Dearest Family!
Sorry I was skimpy on the details last week--this week has been much better!
Monday
night we had a Family Home Evening with Hermano Jarry (ward secretary)
and his less active family and another less active family. We talked
about the importance of families and then watched that great and super
cheesy movie Together Forever that the church produced over 30 years
ago--people here just love it.
Tuesday and Wednesday were
great days as we had a work visit with the Sister Leaders. One of the
sister leaders stayed with me in my area and Hermana Arone went to
another area. It was fun navigating our area on my own. It was just the
boost of confidence I needed to end this transfer--my spanish is getting
better and better and I feel more comfortable chatting with people and
teaching lessons. And it was nice to have a companion that spoke English
for 24 hours :)
My thanksgiving was spent in an all day
Zone Conference--or I guess a multi zone conference. We received
training from President and Sister Gomez as well as the asistants to the
President. At the end as is tradition we bore our testimonies. I had my
first Zone Conference my second day out in the mission field so it was
fun to come again this time and to bear my testimony in Spanish with
more of the language under my belt. I loved the training of one of the
new asistants on effective planning. If we want to achieve more in our
lives (and in my case as a missionary) we must plan more
effectively--with more details/specifics. It was great.
Friday
was a long day--by dinner time I was worn out and didn`t feel like
working for those last 3 hours. I said a prayer asking the Lord for
guidance and strength and boy is he looking out for me. In one of the
devotionals we watched in the CCM Elder Holland said that as
missionaries the way to recharge is to be out and about teaching and
testifying of Christ. It is so true. We had a lesson with Julio--I just
feel so much love for this old man!!! He received the Aaronic priesthood
on Sunday and was just beaming. Really he is the perfect
"investigator"--he always asks us to leave him assignments to read and
is very attentive during the lessons. After we had a lesson with a
recent convert Family--la familia Mozombite. We talked about the
scriptures and the revelation and guidance we receive when we study
daily. The spirit was very strong in that humble home--where the only
light they have is by candles. They are such a dear family.
On
Saturday morning we headed out in the pouring rain to walk 1 1/2 miles
to our appointment. We were soaked within minutes. As we walked back
home--still raining--after the various appointments that we had, my
companion exclaimed ¡Somos Valientes! (We are Valient/Brave) We both
started laughing as we continued to trek through the mud and rain,
filled with gratitude to have this experience and sacrifice the things
of the world to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ as we preach
his gospel. In the December Ensign, Elder Uchtdorf spoke of the simple
but profound life of Christ. Rather than hanging with the rich, he
surrounded him self with the poor and humble. That struck a cord as I
read as I felt that I am really learning to learn in such a unique way
how the Savior felt. My life is very simple right now--crazy--but really
we do the same things everyday. We exercise patience as we teach and
teach and then no one shows up to church. It`s frustrating but I am
learning through this process.
We also had a baptism!!
Flor Mozombite age 21--very sweet. She has two girls. Good
baptism--there is always a unique spirit during baptisms.
Sunday
was great--I feel like the Barrio Secada is my little ward now. The
Bishop gave a great lesson on tithing as very few are full tithe payers.
It was a full week and a good one.
Love you all to pieces!!
Hermana Jackson