THAT'S HOW THE GOOD LORD WORKS | 12.30.19

CAROLING MADE MY CHRISTMAS

es verdad. Okay I will say honestly that sometimes the holidays can get kind of long on a mission. There's definitely effort that needs to be expended to not get distracted by imagining what is going on at home which is not going on in the mission field (SNOW! WASSAIL! SLEDDING! COZY NAPS IN FRONT OF THE FIRE! SNOW! SKIING! BAKING! SHOPPING WITH MOM! WRAPPING PREZZIES! CLIMBING! UGLY SWEATER PARTIES PROBABLY! AND OTHER THEMED PARTIES! ET CETERA! BUT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT HERE NOPE!) haha buuuut I will say that I still enjoyed such a special and sacred Christmas here, and will probably remember it for the rest of my life!! I am grateful for Christmas on the mission, odd though it may appear, because it is so isolated from the presents, creature comforts, etc. that can sometimes crowd out service and, like, well Jesus.

We linked up with the groovy Rockwall Hermanas to go caroling at an old folk's home. So tender!! Okay I will say that the first like 4-5 songs Hermana Lance and I would start Uncontrollably laughing? I don't know why still? to the point of dysfunction so that was rough but we ended up having a really special spiritual experience at the end so here it is:

we stopped by someone's room and the woman's daughter was there. She kindly asked if there was any way we could return in a few minutes when her mom was back-- we did-- and sang a simple Christmas hymn. I felt so peaceful and happy (the Holy Spirit>) and as we left, I hugged each of them and saw tears streaming down the face of the daughter who had asked us to come back.

I was so humbled that that tiny act of service actually brought so much light and joy to those people, it made my entire Christmas to experience that!

Service rules!

Tamales on tamales on tamales

on Christmas Eve and Christmas we visited lots of members. I ate a lot of tamales and we were given probably 20 tamales and pupusas which I loaded up in my nice red bike basket and we toted them home speaking of which...

Consider my basket LIT.

I officially DECKED out my bike with lights, these Texan drivers don't know what hit 'em (concerning my high levels of visibility...). I feel like an actual Christmas tree every time I bike at night and I love it. 

Venezuelan Verve

news: I adore Venezuelan culture so much...we are teaching an awesome Venezuelan family and accidentally got stuck at a party last night full of merengue, pastelitos, and sopa (basic). our good friend's daughter was in town from South Carolina and idk we just really hit it off and I felt like we were really good friends. And we already have inside jokes, it's great. Also I adore how extra and charismatic and attentive all the Venezuelans I have met are, it like brings out a different side of me haha I just want to be best friends with anyone and everyone from Venezuela basically. 

Also I am a huge fan of their food and will learn to make Hallacas if it's the last thing I do mark my words!!!!!!!

Learning about the Character of Christ

I have been learning so much more about my Savior Jesus Christ lately. 

I love thinking about how Jesus prays for us before the father. This week I read 3 Nephi 17:17 and D&C45:3-5 which really stuck with me.

"And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father."

The first time I read this scripture I just marveled for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy it, too.

An Invitation

something I have started doing each morning is writing out:

1. What I will let go of (a regret, a thought, a behavior, etc.)

2. What I am grateful for

3. What I will focus on (usually 3-4 things)

This has helped me so much!! I got the idea from a book called "2 Minute Mornings" my seestar sent me (By Neil Parischa)

It helps me recognize the progress I made and be more aware of my blessings! And present! Y'all should try it too and we can compare notes. It has helped me tons. 

love all you chickens.

Would also like to acknowledge the fact that my weekly emails are obscenely long sometimes, I am not sorry bc I mostly write these for myself, but if anyone actually reads all of this GOOD JOB I AM PROUD OF YOU! A TRUE HOMIE! 

 I hope you had a really good Christmas aaannnd that you will have a stellar shiny amazing New Year!!

Write me letters, I'm not needy for pen pals at all!!! 

Here is my address yet again!!

3900 Main Street apt. 1230 

Rowlett, Texas 75099

con cariño, amor, esmero, etc.,

hermanita ras