Happy Monday!
This week was... many things. Very tiring, but good. On Tuesday we went to therapy for Hermana Arellano at 7 in the morning, which is way too early when you're a missionary and every second of sleep counts. We had to fit it in though, because at 8 AM we had Leadership Council where all the Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders are taught by President George, the Assistants, and President Olea (the 1st counselor for Chiapas.) We all ate atole and tamales at 8 AM for breakfast, then it started at 9, and it took over an hour for the announcements. We finished everything around 4 pm, then had to plan with the zone leaders because we divide up what we learned from the Leadership Council and teach it to the rest of the zone. All in all, we finished at about 5:45 PM. It was a day full of learning, that's for sure. Also, President George told us that he had forgotten that Hermana Arellano and I used to be companions when he put us together until he got our weekly letters where we were both freaking out and everything.
On Wednesday we got lost coming home from therapy. There are a lot more combis here with lots of different routes and there's not a map or anything, we're all just expected to know. I guess it keeps tourists in taxis because they would get super lost in the combis. We ate with the Stake President. He asked for permission to take us out of our area, but I honestly don't think there's a missionary who's going to tell a Stake President, "No." It was awesome though! I haven't eaten in a "real" sit down restaurant in a LONG time because usually the restaurants I've eaten at are little taco joints in the street. I'm being reminded over and over that I'm not in Mapa anymore.
On Thursday we were at the doctor's for a long time, but it's fine because they've decided that Hermana Arellano doesn't need surgery (yay!), and is getting better.
On Friday the moment I had been dreading came... zone meeting! It ended up going super well. We talked about the importance of referrals-70% of the people who are baptized are referrals from members or from the church. Basically, the members have to step it up and give the missionaries referrals, but the missionaries have to work to deserve the referrals. We also did companion exchanges and this week I went to Aeropuerto with Hermana Burton, and it was great! We had a great lesson about the Plan of Salvation with a 75 year old man. Afterwards we asked him if there was anything we could do to help him. He told us he needed some advice, turns out he has a "scandalous" (his word, not mine) plan to buy a motorcycle but doesn't know what all the church members will think. It was super funny! Then another funny moment was when our zone leaders called and supposedly Hermana Arellano and I sound the same on the phone. So they were asking her (thinking she was me) about how her companion was doing with her back pain and Hermana Arellano told them all about how I was running and jumping around and they couldn't believe that because she was talking about me, but they thought they were talking to me about her. It was pretty funny. Hermana Burton ended up getting super sick (even though we ate the same food), but I was protected by my time in Mexico in which I've accustomed but also because I happened to be taking some medicine. . . small miracles. I don't have a lot of time, but some bullet point highlights:
I hope you all have a great week!
Con amor, Hermana Dangl
This week was... many things. Very tiring, but good. On Tuesday we went to therapy for Hermana Arellano at 7 in the morning, which is way too early when you're a missionary and every second of sleep counts. We had to fit it in though, because at 8 AM we had Leadership Council where all the Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders are taught by President George, the Assistants, and President Olea (the 1st counselor for Chiapas.) We all ate atole and tamales at 8 AM for breakfast, then it started at 9, and it took over an hour for the announcements. We finished everything around 4 pm, then had to plan with the zone leaders because we divide up what we learned from the Leadership Council and teach it to the rest of the zone. All in all, we finished at about 5:45 PM. It was a day full of learning, that's for sure. Also, President George told us that he had forgotten that Hermana Arellano and I used to be companions when he put us together until he got our weekly letters where we were both freaking out and everything.
On Wednesday we got lost coming home from therapy. There are a lot more combis here with lots of different routes and there's not a map or anything, we're all just expected to know. I guess it keeps tourists in taxis because they would get super lost in the combis. We ate with the Stake President. He asked for permission to take us out of our area, but I honestly don't think there's a missionary who's going to tell a Stake President, "No." It was awesome though! I haven't eaten in a "real" sit down restaurant in a LONG time because usually the restaurants I've eaten at are little taco joints in the street. I'm being reminded over and over that I'm not in Mapa anymore.
On Thursday we were at the doctor's for a long time, but it's fine because they've decided that Hermana Arellano doesn't need surgery (yay!), and is getting better.
On Friday the moment I had been dreading came... zone meeting! It ended up going super well. We talked about the importance of referrals-70% of the people who are baptized are referrals from members or from the church. Basically, the members have to step it up and give the missionaries referrals, but the missionaries have to work to deserve the referrals. We also did companion exchanges and this week I went to Aeropuerto with Hermana Burton, and it was great! We had a great lesson about the Plan of Salvation with a 75 year old man. Afterwards we asked him if there was anything we could do to help him. He told us he needed some advice, turns out he has a "scandalous" (his word, not mine) plan to buy a motorcycle but doesn't know what all the church members will think. It was super funny! Then another funny moment was when our zone leaders called and supposedly Hermana Arellano and I sound the same on the phone. So they were asking her (thinking she was me) about how her companion was doing with her back pain and Hermana Arellano told them all about how I was running and jumping around and they couldn't believe that because she was talking about me, but they thought they were talking to me about her. It was pretty funny. Hermana Burton ended up getting super sick (even though we ate the same food), but I was protected by my time in Mexico in which I've accustomed but also because I happened to be taking some medicine. . . small miracles. I don't have a lot of time, but some bullet point highlights:
- We sang in ward choir on Sunday.
- We had a ward activity for the re-dedication of the new building.
- On Sunday they told us we had emergency special transfers and were going to receive a third companion.
- On Monday we went to pick her up and President George changed things last minute, so we were a trio for 2 hours but not anymore.
- Everyone think about someone who would be happier with God in their life and give their reference to the missionaries. Then go with them to visit that person.
I hope you all have a great week!
Con amor, Hermana Dangl
Hermana Dangl, Hermana Arellano with Mission President George
The sign says "Las Asistentas del Presidente" - Sister Training Leaders
Sister Training Leader, Hermana Dangl, & Hermana Arellano
Tuxtla, Gutierrez Temple
Hermana Limon & Hermana Dangl - old compas (companions)
Newly rededicated chapel with Hermana Arellano
Ward Activity for the
re dedication of the new building.
The Relief Society Sisters.
Jeff found these pictures on google maps according to her directions about the cross streets. We think she is in the white 2 story house.
Wow! You are amazing Hermana Dangl! It is wonderful of you to share weekly highlights of your mission. Thank you. Mark & Jenifer McLaughlin.
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