Visiting Hermana Santander’s favorite bookstore |
6 April 2015
I
just want to start this letter by expressing my hope that everyone thought of
me as John Daker´s biggest fan yesterday in Conference. Anyone who really knows
me would. And just so you know, I was not smirking alone. All of my companions
are familiar with John Daker and when the song started Hermana Santander
reacted even before I did.
After
that irreverent note I can continue by saying that of course I loved General
Conference. I listened in our chapel in Llay Llay. Although President Videla
gave everyone permission to listen in English, the internet was slow and I gave
up and just listened in Spanish with everyone else. What I learned most is
humility. As I have been teaching less actives this week it is hard for me not
to judge them and think, "Why can't you just do what you're supposed to?
You know what's right!" I am learning that we are all mortal and we are
all in the same boat struggling together in a fallen, imperfect world. I am not
exempt. No one is.
I
was really looking forward to seeing President Monson on Saturday morning
because I have been wondering how he was doing. I realized when the Liahona
came that he hadn't written the First Presidency message. They compiled quotes
from his past talks. When he didn't give a welcome on Saturday I was concerned.
We are praying for his health here in Chile and love President Monson.
It
was especially fun to listen to Elder Zeballos because he is in the Area
Presidency of South America South and we have become very familiar with him,
Elder Viñas, and Elder Gonzalez here in the mission, but Elder Zeballos is the
only one from Chile. Elder Zeballos and his wife were the ones who came and
spoke at our Christmas devotional on December 23 in our mission. I went over my
notes again and felt like what he said at Christmas applies to Easter as well.
He talked about three levels of Christmas:
1.
Santa Clause (or the Easter Bunny). Lights, presents, chocolate, etc.
2.
The baby Jesus. This level is where we sing "Silent Night" and think
of the stable.
3.
The Risen Lord. We remember the resurrected, adult version of Jesus Christ as
He really is. We remember why He came.
The
internet is not the best in our chapel and it cut out a lot. I am excited to
download conference today and listen in English! I felt like I got the Cliff Notes
version.
Once
in a while I can hear English phrases underneath the translation. Sometimes the
translation cuts out and they always start talking a few seconds after the talk
has started. When President Uchtdorf started speaking German I began laughing
and so did the translator. Most of the people in our branch can't tell the
difference between English and German or at least aren't paying attention and
they couldn't figure out why the translator and I were laughing together. Then
the voice in Spanish, who doesn't understand German, pulled himself together
and explained, "President Uchtdorf started speaking German as if he forgot
that he was supposed to conduct in English."
Hermana
Santander made a joke before Conference as she talked to a sister who is going
home this transfer. Hermana Santander finishes her mission the next transfer.
The sister (Sister Clark, but not the one you all know) was worried that they
were going to talk about marriage a lot. Hermana Santander said, "You hear
what you want to hear. Obviously if that's what you're listening for that's
what they're going to tell you." After watching the Women's meeting and
the Saturday morning session Hermana Santander said, "Tell me it's not
just me." "No," I consoled her, "they really did focus on
families." It was all about families.
I
had the chance to defend families last week! On Monday afternoon I found myself
in a dental chair waiting for anesthesia to start working. The needle the
dentist used hit a weird nerve and kind of hurt for a split second, but instead
of worrying about that I was picturing what he had done according to what I had
learned in my BYU anatomy class. I told him that I was studying neuroscience
and he congratulated me. He has worked with missionaries before and said,
"All of the Mormon girls just want to go home and get married and be stay
at home moms." He said that women have a lot of potential in the workforce
and that he hopes I finish my studies. He talked about money, cars, houses, and
the travel that he and his wife enjoy because they married later in life and
had kids at an older than average age. For me, money is not the primary reason
for studying. I explained that my dream is to get married, have children, and
be a stay at home mom upon returning to the States. I also explained that I
don't think that is incompatible with learning. I love learning and I plan on
continuing my education, obviously. The prophets and apostles counsel us to do
both. Families are eternal. Intelligence is eternal. Money is not. Isn't it
obvious what my priorities should be? Of course I am going to study, but my
goal is not to enter the workforce and remain there.
I've
been having some Shakespeare withdrawals lately. The fall weather here and
General Conference remind me of Shakespeare festival in Cedar City and as I've
been reading past Conference talks, my companion and I have noted how many
apostles have Shakespeare citations. To make matters worse, my companion who
studied in the University of Chile took me to her favorite bookstore in
Santiago last week and made me homesick for literature. Can you say temptation?
However, as I read the Book of Mormon on the bus I found myself very impressed
with the dramatic plot in Alma 47. Please read it and tell me it's not the best
Shakespearean tragedy you've ever heard. Amalickiah! The guy marries the king’s
wife after he sends someone to kill him. Hamlet. And he's so deceptive!
Othello! So the Book of Mormon helped me get over my
Shakespeare withdrawals.
Flashback
to a recent holiday: On
Saint Patrick's Day I did get to pinch Hermana Santander! She didn't wear
green, even though I warned her weeks earlier. When I woke up I put on a green
ring from Mom's package and started my morning exercises. Hermana Santander
asked me what it was and that's when I pinched her! She was so confused. The
poor girl doesn't celebrate such silly holidays in her country, had just woken
up, and had no idea why her simple question had elicited such a violent
response from me. It was a good day. I shared pear jelly beans with her and she
loved them. Our new member did too!
As
for your drug bust, I loved the drama with which you all told the story. We've
had some conversations about marijuana here as well. Hermana Videla made a new
rule that no one is allowed to drink anything that anyone gives them with
leaves floating in it, even if they feel sick and a nice old lady member wants
to give them something to make them feel better. Also, the sisters in Putaendo
are teaching a referral who has quit marijuana and has a baptismal date!
Love
you!
Happy
Spring Break! And Happy Birthday to Julia! And to Jaylen Dodds! And Grandma
Sabin in the Spirit World!
Hermana
Eva VanCott
Correo
Central
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The
creepy appearance of the dentist office from the outside
|
P-
Day with the Hermanas at the Cementerio de las Carretas
|
My
Los Andes sisters
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Putaendo
always has the best graffiti
|
"In
the quiet misty morning."
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