Dec 8, 2014

Paradise

 

So I just have to say that I am absolutely in LOVE with my mission! I have worked extremely hard this week to forget myself and go to work and just love the people and I have noticed drastic changes! Its hard to even put it in words how happy I am right now. I still have my challenges, but I am loving this experience! I LOVE my new area. I cried so hard yesterday when we walked in the CHAPEL. yes we have the most beautiful chapel here. and we have members! strong members! Its so different than my first area. But I know that I had to go through those hard times to appreciate the good times. It was amazing to sit and listen to the testimonies of the members here. I also had to get up and bear my testimony and introduce myself and I couldnt hold back the tears as I was up there thinking of all the things I went through in the last 3 months and how the lords hand has been with me preparing me for this time. I have really had to step out of my comfort zone and become a leader. My companion has been out for a year and her spanish is about as good as mine (and by good I mean bad haha). Its really a challenge. Her and I are extremely different, but Im not going to talk about that haha. So Im having to learn to talk to people and be bold because before I really relied on my companion and her spanish. I dont have that now. So its been really good for me.

My first day here, we contacted a lady who is GOLDEN. she accepted everything we were teaching. And I felt impressed to invite her to be baptized which I have never done in the first lesson, but I did and she said yes! she wants to learn more first of course but she is awesome. I really felt a connection with her and I realized that Heavenly father really has prepared people just for me! 

We are also working on an old grandpa named Felix. He comes to church all on his own and really likes it. He just doesnt understand why he needs to be baptized because he was baptized catholic. So we are working on that. We had family home evening with him and our ward mission leader (yes we have a ward mission leader here its AWESOME!) and all the family went around and talked about their experiences when they were baptized. It was really spiritual for me as well. Just to hear people conversions stories and to know that I am apart of that! I love it! I seriously cant stop smiling when I think about how awesome this message that I carry is! 

Also we are working on a recent convert thats 23. She was a little inactive when I first got here but we visited her a couple times this week and one of the times I felt like we should talk about temples and we invited her to start working on her family history to go to the temple in a year to do baptisms and she really wants to! So we are going to help her with that this week. 

Other than those 2 we are really just working on contacting people but its alot harder here in a bigger city than it was in Aguaray. I dont know how I will ever get to know this area. my companion hardly knows it. So alot of the time we are lost. haha its quite funny 2 gringas walking around lost. The men here are worse than they were in Aguaray. They are always whistling and calling at us. I am about to carry rocks with me to throw at them. haha

speaking of men...I have a boyfriend. Hes our next door neighbor and hes about 80 years old. hahaha His name is Walter. Hes the cutest thing ever. He sits outside in his lawn chair all day and when he sees me he gets so excited. He always tries to hold my hand for longer than its appropriate haha. He also is always waiting to hand us candy. He always tells me to behave haha 

Exciting things about Guemes: We have to use a urinal. yup haha we have a toilet but it doesnt work very good so we have to use this urinal thing most of the time. Also with 4 girls in one house, we only have 10 minutes in the bathroom in the morning. Its stressful! I love the 2 other hermanas that we live with. One is from the US and she is training a brand new missionary from peru and shes so cute. We are good friends because I know how she feels being new! 

Well thats all I have for this week. I cant believe its almost christmas! I cant wait to skype with you guys!!! 

 

I love you all! 

hermana stewart