Hi family and friends! :)
Something cool that happened this week was when I got a call Monday night at about 8:30pm saying that I was invited to a breakfast Tuesday morning at the mission home with.....ZONA SAN RAFAEL!!!! My old zone. So happy :`) sniff. Since a few of the missionaries had had changes when I did or around then, 2 Missionaries traveled from Imbabura/Otavalo to come to the breakfast, and I travelled with 2 other elders to meet up with our gang from la costa. It was SO cool. There was such an excitement when I saw Hna R and the 2 other sisters from our original zone last transfer, as well as my old zone leader and district leaders. I think we could all agree that this was the zone that most felt like family when we were together for the months of February and March. The reason for the breakfast with this zone is because we won a competition of sorts for "milagros de marzo". Each person stood up one by one after breakfast and shared the milagros (miracles) we experienced together during that time. It was very emotional and exciting. But, more than anything it got me reflecting on how great of an impact certain periods of time throughout the mission actually has on us after-the-fact. And how much it builds us and changes us. It`s pretty cool.
This week we found a new family: a mother and her two teenage-ish children. They are a miracle family here in our sector because up until now we haven`t really had a lot of success finding progressing investigators. These three are all ears. They met up with us at the church Saturday night so we could give them a tour of the chapel. They felt comfortable and excited. Sister W is 12 and still feels a little unsure, but it`s been a real blessing meeting a family so prepared to learn. Momma P couldn`t attend church because this Sunday and next she has work :( But Boy B went by himself...he even said the closing prayer in Gospel Principles class....even though we never really talked about how to say a prayer before. Just by watching the examples of the rest, he kind of just figured it out by himself! jaja Miracle child.
Oh! Our zone leaders are pretty awesome. Elder G is really funny and easy-going. He brings a happy spirit to the environment, and Elder M had previously been an assistant to President Richardson, so he`s absolutely great. Anyway, they asked us to give a little capacitaciòn of ànimos (motivational discurso...uh..message) to our zone on Friday. Hna B and I came up with a brilliant idea to start it off with an object lesson! Yeah..! Object lessons are always a good idea, right?
We bought 2 apples and brought 2 knives. We divided the group into 2 and invited them to choose a representative from each side. Competition time.
Previously, we had frozen water and created....well, ICE. Mmmmmmhm. We dumped the ice into 2 trash bins we borrowed from the women`s restroom and filled it with cold water.
The objective of the competition was to see who of the two elders could peel the apple first, with their hands and the apples submersed completely underneath the ice water. It was great!!! I gave myself a pat on the back for thinking of such a creative way of starting a meeting. Wooooo. Fun stuff. One group won and we gave them little chocolates.
As we were about to move on to the point of the activity [that sometimes in the mission we have to go through uncomfortable things (ice water) in order to accomplish a greater motive (winning) and why then do we do it? (to win the prize!)], the missionaries asked if they could eat the apples. Without putting too much thought into it, I responded an "Absolutely go right ahead!!"
They both looked at the apple, looked up at each other, shrugged, and devoured those 2 peeled apples.
It wasn`t until affffter that Hna B whispered to me, "Why did you tell them to eat the apples?"
I thought, "Why not?"
But she continued, "They washed it in the trash bin of the bathroom..."
"...oh..."
It totally surpassed me. Oops. But maybe the elders didn`t notice..?
Just after thinking that, one of the elders came up to me and asked, "Hermana, did you sanitize the trash bin before telling us we could eat the apple?"
..."No."
*Defeated face from the elder*
...me- "But elder, you have libre albedrio [agency]. You chose to eat the apple yourself."
Yep. That`s one way to clear myself from the guilt and embarrassment. Good job, Hna Fernelius, good job.
Hna B is still recovering from embarrassment. It`s now a joke from the elders with whatever food we eat here...."Did you prepare it in the trash bin?" ja. ja. ja. So, Hna B and I plan to make them apple pie for next Thursday and serve it to them in trash bins :p jeje
That`s the life of a missionary :) jejeje Love it. Hna B and I are the only sisters in our zone of 16 missionaries. jaja Fun stuff
Love you all. Have a great week :) Talk to you Sunday :D
Hna Fernelius
Also say hi to everyone. I love the families back in our home ward. They are absolutely great people.
"....Momma P is a single mother, 36 y/o, and lives with her 2 kids: Boy B and Sister W. We gave them a tour which B and his momma loved, but intimidated W a little I think :) jaja oops. Sister W is 12. Her brother, B, went to church yesterday and enjoyed it. He hardly even knew how to say a prayer but, when called on to say the closing prayer at the end of class (about 25 people in attendance), he stepped up to the front and bravely said a really good, simple prayer. They are so humble!! And very receptive. The power of members' testimonies came into play yesterday when they testified of the Restored church and stated that, "The role of the missionaries is not just to make sure you get to church, but that you progress as a family, enter into covenants with God, and enter into the temple.
These members were excellent in setting the standard and inviting the family to pray and act for themselves.
The special conference motivated us a lot, and my companion and I are focusing on teaching with inspired questions to allow the lessons to have more individual importance. Right now we also have a couple families who have some big doubts, but a lot of potential to progress. So, I really felt the capacitaciòn about faith and patience applied to us. We are now reading the Book of Mormon with one family to allow the affects of conversion take place in it`s own way and time with them."
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| Tiffany didn't send any captions this week, so you'll just have to make something up as you view each of these fine photos.... |
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