Monday, June 22, 2015

CASTLE AND BAPTISMS

BEST WEEK EVER!!! Also the craziest. And most exhausting and stressful but amazing and incredible all wrapped in one!!! Here's a sum-up (brace yo'selves, this weeks gonna be a long one!)  

Monday was by far the best day ever! Probably the funnest P-Day in my mission thus far. We finally went to the castle with Oscar our investigator and a recent convert Virginia (who is THE BEST by the way!) and it was really funny because the whole time Oscar was like "are you sure? Are you sure you'll be able to walk up? It's like 45 minutes uphill" and we were pshhhh whatever, we do that literally every day! Oh man, oh man did we die. 45 minutes up a 60 degree angle mountainside! I don't know HOW we thought we could compete with two 6 foot football/ cross country star Elders and two super healthy active Europeans. We were soooo behind the entire way but we played it off by pretending like we were taking lots of pics haha. Of which, by the way, I have a TON. (Thank you iPads for your awesome quality picture taking skills!!) we ate at the top and took a billion photos and then headed the way back down the mountainside. We decided to literally go down the mountain this time through the rough terrain and I only biffed it twice (my companion had to hold my hand after that). The whole time We had a tri-language conversation going on--Oscar teaching us German phrases, me translating Spanish for Hermana Anderson, and then her teaching Oscar English haha. So basically it was a ton of fun and probably the best Pday I've ever had. Dang I love Jaen.





We also had a tooooon of miracles this week! I mean we always have miracles of course but this week was amazinggggg. I remember telling Hermana Anderson last week the famous Hermana Lyons (my second companion) quote, "what I like about the mission (and life for that matter) is even when times get rough, you always know there's a miracle on the horizon. And the harder you work, the faster you will reach it OR the more meaningful it will be for you when it does come."--because  we were having a rough week and getting a little discouraged. And it came true! 

The first miracle happened when we passed by an investigator who is always super busy. She didn't have time again but she gave us the reference of her son who was in the hospital. So we pretty much ran to the hospital to see him and it turned out that it was the wrong hospital and that the one he was at was like and hour + walk away. So we attempted another day (we found a bus to take--I'm not THAT crazy) and everything was going perfect until we found him. Yeah he didn't want ANYTHING to do with us and I think we were in that room for a total of 30 seconds. Tough luck. So we left feeling a little discouraged, feeling like we had come all that way for nothing when on the bus ride home, a man happened to sit next to us. We got a conversation going and he pretty much gave US his phone number and address. He even showed us where he lived so that next week we can visit him and his family! Say what?!? Never happens by the way--truly a miracle! 

The next miracle happened yesterday when we were in choir ( Yeah I can't sing....and they gave my comp and I a solo part--AH) when suddenly an investigator that we had lost contact with for over a month walked in and started singing with us. Hermana Anderson and I were in shock but thankfully our brains started working again when he attempted to leave--we practically FLEW after him. We were able to teach a lesson and shared "the hope of God's light" Mormon message (of which I highly recommend btdubs) and we felt the Spirit so strong. He was like, "do you feel that?? I feel good!" the whole time and he expressed how he knows this is the true church of Jesus Christ and that he wants to be baptized. Incredible. There's not even words to express how blessed I feel to have these miracles, especially when I complain about the heat or being tired. It's so worth it. Every second. And I haven't even talked about the best miracle of them all *drumroll*..........
CLARA AND OSCAR WERE BAPTIZED!! Wow what a special week we had! The service was beautiful, I am so proud of them both for preparing themselves and pretty much changing their lives around completely so that they could follow the example of Jesus Christ to be baptized into His church. I have seen these changes and they have helped me to remember exactly why I'm here. The gospel truly truly does change people. The knowledge of our Saviors Atonement changes people. And all for the better. 

The service was beautiful and I'm grateful that I was there to see it. It was a little weird though because the ward pretty much did everything and we were like hey we're here too, what can we do?? Haha but that's how it should be! I'm grateful for this ward and how integrated they are in missionary work, it's more than important--it's essential! And now as I think about it, all the converts I've had on my mission have been references from members. And I think it's because they already have friends, they already have someone other than the missionaries that can help guide them, answer their questions, listen to their doubts, and uplift them spiritually when the missionaries can't be there. So know how important each and every one of you are to missionary work. Especially the youth--imagine the kind of lives your friends could have if they were able to find the gospel NOW. They could go on missions, have temple marriages--there's so many blessings you could help them receive. Heavenly Father is always preparing people, I promise that with all of my heart. Pray for these experiences, I know Heavenly Father will guide you to those friends or relatives or acquaintances that are ready to receive Him.

Alright so longest- weekly- letter-ever over. But to close, I just wanted to give a shout out to my amazing PADRE!! ¡¡FELIZ DÍA DEL PADRE!! (Even though in Spain it happened months ago) I am so incredibly lucky to have the dad I have. A father who has sacrificed so much for his family. He's the hardest worker I know and I am so proud of him as he serves our country in the Air Force. I know it hasn't been the easiest path for him and it has required a lot of sacrifice on all of our parts but it has been an amazing experience that I would never have traded for the world. I am also eternally grateful for the worthy priesthood leader he is.Our family has been blessed in more ways than I can count because of this. In fact I have no doubt in my mind that I'm serving a mission now because of him and his example. My dream would be to marry someone as loyal, faithful, and hardworking as my him-- awful dad jokes and all. I LOVE YOU DAD!! 

 And that's it! I love Jaén so much it worries me that it means I have to leave soon haha Hermana Anderson and I are having so much fun and working so hard and good together, it's almost too good to be true! My dream would be able to work here with her for the rest of my mission. Hands down. I love her so much and I love you all too!! I wish you the best week ever!!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!! 

Love,
Hermana Morrow

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