12/9/13

Oh my goodness is this real life??

So I already am in love with Chile! The people here are so sweet and caring its amazing! I already love my companion even though she doesn't speak a single word of English....thats right. She doesn't know ANY English... so this has been interesting for sure. So please pray for me. Ha I literally just got thrown into this Spanish world and there is no turning back. Its crazy how much I just long for a normal conversation where I can understand at least more then 50% of what is happening.. ha but nonetheless everything is possible with God right? (I could just really use the gift of tongues to kick in right about now) but faith in God is faith in God's timing. Her name is Hermana Rodriguez and she is from Spain. Which means she speaks a totally different spanish then the spanish I learned. Only those who know spanish can understand what I am going through right now.... she pronounces her "s and c"s like "th" if that makes any sense... For example I learned that "How are you?" is "Como estas"....she says, "Como ethath" and Chileanos say "Como et-ay-s" :S Now you can sort of see my problem here.... haha but I am trying my best and I can tell my spanish is improving everyday! On top of the different pronounciations Chileanos also speak INCREDIABLY fast...

But besides the language barrier I really do love it here. It is super hot, but I would take it over the cold winter in the US anyday! The food is absolutely amazing...I guarentee that I am going to gain weight here... they eat homemade bread with every meal, and it is sooo good! There are two staples that I have had with every meal so far: Lemon and Mayonese. Every meal. They put mayo on EVERYTHING! In their corn, peas, with bread, hot dogs... you name it, they put mayo on it. Their "salads" are just cut up lettuce drenched in lemon juice and oil. Sounds wierd but I actually love it! You should try it. Anything thats not in mayo, is drenched in lemon juice. Ha so I've been trying to get used to that.

Also, I have never been kissed so much in my life! Ha its just their culture here that whenever you meet someone or great someone you give them a kiss on the cheeck. Man, woman, child... everyone! ha! I think it is the cutest tradition! It took a little bit for me to not be so awkward about it, but I think I got it down now!

I don't have much time to write, we only get 30 min. but just know that I am safe and loving it here! Please keep me in your prayers that I can recieve the gift of tongues! I need all the help I can get!

These are some pictures of me and my companion! We try to do an act of service everyday so this is a picture of us doing an investigators dishes. Also a picture of our cute apartment complex (so ghetto) and us in our "Christmas Conference costume" Its just a show that all of the missionaries participate in for Christmas.

I love and miss you all!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Lamb