"I don't know why they think we speak Spanish...​" - January 27, 2014

Hello amazing family and friends!

 

So, wow, this week was the crazy epitome of mission life! The ups and the downs really brought us to our knees as a companionship in prayers of gratitude and pleadings for comfort and direction. But, like always, it was a great week, because we are in the Lord's service, and we always find ways to have fun! :D

 

Something Sister Muaina and I are capitalizing on is the fact that we are both brown, and not from Utah (which is pretty much unheard of here with the missionaries in the TLM), so we discovered a fun way to kind of gage where the comfort level of the members is with us missionaries (because our Elders we share the ward with have been here together for as long as I've been a missionary!). So, we get asked often, by the members if we are Spanish speaking too, and so we laugh a little and say: "Haha, no we aren't but people try to speak it to us all the time! I don't know why they think we speak Spanish!" Then there's a little pause, just long enough to have the potential for awkwardness (and the members get a chance to think... because of how you look... oh wait is that offensive? And then we laugh and say "... oh yeah, probably because we're brown... but the wrong kind of brown. :(" By this time the members are usually politely laughing with us, but  sometimes they really do find it funny, and boom, now we know how comfortable they are with us... it's pretty great, but things do get a little more awkward while you're wearing this name tag every day lol.

 

But I wouldn't have it any other way! When else am I going to get a chance to knock on someone's door at 8:20 pm, and be received with a: "I was just praying for someone to come over!", or have exciting adventures on bike day when both of your tires go flat for no known reason? Mission life is definitely amazing, and through the oscillating emotions and interactions with others, there is a beauty that can't really be described.

 

This week was one of the rougher ones I've had in the past few months. We had some interesting problems on bike day, lots of sick members and investigators, and we've been dropped by half of our most amazing investigators... okay well, they are all amazing, so half of our investigators dropped us... but the sadness in a missionary's heart, when someone who was honestly seeking truth drops us over a text, or through their kid, without giving us a chance to answer any questions is as surprising and painful as stepping on a lego with your bare foot, when you thought you were walking on some nice carpet.

 

So Sister Lagrosa, where is that indescribable beauty you were mentioning?

 

Let me tell you about it. :)

 

Luckily we didn't have everyone drop us all in the same day, but by Saturday, whew, we were feeling some of the sting of defeat, after being dropped via text. It was a little quiet in the car while we were up in Lovington, waiting, and hoping to finally meet with J. And I'd been thinking to myself how can this be true? I mean, I could rely all day logically spelling out the gospel... but I know the Spirit is what really converts... understanding comes over time... why aren't people giving it a chance? How the heck did I give it a chance? Is there something I'm doing wrong out here, what more can I do?  The air was kind of heavy in the car, and Sister Muaina and I got to talking about faith. Where our faith needs to be as missionaries, and how important it is to let other have opportunities to act of their faith, and how we all need to trust in God's timing a little bit more. As we spoke truth, how the gospel really is the good news, and how our part in helping others come to Christ is to give them an opportunities to grow their relationship with Him, the Spirit testified of that truth, and the air was more breathable. Then J showed up, a little late, but really happy to see us, because he's been facing a lot of trials the past few weeks and we've missed each other. He was happy to meet Sister Muaina, and he wanted to know more about how he can prepare for baptism, when he finally gets the opportunity to. It was SO awesome to read in the scriptures with him, about how he is already living how a baptized member of the church should live--he's already living in a way that shows he has given his life to God, and he wants to and tries to help those around him. The change has been made, and he just needs to continue to grown in it and recommit every day before he formally makes that promise to God when he is baptized under the proper authority of God.

 

It was amazing to see the strength of J's faith, and the hope he has despite the large opposition he faces with a lot of his peers and family. But that faith, wow. The faith he has is the faith that moves mountains. J is moving mountains, mountains of doubt that others have around him, mountains of opposition that others throw at him, and mountains of temptation that he knows could lead him away from the path that Jesus Christ has trod for him. That is something I think we all can learn from. It is amazing what faith can do, it is a miracle that J's testimony of the restored gospel is so strong, and I know that it is only through faith that miracles can come to pass.

 

My God is undeniably a God of miracles, and I am so grateful, that there is always relief from the heaviness and confusion of the world. As we take heed to the counsel of the Savior in Matthew when He pleads with us that labor and are heavy laden to take His yoke upon us as our own, our yoke will be easy and our burden light. It is only through His grace that we can be freed from the bondage of the adversary, and that we can have light in the darkness, that we can have truth in the confusion, and that we can have peace in the chaos of the world.

I know that it is only upon the rock of our Redeemer that we can build a house that will not fall, and I know that the fullness of His truth is on the earth today.

 

He knows and loves you perfectly and individually! Keep on praying, keep on hoping, and I know you will see, spiritually, that indescribable beauty that can only be felt in your heart.

 

John 3:16-17

 

All my love,

Sister Lagrosa

 

 

pictures:

1- a goofy picture with me and Sister Ohaver on her birthday!

2- Sunday morning breakfasts are the best! :D

--> I'll FINALLY have a picture of me and Sister Muaina together this coming week!