I just asked Scott what we had done the past two days and he said "I'm sure we went shopping every day, it's a continual round of shopping!" That is how much he enjoys shopping. I don't know which is worse for him - the driving in crazy traffic or the actual shopping which he has always hated. The fact that we are lost half of the time we are on the roads might be a factor. However, he is becoming very adept at making a turn from the outside lane that is not a turn lane It does seem to me that the traffic is a little less crazy than it was when we first got here. Maybe the shock and awe factor has worn off.
They do not have clocks in their church buildings and many do not wear watches. I don't know if that is because they don't care what time it is or don't want it to be snatched off their wrists. The people here actually seem very respectful to us. But I do wish they had clocks in their churches because those meetings are long when you don't understand what they are saying and at least glancing at the clock every once in a while would give me something to do. When they have an English speaking person speaking spanish I can understand quite a bit of what they say, but these Dominicans must learn to talk muy rapido at a very early age.
On Monday we had a family home evening given by Sister Mead. She is from Iran and was promised in her patriarchal blessing that she would be a missionary in her country. She is in her seventies now and can hardly wait for that to happen. We watched a video on Iran which was very interesting as the man who did the interview talked to many of the Iranian people and all of them said they liked Americans, that it was just the government that had a problem with the U.S. We also had our Spanish class today that is taught by Elder Hammon. Many of the women have been in the class for a year or more and do well. Then there is the rest of us who are trying hard to learn!
On Tuesday we did go shopping to try and find an ironing board. We went to three different stores, which accounts for Scott's thinking that we shop all of the time. Finally did find one though so now we can were our other clothes that have been wrinkled since we got here. Wearing the same thing day after day is freeing in a way - fewer decisions to make.
After studying and practicing and working on a music goal for the area we went to the temple. (Scott needed to go to the temple after shopping for four hours) I was able to understand so much more of the Spanish even though I had headphones for English. There was a Sister Gomez in the session who was in a wheelchair with multiple handicaps. I don't know who brought her but to see the sisters in the session take care of her brought such a sweet spirit.
We stopped on the way home at this frozen yogurt place that is a couple of blocks from us. The young man who waited on us noticed our tags and said he was a member of the church. I expected never to run into people in public that were Mormon but we are always running into them. The light in their countenances is amazing!
Today we finished the area plan and needs assessment and got it in to President Andersen. President Andersen is actually from Arizona and remembered meeting my brother, Brent. We have people to begin teaching so that will be interesting. Scott practices the piano for an hour or two every day. Bet his old music teachers would be amazed at that!
We still do not have water for household use. If you can catch the 1/2 hour it is on in the morning and at night you can at least flush the toilets and wash the dishes, and shower if you are really lucky.
Made us feel better to look over at the Marriot Hotel next to us and see the water truck pumping water into their system. The hotel is lovely and likely not very happy with the water situation
.As we go out and see people carring umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun you have to wonder if they are trained at an early age that the sun can damage their skin or just what. They certainly cannot be worried about getting sunburned. You see as many umbrellas in the sun as you do in the rain.
They do not have clocks in their church buildings and many do not wear watches. I don't know if that is because they don't care what time it is or don't want it to be snatched off their wrists. The people here actually seem very respectful to us. But I do wish they had clocks in their churches because those meetings are long when you don't understand what they are saying and at least glancing at the clock every once in a while would give me something to do. When they have an English speaking person speaking spanish I can understand quite a bit of what they say, but these Dominicans must learn to talk muy rapido at a very early age.
On Monday we had a family home evening given by Sister Mead. She is from Iran and was promised in her patriarchal blessing that she would be a missionary in her country. She is in her seventies now and can hardly wait for that to happen. We watched a video on Iran which was very interesting as the man who did the interview talked to many of the Iranian people and all of them said they liked Americans, that it was just the government that had a problem with the U.S. We also had our Spanish class today that is taught by Elder Hammon. Many of the women have been in the class for a year or more and do well. Then there is the rest of us who are trying hard to learn!
On Tuesday we did go shopping to try and find an ironing board. We went to three different stores, which accounts for Scott's thinking that we shop all of the time. Finally did find one though so now we can were our other clothes that have been wrinkled since we got here. Wearing the same thing day after day is freeing in a way - fewer decisions to make.
After studying and practicing and working on a music goal for the area we went to the temple. (Scott needed to go to the temple after shopping for four hours) I was able to understand so much more of the Spanish even though I had headphones for English. There was a Sister Gomez in the session who was in a wheelchair with multiple handicaps. I don't know who brought her but to see the sisters in the session take care of her brought such a sweet spirit.
We stopped on the way home at this frozen yogurt place that is a couple of blocks from us. The young man who waited on us noticed our tags and said he was a member of the church. I expected never to run into people in public that were Mormon but we are always running into them. The light in their countenances is amazing!
Today we finished the area plan and needs assessment and got it in to President Andersen. President Andersen is actually from Arizona and remembered meeting my brother, Brent. We have people to begin teaching so that will be interesting. Scott practices the piano for an hour or two every day. Bet his old music teachers would be amazed at that!
We still do not have water for household use. If you can catch the 1/2 hour it is on in the morning and at night you can at least flush the toilets and wash the dishes, and shower if you are really lucky.
Made us feel better to look over at the Marriot Hotel next to us and see the water truck pumping water into their system. The hotel is lovely and likely not very happy with the water situation
.As we go out and see people carring umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun you have to wonder if they are trained at an early age that the sun can damage their skin or just what. They certainly cannot be worried about getting sunburned. You see as many umbrellas in the sun as you do in the rain.
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