¡Hola mi familia bonita! Another week has come and gone. This week has
been full of adventures and stories, and I'll be honest, it's been
kind of a bummer of a week. It's been raining practically every day.
I bought a new umbrella, but then left it on the bus. And then I lost
my sweatshirt last Monday. We've also had to drop a lot of our
investigators because they aren't progressing and doing their
commitments. And a bunch of other things I could list, but,
nevertheless, I have learned a lot this week and the Lord has
comforted and helped me through it all. Ready to hear all the
adventures of Hermana Smith this past week? Ok, here we go...
We visited the Familia Quituysaka Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
night. We were trying to prepare the mother and kids to be baptized
on Saturday. But every night we were at their house, the spirit would
be strong and then something would happen. Like Monday night, we were
right in the moment of them deciding to be baptized and Juan walked in
saying their was an emergency down at the house of a neighbor and that
they needed to help, so we quickly ended the lesson with a prayer.
Tuesday night we went back to teach and right after we ended the
opening prayer, they got another emergency call and we had to leave.
So our ultimate plan was to return Wednesday night with our district
leader, to give the interview and prepare them to be baptized. LONG
STORY SHORT, we returned Wednesday night with our leaders, they had
their interviews, and the thing is they want to be baptized, but they
don't want to right now. They have a lot of stresses in their life
right now and now is not the time. They said that they would continue
to come to church, but we are not going to be able to continue
teaching them. They have had all the lessons and we've done
everything we possibly can for them. I am sure one day they will be
baptized and fully accept the gospel in their lives, but I just don't
know when. It was really sad to leave them, but I know this is part of
God's plan for all of us.
Friday we did a zone weekly planning session in the stake center. We
seperated into our districts and did our weekly planning session with
our companions. After, we all met together and had a little reunion
and our zone leaders left us with a message, which really touched my
heart and addressed my needs. I had been a little down this past week,
especially with my Spanish. I'm about to have 6 months in the mission
and I still struggle to speak the language. When I tell people that I
have about 6 months in the mission, especially the Latin missionaries,
they always respond with a "wow" or an "ooooo" in a way that means
"Uhhhhhh, wow, that's not good". I don't know at least that's how I
feel. Every one has been giving me advice and I end up responding
saying "Yes, I am doing that... Yes, I am doing that also". However,
in this little reunion, Elder Solano shared Matthew 14:23-31, which is
the story when Christ walked on water and invites Peter to come out
with him. Which says, "30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was
afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31)
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and
said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Sometimes I feel like Peter, especially in the mission. Sometimes I
forgot that I have been set apart and given the power to be a
representive of Jesus Chirst. A lot of times I lack the belief that
through my faith in Christ, He can help me complete everything that is
asked of me. While reading this scripture, it was like the Savior was
telling me "Hermana Smith, O thou of little faith, why do you doubt
yourself?" His hand is stretched forth to help me with my Spanish and
even though it feels impossible for me to speak Spanish well, I need
to have the faith that I can do it and that He is going to help me.
I'm kinda hoping, like Bishop Arnett told me, that I'll wake up 6
months into my mission one morning speaking, thinking, and dreaming in
Spanish, haha. We'll see what happens :)
After this zone meeting, we went to lunch, and after lunch I got sick
and was throwing up and we weren't able to work. Saturday morning, I
woke up with a weak stomach, but was ready to work. In the morning we
went and taught Nelly. We hadn't visited her in over a month because
she was super busy and wasn't progressing. But earlier in the week,
we happened to pass by her cabina and she stopped us and told us that
her kids were about to start their summer vacations and that they are
ready to listen and study the scriptures with us. We talked to her
about life and the gospel and she told us that she believes the church
is true and wants to get baptized. We are planning her baptism for
the end of July.
In the afternoon, we had the baptism planned for Tanya Chuñir,
however, when we called her an hour and half before her baptism, she
told us that she wasn't ready for her baptism. So we ran to her house
to talk to her. We did everything we possibly could. We talked to her
openly, asked what her concerns were, we read the scriptures, we even
knelt in prayer. Even after all this, she told that she just didn't
feel ready. She wants to get baptized, but just didn't feel sure that
she should get baptized this day. It was really sad, because there
was nothing else we could do, but she told us that she would pray and
decide for a day (either the 2nd or 9th of July).
In the evening, we had a ward missionary activity. It was a "Festival
de Comidas" and a bunch of people from the ward came. Our
investigator's (Maria) daughter Michelle came with the familia
Muñoz-Salinas and Nelly came with her daughter. Unfortunately, their
was more people than food, so we didn't eat very much, but it was cool
to try different types of appitizers, main dishes, and desserts. Our
investigators had really great time too.
Sunday was the day that things started to get better. BUT, in the
morning, as we walked into the church building 10 minutes before the
meeting started, Bishop stopped me and told me that one of the
speakers wasn't coming and needed me to give a talk in Sacrament
meeting and that I would be the first one to speak. I almost freaked
out. How was I supposed to prepare a talk in less than 10 minutes?
But, with a quick prayer and the help of my companion, we quickly
prepared a talk on the importance of home teachers and visiting
teachers for the recent converts. It was probably one of the most
stressful moments of my mission, but everything went well. I was able
to speak, with a little struggling over words, and everyone was
listening. Hermana Barker had to lead the music and was sitting up
front and she said that everyone paid more attention to my talk than
the other speakers. I even made people laugh, which means I have a
personality in Spanish (finally!!! haha). I just told everyone that I
may not be able to say all that I want to say, but that I hope that
they can learn something from my message and apply it in their lives.
I am so grateful that the Lord helped me to say the right things and
I'm grateful that Bishop had the faith that I could speak to the
congregation.
Even though I was super nervous in Sacrament meeting (because of my
talk), I was super happy because many of our investigators that we
were praying to come, actually came. And a few of these people were
in the "make or break" moment to show us that they are serious about
progressing in the gospel. It really goes to show that when there are
difficult moments and trails, something great is bond to happen or in
other words, we'll receive the blessings. Even though this week was
hard, in the end, the Lord blessed us.
That's pretty much all that happened this week. Reflecting on this
week, I realize that even though crummy and sad things happend, I
never felt like "I want to give up". The Lord comforted me in the
moments I needed it and blessed with the strength to pick myself up
and continue to work. Even though this past week wasn't the greatest,
I am stll super happy and excited to see the outcome of our labors.
As for this week, we're going to Machala for a training/conference
Wednesday-Friday. It's for the senior companions, but because Hermana
Barker and I are the only sisters in Cuenca, we can't do interchanges,
so I have to go too. I don't know exactly what I will end up doing
their, if I will go with a junior companion in Machala or if I will
attend the training, we'll see. Hopefully I won't die of heat, I am
loving the cool weather here in Cuenca.
I hope you all have a good week and that you travel back safely from
Farmington tonight. You are all in my prayers. Yes, it is sad that
Grandma Green passed away, but I feel just fine about it all. The
plan Heavenly Father has for us is perfect and he has a plan for her.
She doesn't have to suffer any more. I just pray for the comfort
that our family and her family needs, especially those that don't have
this knowledge that we have.
I'll talk to you all next week! Love you tons :)
Love,
Hermana Smith
PS: Happy Birthday to Molly this week! Hopefully because she'll be "a
year old and wiser too", that she won't cause as much trouble....
hahaha.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
20 Junio 2011
¡HEY HEY HEY mi familia bonita! How's it going? Are you all dying of
heat or what? Today in Cuenca is super beautiful! We played Ultimate
Fresbee again. We haven't played in 3 weeks because we hadn't gotten
permission the last 2 weeks, so we were all super happy to play. Now
we're writing emails...
I'm glad everyone had a good week, especially Daddy. I'm jealous of
your new iPad Padre! I'm excited to SEE it and BORROW it, when I come
home...in 13 months haha. I hope you had great Father's Day. It stinks
that we can't call on Father's Day, but Christmas will be here sooner
than we think. Time is flying! I'm already half way through this
transfer...crazy!
Well, I'll get started on telling you all the things that happened
this week, especially because I don't have a lot of time. AHHH...
Tuesday we had our district meeting. I had made cream cheese
chocolate chip cookies, which were kinda sort of an epic fail (because
we don't have a beater in the house, opps). Nevertheless, the Elders
were happy to have American cookies. We also got mail, which I got two
DearElder letters. Hermana Barker got her flight plans too. It's
such a weird feeling to have a companion who is about to end her
mission. She is definitely focused and we're working hard, don't get
me wrong. It's just a weird feeling, because that day for me is
forever away, haha. However, I am so grateful I still have year left!
Last week, Hermana Barker and I got switched into a different
district, I don't know why, but now we're in Elder Sandberg's
district. Wednesday afternoon/evening he and his companion came to
the church building for the baptism interviews of Ximena and Isreal.
After the interviews, we did divisions; so Hermana Barker went with
one sister and me, another sister, and the Elders went to visit la
familia Quituysaka. On Monday night, they had told us that they
couldn't get baptized for the 18th, so went to talk to them and see
what we could do to help. This was definitely a learning experience
for me. Even though I know exactly were this family lives, we missed
the bus stop because I was explaining to the Elders the situation and
wasn't paying attention to where we were. We ended up getting off
like 5 or 6 blocks down the street, so I paid for a taxi to take us to
their house. Once we were dropped off, climbed up a hill, and arrived
at their house, we discovered that Juan wasn't home because he was
visiting his dad. And since there wasn't a man in the house, we
couldn't teach. Piedad had also told us, that someone broken into her
sister's (Nidia, who was baptized in May) house. So then we walked
down to Nidia's house to see if we could help, but she wasn't home.
At this point in time, it was super dark, and I only knew one way to
get to the street to go to the bus. So we ended up going down a hill,
with no light. I probably fell down like 3 times. I felt SO BAD for
everything that happened! But at least we were all laughing as we were
struggling to walk down a hill in the dark.
Thursday for our weekly service, we went to help Maria Prado deliver
lunches. It was pretty cool, except for I stepped in a muddy hole and
had a wet and dirty foot all day. After the service, she gave us
lunch and we taught her a lesson. In the afternoon, we went to teach
la familia Salinas-Muñoz. Ivan's birthday was Monday, so we taught a
lesson, ate ice cream, and gave him his present (a blue tie for
church, because he didn't have one). It was great to teach them
because we hadn't been able too as much as we did before they got
baptized. In the evening, we had a really great lesson with Clifton
St. Felix (Francia's cousin). Two recent converts came with us to
teach him who had a similar situation as him. He is really confused
with what to do, because he likes the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, but he attends a different church and says that he
feels good in both churches. He's such a great kid and knows what he
needs to do to get his answer. I'm just hoping and praying he does
those things and receives his answer, really soon. He told us he'd
like to serve a mission and he asks tons of questions about the rules
we have, haha. He's 24, so he would have to get baptized really soon
so he can leave before he turns 26.
Friday we went back to teach Maria Prado. Just for chance, Nidia,
Ivan, and Fernando were there. They all shared their testimonies of
how the gospel has changed there lives, which made me super happy.
And then Maria accepted the date to be baptized on July 23rd!!!! She
is really receptive and loves listening to the messages of the gospel.
Saturday was super great also. We had the baptism of Isreal Infante
and Ximena Puchi. It was a very small baptism, only a couple ward
members, Isreal's wife, daughter, and in-laws, and the missionaries
(us, Elder Sandberg, and Elder Fares). Elder Sandberg baptized both
of them and Hermana Barker and I sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light"
in Spanish and English. There's nothing much more to say about this
baptism service, but that it was great, peaceful, and the spirit was
there. What more could you ask for? Isreal had to leave right after
he was baptized because he had to work, but after Ximena Puchi bore
her testimony. She is such a storng young woman and she's going to be
a wonderful in the church, I just know it.
Sunday Ximena and Isreal were confirmed and received the Holy Ghost.
Isreal came staight from work, tired, but super happy. Another thing
that made me happy was that during Relieft Society I sat next to
Ximena, she asked to borrow a pen and took notes, she is seriously
amazing.
That's all the exciting and great things (and some not so great
things) that have happened this week. This week's e-mail isn't super
long, which means the week was good too. Hermana Barker and I are
continuing to work hard and trying to find more people to teach. The
Gospel of Jesus Christ is still helping and changing people's lives.
And the Lord is helping me and strengthening me every day.
I love and miss you guys! Have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Smith
heat or what? Today in Cuenca is super beautiful! We played Ultimate
Fresbee again. We haven't played in 3 weeks because we hadn't gotten
permission the last 2 weeks, so we were all super happy to play. Now
we're writing emails...
I'm glad everyone had a good week, especially Daddy. I'm jealous of
your new iPad Padre! I'm excited to SEE it and BORROW it, when I come
home...in 13 months haha. I hope you had great Father's Day. It stinks
that we can't call on Father's Day, but Christmas will be here sooner
than we think. Time is flying! I'm already half way through this
transfer...crazy!
Well, I'll get started on telling you all the things that happened
this week, especially because I don't have a lot of time. AHHH...
Tuesday we had our district meeting. I had made cream cheese
chocolate chip cookies, which were kinda sort of an epic fail (because
we don't have a beater in the house, opps). Nevertheless, the Elders
were happy to have American cookies. We also got mail, which I got two
DearElder letters. Hermana Barker got her flight plans too. It's
such a weird feeling to have a companion who is about to end her
mission. She is definitely focused and we're working hard, don't get
me wrong. It's just a weird feeling, because that day for me is
forever away, haha. However, I am so grateful I still have year left!
Last week, Hermana Barker and I got switched into a different
district, I don't know why, but now we're in Elder Sandberg's
district. Wednesday afternoon/evening he and his companion came to
the church building for the baptism interviews of Ximena and Isreal.
After the interviews, we did divisions; so Hermana Barker went with
one sister and me, another sister, and the Elders went to visit la
familia Quituysaka. On Monday night, they had told us that they
couldn't get baptized for the 18th, so went to talk to them and see
what we could do to help. This was definitely a learning experience
for me. Even though I know exactly were this family lives, we missed
the bus stop because I was explaining to the Elders the situation and
wasn't paying attention to where we were. We ended up getting off
like 5 or 6 blocks down the street, so I paid for a taxi to take us to
their house. Once we were dropped off, climbed up a hill, and arrived
at their house, we discovered that Juan wasn't home because he was
visiting his dad. And since there wasn't a man in the house, we
couldn't teach. Piedad had also told us, that someone broken into her
sister's (Nidia, who was baptized in May) house. So then we walked
down to Nidia's house to see if we could help, but she wasn't home.
At this point in time, it was super dark, and I only knew one way to
get to the street to go to the bus. So we ended up going down a hill,
with no light. I probably fell down like 3 times. I felt SO BAD for
everything that happened! But at least we were all laughing as we were
struggling to walk down a hill in the dark.
Thursday for our weekly service, we went to help Maria Prado deliver
lunches. It was pretty cool, except for I stepped in a muddy hole and
had a wet and dirty foot all day. After the service, she gave us
lunch and we taught her a lesson. In the afternoon, we went to teach
la familia Salinas-Muñoz. Ivan's birthday was Monday, so we taught a
lesson, ate ice cream, and gave him his present (a blue tie for
church, because he didn't have one). It was great to teach them
because we hadn't been able too as much as we did before they got
baptized. In the evening, we had a really great lesson with Clifton
St. Felix (Francia's cousin). Two recent converts came with us to
teach him who had a similar situation as him. He is really confused
with what to do, because he likes the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, but he attends a different church and says that he
feels good in both churches. He's such a great kid and knows what he
needs to do to get his answer. I'm just hoping and praying he does
those things and receives his answer, really soon. He told us he'd
like to serve a mission and he asks tons of questions about the rules
we have, haha. He's 24, so he would have to get baptized really soon
so he can leave before he turns 26.
Friday we went back to teach Maria Prado. Just for chance, Nidia,
Ivan, and Fernando were there. They all shared their testimonies of
how the gospel has changed there lives, which made me super happy.
And then Maria accepted the date to be baptized on July 23rd!!!! She
is really receptive and loves listening to the messages of the gospel.
Saturday was super great also. We had the baptism of Isreal Infante
and Ximena Puchi. It was a very small baptism, only a couple ward
members, Isreal's wife, daughter, and in-laws, and the missionaries
(us, Elder Sandberg, and Elder Fares). Elder Sandberg baptized both
of them and Hermana Barker and I sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light"
in Spanish and English. There's nothing much more to say about this
baptism service, but that it was great, peaceful, and the spirit was
there. What more could you ask for? Isreal had to leave right after
he was baptized because he had to work, but after Ximena Puchi bore
her testimony. She is such a storng young woman and she's going to be
a wonderful in the church, I just know it.
Sunday Ximena and Isreal were confirmed and received the Holy Ghost.
Isreal came staight from work, tired, but super happy. Another thing
that made me happy was that during Relieft Society I sat next to
Ximena, she asked to borrow a pen and took notes, she is seriously
amazing.
That's all the exciting and great things (and some not so great
things) that have happened this week. This week's e-mail isn't super
long, which means the week was good too. Hermana Barker and I are
continuing to work hard and trying to find more people to teach. The
Gospel of Jesus Christ is still helping and changing people's lives.
And the Lord is helping me and strengthening me every day.
I love and miss you guys! Have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Smith