I am writing to you from an internet cafe in Peru. It is super sketch just like everything here. All my attempts to be ratchet at the taco bell have culminated into my apartment shower that is just a shower head in the bathroom. Make sure you close the door and take the toilet paper out before you start or everything will get wet. I love it so much. I arrived yesterday (the 2nd) in Arequipa. It is just like Utah except more tin roofs. My cornflake boogers are sure to impress. My trainer is me except beautiful and Chilean. We both want to be teachers and love the arts and indie music. GR8. Most importantly, I am wearing sunscreen but I still might look like a raisin by the time my mission is up. We taught a lesson to a guy named Miguel last night. He is GOLDEN. It was his second or third lesson and we set a baptismal date for August 20th so I will keep you updated. After our lesson, he went out to the basketball court with the members and started learning how to do this traditional Peruvian dance. SO COOL. I wish I could learn but since I'm essentially a nun, there will be no such thing. Miguel was very impressed with my Spanish (I don't know why) and I got to teach him about the gift of tongues. We have three lessons tonight and visits planned for every other part of the day. I know its winter here but I think I'm already sweating. I am safe. My apartment has like 4 locked doors on it (just like everything else here) I look both ways before I cross the street and our taxi driver was definitely in NASCAR. Apparently I only have an hour to email (including my mission president letter) so I cant make any promises on how great my responses will be. I do read all your emails and take pictures of them when I need a boost. I have a "pensionista" (retired woman?) that makes us lunch and we are in charge of making breakfast and dinner but we do not have a stove. we only eat with members on Sundays. I ate a balanced breakfast with a weird coffee substitute that tasted like a crayon kind of. I am so in love with this place. My companion is amazing and super obedient and an answer to my prayers. Anytime something is hard or I start to get a bad attitude, I just think about you all and that cheers me right up. I hid my money and I always hold on to my bag so no on will steal it. The Lord is blessing me.
Love,
Hermana Christensen
We love you Maddie. We know it's hard doing things for the first time but we know the Lord will bless you and is blessing you. We are excited for you to be involved in a baptism already. We had 29 baptisms in our mission for the month of July--that's good for us. We don't know what sketch and ratchet mean but we loved your letter.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa and Grandma Christensen in the TKM (Tennessee Knoxville Mission)
Sketch = adjective: questionable, unsteady, or even shady
DeleteRatchet = adjective: cool, the best, or acting like the best, see diva
Hermana Mads, Your email is cracking me up. It's exciting to be in a new place! So much to see, so much to learn and do, so much to take in. It reminds me a lot of my mission, where even the bad experiences (like weird meals) can be fun, because they're new.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad you don't have a stove. You should ask your president or zone leader about getting one. Almost every apartment on my mission had a propane stove, a fridge and a blender. If we didn't have one, we could talk to the president and get authorized to get one. We did a lot of smoothies in the mornings for breakfast or ate a little sweet bread from the closest panaderia.
I hope you know you've got a lot of family in your corner, praying for you and cheering you on from afar. Your mission will be amazing!
LOVE reading these emails Sister Christensen! Keep up the good work. We're sending love from afar! I'll be in Argentina and Chile later this month...I'll send good vibes your way. I second the motion for you to ask about a stove. Remember, the spirit will heat up a room but it will not cook eggs. Props to Joe for adding the millennial glossary!
ReplyDeleteAnd so the real adventure begins! We are so happy for you! At least you have a door to your bathroom. I think Joe had one apt where they just had the shower in the corner of the kitchen. We worry and worry about companions and then the Lord seems to send you just what you need at that moment, even though some of them may prove hard. You are the first of a whole new generation of missionaries for our family. I can't think of a better example for everyone. Love you tons. Nanny and Grandpa.
ReplyDelete