Date
July 1, 2015
Area
Missionary Training Center
Companion
Sister Caidyn Phinney
First full week
Hello everybody!!! :)
I don't know if you have already received the first one, but I have sent two letters by snail mail and they should arrive soon if not already there. So I'll try not to repeat what I've already shared. This week has been COMPLETELY overwhelming. I have never worked so hard in my life. It is a strange experience of blended spiritual strengthening and stretching, and intellectual and physical exhaustion. Along with having a 16 hour work day and never having alone time or free time, studying my brains out, and pushing myself mentally and emotionally, I got sick on Friday night. My stomach finally feels normal again today. Due to a conference going on in some of our buildings, we had had to use the gym as a makeshift cafeteria and our diets suffered an unfortunate lack of vegetables. But we finally got our cafeteria back on Monday and I think I ate straight vegetables for a day just to celebrate :D Also, on the bright side, they have blue bunny ice cream here. And no worries Mom, they always make sure I've got gluten free options.
On another subject, though, I have learned soooo much! I love the Spirit that is with us. It's harder than you might think to teach things I've learned since I was a toddler. We've been learning how to break it down into the very basics of the gospel: "God is our loving Heavenly Father," and "I know you will feel His love if you pray with faith." I've also had to learn what we call "the language of the Spirit." Meaning, I'm relearning how my Heavenly Father speaks to me, how to recognize it, and when to just do the best I can. It's super hard work here, but so very worth it. One of our investigators, Carolina, is from Mexico and it has been really hard finding ways to teach her since she struggles understanding the words in the scriptures. But as Sis. Phinney (my companion) and I bore witness of Heavenly Father's love for her and the truth of the gospel, an amazing thing happened. She may not have understood the hard words we read (even though we tried to explain all of them) but she felt the Spirit teach her. She understood our message. I am not a teacher. I am simply an instrument that God can use to teach His daughter Carolina through the Spirit. I am simply a helper and a guide as she builds her own relationship with God.
I love you all so much! I will try to send some pictures in a bit. Please please please send me letters! They help me so much just to remember that you are thinking of me. I'd love to hear about what's going on in your life.
I know that God loves you, and that you are His child. If you have any questions for me, let me know and I'll try to answer soon! I won't have another P-day until Monday the 13 because of our travel schedule, but I can write paper letters if you give me your address!
P.S. Happy Canada day! ;)
Sis. Heather Bambas