Howdy! Thursday, October 13, 2011
Every time I sit down to write this weekly email with the counter going down... can't remember anything I wanted to say. Blah. First things first, the package was EXACTLY what I needed and the chex mix actually made me tear up a li'l bit--it was such a piece of home :-) Thank you so much. You are phenomenal. Also, everyone compliments my AMAZING detergent/fabric softener-in-one sheets. I think some elders were trying to figure out how to ask me if they could buy them from me.ahahaha Sadly, I am down to one and will have to give in and buy some detergent here.
There is a female teacher on our floor who has been coming in to help us more because her district left this week. She served in Florida , spanish speaking and had one of the most interesting missions I've heard about. Hna Keller, she always talks about actively finding out why you were sent to your mission out of every other mission in the world because of your specific talents and personality. I've been thinking about it a lot and the added dimension of why Connor and I will be in the same mission. She also remembers specific dates on her mission when things happened that will forever change her life. Well, I am kind of the same way with dates and had one such date this week :-) I know personally that prayers are answered and righteous desires we never thought we'd be able to achieve really do happen with the Lord's hand. Ok, ok, I'll share one li'l part of it--our teacher, Hno Lee, was being an investigator named "Eduardo" that he knew and taught in Colombia. We were teaching him as a district, all 11 of us, so if you didn't want to say anything then you didn't have to.haha So an Elder was teaching about repentance and forgiveness...and I was lost in thought. I glanced out the window and took in the beautiful fall leaves. It suddenly hit me that I love being a missionary! 100 percent, through and through with no reservations. I didn't want to do anything else or be anywhere else. I honestly just wanted to teach and share the Gospel. The shear amount of love I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I will never forget it and strive to live the rest of my life in a way that is worthy of the feeling that I had in that moment.
That same day, Hno Lee asked us Hnas to teach him as his investigator "Nicholas" because there wasn't enough time for the multiple appointments we had planned. We asked an Elder to come with us as a "member" and finally got Nicholas to open up about why he was holding back--law of chastity and Joseph Smith. It was really spiritual and we all ended up crying and he said he wanted to be baptized...then when we got back to class, the district told us all 8 of them were watching through the one-way mirror!!! Ok, I can't really be mad because I've done it to some of them, but seriously the whole district! Well, I'm glad it went so well. I was slightly satisfied about that.haha
Hna Longoria left early Tues. morning for...Provo.ahahaha It was hard to see her go, but I couldn't be sad/mad because that's what I want to do and I am so excited for her. She will change lives because she has already changed mine.
I got a letter from Connor yesterday and it made my whole week :-) I can't wait to get to Spain and see him!!! Patience, patience.
Oh, Mom--Guess who the speaker Tues. night was...? Sister...Julie B. Beck :-) She was wonderful and her husband was hilarious. I got to see the new "Daughters in My Kingdom" book...well from like 50 feet away.ahaha I hope they approve it for missionaries to read because I want to read it!haha. She is so amazing.
Sunday night devotional was good, but a little out of the ordinary. The President of the MTC spoke, second time he has while I've been here and it was all about...tithing. Tithing and how the 1st Presidency told him this is what the missionaries need to teach better/more clearly to improve retention numbers, I believe. He did this open mic thing...which is NEVER a good idea with 2000+ 19 year olds so, ya, interesting night. I'm definitely going to study up and get a deeper testimony of tithing though.
What else, what else...OH! Ok, you'll love this. So they are remodeling almost every building here. one at a time and they are working on something in my residence hall right now. There was a sign that said they are shutting off the power tonight and we have to get out of class early and go to bed by...8:30! I think I cried for joy! I am SO excited to go to bed early!!! It's a missionary miracle :-) ahahaha! Yes, me--the night owl--celebrating an 8:30 curfew...the Gospel must be true.ahahahaha!
Ah, I love you all so much! Thanks for the support and prayers. I can feel them here and I won't let you down. Muahs! all around.
Les amo,
Hermana Dalton
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