Monday, April 8, 2013

Roller Coaster Of A Week!!!

Wow this was a roller coaster of emotions week. Highs and lots of lows. I think it will be easiest to go day by day. I think I mentioned last time that we had zone conference Wednesday. That went alright, the things that we learned were great and I'm stoked to put them in practice. The theme of the conference was baptizing every month. And I feel like it helped the zone. As far as the physical things that conference was by far the choppiest one so far, I don't know why but the details we usually have figured out. But everything fell apart at the last minute, so we had to do a lot of scrambling but we got everything figured out. It was a nightmare and took a lot out of us... We did divisions after the conference, I stayed in my area with elder matias, he is a stud, I love his way of teaching, he invites the spirit in every time and the investigators could feel it. We had some awesome lessons. One thing I am starting to learn or notice is that I am one of the oldest missionaries here in the mission, (I know right?!?) because with almost every Elder I can remember when they entered, the same goes for matias, I remembered when he entered and I can see a huge change in him from the beginning of his mission to now. His story is really cool, both his parents are from Guatemala, but they live in Los Angeles! And he got called here. The lord is aware of us! Friday we had a zone leader meeting, where we Skype with elder martino and things went great he congratulated us for reaching our personal goal as zone leaders and to keep going to help the zone change and reach their goal also. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Not gonna lie Friday in the morning I felt so stressed out. To the point where I was burned out and just didn't want a thing. I feel that I had snapped mentally, I don't know why but I was just super down, and just super sick of life. I was to the point where I just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry, (ya that bad) but I dint know why that's the thing. Luckily in the zone counsel sister stay talked about dealing with being down or discouragement, (inspiration?) and gave some great tips ( things I already knew) but a good reminder and I put them into practice and they helped get me feeling better. Saturday was the general conference, and it was great! Here like no one goes on Saturday, there were maybe like 10 members there out of the whole district!!! (You remember that here we have to watch it in the district center, it's not broadcasted right to our house like in the states.) We are super lucky in the states. But in the afternoon some more showed up. I love general conference, it is so amazing, I think as a missionary I look forward to conference more than Christmas.... Yeah that's how much it means to a missionary. I don't know what you guys think but the general overall message for me was rescuing our fellow men, and member missionary work through being an example. I could really sense those themes throughout the whole conference. That is President Monson’s fruit, or what he will be known for... Rescuing our fellow less active and missionary work! I love the direction the church is taking and I am excited to see what walls we can overcome in these next 6 months until the next conference! Sunday we are starting to do something new, we wake up extra early and go and wake everyone up before the meetings!! Bahaha I feel so bad for them cause we woke up easily at least 5 families yesterday. But if we don't do it they wouldn't have gone to church! Hah I love it, we make a huge circle in our area starting in one area and circling around to the other side in about two hours! Waking up members, less actives, and investigators…or anyone or thing that breaths! So far no one has gotten mad :) but I told my comp if the missionaries came and woke me up super early I would be mad! But that’s what I love about the people here, they are super chill, something I need to learn from them. So going and waking them up it actually works! And it was worth it because yesterday in the conference we had 12 investigators!! That was a miracle for us cause it wasn't even in our Area we had to travel to Cuilapa. The messages were great; I really liked President Uchtdorf's message and the few about the atonement. The two talks about marriage scared me cause a lot of my friends are married or now engaged so those talks hit a little more home it's just weird!! Ugh.... So an update about Diego... He is progressing nicely, actually progressing amazingly! He went to the conference and after called us, I answered and he says I have some news.... I asked well is it good news or bad news, he said it depends on how you take it.... I want to be baptized as soon as possible! Bahaha I was speechless didn't even know what to say! I started stuttering but finally got everything together to say that's awesome!! And so we are going to meet with him tonight get everything finalized and it looks like we are going to baptize him this Saturday the 13th!!! He is such a good guy, I have never seen anyone like him have such a desire to change and turn his life around. He truly has a broken heart and a contrite spirit. So lately I have just been sad, just down, happy and sad at the same time, happy for all the successes we are seeing but at the same time super sad seeing a lot of our investigators fall, or not progressing, but not because of us, but because they don't want to. We have something that can truly bless and change their lives in ways that can't even imagine! But they just don't want to progress and it makes me sad. Or to see people struggling with problems and I can't do anything to help them. The fact that in two months I’ll go home to a better life but they will stay and continue in the same, it makes me sad, and count my blessings at how fortunate I am. It is so frustrating when the people don't do what we know is best for them! But everyone has the amazing gift of agency and there is just so much confusion here, or laziness that the people don't give the gospel a chance... but it’s ok, the mission wasn't always going to be roses and candy. It is what it is and I’ll do my best and go from there! However knowing that I can count my weeks left on my hands makes me go crazy! I can’t believe how fast the time went and how crazy that is, I feel like I will be lost when I go home cause all I know how to do is to be a missionary! I am going to have to relearn the American culture and language! Bahaha I love the messages we heard from general conference, and I received plenty of insight of things I need to change. Thanks mom for that talk... did I mention something or did you just know that that was something I wanted to improve on? Your amazing mom! umm Elder Arce got married this week I think, so me and elder mcnabb are going to send him some money, we wanted to send him a wedding gift but it would just be easier to send money, we both put in 25 dollars. I love the guy, and wish him well! Mom I didn’t reach my goal of finishing the book of Mormon before conference either... I was doing amazing until the last 2 weeks before conference, things just got super crazy busy and I stopped reading... i know that it not an excuse because once i get back it is going to be even busier and i always have to find time to read and study. I love you all and hope you have a GREAT week! I love you all And mango on a stick!! The greatest invention here since chocolate bananas! (That is right outside our house) Chad found out this week that we purchased him a 2002 Nissan Altima and this was his response...¿I looked out my window and what did i see? ¡¡¡a nisson altima right in front of me!!! (hey that even works with the song!) That's even the same color as his back home...maybe a shade darker...Awe...only 9 weeks to go!!! But who's counting!

1 comment:

  1. So excited for you Jan!! These next few weeks are going to fly by sooooo fast! - susie

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