Thank you Lord... for sending me into a beer ridden billiard parlor...
;P
I just have to say... You guys are totally missin' out!
So much happenes here, and I wish you could all experience it with me. Hna Carlsen and I are having a blast together and we get to experience all the ¨CRAZY¨ around here. There is always something to laugh, smile, or joke about. :P And our great memories are already innumerable. It's possible that I might leave Los Angeles at the end of this transfer (6 weeks) who knows... ? because I will complete my 4th already here, and 5 transfers in one area is rare, unless requested for a good reason... (puppy faced-hermanas usually...). But we'll just have to find out and be ready for anything. I'm already missing it... it will be really sad to leave all the sudden...
So last Saturday we had a baptism planned and the only time we could interview Katerine was that same afternoon... she didn't show up at the church on time and we waited for quite a while. There was no way to contact her except walk ALL the way to her house (but we didn't know if she was already on her way etc.). We were worried cuz...well, if she's not interviewed she can't get baptized!!! Panic! But we thought a brilliant Idea: Since we had waited long enough, we headed to her house to to the interview there! Thankfully she was there, just showed up late to her house (she lives somewhere else with her family, and here just for the weekends with her aunt and grandma.) we got her interviewed, she passed :) and the Elders went their way. We got Katerine equiped with a towel, undies, and we speed-walked to the church, giggling and cheering about the baptism that night. Oh, yeah. About an hour earlier, the President called me *gulp* ¨Hello President Bair! What a pleasent surprise! (oh no, what did I do wrong???)¨ hehe, well, he just wanted to know when our baptism started, so they could come! eep! The whole schedule was totally messed up that day because there was another baptism from the other ward (we use the same chapel) And another big activity was going on in the chapel as well. I took a guess and said ¨well, I'm not sure...¨ ¨No one ever comes on time so it might start sometime after... 6?¨ how emberassing. But really, these Dominicans (the majority) are incapable of being one time... There's always some...way time... between meetings and such...
Anywho, They ended up coming, and everything, yes, everything turned out perfectly! Not sure how that happened... Prayer works. I sang a primary song, and also in the activity next door after the baptism, lots of people came, AND in sacrament meeting Sunday morning with mi compa. I am always so delighted to sing at ANY occasion. It's especially exciting when it's a surprise... =D
...What was talking about?...
My Spanish is Awesome!! Thank the Lord ...but I have much to learn...
Ernesto recieved the Holy Aaronic Priesthood last Sunday, I was so thrilled! I'm so so proud of how far he's come... He's determined to convert his mom too heh, but in time. His example and testimony will help the most.
Oh, yeah,
Yesterday we were on our way home after an awesome zone meeting looking for some fellas that were missing at our cita the night before. We always check in the popular Billiard parlor near where they live, just peek in the window. But this time the owner motioned us to come in... ¨well, maybe they're in there¨ I thought. They weren't, but something made me want to shoot a couple billards...
Now don't get me wrong here. Just because I picked up the pole the guy actually got the balls ready on the table, I don't know why I didn't stop him. this whole time I was asking myself ¨what the devil am I doing here??...¨ ...Presidente beer advertisements everywhere and such, but no people really. ANYways, these three strange looking guys walked up to us talking all funny... oh, Americans! heh, yeah. It was wierd. They were each from a diferent state, and were here for medical school. oookay. Each an interesting character, I should have got a picture. They were all drinking. But I ignored that and focused on how I could help them. This was my oportunity (as randomly surprizing as it was) to share with them my testimony! We had a great chat we all of them, I got to know them, why they were here, names, etc... Talked about the church, they had heard a lot about the Mormons and one even owns the Book of mormon. Gavin. (Hans and Gerard the others went outside or something, I was left talking to Gavin). Anyway, after we were good friends, I told him about how quitting drinking would make his life a lot more awesome. That in order to fulfill his love for medicine and a career in the future (and everything else), in order to acheive happiness in his walks of life, one of the first things he should get rid of is the beer. I told him that as a friend that cared for him, not just a preaching missionary. I promised him blessings and huge changes in his life for the better, and that if he cared about his future career, family, and entire lifetime... he had better quit drinking. He was young... and doesn't deserve to ruin his life now. I got his e-mail so I could check on him in the future to see how he's doing. After that the boys headed out, we shook hands, (almost got kissed by Hans, prolly a bit wasted) I wished them the best of everything, and they drove off in their little rented car...
Great group of guys. Respectable, gentlemanly, and apparently pretty smart... in some ways... but not all. Weird it all worked out like that. but I hope I made some difference. And a little e-mail testimony here and there might change a life...
Thanks for tuning in on the Benson Specials, on DR2008. Pasen buenas noches.
Seeya! ...noproofread
Hna Benson !
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
March 5, 2008 Pictures B
1- Henry, Toña, and Alejandro! Our investigator family who we love so much! (three kids aren´t in the picture) We went over to their house Sunday afternoon and learned to cook ¨La Bandera¨ and we ATE it!!! I felt like I was oging to Die with a capital ¨D¨ I ate so much. Fruits of the labors though. MM!
2- umm........ yo estaba...... cocinando. ya.
2- umm........ yo estaba...... cocinando. ya.
3- food´s almost done... it took like... 3... long..... hrs. Cooking is Way over-rated here. A lot of unnecessary waiting. :P
4-5, last district meeting of the transfer. We cooked pasta, made flan, and had a blast!! We used the Dueño´s empty house above us (asked first). It was the best idea ever. :) Don´t worry, it was all approved. ;)
... isn´t anyone sick of me yet??... *sigh* ok.
jus lemmy know, k? k. =)
Love and thanks to you ALL!!
Peace, Joy, and Marshmellows--
+ Hna Julie Benson +
March 5, 2008 Pictures A
1- the Zone ..San Geronimo
2- CHICKEEEZ!
3- 5 - Ernesto!! Baptised this past saturday, and he'll recieve the priesthood after his interview this Sunday. Cool! He's really awesome and has really changed. We are soo happy for him and his decision to get baptized adn make good choices. :D
6- happy baby-chubby-legs!!
7- BABY FACE!!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
March 5, 2008 Letter
More pics, I guess, and stuff. . .
This p-day was rather relaxing. there weren't any activities, so there was nowhere to rush to this morning. :) We enjoyed studying for an extra hour, had a great discussion on the Atonement, and afterwards I had more time to get little things done. A lot of stuff gets left behind when you have a tight schedule. We got some food at the store, some long awaited applesauce, and had fun talking on the way home. We talk about fun stuff all the time, Hna Carlsen is a real cutie, makes me laugh a lot!. hehe.
Last night we had an awesome talk (and a great lesson on Missionary work!) with our new member Ernesto. He was looking back at those first days that we had found him on the street... everything that happened after that: teaching him, helping him, through good and bad... and where he is now. He thanked us for everything we had done to bring him to the gospel. Really it was the Spirit that has changed him... just reminded him of his own devine potential. Now his eyes are opened, his concience enlightened, and his Spirit filled. He's a different person, though still has a lot to learn. He was signed to play for the Yankees. But even though his biggest passion is baseball... he's thinking about going to school... ?!? We never even suggested that for him, but new that it was a decision made with the Spirit. All by himself! Wow.
He said if he wasn't married he would go on a mission... :D But not here in the DR he says. He said it would be easy to convert his mom, and we will also concentrate on his wife. Though she lives in Boston, he will be an example to her.
Well, we've got another baptism this Saturday. Yay! Katerine, a little jovensita, she has been so eager to ba apart of the church, meetings and activities, to meet new friends and be apart of the Spirit of teh Gospel. We feel she is ready, she feel she´s ready, so let the games begin.
This p-day was rather relaxing. there weren't any activities, so there was nowhere to rush to this morning. :) We enjoyed studying for an extra hour, had a great discussion on the Atonement, and afterwards I had more time to get little things done. A lot of stuff gets left behind when you have a tight schedule. We got some food at the store, some long awaited applesauce, and had fun talking on the way home. We talk about fun stuff all the time, Hna Carlsen is a real cutie, makes me laugh a lot!. hehe.
Last night we had an awesome talk (and a great lesson on Missionary work!) with our new member Ernesto. He was looking back at those first days that we had found him on the street... everything that happened after that: teaching him, helping him, through good and bad... and where he is now. He thanked us for everything we had done to bring him to the gospel. Really it was the Spirit that has changed him... just reminded him of his own devine potential. Now his eyes are opened, his concience enlightened, and his Spirit filled. He's a different person, though still has a lot to learn. He was signed to play for the Yankees. But even though his biggest passion is baseball... he's thinking about going to school... ?!? We never even suggested that for him, but new that it was a decision made with the Spirit. All by himself! Wow.
He said if he wasn't married he would go on a mission... :D But not here in the DR he says. He said it would be easy to convert his mom, and we will also concentrate on his wife. Though she lives in Boston, he will be an example to her.
Well, we've got another baptism this Saturday. Yay! Katerine, a little jovensita, she has been so eager to ba apart of the church, meetings and activities, to meet new friends and be apart of the Spirit of teh Gospel. We feel she is ready, she feel she´s ready, so let the games begin.
Wow. guess we´re on a roll with the baptisms here... crap, don`t jinx it Julie!! *tsk*-- gosh.
more pics ?... yeah.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February 27, 2008 Letter
Didn't I just write you guys?
I swear I just wrote you all... I don't even remember what I've saiud lately... Oh yeah, I sent pics, right. Those are words enough.
Little Elizabeth got baptized this last Saturday and Ernesto will tak his turn This coming Saturday... I'll try to get some pics to you next time. Things are really looking up around here. I said that last time didn't I?... well, y'know baptisms just seem to make everything look better. I kind of forgot for a second all of the stuff that wasn't going well and just delight in the fruits of our labors... I thank the Lord every day, every minute, for all that He does, has done, and will do to help us in His work, after all he won't let us down. Even if I may feel like everything is falling (kinda like a couple weeks ago) I just know that everything has it's season. We do everything that we can and the Lord will work everything out in His own time.
did I say that already?...
Well, I seem to be reapeating myself. It's been a long, fast week. ALways so much to do. I have to take a day at a time, do what I can, and allow myself to sleep at night, cuz there's more to do tomorrow. Keeps my brain going... heh, I guess that's how I lived before the mish, as some of you might remember. I just live a day at a time.
We have lately been teaching a number of people who speak English adn are actually... intelligent. I find myself stuttering sometimes because I'm so used to teaching BASIC basic doctrines of the gospel... which even those some don't understand. I've even forgotten details to some lessons that I never end up teaching in the lessons. woah. It feels very nice to talk teach someone who can accept and understand much easier. =)
Thanks for all who wrote. I'll print you out and read it through the week. :D
sorry for the lame e-mail. :P
Peachy,
Hna Julie Benson!
I swear I just wrote you all... I don't even remember what I've saiud lately... Oh yeah, I sent pics, right. Those are words enough.
Little Elizabeth got baptized this last Saturday and Ernesto will tak his turn This coming Saturday... I'll try to get some pics to you next time. Things are really looking up around here. I said that last time didn't I?... well, y'know baptisms just seem to make everything look better. I kind of forgot for a second all of the stuff that wasn't going well and just delight in the fruits of our labors... I thank the Lord every day, every minute, for all that He does, has done, and will do to help us in His work, after all he won't let us down. Even if I may feel like everything is falling (kinda like a couple weeks ago) I just know that everything has it's season. We do everything that we can and the Lord will work everything out in His own time.
did I say that already?...
Well, I seem to be reapeating myself. It's been a long, fast week. ALways so much to do. I have to take a day at a time, do what I can, and allow myself to sleep at night, cuz there's more to do tomorrow. Keeps my brain going... heh, I guess that's how I lived before the mish, as some of you might remember. I just live a day at a time.
We have lately been teaching a number of people who speak English adn are actually... intelligent. I find myself stuttering sometimes because I'm so used to teaching BASIC basic doctrines of the gospel... which even those some don't understand. I've even forgotten details to some lessons that I never end up teaching in the lessons. woah. It feels very nice to talk teach someone who can accept and understand much easier. =)
Thanks for all who wrote. I'll print you out and read it through the week. :D
sorry for the lame e-mail. :P
Peachy,
Hna Julie Benson!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
February 13, 2008 Letter
subject?. . . .
Man, I can't even share a fraction of my experiences, and half the time I never end up conveying the message or feeling I've wanted to. To get even the slightest idea of what's goin' on here I'd have to have some kind of Truman show camera everywhere I go. ... though, that would be kind of akward. But you get the idea. Just wish you could all experience the awesomeness down here. XD
And I'm sorry about all teh dumb random comments in t eh past tha tonly a few # of people would get and laugh at... Having no relation to missionary work at all... Don't worry, I'm totally focused in the work and the people I need to help. Just remember p-day s when I just spill out my brain out onto the keyboard and occasionally there are some random... lumps... ?? wanted or not. bear with me. I'm striving for perfection here... ;)
Um, Happy Birthday to..... EVERYONE!!! I admit by now I've forgotten almost everyone's b-day and I can't keep up to date with all of them. I WANT to though. I love you all, and if I forget your birthday... it means I love you more! (but if I happen to remember and send a note it doesn't mean I love you less..) .... I just dug myself a hole... :P ohwell.
What am I talking about? .don't remember.
Happy Valentines Day tomorrow!! woo-hoo! Dia de amor y amistad. :) Spread the love!
hmm... the honest truth I've been rather ill lately. (don't worry Mom!) Lost energy, tired a lot, mm got a fever one night. I'm just pushing myself too hard. But there's SO much to do! But I'm taking my vitamins, drinking lots of water, trying to eat good, lots of fruit, excercising too. Our awesome Bishop gave me an awesome blessing! So I hope to recover and get working up to par again... well I've been working up to par, but I'm so dizzy and weak by the end of the day so I hope that gets better.
Wow, was that like the first bad news ever?? Don't think much of it then. :)
Something really depressing happened and my brain can't come up with any fun-whitted comments or stories...
Just need to feel better so I can think again! ... it's past 9 months huh?... not sure. i'm not counting. I guess this week full of random crying phases is normal then?.....
peace
Hna J. Benson
-- hopefully a mass of pics next week...? ok. :) thanks for tuning in.
Man, I can't even share a fraction of my experiences, and half the time I never end up conveying the message or feeling I've wanted to. To get even the slightest idea of what's goin' on here I'd have to have some kind of Truman show camera everywhere I go. ... though, that would be kind of akward. But you get the idea. Just wish you could all experience the awesomeness down here. XD
And I'm sorry about all teh dumb random comments in t eh past tha tonly a few # of people would get and laugh at... Having no relation to missionary work at all... Don't worry, I'm totally focused in the work and the people I need to help. Just remember p-day s when I just spill out my brain out onto the keyboard and occasionally there are some random... lumps... ?? wanted or not. bear with me. I'm striving for perfection here... ;)
Um, Happy Birthday to..... EVERYONE!!! I admit by now I've forgotten almost everyone's b-day and I can't keep up to date with all of them. I WANT to though. I love you all, and if I forget your birthday... it means I love you more! (but if I happen to remember and send a note it doesn't mean I love you less..) .... I just dug myself a hole... :P ohwell.
What am I talking about? .don't remember.
Happy Valentines Day tomorrow!! woo-hoo! Dia de amor y amistad. :) Spread the love!
hmm... the honest truth I've been rather ill lately. (don't worry Mom!) Lost energy, tired a lot, mm got a fever one night. I'm just pushing myself too hard. But there's SO much to do! But I'm taking my vitamins, drinking lots of water, trying to eat good, lots of fruit, excercising too. Our awesome Bishop gave me an awesome blessing! So I hope to recover and get working up to par again... well I've been working up to par, but I'm so dizzy and weak by the end of the day so I hope that gets better.
Wow, was that like the first bad news ever?? Don't think much of it then. :)
Something really depressing happened and my brain can't come up with any fun-whitted comments or stories...
Just need to feel better so I can think again! ... it's past 9 months huh?... not sure. i'm not counting. I guess this week full of random crying phases is normal then?.....
peace
Hna J. Benson
-- hopefully a mass of pics next week...? ok. :) thanks for tuning in.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
February 6, 2008 Letter
I pierced my ears!!!
jk....... =) hehe
Sorry, I felt like an idiot when I didn't even mention anything about Pres Hinkley the last time. :P SO much happens around, I even forgot for a second that our dear Prophet passed away. That Monday we were busy with a day full of citas adn knew nothing about it until a member stopped us on the street
and asked if we'd heard teh news... "What news?..." No one had called us at all that day, so if she didn't stop us we would have never known until the Zone meeting the next day where they had mentioned it again. It would have been a bigger surprize. When we found out we just stood in front of an investigators house staring at the locked gate.We sadly held eachother for a moment then slowly walked back to the member's home to sit and the the news sink in... It's hard to be way out here and recieve such ill news....
Well, .. we all know that he's happy beyond descrption. =) And that's comforting enough. We kind of got to watch the funeral conference but missed the end and the funeral part because the satelite was being dumb... because of the sudden rain storm. Oh, well. That's what DVD's are for.
We've got about six, er, five baptisms lined up for these next two weeks. =D Wish me luck with all teh paperwork and stuff... and everything else. I can't do it all alone. We are teaching some great people, but Satan just has his stupid little tactics to bring even the best down. He's actually extremely smart in that respect... but I still hate 'im.
A lot of people here are trying to convince me to get my ears peirced..... ........
Today I ripped a little peice of pornography out of a public car and threw it out in the street. Nobody needed it anyway. :) They driver got all flustered and said, hey, that's private. heh, in a public car?! noway. People don't do that.
A couple nights ago we had a long ways to walk to our next cita, and we would have been late if we walked... so I stopped at the police station and asked for a ride. The were all just standing around, and their huge car wasn't even being used. So.... we were officially escorted to our destination. *smiles proudly*
....can't think of any more stories at this moment. there should be a couple next week though.
Love to all the world and beyond,
Hna Julie Benson
hermanajuliebenson@gmail.com
http://juliesmission.blogspot.com
jk....... =) hehe
Sorry, I felt like an idiot when I didn't even mention anything about Pres Hinkley the last time. :P SO much happens around, I even forgot for a second that our dear Prophet passed away. That Monday we were busy with a day full of citas adn knew nothing about it until a member stopped us on the street
and asked if we'd heard teh news... "What news?..." No one had called us at all that day, so if she didn't stop us we would have never known until the Zone meeting the next day where they had mentioned it again. It would have been a bigger surprize. When we found out we just stood in front of an investigators house staring at the locked gate.We sadly held eachother for a moment then slowly walked back to the member's home to sit and the the news sink in... It's hard to be way out here and recieve such ill news....
Well, .. we all know that he's happy beyond descrption. =) And that's comforting enough. We kind of got to watch the funeral conference but missed the end and the funeral part because the satelite was being dumb... because of the sudden rain storm. Oh, well. That's what DVD's are for.
We've got about six, er, five baptisms lined up for these next two weeks. =D Wish me luck with all teh paperwork and stuff... and everything else. I can't do it all alone. We are teaching some great people, but Satan just has his stupid little tactics to bring even the best down. He's actually extremely smart in that respect... but I still hate 'im.
A lot of people here are trying to convince me to get my ears peirced..... ........
Today I ripped a little peice of pornography out of a public car and threw it out in the street. Nobody needed it anyway. :) They driver got all flustered and said, hey, that's private. heh, in a public car?! noway. People don't do that.
A couple nights ago we had a long ways to walk to our next cita, and we would have been late if we walked... so I stopped at the police station and asked for a ride. The were all just standing around, and their huge car wasn't even being used. So.... we were officially escorted to our destination. *smiles proudly*
....can't think of any more stories at this moment. there should be a couple next week though.
Love to all the world and beyond,
Hna Julie Benson
hermanajuliebenson@gmail.com
http://juliesmission.blogspot
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