Someone recently told me 90% of your mission is awkward. The other 10% is extremely awkward. A few incidents this week proved this statement to be very true. 1} We had a sleepover with the sisters in Breeze Lake because Sister Stevenson is "dying" (aka she is done with her mission after this transfer) and she had to be at an important phone call that morning with another sister. Well we were all sleeping in the same room, and I wake up to everything. Every time someone talked, moved, or got up to use the bathroom my body thought it was time to wake up, so I would kneel down and say my "morning" prayers. Needless to say I said about 8 prayers randomly through out the night and actually woke up on my knees. The sisters got a good laugh out of it.
2} We were outside teaching a lesson with a woman, bearing our testimonies when all of a sudden a van full of funnel cakes drove by and the lady got up, bought a cake, and went inside. She never came out.
3} We were eating dinner at a member's house. On the table was a stack of tortillas, a salad, and everyone had black beans on their plates. The salad was in front of me with a fork right next to it. I assumed the fork was mine so I picked it up and started eating. About halfway through I looked around and saw everyone using tortillas as spoons. I realized that the fork was the serving utensil for the salad and I was the only one not eating with my hands.
4} Wednesday was so hot and we went to see a member family. The daughter offered me a popsicle. I was so excited to cool off; I took a big bite, and soon realized the flavor was chili. I had a quick "Jodi cough attack" and then quietly tried to eat my popsicle without drawing any attention to myself.
5} This one isn't really awkward. It's awesome. Saturday we went to the cemetery to do a little service project of cleaning/ weeding. Our hands were super dirty so we stopped at a community center to wash up. We walked in and there was a couple of people decorating for a party. They asked us what we were doing later that night and asked if we could help serve food. Who denies an invitation to a birthday party?! Not me! So while w were serving dinner at a 81 year old's birthday party all of a sudden a mariachi band walked in and serenaded the birthday girl. The awkward thing is that she didn't seem to happy about it, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.
This week I deserved a little kick in the pants (or I guess you could say skirt). I had a few moments where I was feeling sorry for myself. Sister Stevenson was so wonderful and reminded me of my purpose as a missionary. I have been a robot missionary, and haven't been myself. I think I have been telling myself that once I learn the language that I can be happy. However, I realized that I won't ever be happy because it is going to take a lot longer than 18 months to master a whole language. I took a deep breath and thought of things that I make me happy right now. While I was thinking I thought of the writing 101 class I took at BYU-I with Brother Grant.
I can't describe the class because the whole purpose of the class was to figure out the purpose. (I know, confusing, right?) But it changed my life. It taught me that everyone learns differently and that we need to discover how we learn best. Then we need to figure out how the people we are teaching learn so that they can understand. I also learned to love people for the way they are and to be myself. I can't explain it, I just wish I could throw all of you into that class because I have such a new perspective of how to live because of it.
Well, that was a lame explanation, but I have to go. I love you all!
Hermana Hemmingsen
2} We were outside teaching a lesson with a woman, bearing our testimonies when all of a sudden a van full of funnel cakes drove by and the lady got up, bought a cake, and went inside. She never came out.
3} We were eating dinner at a member's house. On the table was a stack of tortillas, a salad, and everyone had black beans on their plates. The salad was in front of me with a fork right next to it. I assumed the fork was mine so I picked it up and started eating. About halfway through I looked around and saw everyone using tortillas as spoons. I realized that the fork was the serving utensil for the salad and I was the only one not eating with my hands.
4} Wednesday was so hot and we went to see a member family. The daughter offered me a popsicle. I was so excited to cool off; I took a big bite, and soon realized the flavor was chili. I had a quick "Jodi cough attack" and then quietly tried to eat my popsicle without drawing any attention to myself.
5} This one isn't really awkward. It's awesome. Saturday we went to the cemetery to do a little service project of cleaning/ weeding. Our hands were super dirty so we stopped at a community center to wash up. We walked in and there was a couple of people decorating for a party. They asked us what we were doing later that night and asked if we could help serve food. Who denies an invitation to a birthday party?! Not me! So while w were serving dinner at a 81 year old's birthday party all of a sudden a mariachi band walked in and serenaded the birthday girl. The awkward thing is that she didn't seem to happy about it, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.
This week I deserved a little kick in the pants (or I guess you could say skirt). I had a few moments where I was feeling sorry for myself. Sister Stevenson was so wonderful and reminded me of my purpose as a missionary. I have been a robot missionary, and haven't been myself. I think I have been telling myself that once I learn the language that I can be happy. However, I realized that I won't ever be happy because it is going to take a lot longer than 18 months to master a whole language. I took a deep breath and thought of things that I make me happy right now. While I was thinking I thought of the writing 101 class I took at BYU-I with Brother Grant.
I can't describe the class because the whole purpose of the class was to figure out the purpose. (I know, confusing, right?) But it changed my life. It taught me that everyone learns differently and that we need to discover how we learn best. Then we need to figure out how the people we are teaching learn so that they can understand. I also learned to love people for the way they are and to be myself. I can't explain it, I just wish I could throw all of you into that class because I have such a new perspective of how to live because of it.
Well, that was a lame explanation, but I have to go. I love you all!
Hermana Hemmingsen