Que loca fue ésta semana. It was my last week working (only) with Hna Legaspi, and it was a blast as usual. We worked hard and laughed while we did it, once again, as usual. We had intercambios on Tuesday, and I got to be with Hermana Boyd ♥️ so that was a blast, too. I'm basically just here with my bffs (almost all of them) from the mish. It's a good time. We're seeing a lot of progress in our area with a lot of people with baptismal dates, so I'm super excited about that! I love seeing the changes that these people are making in their lives to draw closer to their Savior and follow His example. I LOVE THE MISSION. & I LOVE CUTE PERUVIAN PEOPLE. con todo mi corazon ❤️
So anyway, a curveball was thrown at me this week. On Thursday, Hna Legaspi was set to go to Lima for her training before going home and finishing her mission, this includes a temple trip, souvenir shopping, a dinner with President, and a final interview, among other things, with those who are finishing their missions. I was supposed to stay in Ica with the hermanas her during these 5 days and Hna Legaspi would return and finish her last 2 weeks of her mission conmigo. But guess what happened? 2 hours before Hna Legaspi's trip to Lima (5 1/2 hour bus ride), the elder in charge of travel in the office called us and told me I was going to stay in Pisco for these 5 days!!! and that I would stay with Hermana Ribeiro (pronounced He-bay-roh), who is finishing her training (aka starting her mission) and whose companion is also finishing her mission...if that makes any sense. So I packed my things super rápido and Hna Legaspi and I, and a couple Elders from Nasca, traveled from Ica to Pisco, where they dropped me off with Hna Ribeiro and picked up Hna Soares, the hermana finishing her mission. I had planned these 5 days out super good in my area, making a lot of appointments and scheduling people to accompany me so I could still work in our area w/o Hermana Legaspi...but in the end, had to cancel EVERYTHING so I could be here in Pisco instead. I was a little frustrated with that, but I'm learning how to be flexible with changes here on the mission, ha ha. Life's a rollercoaster.
So Hna Ribeiro is awesome and (you're gonna love this, Dad) she's from BRAZIL! She's the cutest thing ever (see pic below). She has the cutest accent and is learning Spanish still. Her trainer, Hna Soares, is also from Brasil so they spoke a lot of Portuguese together. So Hna Ribeiro and I worked on our Spanish together and got lost in La Villa en Pisco together, ha ha. It's the first time that I've had a companion (for more than one day) that is taller than me, ha ha, and also the first time that I've known more Spanish and been in the mission longer, so that was weird. But we only had like 5 days together and I love her so much. Es muy dulce. I hope we are companions in the future!
This week was also the call for transfers! Hna Soares and Hna Legaspi came back to Pisco from Lima for a baptism of Soares & Ribeiro and so that Hna Legaspi could be with me for the call of transfers. Our last night together just us ♥️ Our new companion will be Hermana Pinos from Ecuador! We will be in a trio for 2 weeks until Hna Legaspi finishes her mission, then Hna Pinos and I will stay here together in Ica- Puenta Blanco. I'm writing this entry on Sunday, but will give an update on Pday on Tuesday! It's crazy how fast companions and/or areas change on the mission...another proof that I'm learning how to be more flexible.
This week with Hna Ribeiro, we visited a lot of peopl, but after one appointment in particular, I just felt so happy. We had read 3 Nephi chapter 11 in the Book of Mormon and just talked about what we liked and the love that Jesus Christ has for us and I just loved it. I said to Hna Ribeiro in the moto on the way home, "Me encata ser misionera", or "I love being a missionary" because our job is to share happiness with others! We just talk about what we know, read scriptures and pray together, and invite people to come unto Christ by sharing our testimonies. Yes, I am absolutely exhausted at the end of each day. Yes, I have to wear a skirt or dress everyday. Yes, some people mock us and reject our words. Yes, the streets of Peru smell bad and there are too many dogs that woke up on the wrong side of the bed...BUT it is SO. WORTH. IT. I've never been happier to be sharing the good news and seeing the pure and infinite love that God has for every single one of His children here on this earth. Wow. I feel honored to be Christ's representative although I lack a heck of a lot to be like Him.
Transfer #7 from the field....
So here's a continuation of my group email, but a view from Tuesday morning. I literally feel like May just started, so this is crazy.
Hermana Pinos is AWESOME and I am so excited to get to know her better and improve my Spanish, ha ha. It'll be interesting to see how it goes with a trio. Por lo menos I don't have to adjust to a new compańera AND say bye to my previous one at the same time, right?
So good news...this could just be a rumor but what I've heard here is that this transfer deteremined whether we would be in the Perú Lima South Mission or the new mission set to open in Lima in July - the Perú Lima Tambo Mission. So basically if you're a missionary serving in San Gabriel or San Juan (both areas in Lima) you're definitely going to be changed to the Lima Tambo Mission. But everything else stays in Lima Sur. SO I'M SAFE! Creo. Espero. Hna Pinos just got transferred here from San Juan, so she's happy she was saved, ha ha. This is a crazy time to be a missionary!
Well, that's about it! I'm excited to be back in my own area and to be able to work with my people here. ❤️ Pray for miracles! I can feel them coming!
Much love,
Hermana Lowe
Tagalog frase for this week: Hay naku! (Dang it/ Oh well)
Portuguese phrase for the week: Deus é nosso amoroso Pai Celestial (God is our loving Heavenly Father)
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| Nine months in the mission, HALF-WAY mark! |
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| HermanasValencia, Boyd, Lowe, and Legaspi with Elders from the Ica Zone |
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| Hermanas Lowe and Legaspi with Elders from their District |
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| Hermanas Lowe, Legaspi, Valencia, and Boyd |
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| Hermana Boyd |
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| Homemade pollo broaster y arroz chaufa |
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| Views from Pisco |
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| Hermanas Soares and Ribeiro at their baptism |
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| Hermanas Lowe & Ribeiro |
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| Hermanas Lowe & Ribeiro |
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| Hermanas Soares and Ribeiro |
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| Hermanas Lowe, Mousser, & Ribeiro |
