Vernwood: Translado 3: Semana 3‏ May 19, 2010

Hola Familia!
 
This week has been really intense, but good. It has been hard juggling two areas and learning to get along in a trio, but it has been pushing us to learn and grow a lot. It has made me a lot more aware of my weaknesses and what I need to focus on improving. I've realized that I've always kind of enjoyed change, and I think the reason why is because all of the changes in my life constantly remind me that I can change. I can improve, I can overcome challenges, I can become a better person. Our mission president talked to us this past zone conference about change, and how really that is our message to the world. We are teaching people about the Jesus Christ and his atonement, and that through his atonement we can slowly but surely become the people that God expects us to be.
 
This past Sunday we had Felix's baptism. It was such a great experience seeing him take that step in his life. He has a very strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and of Jesus Christ, and I feel really blessed that I was able to be here and witness his conversion. I had a strong feeling that it was kind of like a checkpoint- just another miracle reminding me that I am where I'm supposed to be, and that I am accomplishing my purpose as a missionary. One of my teachers in the MTC told us something once about how Heavenly Father is looking after all of his children, and he is going to make sure the work gets done and they all have an opportunity to receive the gospel, but it is up to us to decide and to act if we want to be part of those experiences. When we aren't doing our best to be missionaries and to share the gospel with everyone, the only one that really misses out is us.
 
There are a lot of changes that are going to be happening in the mission pretty soon. This is our mission president's last transfer. After he goes they are closing down and demolishing the mission home to get ready to rebuild. They are also hoping to open the Visitor's Center soon, but we'll see. Apparently it is going to take a lot of time just to install all of the electronics- it will all be state of the art with brand new, never before seen exhibits. I am really excited for it to open, but at the same time I'm really glad I've been able to have this experience out in the field, in the more nitty gritty areas living and working like what you would expect when you picture a mission. I love that I've been in an area just like Mexico so I've improved my spanish a ton, and I've been able to learn about and come to love the spanish culture even more. Being in Vernon apparently I've also been in the most Ghetto sister area in the mission. It's really interesting though seeing a whole different side of life and of the city. I have no idea what is going to happen for next transfer- but I know whatever it is will be good. I love that I have learned to see the positive and truly enjoy every moment and every situation I've been put in. There are so many people that spend their whole life dissatisfied, waiting for something else to make them happy, and it is so sad.
 
We had an incredible miracle this week in one of our lessons. We were having a family home evening with the Naranjo family and with our investigator Mari; the best friend of Sister Naranjo. Brother Naranjo was baptized about four years ago with his daughter, but Sister Naranjo still hadn't been baptized. When we were teaching the lesson we had the prompting to extend the baptismal commitment to Mari and to Sister Naranjo, and they both accepted and are excited to get ready to be baptized together. It was so incredible to see Brother Naranjo's face. I think it was the definition of joy and complete happiness, as he looked at his wife and knew that his prayers had been answered, and that they are going to be able to have their family together for forever. It was such a beautiful and amazing experience for me, especially because it is a family that I have really grown close to and feel so much love for.
 
We have a goal to focus on finding and strengthening families this transfer and joining families by trying to get 100 baptisms as a mission for the month of June. We had a 24 hour fast together as a mission last Sunday where we all knelt wherever we were at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday to start and ended at 3:00 Sunday afternoon. It was powerful picturing all of the missionaries praying and fasting together, and I know that the experience with Sister Naranjo was a blessing that we have seen from the faith and diligence in working towards that goal. We are going to fast again June 15th and end our fast inside the temple as a mission and have a big special meeting inside the assembly hall. It is going to be a really neat experience.
 
I love you all! Have a good week.
 
- Sister Dansie