So I'm in Florida. Weird. But. My companion has changed. Even weirder. Buttttt.....She is awesome! She will be a really good trainer.
Alright. My area. First off, I'm really jealous because two of my favorite people from the CCM are in the same area in Hileah further South. I'm a little bit further north. My area is West Palm North. I'm in a Spanish ward, which is awesome because they feed us and the ward is AWESOME! They are super willing to help out with lessons and there are activities like every night. Pretty crazy, but pretty cool. I've basically decided I was born to be Latino. Here's my thoughts for the week:
1. Seriously, white people are mean. As a culture, we are just rude. And okay, I get that I'm rude too, but I like the Latinos soooo much more. I don't need a water bottle because bascially everyone offers us water all the time. Probably because all you have to do to sweat here is walk outside so we look pathetic and gross but whatever. I actually love the humidity because it makes running in the morning so much easier. Your throat isn't on fire because you drink water with every breath. haha. Also being at sea level makes life easier too.
2. We meet people from so many different countries..like tons. But I can basically hear someone talk and identify if they are from Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, or Guatamala by how much I can understand them. I cannot understand Cubans. At all. The other three I can understand pretty well. The district leader is in our ward and he has served most of his mission in Hialeah, which is Cuban central so he speaks really really well. We had to both bear our testimonies yeaterday since we are new to the ward and he told me I have the best Spanish he has ever heard from a greenie which is scary because I like....don't speak....soooooo....but it was a huge compliment and something I am trying to work more towards perfecting.
3. Speaking of which, my trainer is super great! She has served a lot of time speaking English though so we are definitely trying to help each other out. I'm glad that she can understand a little bit better than me, but I have learned in the past few days that you just have to get good at smiling and nodding your head and pretending you understand. Which is definitely super risky and has consequences, so I am working on getting better and adjusting to switching accents at every door.
4. During nightly accounting, I told the district leader that I am working and want to work on participating in door approached (seriously guys, I will never become a door to door salesman...I hate door approaches but I have seen that they are good and that we meet a lot of people that way so I am trying to learn from it. God clearly sent me to a tracting mission so I would learn to talk to people more.) Anyway, he told me about how when he thought he knew Spanish pretty well they were tracting and found a lady that was sobbing. So they asked her what was wrong and he thought she said that she had gotten a divorce from her husband but now they were getting back together...he said congratulations....she slammed the door in their face....they lady had actually said her husband had just been hit by a car...so yeah, I really really really hope that never happens to me but it made me realize I need to just get over my fear of screwing up Spanish and just talk.
5. Thank you soooooooo much for the packages!!!! I loved them and they completely made my life! But, seriously, I am in a Latin ward so we are getting fed every day (Jana, I had balliadas yesterday and you are right they are so good!) so I seriously do not need food. But thank you for everything! I loved it!
This area didn't have any progressing investigators when I got here, so we are working to find people that are interested and that we can teach so I will keep all of you updated. :) But it has been the coolest thing ever to meet people from so many different countries and hear the different accents and life outlooks. Pretty legit.
Spiritual thought: 1 Nephi 17:21....I have thought a lot this week about how often we give up true happiness (the gospel) so that we might have happiness, aka so that we can keep searching...anyway. Think on that. There are a lot of different angles and it has been cool to think about.
You guys are awesome! Have a fantastic week! I am going to work on handwriting people today so I promise I will get to you eventually. Oh yeah, I'm in northern mission right now so mailing is pretty safe but send packages to the mission address. If it safe to be fowarded, they will foward it to me. If it is something that for sure cannot get lost, write on it to be held and they will get it to me eventually. Love all of you!
-Sister Bren Scadden
Mom's Note: Sister Scadden and Sister McGrath have been asked several times if they were sisters. Both have blonde hair, have fair complexions and are about the same height. (I'm hoping for pictures next week.)