Sin Lloro

 

I'll say it, I have had a terrible week. It's been cold and rainy and I was pretty sick for a lot of it. I still have some cold symptoms, but I think I am better now.

It's getting colder here. I remember leaving my jacket and all of my sweaters in Reno to get rid of the extra weight. That was pretty dumb because I never thought it was going to get cold. Especially when I first got here, I thought I was going to be warm forever. Now, I have to bundle up in my one hoodie and pair of sweatpants and socks every night. I could never sleep with socks on in the past and I still think it's kind of weird. I used to laugh at anyone who slept in socks. We don't even turn on the ac anymore because it's actually kind of cold.

It came out of nowhere and caught me off guard.

I read a quote the other day that said, "You can tell a man's ambition by if he considers his alarm clock his best friend or his worst enemy." Despite going to bed extremely early every night to get in some more hours, I am not ready to wake up. Then, I am afraid that I won't be able to sleep and that fear keeps me up at night. It sort of stresses me out.

Some Elders from San Ignacio came down for exchanges this week. They were only here for the night and then they left by noon the next day so we didn't really get anything done. Hardly anything happens before 12pm in this country. But it was good seeing some other Elders. The first ones I have seen since I arrived here in Ayojas. I feel lonely sometimes without a bunch of elders around. As much as I hate to admit, it's really hard and I sometimes feel like I don't have any friends. All of the other missionaries in the zone got together today because a lot of them got transferred out and they all took this huge photo. I was not in it, given I am 3 hours away, but that's the zone.

I remember always wanting to serve way out in the boons and not be close to anyone or anything, but now that's the thing I miss the most. I wish there were some more people to talk to. 

My spanish really has been getting better. I only had a couple of days where I really felt like I couldn't say anything. But despite being sick I really have understood clearly and have been able to speak really well.

I found out transfer news yesterday and it turns out that Elder Cardozo and I are staying. It's definitely a good thing. After all, I still like it here and there are a lot of good things happening.

Thursday was cold, rainy, and dark. We spent all day working hard and it looked like the dead of night by 6:30pm. I was so ready to just go home and crawl into bed. My companion wouldn't let me though. I remember praying just to feel better. I think I just said "Help!" under my breath. About 5 minutes later, this guy, Oscar, who we have been teaching with his sister, drives up and asks us if we can come over and share with him. He also gave us a bag of empanadas. It's amazing what an empanada can do when you are hungry, tired and wet. It was a miracle and a complete answer to my small, fervent prayer. I didn't really know what I wanted or why I was so down that day, but I felt like my prayer was answered.

I learned a new phrase. It was something that Elder Chamorro said a lot but I never realized what it meant. The phrase is "sin lloro" but it sounds like "sin jorro." It basically means that you can do something, no problem. Like, I can do that sin lloro. I've been saying it a lot lately and it definitely has been keeping me going. Keeping me motivated. Helping me work hard. Sin lloro.