Date
January 12, 2016
Area
1st zone assignment, El Paso, Texas
Companion
Hermana Neilson, Hermana Torres
Chocoflan and Stuffed Chiles - A Match Made in Heaven and My Stomach
ALOHA! (sometimes I miss the Hawaiian ways)
Since every other missionary that wrote me today brought up the concept of time - I might as well also! The concept of time on a mission is crazy! The days are slow but the weeks are so fast! It's already 2016!
Anyways, I guess we can first address the title of my email. I think I've had the best food ever this week. My new favorite foods are stuffed green chiles and chocoflan - CHOCOLATE FLAN. #WHAT
I also had champurrado, which I have been dying to have - it's like super super thick mexican hot chocolate. #calories#whatarethose But I do indeed believe that my stomach is stretching to accommodate so much food. I noticed that I eat really fast now and sometimes eating is honestly my most stressful part of the day, as in: Ok, all I have to do right now, is figure out how to fit those entire 4 servings of Lasagna in my stomach.
Big changes this week - and not just in my stomach! haha Big announcement at church: THEY ANNOUNCED A NEW STAKE! WOOOOO!!! The Lord is really hastening his work!!!! GO MISSIONARIES! We are going to be part of the new stake - meaning they are building a new chapel and reorganizing the members here in El Paso! This means a lot of area and zone changes for missionaries - I'm excited!!! :)
ALSO: I'm sure all the missionaries know already, and it may not mean a big deal for everyone else - but the First Presidency of the Church has announced there will no longer be transfer meetings! So instead of all the missionaries meeting together every six weeks for transfers, we will only be able to meet up with our new companion and hit the ground running! Crazy stuff!
Funny things that happened this week:
- We often listen to devotionals or talks in the car about a gospel subject and so we were listening to a talk called "His Grace Is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. So I'm sitting here listening to this uplifting talk in the car and then my companion notes that he sounds like a mix between the Joker from the Dark Knight and Barty Crouch from Harry Potter. And I lost it. Please. listen.to.it.if.you.can. I was DYING IT WAS SO FUNNY. I was just imagining the Joker giving this speech to a bunch of Mormons at BYU. #whysospiritual
- Hermana Nielson sneezed so hard while she was driving, that she hit her head on the steering wheel and honked the horn. #agressivedriver
- My companions were talking using crocheting as part of an object lesson and as they turned to me I said, "Oh, I don't know how to yarn." YARN PEOPLE. Man, where does the English all go?
Well we taught a good amount of lessons this week. I think it's getting easier to find people to teach as the holidays end and as people return to normal schedules. We have one awesome investigator already on baptismal date! I feel she is so prepared! She has been coming to church every Sunday despite her challenges - she has had a pretty rough life! But it is so great to see her progression and understanding increase!
Another family we are working with is so special! It is the Olague Family. We found them the week before Christmas while we were caroling. Blanca is the grandmother and takes care of all three of her grandchildren. Her son Felipe works in AZ during the weeks and comes home on weekends to help out. We have been teaching all of them, and Felipe when we can, but I know they were truly prepared for us! The children are SO SMART and always read the Book of Mormon! Blanca calls us her little "angelitas" :)
This week I really want to work hard to acheive goals! As a zone, we all chose 27 as a number to achieve for baptism. So by march we want to baptize 27 together as a zone! But all the missionaries in this zone have really taught me that goals are not goals unless you WORK. HARD. That means follow through and do what you need to do!
Our scripture for the month is Joshua 24:15 :
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Remember to keep purpose in your goals and in your life! We are all children of a LOVING God and Heavenly Father! You can pray to know what God wants you to do! I love doing the Lord's work and helping people come to this restored knowledge of the gospel! Keep writing! I love your letters and emails :)
MUCHO AMOR! (sorry I have no picture from this week, but I promise next week will be better!)
Hermana Bigley