I can...because I am sweating again and the ocean so close is so tempting...
I experienced my second Day of the Dead here in South America! Last year I was in Mexico for it and I remember we ate tons of bread with chocolate and sugar and they had fireworks going off for 3 days straight (we didnt sleep at all!!) Here in Chile its a little more low key. I actually forgot all about it until we were walking past the huge cemetary we have on our street (yes we have a cemetary on our street) and we were greeted by a huge party! They had bounce houses and cotton candy and emapanadas and completos and churros with manjar and flowers to put on graves. It was the strangest thing ever. Everyone dancing and eating around the graves like we were at the beach!
But we ate lots of deep fried churros with manjar and enjoyed all of it (yes I gained like 10 pounds the last week....you would too if you were here!!)
It was kind of dangerous at night so we had Aracely spend the night in our house as our protection. She could not protect us from the anger of the children though...when we did not open our door at three in the morning to give them candy....they threw like 20 eggs at our house. All the eggs are fried onto our door and ewverywhere and we cant them off!
We had a pretty mild week as far as people trying to break inside our house. We only had one attempt. Haha we are pretty good at getting our defenses ready now. I can wake up at the sound of a pen dropping...run across the room to wake up hermana Raziera..turn on the light...grab the metal rods we sleep with and make a base with my daughter in the bed of hermana Vawdrey and call the elders...all in about 15 seconds. The elders can arrive in about 2 mins and have our house searched and cleaned out in anouther 2 mins. One call to the bishop...a quick visit from the police... And ten mins later everyone is back in their houses sleeping. Its gotten to become quite the comedy show. Dont worry though...this week we really should be changing houses. Its fun though...the four of us are super unified and there is never a boring moment. Before we go to sleep our joke is "and what time will we be calling the elders and bishop tonight?"
Hermana Razeira had to go on a mini transfer this week...she was only gone 2 days but our little family felt so lost and empty without her. We decorated her room with confetti and balloons and had a little party when we returned. I have learned here on the mission that we just need to celebrate every little thing! Every day there are reasons to celebrate and have parties! There are always sufficient things to be stressed and sad about....so we really just have to amplify the good things and squeeze all the happiness and love out of every little thing we can!
So thursday I got my MRI results back. The mission doctor didnt want to talk to me about it but I got it out of her...
The main doctor of all the missionaries in Chile determined that I need surgery in my spine pretty much immediately. I said I would wait. Sadly Salt Lake is involved now and if they say I have to go...I have to go. But I am okay. I know it is all in God´s hands now and He will do what is best. He knows how long my mission is supposed to last and where I need to be. Its been a good lesson in humility and trust for me. For now I am just enjoying each day as a missionary and a chilean even more than normal!
Every day we meet people on the street who are so hurt in every way. There are always drunks passed out in all different parts...children asking for food and money....people stressed and crying...families torn apart...people without any real sense of love or worth. Its heartbreaking. People need the Lord. They need the healing that can come only through Him. Not just people who arent members...but all of us...we all need to learn to accept our Savior more into our lives. To accept that we arent perfect...and that we dont need to be perfect to have the love of God. He loves us today, He loves us today as we are. With all our inperfections...with all our weaknesses and things we do that we know we shouldnt. He still loves us. And we would be well to love others with this love that God has for each of us. Because we could all use a little more of this cleansing and healing love...in our heart...and in the hearts of others.
I love you all!
Please do not pray for me. Pray for the people here...they need your prayers so much more than I do.
Lets make it a great week....shall we! There is so much to be happy about and celebrate!
Hermana Orchard
