Dear Family,
First, let me just ooze about how jealous I am of your trip!!
Everything looks SO SO fun! And surprise, I cried when I saw my Flat
Hermana...You guys are too cute!! I'm so glad everyone is enjoying
themselves and feeling the special spirit of those great places. I'm so
jealous!! Mostly really jealous because...ready for this...
President Ashton turned me into an English Service Missionary.
Hopefully only for this transfer because I seriously can't do this for
very long. I am in the most dangerous area in my mission, Sunnyside. It
reminds me of Toy Story 3, "How did you escape Sunnyside? No one ever
makes it out of there!"...That's how I'm feeling! I am trying SO hard to
be patient, but I'm not sure how long I can last with putting on this
smile. Oh I'm also in a quad. Yes, 4 missionaris in a small town house.
Two of the sisters have chronic illnesses are physically can't put in a
full day's work, Sisters Washburn and Cordova. And Sister Mekini is
about to have knee surgery so she will be out of comission for a while.
But me? I am like 98%!!! I'm ready to go and work like I was called to
do!! We don't get to teach lessons or have investigators, only service.
And we don't even get that much opportunity for that. Sis. Washburn
seems to think I had my surgery last week and she tried to not let me do
anything. I mostly tell her, in a loving way of course, to stuff it and
I lift things anyways. I'm perfectly able to carry my own bag!!
AAAHHHHHH!!!! Patience patience patience.....I'm trying so hard.
Our Branch is small but full of good and kind people. More than
half of the branch are assigned to it. Everyone is very loving and we
get fed quite a bit, sometimes it's hard to stomach the food but hey,
that's the only part of real missionary life I get to keep. So I
treasure it. I've been told that you get the most fun stories while in
ghetto areas, so far that has proven true! We were in a crack infested
apartment complex the other day trying to visit a less active. These two
black ladies came out of an apartment accross the courtyard just
screaming at each other and ready to throw some punches. I was a little
scared for my life. I said a little prayer that they would be kind to
each other and after I said amen they both just looked straight at me
and said, "What are you looking at cracker?!" I was pretty frozen but
wanted to laugh because well...someone just called me a cracker... And
then they turned to each other and laughed at how scared I looked and
went back inside friends again. They were kind to each other, but at my
expense, very funny Heavenly Father, good one. :)
Well although I am frustrated with where I am and how little I get
to do all day, I still love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that I am
here for a reason and one day I'll understand reasons for my
circumstances. I truly feel so blessed though. Being around such humble
parts of Texas my heart aches for those who need help but don't know how
to find it. It's the same not only with thier living situations but
also how badly they need the Gospel in their lives. Mike wrote me about
the big flood that happened in Alberta! I was a little freaked out! But
to hear how he explained how everyone was being so generous and giving a
helping hand was so amazing. It's the light of Christ in all of us! I
am so impressed with people that feel the desire to do good and actually
act on it. It makes me sad at how many times I have felt the need to
help but didn't because I was too shy. But, when we serve others, we
serve God. Why should I be shy to serve Him and His children? I pray
that I will never be that kind of person again. At the end of President
Monson's autobiography "On the Lord's Errand" Pres. Monson describes how
throughout his life he had strived to be someone that the Lord can
depend on if He needs an errand ran. I will strive to be the same way! I
want the Lord to know that he can count on me to be there for one of
His children if they have need of me. I am so grateful for the knowledge
I have of this Gospel. I know I'd be a completely different person
without it. I am grateful for the strength that it gives me, to know
that I am a child of God and I have worth and a purpose on this earth. I
testify that He loves us so dearly. We are his children and he is
waiting for us to come to Him with everything.
I love you all and I am so grateful for the support and love you
give to me! I love hearing from all of you! Keep being the amazing
people you are and always strive to be a little better each day! Be
good, be safe, and share the gospel!
All my love,
Hermana Florence
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