Title: Four months in the mission!
Hey all!! Today is my last day of my second transfer! If I had to have a theme for this transfer, it would be conversion!
We met so many members who had left the church or had slowly distanced themselves from the church since their baptism. We also worked with many members. I learned that our conversion really requires a daily, consistent effort to stay converted. It is not a one and done thing, but a life long process that requires obedience and sacrifice. Truly in my second transfer, I learned about what kind of disciple of Jesus Christ I want to be after the mission: I want to work with missionaries, always minister, focus more on my family, always be inviting people to the gospel of Jesus Christ, always study my scriptures and pray, and continue to have Christ at the center of my life.
That being said, here are the crazy news of cambios (changes) for this upcoming transfer. I thought I would leave and go to a new area. But, I get a call from President, which honestly is never that good of a sign, haha, and he asks me if I would like to TRAIN A NEWBIE! I accepted and said yes and we are going to stay here in Guadalupe. I just did not really expect that, especially since there are only 3 other hermanas coming into the mission and I thought someone with a wholeeeee lot more time than me would train. I am excited but would not be lying if I have shed a few tears because of how inadequate and slightly nervous I feel. But, the Lord will provide and President told me to take my call seriously, but not myself too much. The good thing is I know this area well, I can speak Spanish more or less, and the members are really nice.
I have come to really dislike dogs here. I am sorry to everyone who loves them. I swear they can smell or see that I am a gringa because they do not approach the Panamanians, but always seem to try to kill me. Luckily in one of my near death moments some Panamanians came and saved me.
Another random highlight is a member gave me Dr. Pepper!! This is a rare commodity and it was so funny because he comes home from school and is just casually drinking Dr. Pepper cream soda and I am like ¨uhhhh excuse me where did you get that,¨ and he pulls out another and gives me one! Life was made in this instant haha!!
But I really love the mission and feel like I am hitting my stride and just loving being here. It is always hot and I am always sweaty, but I really love to teach and invite and focus on what matters most. I read this quote this morning from the Infinite Atonement that said ¨we become like those things we habitually love and admire. And thus, as we study Christ's life and live His teachings, we become more like Him¨. If I can wish for one thing, it is to become more like Him everyday!
4 months on the mission!! And Dr Pepper from a member :)
Lessons with members!! We love Arell!! And she also drove us around!
Last district council before transfers.
Waiting for a taxi very late so of course we had out our umbrellas and my rape whistle.
After a service project of cleaning an hermanos house and yard.
The parrot was tickling me so bad
There are two random horses always walking in the valdeza.
Mirror selfies!
Casually Panamanians like to burn trash and plastic
Happy 4th birthday Leia!!! We love this family, Marta and her daughter Leia
Nidia and Madeline, recent converts
A member needed there adult diapers and we snapped a pic
Our favorite member, Tifani Navarro who is going to serve a mission soon!!
Irichell and Yairichell Castillo, Hermana Hatch, Tifani Navarro, and me in the Castillos house one Sunday
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