LOVE PRECEDES THE MIRACLE | 1.20.20

icambios!
mi linda georgia peach hermanita lance is gonna leave lovely Rowlett and cruise to Tyler, TX and be companions with my rockin' hija, Hermana Lunt. I am sad that our constant stream of inside jokes will have to pause but very excited for her, and excited to be companions with hermana Alam! She is very sweet and from Mexico, I can't wait to get to know her better :-)

on being on the right track
so there was a moment this week when we were biking and I was navigating on my phone using my insanely helpful phone holster (best $8 I have ever spent and will ever spend) and checked to make sure I wasn't getting us lost. we were on the right track, and it was pretty much a straight shot to our appointment. cool. That meant I could confidently cruise without worries, and just soak in the journey. I pondered on that concept for a bit... what a monumental, comforting knowlegde to simply understand that YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. i am so grateful for my mission. I think this is something new I have grown to appreciate... during my childhood and youth I just wanted to be there. I wanted to be at the competition, I wanted to do well, I wanted to take the AP test and do well, to just have a testimony already, to have more friends or happiness or whatever. and inside of me dwelt this little irritating haze of discontenment. But I have learned how to shift this now... my mission has taught me to consider my ways, to ponder the path of my feet. to meditate and reflect and ensure that I am headed where I want to be headed, and then (this is the crucial part) be okay with simply heading there. maybe I won't get there today or this month or this year, but I am headed there and allowing myself to settle in and take in my surroundings. you are on the right track. it's okay to be on the way. I appreciate that principle. 

a paradigm shift: counting my blessings, hugging my family, visas, etc. 
we had a lesson with la familia DeJesus this week, they fed us some delectable empanadas de picadillo. as we munched, we learned about their families, and shared about ours. Dani is a lovely young woman who is living with the family, she asked us more about the mission experience, specifically about how we weren't able to see our families for a while.Then she said something that I really don't think I will ever forget for as long as I live: "Por lo menos sabes que les vas a volver a ver." (this means that at least we know we will see them again). We learned that she is the only individual in her family who has had the opportunity to come to the states, and that Venezuela has literally stopped giving visas to America. Dani has zero idea when or even if she will ever be able to see her family face-to-face again. She works long hours, earning a meager pay, and sends almost all of her money back to her family. Alone, she is supporting herself and 6 family members in Venezuela. If she doesn't send money, they don't eat. 
Talk about being encouraged to confront my privileges... wow. I have it STUPIDLY EASY. THIS IS SO COMMON. i get to hug my family in 6 weeks, I will have zero holdup at the gate and the government allows me to travel the world freely. That is so much more than so many people here can say. I am grateful but my heart hurts at the same time. I am grateful that the Gospel offers hope and eternal truths amid such a messed up system. Dani inspired me and taught me so much that night. 

tasty scriptures
had some really fulfilling moments as I studied the scriptures this week, I am glad. 
Isaiah 55 is such a transcendent delicious chapter. I particularly loved verse 12. 
Also 1 Nephi 18:21 really hit me. I recently started the Book of Mormon from the beginning again and it is really so so good. The imagery of the waves and sea has always struck me so hard. As I read this verse, a line from the song "Be Still my Soul" popped into my mind ('Be still my soul, the waves and winds still know whose voice who ruled them while He dwelt below')-- for some reason I can really relate to being tossed on a sea, but Jesus Christ is with me, He is the master of the storm, and has power over all of the turbulence. That is infinitely comforting and beautiful to me. 

¡a challenge! consider your ways
Haggai 1:7
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways."
Proverbs 4:26
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established."
Think about the direction your life is heading. Which way are you facing? If you continue on this route where will you be next,week, month, year? How is it helping you, helping other people? Is theresomething about your path through life you think should change? Proactively adjust, and then forge forward and enjoy the journey!

sidenote mY BEST FRIEND HERMANA MOORHEAD IS NOW A DISTRICT LEADER CONGRATULATIONS MILADY THE TDM IS ABOUT TO BE SHOOKETH

thank you for reading my emails! I appreciate each of you and am sending love, care, prayers, and good vibes.

this is my address!!
3900 Main Street apt. 1230 
Rowlett, Texas 75099

con cariño,
sincerely, 
yours truly, 
with affection, 

☆hermana ras☆





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