Happy New Year! Things I Have Learned

Hola Familia y Amigos!!

Wow wow. 2016. Excited for this year. (And... weird to think that at the end of it I’ll be home.) But... President Richardson gave us a challenge to THINK about how we want the year to end, WHERE we want to be, and not just live it and look back with regrets. It’s been good this week as I’ve thought a lot about the goals I want to set for this year and who I really want to become. I’d love to hear goals that any of you guys have. Always good to hear other ideas :)

Member family in our ward.  Super great! :

Well, I’ve learned a lot this week. Learned because I’ve had some pretty hard, long hot days in the sun. Learned because I’ve had a few extremely spiritual scripture studies. Learned because I’ve been able to see LITTLE miracles in the mission. Learned because I’ve prayed a lot. And learned because I’ve been able to feel little promptings of what the Lord really wants from me, and really WHY I am here. 

So yes, all in all, its been a good week. The weather has been super by-polar. Hot, cold, rainy, back to blazing hot. It sure is weird to hear about Logan right now. Luke and Chad, good luck in that freezing cold truck in the morning. BUT.. enjoy it, because believe it or not, I actually really miss the snow and cold. 

Some of our recent converts

So... here are some of my thoughts. Things I have learned.

That one of the best parts of the mission is that we get one hour to study every single morning. Especially this week I have LOOVED this hour. Decided that it’s actually not enough. But I love the things I’m learning and the opportunity to be GIVEN 60 minutes to study the scriptures.

I’ve seen once again that I. am. blessed. So blessed. Seeing how people live here, and seeing that there aren’t many opportunities for them in the future, makes me so grateful for what I have. An amazing family. BYU. A home.. safe from the world.

I’ve seen lots of drunk people here.. especially with this last week. New Years Eve and all. And it makes me sad. In almost every corner theres a bunch of guys, that are clearly a little bit.. not there. And it just makes me think... about their families, wives, kids. I wish everyone could see the blessings of the gospel. Life is soo much better with it.

I’ve learned that sometimes, the biggest miracles are the littlest things. A new investigator. A candy bar. Water in the morning in the shower :) Getting to just walk and look at the mountains. Having down time to read the Liahona or just lay and think. The Lord is in our lives in every single moment if we LOOK.

Trying to sleep early on New Years Eve will NEVER work. We had to be in our apartment at 5:00. We planned, read a little, ate food, and at about 9:00, I thought I’d be smart and go to bed early. Well... I think there was music playing and people screaming right outside of our window until 4:30 in the morning. Ya, I didn’t sleep very well :) New Years Eve here is actually really big. I think its the biggest holiday of the year actually. EVERYONE is out in the street. There’s music, soccer, dancing, parties. I actually don’t know Everything that goes on because we were inside our house trying to study and sleep :) One thing that everyone does is make these life sized "people dolls" called Muñyecos. They make them out of old clothes, and put masks and hair on them. They actually go all out. We saw these dolls all week long.. on peoples porches, roofs, even strapped onto the front of cars. Then at midnight on New Years Eve, everyone burns their dolls.. like a "burning the old you" and starting new.

Munyecos

I’ve also learned that the struggles we have are HOW we grow. That we as humans are good at covering up what’s hard and real, but when it comes down to it, EVERYONE is given trials to learn. And that’s the key. So that we can LEARN. I’ve sure realized that although sometimes being in a foreign country, with a companion I don’t know, missing holidays and being hot is hard. There are many trials that are a lot worse, and people that have a harder life.

I’ve learned that parks here are apparently the place for every couple in the world to hang out. 

I’ve learned that parasites are a common thing here. Fingers crossed that I don’t get them! Guess we’ll see.

I’ve learned how to shower with buckets of cold water and wash dishes with bottles of water and little soap.

But more importantly, I’ve learned that the Lord loves us, and is so willing to show us that. It’s so so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the world. So easy. To forget why we are really here and that the Lord is always calling for us to come to Him. But that’s the good news. He is ALWAYS calling us. Waiting for us. And when we turn to him, he will help us overcome the weakness and hard things that are in our lives. My ponderize scripture for this week....

"And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you and if you will hearken unto his voice, he will bring you into his fold and ye are his sheep and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed." Alma 5:60

Thank you thank you for everyone who has written me. I LOVE letters. And believe it or not, I think the letters help me more than you think. Just to remember how good I have it, how many great people I know, and to go out and work hard.

Hope you have a FANTASTIC week!!

Found me a clown trash can!

Love Hermana Yorgason