call "soda") --- it took me about 25 days to realize that if I wanted water, I had to ask for "agua puro." Honestly I don't even know why the word for juice even exists in Spanish, because "agua" ranges from SunnyD to raspberry lemonade. so just a tip: if you're ever ask for "agua"....you're rollin' the dice. 

Second item of business: 

So as I'm sure you're aware, two very important holidays occurred this past week. I don't blame you if you have only heard of one of them, as it is much more well known, and much more important than the other. The lesser known holiday is called "The Fourth of July" It's a traditional American holiday celebrated by most families with fireworks, parades, BBQs, and a plethora of Red, white and Blue. It’s also the official D-Day for the burn unit of the E.R. Seriously kids. Only YOU can prevent your dad from thinking that lighting all the fireworks at once is a good idea. This year, I celebrated the independence of America like a Mexicana, complete with tortillas, pico, and carne.........OLE! It was a blast!!!!

The other holiday was OBVIOUSLY my half-birthday, and I'm sure you all threw lively, day-long parties complete with streamers and cheesecake. My celebratory activities consisted of enthusiastically drawing pictures of cupcakes and balloons in my planner. Officially 19.5, whoop whoop!! 

 Whilst driving I found a street with the same name as my home address in Utah. How Fun! 

Third item of Business:

I feel sorry for every missionary who has ever served in any part of the world that is not Redlands California, because my new Mission President is SUPREME! He and his family arrived this week, and their children range from 7-19 years in age. The seven year old is probably the second cutest child to ever have been born, second only to Shirley Temple. (because, let's be honest, who can resist her "animal crackers in my soup?") 

I. love. them. 

Last item of business: 

another what I wish they understood--

many times when we start talking to people, they immediately try talking about some random point of obscure deep doctrine somewhere in our church. They are fixated on this one point and refuse to talk about anything else.

What I wish they understood: 

When one goes to the first day of "Intro to Beginner's Biology 101" they do not bring a copy of "The Advanced Biology of Intricate Ecosystems Level 8." and ask the teacher a question about something written on page 786. They simply need to know the basics first. The same holds true when people on the street bring up the deep doctrine of our church. They associate "Mormons" with this one aspect, without knowing our basic beliefs. Without knowing the basics, no one can understand the more intricate parts because I can honestly say that yes, it DOES all interconnect, it DOES all make sense, but in reality, the basics are the most important parts of our gospel anyway. I have learned much more since, but everything I really needed to know about our church, I learned in Primary. So yes, we can answer their questions, but it doesn't make sense without first understanding the basics.  

I love being a missionary I love being a (kinda) Californian, I love buying whatever I want at the grocery store, I love wearing my nametag, I love wearing a watch (who knew?!), and I still secretly love puzzles. 

I love YOU. Write me letters por favor.* 

*pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

Love, 

Hermana Thomas 

What I wish they understood!

July 1, 2013

Yes, it's true, I was on my deathbed this week.

 I won't go into all the gory details because I have other things I want to talk about, so we're going to make this FAST! I got super sick in the middle of the night on Wednesday and had to stay at two member's houses for the next two days. One of the members had an ADORABLE daughter who brought me bananas on her very-own-super-special-Dora-the-Explorer-tray.

 It's always nice to be reminded that "Puedo ser Una verdadera Princesa!" (I can be a real princess!)  

On a semi-related note, when I was lying down in the car, trying not to throw up (that would have made for some fun P-day Cleaning), I accidentally squished our friend the cricket who was, yes, still alive. Rest in Peace, Jiminy. Now I have a guilty "conscience."

Just for an F.Y.I, I don't want any of you to think that just because I'm in the States, I'm getting cushy-wushy food. I have eaten some pretty.....non-U.S. things including cactus and Horchata. 

Bleh would be putting it mildly, ---although I really appreciate the members' efforts to feed me. I eat luke-warm chicken, rice and beans about 5 days out of the week. (Ay carumba!) 

Concerning smoking: If you knew me in my previous life (pre-mission) and were ever near me when I was around anything that ever smelled like anything that could ever possibly resemble smelling somewhat similar to cigarette smoke, then you will know that it is probably my least favorite smell in the whole universe. Granted, I have only smelled the smells of one planet in a very large universe, but I'm still pretty confident in that statement. 

Well. 

Most of the people that we talk to are outside, and they are outside because they are......(wait for it)......smoking. Surprisingly, and mercifully, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to, and it has gotten to the point where I'm actually grateful for it, because it gives us an opportunity to meet people.

 When I was younger I used to put cheese in the microwave (I still do sometimes. shhh, don't tell) and when it started to smoke I would say "the smell of success!" Now, whenever I smell cigarette smoke I think "the smell of success!" because it means that we're about to meet someone new! Ever heard of the saying "where there's smoke, there’s fire?" Well, in California, where there's smoke, there's a missionary. 

I would now like to introduce a segment into my blog that I would like to call: "What I wish they understood." 

One of the most frustrating things about being a missionary is that when you meet people, often they will NOT listen to you! Please note that I did NOT say that they will not TALK to you, because they will talk. Oh, will they talk. But they routinely will not listen to what you have to say (which can be frustrating, especially when they ask questions and then won't listen to the answers. Do you want to know or not??) In this segment, I would like to bear parts of my testimony that I would share if people would listen to me when they say certain things. 

For example: In this segment, I would like to respond to probably the most common response we get when talking to people on the street. 

Us: Hello! how are you to---- (they see our name tags)

Them: are you with a church or something? 

Us: Yes, we're----

Them: Oh, I already know Jesus. You don't have to talk to me. 

Whenever I try to respond to this, they cut me off, insisting over and over again that they already know Jesus, and therefore don't need us.  

What I wish they understood: 

Knowing Christ isn't simply accepting the fact that He lived, and that He was the Son of God. His existence can be proved through many historical records, and religious and non-religious people alike acknowledge his existence as a being. Just as Buddha lived, Gandhi lived, and Mother Theresa lived, the fact that you know Christ lived isn't equal with knowing his Diving identity.

 Some people we come in contact with say, "I've accepted Jesus" which is better. This implies knowing that he was the Son of God, a perfect Being, and the ultimate example for our lives. But then these same people who say they accept Christ, do things directly contrary to His teachings. They seem to think that as long as we know He was the Son of God and that through grace we are saved, we're good, there's nothing else we really need to do. If this were the case, Christ would have just come down, died for our sins, and then returned to heaven. The Atonement would have been complete.

But He didn't. He TAUGHT. He preached the things we should do, the way we should live. He gave us the keys to live in the happiest way possible. This is why we, as Mormons, do the things we do, and don't do the things that we don't do… because Jesus taught them. If we really accept Christ, and that He is our perfect example, sent from heaven to teach us, then why wouldn't we do everything in our power to try to be like him, to live according to his teachings? It's not enough to simply accept that we can only be saved by grace (which is true.) We need to constantly strive to be better and follow what He taught. Why? Because He showed us and taught us the way. And He is the Son of God. 

Les Quiero, MUCHISIMO! 

Write me. 

no really. write me.

-Hermana Thomas 

The work is hard and the work is wonderful and I am so tired every day!

June 24, 2013

So first of all, I should tell you that my mission call lied to me. I am NOT in the California, Riverside mission. I am in the California REDLANDS mission!!!! (woo hoo and other exclamations of joy) 

ALSO, i am basically called all over the world, because in my mission there is a Mississippi street, Ohio street, Texas street, New York street, Tennessee street etc. There's even a "Berkeley Street" that I feel very rebellious driving down because that's the street I live on in Utah.  

The mission field has been an adventure, even in the less-than-a-week that I've been here. For example, 99% of people here have dogs. No. let me rephrase that. 99% of people here have vicious, muscular, angry, slobbering, killers of fury that consider you at a threat level equal to that of an atomic bomb. Even the Chihuahuas are frightening with their yap-yap-yap-yap-yapping and surprisingly sharp teeth. It's pretty impressive for a dog that reaches mid-calf. 

Also, guess what we have in our car? (I will now give you some time to think)

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.......anyone?

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.......anyone?

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.*Cricket Cricket* 

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...........Yes! the Awkward silence was correct, we have a cricket living in our car! I have NO idea where it is (we have searched EVERYWHERE) and no idea how it survives. It's been at least five days, and I always think it's dead but lo and behold, at about 8 o'clock it starts chirping away. What do cricket's eat, anyway? Because I can't think of anything that we've tracked in except dirt for it to eat, and that seems like a miserable diet.

someone must google this for me. 

---insert of unexpected funny experience--

So while I was writing this email, someone on the computer next to me asked what company we were from (you know, because of our nametags) usually, we try not to talk to people in stores or things like that because they get annoyed and the store gets frustrated with the church. If they ask however, we obviously answer and ask them if we can come over to their house. Well, I told her we were from the Church and would she like a blessing on her home etc. and she politely took our card and everyone on this table slooooowly packed up all of their things and moved to other tables. Hahahahaha! I must remember that if I ever want privacy when I get home, I should Just wear my name tag out. Just kidding.  

Anyways, the field really is white. We found a family that I ADORE! The parents names are Sonya and Francisco, and they are incredible. I'm considering marrying into their family just to have them as in-laws (well......maybe neighbors would suffice) But their family truly is amazing. We have other investigators as well, but Sonya and Francisco are just good-to-the-core-people. and so FUN! Sonya helps me when I struggle with the Spanish (a.k.a every sentence I say) and Francisco is so gentle and humble. Their kids have the same light about them. Theirs is a home of love. 

In conclusion (sorry, I learned never to end a paper with "in conclusion" probably 78 times between second grade and high school.) The work is hard, the work is wonderful, and I am so tired every day that I literally fell asleep on the toilet two days ago. (embarrassing!)

Write me!!!!!!!!!!!!! you can use the riverside address previously posted on my blog, or my apartment address right now is 

1400 Barton Rd. Apt 1613

Redlands, CA 923373 

but seriously. letters make me die with delight. 

Love,

Hermana Thomas   

Hermana Bates (out six weeks), Hermana Thomas, Hermana Woller  (training both)

Hope in the MTC

Hope was spotted by her friend Cecily Palmer at the Redland's Stake Center during the World Wide Missionary Broadcast! Hope's Spanish Branch attended with all the English speaking wards.