Dear Family and Friends!
First of all, I haven't had time to read your emails yet, so expect responses when I can read them and I'll have to use snail mail (that is when the mail isn't on strike). However, you can still send me stuff. I just can't send things out, but we still receive things here.
So anyone that knows Hermana Hoffman, she is my grandma in the mission. She trained my trainer! So super cool.
Fun story for the week. We were teaching a family (daughter, parents, and a grandma). The grandma is SUPER religious and belongs to the church, Amor de Dios... I have no idea what they believe, but she was an interesting lady. She could not get past the fact that we were wearing makeup and had earings because in Isa 3 it talks about not being worldly and such. Well, we talked with her about that for a while and were able to teach a lesson. At the end, we asked the mother to pray. She started to pray (super timidly) and then the grandma started to pray at the same time outloud. Now so that you can fully understand this. Picture a loud Italian woman pleading for something. And by pleading, I mean hand actions and crying and loud begging voice. This is what was happening in the prayer. It was so sad because the mother stopped praying and she had a REALLY sincere prayer and then the grandma went on for a few minutes. I'm not gonna lie. I have a lot of faith in prayer and the most important is that it's from your heart (which the grandma certainly prayed with ALL her heart) but I really just wanted to laugh. But I maintained composure.
The next fun story is there was a picture I saw somewhere before the mission that had a textbook open and everything on the page was highlighted and the caption said "highlighting: you're doing it wrong'' haha well I almost fell victim to this. I was reading the talk ''Believe, obey and endure'' by pres monson to the young women and I wanted to highlight everything to share with our girls who are recent converts and are struggling.
So, most of you know that I am not really a super touchy person. UH... problem here with Peru is the kids want to attach themselves to you. I had 2 girls on either side of me at church both grabbing my hand and linking their arms with mine and not sitting on top of me, but the next closest thing. I think my personal bubble may disappear in the next 18 months.
Well, there are lots of jungle stories here. There are tons about Anacondas in the river which are kind of fun. My personal favorite myth or story is about the person with an animal leg that is a shapeshifter and looks like someone you know and then leads you into the jungle until you are completely lost.
This mission is perfect for me. Not only are there people here specifically that I need and need me, but some of you know how much I LOVE to paint my nails. Well my mission president I guess always looks at the nails of the hermanas and loves it when they take care of their hands and look nice. So, there are no rules as to how I can paint my nails :) so I have fun with that! And when I have time, I paint them.
I haven't seen any llamas yet, but I have seen a LOT of butterflies (which are my favorite). And remind me of how much I am loved.
So, the fabulous people here! Familia Reyes. It is the parents (who are married!!!!!!) and their daughter Belen and son Aaron. They are the best, but are just a little slow. They believe in the Virgin and praying to Saints, but their daughter is gold! She is ready to accept everything. So we are still working with them and helping them to progress as a family.
We were teaching a man named Julio about the first vision. We had an 11 year old girl that really wanted to tract with us that day, so she was with us too! So cool for her. We taught a lesson and then we get to the part where we get to testify that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ which is THE BEST part!!! And we finish and he grabs our folleto (pamphlet in English?) and turns to the next page and goes. I know this is all true! I had a dream and in it, I saw this picture (the picture of Christ coming to the Americas) and in my dream, Christ was telling me to follow him. It is sooooo cool to find the people that are truly prepared by the Lord.
Fransisco is getting baptized this Saturday! He is solid as well. When he comes to church, he's kind of shy, but he always has a member with him and you can see him smiling! He's usually reserved, so to see him smile is amazing! It's a blessing that the Lord allows me to be a part of His miracles and bringing the best gift ever to people!
Well, to conclude, I am so grateful for how the Lord has prepared me. There are some people I cannot understand, but that has nothing to do with what they are saying, but more they mumble or don't speak loudly. They could be speaking English and I wouldn't know. But I am blessed to understand and not to speak perfectly, but that I can always say what I need to say. I also still have no blisters which is a blessing as well. I am just grateful to be here right now in the mission. The Lord always knows what is best. Pro 3:5 Trust in Him and you will be blessed!
I love you guys and hope all is well.
Love, Hermana Carly Jo Lang
PS. Email me carly.lang@myldsmail.net
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