Hello!
Wasn't conference soooo good?! I loved it. Sad I wont get to read the talks for a while. We'll get the liahona probably at the end of May. so long! But hey, I got a really nice package in the mail this week. Please give Rene a big thank you for me. I'll write him a thank you letter too. He has a kind heart.
Business first: Haven't tried the card yet, but I will this week. I'm sorry. I dont know what to say to the ward. Just about missionary work? I'll think as I type. I'm sorry. I couldn't think of what scripture I wanted. I'm trying to narrow it down. If you need one today, go for 1 John 3:1-3. but if not, I'll look some more. It was a busy week, and I didn't get things done that I needed to. I'll do better this week. I'm sorry. It must be so frustrating being a missionary mom and trying to get stuff done! I wish I could say sorry a few more times, but that might be overkill haha.
But guess what! This week I got to drive in a car!!! so fun! so weird! It was terrifying!!! I dont think I will drive when I come home. I will walk. everywhere. This week we also met an interesting new friend. The zone leaders passed her over to us. Apparently she wanted to go out drinking with them. Usually if men ask us out or invite us to go out drinking with them, we dont usually try to teach them haha. They go under the sketch category. But perhaps we judge to quickly. nah, probably not. Anyway, the elders scheduled her for us. She was super. Green eyeshadow up past her eyebrows, a huge bejeweled cross about the size of a small cat hug from her neck, and every finger had at least 2 rings on it. huge rings. I'm not sure if her fingers could bend. She had it going on. We showed her the church, and sat down to explain our purpose. She actually already believes in Jesus Christ and would like to find a church. It was a pretty decent lesson, but pretty distracted. the funniest part, though, was as we ended her lesson, she pulled out of her suitcase (everyone pulls around suitcases around here) a huge bag full of her bejeweled plastic rings and colorful make up. She said she could make us turn beautiful and we can all go out and work on our dating game together. Back each other up. Bless her heart. She was probably in her 40's and quite overweight. clearly quite alone. But the best part is that I know that wherever we're starting from, the gospel of Jesus Christ can lift us and change us. So we'll see what Cindy is really looking for behind her literal mask of make up and jewels. Because I'm quite certain she's looking for more than just going out drinking at night, although that is perhaps what it started with. We'll see. If there is anything that I learn while I'm out here is that the gospel changes and softens and transforms and magnifies. And it is a blessing to be a witness of someone's very own and personal life transforming. Always in the Lords time, but it isn't necessarily a long process either.
I met a dance mom this week. And I learned that dance moms are the same just about all over the world. Her daughter's name is Angel and she is the center of her mom's heart. And she should be. She's 9, and she came to English class with us and her mom. She carries her sequined cha cha dance shoes everywhere she goes in a nice box with a ribbon handle, and her mom carries her phone to show people pictures of her daughter's competitions and costumes. We asked if we could visit them in their home to help her with any other English questions she might have and share a message about our church, and they agreed. It's incredibly rare to visit people at there homes. We found their room, and she let us in and made us flower tea. The room was complete concrete, decorated with drawings Angel would make in her free time. Just Angel and her mom lived there, and they had a bunkbed in the corner. I was impressed with how humblly they lived - outside on the street you would never have guessed that's where they came from. Her mom was kind, and really every thought and action and hope was all directed to her daughter succeeding in life. And Angel is such a sweet girl. completely respectful of her mom, quiet, and did everything she knew to do to make her mom happy and her mom's efforts worthwhile. They agreed to listen to our messages and we'll start teaching them this week. But they are a sweet family for me to get to know. and it make me so happy to know that the gospel will bring comfort and meaning to their lives. I love them very much.
We had the most amazing lesson yesterday. She was mandarin, and we weren't able to get the mandarin sisters there, so we had planned to show her around the church and some how to begin teaching to help her understand our purpose and expectations a bit. But she had incredible questions, and everything she asked just kept pulling to the restoration. So we of course taught her. I've met a lot of people who have interest in learning more about our beliefs and I've met even more people willing to hear our beliefs, but she has given me a clear vision of what someone thirsting after the truth looks like. She was begging for answers to her questions, any sort of answer to satisfy what she hadn't found yet. As we continued to teach her and help her understand that "incredible" feeling thar she was experiencing was the spirit, she described the feeling as gratitude. "Like a great feeling that is too much for you to take in...like when you are so grateful for things that you don't deserve. That's what it feels like." It was an interesting explanation to me of what the Spirit can feel like, but as she described it, it fit perfectly the feelings the spirit gives me. To me, it was a profound answer and taught me a lot. The spirit helps us understand truth, and as we more fully understand truth of any kind, it all points to the great love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. As soon as we start understanding that at any level, I think the greatest feeling that would accompany it is Gratitude.
I felt that this weekend as we listened to the prophets, and I'm determined to not walk, but run everyday, everyday, everyday. I was reminded about my purpose even outside and beyond the mission, and I am so glad I have this time to develop patterns and priorities. So I am committing to do more. I know I can. I am grateful to be part of our family. I was reminded of you all constantly as they talked about the sanctity of our families. I love you guys. And I look forward to seeing you again. and I am grateful for what you teach me.
Now for the ward. This mission has been the most meaningful and enlightening opportunity for me to come to understand a little more than I did before the things that matter most. Our relationships and bonds with each other and with our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ are of eternal importance. I had a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ before this mission, and I couldn't express the gratitude I have to you, the ward and leaders and teachers, for help in guiding me to that testimony. We all have personal experiences and opportunities to find what we individually know to be true, but the work of God is more than just a personal testimony. And it will continue to move forward.
ok, I'm not going to finish that mom. That's bad. but I'm out of time. will you just write something for me? I dont now really what I should say. I've been trying to look at grad programs and it's stressing me out. any ideas?
I love you. I hope you have a good week.
Love hannah
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