Caracol

Good morning America.

 

let's begin.

It was a good week. I think? To be honest when I look back on the weeks each Tuesday, I don’t really remember what happened. So I just usually summarize with a general statement like...'it was a good week'.

Actually, yesterday was one of the coolest days of the mission yet. Because my zone--or a group of 22 missionaries--went to Caracol! The biggest ruin in Belize. And I LOVED it. We took a three hour bus ride to the hills and it was wild.

I just want to verify--did you guys know that there are t-rex in Belize??

Jurassic park is alive a kicking.

no JOKE.

Because we get to this HUGE ruin, and atop, we hear a terrifying roar. Initially, i thought the elders were messing around, and I was extremely impressed with their ability to imitate a lion/dinosaur. but the roaring...it continues.

After further investigation, turns out that the noise originated from HOWLER MONKEYS. I was stunned. Those things are ear-splitting! and terrifying.

Apart from that, the drunk man that tried to bite me last week makes a return this week...this time hefting a 15 foot-long pole in his hands with a blade attached to the end as he strolls down the street. It was...unnerving. When we had to walk past, I was doing this strange slinking/sneaking/tiptoeing movement. He acknowledged me, but did not try to sever me in two. For this, I am profoundly grateful.

My recognition in San Ignacio is on the rise. There are now 4 sisters in San Ignacio, and the new sisters told me that as they were riding home one evening, a group of drunk men on the street started cheering, 'HIRSCHI!!!' after them. I don't know how I am making friends in those circles, but apparently it is happening.

I don’t know. We had a really neat experience with a family we've been working with this week. The wife is not a member, and we've been just building a friendship with them, and helping the dad come back to activity. Slowly yet surely. Heavenly Father blessed us a TON. The dad asked us to really start sharing the message of the restoration with his wife. I was stunned...but I know that God prepares people. Always for this message.

Faith. Man oh man. My faith is coming. It is growing. I know that faith is really powerful. And actually a real power by which we can accomplish miracles. But faith takes feeding...by being obedient. being exactly obedient is tough on occasion. But nothing can give us the feeling of peace we have when we know we are being faithful to our Heavenly Father.

There's my tidbit.

The church is actually more true this week than it was last week.

Also I love my zone (group of missionaries that are serving in the area) to pieces.


love Sister Hirschi

Que es Provo??

 

 

For real actually this time I am telling you guys that I have ZERO MINUTES to write. Get ready for some mad grammatical errors and ugly vocabulary.

SO much passed this week, and I wish I could detail it all. For the sake of time, I will bullet point. *new verb* “to bullet point”.

·         A drunk man chased me on my bike. He proceeded to try to bite me and also barked at me. My adrenaline was off the charts. It was a horribly frightening moment. In my efforts to dodge the man I almost drove into a ditch. He was very drunk, so no fears mom. I easily outran him.

·         One night I drank a lot of juice at an investigators house. The senior couple visiting with us didn’t have the guts to finish theirs and poured it in my glass when our host was turned around. (just kidding. I love the senior couples. they are my 3rd grandparents)  I watched with a sort of gaping horror and then finished their juice. I could feel it sloshing around in my stomach all night. It was a new kind of pain for me.

·         One young man on the street asked me why I talked like a gangster. Evidently I am the first missionary/gangster he has ever encountered. Evidently I am a missionary gangster. I don’t know how to fix this problem.

·         I thought someone was stealing my bike, so I chased them down the street.  Turns out it was a member trying to fix it for me. I looked like a borderline disturbed person but please tell me something new.

·         In our English class, a young boy asked, 'Que es Provo?' and I lost it for twenty minutes. Where to start? I don’t think I can answer him.

·         Last night in a lesson a man told us that Jesus Christ was a pretty nice guy. I stared at the ground for at least 10 seconds before speaking again to ensure that I didn't erupt in laughter.

·         Also K**. I wish you could all meet K**. He hid behind us during our lesson when the police drove by. Mom--again don’t worry. K** is solid, the police are corrupt here. We taught K** the plan of salvation and it was so beautiful to see his reaction to learning that he was a child of God. He's attempted suicide many times, and when he learned that he had purpose in life...it’s a hard moment to describe but it was really powerful.

·         Also I have a lot of weaknesses and a lot of problems. Hahah its all on the table now.  But I read this scripture. And I know that faith is real...and so is Christ. And faith can be so hard to maintain...but without it, God can do nothing for us. I am so grateful for Christ--I know He will change me and make my weaknesses my strengths. I am grateful for weaknesses because they help me be humble! They help me understand the Savior.

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them.

 I love each and every one of you. I miss you, and also I am 6 months old! SEE YA'LL IN A YEAR!

The church is true.

 

love,

Sista Hirschi

 

No soy un taxi man

Well it's very hot here. 

Everyone warned me that this day would come. And it finally has. 92 degrees. 100% humidity. I am LOVING life. My body is melting. But I have become especially grateful for fans. And water. And shade.

 

So. Belize is just doing her thing. I love Belize so much that this week I have created the "TOP 10 of Belize". Let's go. 

 

10. In SI, everyone lives on Rice and Beans. Everyone. Everywhere. I feel a certain amount of concern for their diets because there must be a deficiency somewhere. For example...in fruits? Or in vegetables? But yeah. And lunch is the big meal--not dinner. Dinner is like...a candy bar. Or a flour tortilla. Tony Horton is rolling in his grave. Except that he is alive.

 

9. People here have a lotta love for reggaetown. In El Salvador (the ES) people largely listened to American music, even though they didn’t speak English...but here. No es asi. They dig their reggaetown and I never hear American music. 

 

8. Except for Bruno Mars. He is the only accepted American artist. Reggae everywhere...and then....BRUNO. 6000 decibels from the neighbors. Ok! But i love Bruno! He is a good guy. 

 

7. Also, all the girls in Belize are absolutely stunning?? I don't know how they do it...but they're all beautiful. SO attention all my single guy friends out there. If you want a gorgeous wife, you know where to go. 

 

6. Fireflies. There are thousands of fireflies every night. You can't beat SI at night. Palm trees, clear skies, stars, the moon, and fireflies. Unbeatable. 

 

5. Chinos are also everywhere. IN the States we enjoy something called grocery stores. Not so in Belize--where no American chains are allowed. Instead the Chinese have these tiny little holes in the wall on EVERY CORNER and they sell everything you could need. Just like Costco...only Chinese. and not in bulk. and in Belize. so really nothing like Costco. But I love the Asians that run the shops. They are super nice and my friends. 

 

4. In the states you have maybe seen your neighbor watering his yard. In Belize? we water the streets, because it is HOT and dust is in every crevice you can dream up. So people really stand out in front of their house and water the road to help control the dust. It looks absolutely ridiculous and I smile every time. Every time. 

 

3. In Belize, you say 'good morning' from daylight to noon. 'good afternoon' from lunch to 3. 'good evening' until 6, and then goodnight. BUT you can also say good evening whenever you want--like at ten am even. At first I had a hard time with this, because I wondered why people went to bed at 6 pm, but I have since caught on. 

 

2.5  Do you know the saying, 'like an American in Belize'?? It’s unlikely because I made it up just now. But it is synonyms with 'sticking out like a sore thumb'. Seriously. Americans are so. just. weird. hahaha I got a lotta love for the USA...but the tourists could maybe tone down their touristyness. 

 

2. Ignorant means mad in Belize. "I just get so ignorant when I see those drunk guys"--our friend O** said this and I just stared at him for a moment. My companion relieved the awkwardness of the situation by quietly informing me that ignorant means angry in Belize. Oh. got it. 

 

La Ruta Maya

1. La ruta maya!!! Each year there is a canoe race that begins in SI and goes for 3 days alllll the way to Belize City...some 120 miles by river. Hundreds of people get up early to go down to the river to pray (just kidding to watch) the beginning of the race. And....of course we went! WIth O** It was sooo neato. When the race started...I felt so much adrenaline. and people come from around the world for this sick race. I sent some pics of our fun time at the race. 

People scream, canoes tip over, and everyone in general goes nuts. Japan took it nice and easy and they were in last place but I yelled really super loud for them. I think they will win actually. 

 

Also. Shortly after the race...SIs R and I were trying to go get breakfast. We opted for a taxi. She banged on the side of the car. We jumped in. He took us up the street. We tried to pay him. He declined, because, 'no soy un taxi'. (This isn’t a taxi) Hahahahaha whoops! I don’t know why he gave us a ride...but he was very nice. We laughed for some time after that one. 

 

I ran for my life TWICE this week from vicious canines. I am slowly developing a hatred for dogs. It's sad. But seriously I’ve never been so afraid. 

 

Apart from the funnies...we had some good times with investigators this week. We met Joseph Smith version 2.0--a little boy named D** who is 13 and has the most unreal faith I have ever seen. He just wants to be good and know the truth and he brings his family members with him and when they don’t come he goes alone. Can you say “champ”? 

 

Also remember last week...when junior banged on E**'s window to wake him up for church? We went back this week. He told us again that he was drunk but then miraculously showed up on time. He is the coolest! ( He walked in straight lines so it was ok.)

 

I read a talk this week which blew my mind. I included a few excerpts below. I love learning. I've been amazed at how much I just want to LEARN since coming on the mission. About everything. SO here are some golden parts of this apostles discourse: 

 

In the same way, you and I can put Christ at the center of our lives and become one with Him as He is one with the Father (see John 17:20–23). We can begin by stripping everything out of our lives and then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center. We should first put in place the things that make it possible to always remember Him—

frequent prayer and scripture study, thoughtful study of apostolic teachings, weekly preparation to partake of the sacrament worthily, Sunday worship, and recording and remembering what the Spirit and experience teach us about discipleship.

 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou

art still chosen, and art again called to the work”

 

I am sending my love to you all. Remember to choose the right. And always be faithful. And don't let people sway you from what you know is true. Fear God more than man. Or maybe love God more than man. It's the way to go. 

 Love,

 
Sister Hirschi

 

Alright you faithful readers. Here comes a doozy.

(HI all, I had to do a little editorializing in this letter because I had no idea who/what Alaina was talking about in several parts of the letter.  If you know, you are probably young and hip, but for the rest of us, I added explanations in parenthesis.-Alaina's Mom)

Happy Wednesday! Changes were this week week (Every 6 weeks some missionaries are transferred to new areas. It’s known as “transfers” here in the US, but they must call it “changes”in Belize) and I will continue to reside in my hometown of SI, Belize! I am stoked because I know almost everyone here. Or enough that when I walk down the streets I say “hi” to at least 20 people in the space of 50 yards. Nothing beats that feeling. I love SI. In fact I have made so many friends in so many right places that this week Ii was invited to take a yacht to a private island...........

Waiting for the go-ahead from president on that one. Keep your fingers crossed. 

(For those of you not familiar with missions, this is meant tongue in cheek.  No way that is going to happen!)

 

Also. I speak Spanish. I wish you knew the love that is burning within me for all things Latin these days. I love Mexicans. I love El Salvadorians. I love EVERYTHING LATINO. Bachata above all (An Afro Latino genre of music that originated in the Dominican Republic in the early parts of the 20th century) 

So this week me and my wonderful companion decided to start running in a park near our house. Well it turns out that after a 5 month hiatus, your body will initially reject a return to a running regimen. How do you resolve the conflict? Competition with Tom Hardy. 

So Sister R and I are running around this park...a lap is probably 1/3 of a mile...when suddenly we see this man who looks identical to Tom Hardy...only blonde. But yeah, he has traps on traps on traps. ok. So the Tom look-alike and we are running opposite directions. Then after about 15 minutes I realize he turned around and is coming up on our tail. I wanted to race him--actually I just didn’t want him to pass me. So I started booking it and I was scared half to death because Tom Hardy ( I was very confused by this name dropping so I had to look this guy up…he’s an actor.  Breakout role was in Inception) was a foot behind me this whole lap and I can hear him breathing. The thing that kept me going despite extreme pain? I chanted to myself 'America, AMERICA, AMERICA'. Because America always wins. 

I won. I beat Tom Hardy round the track. The result: next day? Couldn’t walk. What’s up Tom!!!

So apart from that fun, pride building and muscle destroying experience, I saw the single most hilarious moment of my life pass by me this week. 

Sunday mornings are crazy in the mission. Every week you go get alllll your investigators and wake them up and try to nonchalantly invite them to church. It’s cool. 

So. Sunday morning. 8:24 am. Sis R and I roll up to E***’s apartment. There are about 5 lil kids outside. I proceed to knock on E***’s door gently. Once, twice, three times. No response. Well this kid, Junior, sees me knocking. He climbs up on a table under E***’s window, winds up his arm, and PUNCHES THE WINDOW AS HARD AS HE CAN. I am so stunned that I BUST out laughing. Then Junior jumps off the table and runs away. BUT he comes back, and continues to pound E***’s window with at least 3 more fists. I am basically on the floor laughing and Sis R is super concerned. 

 E*** got up. 

But he was drunk. Which equals not going to church. 

In addition, I fell off my bike hard core yesterday. Oops. ouch. My hand is looking pretty meaty these days. It's been rendered completely useless and I can now empathize perfectly with Bethany Hamilton ( Wikipedia: The inspirational Christian athlete from Hawaii who courageously returned to surfing after surviving the loss of her arm to a shark.)

ahhh out of time! Next week will be Belize top ten. Just to whet some appetites. 

 Also Christ like love! I am learning patience and love no matter what! Sorry I am running low on time...but no shocker here...the church is still true. 

I love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Hirschi. stay true.