So this Friday, October 30, was the mark of one year on my mission. I didn't really have much time to dwell as we were running busy all day and all weekend. But last night I took some time to think about the past year and all the things I have gone through, learned, loved, etc. I wanted to share a bit of it with y'all.
The number one thing that I really recognized was that as this year has gone by, I have been able to see myself really becoming the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be. I have seen how different situations I have been in have helped me to learn more about patience, humility, love, understanding for what Heavenly Father does and wants for me, etc. Now, don't expect anything perfect haha but it has been incredible to be in an environment where I can learn so fast, where I can adjust so fast, and where I can really look at the world through Heaven's eyes and recognize different things.
Another thing I have seen is my love for the gospel grow. That is something that was basically promised to happen, but I have loved it! Having time set aside specifically each day to study personally and as a companionship, being able to teach others these simple, beautiful truths, having meetings multiple times a month where we can learn from other missionaries, our mission president, different church leaders, it really has been the most delicious spiritual feast. Just the other day a sister and I were talking about the plan of salvation and I just got so giddy. I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to learning new things now.
I have been able to see how Heavenly Father puts us with different people so that we can learn different lessons. I have had the opportunity to serve with 7 different sisters and I have learned such different lessons from each of them. I have learned patience ( a LOT of patience), I have learned how to love all kinds of people (pet peeves and all haha). I have learned how to "choose to be offended". That is one big one. I was reading in the Book of Mormon institute manual one day and one of the general authorities was talking about how offense is not something that just happens, it is something that we choose to do. It is so easy to choose to be offended when someone does something that bothers you, but it is so much more fulfilling and more of a blessing to just ignore the little things and focus on what is most important. There is probably not another time in my life where I will be so close to different kind of people, learning these lessons, but I am so grateful for this time.
One of the biggest blessings I have had in this past year is to see the lives of three individuals change drastically. Sean Ortega, Johnny Way, and Jeff Baxter. What a blessing to be able to be there as these men made choice that brought then closer to their Father in Heaven and strengthened their relationships with their savior Jesus Christ. I will never forget the feelings as they first recognized the promptings of the Holy Ghost, as they came to church and could feel the spirit even more strongly, as they accepted to be baptized, and then as they entered the waters of baptism and were confirmed. Whew. I just love this experience. It has been glorious. I could never forget it, I could never try to recreate it, I could never replace it. I cannot wait to see what these next 6 months hold.
Okay now for this week!
Two of our investigators who are preparing for baptism received their baptismal interviews and passed! Jaclyne will be baptized on November 14th and Eulises will be baptized on November 15th. Man alive that is going to be one busy, great week! They are both so excited, and we are excited for them!
On Tuesday we had a lesson with Eulises and talked about tithing. This kid cracks me up! We asked him if he would pay his tithing. His response was "well... yes and no." We asked him why not and he said "Well Heavenly Father is kind of far away. I dont think I can get all the way to him". hahaha! Goes to show how important explaining is!
This week we had some really awesome lessons with Robert. We taught him the restoration of the gospel on Tuesday and it really pricked his heart. We brought a girl named Katie Cox with us and she bore her testimony. She is a convert to the church, and as she shared her story, we could tell that it was really touching Robert's heart. As she explained how it felt to be baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, he said "That is what I have been looking for!" The next day he accepted a baptismal date for the 29th of November!! SO AWESOME! And to believe that we just knocked on his door one day. Goes to show how Heavenly Father really does place us in the path we need to be in.
We did exchanges with the Sisters in Deming New Mexico. They are serving in a Spanish area and I was able to go spend the day with Hermana Ellis. It was so great! I loved being able to teach in Spanish again and to communicate with different people. Man alive do I love that language and culture. I was also glad to see that it came back pretty easy. I was worried that I would have lost it a little bit haha.
On Halloween we were in Tucson at our meeting. It was a long one, lasted about 6 hours. But it was great as usual! We learned so much and came back edified and ready to work harder. But because we were there all day, we didn't do anything for Halloween. Oh well!(:
Saturday was a long, eventful day! We ended up spending all of it doing service! We helped a member paint their house gray and hot pink... an interesting combination haha. That man sure loves his wife! Then later on we helped a family move into their house. It was a super long day and we were so physically exhausted, but when you do good things, you feel good! So we were feeling pretty fulfilled and happy by the end of the day.
Well, that is about it! Love you so much! Hope you are all staying warm! It sure is getting chilly here!
Love you! Tenga una buena semana!
Hermana Lundquist