Time in Cojute: 4½ months
The sisters' area in Cojutepeque was pure city. It was more difficult to proselyte there than any other area I worked in because of the number of different churches and the locations of the gang boundaries, but it was also beautiful and we received a lot of support from the branch members.
Companions: Hna Abadillo (1½ months), Hna Merrell (3 months)
The sisters' area in Cojutepeque was pure city. It was more difficult to proselyte there than any other area I worked in because of the number of different churches and the locations of the gang boundaries, but it was also beautiful and we received a lot of support from the branch members.
Companions: Hna Abadillo (1½ months), Hna Merrell (3 months)
A couple stories...
Memories of Hna Abadillo
Although I didn't record many experiences doing missionary work with Hna Abadillo, she was one of my most influential companions. Hna Abadillo and I were only together one cambio (six weeks), but she helped me a lot to trust more in the Lord and the Atonement, and to carry on even when I was tired or discouraged. Her personality reminded me a lot of Hna Gonzalez, which I LOVED. We cooked a lot of Rice Krispie treats together (she had quite the sweet tooth) and had some AWESOME lessons. She was ill off and on throughout the cambio, but we worked through it. She's a trooper.
Coackroach contact
"Today we did one of the funniest contacts of my mission. We were knocking on Hno Mauricio's door (he wasn't home) when we saw an older woman carrying two planks of wood on her head. We could see that she wanted to get them down to rest a moment but was having difficulty.
"Hna Merrell went to help her lower the planks, with me following behind a minute later. As I neared, she said urgently, 'Ayúdeme! Estos bolados pesan con TODO!'
"I set down my scriptures to help and found that she was right. Those pieces of wood were a LOT heavier than they looked. We managed to get them off the woman's head and put them on the ground. Then we tried to talk with her, but she was mute and could only communicate with hand signals. We never guessed her address because suddenly a bunch of coackroaches came out from underneath the wooden planks and distracted us. The woman and Hna Merrell both screamed. Hna Merrell began trembling, imagining what would have happened if a coackroach had fallen on her while she was getting the wood down.
"She told me just now: 'I thought those planks were going to crush me like a pancake!'
"I can only imagine the damage that could have happened if a coackroach had fallen and startled Hna Merrell.
"Al final, we left the mute woman shooing coackroaches into the street. It was an interesting day." (Journal 2, 7 August 2014, self-translated)
Although I didn't record many experiences doing missionary work with Hna Abadillo, she was one of my most influential companions. Hna Abadillo and I were only together one cambio (six weeks), but she helped me a lot to trust more in the Lord and the Atonement, and to carry on even when I was tired or discouraged. Her personality reminded me a lot of Hna Gonzalez, which I LOVED. We cooked a lot of Rice Krispie treats together (she had quite the sweet tooth) and had some AWESOME lessons. She was ill off and on throughout the cambio, but we worked through it. She's a trooper.
Coackroach contact
"Today we did one of the funniest contacts of my mission. We were knocking on Hno Mauricio's door (he wasn't home) when we saw an older woman carrying two planks of wood on her head. We could see that she wanted to get them down to rest a moment but was having difficulty.
"Hna Merrell went to help her lower the planks, with me following behind a minute later. As I neared, she said urgently, 'Ayúdeme! Estos bolados pesan con TODO!'
"I set down my scriptures to help and found that she was right. Those pieces of wood were a LOT heavier than they looked. We managed to get them off the woman's head and put them on the ground. Then we tried to talk with her, but she was mute and could only communicate with hand signals. We never guessed her address because suddenly a bunch of coackroaches came out from underneath the wooden planks and distracted us. The woman and Hna Merrell both screamed. Hna Merrell began trembling, imagining what would have happened if a coackroach had fallen on her while she was getting the wood down.
"She told me just now: 'I thought those planks were going to crush me like a pancake!'
"I can only imagine the damage that could have happened if a coackroach had fallen and startled Hna Merrell.
"Al final, we left the mute woman shooing coackroaches into the street. It was an interesting day." (Journal 2, 7 August 2014, self-translated)
me, Hna Abadillo, Hna Foster, and Hna Castro in Ilobasco
26 July 2014--Teodoro's Baptism! Me, Hna Abadillo, Carlos, Teodoro, Hno Abarca (first counselor in the branch presidency)
Typical p-day in Cojute: playing Phase 10 over lunch as a district
E. Castro, E. Cardoza, me, Hna A, E. Tabango (E. Roldan took the photo)
A rainy day turned the street into a little river
Rodriguez Family: Edwin (branch mission leader), Gilberto, Maria, Omar, Gilberto Sr, Tania, Carlitos, Carlos, and friend
Ramirez Family: Nataly, Samuel, Susana, Monica, Dany, and Yolanda
September 2014--Hna Merrell and I saw Hnas Garcia and Cano at Immigration! (We were renewing our visas)
with a famous statue, "Salvador del Mundo" in San Salvador
Hna Merrell is a pro when it comes to de-icing the fridge
We pulled lots of ice chunks out of our fridge. No wonder it hadn't been closing right! (It closed fine after we finished deep cleaning it.)
Making pizza with Hna Ramirez
6 Sept 2014--Gilberto Jr's baptism! His brother Edwin baptized him. Algún día, cuando Gilberto Sr se bautice, todos serán miembros.
Jorje and Beatriz (Beatriz is Gilberto's cousin; before she found the Church she was a Jehovah's Witness; she went out with us a lot)
24 Sept 2014--Temple trip!
It was POURING rain
7 Oct 2014--Intercambios with Hna Huamani!!!
Hna Ramirez gave me this dress
Sports day in zona Sensuntepeque
Wearing T-shirts and skirts in true Salvadoreño style
Hermanas' meeting at President's house
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