Cudahy: Translado 4: Semana 6‏ / July 19, 2010

Hola Familia!
 
This past week was possibly my last here in Maywood. We still won't know about transfers until tomorrow night, and we are dying to know. The Visitor's Center is officially going to open on August 7th. We saw it on a big billboard they put up in front of the temple on Santa Monica that just says "Curious?" in really big lime green lettering, and then underneath "New Visitor's center opening August 7th. So it is officially in print. Apparently it doesn't look very close to being completed though, so we'll see what happens. We got some of the inside scoop on it this last Saturday when we went up to eat dinner with the Mission President. We were one of the runners up for "Clean Apartment Award" this transfer, so we got to go to a special dinner with President Baker and his wife. It was really nice to get to know them better. The mission home is being torn down and rebuilt, so they live in a really nice little condo right behind the temple.
 
Now that it has gotten hot we have started hoping, dreaming, and praying for the Visitor's Center to open as we are out on the street tracting in over 100 degree weather. I don't know how missionaries in places like Arizona do it. Apparently even the Marines get to stay inside when it gets that hot, from what I read in James letter. I guess that missionaries are just tougher. Just kidding. :D I wanted to go somewhere warm though, so here I am. I would rather deal with the heat for awhile than be trudging through the snow any day.
 
The work has been going really well. I feel like we are involved in about four different "novellas" (spanish soap operas) right now. It is crazy how many things we get to see and here about people's lives, and how from the moment they walk in they trust and confide in us. I love being a missionary and feeling the love of these people from the first moment we step in the door. Apparently I'm in for a big shock though, says Hermana Garcia who was just transferred here from serving in Westwood, which is about 80% Jewish. We've met a lot of really amazing people that are excited about learning more and preparing to be baptized. Whoever the missionaries are that get to be here after must be really prepared and ready to help and teach these amazing people. I've realized that Heavenly Father gives us the work that we're prepared to handle, so the more prepared we are the more amazing opportunities and experiences we can have.
 
I hope you are all doing well and having a fun summer. :)
 
- Hermana Dansie