I'm jealous of your Rainer Vista walk
this morning. Definitely haven't seen any snow-capped mountains in a long time.
What are you and Dad going to do to celebrate your Anniversary? 38 years is a
long time! You should do something special :) Good luck on getting the root out
from under the driveway! That sounds like quite the job. I can't believe that
Barett is already 2!!! Happy Birthday to Barett :) It seems like just yesterday
that he and Ryder were born! They are both so adorable. Where were Kathryn and
Jadyn? The Ostlund's moved back?! When did that happen? I remember them watching
me...but I can't quite remember what she looks like. That's awesome that you are
getting a set of missionaries just for our ward! That's what we are working
towards here too once we have more missionaries. Is Elder Waring from Austrailia
or England? You and Dad both told me different things. Either way he probably
has an awesome accent :) I love Ben's challenge for you and Dad to go to the
temple every month. I second that challenge! Think of the wonderful missionary
work you will be doing just by going :)
Alrighty...as for my week. I'm going to
have to type really quickly! I have a big long list of things. Last Monday we
got to watch 17 Miracles as a District in the basement home theatre of one of
the members. It was awesome! He had a huge screen and projector and it was
actually like stadium seating! I love that movie too. It just reminds me of the
great faith the pioneer saints had. It also made me realize how much I love the
song Savior Redeemer of My Soul. Everytime it played in the background I got
chills. I'll have to sing that at something at one point in my life :)
Hermana Lemon is a Sister Training Leader
and she came on exchanges with us for a day. It was an interesting experience,
but we got to drop her off at the Gilber Temple that night. The temple is so
beautiful!!! I can't wait until it is finished. Maybe my husband can be from
Arizona and I can get married here :)
One night we were going to visit a
referral we had received. We decided to just walk accross the yard because it
was just dirt. Yeah...bad idea. Apparently people water there dirt in Arizona
and it wasn't long before I was sinking in the mud. I cleaned my shoes, but they
have never fully recovered. I'll send pictures. Both of my pairs are already
starting to fall apart!
We went to water the plants of one of our
investigators. We had planned in a half an hour, but we had grossly
underestimated the time it would take us. She told us that it normally takes her
4 HOURS!!! Needless to say, it was incredibly hot and we were pretty sweaty. And
then she had us go in her homemade greenhouse and I swear it got 20 degrees
hotter. Sister Chavarri described it as the hose and our faces were watering the
plants. It was sweet relief when we got to step into the cooler, 110 degree
weather.
In other news, I got hit on by
40-year-old men. There really is a first time for everything :/
I had a strong realization this
week...two actually and they both really humbled me. The first one came when we
were teaching our recent converts and they were going through a hard time and
were seeking our advice. It hit me that I am only 19-years-old. I have very
little life experience. I've never been married, never had kids, I've never even
had a real job! I've never had to worry about a lot of the things that they have
to worry about. I don't know the answers to a lot of their questions and
concerns. But I DO know that this church is true. I DO know that this gospel is
one of the greatest blessings we can have in our live. I also know that while I
don't have all the answers, Heavenly Father does! He knows! I'm struggling and
stumbling and trying my hardest to keep my head above water, but Heavenly Father
has this whole missionary thing down :) If I seek Him and His guidance and teach
and help my investigators and recent converts and ward members do the same, then
everything will work out!
I also realized that I am a pretty
selfish person! Especially when it comes to speaking Spanish! I worry too much
about speaking perfectly and saying all the right things. I have to humble
myself and truly trust that if I try and speak and am willing to make mistakes,
then the Lord will fill my mouth with the things I need to say. So I am working
on that!
Last night transfer calls came. LATE last
night. It was a little after 11, but for us, that feels like 4 in the morning!
All four of us are staying!!! And we are all excited and relieved about that. We
were pretty nervous to find out. We went to bed right after the call because we
were exhausted!
I have a lot of things to work on and
improve upon and I am excited for this new transfer! I love you very much and
truly enjoy reading your letters every week. Until next time...
Con mi amor,
Hermana Baria
