Today is P-Day, so I only get to send you a message once a week, so don't freak out on me or anything. Things are great here, the work is hard, and the days last forever, but I'm just pushing through. It's easy to forget that I've only been here a week, we do so much, its ridiculous. Lots of good stuff have been happening too: the food is pretty good, and I've veered away from the OJ. :)
I was called as District Leader, and its been pretty crazy. The interesting part was when our branch president did the interviews, I knew I was going to be district leader, even before anything was mentioned about it. I've heard stories about people knowing they were going to receive a calling before it happened, but I was startled when the Spirit touched me so personally. Everyone in my district looks to me when we need a decision,
and there were a lot of times I just had to step it up. Like when we didn't
have a teacher for about an hour, I ended up taking over and doing a vocab game. I love it, and its a lot of responsiblity, but it is worth it.
and there were a lot of times I just had to step it up. Like when we didn't
have a teacher for about an hour, I ended up taking over and doing a vocab game. I love it, and its a lot of responsiblity, but it is worth it.
no matter the problem, even in all the extra stuff I have to do as DL. He
respects when I have to do those things, and we work well together, I really appreciate his trust and willingness to listen. As for the rest of the district, they all rock - I know I have the best ever. There are 8 Elders and 4 Hermanas (Sisters), who really keep the Elders on their toes and being polite and all that, and it makes it easier than sitting with all guys 24/7 (the classes are already 3 a day, almost 3-4 hours each), plus we really have to keep up with them. My 3 roommates and I are going to Puerto Rico (Elder Twitchell is going to the East Mission), 4 elders and one hermana are going to San Antonio Texas, one to Paraguay, and one to.....another country.... I forget. And one elder in my hall is going to independence, MI, which i thought that was cool since dad served there. I guess there is a ton of problems with visas lately so a lot are serving in the states until visas come through - lucky for me though!
So I had one of the most spiritual experiences of my life yesterday, and it was
amazing. Let me preface by saying the day before was my worst day. I was so
discouraged with the language and lessons, and we kept watching people do
examples but they made me feel worse - plus we have to do it on Saturday. The
final straw was going to the Referral Center and making calls to REAL people who
had ordered things from the church before, and I sat there and thought I couldn't do this. I didnt want to come home or anything, I was just so overwhelmed, because there was never any time to do anything. That night I prayed hard, and in English (we have been praying and bearing testimony all week in spanish - I know it's sweet, but i just couldn't say want I wanted to in spanish) and finally I got the feeling that tomorrow would be better. Literally, I heard the words in my head: "Tomorrow will be better."
Man the Lord can answer prayers!!!!
I went to the Referal Call center again, started making calls but no one was
home, and then the phone rang randomly, and I didnt know what to do, but I
answered. It was Peery Yates from Viginia. This man saw a commercial on tv for a video and called. We got to talking, everything from the weather to his
moving violations, and then he told me he was 53, disabled, had had 31 surgeries in 6 years, and a year ago during surgery he had legally died. I was awestruck. He told me what happened, how we saw himself and watched the doctors revive him.
We had been laughing and chatting, we talked of families and I testisfied that
they could be together forever. I asked him if he wanted the missionaries to
come, his religious background, and said in a nutshell that he was here on
earth, still alive, because he wasn't going home until he recieved the truth. He
said he had never told his wife or even the doctors what had happened when he
was "dead," but he wanted to hear the message, and he said he was not
afraid to die anymore. I said that there are worse things than death, like not knowing you are a child of God, that he loves you, and wants you back, and he told me I had hit the nail on the head. I was almost in tears, everyone else in the room had noticed my time clock had his almost 20 minutes with this man, and my heart was just so full. He is going to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I may never meet him in this life, but I an determined to do so in the next. I felt the Spirit so strong, and I testified like I never had in my life, and I had the assurance that when you trust in the Lord ALL things are possible, that He does not leave us alone, and that we have a work to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay (Moroni 9:6). I cannot stop thinking about that man I have never met from Virginia, and I hope with all my heart he accepts the truth.
Well, I love you all, the church is true, and nothing but my own laziness is going to stop me from spreading the word to the people of Puerto Rico.Pray for my district, and the people I will meet in PR. I feel so blessed. Never have I worked like this, spent all day thinking of the gospel, but it is amazing.
Everyone is great here, and friendly. We have even gotten in trouble a couple times. I guess Ultimate Frisbee is against the rules here (we won anyway), and it was my Companion's birthday and we started singing Feliz Cumpleanos and the 2nd councelor in the mission presidency had to "chastise" us. Its all good though.
Going to the Provo Temple in a couple minutes. Love you all!!!!!!!
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