RAIN (05/09/2022)

Hermana Hampton and I both like to write. She has been telling me about the books she is writing haha. We use it as a reward to try and get to bed on time. I renamed one of her book characters too hahah.

We have been running around all the time, but it's all good fun. My mom told me I should explain the public transportation here. We use these little K Cars. They are these dumpy Toyota Corollas that you get in and you think, "Wow, how is this car running?" We (meaning everyone here) also fit four people in the back and then two people in the front seat. The mission rule about not having hermanas and elders sit next to each other is broken during these rides hahah. I will try and get a photo of when we went to Santo Domingo, and the elders picked us up and we rode home K Car style.

We went to district council, and a lady who we haven't ever seen there gave us mangos! We also went to our lesson the next day, and they gave us around 10 mangos haha. I even made a smoothie bowl with them!

It has also rained almost every day this week. I woke up in the middle of the night, looked out the window, and was like wow that's a lot of water in the street. I then fell back asleep haha. 

I also read a Conference talk by Russell M Nelson this week called Joy and Spiritual Survival. I think it was nice because he says that we have to choose to be happy and that no matter our situations, we can find joy in our lives through Christ. I think it's nice! A little motivational Monday thought for all y'all.

Lots of love! 

I also found my new favorite Spanish phrase this week: apartó mi alma. It means it takes my soul away. I love it haha

Hermana Locey

Bug's email address is Sarah.Locey@missionary.org. She would love to hear from you!

Sorry This Is Short (05/02/2022)

I got to go to Santo Domingo for light laughs this week because Hermana Hampton needed to get her residency card. I didn't need to go, but we couldn't have an equal number of hermanas and elders go together. So I had to go to uneven things out. BUT WE GOT TO GO TO KRISY KREME. SO ALL FIVE HOURS OF TRAVEL TIME WAS NOTHING. I love donuts. 

It was also a bit chilly this week. Last night we slept with our whole top sheet. Wow. Nice and chill. It was so nice though. I miss blankets lol.

I also finished El Libro de Mormon this week! I think it might be placebo, but I can speak a little more Spanish. We also got ice cream to celebrate. 

I hope you all enjoy summer that is coming soon! I think in my mind we are about in the end of January? You know, time. That's not really a thing for me, I guess. 

We also went to the monument! What's the monument for? I don't know. Hermana Hampton says it's for the heroes of the restoration. Our church also has a restoration. I think ours is more true lol. :)

Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, known as El Monumento, is named after the heroes of the Restoration War (1863-1865) who died in the fight to regain the DR’s independence from Spain.

Puppies!! (04/25/2022)

This week we went down a random street by the church. There were two puppies at the end of the street playing. When we got to the end of the street, one ran up to me and greeted me. He was so cute. So dirty and gross, but I love him haha. 

I also found Guarana soda in one of the stores this week! Yay! I made Hermana Hampton try it! We then had zone conference this week, and they told us we should not be drinking it haha. Oops. 

It also rained a ton again this week! It even got a bit nippy! One night we didn't even sleep with the fan on! It was still hot though haha.

We also ran out of natural gas again this week. We didn't have it for about three days. I had cereal and pb and js. I did not want to eat cereal again after those days. 

BUT when our gas was out we rearranged the house during lunch haha. We moved three of the mattresses we aren't using to the front area of our apartment and made a couch. It is our best idea we have had here.

I love all of you! I hope y'all can write me!!

Hermana Locey 

Our First Baptism!! (04/18/2022)

We had one of the members come out with us again this week. She is the cutest thing ever!

This week has been just a little crazy trying to prepare for our friend's baptism on Saturday! My comp has never had a baptism and I too haven't had a baptism, so it has been a bit nuts. And our elders are brand new in our area, so they have no idea either. BUT all is well!

We got chicken after the baptism, and I think the dude there thinks we are insane haha. Oh but our friend thinks that I am insane, and I am very proud of that fact haha. I told my friend at home that I wanted to be known for being insane here, but there is no way that I can be more insane than the Dominicans. Everyone here is nuts, and it is great haha. 

All the Dominican sisters here love my hair, but they love all of the white girls' hair haha. We had a district council, and our whole zone went out to eat after. They say in the rule book don't go out in large groups of missionaries, and there were a TON of us...

I have no idea what has happened this week.... so I guess this will be all.

I Am a Child of My Heavenly Father and Apparently My Companion Too (04/11/2022)

Well, my whole email just deleted itself. 

Short and sweet, I guess.

We went and got food on Tuesday, and a dude tried getting Hermana Hampton's number. She told him she doesn't have one. He then asked about her hija. That hija is me. I guess I am her child now! 

We shared a scripture about prayer to this lady, and I said something along the lines of prayer being super important and a blessing. She then looked at my comp and said I have awful Spanish and asked if I was learning. Nice.

Then the house elders came over the day after, and they said I had good Spanish. One of them is lying, and I don't want to think about who is correct lol.

We asked a guy to be baptized, and he said yes. He doesn't have a lot of commitment in him lol. But he said he would pray about it. I don't think he did, but he asked for our contact info for after the mission. yay

We also have had member meals. And non member meals. Every time we go to a lady's house, I fear. I do not wish to be fed. Juice is okay most of the time haha, but I am scared of the food hahah.

Solos and Roof Dogs (04/04/2022)

This week started with rain. Last week we had no rain for DAYS. Then Monday rolled around, and during our ride home the streets were flooded. It was crazy. Then it rained even more on Tuesday, and some in the morning on Wednesday. 

We also got to do service this week! I can't remember what day, but I know that it was this week haha. We went to a school and helped correct English pronunciation in songs. We thought that it was going to be a class of some elementary schoolers. It was not. They were all solo songs for a festival coming up. It felt like we were judges on The Voice. 

Hermana Hampton got another marriage proposal this week. I am proud to say I don't have one yet. 

General Conference was also super good! For the first two parts on Saturday we were able to watch it at a member's house! She is actually starting CCM today! She is great and comes with us somedays. Bummer part though was that it was all in Spanish. One day I will understand what people are saying. This was not the time haha. 

Also odd but common-ish: you will see dogs on rooftops here. They tend to bark a lot at you, but they are fun to see. I do worry one day they will hop off the roof to us.

I hope all is well for all of you! I love you all!

Hermana Locey

Leaving the Mission Boundaries. Twice. (03/28/2022)

This week has been crazy because we went to the capital on Tuesday for my residency. It was a three-hour car ride. We then went back home only to go back to the capital for the temple on Wednesday! So I went to Santo Domingo twice this week. They were only bus rides! BUT some of the hermanas here made us a piña colada, and it was sooooo good. If you want to know, blend up ice, creme of coconut, a pineapple, and a banana. It's so good hahah.

We are kinda very short on time because we went to another elders' church for a zone meeting. Not a meeting but a meet up. But they have one computer, and it doesn't really work. BUT all is fine. We have used two different elders' phones today. I love our elders haha. 

Our power also went out, so I showered with a green lantern for light haha. We felt like we were in The Great Gatsby. All has been pretty good though!

All is well! My Spanish is also like maybe improving!!! I have been able to understand more after we went to Santo Domingo because I was around so many Dominicans haha.

Apparently they've taken to finding "treasures" in the streets. This is one of the treasures they found. She did mention before that their standard of entertainment is set very low. :)