November 20, 2012

Hellloooooo Familia,

well a new week, new companion, new transfer. Let's just say, I have nothing to complain about. Things are great. Sister Schwartz is awesome. My subject line comes from the fact that even though she's been out less time than me, she is way more Mexicana than I am. 2 of her 3 companions have been Mexicana, so she knows all this lingo that makes her get along quickly with all of our Latinos here. She's very diligent about always speaking in Spanish, which is really good for me. My Spanish has definitely improved a ton on my mission, but I feel like because I've helped out my companions with their Spanish mostly, that I haven't been as diligent about improving my own. So I'm hoping in this transfer to really immerse myself in it and learn all the palabras mexicanas that I need to. There's still a lot of improvement to be made.

But yes! Sister Schwartz is greeattt, Visitor's Center is greattt, the area is great. Sister Schwartz is way diligent, way obedient, way fun and outgoing. We get along great. It's interesting, because we both feel like there's a lot expected of us this transfer. It's a shorter transfer, and we'll have Christmas lights going, but we feel like we have a lot to accomplish. Pres Ellsworth actually called sister schwartz to tell her transfer news, because it was a surprise that she was leaving her area, and he told her that he was putting her with me to make sure I keep working hard til the end of my mission haha. Then he stopped us in the hallway at transfer meetings and told us how surprised he was that he felt like we should be together, and how we will bless many lives in our short transfer together. So..high expectations!

We have a lot of fun together, and we were talking about it this morning how we feel like it requires a lot of self-discipline on our part to still remain focused and diligent when things are going so well. We're both used to filling the role of working hard, being obedient, etc., and so now that we're both on par with that, we find ourselves not feeling obligated to fill that role, if that makes sense? So, we're having lots of fun, and we're going to see great things happen. I'm excited to see the lessons i learn in this transfer together.

Anyways, so that's great. Also...Visitor's Center. LOVE being back! I love that place so much...I love the Spirit there, I love being able to teach by the Spirit so easily, I love being able to teach members and non-members alike, I love being able to teach people that really need to feel the Atonement in their lives. While the Visitor's center makes the mission harder in some ways, because of time and whatnot, in many ways it is a tender mercy, to be honest. It's great.

my letter to President tells more about what's going on. Al asked about Thanksgiving plans...last year was a pday on Thanksgiving, but this year is not the case. So we'll probably eat dinner with the Beckstrands actually, the VC directors. Then at 4 pm we need to be at the Visitor's Center ready for our first night of lights. Almost all the lights are up right now and I'm so excited!

Our area is doing well, but it has been interesting seeing how the investigators that I thought showed the most promise at the beginning of this week are facing opposition. On Tuesday, Kiko (Frederico) was doing awesome. He was still happy, still feeling the Spirit, he set his own date for December 8th. He was asking to read the scriptures and where he could buy a quad. I told him I saw a difference in him and he said that he did too, and I asked what it was that he felt and he turned and looked at me with a huge smile on his face and said "I feel full of life!" so happy. But, unfortunately, Joe the 14 year old didn't come home from school on Tuesday and they later found out he got put in jail. So, that upset the whole family, and Frederico was totally different after that, Sister Schwartz has only seen a very different side of him. So sad.

You can read my letter about the rest...Ana and Isaac are great and I'm excited to see what happens. I love you all so much! Thanks for everything, and hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Happy 1st birthday, Jacob!