Habeneros...

Hello my sweet family!!

 

This week has definitely been an advenure! I am back to a Spanish speaking area, Missouri City, and my new companion is Hermana Greenwood. I LOVE HER!!! It's nice to have a companion that I click well with without having to try. She is from Lindin Utah and is a horse girl, the like, one thing we don't have in common. We have the perfect amount of fun and work during the day which I really needed! I know that the Lord new I needed to be with her. Hna. Greenwood is very patient with the growing Spanish. She leaves to go back home in November so she is quite experienced with Spanish and missionary work. I'm learning lots from her. Want to know something crazy? She likes taking pictures more than I do, I think. I went to the bathroom yesterday and when I came out she took a picture of me...it was ridiculously random and then that picture led to many...many...more pictures. Of just me. Just a little weird. She said she is going to make a book of our adventures when she gets home and she needs lots of pictures to choose from. I joke with her that she'll just use the pictures to make a shrine for me. :) I'm pretty funny. Our first night togther, Wednesday night, we were out visiting a few people. I was nervous like crazy because I hadn't spoken Spanish in forever! But that part went well, surprisingly. The scary part about that night was the HUGE storm we got caught in! The rain storms here are so scary. We walking out of the Briscuela's house and BAM there was a storm raging! She gave us big black trash bags to cover ourselves as we ran to the car. We looked pretty good! I wish I would have gotten a picture of us, but it was kinda wet outside. Good thing she was our last appointment for the night. And it's stormed like that 3 times since I've been here. Tons of lightning followed by thunder of course, which is what makes it scary for me...no me gusta.

 

The work in this area is great! Hna. Greenwood opened the area last transfer so it's still being built up. We have 10 dates set for our investigators and they are all so solid! Well, except for Dulce...but she's a long story. She likes to play the victim, granted she has a tough situation, but she creates those situations by staying where she is. It's a little frustrating at times. I often have to repeat, "I am kind, I am patient, I am loving". Maybe after a year and a half of pretending I am those things it'll become real life. :) My mission has been really good for me. I like to think that I'm changing for the better in a lot of ways. The emotional and physical rollercoasters I've experienced have only strengthened my spirit. Before, I don't think I would have let the trials make me better. In some instances yes, but usually, no. I've learned that a pitty party with netflix and a pandabowl with chowmein and orange chicken, unfortunatly, don't get you anywhere in life and they don't change the situation you're in. Ha ha if only those things could change the hearts of some people here...that'd be an easy fix! The real change comes from your desire. But the desire that you have can only get you so far. You need to act. But that too can only get you as far as you can, we NEED the help of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior. Without them, once we got to a certain point, doing all we can, we would stop. There is no true progression without heavenly help. Many times I have thought I was really progressing and doing well and then the next day be back at square one. How does that even happen?? I thought I had made obvious improvement! I didn't improve at all. Nothing in me had changed. I was just seeing more results to my same work and I wasn't the one progressing. There needs to be a constant change every day. Especially in my life as a missionary. All of a sudden my weaknesses and imperfections are magnified and I have felt very VERY small at times. I am starting to see, as I really turn to Heavenly Father in the morning when getting up is extra hard (always) and say, "I just can't do it alone, please help me through this day" He strengthens me and I am able to stretch like I didn't know possible. Some days I'm stretched thinner than others. But I know that God know what I can and cannot handle in life. He gives me weaknesses so I can make them into strengths. He gives me trials so I can become like Him. And the best part is, I am never alone through all of it. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Gospel of Christ. I am grateful for the plan that God has created so we can return to live with him again WITH out families for all eternity. There is no better feeling of security in the world that I have than knowing that I am sealed to my sweet, crazy, funny, and loving family. Thank you all for your love and support. I love you all so much and I appreciate each one of you for the different roles you play in my life. How lucky! We get each other FOREVER!! I pray that by then I'll be a little easier to get along with. :)

 

So I must explain the subject of the email..."habeneros"... I ATE ONE!!! Well...part of one...like a little slice. But it was SO HOT!!! We ate at a members house last night, la familia Rodrigez, and she made this "salsa" (onions and habeneros) and we had these awesome tacos! I made a promise to myself when I came out that I would try everything, no matter what. Unfortunately I didn't know what I was promising...ex. the wild roadkill racoon. Anyways, Hna. Rodrigez was pretty nervous for me to try it because I am, in here words "blanca". Clearly that yes. But I tried it anyways. And I was sweating and drinking for the next 15 minutes. Ha ha ha it was a lot of fun! She had me eat salt to take away the burning...that didn't help..it must my mouth feel sour. I felt a little tortured. But it's definitely a memory! And I can say that I did it! That's kind of what missionary life is like when it comes to food and activites...you do it to say you did it. It sure makes for a lot of fun! Well I don't have a ton else to tell. My area is great, I love my companion, I'm on my way to learning Spanish, and I feel closer and closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ every day. The only thing that would be better is for y'all to be here with me! But y'all would just be in my way... ;)

 

I LOVE Y'ALL!!! Be good and safe and share the gospel with everyone you meet! If it makes you so happy, why not share it with others? :)

 

Todo mi amor,

Su Hermana Erica Florence