Well this week has been one of the best, but the most exhausting week
of my mission.
Tuesday we had the mission leadership council, which was amazing.
President and Hermana Pack are my heroes. They are so inspired in
everything they say and do. I learned so much. But it was a long day.
We had to get up way early in the morning to arrive in Alcobendas by
8:30 and then the meeting did not finish until 7:00 in the evening.
Something I really liked that we did was that president invited us
to make goals on what we are going to do to sanctify the Sabbath day
now, after the mission, and with our future families. He has a
bishop and stake president that said, the number one difference he saw in
families who were really strong in the church with all their kids
active members, and families who struggle is how committed they are to
keeping the sabbath day. His invitation and my invitation to you guys
is think of some goals or things you can do to better sanctify the
Sabbath day.
Wednesday we had to get up even more early to make it to Pavones by
7:30 to go to a temple session. It was amazing but I was fighting
falling asleep the whole time.. And since we didn't have studies
Wednesday morning we stayed up way late Wednesday planning the zone
training for the next day. (Fitting a 10 1/2 hour meeting into 3 hour
training is really difficult).
Thursday we had zone training all the way in Pavones.. It went really
well! Me and Hermana Barkle had to leave a little early to sprint back
to our area because Mercedes (the most incredible person I've ever known
from Peru) had her baptism interview by president pack. We didn't eat
this day.. Too much to do!!
Friday we had exchanges so I had to go back to Pavones and stay the
night and work with a sister in our zone. She's awesome! She served
with me in Alcobendas so it was just like being at home. They are
struggling finding work in the area, so I invited her to try working
more with members to find work, instead of the classic contacting.
That is something President has really been focusing on. The next
morning we didn't have a lot to do so I suggested we take the member
list around and try to do some pass-bys. That night I prayed that we
could have a good experience doing this to help strengthen this
sisters testimony of working with members. Well the next day the 3rd
person we pass-by let us in. It was a less-active Spanish family and
we ended up having a really powerful lesson on the Atonement of
Christ, and they promised us they would come to church the next day.
When we have righteous desires to serve others, I am so confident that
Heavenly Father always will answer our prayers. This is something I've
learned on the mission.
Saturday we were emotional wrecks trying to do everything for the
baptism. They are in the process of calling a new ward mission leader
right now so because we don't have one we had to do everything. The
first disaster was we didn't run the font long enough before we let it
fill, so it filled up (past my knees) with green water. I had to wade
though it to get to the drain so we could re-fill it in time for the
baptism. I got soaked, my dress, everything! I wrapped myself in paper
towels to get dry, because we didn't have time to go home. But the
cutest thing ever. So we run to Mercedes house to pick her up for the
baptism and she has made all of this food (she is a single mom with
not a lot of money) and we were like "you really didn't have to do
this!" But she is like " if all the people are coming just to see my
baptism, I had to do something for them" she is so cute! She is the
most self-less person I've ever met. Her baptism was beautiful. The
Packs came to support her and everything. I helped her change after
and I asked her how she felt, and she just hugged me, and said "tan
emocionada, me siento muy bien" . It made that whole week worth it.
Sunday.. We were walking zombies.. But it was a beautiful confirmation
and a lot of people we've found and are teaching were able to come.
The elders also made us brownie, because they saw how stressed we had
been. Haha they were the biggest help this week. They are the best in
the mission, they help us out a lot! I also had a really cool
experience at church. Me and Hermana Barkle are helping with the
primary program, because they don't have anyone to play the piano.
Well there was this little boy being so rowdy. And no one could get
him to calm down. So I thought of Sister Stephens talk in conference,
about the story of her and her grandson. So I call over the little boy
and ask him where we are and he told me the Lord's house, so I asked
him how we need to act in the Lords house, and he said quiet. Then I
told him how much his Heavenly Father loves him and wants him to be an
example for the the rest of the kids. He nodded his head, walked back
to his seat, and sat so quiet the rest of the time. I really loved
that conference talk, and I honestly think it is so true, when people
understand, they want to act reverent. When members understand Christ's
Atonement, they want to help share the gospel, when the people we are
teaching understand god's love for them, they want to make sacred
covenants with him.
Pues os quiero un montón, y que tengan una buena semana!
of my mission.
Tuesday we had the mission leadership council, which was amazing.
President and Hermana Pack are my heroes. They are so inspired in
everything they say and do. I learned so much. But it was a long day.
We had to get up way early in the morning to arrive in Alcobendas by
8:30 and then the meeting did not finish until 7:00 in the evening.
Something I really liked that we did was that president invited us
to make goals on what we are going to do to sanctify the Sabbath day
now, after the mission, and with our future families. He has a
bishop and stake president that said, the number one difference he saw in
families who were really strong in the church with all their kids
active members, and families who struggle is how committed they are to
keeping the sabbath day. His invitation and my invitation to you guys
is think of some goals or things you can do to better sanctify the
Sabbath day.
Wednesday we had to get up even more early to make it to Pavones by
7:30 to go to a temple session. It was amazing but I was fighting
falling asleep the whole time.. And since we didn't have studies
Wednesday morning we stayed up way late Wednesday planning the zone
training for the next day. (Fitting a 10 1/2 hour meeting into 3 hour
training is really difficult).
Thursday we had zone training all the way in Pavones.. It went really
well! Me and Hermana Barkle had to leave a little early to sprint back
to our area because Mercedes (the most incredible person I've ever known
from Peru) had her baptism interview by president pack. We didn't eat
this day.. Too much to do!!
Friday we had exchanges so I had to go back to Pavones and stay the
night and work with a sister in our zone. She's awesome! She served
with me in Alcobendas so it was just like being at home. They are
struggling finding work in the area, so I invited her to try working
more with members to find work, instead of the classic contacting.
That is something President has really been focusing on. The next
morning we didn't have a lot to do so I suggested we take the member
list around and try to do some pass-bys. That night I prayed that we
could have a good experience doing this to help strengthen this
sisters testimony of working with members. Well the next day the 3rd
person we pass-by let us in. It was a less-active Spanish family and
we ended up having a really powerful lesson on the Atonement of
Christ, and they promised us they would come to church the next day.
When we have righteous desires to serve others, I am so confident that
Heavenly Father always will answer our prayers. This is something I've
learned on the mission.
Saturday we were emotional wrecks trying to do everything for the
baptism. They are in the process of calling a new ward mission leader
right now so because we don't have one we had to do everything. The
first disaster was we didn't run the font long enough before we let it
fill, so it filled up (past my knees) with green water. I had to wade
though it to get to the drain so we could re-fill it in time for the
baptism. I got soaked, my dress, everything! I wrapped myself in paper
towels to get dry, because we didn't have time to go home. But the
cutest thing ever. So we run to Mercedes house to pick her up for the
baptism and she has made all of this food (she is a single mom with
not a lot of money) and we were like "you really didn't have to do
this!" But she is like " if all the people are coming just to see my
baptism, I had to do something for them" she is so cute! She is the
most self-less person I've ever met. Her baptism was beautiful. The
Packs came to support her and everything. I helped her change after
and I asked her how she felt, and she just hugged me, and said "tan
emocionada, me siento muy bien" . It made that whole week worth it.
Sunday.. We were walking zombies.. But it was a beautiful confirmation
and a lot of people we've found and are teaching were able to come.
The elders also made us brownie, because they saw how stressed we had
been. Haha they were the biggest help this week. They are the best in
the mission, they help us out a lot! I also had a really cool
experience at church. Me and Hermana Barkle are helping with the
primary program, because they don't have anyone to play the piano.
Well there was this little boy being so rowdy. And no one could get
him to calm down. So I thought of Sister Stephens talk in conference,
about the story of her and her grandson. So I call over the little boy
and ask him where we are and he told me the Lord's house, so I asked
him how we need to act in the Lords house, and he said quiet. Then I
told him how much his Heavenly Father loves him and wants him to be an
example for the the rest of the kids. He nodded his head, walked back
to his seat, and sat so quiet the rest of the time. I really loved
that conference talk, and I honestly think it is so true, when people
understand, they want to act reverent. When members understand Christ's
Atonement, they want to help share the gospel, when the people we are
teaching understand god's love for them, they want to make sacred
covenants with him.
Pues os quiero un montón, y que tengan una buena semana!