Hola,
This week was a fun one with birthdays and Mother's Day and everything in
between. I was so grateful for the opportunity I had to see my lovely family
yesterday and it is nice to know everyone is doing well! This week will mark the
year mark of being on a mission. It has gone by soooooo fast! The other end of
the spectrum is that I only have 6 months left which is also crazy to me. Dallin
said yesterday that I have done 2/3 so far and I will add with only 1/3 to go.
Missions are not how I thought they would be. Every turn surprises me in some
amazing way and I just can never seem to wrap my head around what it going on
right in that moment because it is always changing. It is this process of always
being better. Even though it is hard I would rather be better than worse,
and I would rather become what the Lord wants me to be than anything
else.
.
Last Monday we had an FHE with some of the members in our ward. The ward
mission leader lives in Esparto so every 1st Monday he hosts a FHE for the
investigators and members in that area. They assigned us to teach the lesson. We talked about coming unto Christ. None of our investigators were able to make
it, but it was fun to teach the members that were there. WE had everyone write a
few things that would make them come unto Christ or to fall away. We
made a little pathway to Christ where they would either fall back on a bad step
or move forward on a good one. It was a fun little activity with some wonderful
members of the ward!
.
Tuesday we had zone meeting. That is always good to receive the help
and counsel we need. I think the big message was that we are all struggling and
we all have challenges, but we can't allow those challenges to hold us back from
working hard. It is that service of the Lord that truly helps. It is
funny that they said that because a few days earlier I had that same thought. It was a perfect confirmation to what I needed to do, which is to work!
Hermana Santiago had to get a blood test for her new medication so we took a
little trip to Vacaville to get that done. We had this amazing contact. We
were knocking doors, a normal thing to do, and a girl named Sandra answered.
usually we give a spiel like "hi, how are you doing? we are servants of Jesus
Christ. Do you have Faith in Jesus Christ?" A little route, but it usually gets
right to the point. One thing I try to do, but is hard is to change that up as
often as possible and to listen to what the Spirit is telling me that they need. We talked about eternal families and if she wanted one and she said yes. We
set up an appointment to come back and talk about the plan of salvation. It is
just amazing how just taking that moment to pause and wait to hear what the
spirit is telling you to do really makes a difference.
.
Wednesday we had another amazing moment when we taught Urith. I
think I mentioned her last week. Sshe is a less-active, that after almost 10
weeks, I had never met. We stopped by on Sunday and she said to come back on
Wednesday. We did and we brought Sister Baker, her visiting teaching
companion and it was awesome. She was so excited to start doing visiting
teaching. She is unable to come to church right now because of her non-member
husband, but she still wants to help in some way. She asked if it was ok for her
to do visiting teaching even if she wasn't coming to church and Sister Baker
said that all she needed was a testimony and she said that she did have that! It
was amazing to see such strength and endurance even without the constant
nurturing that most of us normally have. Though church is very important we were
happy to see her firm in the faith!
.
On Thursday I had my first official, what I would call, door slam in
the face. I have had the door closed before on me, of course, but this was the
first time that someone opened the door saw us and closed it without us getting
one word in. You would think that those would hurt more but they are the easiest
ones to just laugh at and move on. I hope one day she will be open to the
message of the gospel, but for right now she was not!
Friday was my BIRTHDAY! It was a very different birthday too. No one
really knew about it or did anything, at least in person, but it was a great
day. I opened my presents and felt so happy and loved from everyone back home
. 3 things in my gifts that I was debating what to do with was a cake mix,
frosting and a birthday banner. I knew no one was going to do it for me, so I got
up and made my cake and put up my banner and made my birthday as great as
possible. As service for our ward mission leader we cleaned the building
and he brought pizza. We had cake and pizza. Sadly, it ended with a 2
1/2 hour comp inventory, necessary, but still sad and hard. It all turned
out ok, with just enough resolve to keep us both content. Thank you so much for
all of the love from home! It was great! The members we lived with told me on Sunday that if they had known that it was my birthday they would have done
something for me. I wouldn't have it any other way! The best part is
that it is done and over now. It was all good!
.
Saturday we had a little success on facebook. I remember when i was
first on facebook and everyone would talk about how that we get all of these
random friend requests and teach awesome lessons and baptize people. I
couldn't see the vision. Now slowly that is happening for me on my facebook (no
baptisms yet). It is good to see that everything everyone has said wasn't a
lie and that I can have success too. It is a slow process but it is a great way
to reach out to people! Then we taught Lupe and Estela! So in the Hispanic
culture they celebrate Mother's Day the 10th of every May rather than the 2nd
Sunday. We got to wish them all a happy Mothers Day and share a message about
eternal families and that we have hope now for the eternities even in our
struggles. It is funny how even when i am learning so much more about what life
is about and how to feel peace even in struggle how it gives me more moral
authority to promise them that there is peace, that there is help, and hope. It
was a nice feeling to tell them that I know life is hard but that it is all
worth it!
.
On Sunday we had our lovely Mother's Day! The Bishop spoke and talked
about how we make bad days good ones, and I was so grateful for that talk! Then
of course, I got to talk to my lovely family, as mentioned before. I started
my 6 month count down! (not actually - dad, don't worry) I am so grateful for the
time I have served and for the time I still have yet to serve. The one thing I
have learned is that the Lord has a plan for me. Everywhere I am and all
that I do is with a purpose. It is all meant to be. I am understanding more
and more the purpose that Our Loving Heavenly Father has for me. He has
to stretch me in order to accomplish what he needs, I am grateful for the
abilities I will have after because of how much Ii have grown and stretched. It
is all worth the sacrifice because it helps us to know more of the joy that
comes when we don't have to sacrifice anymore! I love you all so much. Thank you
for being my help and support. I definitely feel your strength and love. Hope
you have a wonderful week!
.
les quiero,
Hermana Cornwall
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