What a week!

Hello to my Amazing Family,

 

It is so good to hear from each one of you. Of course I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as I read everything that is happening at home, and all of the amazing things each of you are doing. I have so much to fill you in on as far as this week goes, it has been crazy!! I feel like I have been here forever, and that it's going to go on forever. I know its all about just getting the hang of a new area, new companion, new language, and new people. It really has been quite eventful, and I have been so tired all week long. I don't know what it is but I am still blaming it on the lack of sleep from flying in, but pretty soon that excuse wont fly. I hit the pillow at 10:30, and I am out!! I am always so dead tired  in the MTC they said its good because that means your working hard, but really its just all the changes that our happening. Well I love my companion but what else is new. She is great. Her name is Abbie Heywood from Ogden Utah, and me and her have quite a bit in common. I really am so blessed to have the ability to get along with others it has become quite handy. Anyway she is patient, loving, non judgemental, and is helping me learn. She has been out about a year. She will hit her "Click" day September 1st so its coming up here in just a few days.

Now like I mentioned we dont waste anytime we get straight to work. Thursday we went to visit with Becky who is (11) and her mom Mercades. There oldest son Christian was baptized a little while ago, and we are working on teaching the Mom and Daughter. Its a huge issue with permission so hopefully one day Becky will be baptized, but it is taking them a little longer to grasp the concepts. Everyone has to learn at there own pace. Becky gets taught in English, and her mom get taught in Spanish. Becky is just the cutest girl ever!! Once we got there of course I introduced myself and Becky just starts throwing out all of these sweet compliments. She told me I looked like some girl off the Disney channel. Which was nice, and how she liked my hair, skin, eyes, clothes, everything. So her and I had quite the conversation getting to know each other. My companion was talking with the mom while I visited with Becky. I was telling Becky how my Spanish wasn't the greatest, and she said "I will Pray for you." Then I was saying something and used por and not para which is confusing, but I am grasping the concept. Ya, she laughed a me for about 5 minutes, but its all good. We asked her to give the closing prayer as she was saying it she said "Please bless...oh wait I forgot your name" so I whisper Hermana Grimes, and she continues "Please bless hermana grimes that she will learn English, oh wait she is already good at that help her to learn spanish." I thought it was sweet.

Also this week we have been doing our service hours at some El-Salvadorian Restaurant which is quite fun, and we get fed every time we go there so thats always nice. The food is great. The other day I was helping peel tamales or something along those lines, and this old man comes up to me asks me my name. He asked where I was from, and then he said "your really cute I want to steal you"!! AHH!! That's not something you really want to hear, and then he asked for my phone number luckily I cant give that out. Its was creepy, but funny.

Now on the Biggest Miracle of all this week. We had received a call from a lady that wanted us to go and visit her friend so of course we sent up a day and time. Then she had to cancel because of work but wanted to reschedule and meet with us another time. This was all over answering machines so we never really got a new date set. We were in Auburn a few days later and figured we would just stop by. Her name is Carolina she is a single mom from Honduras, and she has 3 kids. We started teaching the first lesson talking about how we are children of God, then we talked about families, and prophets. The second I walked in you could feel her love. She was so welcoming, and started expressing her feelings. She has such a desire to follow Christ, and you can feel the love she has for Jesus Christ. Of course in the MTC the word Baptism was drilled into our heads so that has been the focus!! I could only understand maybe a few words here and there in the lesson but me and and my companion already know that baptism is on our minds and that is our goal. My companion turns to me, and says "OK we are going to invite them to be baptized". So in my broken/ lovely Spanish  I introduce 2 nephi 31, and talk about how its the doctrine of Christ. How Christ was perfect, and he was baptized then I extended the invitation for her to be baptized. She ACCEPTED!!! So Carolina ( the mom), Kathreen (12), and Bryan (9) are put on date to be baptized on SEPTEMBER 17!! She also has one other son that will turn 8 in December. It was a miracle!! She was defiently a golden investigator, and I couldn't be more excited. She has a friend who is LDS so she has attended church before, and was familiar with a little bit about what we taught. She and her family came to church yesterday, and we are going to continue teaching them. So,  my first week we put 3 people on date for baptism!!

As for the branch that I serve in its small, but I love it. We help with English classes 3 nights a week which helps us get to know the mission leader because we work pretty close with him, and he is always helping us out. Saturday night we were invited to a Birthday Party/ Dinner at on of the members homes and of course we had Mexican food. Miram was just baptized in July and has 2 boys, she is such a sweet lady. Also Last night we had dinner with the Franco family which there is like 3 families in the branch with that last name so pretty soon I will help you know the differences between them. We had Carne Asada which is some really good meat with tortillas, rice, and beans. Its was also Elder Dickinsons Birthday ( the Spanish elder in the zone/branch) We have one set of sisters, and a set of elders. His mom had sent some packages so we were there when he opened them, and the Franco's made flan which is some pudding cake thing. I don't even know how to describe it, but it was good.  Tonight we have dinner with one of the other Franco families in the Ward. The people are so nice, and that's one thing I love about the Spanish culture. They are so friendly, and humble. I still have so much to learn, and I am trying not to get discouraged with the language. I still only get bits and pieces, but it is surely coming and I have to recognize what I have learned. I  have to remember the promises I was given in my setting apart blessing. I am realizing more why he mentioned I would learn different dialects because we have people from all over Argentina, DR, Honduras, Mexico, and many more. I am working hard and staying positive. Keep doing whats right, I pray for you always. Thanks for all your love and support. Keep praying!! I NEED this Lanugage!! Letters are on the way.

 

My Address is: This is the mission home its the easiest way to get mail to me, and make sure I actually get it.

Hermana Grimes

Washington Seattle Mission

10675 NE 20th St.

Bellevue, WA 98004

 

LOVE ALWAYS next tuesday because monday is a holiday. Have a great Week

Hermana Grimes