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| My $4 Black Skirt |
What a week! The title that Hermana Toney and I gave to this
week is, "Not for lack of trying!". Honestly. We planned really well,
that is something we have been working on. We had some great appointments set
up and back up plans upon back up plans. Then, when it all came down to it,
everything fell through! That is OK though, that is wonderful missionary life
and I love it!
The rest of P-Day was good. We did our weekly shopping at
Walmart and then went to a thrift store just for fun. I found a wonderful long
black skirt for $4.00 and a "like new" condition Chicago Cubs t-shirt
for $1.00. It was a lot of fun!
Tuesday we went and saw a recent convert and
her five daughters because it was one of their birthdays. We knew that they
didn't have enough money for presents or parties so Hermana Toney and I got the
little girl that turned 9 some little presents and took them to her family. We
also shared a Christmas message with them. It is so fun to be in this time of
year so we can do that! At our Noche de Hogar there were a lot of investigators
and non-members so that was great. Us and the Zone Leaders were able to teach
about the Sacrament and Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We also had
arroz con leche which is really good!
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| My mom requires me to send a "selfie" photo each week |
Wednesday was good because we had a Zone Training Meeting,
which is basically a Zone Conference Meeting. We just talked about acting with
urgency, kindness and respect, and following up on commitments. The best part
was after though. President Woodbury wanted to have interviews with all of the
new missionaries. I had kind of been having a really hard time and I was really
struggling with homesickness. In my interview, President Woodbury received an
impression to give me a Priesthood Blessing. It was one of the most powerful
blessings I have received. It was such a testimony to me that Heavenly Father
is there and was giving those words to me because President Woodbury doesn't
know me enough that he could have just said those things that I needed so
desperately to hear. He blessed me that over the next few weeks, these feelings
of homesickness would leave! He blessed me that when the time came for me to
come home, I would not want to leave. I would, in fact, be homesick for Chicago ! He blessed me
with so much more too. Words cannot express what comfort and strength this
brought to me. I wish you all could have been there but I know that we can do
this, that I can do this! Throughout the rest of the week, I did not have any
feelings of homesickness!
Wednesday night we had dinner with a member family. They
made us Hawaiian Tortas. Tortas are basically sandwiches, but so much more.
They were really good. It is so fun to try all of this fun food!
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| Hermana Toney and I proselyting in the snow |
Thursday we had an...interesting lesson with a recent
convert. When we got there he was on the phone. He let us in and then just
continued talking. He was obviously talking/flirting with a woman. It was very
sappy, even in Spanish, talk and I was glad I couldn't understand most of it!
He continued talking/flirting on the phone with us just sitting there for
almost a half hour. And, we had a member with us too! He wasn't trying to wrap
up the conversation or anything. He finally hung up, after trying to just leave
her on the line to listen to us, and we started the lesson. This is a recent
convert that Hermana Toney has known forever. She asked him about the woman he was speaking to and he
doesn't know her name, he just got her number at work that day! So, we just
reminded him of the covenants he has made and how he needs to respect her. We
then started into our lesson about temples. Later in the conversation he was
talking about her again. He said, "There is just one problem, she is
married.". Our jaws dropped to the floor and we were speechless. He talked
about how he is going to get her divorced so he can marry her. Awkward! But,
that is just how he is, he is extremely innocent and doesn't understand or see
how that is bad! We quickly told him that he could be her friend but that he
had to help her and himself keep the law of chastity. Needless to say, it was a
very interesting lesson! The things you see and do as a missionary in Chicago !
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| A cute little penguin we found in a yard Sunday night |
Friday we had an extra companion for the day. Hermana Felt,
one of the Hermanas in the area next to ours that we share the car with, has
been called as a Sister Training Leader. So, while she went to Mission Council,
we got her companion, Hermana Hammond, for the day. She is a greenie the same
mission age as me. It was fun to have her. We tried to have a lesson with some
of our investigators. But, their car broke down on the North side and they
weren't able to make it. Saturday was a COLD day! The high was about 16
degrees! We did some tracting and then we were able to get some great, golden
referrals for the English Elders. We also had some great Tamales!
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| Sometimes we find random houses with great Christmas Lights and take photos in front of them |
Sunday was the day that the storm everyone
has been talking
about and waiting for finally hit. It started snowing in the morning and didn't
stop until well after we went to bed that night. It is so beautiful and fun! We
were finally able to meet with part of our familythat is on date. We moved their date to December 24 so we have more time to teach them. We read 1 Nephi 1 together. We also were able to have a little lesson with a less active member. We shared a Christmas message and talked for a while. She was really able to feel the Spirit and wants to change her life and come back to Church.
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| A lot of people really get into decorating for the holidays |
It was a wonderful week! Ups and Downs like always, but so
good! I love you all so much and can't thank you enough for your incredible
love and support. Yo se que nosotros somos hijos de Dios. El es nuestro Padre
Celestial y nos ama mucho! Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador
Hermana Meanea
