Last Monday, after I wrote, Hermana Perez and I had lunch with some of the Elders in our Zone (area). We went to the mall and ate at the food court. I had Taco Bell. Oh my goshhh... It was my first time eating Taco Bell in 4 months and that Crunchwrap Supreme never tasted so good! After, Hermana Perez and I were planning on heading back to our apartment but then we all found a Lazer Tag place in the mall. We then called two other Hermanas in our Zone to come so that it was even and we played! It was SO FUN. I had my shorts on under my dress from soccer earlier that morning and I had my Nikes in my bag so I felt a little weird but I still enjoyed it so much. It felt good to do something that I know from back home.
Then Tuesday, we were studying as usual when our District Leader called and asked if I would teach half of our district meeting about 2 of the Christ-like attributes. I said I would and then obviously freaked out afterwards! I immediately started planning a whole lot of scriptures, stories and other things to share. The missionaries in my district have a lot of time in the mission. I really wanted to impress them or at least not embarrass myself, haha. I chose to talk about PATIENCE and HOPE. Those two attributes have played a huge role in my life here in the mission. I'm still learning them. In the meeting I got up to speak and I felt super comfortable. My companion and I had to laugh at the minor panic attack that I had the morning prior. I don't know why I do that to myself every time!! Once again I was able to challenge myself and do something that I felt was scary and difficult, and it turned out great!
Wednesday was really interesting. We woke up super excited because it was ward temple day! We were planning on taking our investigator Melanie and teaching her at the temple. We wanted her to feel the overwhelming spirit that exists there! Everyone who was planning on going met at the church around 4:30 and then we all drove together in little buses at 5. The trip is about an hour but there was traffic. Okay the only way I have to describe the roads here is to compare them to New Jersey. Now remember when we were in that taxi trying to get to the toll booth on the freeway and there weren't any lanes...That's the freeway here! Or, actually that's every street here! Every car for themself. I'm so shocked that there arent more accidents! Anyway, at the off ramp for the temple, the man driving told us that we were going to have to turn around and go back because the traffic was so bad. We thought that he was kidding but sadly no. We spent 3 hours of our day in a bus driving practically to the temple just to turn around and come back. It was Satan...we know it haha... I was disappointed that we couldn't teach Melanie but its okay! Everything happens for a reason:)
Thursday we received some really interesting news during weekly planning! This next cambio (transfers next week) is a big one. There are 2 companionships of Hermanas in Asseri (4 Hermanas). Well in this next cambio (transfer), one of the areas will be whitewashed and Elders will be coming in their place. Then in addition one of the Hermanas from the companionship that stays will be changing. Wow! So that means that 3 of us Hermanas here will be transferring to a new area, 4 weeks before Christmas too. Hermana Mungea and Hermana Perez think that Hermana Montamoris or I will be staying here. I feel like it will be me. It's really crazy to think that absolutely everything will be changed next week. I'm super nervous about it all! I know that it will be okay though. This is such a good thing and everything is inspired of the Lord!
Saturday was the beginning of Fiesta de Tamal!! We had honestly just woken up when we heard loud music and chanting outside. There was a huge parade to celebrate the Fiesta de Tamal. Yes. Tamales! Apparently Asseri is the place of tamales. We all went to the parade and took pictures with all of the traditional mask things, haha, I don't know what they are called. Then we went to the area with all of the food and it was seriously tamales galore! We obviously had tamales for lunch and they were soooo good! Hermana Perez and I also bought churros, did you hear that Trevor...we bought churros!! I was pretty much in heaven! That day I also ended my training. It was really fun to celebrate like that. I can't believe 12 weeks has come and gone. Now I'm officially a missionary in the field! I think Hermana Perez is a little relieved haha:)
We have cambios (transfers) this next week and I feel like I am going to be the one Hermana that stays here in the area with all new elders and a new companion. That's a good thing for Christmas because this ward is amazing and everyone wants to be with us for Christmas but holy cow! I'm so nervous. We have investigators that are progressing and when Hermana Perez leaves, I don't want their progress to decrease. Ahhh I'm scared and nervous and stressed... Please pray for me. I want to do this right!
Yesterday was a really interesting day. It was my official 4 months in the mission! Yay. We woke up early and went to help one of our investigator families get ready to attend church. We made tortillas for breakfast and they were able to come!! Then 3 of our other investigators came! It was so great! During sacrament meeting it was the primary program. I made the mistake of sitting by myself thinking that someone else would come. I bawled my eyes out. I couldn't hold it in! I imagined Anthony and my family and I couldn't keep it together...Luckily this ward is amazing. Everyone told me that they are my family right now and not to worry. I was incredibly grateful. The children of the church truly are incredible and they have such strong testimonies. I am so beyond grateful for parents who raised me in the true church!
In stark contrast, I saw Satan yesterday, kind of... scariest day of my life! I felt like I was in the Exorcist. One of our less active members had Satan in her 3 times during our visit. She was drunk and very unhappy because her spouse took off for no reason. We were terrified and Hermana Perez had to scream the evil spirit out of her 3 times. Her eyes were black and kept changing back and forth, I can't get the image out of my head. We are okay though, we recieved blessings afterward. Satan is real and is he is here too! I was just so terrified. She screamed and threw fists and we held her down to protect her from herself.. I bawled the entire time. We called the Bishop right away!
Well that was just a little bit of my crazy week.
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| (We made pastelets with a member) |
I miss you all soooo much and especially my Mom. Friday is going to be hard. We have gone Black Friday shopping together every year since I was like 8. It's our tradition and I'm not home. I saw pictures of our house decorated for Christmas that my Dad sent and my heart broke. I just want to be there but I know I need to be here. It's just drastically different. It's okay. I'm good. I'm cool, haha, seriously, no worries. It's just that missing you all is hard.
I love you all and this Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for all of you. For the love and support I feel from another country. Thank you thank you. I love you with all of my heart!
Pura vida.
Hermana Zerilli
Hermana Zerilli
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