Week 5

Hola familia,

 

Well another week has passed. It seems like they are so long yet so short all at the same time. I am officially done with my 5th week here at the MTC and am on the downhill slope to going to Chile. Only two more P-days. So thanks again to everyone who has been writing me. I absolutely love getting letters and hearing for you. I say this every week but it is true. Sometimes I forget there is a world outside until I receive letters for you. So thank you. Speaking of letters.... is my brother dead? I know i didn't write him that much but really. Also Dad? I waited for your letter this week, but I guess pikes peak is the ganador this week. How did that go by the way! Mom that is awesome you ran 2 miles! Beast! My loan isn't due till next fall like 2013? Weird. Tender mercy I guess. How is the Kellen thing still going. He sounds adorable like always.... although I only hear this through mom becuase I'm pretty sure hank and kate died. Thank you mom for the invisible socks they are fabulous. Now my feet don't stink as much. Also the one little bitty information I get in the MTC is a rumor about an iphone 5?!?! True yes or not?? are you getting it mom, we all know how much you loves apple :) One request, no really necessary but would be nice, little blank cards to write thank your or sweet notes to my district? Simple cute...

 

Okay questions... well question.

My feelings on the MTC- I really do like the MTC most days, and then there are other days when I walk out and realize there are mountains and sunshine and I miss the outside world dearly. The walls of my classroom are quickly becoming a prison. I requested to take fieldtrips outside to help me not so crazy. But I really do love them MTC. I am thankful for it, because I am learning so much. I have had some hard hard investigators and although they might not be 'real' i am almost certain that I will meet people in Chile that are real and have the same needs and lukily for me I will know what to do. It is a good preparation. I have less than 1 month left which is crazy insane, I am starting to get excited about getting to Chile!

 

Things that happened this week.

-I recieved a blessing from my elders. I was just having a rough week, and so I asked for a blessing. It was a sweet experience sitting in the middle of 6 elders ready and willing to serve and who honor their priesthood. I am thankful for the elders. Sometime I do want to strangle them... not the ones in my district but others... but then I see them bear their testimonies and I see what awesome missionaries they are going to be. The church is true because 19 year olds teach the fospel. but seriously miracle. My district is awesome, a few converts and most of us have family who aren't members or aren't active. Elder Runyan's dad is a baptist and thinks he is going to hell now, but Elder runyan is incredible. The strength he has and is testimony is an inspiriation.

-My new favorite thing to do it talk to the natives. We have natives in our zone in the advanced district and we love talking to them. they are so patience and helpful. One elder Elder Lara is our favorite he is from mexico trying to learn english. We have a system we speak spanish he speaks engligh we help each other. He is in a zone with only international missionaries learning engligh. His companion is form tahiti they are quite the pair. But the natives love us. And they always tell us that we have good spanish which makes me feel good. Also in that same international zone is chinese missionaries for mainland china. I talk to them and hear their conversion stories and am blow away! They are incredible. Most internationals are because they aren't very founded in the gospel. Just incredible faith and an ispiration.

-So Maria... well we taught her this week, well went to teach her and found out she moved. to mexico. I wanted to cry and in her place was regina a mother of a little boy juanito who was killed by a gang. Yeah try teaching the gospel to her. But in all actuallity it was a powerful lesson about God, and trials in our lives and the agency of others. God is always there for us, even if we are mad at him, he will still be there. I really like teaching regina. Life is hard but with god nothing is impossible, the atonement is for everything not just sin but sorrow and doubts too. Read Luke 22, the beautiful examples that God will always love us and just wants us to return and do anything in his power to get us back.

-I have learned a lot this week about God and his plan. Every investigator is being prepared for us. God knows exactly where his children stand and exactly who and what can bring them back to him. It is incredible to think of this especially as a missionary because I literally get to be the hands and words of god to his children that he loves so much. It is incredible.

-So everyday hermana burns and I have a 'tender meries' moment. it helps keep things possitive and remember that we are actually doing something right. One from this week is a random elder was walking back to gym and saw us he stopped and said 'sisters thank you so much for serving. Sisters are underappreciated sometimes but there are people that need you. You can teach people in a way that no one else can' It was so sweet. He went on to tell us about how he was a convert, and sisters taught him. It was a good reminder that yes sisters are needed and we are appreciated.

 

There is nothing left on my outline so I will type untill time is up.

 

I love being a missionary. I love seeing the joy in people's eyes when they know that God still loves them. This week someone said that we are yoked with Christ. I am literally yoked with Christ. I wear his name over my heart to show the world that I am His, I represent him. I am honored to be able to worthy enough to serve. I am nothing but when I am yoked with Christ, I have the power and authority to do his work. It is an incredible blessing in my life. There have been many times where I have seen the authority and power that I actually hold, when I recieve the inspiration that my investagator needs of when I testify with power of the truthfullness of this gospel. Everyday as a missionary I see the hand of God in my life. I see how much He not only loves me but He loves all of His children. I see how much he wants to hear for them, for their pains and doubts to be taken away. I know with all my heart that the only way is through this gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in him everythin else is taken care of. It is a miracle and a blessing. The best part is that it is for everyone. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, what you have done all you need is that desire and faith to follow Christ. As a missionary we invite all to come unto Christ, because Christ loves and wants us all. I am so grateful for this gospel. I can't express the gratitude that I have. Thank you for all of your support. I love you all.

 

-Hermana Iroz