27 Junio 2011

¡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.