That
Sharing Time sounds like a lot of fun. I’d love to see a picture of the tree! I’m
sure it’s awesome. I think it’s awesome to stop and think of the things that we
are grateful for in this life. Starting 50 days before Thanksgiving, the STLs
gave us a chart and we write a miracle that we see during the day each night
before we go to bed so that we can see and remember how the Lord blesses our
lives. About the movie quote, I know I’ve heard it before, but try as I might,
I just can’t think of what it is from! The mission has done that to me!
Whenever I try to place of movie quotes or song lyrics there is just this big
mental block and I can’t do it. It’s the strangest things.
The
house sounds like it’s going to be completely different when I get back. It
sounds awesome though! Hearing about all the remodeling reminds me of the Cloud
house right now. Speaking of…last Monday they told us they were going to start
the process of changing the tile. Um ok…that’s fine…our housing coordinators
had told us that eventually they were going to have the Biglers (the members we
live behind) change the tile and the carpet. But then we get home that night
and our stuff is all moved around, the tile in the kitchen is gone, and half of
the carpet is ripped up. Oh, and there was a thick layer of dust over
everything so I can definitely relate to you with that. The next day our
housing coordinators called wondering if one companionship wanted to move out permanently
to give the other more space. We told her that we would have to let her know
after calling the other sisters. We talked with the other sisters and they
decided to move out and live in the Barn with Sisters Marz and Hair. Then that
night our housing coordinator called back and we asked if she knew that the
Biglers had started remodeling. She didn’t know that they had started and
decided in about 2 seconds that all four of us would move out the next day. So
that’s what we did! Wednesday morning we spent packing and then the Elders
helped us move everything to our new, temporary place. It’s really nice, but it’s
far!!! We will only be here until Wednesday and then other missionaries will
have to move in because that is transfer day. If they aren’t done remodeling by
then, we will have to move somewhere else first. So it’s been a little crazy
and a lot more travel time, but it’s been fun haha. Don’t worry about mailing.
Just keep sending stuff to the Cloud house. Sister Bigler lets us know if we
have anything and then we just go pick it up if we do. I’ll send pictures so
you can picture where I am living for a little J I’m with you though! I can’t wait
until everything is back in its rightful place. I haven’t gotten the shoes yet, but I’m excited to get them! My black ones (that I’m wearing right now) are in a pretty miserable state so some new ones with better soles should be awesome! I’m a little nervous to see them though with the glowing recommendation you gave them haha. I’m not really worried about how they look J I’ve come to accept that I’ll just have to wait and get really cute ones that don’t have to be quite as durable after my mission!
Becca included me in the Christmas drawing names e-mail so I heard about that. I like the rotating the names throughout the years idea like you do with your siblings because then we can still by everyone something every few years…do you know what I mean? I wasn’t planning on buying things this year, but I am going to send everyone something…along the lines of what you told me. I’m excited for Christmas time for a lot of reasons! It will be awesome to see what it is like as a missionary. I loved what you said about this being my only year to spend in full time service and what a great way to spend Christmas J I’m with you Mom…I’m glad I didn’t get called to the Philippines too! Arizona is much nicer J
Let’s see…I already mentioned the big news about moving. On Wednesday when we moved, the Elders set up our beds and table for us. While they did that, we went to Wendys to get lunch and this really nice member lady bought our food for us! It was so sweet J Then we bought the Elders some nuggets and fries as a thank you gift since they sacrificed basically their whole day and many, many miles on their car (which are very precious as a missionary!!) to help us. We have some pretty great Elders.
I don’t remember if I’ve told you
about Salvador, but he is one of our investigators. He is this really sweet old
man. But he is also really sad because his wife just passed away about 2 months
ago. So hard! His daughter-in-law is getting baptized this coming Saturday and
that’s how we met him. She was there with us and we tried to teach him about the
Plan of Salvation. We bore testimony mostly. We testified about eternal
families and the Atonement and how Christ knows exactly how we fell and that he
can turn to Him for help and comfort. The Spirit was very strong in that
lesson. It hit me again though how much people just look to me as a missionary
to have the answers and to know what to say. There were many points in the
lesson when Maggie (his daughter-in-law) would just look at me as if willing me
to have the answer. Like I’ve said before, I’m only 19 years old and I’ve never
lost a spouse or gone through anything even close to that. I don’t have all the
answers or the words to say. That’s why it’s so important that as missionaries,
we teach with the Spirit. I don’t have the answers, but God does and He can
give them to me through the Spirit.
That same day we went over to the
Baldwin’s house and helped them cook dinner and sort through things for the
yard sale they were going to have the next day. At the beginning we were just
with Sam, their 19 year old daughter, and we were cooking and talking. We hadn’t
seen her in awhile so we asked her how she was doing. She just started opening
up and it was really awesome. She’s so great! It’s crazy how people just open
up to missionaries. Obviously not everyone does, but a lot of people do! It’s
good to know that they can trust us enough to do that. Then Hna. Baldwin got
home and she taught us how to cook this chicken Peruvian style…because she is
Peruvian. Forgot to mention that! It was a lot of fun. While the chicken was
cooking we helped her sort through her garage. She had a lot of stuff! We had
to help her decided what she needed to keep and what she really could afford to
give away J
Then we ate and it was delicious! I love being able to be with members and
serve them and learn from them and hear their testimonies. It’s the best!
That night we had a lesson with Jonathan
and we taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He thought it made a lot of sense.
We had Wesley and Vanessa there and they were so helpful in explaining things
and they are the same age as Jonathan so they are really helping him. They also
took him with them to church on Sunday. It was his second time going. It was
Stake Conference so it was a little weird for him at first haha but he said
that he still liked it. He couldn’t do the lesson until 8:30 and then Wesley
and Vanessa were late so we didn’t get started until 8:45 and we are supposed
to be home by 9…yeah we didn’t get done until after nine and then we live like
30 minutes from his house. Whoops!!! We had to call the APs but they said it
was fine and we got home before 10 so we didn’t have to call President! We had
another lesson with Jonathan last night and we talked about his baptism. He is
getting baptized on the 24th!!! So excited J
Saturday was a busy day! We called
it Service Saturday J We had a ward service project in the morning when we went
through the wash/trail and picked up trash. We saw a coyote! It was cool. That
was a lot of fun and the ward gave everyone pizza afterward. Then we went with
the elders to help this former investigators move. She lives in their area, but
somehow she had our number from a long time ago and gave us a call Friday night
to ask for help. It took about 5 tries to get her address (I couldn’t
understand Limestone in a Hispanic accent), but it was worth it! They were very
grateful for the helpful and we are always looking for service opportunities so
it was great J
And it was fun! I told Sister Bukoskie that the church should start a free
moving service through the missionaries and elders quorums! We already
basically do it, but might as well make a website that people can go to so that
it’s easier to find us and ask for help! J
We had dinner at the Baldwins again!
All 7 of us this time. Hna. Baldwin made us a Peruvian feast! We started out
with Causa and Ceviche. And by that point I was stuffed! But then she brought
out a heaping plate of rice and chicken. It was all so delicious though J
For those of you who don’t know, Ceviche is raw fish! That’s right, I ate raw
fish! And I actually liked it! A mission really is changing me. But the best
part of the whole meal was the ice cream. It is probably my new favorite
flavor. It’s made with the Peruvian fruit Lucuma. SO GOOD! Look up the fruit.
It looks like and orangish avocado! Weird, but surprisingly delicious
So another great week has gone by
and with that another transfer! Friday was my 6 month mark! Insane. I don’t
know where the time goes. Transfer calls came last night and we are staying
together. Our district is staying the same too, but we are being moved Zones
again.
I hope all continues to be well with
you and the family. I keep you all in my prayers and love you very much. Until
next week!
Con amor,
Hermana Baria
