¨My miracle this week was in a letter I received from our recent convert, Keisy. She gave it to me before she knew that I was leaving. It has touched my heart to the very core. She says I am an angel to her and like an older sister. She said that her life has always been filled with darkness and confusion and I brought some light and direction when she needed it the most. I cried when I read it and cry every time. How did I ever get to be part of such an incredible change in someone´s life? How did my Heavenly Father ever trust me to do this? I am so blessed. This is why we do missionary work, this is why I love doing missionary work. What a miracle the gospel is to those who are searching.
I love Hna Maxwell. She was so thoughtful of me this week, helping me get ready and making me feel special. I have gained a wonderful friend. I love Hna Oslund´s smile and positive attitude. I can´t wait to work with her and get to know her.
Another recent convert, Juan Carlos, told me that he loved our weekly noches de hogar and learned so much from each lesson. He is glad that we have kept teaching him and helping him grow in the gospel. He changed so much just in the time that I was there and I loved seeing that change.
Repentance brings change, and change is what this life is all about, isn´t it?¨
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Well hello from Barcelona! I´m not super sure on all the geographics yet, but I am serving in Hospitalet (Oh-spit-all-et) and it is in Barcelona. After saying lots of goodbyes in SanSe and it practically breaking my heart, we caught the bus to Bilbao late last night, crashed in the Hermana´s piso there and then I was on the train for 6 hours into Barcelona. I am SO tired and SO lost, but SO happy! Sounds like a typical missionary, right? haha I am companions with Hna Oslund from Arizona! YEAH!!!! Arizonans rule this mission! muahahahahaha She is great and we are going to get along juuuust fine. It was so hard to leave Hna Maxwell...but Hna Farrell, my first comp from the MTC is taking my place in SanSe, so they´ll both be in good hands.
It was so hard saying goodbye to SanSe. Keisy just cried and cried as we hugged. Such sweet moments. She wrote me a letter and it touched my heart, forever. I will never forget. That is why I am here. I had the privilege to see and be a part of one life changing and it was incredible. Another recent convert gave me a mini pocket knife.haha Juan Carlos is the best. Gladys, a lady from our english class and member, made me take one of her many gold rings. So sweet. I just...there aren´t words for the things that mean the most to us in this life, are there?
It is hot. It´s like being home again...except with humidity. But I have been assured there is lots of shopping around so I will have to pad my summer wardrobe, which is practically nonexistent.haha I am so excited to work here. I know I´m here for reasons. I will have more to tell next week!
The family getaway and Mylea´s blessing sound great. So wonderful that Mark and Kitty and Kristy were able to be there! I´m kind of jealous!haha Caleb´s graduation and the pics look like fun--way to dress like a stud in your new suit. I like the tie :-)
Cregan-´thanks for the email and the pics! Um, firsties-Mylea´s face is totally Craig...sorry Megan, again. No worries, a mini you will come, too...some day?haha I guess that depends on how many more kids you want right? NO RUSH!!!ahaha And she definitely has a Craig face on in one of the pics...and the potty-well, also like her father!ahahahahahahaha oh no, I´m a missionary--is that appropriate?! Oh well. We love repentance :-) Megan, thanks for your email and encouragement. I can really feel the strength of your testimony through your words-and just because you didn´t serve a full time mission (yet!) that doesn´t mean Heavenly Father doesn´t have so much planned for you ahead in your life. I feel like my patriarchal blessing is always coming true in unexpected ways. How else would be learn faith and hope? :-) I love you and we will have some more great talks in...oh I don´t know...8ish months?! Birthday parties? I think so..
I love you all! Life is GREAT as a missionary. Enjoy summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
HOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What?! Pamplona again?! Yeah, we love this place and we just had a great preparation day with Elder Dalton and the Elderes/Hermanas here. Making so many memories.
Well, miracle story:
¨We had a lot of little miracles that came this week without any help on our part. Surprise miracles. Well, I feel like I receive these every day, but we had some interesting ones this week. We had an experience in church Sunday that really impacted me and I will never forget the lessons I learned. There is a lady in the ward who is mentally ill and she hit a little child in the middle of the Sacrament Meeting. The Bishop called the police because she refused to leave the chapel after screaming and slamming chairs. Some ward members did not agree with this decision and were upset. He called everyone into the chapel after Sunday School and started talking. He broke down and had to take a minute to get control of himself. I felt like I could physically see the weight of the Bishop´s mantle and responsibilities. He read from the Handbook about his duties as a Bishop to protect the spiritual, physical and mental well-being of the ward. I was so impressed at his humility, his strength of character and the safety there is in being obedient and following the handbook. I will never forget this experience and the way I felt as I listened and watched. As a ward member, we sustain the Bishop as the head of the ward and he has the keys and authority to act. It has been difficult for me to understand him as a person, but I have never questioned his authority and stewardship of the ward. This was a big testimony-builder for me and it opened up my eyes that the Bishop is a man and has weaknesses, faults and insecurities just like we all do. I don´t know why I forget this about other people sometimes! Especially leadership figures. I really love Obispo Cabeza and have so much respect and admiration for him. This experience was a miracle for me and I feel like it will have special significance for me later in my life, as well as now.
Juan Carlos is a CR and is preparing to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead this week with his wife! He drove us to a visit with his wife, but didn´t want to come in. He read the Liahona in his car and then prayed because his schedule just wasn’t working out to go to the temple and he didn´t know what to do. He said he heard a voice tell him to go now and not wait. He is going with a group of ward members and I am so excited for him. Most of his family and relatives have passed on and I think this will be an incredible experience for him.
Javiera is another young CR and we have been travelling to a pueblo to teach her and her family more regularly. She is shy, but her testimony is strong and her family was reactivated when she got baptized. They are so sweet and becoming strong members in the ward.
2 Nefi 4:19-20, 34 really impacted me this week. I know in whom I have trusted and I just need to keep trusting in Him--through health issues and everything. I don´t know what to do, but He does. I love being able to always go to the scriptures and find the answers and counsel that I need.¨
What a crazy week. So we prepared and everything for a baptism, told the Bishop and invited everyone, but it just didn´t work out. I don´t know why, but I´m not upset. I have been really sick--stomach sick. I spent basically all of Thursday sleeping and running to the bathroom. I talked to Hna Moulton a lot during my first intercambio in February about her allergy to gluten and felt like I should talk to her this week. We talked about my symptoms and I think I´m definitely allergic to something. Developing gluten allergies? Who knows. But I have cut evrything gluten, dairy and sugar out of my diet for now and will slowly incorporate sugar and dairy back in over time. What do I eat then you may ask? Not a lot. haha I got rice flour and rice/corn cakes and rice noodles. We will see how it goes. I was thinking about all the faith and praying for miracles and baptisms and how it was what we needed to do...but maybe Heavenly Father knew that I needed to build faith to deal with this? I mean, let´s be real. One more thing to worry about--what I can and can´t eat?! Especially no bread or pastry products...milk...cereal...it´s a little rough. But needs to be done because I can´t be feeling sick and running to the bathroom all the time. So yeah, that´s where I´m at. Crazy, right? Tell me about it. Spain is doing a two-step on my body. LOVE IT. Not. But life goes on :-) Don´t worry Mom. Just pray. And send gluten-free ideas and recipes...?
Next week is transfers so don´t freak out because we will email on Tuesday. I´ve been in SanSe for 6 months...so I think I´m gone. Maybe Elder Dalton too. There are Hermana openings in...drum roll please...Inca (islands), Benidorm down south, and Valencia. But that doesn´t really mean anything because Pte Hinckley is unpredictable. I´m excited, but super sad to leave. I love it so much. Especially the members. But I can´t wait to tell you what will happen!
Thanks for all the updates and love. It makes me so happy to here about people´s lives and I can´t believe that the school year is almost over!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Caleb I will be thinking about and praying for you allll day of graduation :-) I´m so proud of you and happy for the young man you have become and are becoming.
I wish I had more time, but we have to run and catch our bus back. Our ward mission leader, José Luis, came with us. He is so crazy and so much fun. Pictures coming soon of our preparation day!
Love, prayers, hugs and kisses-
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
What?! Pamplona again?! Yeah, we love this place and we just had a great preparation day with Elder Dalton and the Elderes/Hermanas here. Making so many memories.
Well, miracle story:
¨We had a lot of little miracles that came this week without any help on our part. Surprise miracles. Well, I feel like I receive these every day, but we had some interesting ones this week. We had an experience in church Sunday that really impacted me and I will never forget the lessons I learned. There is a lady in the ward who is mentally ill and she hit a little child in the middle of the Sacrament Meeting. The Bishop called the police because she refused to leave the chapel after screaming and slamming chairs. Some ward members did not agree with this decision and were upset. He called everyone into the chapel after Sunday School and started talking. He broke down and had to take a minute to get control of himself. I felt like I could physically see the weight of the Bishop´s mantle and responsibilities. He read from the Handbook about his duties as a Bishop to protect the spiritual, physical and mental well-being of the ward. I was so impressed at his humility, his strength of character and the safety there is in being obedient and following the handbook. I will never forget this experience and the way I felt as I listened and watched. As a ward member, we sustain the Bishop as the head of the ward and he has the keys and authority to act. It has been difficult for me to understand him as a person, but I have never questioned his authority and stewardship of the ward. This was a big testimony-builder for me and it opened up my eyes that the Bishop is a man and has weaknesses, faults and insecurities just like we all do. I don´t know why I forget this about other people sometimes! Especially leadership figures. I really love Obispo Cabeza and have so much respect and admiration for him. This experience was a miracle for me and I feel like it will have special significance for me later in my life, as well as now.
Juan Carlos is a CR and is preparing to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead this week with his wife! He drove us to a visit with his wife, but didn´t want to come in. He read the Liahona in his car and then prayed because his schedule just wasn’t working out to go to the temple and he didn´t know what to do. He said he heard a voice tell him to go now and not wait. He is going with a group of ward members and I am so excited for him. Most of his family and relatives have passed on and I think this will be an incredible experience for him.
Javiera is another young CR and we have been travelling to a pueblo to teach her and her family more regularly. She is shy, but her testimony is strong and her family was reactivated when she got baptized. They are so sweet and becoming strong members in the ward.
2 Nefi 4:19-20, 34 really impacted me this week. I know in whom I have trusted and I just need to keep trusting in Him--through health issues and everything. I don´t know what to do, but He does. I love being able to always go to the scriptures and find the answers and counsel that I need.¨
What a crazy week. So we prepared and everything for a baptism, told the Bishop and invited everyone, but it just didn´t work out. I don´t know why, but I´m not upset. I have been really sick--stomach sick. I spent basically all of Thursday sleeping and running to the bathroom. I talked to Hna Moulton a lot during my first intercambio in February about her allergy to gluten and felt like I should talk to her this week. We talked about my symptoms and I think I´m definitely allergic to something. Developing gluten allergies? Who knows. But I have cut evrything gluten, dairy and sugar out of my diet for now and will slowly incorporate sugar and dairy back in over time. What do I eat then you may ask? Not a lot. haha I got rice flour and rice/corn cakes and rice noodles. We will see how it goes. I was thinking about all the faith and praying for miracles and baptisms and how it was what we needed to do...but maybe Heavenly Father knew that I needed to build faith to deal with this? I mean, let´s be real. One more thing to worry about--what I can and can´t eat?! Especially no bread or pastry products...milk...cereal...it´s a little rough. But needs to be done because I can´t be feeling sick and running to the bathroom all the time. So yeah, that´s where I´m at. Crazy, right? Tell me about it. Spain is doing a two-step on my body. LOVE IT. Not. But life goes on :-) Don´t worry Mom. Just pray. And send gluten-free ideas and recipes...?
Next week is transfers so don´t freak out because we will email on Tuesday. I´ve been in SanSe for 6 months...so I think I´m gone. Maybe Elder Dalton too. There are Hermana openings in...drum roll please...Inca (islands), Benidorm down south, and Valencia. But that doesn´t really mean anything because Pte Hinckley is unpredictable. I´m excited, but super sad to leave. I love it so much. Especially the members. But I can´t wait to tell you what will happen!
Thanks for all the updates and love. It makes me so happy to here about people´s lives and I can´t believe that the school year is almost over!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Caleb I will be thinking about and praying for you allll day of graduation :-) I´m so proud of you and happy for the young man you have become and are becoming.
I wish I had more time, but we have to run and catch our bus back. Our ward mission leader, José Luis, came with us. He is so crazy and so much fun. Pictures coming soon of our preparation day!
Love, prayers, hugs and kisses-
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Monday, May 14, 2012
Mis queridos,
I decided, what the hay, why not just share almost my whole letter with Presidente with all of you this week?! ¿Por qué no? Here you go, miracle story and all:
"We have had a difficult time finding new investigators for a few weeks and we really focused on this the past week. We felt like we were talking to more people and contacting in the streets, and we found five new investigators! But none of them were from contacts! They are all member referrals. This is a miracle for me because member referrals are so great to teach and we received blessings from doing our part, even if it wasn´t in the way we thought it would come. We are going to put our faith to the test again this week. We have a companionship goal of helping 4 people be baptized this week but none of our investigators have fechas. We decided last night to prepare for a baptism this week and work hard and put the rest in Heavenly Father´s hands. Because we know that there are hundreds of prepared people here. We talked to the bishop this morning and told him we are preparing for a baptism without a name...and he thinks we are a bit crazy but that´s ok. He won´t after there is a baptism Saturday!
Milena is so strong in the gospel and one of our new investigators is a referral from her. She plans to meet with us every week and helps teach her friend in visits. It is so great to have member support like her and to see her growing in the gospel. Her husband is working on having his membership restored and they are preparing to go the temple at the end of this year.
I am repenting of my attitude toward weekly planning. I really don´t love it, but I understand the importance and we do it faithfully every week. But I have not put all my effort into planning to help people come to church, especially with daily contact. We did this this week and followed through with our plans and all of our investigators were coming Saturday night...and not one of them came Sunday morning. The only investigator that came was a surprise investigator who has been in Peru for 3+ weeks and is now back. But we know this is just a trial of our faith and we will do it all again this week...and next week! And we WILL see the blessings from it.
I gained a new insight into having ¨charla franca¨ with investigators and the power of calling people to repentance boldly and every visit. I felt different after doing this during the week and want to keep that feeling. There really is no power like pure testimony."
So...yeah. A baptism without an investigator. ¿Por qué no? I´ve been rather frustrated with our investigators of late. Who I love SO much but are all just not there yet with what we call ¨fe activa¨ -active faith, maybe would be a good translation, I don´t know. But they just need to take that first step into the dark to see the light and receive their witness. So...we decided we are going to practice what we preach! ¿Por qué no? Heavenly Father loves His children even more than we do, us included, and He will guide us to them or them to us.
Oh, consejo de barrio. I never even knew how ward council worked before the mission-let alone attended one. Theya re so rough here and I want to leave crying just about every time, ok every time. But it is all for learning and experience´s sake. I WILL learn how to work effectively with the ward...I just have no idea how to do it now.
We just played basketball with Fabi. She is so great. (professional soccer player!) She´s gonna get baptized soon. We just don´t know when-but Heavenly Father does :-) haha (but really)
Oh yeah, Mom--I made zucchini bread for the Hinckley´s and it was warm when they got there and a big hit.muahahaha Who knew? I thought you´d be proud. It was so great to see you yesterday! It made me so happy when the video froze on your face at the beginning for like 30 seconds and I just smiled on my end :-) My Mom is so beautiful. You just get prettier every time I see you. Thanks for all the support--I don´t know how I´d do it without you. I wouldn´t be able to.MUAH! Huge hug and kiss through the 'puter.
Enjoy the pics!haha they are silly this week.
HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Elder Dalton sent me a Happy ¨future¨ Mother´s day email today.ahahaha so presh! We´ll just save that bad boy for a very distant future... ...ahahaha)
Love always and forever,
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
I decided, what the hay, why not just share almost my whole letter with Presidente with all of you this week?! ¿Por qué no? Here you go, miracle story and all:
"We have had a difficult time finding new investigators for a few weeks and we really focused on this the past week. We felt like we were talking to more people and contacting in the streets, and we found five new investigators! But none of them were from contacts! They are all member referrals. This is a miracle for me because member referrals are so great to teach and we received blessings from doing our part, even if it wasn´t in the way we thought it would come. We are going to put our faith to the test again this week. We have a companionship goal of helping 4 people be baptized this week but none of our investigators have fechas. We decided last night to prepare for a baptism this week and work hard and put the rest in Heavenly Father´s hands. Because we know that there are hundreds of prepared people here. We talked to the bishop this morning and told him we are preparing for a baptism without a name...and he thinks we are a bit crazy but that´s ok. He won´t after there is a baptism Saturday!
Milena is so strong in the gospel and one of our new investigators is a referral from her. She plans to meet with us every week and helps teach her friend in visits. It is so great to have member support like her and to see her growing in the gospel. Her husband is working on having his membership restored and they are preparing to go the temple at the end of this year.
I am repenting of my attitude toward weekly planning. I really don´t love it, but I understand the importance and we do it faithfully every week. But I have not put all my effort into planning to help people come to church, especially with daily contact. We did this this week and followed through with our plans and all of our investigators were coming Saturday night...and not one of them came Sunday morning. The only investigator that came was a surprise investigator who has been in Peru for 3+ weeks and is now back. But we know this is just a trial of our faith and we will do it all again this week...and next week! And we WILL see the blessings from it.
I gained a new insight into having ¨charla franca¨ with investigators and the power of calling people to repentance boldly and every visit. I felt different after doing this during the week and want to keep that feeling. There really is no power like pure testimony."
So...yeah. A baptism without an investigator. ¿Por qué no? I´ve been rather frustrated with our investigators of late. Who I love SO much but are all just not there yet with what we call ¨fe activa¨ -active faith, maybe would be a good translation, I don´t know. But they just need to take that first step into the dark to see the light and receive their witness. So...we decided we are going to practice what we preach! ¿Por qué no? Heavenly Father loves His children even more than we do, us included, and He will guide us to them or them to us.
Oh, consejo de barrio. I never even knew how ward council worked before the mission-let alone attended one. Theya re so rough here and I want to leave crying just about every time, ok every time. But it is all for learning and experience´s sake. I WILL learn how to work effectively with the ward...I just have no idea how to do it now.
We just played basketball with Fabi. She is so great. (professional soccer player!) She´s gonna get baptized soon. We just don´t know when-but Heavenly Father does :-) haha (but really)
Oh yeah, Mom--I made zucchini bread for the Hinckley´s and it was warm when they got there and a big hit.muahahaha Who knew? I thought you´d be proud. It was so great to see you yesterday! It made me so happy when the video froze on your face at the beginning for like 30 seconds and I just smiled on my end :-) My Mom is so beautiful. You just get prettier every time I see you. Thanks for all the support--I don´t know how I´d do it without you. I wouldn´t be able to.MUAH! Huge hug and kiss through the 'puter.
Enjoy the pics!haha they are silly this week.
HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Elder Dalton sent me a Happy ¨future¨ Mother´s day email today.ahahaha so presh! We´ll just save that bad boy for a very distant future... ...ahahaha)
Love always and forever,
Hermana Clarissa Dalton
Monday, May 7, 2012
HoWdY aLl,
"My miracle story this week is about our activity with La sociedad de socorro. It was la obra misional-themed and we felt like more than anything we could tell/teach, the ward here just needs experience in missionary situations. We decided to do prácticas with them! We created 2 investigators and one monesactiva profiles and asked the ward mission leader, an sister RM and the Bishop to play their parts. We had them sit with their maestra visitante companion and introduced the activity with a video clip from The District 1 and then gave them guidelines on a slip of paper to remember when inviting or teaching (pray before going in with their companion, asking questions/listening, staying simple and principle-focused and inviting them to do something specific in a concrete time frame with a follow-up, etc.) We recorded each “investigator” introducing themselves and the situation in a video beforehand. They were each waiting in a room for the visits. It was so rewarding to see them nervous, but willing to try and having faith that it was a worthwhile activity. The testimonies afterward were powerful and I think they all learned something. In Sacrament Meeting yesterday, sisters bore their testimony about the activity and the importance of missionary work. Even our ward mission leader bore his testimony about how he felt so good as an investigator and knows the sisters here are prepared to share the Gospel and people need them. I was rather stressed for this activity this week and really wanted it to come together and I think it was better than I could have done by myself because we had a lot of people helping us. It also helped our relationship with the Bishop and I feel like we are on the same page now."
Yea, the R.S.activity went well!!! Whew, un montón de estrés para mi pero todo está bien ahora...más o menos. I´ve decided that members worldwide need to learn how to share/teach the Gospel with PMG and roleplays. I´m going to teach this every time I can.haha but really.
I think spring has hit and I´m excited. I almost don´t remember how to dress without tights and a jacket--it feels weird and almost immodest. Oh, the mind games the mission plays on you.haha But I´m sickly pasty so that´s no good. I need a tan...my AZ tan back. *sigh* someday.
Guess what? The Hinckleys are stopping by to visit us in a few hours, that should be fun.haha Not sure what to expect. I´m continuing my mission tradition of being sick the day after fast Sunday. I don´t know why, but it happens every month and it is making me mad. Apparently the food here and I don´t get along as well as I thought.haha Oh well.
We really focused this week on recent converts and tracking them down. There were 17 baptisms last year here in San Se and 2 are active :-((( makes me so sad. One girl that has been coming since I´ve been here, I just found out she is a recent convert and when I called to visit with her she said she´s done with our church and she doesn´t believe in any of it and when I tried to talk to her about it and bear my testimony...she yelled some choice words at me, told me I don´t know anything and disconnected her phone...Super tough and hurts really bad, but what can you do? :´-(
Ari--thanks for the email. You are amazing and I love hearing about everything. Your personality comes through so loud even in writing and it makes my heart smile real big :-)))))))))
Caleb-whew tough state volleyball playoffs. But sounds like you are keeping your chin up. I decided this week that the one lesson I really want to learn right now in life is how to let go-after you´ve done everything you can, just letting go without guilt or looking back or what ifs--Í haven´t figured out how to do this, but I´m working on it because regrets and guilt just sour and shadow the successes you have and it is a way that Satan can win because we just see the negative. Love life :-) all of it. You are amazing and an example to me, even if we are so far apart. You are destined for greater things than either of us can imagine. I love you.
Becca-Your emails are priceless and I treasure them.haha They make me laugh so hard. Oh Calissa, we is such a character. Always keeping you on your toes. Clark-you´re almost there!!!!!!!!!!WAHOO!!!!! I remember your email about starting the semester and it was like yesterday wasn´t it?!haha Crazy. Get ready to enjoy summer!
Cregan-the pics are SO precious! I can´t wait to show everyone!haha Awww I can´t wait to meet her. Cambria is so big and her hair´s so blonde!haha Thanks for the updates. How´s work?
Mom-I thought when Connor and I talked we were an hour apart? Weird. We´ll talk again and make sure that we are. Just be on and we´ll work it out on this end, no worries. Hna Maxwell and I can be on at the same time in this locutorio so don´t worry about that. But I do need my gmail username and password.haha I forgot. Can´t wait to talk and I´m a little nervous!haha I love you all so much and thanks for the ánimo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Un abrazo y besitos,
Hna Clarissa Dalton
"My miracle story this week is about our activity with La sociedad de socorro. It was la obra misional-themed and we felt like more than anything we could tell/teach, the ward here just needs experience in missionary situations. We decided to do prácticas with them! We created 2 investigators and one monesactiva profiles and asked the ward mission leader, an sister RM and the Bishop to play their parts. We had them sit with their maestra visitante companion and introduced the activity with a video clip from The District 1 and then gave them guidelines on a slip of paper to remember when inviting or teaching (pray before going in with their companion, asking questions/listening, staying simple and principle-focused and inviting them to do something specific in a concrete time frame with a follow-up, etc.) We recorded each “investigator” introducing themselves and the situation in a video beforehand. They were each waiting in a room for the visits. It was so rewarding to see them nervous, but willing to try and having faith that it was a worthwhile activity. The testimonies afterward were powerful and I think they all learned something. In Sacrament Meeting yesterday, sisters bore their testimony about the activity and the importance of missionary work. Even our ward mission leader bore his testimony about how he felt so good as an investigator and knows the sisters here are prepared to share the Gospel and people need them. I was rather stressed for this activity this week and really wanted it to come together and I think it was better than I could have done by myself because we had a lot of people helping us. It also helped our relationship with the Bishop and I feel like we are on the same page now."
Yea, the R.S.activity went well!!! Whew, un montón de estrés para mi pero todo está bien ahora...más o menos. I´ve decided that members worldwide need to learn how to share/teach the Gospel with PMG and roleplays. I´m going to teach this every time I can.haha but really.
I think spring has hit and I´m excited. I almost don´t remember how to dress without tights and a jacket--it feels weird and almost immodest. Oh, the mind games the mission plays on you.haha But I´m sickly pasty so that´s no good. I need a tan...my AZ tan back. *sigh* someday.
Guess what? The Hinckleys are stopping by to visit us in a few hours, that should be fun.haha Not sure what to expect. I´m continuing my mission tradition of being sick the day after fast Sunday. I don´t know why, but it happens every month and it is making me mad. Apparently the food here and I don´t get along as well as I thought.haha Oh well.
We really focused this week on recent converts and tracking them down. There were 17 baptisms last year here in San Se and 2 are active :-((( makes me so sad. One girl that has been coming since I´ve been here, I just found out she is a recent convert and when I called to visit with her she said she´s done with our church and she doesn´t believe in any of it and when I tried to talk to her about it and bear my testimony...she yelled some choice words at me, told me I don´t know anything and disconnected her phone...Super tough and hurts really bad, but what can you do? :´-(
Ari--thanks for the email. You are amazing and I love hearing about everything. Your personality comes through so loud even in writing and it makes my heart smile real big :-)))))))))
Caleb-whew tough state volleyball playoffs. But sounds like you are keeping your chin up. I decided this week that the one lesson I really want to learn right now in life is how to let go-after you´ve done everything you can, just letting go without guilt or looking back or what ifs--Í haven´t figured out how to do this, but I´m working on it because regrets and guilt just sour and shadow the successes you have and it is a way that Satan can win because we just see the negative. Love life :-) all of it. You are amazing and an example to me, even if we are so far apart. You are destined for greater things than either of us can imagine. I love you.
Becca-Your emails are priceless and I treasure them.haha They make me laugh so hard. Oh Calissa, we is such a character. Always keeping you on your toes. Clark-you´re almost there!!!!!!!!!!WAHOO!!!!! I remember your email about starting the semester and it was like yesterday wasn´t it?!haha Crazy. Get ready to enjoy summer!
Cregan-the pics are SO precious! I can´t wait to show everyone!haha Awww I can´t wait to meet her. Cambria is so big and her hair´s so blonde!haha Thanks for the updates. How´s work?
Mom-I thought when Connor and I talked we were an hour apart? Weird. We´ll talk again and make sure that we are. Just be on and we´ll work it out on this end, no worries. Hna Maxwell and I can be on at the same time in this locutorio so don´t worry about that. But I do need my gmail username and password.haha I forgot. Can´t wait to talk and I´m a little nervous!haha I love you all so much and thanks for the ánimo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Un abrazo y besitos,
Hna Clarissa Dalton
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
La familia Dalton,
"We had a very interesting week--but a great interesting week! For some reason the english fast was very hard for me this time and I struggled a lot. I know how to say everything in my head, but it doesn´t come out my mouth. Common ailment among missionaries, I know. We had taught the combined lesson this week in church as well as a part of a special consejo de barrio Sunday evening. I was very frustrated with myself because I just want to be able to teach as efficiently and effectively as I feel like I can in english... but after lots of praying and reading in the Book of Mormon, I learned that right now in my life/mission is the time for learning. I am learning incredible things every day that I know are special gifts from my Heavenly Father. The teaching will come and once again, He is teaching me patience and to be grateful for the blessings that I am receiving instead of always wanting something else. I started the Book of Mormon again after Easter, but in english this time and 1 Nephi has come alive for me. I have always known the stories, but as I am reading them again, I can´t explain with words the difference. There is a hunger to learn more and I feel like I am learning to “feast” upon the scriptures on a different level than I ever have before. This is a blessing and a miracle that I need to be grateful for now. So I guess the miracle is the learning, and learning how to learn, especially by the Spirit."
So yeah, we were in Bilbao--well, I was in Bilbao. The other Hna Dalton and her trainee, Hna Robinson, have only been there a week and opened the area so basically we spent Friday visiting members--super bad idea. 5 member visits in one day?! Sure, if you wanna turn out like Aunt Marge from Harry Potter...before and after the button--popping magic.haha! It was a lot of food. Delicious, massive amounts of food. But Hna Dalton learned her lesson--this Hna Dalton already learned this lesson, but still had to participate. Love albedrío. :-) We had a great time together and learned a lot. It was during the english fast so that was fun, too. We visited an ex-missionary (I really dislike this term in spanish, it sounds so...final...they don´t use "RM") and another less active sister. I just don´t understand how people serve missions and then become less active, but I can´t escape this situation, so I guess I need to learn from it--I WILL NEVER BE LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, that´s a big promise that I am making to all of you, but now you can keep me honest and slap me five ways to Friday if you have to later in life. :-)
Today is my missionary birthday! Well, as close as you can get in a month with only 30 days. Wahoo! We are going to celebrate by eating at "Peggy Sue´s American Diner"...unsure about how american it is, but we shall see. Should be fun. Hna Maxwell told me that in 2 weeks I hit my halfway mark...yikes. Not sure how I feel about that...moving on!
We are teaching a lot and have some great investigators...just lots of people lacking the faith to take the final leap of faith into the pila...for now. That´ll change soon enough :-) Dalleli still has a fecha for the 12th of May, but because we were in Bilbao we have not been able to contact her for almost a week. She does not have a móvil (cell phone) so we have to catch her on the fijo. She did not show up for our prearranged meeting with the Bishop that she requested, or church on Sunday. But she did go to a JAS activity on Saturday. She was not able to work things out with her oldest sister, so we are still trying to help with that before her baptism. The bishop has some doubts that she just wants to get baptized to fix the family situation, but we will have to find out this week.
We had a special consejo de barrio yesterday and we came to impress with our "world-class informe de progreso" goal of the mission, typed up, with pictures and specific info and things to help. We´ve had them ready for a month, but it kept getting canceled. I am receiving the great blessing of learning how to work with the ward and how a ward is supposed to work. It is so eye-opening to be here where the church is so new and I am learning great lessons that I will use for the rest of my life, I´m sure.
I love Hermana Maxwell. We are just always happy. I admire that she laughs--a lot. It helps on rough days that I know we can laugh about something and smile. It´s the medicine to solve so many problems. She is a great missionary and person. We probably get along too well, but I am enjoying this time to it´s fullest!haha
Mom--I want to see pictures of these beautiful flowers! It got cold again here--really cold. Second winter. But it is sunny today so maybe, just maybe I´ll get to see the perfect SanSe weather people talk about. I miss RS activities and such. I never realized how important they are. We are teaching for one this week--a breakfast and then practical situations in which to share the gospel. Chloe-piñatas! I want to see this snitch! We want to make one here for 5 de mayo...we´ll see.
Yes! For Mother´s Day, the 13th--we will be in the locutorio here for Hna Maxwell at 4pm (8am there) and 4:45-5ish pm to start for me (8:45-9ish am to start for you). Does that work? What´s Connor doing? I will talk to him before then and figure it out. Let me know next week! Oh, and let me know the gmail username and password stuff again for me to log-in.
Love you!
-Hermana Dalton
"We had a very interesting week--but a great interesting week! For some reason the english fast was very hard for me this time and I struggled a lot. I know how to say everything in my head, but it doesn´t come out my mouth. Common ailment among missionaries, I know. We had taught the combined lesson this week in church as well as a part of a special consejo de barrio Sunday evening. I was very frustrated with myself because I just want to be able to teach as efficiently and effectively as I feel like I can in english... but after lots of praying and reading in the Book of Mormon, I learned that right now in my life/mission is the time for learning. I am learning incredible things every day that I know are special gifts from my Heavenly Father. The teaching will come and once again, He is teaching me patience and to be grateful for the blessings that I am receiving instead of always wanting something else. I started the Book of Mormon again after Easter, but in english this time and 1 Nephi has come alive for me. I have always known the stories, but as I am reading them again, I can´t explain with words the difference. There is a hunger to learn more and I feel like I am learning to “feast” upon the scriptures on a different level than I ever have before. This is a blessing and a miracle that I need to be grateful for now. So I guess the miracle is the learning, and learning how to learn, especially by the Spirit."
So yeah, we were in Bilbao--well, I was in Bilbao. The other Hna Dalton and her trainee, Hna Robinson, have only been there a week and opened the area so basically we spent Friday visiting members--super bad idea. 5 member visits in one day?! Sure, if you wanna turn out like Aunt Marge from Harry Potter...before and after the button--popping magic.haha! It was a lot of food. Delicious, massive amounts of food. But Hna Dalton learned her lesson--this Hna Dalton already learned this lesson, but still had to participate. Love albedrío. :-) We had a great time together and learned a lot. It was during the english fast so that was fun, too. We visited an ex-missionary (I really dislike this term in spanish, it sounds so...final...they don´t use "RM") and another less active sister. I just don´t understand how people serve missions and then become less active, but I can´t escape this situation, so I guess I need to learn from it--I WILL NEVER BE LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, that´s a big promise that I am making to all of you, but now you can keep me honest and slap me five ways to Friday if you have to later in life. :-)
Today is my missionary birthday! Well, as close as you can get in a month with only 30 days. Wahoo! We are going to celebrate by eating at "Peggy Sue´s American Diner"...unsure about how american it is, but we shall see. Should be fun. Hna Maxwell told me that in 2 weeks I hit my halfway mark...yikes. Not sure how I feel about that...moving on!
We are teaching a lot and have some great investigators...just lots of people lacking the faith to take the final leap of faith into the pila...for now. That´ll change soon enough :-) Dalleli still has a fecha for the 12th of May, but because we were in Bilbao we have not been able to contact her for almost a week. She does not have a móvil (cell phone) so we have to catch her on the fijo. She did not show up for our prearranged meeting with the Bishop that she requested, or church on Sunday. But she did go to a JAS activity on Saturday. She was not able to work things out with her oldest sister, so we are still trying to help with that before her baptism. The bishop has some doubts that she just wants to get baptized to fix the family situation, but we will have to find out this week.
We had a special consejo de barrio yesterday and we came to impress with our "world-class informe de progreso" goal of the mission, typed up, with pictures and specific info and things to help. We´ve had them ready for a month, but it kept getting canceled. I am receiving the great blessing of learning how to work with the ward and how a ward is supposed to work. It is so eye-opening to be here where the church is so new and I am learning great lessons that I will use for the rest of my life, I´m sure.
I love Hermana Maxwell. We are just always happy. I admire that she laughs--a lot. It helps on rough days that I know we can laugh about something and smile. It´s the medicine to solve so many problems. She is a great missionary and person. We probably get along too well, but I am enjoying this time to it´s fullest!haha
Mom--I want to see pictures of these beautiful flowers! It got cold again here--really cold. Second winter. But it is sunny today so maybe, just maybe I´ll get to see the perfect SanSe weather people talk about. I miss RS activities and such. I never realized how important they are. We are teaching for one this week--a breakfast and then practical situations in which to share the gospel. Chloe-piñatas! I want to see this snitch! We want to make one here for 5 de mayo...we´ll see.
Yes! For Mother´s Day, the 13th--we will be in the locutorio here for Hna Maxwell at 4pm (8am there) and 4:45-5ish pm to start for me (8:45-9ish am to start for you). Does that work? What´s Connor doing? I will talk to him before then and figure it out. Let me know next week! Oh, and let me know the gmail username and password stuff again for me to log-in.
Love you!
-Hermana Dalton
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