07 August 2008
Leaving
So this is just a quick thought I had as I was reading Alma 35. Se trata de Alma the younger (when he's older) teaching the Zoramites. Verse 14 says, "And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land". I just thought it was interesting the way that sentence is worded. Any of the Zoramites who repented had to leave their land. And I think leaving probably helped them to have a fresh start somewhere else. Leaving is an important part of repentance. Whether it's figuratively leaving something behind (a bad habit, bad influences) or literally leaving (a bad movie, a bad party). You can't "move on" until you're ready to "leave" some other place.
05 August 2008
Carta de Mayordomia
I have been slowly moving into my new house and while unpacking some things I found my "Letter of Stewardship". Basically it's something we do in the Mendoza mission to reflect on our mission, account for the things we have done and learned as well as discuss our future and set goals for the type of people we want to be. I wish I had included more memories from my last area in the letter so I will add them now in a different color font. Here's my Carta...
MY MISSION
What can I say about my mission? I have so many stories to tell my grandchildren.
Doctrines.
I learned so many things. I learned by study but I really grew learning by faith. I learned that faith in God means faith in myself. I can do whatever He wills if I put forth the faith (like sing the alto to "Come Thou Fount"). I struggled and at the same time succeeded throughout my mission to develop hope and patience. They are so connected! I am grateful to Hermana King and Hermana Throup who taught me important lessons and gave me excellent examples about those attributes. I'm learning how to patiently and cheerfully submit to all the will of the Lord. It's the cheerful part that's hard sometimes:) I'll never forget what Elder Turley taught me the week before he died, he said that the general authorities of the church are always talking about "the basics" reading the scriptures and praying EVERY DAY because it's impossible to go inactive with that type of daily constancy. There might be people in church on Sunday who don't do those things, but they may not stay active forever.
Culture.
I had to change a lot of my personal culture and learn to work HARD. I had to find joy in doing the same thing every day, knowing that I was fighting for a greater cause. I recognized how even without the tugs and pulls of worldly media for a year and a half I still had a need to consume. Spending money, buying anything, a piece of gum, oddly made me feel better. Wierd. I love the language; it really does shape the culture like Hermano Ivers says. I love the people, I love the colors of Argentina. I love that they give me candy instead of change, that the people wait 10 minutes in a bank line without getting angry, the expressive hand gestures, the besos, the home remedies for health, the bikes, the noisy motos, the dogs, the sequias, the mullets, the cumbia, zonda winds, chorillero winds, the meat, lampazos, overcrowded buses, crazy bus drivers, the trash baskets...I could go on for a few more pages, but I'll stop here.
Members.
So many of the members have taken me in and to me they are my heroes and my family and my dear friends. The Serra and Arenas families (San Luis), the Lombino family (San Martin), the Gonzalez, Montenegro and Suriano families (to name a few from Lujan) are people that I know will be my friends forever, they have all in very special ways taken care of me. They've been my mothers and fathers and sisters here in Argentina. Hermana Orozco (San Martin) and Hermana Casari (San Luis) are 2 of my Argentine heroes. They are such amazing, constant, steady women. They have both been through so much, but to them their trials are blessings. They continue to develop their talents. Lovely Hermana Buonamico (San Luis) taught me how to be the best wife I can be, no matter what the circumstances. It has been a blessing to be in their homes and love them.
Investigators.
I learned that the work is not about me. I had to overcome silly little fears but in the end witness great blessings like seeing Claudia and Fernando baptized and now so close to being sealed. What if I had never climbed up that green spiral staircase by myself? I realized it's the power of the spirit and the message of the gospel that touched Walter and Natalia so deeply that we seriously didn't do a thing. I learned that it's not what I say but what the spirit says...it's what made Mirtha Benegas finally get baptized after 5 years...it was the power of a humble prayer. I loved looking into their eyes and feeling how much God loved them...especially when they realized it too. They are not my converts, they are children of God who I got to help come unto Christ. I learned my job is just love love them. I've never had to give so much of myself. It was never so hard as it was with Agustin, Liliana (Matias, Emilse) and Luciana but I don't take back spending so much time to help them and how much I cried because I love them.
Companions.
It's been so fun to live and learn and work with 9 very different sister missionaries. They are wonderful friends. I am so glad Hermana Terrazas was patient with me, she showed me how to teach and let me help her--I grew a ton. Hermana Gunderson showed me how to love the mission, I have never laughed or cried more with any other companion. Hermana Casady showed me how to work hard "si o si" and we learned how to share everything. I mention these 3 sisters in particular because of the profound love I feel for them, I never doubted their love for me as they showed me in various ways. I hope that I can make other people feel as wonderful as they made me feel. My final companion was one of those. Hermana Goodwin was so incredibly sincere and I felt so much joy with her in my ultimate transfer.
Advice.
Don't forget that we are only instruments, it's not OUR work. This is the great work of the Lord Jesus Christ and it will not fail, it will triumph. Therefore as instruments and servants in this work, we too will succeed no matter what. Pray for eyes to see the triumphs--they are everywhere.
Testimony.
As a representative of Jesus Christ I testify that His church is again on the earth. I have seen miracles in this work that leave no doubt in my mind that it is His. I know that His atonement is real, it heals, sanctifies and strengthens us. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. The Book of Mormon is the greatest conversion tool we have, it testifies of Christ and is a treasure and a labor of love. Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet today, he is God's mouthpiece and I sustain him. Every day of my 18+ months in the mission God has shown me in miraculous and simple ways that He loves His children, he listens when we speak to Him. I know that He loves me. I leave my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
March 2007
MY MISSION
What can I say about my mission? I have so many stories to tell my grandchildren.
Doctrines.
I learned so many things. I learned by study but I really grew learning by faith. I learned that faith in God means faith in myself. I can do whatever He wills if I put forth the faith (like sing the alto to "Come Thou Fount"). I struggled and at the same time succeeded throughout my mission to develop hope and patience. They are so connected! I am grateful to Hermana King and Hermana Throup who taught me important lessons and gave me excellent examples about those attributes. I'm learning how to patiently and cheerfully submit to all the will of the Lord. It's the cheerful part that's hard sometimes:) I'll never forget what Elder Turley taught me the week before he died, he said that the general authorities of the church are always talking about "the basics" reading the scriptures and praying EVERY DAY because it's impossible to go inactive with that type of daily constancy. There might be people in church on Sunday who don't do those things, but they may not stay active forever.
Culture.
I had to change a lot of my personal culture and learn to work HARD. I had to find joy in doing the same thing every day, knowing that I was fighting for a greater cause. I recognized how even without the tugs and pulls of worldly media for a year and a half I still had a need to consume. Spending money, buying anything, a piece of gum, oddly made me feel better. Wierd. I love the language; it really does shape the culture like Hermano Ivers says. I love the people, I love the colors of Argentina. I love that they give me candy instead of change, that the people wait 10 minutes in a bank line without getting angry, the expressive hand gestures, the besos, the home remedies for health, the bikes, the noisy motos, the dogs, the sequias, the mullets, the cumbia, zonda winds, chorillero winds, the meat, lampazos, overcrowded buses, crazy bus drivers, the trash baskets...I could go on for a few more pages, but I'll stop here.
Members.
So many of the members have taken me in and to me they are my heroes and my family and my dear friends. The Serra and Arenas families (San Luis), the Lombino family (San Martin), the Gonzalez, Montenegro and Suriano families (to name a few from Lujan) are people that I know will be my friends forever, they have all in very special ways taken care of me. They've been my mothers and fathers and sisters here in Argentina. Hermana Orozco (San Martin) and Hermana Casari (San Luis) are 2 of my Argentine heroes. They are such amazing, constant, steady women. They have both been through so much, but to them their trials are blessings. They continue to develop their talents. Lovely Hermana Buonamico (San Luis) taught me how to be the best wife I can be, no matter what the circumstances. It has been a blessing to be in their homes and love them.
Investigators.
I learned that the work is not about me. I had to overcome silly little fears but in the end witness great blessings like seeing Claudia and Fernando baptized and now so close to being sealed. What if I had never climbed up that green spiral staircase by myself? I realized it's the power of the spirit and the message of the gospel that touched Walter and Natalia so deeply that we seriously didn't do a thing. I learned that it's not what I say but what the spirit says...it's what made Mirtha Benegas finally get baptized after 5 years...it was the power of a humble prayer. I loved looking into their eyes and feeling how much God loved them...especially when they realized it too. They are not my converts, they are children of God who I got to help come unto Christ. I learned my job is just love love them. I've never had to give so much of myself. It was never so hard as it was with Agustin, Liliana (Matias, Emilse) and Luciana but I don't take back spending so much time to help them and how much I cried because I love them.
Companions.
It's been so fun to live and learn and work with 9 very different sister missionaries. They are wonderful friends. I am so glad Hermana Terrazas was patient with me, she showed me how to teach and let me help her--I grew a ton. Hermana Gunderson showed me how to love the mission, I have never laughed or cried more with any other companion. Hermana Casady showed me how to work hard "si o si" and we learned how to share everything. I mention these 3 sisters in particular because of the profound love I feel for them, I never doubted their love for me as they showed me in various ways. I hope that I can make other people feel as wonderful as they made me feel. My final companion was one of those. Hermana Goodwin was so incredibly sincere and I felt so much joy with her in my ultimate transfer.
Advice.
Don't forget that we are only instruments, it's not OUR work. This is the great work of the Lord Jesus Christ and it will not fail, it will triumph. Therefore as instruments and servants in this work, we too will succeed no matter what. Pray for eyes to see the triumphs--they are everywhere.
Testimony.
As a representative of Jesus Christ I testify that His church is again on the earth. I have seen miracles in this work that leave no doubt in my mind that it is His. I know that His atonement is real, it heals, sanctifies and strengthens us. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. The Book of Mormon is the greatest conversion tool we have, it testifies of Christ and is a treasure and a labor of love. Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet today, he is God's mouthpiece and I sustain him. Every day of my 18+ months in the mission God has shown me in miraculous and simple ways that He loves His children, he listens when we speak to Him. I know that He loves me. I leave my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
March 2007
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