The Bus

Hi there. So here I am. I´m with Hna. Muñoz and we´re staying here in Machalí. I will be here for one change more and then me voy. I am really excited to be comps with her because she is excellent. I´ve already learned a lot from her. I think will see good things this change. There aren´t any significant updates with the investigators right now, just that as of lately we´re really having a hard time bringing them to church. I can´t count how many times we´ve passed by early Sunday mornings to bring them and they don´t answer or are not home, or how many people would promise to us with their life and first born child that we are going to see them in the church, but never make it. Sometimes that gets a little old. But like I said, I´m pretty certain good things will happen this change. I thought that with Hna. Alvarenga we walked a pretty good pace, but Hna. Muñoz flies. This will be good to get to where we´ve gotta go, and I´ll burn some more calories while I´m at it. She´s been on the mission for a while and doesn´t seem a bit tired of the week. I´m really excited.

But this past week has been interesting with the changes. I was with Hna.Cluff for about a week and a half before she left for her home today. I really enjoyed being gringas together. It was a different experience all around, but I learned a lot from her and had a lot of fun. We had a few interesting experiences with the buses. One time we were running a little late for our lunch appointment and the bus that passes for where we were going only passes 1 time an hour (because it is really far away). We were about half a block away from the bus stop and we see a bus that looked just like the one that we needed to take turning the corner. The panic rushed through us and without checking the number on the front Hna. Cluff motioned for it to stop for us. So it did, but you could tell the driver was very hesitant to stop for us, but we booked it anyway. When we arrived at the door out of breath and sweating the bus driver informed us that he is just a school bus driver, but would give us a lift anyway because he was headed in that direction. So we climbed the stairs of the bus only to see about 20 little 8 and 9 year olds silently sitting there, looking at us like we just crashed their party. Hna, Cluff and I bashfully made our way in the back and giggled all the way there about how goofy we must have looked to the bus driver… two white gringas flag him down and then charge after him when all he´s trying to do is take the kids to their homes. He must have felt bad for our effort. That was fun.

The other notable experience with the buses wasn´t quite as fun, but a little more embarrassing. So there we were, headed to an appointment on a hot crowded bus when the driver takes a sharp turn. I play ¨corners¨ with Hna. Cluff and squish her a little bit against the window as the bus makes the turn. Ha ha, funny right? A good 3 or 4 minutes passes, I´m lost in my thoughts, not paying much attention when the bus makes a relatively sharp turn again, but the other way. Hna. Cluff hadn´t forgotten what I did to her and in fact wanted to play the game too. It all happened so fast, I honestly don´t remember how it happened but before I knew it I was on the dirty aisle floor of the bus, shocked and even more shocked at what had happened. I think I yelped a little bit so every head turned in time to see me awkwardly sitting on the floor. Yes, Hna. Cluff did shove me off the seat onto the floor. Though she promises that she didn´t think I was actually going to fall off the seat, and I probably wouldn´t have if I had been prepared. It was just the unexpectedness of the whole push that caught me off guard enough to actually fall. Don´t worry, I´m not so pesada that I didn´t have a good laugh too. After the matter.

I haven´t been snapping as many pictures lately for the ug dog contest. Ithink the uglies have become more normal to me. I´ll keep my eyes pealed. I know I need to print more pictures, it seems like there is little time on P-day to get everything done, especially when everything is in Rancagua. I´ll try to get it done in the next couple weeks.

It hasn´t rained yet… Turns out the good weather we´ve been having is super unusual in this time of year. Somehow they figure by the weather and the way the ants have been scurrying around the winter is going to be a harsh one. We´ll see. I put an extra blanket on my bed last night. The nights are getting cool.

Thanks mom and dad for your constant e-mails. I don´t know if you know but to read the supporting words means so much to me. I can see your love for the family, for me, and for the Lord. It´s incredible this chance we get on the earth to live and do good things. Thanks cal for your e-mail! And thanks to friends when I get an e-mail here and there. I really feel like the luckiest gal around. I´m learning about a lot about stuff…like life, and Jesus Christ and what makes a good person.

Mom, you asked for the play by play of my day. I´ll give you a quick run down, since I´m running out of time.

6:30am - I try to wake up early and study language. It happens about 60 percent of the days. 7:00 - Comp prayer, make bed, stomach crunches
7:30 -Breakfast, get ready for the day
8:30 - Personal study
9:30 - Comp study
10:30 – Embrace the world and work
1:30pm – Lunch, travelling to and from
3:30 – Leave to work again
9:30 or 10:00 – Enter the house and plan
10:30 - Eat food, prep for bed
11:00 – Sleep.

Okay, time. Family, I love you so much. Thanks for being you. Remember to say your prayers. LOVESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!