ARM-WRESTLING GYPSIES, CRYING OVER ICE CREAM AND MY LAST AREA!

Well that title pretty much explains all! Actually I probably could
expand on the arm-wrestling gypsies part but we'll get to that :) Cuz
first things first: I'm off! I thought I was staying here in Jaén for
at least one more transfer but turns out I'll be going to Albacete way
up north to finish my mission! Two transfers and a half left! It's
flown by, guys! And I'm pretty much still in denial. I cant imagine
any life other than the one I'm living now. But here goes!

So naturally, this week has also been full of goodbyes, starting with
District Meeting. Elder Lindley ends his mission in a couple days so
he bore his testimony at the end and it was one of the most spiritual
moments of my mission. All four of us were tearing up and then it was
someones smart idea to sing"I hope They call me on a mission" and we
all just broke down haha. We four have been through so much these past
3 months and it was just so sad to see that our little Jaen family was
ending! I have loved working beside my companion and Elder Pyle and
Elder Lindley these past few months and it made me just stop and think
how short the mission is! How short life is! I cant afford to waste
any of it! It has just given me this drive to just continue to follow
God and His will because I know He has a plan for me and will never
let me down.

I also said goodbye to the ward on Sunday but apparently there was a
miscommunication and no one knew I was leaving so I wasnt able to bear
my testimony or anything. BUT when we went to choir that night, at the
very end, everyone just stopped and serenaded me to "God be with you
til we meet again" waaaaaaaaaaa! It was the sweetest thing ever but I
was so mad at them for doing it haha. I love this ward so much! How
am I ever going to leave??!! Anyway, lets change the subject.

Alright so arm-wrestling. It all started out 3 months ago when Hermana
Anderson and I had just started the week together. One late night we
saw this gypsy family and Hermana Anderson told me "hey lets go
contact them" and not gonna lie, I was pretty darn intimidated but she
just ran up to them with her huge smile and started talking to them
and they turned out to be the best people ever. Since then, we've had
a great relationship with them and we bonded with one of the women
especially. She invited us to her birthday party the other night and
it was the FUNNEST thing ever! There were about 30 gypsies there and
it was seriously the the cleanest party ever--someone got an arm
wrestling competition going and it was super intense. They even got
Hermana Anderson to compete and now if you guys didnt know this about
my comp, lemme tell you--shes STACKED! So I got a pretty sick video of
everyone chanting her name and freakin out when she totally crushed
the strongest gyspy there! Haha and then they made me do it (even
though I was hiding) and it was just plain sad. The girl I wrestled
with was just like "wait seriously, thats it?" Apparently I need to
start lifting the standard works everyone morning or somethin. But
ANYWAY, the point of this entire story is to tell you that after the
party our investigator took us home that night and then surprised us
by saying she wanted to come to church with us the next morning! We
FLIPPED. We have been working so hard with this family for months and
it was the perfect last Jaén miracle. She came yesterday and loved it.
She felt the Spirit and she's told us over and over again that theres
just something different, a light that she feels with us that she
needs. And I hope she recognizes that light and accepts it one day :)

So that was my last wonderful miracle. I thought it was going to be
the Frenchies but their baptism didnt work out as planned. Peoples'
agency though!! Haha I remember this quote on The District (as you all
know, I'm a huge fan) where one sister missionary is talking Bout how
frustrating people are sometimes when they choose wrong. You do
everything you can to help them choose the right because you know how
happy it will make them and how it will change and bless their life
forever. But in the end, its all up to them. And she said it made her
realize how thats how Heavenly Father must feel about her when He
knows whats best for her and when she doesnt accept it. How many times
Heavenly Father must have put in my path all rhe best things for me
and how many times I ignored Him or chose something else because I was
stubborn. How much patience He must have to put up with me haha! So in
that way I understand the Frenchies and I KNOW they will be baptized
some day! So thats where the crying over ice cream part comes in but
we're okay now. Its just hard when you teach someone and try to help
them every day and you end up loving them and are not able to see them
recieve the blessings and happiness they deserve and need.

So that was our week! I love Jaén with all my heart and always will. I
love my comp (we were pretty much made for each other) and I know she
will see so many miracles here with her new comoanion. She has been my
rock these past couple months and an amazing example of faith. Its
going to be hard to leave her more than anything but Im grateful for
the time we had!

I love you all! Have an amazing week!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

Love,
Hermana Morrow