Well howdy!
Let me just say Girona in the springtime, is basically heaven on earth. The wisteria is gorgeous and the trees are incredible, and the people seem to be much happier as well.
It's been an incredible week with plenty of ups and downs and lots of learning. We were able to experience our first really bad lesson. It's a blessing cause we know where we need to improve and how we can communicate better. We have been doing better with 12 weeks and being obedient, but I can definitely see places where we need to improve.
There is a bit of a feeling I'm having, like there's a little piece of the puzzle I'm missing. Perhaps its something God is giving to me slowly and eventually I'll see the whole picture.
My spanish is not coming as quickly as I'd like, so this week I'm going to revamp my language study and hopefully get the advice of a native so I can learn faster.
I really appreciate what president said about working smarter and harder in my interview with him this month. He said to get to know own the members and serve them, update the ward list and testify testify testify.
It's been amazing to see how much the branch has embraced us as we have tried to get to know them. We were able to see the hand of the Lord as one family of recent converts introduced us to their cousins and we were able to give them a fecha for the 22nd. They're golden! I'm so excited to see them in white! They're so strong and absolutely faithful in everything we ask them to do, and I'm grateful the branch has accepted them.
We are hoping to baptise on the beach, but with how far inland we are, it may not happen. but if all our Fechas hold to their commitments we will have 4 baptised on that day, only two are really doing the things they need to do, but we have faith :)
Hermana Richey and I are definitely getting along better and communicating more. I'm doing what I can to be more humble and accept her criticism and advice. I know we are here together for a reason and I've already seen the incredible effect she has had here.
We have one investigator who has been investigating for a little less than a year. Originally she started in the Hermanas area, but has recently moved to the elders. We need to pass her over to the elders, but she is hesitant. She prefers to be taught by the Hermanas and doesn't want to have to start over in getting to know new missionaries. She knows the church is true and at this point is just making excuses as to why she isn't baptised. It's amazing to see the incredible change in her just in these past 6 weeks, and I know she's ready to take the next step, but she is stubborn. I love her her so much, but Hermana Richey and I both feel that the Elders need to teach her. But I don't know how to show her that this is for her benefit, she told us that if it was going to be a problem that she would just stop taking the lessons all together. It's something I'm struggling with and have prayed about a lot, but I'm just kinda stuck. Elder T said he wanted to talk to her, so hopefully that will do the trick. It's just crazy how much I love her and how much I want her to be okay and not just okay but baptised and preparing to go to the temple! I want so much for her to experience the blessings God wants to give her. I know the Lord is aware of her, so we're trusting in him now. That's just what's been going on this week :)
Ohhh And then, today for preparation day we got to go kiss the lleone, apparently if you kiss it that means you're coming back to Girona. So my question is how many times do I need to kiss it so I never have to leave??
Everything about this mission is so incredible, everything about being a missionary is extraordinary!
We have our goals and I hope so much that we can get this ward excited about missionary work again, or even just excited about being members. We have so much potential here and I'm so excited to see what the Lord will do.
That's the update:) and Hermana Richey is doing fine after she fell and hit her head. It was scary for a minute but she's doing well.
We are so blessed to have this gospel, and we have so much information and just incredible beauty God has given us.
I love having the spirit and knowing that as long as what I'm saying is good, it's of God. I am literally a representative of my savior Jesus Christ, and I can literally talk to anyone anytime about him and his sacrifice and the plan of salvation in our lives. We are so blessed.
I can't wait for mothers day!! I'm so excited to get to talk to everyone:) It's going to be so much fun after almost 6 months!!! Woohoooo! And then another long stretch to Christmas, and then a short 6 more months and I'll be home!! Whaaattt??? It goes so fast I can't imagine how fast it's going to be when I'm close to the end....it really goes so much faster when you throw yourself into the work and just focus week to week on the people that need you. There is literally not enough time in the day :)
I love you mommy! No matter what happens I know this is where we need to be and what we need to be doing. This is the Lord's work and we were chosen before we were born to bring people to Christ. HOW incredible! I love it :D I do not have words to express.
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