This has been a crazy week! We are
actually in the mission office right now in Concepcion. We found out on
Friday that we had to travel to Concepcion today because Hna Rojas needed to
come here to work on some of her visa stuff. Not going to lie, I'm a
little disappointed to be stuck here in the city while the rest of my
zone is enjoying the fresh air in the mountains up north... choota! But
that kind of thing happens some times. I feel blessed to have the
opportunity to visit the mission office and visit with some of the
missionaries that are down here in Conce[pcion] for the last time.
Oh! getting here was fun too! We took a bus from Curicó at like
8:30 last night and arrived here at almost one in the morning. The
Elders that work here in the office took us to the nearest house where
sisters live and Hmna Rojas and I slept on the floor in their front room. It
was kind of a cool moment though, one of those times when you are able
to take a step back and realize, holy cow! I'm ACTUALLY here! I am living
in CHILE... I'm IN South America! sleeping on the floor in the front
room of this nasty run down little house! HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!?! How
many people can say that they've been where I am or experienced what I am
experiencing?
Hermana Rojas and I are learning a lot together! Every week is a
little different with new adventures and new challenges. This week we
felt our burdens were weighing pretty heavy, feeling like we are doing
the very best we know how, but also feeling like our efforts weren't
cutting it, weren't good enough - beating ourselves up a bit. We had an
interview with the AP [Assistant to the President] that is over the mission change (he's from Conce
but they're sending him to work as an AP in Rancagua when the mission
changes) and we were expressing our concerns with him and he pretty much
just came out and told us that we were being TOO hard on ourselves and
that we need to pray and ask the Lord how He feels about us, not rely on
other people or numbers or anything else to tell us, because Heavenly
Father knows us and understands our situations individually and He knows
our hearts and exactly what we are doing and what we are trying to do.
He said that Heavenly Father wants us to enjoy every minute of our
mission and that if we aren't enjoying absolutely every minute we should
help each other to cheer up. The Lord knows our hearts and our
sacrifice, he doesn't expect perfection RIGHT now. He understands we are
new, we are human, and we are trying. Hearing that was exactly, exactly
what I needed to hear and was such a blessing! I really think I was
focusing too much on the little stuff and beating myself for not being a
Perfect missionary 3 months into my mission. The AP reminded us that
all the Lord requires is our best effort, and as long as we give our all,
day by day, and learn to LOVE the people, we will be happy and enjoy
every day of our mission - our sorrows will be swallowed up in the joy of
Christ.
The baptism this week was SUPER awesome! Shania was confirmed
yesterday and her MA Grandma who hadn't been to church in who knows how
long came! AND she was talking to me after sacrament meeting and telling
me that as she was getting ready to leave for church, her husband asked
her "Por que no seguimos adelante?... Pienso que debemos seguir
adelante. [Why don't we continue forward?...I think we should just continue on]." I almost jumped out of my skin for excitement! She said that
they both will be there the next week at church, and also, in Shania's
blessing (when she was being confirmed) she was blessed that if she
continued to be an example, her family would follow and return to the
church and become strong together and better their situation as a
family! SO, we made sure and visit them after church yesterday and we
made an appointment with them to have a FHE [Family Home Evening] along with a family that they were
friends with way back when they attended church. We are super
excited to see what will happen!
Sorry, but once again I don't have the stuff I need to
send photos, but the next week, si o si, voy a mandar por lo MENOS un
foto [I am going to send AT LEAST one picture].
I love you! Congrats Trent, Zoe and
Lucien on your awards! Be good for mom and don't drive her nuts just yet,
summer is just starting! I LOVE YOU ALL
soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
much! We find out cambios [changes...this next change could mean a companionship change &/or an area change which will also determine if she will be changing to the Chile, Rancagua Mission or staying in the Concepcion Mission] a week from today! WOAH! Vamos a ver que
pasa! Caul mision? caul mision??? :) Que eten super bien! Les amo
muchisimo!!!! chaou! [We'll see what happens! Which mission? Which mission? I hope everything is super good! I love you all so much!!!! bye!]
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