Vernwood: Translado 3: Semana 4 May 24, 2010

Hola mi querida familia!
 
I got to see inside the Visitor's Center this week! We were at the mission home showing the Joseph Smith movie and doing temple tours (We are assigned one time every transfer to go and run the "information center," which is like the temporary fill in for the Visitor's Center) and when we had finished the temple tour we started talking to a temple security guard and he took us to the Visitor's Center to look inside. It is going to be so pretty! It is smaller than I expected, but everything is going to be new and state of the art. They have a lot of work to do on it still. I don't think there is any way it will be finished this summer. They're hoping it will be open before Christmas. I guess it has been closed down for over three years now. It will be so nice when it opens, and such an incredible tool for the missionary work here. We got to see the new backdrop they painted for the Christus, and it is so pretty- it looks like a sunset on the ocean. There is also going to be a really cool exhibit about ancient Jerusalem with a holographic projector. That might just be heresay, but we'll see. Either way it is going to be incredible.
 
I'm so excited that I will get to experience practically two completely different missions- one out in the field in an area that is practically Mexico, and then one in the Visitor's Center meeting people from all around the world and being more of the public face of the church. I'm going to need to get into better shape though. This week I had a sad slap of reality when one of the senior sister trainers told me I need to stop wearing some of my skirts, because now that I've gained a little weight they come to high up on my waist and are a little short. Plus I actually weighed myself at Raquel's house (one of my recent converts) when I was in the bathroom, and it was sad. I told her how much I'd gained and she turned to Hermana Garcia and said "Si, cuando ella vino estaba bien aflaquita." (Yeah, when she first came she was so skinny.)  If I keep on at this rate they're going to have to buy me two plane tickets to get home. Jk, its not that bad. Well, it is, but I'm going to fix the problem and get back in shape before I get back. It is hard because neither of my companions are able to really exercise so I can't go out and run in the mornings like I was. Its ok though, I'm just literally sacrificing all that I am and all that I have for the Lord, so hopefully he'll bless me for it and I can overcome it.
 
We took Felix's family to see the Joseph Smith movie on Sunday. They really enjoyed it and felt the spirit. They are such a beautiful, intelligent family. It was amazing how Felix was able to take that first step and is now setting the example for the rest of his family. It shows the truth that if we want to help change others for the better we start by changing ourselves. His family has been able to see the change in him and see his testimony grow, and he has had a powerful impact on them. We are hoping to work with them and get the rest of his family baptized this June.
 
In church on Sunday one of the speakers talked about missionary work, and he said something about how "anyone who has been converted to the church will always remember the missionaries that taught them and always be grateful for them," and both Felix and his mom and Raquel and her daughters were sitting by me and turned and smiled and nodded. It feels so amazing to be part of this work. In that moment and whenever they tell me thank you or something I always feel a little awkward though, because really I feel like I haven't done anything. The real miracle comes from them turning to the Lord and making those changes in their lives- the missionaries are just the messengers, and the spirit does all of the work. We are nothing without the spirit, and without God's help. That is also why it seems really futile to measure yourself and your success as a missionary by the outward results or number of baptisms. If anything it just shows that you are privileged to be a witness of that experience in their lives.
 
I also like to think about how with missionary work we are making friendships that will last for eternity. In Doctrine in Covenants 18 it says if ye shall convert but one soul, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom. It says "with him," which for me makes me think that the joy will come from having that friendship for forever. I can't wait to introduce these incredible people that I've met to all of you someday.
 
At the rate my mission is flying by it will be pretty soon and I'll be back. I don't think about it very often, most of the time I am really involved in the here and now in the work, but it has been kind of interesting this week because there is a sister missionary that just got back in the ward we're working in, and she has come on splits with us and was saying "Please use me!  I want to come with you, it is so weird being home." She has only been back for a week and it has been hard for her to adjust. She is still doing her personal studies and everything. There are a lot of changes I am making in myself that I want to keep after my mission. I want to always be a good member missionary and help out the missionaries. It is funny though thinking about whether or not it will be awkward to transition back. Probably, but that's ok. I think I would rather completely throw myself into my mission and be awkward for a bit after then always hold back and think about home an try not to lose who I was before. I'm still trying to do my best to lose myself in the work, because I know that like the Savior says, it is by losing our lives in the service of God that we can truly find ourselves. It is hard, but I've been trying. I was getting a little overwhelmed and feeling down on myself, but then I realized again that I can't expect myself to be perfect all at once, all by myself ever. You've got to love life and love people despite all of the imperfections and mistakes and weaknesses. I can't expect perfection from myself or from others, because if i do I will always be frustrated by the imperfections and focusing on the negative. We need to love as Jesus loved us. He knows all of our weaknesses and he loves us anyways. He helps us overcome our weaknesses, forgive others, and have a higher perspective on life.
 
I love you all, and am so grateful for the sacrifices you have made to help and support me here on my mission.
 
Cuidense mucho!
 
Hermana Dansie