Lots of photos and a letter in the middle!
View from sister Heims apartment. That's the ocean in the back ground.
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Her family in Madrid. Sister Heims baptized all of these people.
Her two bff's in Spain. Both converts.
Hola Fam! I still cannot believe I am here in the islands. but then I just look out the window of the locoturio that I am at right now and I can see the ocean in the distant! So crazy! I have tons and tons of pictures to send you all. There are tons from the last week Hna Scheu and I were togther and then some from this week. I have so much to tell you about, I hope I have enough time.
First of all, the island that I am on is called Tenerife and my area is La Laguna. The ward here is incredible! Seriously I cannot think of a more amazing ward to be in right now. Let me explain, the 2nd night we were here we got a call from the bishop welcoming us here, we had correlacion with our ward mission leader and him and his wife are recent converts of just one year but are absolutely amazing. I cannot be more excited to work with him. Then on Sunday we had the warmest most wonderful welcome you can every get from a ward. Since there havent been hermanas here for the last 25 years they were are thrilled for us to be coming. The elders let everyone know the week before that we were coming so when when we showed up on Sunday there were people literlly jumping up and down when they saw us. Literally jumping up and down! Every greeted us with big hugs, serveral people gave us their schedule right then and there for when they are free to come to lessons with us and others gave us there number and told us that there house is our house and our investigator´s house and that we can have lessons there anytime we want. Then others scheduled eating appointments with us! Seriously I just cannot believe it. I have never see so many people so willing and wanting to help us. I feel so humbled to be here and to work with and serve these wonderful people. BUT!!! Jajaja we eat with memebers just about every single day (which is so wonderful and I just love all of the members) but the elders have gained 20-30 lbs just from being here on the island. But, there is some hope for us Hermanas. The elders have cars and we walk so we are hoping that the walking will cancel out all of the food we eat now. Although so far it hasnt:/ jaja. And speaking of walking, I should probably use the word hiking instead. This island is SO hilly. We walk up and down hills all day long. We have tried and tried to get a good picture of the hills but pictures just dont do it justice. Just think of the San Francisco hills, you know those insane ones? Well that is the whole island. We calulated it and this last week we spent over 30hrs contacting (we were left an area book with old investigators but we have called or passed by all and no one has interest so we have to find all news) and walking up and down these hills. The first few days we thought it was funny but now not so much. We definitely crash hard at night.
But, even though we have just contacted all day long every day this week we have found so many wonderful people and have quite a few appointments set up for this coming week. We have already invited about 5 different people to be baptized when they know that these things are true and they have said yes. And tomorrow we have an appt with a lady named Leidi (pronounced lady jaja) and we plan on setting a baptismal date with her. Her mom is a member and her brother is an investigator of the Elders and we ate at their house this last week and we just clicked with her so well and she ended up coming to church yesterday so we are super excited for her. So the work is hard starting from zero but we have truly been so blessed and have seen miracle after miracle here. I truly feel so humbled and grateful to be a missionary.
Ok here is a little about the people/culture here. It is a totally different world here. I am not kidding you. There are barely any south americans, only like 5 members in the whole ward are from South America, the rest of from here. The people here are so so so different from the Spanish people. So they are nothing like South Americans but totally opposite from the Spainards (I have no clue how to spell that word!:/) They are jsus islanders. I dont know how to explain it but they are so laid back and overly friendly. It has been quite the change from Madrid. The weather here on my island and especially in my area is a little colder still. I am still wearing tights and a scarf but only a light jacket. We are told that within the next month or so it will really start to get warm! There are trucks here too. I have seen several actual trucks here. I about died when I saw a legit pick up truck, I havent seen one since I left the states! And I have also seen quite a few houses and not just streets lined with pisos. And the thing that I love most about here is that every lives as a whole family. Back in Madrid the majority of people were divorced and either had their kids in Madrid with them or had their kids back in their country living with grandparents. But here, since everyone is from here, they are all married and have kids.
My district here. I cannot ever describe to you how amazing my distric is. The first district meeting on Wednesday morning every single one of us was in tears. It was so powerful. We talked about how we become a consecrated missionary. Our district leader had made lamenated cards for each of us about our goals as a district to become a consecrated district as well. I have never left a district meeting with as much ganas to really become better and that is saying something because I have been in some powerful meetings. I am excited to work with these elders and learn from them! A few of them were with me in the MTC so I know them pretty well which is fun.
My companion! Hermana King is wonderful! Wednesday night after planning we sat down and made some serious personal goals and companship goals and planes on how to reach these goals. She is a hard worker and I am learning tons from her. Also, she did the spanish immersion program in elementary and middle school so up until 9th grade she went to school in Spanish so she speaks it fluently. I am excited to improve my spanish with her.
Ok sorry for the novel. I hope you all have a great week! I love you! and am praying for you! Sounds like this week was a smidge better than the last few weeks. Enjoy all of the pictures!
Love, Hermana Heims
These first two pictures are Hermana Scheu and I´s valentines card! We may or may not have laughed for hours about this. I actually am still laughing every time I look at them! We found a sweet app on my camera! jaja
Funny VDay cards they made with a setting on Sister Heims' camera :) Funny Missionaries!
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