From Katie's journal:
He lifts us and chastises us, basing his comments in the individual. I learn this I think from Grammy. She always is telling me "you're my favorite" and I sure feel like it, but I know she tells all the grandchildren that and they feel like they truly are her favorite. I love the way God teaches us lessons and eternal truths. We set some good goals to help her feel less sad too and to escape the crippling damage of over self criticism and to help her feel the joy and kick Satan out of her head. Whenever I am listening to another's struggles, before offering suggestions, I really like to ask them what they would say to someone in their situation . Often we already know the solution, but we need a third person perspective. And more than anything, we long to be heard. To be listened to and loved. We also spent the majority of our afternoon looking for some more part member families. Here's two really cool experiences.
1. So we sat down under the the arch that marks the start of the ???? for members to meet up with us, but then they canceled. Sitting there, getting ready to move on a man walked by and was like ???? and we started talking. Turns out it was the dad of a SUPER active member (Yosmar's literal doppelganger). We had tried to visit them the past tow Sundays and nada. We visited them and were able to share a message! The thing is God guides us by the very step and most of the times we can't see the end from the beginning. Because if they wouldn't have canceled on us 7 minutes before we were supposed to meet up, we would have made another decisions, worked a different way and would have never crossed paths with him. So even when things seen to go sideways, choose to see God!
2. We were looking for another less active and we were not having success. We asked one house and she greeted us kindly acting as though she recognized us. I thought it was the girl we were looking for. Turns out actually that her in-laws are members. We read in the BOM and shared about Jesus Christ and she loved it. Her daughter, Evangeline, also was the Spanish version of Chubbs. But the biggest CRAZY is that a member had told us to visit the in-laws, so one way or another, God had a plan for us to get to her. He's fighting for Megan to have covenants and I will too!
Another week, another baptism. Every weekend God has truly worked miracles and grace and softened hearts to have a baptisms. I have never had that happen before and I hope to keep that streak for the rest of my mission. It seems like it will keep up in this transfer so it really is truly excellent. We have excellent members, a perfect God, the desire, and so many chosen people.
Today Thiago Abdiel Herrera Smith got baptized. He is a little boy of 8, but his siblings are all members. His sister is on her mission, so she zoomed in and talked at the baptism. It was all so cute and he was just SO excited jumping up and down outside the baptismal font.
We also went to an area I had never been to that gave me flash backs to San Vicente, just stacked houses but in the jungle. It's called Chumical. We found a lot of part member families, so that was good. We also visited a less active recent convert, Keitibeth. She now goes to a evangelical church. It was just a little frustrating because I looked at what she had been taught before her baptism and it was only what one needed to answer the baptismal questions. Like, if she had been taught to pray and always read the scriptures and fast-these questions and doubts she was having wouldn't;'t have sent her away but to Christ. Not necessarily, but at least she would have had all the lessens. But the Spirit spoke to me and said "where will annoyance get you?" Take what you have and make the best of it.
I am having a hard time focusing. I am feeling more and more ready for home things. Dating, mom, food, Christmas, etc. But I am sprinting to the end. Our friend Teo is awesome. She explained once again that this is her moment to be baptized. She is set for next Saturday! She also answered our question so well to how she will prepare herself for the celestial kingdom.
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God's timing is perfect
Sacrament was good as always. I still feel like I am in an American ward. SO MANY PEOPLE. And this is my first ward not playing the piano because someone can. So odd. It is also so weird because Khadir is here and it just feels like a friend from another lifetime. I also have such a hard time in church because I feel like I mentally check out. Because no one talks to me and I can drown out the Spanish and I feel bad because I didn't get out everything that I can. Yet I love the authenticity of testimonies in church. They are always so direct here-I love it! They always flat out say "no hay otra iglesia verdadera" (there is no other true church). TESTIFY! Anyways, we went home to plan and break our fast. It was good that our lunch canceled. Hermana Shirley really needed to talk. I think a hard part about missionary work is always being in a hustle and a rush and you can't ever fully digest or express how you personally feel since you need to run to the next thing. She just struggles with comparison, with her past self, with other missionaries. I feel very grateful that the spirit was able to help me know what to say. I know God never ever compares one child to another to lift or belittle another.
Visiting friends with Hanna and Eduardo
This is what I look like at the end of every day...not the best haha
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