Hello!!
First of all this is my new address,
before I forget:
26325 Northgate Crossing Boulevard #1621
Spring, TX 77373
So much has happened that I will try to
get you caught up on, but there is no possible way to tell you all of it. You'd
be sitting at the computer reading for days! haha So to first answer all ya'lls
questions (and yes I have the authority to use ya'll all I want now!)
So with the airport. We didn't know what
the rules were about calling so we went to ask the MTC president's wife and she
told us that it's one of those kind of myth things that people do, but she told
us we weren't supposed to. So I'm sorry I didn't get to call, but I was trying
to be as obedient as I could be. I wouldn't have really had time to call anyways
if that makes you feel any better. So I will see you all on Christmas Day! Can't
wait. And that picture was sent from Sister Pingree's phone. Cute huh? I sure do
love the Pingrees so much! I can already tell they will be the best mission
presidents that I could have ever asked for. My achilles is finally starting to
feel better, and yes I got the shoes and they are working perfectly. The sandals
work because it zips up the back and doesn't put pressure on where it hurts.
Since it was feeling better I decided to try exercising and I rode 10 miles on
the bike this morning! Whoop whoop! It feels so good to finally sweat again! And
it's not hurting so I hope I can ease my way back into it. I called the doctor's
office and they can't get me in until the 28th so we'll see how it's feeling by
then and see if I still need to see him by that point. So I hope that it
continues to heal! Hannah, thanks for taking care of my little sister for me, there's no
one else I'd rather have doing that for me. You are the best. Wow...where to
begin. Here goes.
We got to the Houston airport to be
greeted by President and Sister Pingree and the two AP's. There were about 35
people coming in I think, and Hna. Hill and I were the only Spanish sisters!
When we got here we went to a church building to have a snack and went over some
training things. Then we had dinner and boy was it good! It's good to have some
more familiar foods again. We met a lot of the other adults that help manage the
mission and they are all so great. Then I saw the Pingree kids too! That was so
exciting and so happy. I just feel so darn lucky to have them here!! I was able
to stay the night at the President's house with some other sisters and then we
had breakfast with all of the new missionaries the next morning. Then we went to
the church again to meet our new companions. President Pingree would call the
trainer up, have them explain their area, then announce who the new companion
was. I was second to last so I was so anxious throughout the whole thing! My new
companion is Hermana Driesel. I LOVE HER! She is from Kuna, Idaho and is
absolutely adorable. I couldn't have asked for a better trainer. She has been
out for almost a year and her Spanish is good. So much better than mine. That is
probably the hardest thing about the mission for me right now. The language is a
beast. haha But I'm learning a whole lot and I just have to keep practicing. We
have a lot of opportunities to speak Spanish so I can definitely practice! I can
understand most of what's going on, but I have some problems speaking in
Spanish. Especially small talk because my vocabulary is very limited to gospel
terms. So yes, I wish I could understand and talk with people a lot better but
it just comes with time. My patience will be very tested over the next little
while. Anyways, back to my companion. She has trained 5 times so I am in good
hands. She is so sweet, diligent, and obedient. I am very grateful for that! Oh
and I have been put in the Woodlands North Area! I love it in Houston already.
The weather has been nice, it is definitely more humid--but not unbearable--and
it has rained multiple times already. So after we were assigned our companions
we took my stuff back to the apartment. We are so blessed! They are great
apartments. We have a gym here so that's nice, and also in the main building
they always have cookies for anyone so that's great too! I love being able to
make my own food though. We're going grocery shopping today and I'm so excited
to get lots of awesome food! Anyways, sorry this is all over the place. After we
got to the apartment we left and got right to work! So much happens everyday
that I barely remember what happened yesterday. And here is my miracle story for
the week. We had an appointment with an investigator, and my very first
appointment fell through. But the Lord is mindful of us and always has His hand
in this work. We went to go see a referral that some other missionaries had
given us that were in the same apartment complex. We knocked on the door and a
man answered but the person we were looking for didn't live there. We gave him a
card, and his friend came to the door asking if he could have one too. His name
is Thomas. He came outside and talked to us for a little while and he agrees
with everything that we taught him. We tried to set an appointment with him but
he is super busy with work. He said that he would call us if he ever had time to
talk. And this is where it gets crazy. He called us! I mean, when does that ever
happen? So we taught him all about our purpose as missionaries and the
restoration. So I hope that we can continue to progress with him.
So I have been here about 5 days? Yeah
I've already had dinner with 5 families. And get this, so cool. We get to have
dinner with a Pakistani couple every week. They don't really speak English
except for hellos and thank yous (the husband can speak a little bit more), and
we can't speak Ordu but it's still such a cool experience! You can feel the love
in the room even though we can't express our feelings through words. They are
great, and the food is too! Then we had two dinners yesterday and boy that was
not fun being that full. Hence the 10 miles on the bike this morning. haha but
the members here are so awesome and even though I can't communicate with them
very well, their support and spirits give me lots of hope. Church was great! I'm
pretty sure it was in the refrigerated section of Costco though. Holy cow talk
about it being fresco! Good thing I brought my rain coat. I didn't understand a
lot, but I met so many people and they are all so so awesome! Even though I am
testifying and talking about God every day, Sundays still have a special little
something added to them. We also had an investigator at church yesterday, and
two less active members too! I really hope we can get them to keep coming.
Yesterday we visited with members and there was one family we visited that are
so incredible, the Reyes. I could just feel their love for the Savior and
missionary work. We all had a bit of an emotional conversation, and don't worry
we are being well taken care of here. Even though I don't get to be with you all
at home, I still feel the same love and support here and that is something I am
so grateful for. I am so blessed to be sharing this gospel and bringing that joy
into other people's lives. I am learning so much, and my relationship with the
Savior grows more each day. We pray so much here! I love it. But I love the
gospel and the chance I have to share it. I know that it is true and I am so
grateful that I can recognize the Lord's hand in my life. I will leave you with
these three words. GOD IS GOOD. Love you all and hope all is well with you at
home! Thank you for your love and support!
Con muchisisisisismo amor,
Hermana Hoj
Jesus Lane in Houston
A Texas Sunset
Hermana Hoj & Hermana Driesel
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