Hey it’s been another great week here in Gijon!
Our days, as always are full of tender mercies and trials,
and we learn to laugh our way through it all, that is so important. So much has
been on my mind I have been thinking a lot about what Elder Mather shared in
his last email about pleasing Our Father in Heaven and how when we do that,
everything will work out for our benefit. On the mission we learn how important
it is to "rendir cuentas" [Be Accountable, e.g. Return and Report]. I have learned how important it is to share with the
Lord our desires, worries, goals, and plans, and return and report to the Lord.
Like any good Father, He is loving and accepting, and always desires our
success.
In the last Zone Conference, Hermana Jackson shared a story
about a missionary who learned this importance in his mission as well.
Throughout his whole mission, he would ask the Lord in prayer if he was doing
enough, if he was doing the Lord's will. Instead of receiving an overwhelming
peace and a reassuring YES, he felt that the Lord accepted his service and told
him that he could do just a little better the next day. And so it was
throughout his mission, and he wondered every day if he would ever feel by the
end that he had accomplished EVERYTHING that the Lord had sent him there to do.
He felt a peace, but Heavenly Father knew there was more for him to do. By the
last day of his mission, he still had the question deep in His heart, as he was brought to the train station. As he sat there on the train, luggage by his
side, he was able to reflect on the past two years of his life in the service
of the Lord... and as the members and friends waved goodbye, the train pulled
away, the scripture came into his mind:
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23)
As he waved goodbye to these people, he was grateful for the
opportunity he had to make a difference in their lives as they changed his life
as well. He was not sure if he would every see them again. But he knew that
the Lord was pleased with his efforts.
Isn't that an amazing story? It comes to my mind almost
daily as I think of the experience of being a missionary. I have felt that so many
times as a missionary. Even if we aren't
full time missionaries, I am sure we can feel the same as leaders, parents,
teachers, etc. I constantly wonder if I truly have done enough. I believe that
the Lord stretches us to meet our potential in this way. I know that it is in
those moments of stretching when it is hardest to see the light, but we can
look back and say that the Lord knows us perfectly. I know that I have had the
trials I have needed to be able to grow in ways that I never knew were
possible. Have you felt that way before too? I am grateful for a Father in
Heaven that cares enough to stretch us, and I pray that I have that same
feeling in the end.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve here in Gijon!
Javier sure was a miracle to find the first week of October, and has progressed
and changed so much! I will send a picture next week. He randomly showed up
at General Conference after an invitation to come to church one year ago. We
have loved teaching Him... he is so much more confident and he has slimmed
down quite a bit. He said he wants to be a "good Mormon" like all of
the general authorities he saw his first Sunday at general conference, haha.
Do you remember I told you about Amanda? She is 13 years
old, from Brazil and lives here with her parents! She has been a tender mercy here.
I have never met a sweeter more mature 13 year old girl. Her parents came to
church last Sunday to see what see has been up to. She comes to allllllll of the
young women’s activities and family home evenings in the church, and has
started working on her Young Women Personal Progress. We went to her house to teach her a
lesson yesterday and talked about her goal to be baptized and how goals and
reading the scriptures, going to church, and praying help us to assure that
Christ is our rock. She is soo shy but she opens up a lot once you get to know
her. He timidly told her mother about how she had been working on divine
nature. Her mother said "you want to be virtuous?!", surprised and
happy with the decisions her daughter is making :) She loves to sing the hymns
of the church, and I believe that is how she feels the spirit the strongest,
she finds great peace and comfort in listening to the singing and piano. I love
her! It was a wonderful spiritual experience in the lesson with her yesterday.
I feel blessed to have been a little part of her life. I wish I could stay
longer to see more of her conversion process.
And EVA!! The 62 year old recent convert from Paraguay!! She
is constantly praying for opportunities to share to gospel and share her
testimony, and she finally had the chance to do so :) we started teaching her
friend Noemi this week. When we asked her how she saw the influence of God in
her life, she just looked at her and said "Eva" :) she said she felt
such a peace when she entered her home and didn't want to leave. Talk about an
answer to her prayers!
OH AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
I am grateful for...
- A supportive and loving family, I can feel your love in every letter and email and prayer :)
- Being happily exhausted at the end of the day, tired, with a smile on my face
- Continuing revelation from living prophets
- A companion that happily shares the load and has one the most contagious laughs i have ever heard.
- Nathan, getting married in the temple!!!
- Parents who raised me to love the Lord and know what is most important
- Wade, who is faithfully serving a mission and giving 100% and loosing himself every day
- Amber, always goofy and always laughing, working hard in school
- Aaron, his sweet and tender little heart -- all of the fun memories we have together
- Rain. Yes I am grateful for the rain and the green grass it brings!
- Eyes to see the tender mercies that the Lord sends constantly
- Umbrellas that work, haha
- A faithful and kind mission president and his wife (did you know that he son is getting married in December. Hermana Jackson can go, but President Jackson has to stay here. How difficult would that be? They make lots of sacrifices. I am grateful for their example!)
- How the Lord continually shows us that when we sacrifice anything, we receive 10 fold of whatever we thought was a sacrifice
- How life means so much more when we focus on others and their needs :)
I hope you have a greeeeeat turkey week :)
Love, Hermana Mather
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might
remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person
you may be the world. Smile! You are someone’s world!"
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| Javier, Hermana Orrego, and Hermana Mather |
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| hmmm pan de chile |
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| Hermana Mather and Eva |
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| Brownies service and elgish! With Alba and Diego |
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| Visiting Gris, Nuria, and Sebastian! |
