First Full Day as a missionary in La Orotava

Hermana Garcia on one of the many hills we hiked up all the time

We woke up on time, had companionship study and personal study and set off at 10 a.m.(later then the standard 9:30 a.m. to give us time to study Spanish). We hiked up this grande [huge] hill to go see Annie, a nice Cuban lady with a young daughter. I felt very tired and looked it. Annie commented on it, I felt silly, but I literally could not keep my eyes open.

 Annie and Evelyn

Then we went to visit a few members and a nice old lady named Manuela who made us lunch. She had a very dirty house with spider webs, dirty dishes, no running water. She made us omelets - called tortillas. They tasted pretty good, but the thought of all the dirt and gross that were in them made me want to gag. 

Manuela and I on my very last dinner appointment before I left La Orotava. She had a heart of gold. She loved the missionaries so much. I grew to really love her during my time there.

We went back to our piso and I slept for two hours, no problem. Then we went to a few other houses - a Cuban family who couldn't accept the Book of Mormon. Again, I testified boldly, but I had such a hard time expressing myself and understanding that it was probably less effective. Maybe not. Pilar and Elisa gave us bananas today and I put them in my bag and they got all over my charlas and verb book, etc. Overall, I had a good time today. I'm not stressing out over the language yet. I don't understand anything. I just smile and nod. I have faith that I'll learn more and understand more each day.

 Pilar and Elisa, who gave me the bananas that squished all over my bag