So it's been a week of changes! Elder Santos has been shipped out and Elder Pratt is here. He's a cool guy and he likes to have fun. Sr. Gill just came in too. Elder Miyasaki is freaking out... because he knows her, or at least saw her before. She is from Hawaii too. Same island, same city. They went to the same middle school, but different high schools. Sœur Opeta on the other hand lives here . She's a mini missionary, or somebody from here that acts like a missionary for a little bit to fill in or for members that want to help out with missionary work. She is from Tahiti but she lives here, she's really cool. She just barely got back from her mission in Réunion, which is the French territory off the coast of Madagascar . If somebody gets called to Madagascar French speaking, they go to Réunion. Yeah so she got back just before Christmas and now she back in it.
I'm feeling really good about whats going on down here in Guyane! It feels like the flood gates of missionary work are just waiting to burst, but until then we'll keep chipping away at it.
So we got a lesson with Aline, and I've got to tell ya I am so excited for her. She is so ready I can't believe it! On Friday we saw her for the first time in 3 weeks, she has been out of the country to visit her mom in the hospital. She told us that while she was there she shared our whole message with her mom and sister, and another one of her sisters who lives in Miami. She wants us to get in contact with the Elders there and to have them go visit her. Also on Friday we asked her to fast with us for the health of her family members, she accepted right off! She came to church yesterday for the first time with a member and when she learned where the church was she told us, "Oh, this isn't too far, I could probably walk here, I'll bring my family too..." WHAT!!!? Oh man!! She's the best! We are going to fix une date de baptême for the end of the month! She even took notes during Sunday School!
We haven't gotten the apartment yet for the Sisters, so they are staying in Elder Fraley's apartment and he and Elder Pratt are staying with us until we can get the new one figured out. We actually have it but they are just getting it ready. Then we have to furnish it. Sr. Gill is very blue (French way to say greenie, its blue not green, not sure why) It makes me think a lot of when I first got here, shoot time flies! But Sister Opeta is really pushing her good with the language. Sr.Opeta knows English really well but I don't think Sr. Gill knows that yet.... haha its kinda mean but she's going to learn French really fast!!
So now its just us 6 in Guyane and yes we have a lot to do. AND we are on bikes, only because the Sisters had to take our van because they're area is huge (Balata to Montjoly) basically everywhere that the rest of us aren't. I feel like we take so much time just getting from place to place... but that's what we have to do
For investigators, we have Aline and Elders Pratt and Fraley have 2. We keep plugging along here!
This week we didn't have too much time to meet people, we had a lot of moving around and getting things ready with car insurance and legalization so I can't think of many people to tell you about this week.
On New Years Day we shipped off Santos an picked up Pratt, then we ate at Frère Litompha's house.
You asked about Carnival and I've heard a lot about it, mostly missionary rumors I think, but it's supposed to start the first Sunday after New Years and last until, well I don't know that, but a long time. I haven't seen anything yet though.
I've been seeing all the billboards of movies coming out, but its funny because they change all the names of movies in French. Frozen was called "La Reine des Neiges" or "The Queen of the Snows" And yes... I did see the billboard for the Hobbit... haha
Well I love you all so much! I'll see you all in a week!
Avec amour,
Elder Call
Saying goodbye to Elder Santos
Elder Santos at the airport
New Years dinner. Seour Opeta is in the pink and Elder Pratt is at the bottom
Going to pick up Seour Gill at the airport
Aline...She's amazing!
Yep...the tree's still up!
