Wow do I have a lot to tell you this
week! I have learned so much this week. I always think that I've learned a ton
and then the next week I just learn even more. And more and more. I'm blown away
by it! Ah so where to begin...I'll answer your questions first. My foot's doing
a little bit better, I went to the doctor last week for a check up and I don't
have to wear the wrap anymore but the flip flops are still a must. I'm supposed
to go back in tomorrow for another check up, but I'm pretty sure I'll still have
another week or more. I tried some shoes on and it still hurts to walk in them
and I can't go up on tip toe without it hurting so I really really hope I can
get it back to normal soon. I miss being able to run and play soccer. But I'm
grateful that I can still do some things, I just get tired of doing them over
and over again! Oh well hopefully it will get better soon. Mom, I share your
feelings with having a cold and a slightly hacking cough. Haha but I think it's
starting to get better! The food is still the same old, I'm really surprised
that I'm not that sick of it. They work really hard here to get us good food, so
I am always grateful for what we do have. And with Mexico City all we get to go
out there for is the temple. It's so insane and crazy outside of the CCM gates.
I've probably heard 15 cannons today, it's never ending! We always wonder why
they do it, but we aren't too bothered by it.
As for my week, first some funny things,
and then I'll tell you about everything I've learned. On Wednesday when we went
in to get my foot checked we were getting up to leave and I started walking to
the door. I looked over at Hermana Smith and she started walking the other
direction, so I just thought she was throwing something away. But then she
completely just passed out! She hit her head pretty hard on a big picture frame
that was on the wall and fell down. I am so grateful we were in the doctor's
office because I don't know what I would've done had I been alone because I
couldn't leave her, and I couldn't get help so I was grateful we were there. She
is totally fine though, I think she was dehydrated because we had just come from
working out. It was really funny too because I broke sooo many rules. But all
with permission of course. The doctor asked me to go get juice for her from the
cafeteria so I had to walk over there alone, in my gym clothes, wearing flip
flops, going to the comedor when it wasn't open, and I was supposed to be in
class. It was funny because I saw elders when I was walking over to the comedor
and they gave me the look like YOU ARE CRAZY. hahahaha we have been laughing
about that whole situtation ever since. It was actually really funny looking
back on it especially since she was okay!
Anyways, like I said I have learned a
whole lot this week. Let me begin by saying how remarkable my teacher Hna.
Christensen is. Wow, I aspire to be like her. She is beyond incredible!! She put
together a practice for us about inspired questions. We worked with our
companions and had to ask them questions, but really rely on the Spirit to
prompt us to ask inspired questions. I was the missionary and Hna. Smith was the
investigator. I began talking to her and just asking random questions, having
nooo idea where I was going to go with this. I started to pause more and more as
I asked questions to really understand what the Spirit was wanting me to ask. At
one point where I could not think of anything to say I was just sitting
there in silence for awhile. Hna. Christensen was observing us and just said,
"it's okay Hermana, just take your time." I sat there and finally had a question
to ask her. I asked it, and Hna. Christensen kind of laughs and says "Oh my that
was such an inspired question" and went away to go observe the other
missionaries. The Spirit honestly spoke directly to me, and I know it was
inspired because Hna. Smith began to cry, and she doesn't cry! I've made her cry
twice! haha okay well actually the Spirit did, but I learned how important it is
to rely on the Spirit and to not force anything. Sometimes you do have to take
that moment to be still and let the feelings of the Spirit embrace you.
On Thursday we taught Kaya again (and yes
they are role plays. Kaya is played by our teacher Hna. Christensen, but she's
playing the role of a real investigator she had on her mission) She is so
stubborn and will not even try to pray. I've learned a lot about persistence and
teaching to the needs of the people. Then on Friday we taught her again and it
was the best lesson we've given to date! I felt the Spirit so strongly. I find
it really hard to describe it all, but the best word to describe it is JOY. WE
FINALLY GOT HER TO PRAY!! It took us five lessons to do it, but I realized how
it is so much more worth it when you have to work for the results. We put
everything into it, and the Spirit was so strong. As she was praying, she began
crying, and I was crying too because I was so happy that she finally had a
desire to pray and begin to create a relationship with our Heavenly Father. He
is always there for us, always. In the lesson we talked about faith. We
mentioned that without faith and belief you cannot progress further. We used the
comparison of fe como una semilla in Alma 32 y how the only way it can grow is
by nourishing it by applying what you've learned, including prayer and reading
the scriptures. This experience taught me that we often have to work through
hard and challenging things in our lives in order to appreciate the good things
that come after your hard work. It reminded me of the scripture (I think it's in
D&C) where it says that you have to have tasted the bitter in order to
recognize and appreciate the sweet. Honestly my favorite teaching experience
yet.
And Sunday, as always was so amazing! I love everything that we get to
learn on Sundays. At the devotional we watched an address by Richard G. Scott
about...yep, prayer. I was sitting there realizing, the Lord is trying to tell
me something. The things we teach our investigators are the things that the Lord
wants to teach us too. Perhaps I'm just as stubborn with prayer as Kaya, and I
need this too! I realized how crucially important prayer is to maintain the
relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is just like I am having a
conversation with Him, or at least, that's how it should be. I've been praying,
but not nearly as much or with as much diligence and heart as I should be. And
boy, do I need His help. I really need to do better with that. Sometimes we do
not recognize the relationship that exists between us and our Heavenly Father
(read the section about prayer in the Bible Dictionary) and then there is a type
of distance that's put between us. Sometimes we think "He is not there for me,
he does not help me" and we blame it on Him. When in reality it is us that puts
that distance there. Heavenly Father will always be there for us, SIEMPRE. It is
us that decides how close we can be to Him. It is our choice. So please, let's
choose to close that gap between us and Him. I know that if we do this we will
more recognize the love that God has for us and we will be more grateful for the
many things that He has blessed us with. Look around you. We are so blessed. For
me, I have a family who loves me and supports me in all that I do. I have a
knowledge of the Lord, who also loves me and supports me in all that I do. I
have a Savior and Redeemer who loves me and has suffered for me so that I can
return to live with them again one day. Look at the love that surrounds you!!
Love is so important, and it is so important that we express our love too. So
family, I LOVE YOU! More than you will ever be able to know. Have an incredible
week!!
Con MUCHO amor,
Hermana Hoj
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