My week has been
good! Filled with lots of meetings, good meetings, but long meetings. I am
feeling more at peace. I’ll talk more about that later. Sorry that I’ve been
vague about the struggles I’ve been having. I guess I just want to be strong
and not complain and go on and on about the bad things. Does that make sense?
There will be plenty of time to explain it all to you when I get home. :) Just know that what
you did say was perfect. Made me cry actually. So if that’s what you were going
for, mission accomplished! But really, it was great. Thank you. We do always
have to focus on the positive, like you said, and I think that’s why I didn’t include
too many details. But you must know pretty well because you touched on some of
the issues that it’s rooted in. I’ll keep looking for the small things on my
road to becoming perfected. It’s a very long road and while we do have to keep
that eternal perspective, we have to enjoy the journey and be happy along the
way. You said to remember who I am…that’s something that President Nattress
brings up a lot. He quotes Elder Packer I think saying, “You’ll never see fear
in the eyes of the Brethren because they know who they are and they know who He
is.” So that’s what I try and remember and know and hold on to as well. It
definitely helps. You mentioned that “knowing I am where I need to be" and
that’s sometimes the hardest part, and something that I had been struggling
with. That’s where the patience comes in I guess! Also, thank you for sharing
Barett’s story he made up. So adorable! I can’t wait for all the stories he has
yet to make up. Good times to come for sure. :)
Tuesday we had
district meeting and then we went and helped at the Garcia house. I got to
paint!!! I’ve wanted to paint my whole mission and I FINALLY got to! It was barely
anything because we didn’t have a ton of time, but it was good. :) We also had a Family
History Training that afternoon and that went well! Comes in handy to know how
to use it. That night we had another one of the Extended Zone Conferences and
this time the Special Musical Number went really well! I didn’t play
flawlessly, but I felt really good about it! Yay! I love it when that happens.
Wednesday was
Interviews with President Nattress. Always good. :)
We got trained and it was helpful. We talked a lot about listening to the
Spirit…that’s something I’m constantly trying to improve on. I think we will be
a whole lot better off in life when we learn to be exactly obedient to the
Spirit. So that’s a daily process of learning. My interview with President
Nattress went well. It was what I needed. He asked me my recommendation for
transfers and ended up telling me that one of us is leaving and one of us is
staying. Then he asked me what I needed to say and I told him about what I have
been struggling with. He thought for a moment and said he could think of at
least 10 things to tell me to prove me wrong, but that he figures I need to
find them out for myself. You would think that would have been frustrating, but
it actually was more what I needed than him just telling me right out. He also
told me that they used to call Brigham Young the glue that held everything
together and that he sees me like that too…so that meant a lot. He is such an inspired
mission president and I am so grateful for that! That night we had dinner at our investigator
Edith’s house and our other investigator, Ruth, and their fellowship, the
Nielsons, where all there and it was so great.
Thursday was MLC
all day and it was a great MLC!!! I really enjoyed it. President brought up the
story of Peter leaving the boat to join Christ and walk on water. He said
that they just had a 3-day training with
Elder Bednar and that he would always lean over to them and ask them if they
were ready to jump out of the boat. So that has been something I have study
more and really loved and something that I keep constantly in my head. It is a
great motivator. Whenever I am nervous/shy/scared/etc. I just tell myself to
jump out of the boat! And it works. :)
Then that night we had the third and final Extended Zone Conference and it also
went really well.
Friday morning
Ruth and Edith came to the Family History center in the stake center and we
helped them start their family trees. It went really well and it was a lot of
fun. It can be pretty frustrating at times to try and find people, but it is
very satisfying and rewarding and they
both loved it! We also went over and helped the Garcia’s more with the house
and painting and ripping up carpet and it was a lot of fun!
Saturday we were
on exchanges and it went really well! They are always fun and a nice change of
pace. I get to learn a lot and have a little taste of what being an English
missionary would be like. It’s great.
The transfer ended yesterday! That's nine down! I don't like it. :( Transfer calls were
supposed to come last night, but they didn’t come until this morning. I’m
staying!!! Which means that I will hit my year mark and almost a whole year in
the ward too!!! That is so crazy to me. Sister Chavarri is getting transferred
so that’s going to be really weird, but it’s what the Lord has up next so it’ll
be what we all need! Transfer meeting is Wednesday and then I will find out who
my new companion is! Should be interesting. Hope all is well with you and you
have a wonderful week. I love you!
Con amor,
Hermana Baria
