I'M ALIVE I SWEAR

Guess who gets to stay in her favorite ward with a new fun compa?!?!?!

Ok I put so many ?!'s to hide the fact that I am also kind of broken on the inside because my best friend Hermana Casper is getting shipped out to Nacgadoches? I have no idea how to spell it and I don't even really want to learn how because I don't have good feelings toward that place bc it's stealing my homie?

but actually, I've heard that is a gr8 area with many Hispanics to chat with. She will be amazing but I am sad. Also all of the hermanas in the ward are heartbroken that she is leaving, and then I'm just still here, like,

hi,

I'm the one you don't like as much

yea ella se fue

I am sorry too

I know she was the best

I get that she was the superior companion

it's an adjustment for all of us ok??????????

jajaja

but I am VERY grateful to stay here for another transfer. I am very happy here.

and, my new companion is super awesome- Hermana Castaneda!!! She was in my district and I remember always telling Hermana Casper how I thought she was so cool and very good to talk to. I am very excited.

here are my excuses for not emailing the past 2 weeks:

1. I had to write a wedding toast for my sister because she was GETTING MARRIED THE NEXT WEEK and I didn't have enough tiempo

2. I wrote an email? and it was gr8? and then our wifi hotspot lacked strength enough to send out the lil guy.

so here we are.

EVENTS THAT HAVE UNFOLDED

1. my sister got married? I heard it was beautiful? who knows?but how could it not be she is beautiful. here is a chunk from my email that never sent :,(((((

Although I was somewhat sad about not being at my sister's wedding, I prayed fervently to have my Heavenly Father help me focus on this work. I was filled with joy, contentment, and love for this land more so than I have in my mission so far. It was really amazing. I was filled with the spirit and there were multiple times when I was able to testify of a truth I knew (like "Jesus Christ is my Savor" or "I know God loves you") and was just SLAMMED with a wave of peace that bloomed inside of my chest. It was so special, and I know that Heavenly Father was really pouring out blessings upon me this entire week, probably because He knew it was a hard time for me with my sister's wedding. The cherry on top was the exquisite Sunday we experienced yesterday. Small bit of background: a big part of missionary work is inviting people to attend church with us, and we have been having a super hard time getting people to church for the past two transfers. This Sunday though, we were amazed to find 9 new people at church and many families who have not been coming lately show up to the meeting. it was seriously one of the best days of my life because I have grown to really love these people that we are working with and sitting in this place where I know they can receive more spiritual power made me so content. It felt like heavenly father was just giving me a little gift, and I started to realize that when we concentrate ourselves to Lord's work miracles can happen. It also reminded me that God knows me personally and knew exactly how to communicate this principle to me: keep working hard, and be happy in what you do. I will bless you and work through you to bless those around you. Don't worry about the timeline. that was kind of long and rambley, I am sorry!! But it was an extremely rewarding and special week for me.

2. Lynn G. Robbins came and spoke to us and it was amazing. He is a very powerful speaker and a gifted teacher. He talked about being 100% responsible about our decisions and thoughts and really taking ownership about what we do and how we think. He also talked about how missions are the Lord's university and this is the time when we are able to learn diligence, patience, love, and more. When we have hard days we are learning to be better people and our character is being built up. He basically said to rejoice in those hard times because you are becoming better!! A lot of things he said really hit me hard and kind of changed the game for me.

3. I graduated from training. It was really fun and I love teaching and it seems really weird that I am now in my 3rd transfer?I have been a missionary for over 3 months?

4. Went on exchanges with Hermana Knupfer and it was very fun!! She is a cool person and she used to listen to 90's rap and St. Vincent like me!! and I learned many things from her and we enjoyed some Vietnamese sandwiches a member brought us!! cool!!

5. a note. everyone calls me "grandota" which means really big. jaja. I am like a foot taller than everyone here and it is funny and everyone makes fun of me!! jiijiji

COMIDA

1. thanksgiving was one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. One of the absolute tenderest hermanas had us over with her kids who were in town. She made us an absolute FEAST w/ everything a normal thanksgiving dinner contains but also amazing pork and paella (with baby lobsters she got imported from New York? e qumi?) and ceviche! she is from the DR so she was really good at making those things!

2. I tried menudo. It's disgusting. I didn't know I knew what bones tasted like until I tasted it and immediately said "that tastes like bones" hahaha I have found Mexican food I don't like!! I think it has bones and cow stomach lining in it something like that?

3. The Obregons took us out for Gorditas and spoiled us. We love them.

APRENDIZAJE

I was studying a bit this week about gratitude and stumbled upon a very rich and awe inspiring chapter in the bible. Romans 8. Okay also Phillipians 4. Read them! Specifically, Romans 8:6, 16-18, 28, 31, 38-39. or just all of it. and Phillipians 4:6-7

These verses gave me a very potent dose of perspective. and helped me center in and reflect on that border between where my agency and control ends and other's begins. so much peace comes when you can start to recognize that border. and power, too!

A CHALLENGE

answer this question: How did the Lord prepare the way to exactly where you are right now?

and

listen to Little Dragon if ya miss me :)

1. this! family! is! so! perfect!

2. ne me quitte pas, mon chere :,(

3. elder Sutton + crazy eyes

4. me and my new friend Hermana Knupfer. She is really cool and the sandwiches were bomb!!!

4. mmmmm

5. this was part of my thxgiving feast. I am grateful!!!!!

the location of my sunny apartment with lots of birds is

2954 Belt Line Road Garland, TX #293 75044