Nov. 16: Querido Familia y Amigos:
Spanish is coming along slowly. Last Sunday I went home from church with stomach cramps and spent the rest of the week crawling out from stomach flu. Joe “reassured” me that it is a common ailment with missionaries. It slowed down my Spanish study and although I think the MTC might have the world’s best approach to missionary language study, their “set up time” is consuming. By the time I went through purpose and goals and puzzling my way through the key indicators chart and who/how to report my work, I didn’t have much time for the actual language study itself. I did surprise myself when I set out a children’s word card game and one morning found the words had stayed in my head!
Spanish is coming along slowly. Last Sunday I went home from church with stomach cramps and spent the rest of the week crawling out from stomach flu. Joe “reassured” me that it is a common ailment with missionaries. It slowed down my Spanish study and although I think the MTC might have the world’s best approach to missionary language study, their “set up time” is consuming. By the time I went through purpose and goals and puzzling my way through the key indicators chart and who/how to report my work, I didn’t have much time for the actual language study itself. I did surprise myself when I set out a children’s word card game and one morning found the words had stayed in my head!
Dad is buzzing along in the temple and I am feeling like a foreigner. Oh to be able to do my job! However, someone needs to keep the home fires burning and I’ve done more cooking with greater pleasure as the week has progressed.
Now for the grand slam and it’s not what you think. Last Saturday I got a haircut at a nearby salon. We were helped by a young woman with long curled black hair, who spoke English. I wish I had thought to use my camera. Her finished style was so gorgeous that I was tempted to grow my hair out on the spot. I remember MotherGrand (my mother’s mother) had long hair until she died. I just never knew it because she kept it wrapped around her head in an “up-do”.
Now for the grand slam and it’s not what you think. Last Saturday I got a haircut at a nearby salon. We were helped by a young woman with long curled black hair, who spoke English. I wish I had thought to use my camera. Her finished style was so gorgeous that I was tempted to grow my hair out on the spot. I remember MotherGrand (my mother’s mother) had long hair until she died. I just never knew it because she kept it wrapped around her head in an “up-do”.
When it was my turn for a haircut, the beautician won my love with a long and blissful head/scalp rub. She also gave me a very nice cut. I had a hard time on our last mission finding someone who cut hair well, so I was pleased.
The “slam” came when we stopped at a beauty supply shop on our way home. I purchased a blow dryer and curling iron for what I thought was about $45. When the charge came through on the visa, it was $502! We talked with the visa man until we realized that we had been off a decimal in our thinking. Welcome to not being well acquainted with exchange rates and attempting to convert on the spot. We tried to return them but could receive only store credit. I now have possibly the most expensive hair tools owned by any missionary!
Last week I had my breath taken away again when I ran across a photo of the Swan nebula. Such an enormous project, this universe is, and all of it created by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t know why we think we might be wiser than he is about things, when he is the creator of “worlds without number" (D&C). Here is a photo of the nebula and the web address of a really fine YouTube video from the Mormon Channel, about science and religion being two separate witnesses to the reality of God. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR8qIrJcJh4)
The “slam” came when we stopped at a beauty supply shop on our way home. I purchased a blow dryer and curling iron for what I thought was about $45. When the charge came through on the visa, it was $502! We talked with the visa man until we realized that we had been off a decimal in our thinking. Welcome to not being well acquainted with exchange rates and attempting to convert on the spot. We tried to return them but could receive only store credit. I now have possibly the most expensive hair tools owned by any missionary!
Last week I had my breath taken away again when I ran across a photo of the Swan nebula. Such an enormous project, this universe is, and all of it created by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t know why we think we might be wiser than he is about things, when he is the creator of “worlds without number" (D&C). Here is a photo of the nebula and the web address of a really fine YouTube video from the Mormon Channel, about science and religion being two separate witnesses to the reality of God. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR8qIrJcJh4)
By Thursday I was back on my feet. After morning story and scripture time and Spanish drill, I received the following poem from fellow missionary Hermana Barney.
Another day has gone by,
Without you in your place,
So please hurry and get well--
We want to see your face!
About the pumpkin dip,
I can hardly wait to try--
I'm counting the days 'till Monday
To taste your pumpkin ___ .
Oh, I mean dip. : )
Blessings,
Hna. Carol Barney
I intend to try a pumpkin dip recipe for my part of Thanksgiving dinner. Guatemala doesn’t have Thanksgiving,
of course. The American missionaries celebrate just as we do at home, but it will be on our Monday Nov. 24 P-day (preparation day) when the temple is closed.
One morning Dad was listening to a talk that caught my attention. When I asked him about it, he said Brooke Trower had sent it to him. This is one of the best sets of advice you'll ever hear!
Another day has gone by,
Without you in your place,
So please hurry and get well--
We want to see your face!
About the pumpkin dip,
I can hardly wait to try--
I'm counting the days 'till Monday
To taste your pumpkin ___ .
Oh, I mean dip. : )
Blessings,
Hna. Carol Barney
I intend to try a pumpkin dip recipe for my part of Thanksgiving dinner. Guatemala doesn’t have Thanksgiving,
of course. The American missionaries celebrate just as we do at home, but it will be on our Monday Nov. 24 P-day (preparation day) when the temple is closed.
One morning Dad was listening to a talk that caught my attention. When I asked him about it, he said Brooke Trower had sent it to him. This is one of the best sets of advice you'll ever hear!
All of you who met or knew Mike Trower, the extraordinary young man who lived with us this last summer, would also enjoy meeting his sister Brooke.
Mike is one of the reasons we had so many of our New Mexico branch go on missions. He is quiet and unassuming, but made an impact on his and Brooke’s sister Heather. Heather was our RS president when we first arrived in Silver City. She dropped out of sight shortly after that and stopped coming to church. Dad and I went to visit her in a trailer park, where she was living with a roommate and a brand-new rambunctious kitten. No response from her or the roommate, until Mike came home from his mission in December. Heather then passed all the others who had been working to get their mission papers, doctor and dentist appointments completed, etc. When she decides to do something, she really does it. She left in record time and just completed an honorable mission in the Portland area of Oregon. Dad received regular updates from her and we thought we might visit her while on our Oregon trip last summer. She had been transferred and we missed her. Below are pictures of the Trowers, Heather on the far left, her companion, Brooke and Mike at Mike's wedding.
Mike is one of the reasons we had so many of our New Mexico branch go on missions. He is quiet and unassuming, but made an impact on his and Brooke’s sister Heather. Heather was our RS president when we first arrived in Silver City. She dropped out of sight shortly after that and stopped coming to church. Dad and I went to visit her in a trailer park, where she was living with a roommate and a brand-new rambunctious kitten. No response from her or the roommate, until Mike came home from his mission in December. Heather then passed all the others who had been working to get their mission papers, doctor and dentist appointments completed, etc. When she decides to do something, she really does it. She left in record time and just completed an honorable mission in the Portland area of Oregon. Dad received regular updates from her and we thought we might visit her while on our Oregon trip last summer. She had been transferred and we missed her. Below are pictures of the Trowers, Heather on the far left, her companion, Brooke and Mike at Mike's wedding.
On Friday morning Dad and I went walking for my first time in a week. We bought tropical heliconia, a bright red waxy flower that I have been admiring. We now have two vases of it decorating our living room and bedroom. It is strange to see all the northern-clime Christmas decor, complete with snow scenes, in this flowering green area. It also jarred me to receive a letter from Elizabeth Robinson, one of my friends from BYUI, who talked about it being snowy and 20 degrees below zero! Enjoy these contrasts!
With all the downtime, I'm also writing. Today I found delightful photos of giraffes for my children's book Geremy Giraffe.
Love to you all,
Hermana Brubaker
Missionary Mom
Love to you all,
Hermana Brubaker
Missionary Mom