Chickungunya

Another week has passed. We had a good week but unfortunately I have been sick. I had aches, fever, and lots of stomach pain. I am not sure what I had but there has been a huge outbreak of Chickungunya. This is a mosquito borne illness and everyone is getting it. I think I may have had a more mild form of it. We still worked but would take many breaks. I lived off a crackers and bananas diet for a few days.

Our area is very big. It’s a little overwhelming but I also like it because it keeps us busy. So far, we haven't had any investigators in church. We are starting to work more with less actives and one did go to church on Sunday. I love working with less actives. Tonight we are going to do a family home evening with a less active family and learn to make Dominican food and play games.

I adore my companion. She is so funny and cute. The Dominican men also love her. It’s fun to be with someone new because there are things that I now consider normal but her reaction to things remind me how different our cultures can be. I forget that in Utah we don’t have exotic flowers, people driving motorcycles hauling hauling mattresses or big pieces of furniture, wild dogs, or men hissing at us all day long.

The other Hermanas that we live with are Hermana Munoz from Costa Rica and Hermana Cearc from Guatalupe. One night we were all talking and they were showing us all the traditional dances from their countries and the dances they like when they go out with their friends. They wanted us to show them what we dance like so Hermana Gingell and I showed them how we mosh pit and the awkward way we dance at dances. They were so confused and disappointed because the Americans dance so well in the movies. We were able to show them a little bit of country dancing. It was a fun night.

We spent all of Saturday morning lost. We were trying to find a street and asked so many different people for directions. Somehow, almost everyone gave us such different directions. We were walking all over the place without getting anywhere. After quite a bit of back-tracking and wandering, we finally found the street. The person we were searching had incidentally moved. I was thinking about how there are so many different paths, voices, opinions, and doctrines in this big world. We are lucky for all the opportunities we have. But we also have to be mindful about who we are listening to and what we choose to believe. It is easy to feel confused and lost. The gospel has been such an anchor for me and I am grateful for the purpose and sense of direction the gospel gives us. I love what Cate said in her testimony: that if we are constant in the gospel, regardless of where the road of life takes us. We will be ok.

I got an awesome package from cute Gram!!!! Thanks Gram! It had her delicious fudge and a cute skirt to give away. Congrats to Cate for graduating. It is too crazy that you will being going to the university. And congrats to Gary and Shawna! How exciting!! I love you all so much.

xoxoxo

Hermana Christensen