23 Sep 2007

Sept. 23, 2007
Dear Elder Sean,
I'm sitting here in the internet caffe in Puerto Plata in our little resort on the beach. It's beautiful here and the water is so blue/green and clear. Although we aren't spending much time in the water since Kirk is still a missionary.
Today we went to church to one of Kirk's old wards. I loved it even though I couldn't understand very much of it. In RS when the sisters started singing As Sisters in Zion in Spanish I started crying. I just felt such a bond with these women because of the gospel and because Kirk had been with them. We went around to some old neighborhoods also with Kirk in the afternoon. It was such a poor section of town and the streets were so narrow that we had to get there only by walking. We felt a little like how missionaries feel for a couple hours today. We took lots of candy so we could give it to the kids we would see. We became very popular very fast. The families were all so welcoming offering us drinks (which meant they would leave the house and run to the nearest Colmado to make a purchase) or else they made a fruit/milk type smoothie for us out of papaya. I got the feeling that they would literally give you anything yet they had so little. And everywhere we went they would should Thompson, with the accent on the end, because they were so excited to see Kirk again. It was great to see. He has made some wonderful friends here and i"m glad we got to be a little part of it.
Yesterday we took a tram up to a mountain, yes, I even went up despite my crazy fear of heights, but it didn't bother me at all and it was a great view of the entire city. Also it was about 20 degrees cooler up there, so it was well worth it. It is so hot and humid here. I am sweating everywhere we go.
How has your week been? It was great getting your letters while we were in Santiago. We're so much closer to you now. How is Cordoba treating you? Do you feel at home there yet? What are some of the differences? Can't wait to hear how things have gone for you this week.
I think all is well at home. Kristina just wrote me and said she was so sad without me that she's been crying tonight, so that doesn't make me feel great, but i tried to reassure her that we'd be home in just a few days. Grandma and Grandpa Thompson are now in charge. Jan and JEff left tonight to go home. I'm sad that I won't even be able to see Jan. She came after we left and has now left before we get home.
Hearing Kirk speak Spanish so fluently is great. We went one whole day without him and it was miserable. Even with Alex proclaiming that he was a spanish expert, it sure didn't show up when we needed it. Dad can't understand anything and I know it's hard on him. Alex and I can understand much better than we can speak, so it really doesn't help much. So when we got Kirk, life was much better. He really knows his way around everywhere we've been. It's pretty amazing. There's no rhyme or reason to most of the towns, but he seems to always know right where we are. How is your Spanish coming along? Do you feel somewhat fluent at this point?
Well, i'm actually on a timed computer, so i don't have much time left. I'll check in again tomorrow so we can hear how you're doing. Is there anything you want from the DR? We'll be out tourist shopping tomorrow. We'll probably send you something from here.
Here's Kirk:
que lo que, hermano, pues yo tengo 6 minutos para hablar, entonces. como esta la mision? ya, yo tengo que irme, ahora no hay mas tiempo. cuidate mucho. elder t
Hope you have a great week and remember how much we all love you. Still 2 elder thompsons for 3 more days......
Love you,
mom
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxxooxoxoxooxoxox