Week 67/76 Grapes Are Good As Gold

Feliz Año Nuevo!! 

Did everyone speed eat 12 grapes this morning? If not it's ok, I was also unaware that people did that for new years. 

We were late to zone council on Wednesday because our bus driver pulled over and was like "are you guys chill if I buy something real quick?" we were the only ones in the bus so we were like, umm sure. So he left us alone in his bus, was gone for five minutes, and came back with a bag of bread. Then after zone council our bus to lunch was driving up and down crazy hills and then we saw some cows in a park. 

We saw a guy sitting on the curb a little sad looking so we decided to talk to him. He explained that he had lived in the states for 5 years and was about to move again, we explained the book of mormon and gave him a copy. Then I asked for his name as we were leaving and he says in English "Ronald, like Ronald McDonald, now when you're hungry you'll think of me" 

We did a service project before lunch on Saturday. The whole experience was loco. 

1- The family lives at the far north part of our sector, like 45 minutes walking. On top of that we got lost, crossed a steep bridge that we didn't need to cross, considered just walking on the highway (decided not to be the next episode of Safety Zone), recrossed the street and walked through some weeds and trash on a dirt path and finally got to the right side of the street. Then we still had to walk like 25 minutes to get to their house. 

2- the hermana (a cute abuela who's like 90 years old) had shown the elders what she needed them to do in the backyard, we were ready to help but she was like "no you guys are going to do something else, just go sit and wait for me to finish up" so we went and waited and prayed that she would let us actually do something. 

3- finally the hermana walks us outside and open up her garden gate. She then showed us how to pick clovers, found a 4 leaf clover, and explained like 4 times that we just needed to pick the clovers and the weeds. Then her son came out and explained the exact same thing. The hermana gave us rubber gloves (like the ones doctors use) and told us to get to work. 

4- we found a giant stick bug and spent a good portion of the time trying to avoid it and watching it move along the leaves, then it disappeared so we finished our work super quickly to avoid further interactions.

5- then we had lunch and besides the little things, like the 5 different soda bottles on the table, the hermano being overly proud of his sausage stuffed roast, and the coo coo clock going off, we also had an interesting conversation with the hermana, it went something like this:

H: I know it's easier to be catholic than it is to be Mormon. I was a nun after all. 

Us: ok...

H: If I could receive salvation being a nun I'd do it three times over again.

Us: *shocked silence* ....porque??

H: porque es fácil po! 

We got to celebrate new years with our district so we ate crepes and played pictionary. 

Now I've got to finish making my new years resolutions! Feel free to send me ideas! 

3 Nephi 5:13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

Never before have I been so sure of my identity. I am a disciple of Christ, I am called of God to declare His word among His people. 

I have been His missionary for each of the 365 days this year and I will continue being His disciple each day for the rest of my life. 

I know this word is true, I know it leads to everlasting life. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind. He is MY Savior! He is YOUR Savior! Let's start the new year centered on He who gave us the chance to be born again and start anew! 

¡Happy New Year!

-Hermana Pratt