ANDALE, PUES | 10.29.18

Buenos dias!!!!!

Very nice weather over here in Garland. The last few days have been like 70 and sunny and prime bike weather. 

THINGS PEOPLE SAID 

- "que Hermosa, la juventud..." ("how beautiful, youth...")(our favorite abuelita from El Salvador when we handed her a kind of ghetto photo of ourselves we printed off) 

-"ANDALE, PUES" SO many people here say this but we haven't really noticed until this week. It's super funny because I have always thought that "andale" just means "get going" but apparently it also means like "goodbye/take care" I am pretty sure? But it was very funny because it was always older Mexican dudes that would always say it as we were hanging up and so to me I kept thinking they were saying "go away" but in a super friendly tone of voice. So now we always say on the it was when we hang up the phone with anyone

- ok there is a very sweet solita abuelita we have been visiting lately. Sometimes it seems like she maybe dies while we're talking to her and then she opens her eyes again and acts like nothing happens and it's kind of scary and also kind of funny. She is very old and has had a very hard life. She very often says "me falta aire!!" And its scary bc that means "I can't breathe"? But she told us the other day that she thinks of us as literally her daughters. It was super sweet. She was walking us out of her house the other day and we were hopping on our bikes and she simply asked "quien manneja?" And looked at us expectantly. 

That means "who drives?" Hahaha. We laughed for a very long time and told her that bikes don't work like that. We love her a lot!!

WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN 

Okay so multiple times we have accidentally ended up at a "bible study" and we always expect like one family in their living room studying the Bible together. But, hmm ok...

We met a super nice guy from Guatemala named Rodolfo. He was a referral from our 8 y/o buddy haha. He was super nice and seemed pretty interested in our church, even screen-shotted where it was on the map so he could come. He invited us to a Bible study and said he would chat after about our church. We came about an hour after it started, basically there were like 50 people all decked out in Sunday clothes and there was a preacher at the front yelling and Spanish very passionately about the Bible. It was super different from what we are used to for sure, the people they were very nice and it was funny because this lady got up and front of everyone and introduce us both as honored guests. We found out after the fact that it was basically I'm meeting for another Church haha but it was funny because it like a bible study/birthday party/baby shower/church meeting all at once. We had just barely eaten din and they just handed us a HUGE plate of El Salvadorañean (is that how that word works?) food and like 50 people came up to us and introduced themselves and asked us a lot of questions. It was very funny because we always end up at bible studies somehow 

But also what was super cool and made me happy because there are so many nice people in the world everywhere 

ALSO! 

- I like to run??????? Who have I become??? All of my instincts are telling me this is wrong???? But I love it????

SPIRITUAL 

Something very impactful that I learned this week was the urgency of this calling. I studied Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon and it isn't something I've ever really studied before. I have been growing in understanding and love for my Savior Jesus Christ. This is something I have decided is one of my main goals of being here as a missionary. This chapter was really special because it help me understand the character of Jesus Christ a little better. I realized that he is placing each of us in places and situations where we can best grow and develop. That may not mean the most comfortable or beautiful places. But He knows us better than anyone and wants nothing more than to have us thrive, grow, and return to live with him. I also realized the sacred nature of my calling at the missionary. I am a servant in the vineyard alongside of my Savior Jesus Christ. He is laying to gather his children together into His fold, and my job is to help in the best that I can. 

"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What more could I have done for my vineyard?" (Jacob 5:41)

This hit me very hard. I was struck by how critical this work is, and it all comes back to Jesus Christ's love for us. I realized that I am here to do everything I can to help others flourish, thrive, and be unified through coming into Jesus Christ our Savior. 

A CHALLENGE 

Read Alma 10:4-6 in the Book of Mormon 

Reflect: do you view yourself as "a (wo)man of no small reputation"? Where is your pride coming from?

Is it holding you back from serving others? 

And then, part 2:

What do you know about the mysteries of God? what fundamental truths about our existence have you come to understand? 

It's important here to be very honest with yourself. You probably know more than you give yourself credit for. When you receive a confirmation of something by the Holy Spirit (this is really just a feeling of peace and love in my heart for me most of the time), that truth is always valid. God doesn't change, and neither do His truths. He is teaching you in every moment! It's important to record your understanding, this allows you to receive more and grow spiritually. 

P.s.- this scripture was exactly the scripture that made me decide to go on a mission. Very special to me 

If this letter is too long and you didn't read this it is ok :)

Just know that I love you people! And I like to write a lot. 

This is where I continue to reside.

2854 Belt Line Road 

Apt. 293 T

Garland, TX 75044

Bendiciones

Hermana Ras

1. Most of the time we get way bomb food but other times we get funny meals like hot dogs which we eat in the lobby of the church 

2. This is the card that everyone is flipping out about. It's funny bc it's really so so ghetto

3. Our labors 

4. Mmm