Let me see…what happened
this week? Good things, that’s for sure! We were on exchanges this Wednesday.
Sister Lattin came here with me and we had a lesson with Edith. It was just a
normal lesson and then towards the end it got pretty interesting. She had
brought up what we thought were concerns about the Book of Mormon so I invited
her to read and pray to know that the Book of Mormon is true…she looked me
straight in the eye and then started chuckling to herself. I was a little
baffled, to say the least. BUT, as it turns out, she already knows!!! She knows
it’s true. AND, she had a baptismal date picked out. She wouldn’t tell us
because she said that she had to talk with her son (who is a member) to see if
there were any conflicts with that day. It was awesome!!! And every time we go
over there we leave with food/clothes/both…this time it was both. She gave me a
skirt, Sister Bukoskie a shirt, and we also got some tomatoes. She is just the
sweetest. Then on Wednesday she came with us to a baptism that our Zone Leaders
had. She told us of the struggles she had been going through with her daughter-in-law…ugh.
Everything worked out though because she came to church yesterday and she told
us the date she had in mind was June 21st but that it didn’t work
with her son/grandkids, so she will be getting baptized in July! She is the
funniest lady. At the baptism she told us that she ate the last little bit of
coffee ice cream that she had (because she is working on not drinking coffee
anymore.) I told her that as long as there isn’t actually coffee in it and it’s
just the artificial flavor, that she can eat the coffee ice cream. The
refreshments at the baptism were ice cream and she got this mischievous look on
her face and said she was going to have coffee ice cream at her baptism. Oh
Edith. :)
In other news, we
had a lesson with Natividad on Wednesday night and in the middle of the lesson
(Natividad was mid-scripture), the member he lives by comes running up asking
us to move our car because he can’t fit through. So we hurry to go move it.
Sister Lattin stands outside the car and starts to back me…and that’s when I
hear this awful scraping noise. I pull forward and just kind of sit there in
shock and denial as Sister Lattin surveys the damage. I’ll include pictures,
but it’s pretty scraped up and there is a dent in it. To add a cherry on top,
we were on exchanges the next day too and Sister Bukoskie was driving and some
lady back into her. Our cars pretty beat
up. We are taking it in today to get fixed. Good times, good times.
Friday night we
had a lesson with the Andrades at the temple and it went well. Miguelito (one
of the cousins, he is 6) was there too and we were helping Kimmie pick up all
of her stuff and then he looks at me and says, “You know what? You are beautiful.”
Then he turns to Sister Bukoskie and says, “And you’re beautiful too.” So
sweet. :)
Transfer calls
came in this morning…I’m staying!!!!! Again. J
So awesome. Sister Bukoskie is leaving though…and so are 3 of the other Spanish
sisters in the mission so it’s hard to predict who I will be with. That’s where
the long wait until Wednesday comes in…agonizing. But it goes pretty fast and I
might be being a tad dramatic and it’s actually really not THAT bad, but still.
I just want to know now!
You mentioned that
you are all a little sad and frustrated and discouraged. My advice would be the
same advice that my first zone leader (who is now leaving! L) ALWAYS told me. Don’t
get discouraged. Ever. Just don’t do it. Trust in the Lord. Trust in better
times to come. Know that He is in control and that He loves us. It’s hard and
because we are human we still get discouraged, but we have to try as hard as we
can to not let it happen. Sometimes all we can do is love…everyone really, but
especially those who are around us, those who are most important to us, and of
course, our Heavenly Father. Better days are always to come. :) But, we can make today
the best day…I think President Uchtdorf said it best…grateful IN our
circumstances. I love you all so, so much and keep you in my prayers always.
Have a wonderful week and be faithful and happy.
Con amor,
Hermana Baria
