November 10, 2012

Ma chere famille!

First of all, ADDRESS! For New Cal. This is what I have. So hopefully it'll get to me if you send it here:

Soeur Pono Santos
Bureau de la mission
BP 15 154
98804 Noumea Cedex
Nouvelle Caledonie

So Soeur Lamb and I are doing laundry for the last time at the MTC, which is something I will not miss about the MTC... but this is crazy!! I'm leaving for Vanuatu and then New Caledonia TOMORROW!! And I'm freaking out. Here's what's going through my head. Part of me (most of me) is STOKED out of my mind. I CANNOT wait to get down there and be doing this work for real and finally meet these people that I already love soooo much!! And then there is a tiny part of me that is nervous and scared, and mostly sad to leave. Because it's p-town, because I know this place, because the first language is English, because everyone speaks different languages here WHICH I LOVE. Because the devotionals and firesides are AMAZING. Because I can count on my hand the number of days I haven't gotten mail here (which will be a much different story in the field), because my district and teachers are BOMB, and because as soon as I walk out of these doors, I will no longer have access to a temple, or a cello (both of which are the best.) But anyway, pray for the people of New Caledonia, and me to be able to teach with the Spirit so that they will be able to receive the truth into their lives. I'm soooo excited!! Really, I am. I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I know I'm a missionary NOW, but I've been waiting for THIS PART of my mission since I got my call. But pup, for you! The MTC is incredible! I am SO STOKED for you. You will do great things! And I have been and will continue to pray for you as you enter the MTC. I love you bff! Everyone knows you're coming. And I'm leaving a few things hear for you! (Including a cactus named Petri. Take care of him.)

So these last couple days here have been amazing! I would even venture to say the best of my mission so far. First off... I GOT TO HOST HERMANA MICHELLE CALLISTER on Wednesday!! She's going to Lima Central, Peru! She was room mate's with Elise and I this spring summer and she's the best!! We all got our calls together and then flew our flags in our living room. But yah. That was pretty sweet. We took a pic, but she has it, so I'll get that from her 
l'll get that from her apres the mission. 

Also, we taught Michel for the last time on Wednesday and Claude for the last time today. Both commandment lessons. I LOVE teaching commandments! It's the best! I mean, it can be hard calling someone to repentance especially when we ourselves are not perfect, but there is nothing better than being prompted by the Holy Ghost to promise something specific to them and their needs if they are willing to live it. And that's the pattern of having faith and trusting the Lord with these commandments. The Lord wants to bless us, but he will not until we trust him and live the law. After we show that faith by living it, He pours His blessings upon us. But WE must act first. 

Also! Soeur Lamb and I got our first New Cal referral this week!! We were completely jazzed about it. A Fijian elder stuck his head in and we were talking about how we leave soon for New Caledonia. And he was like, "Oh cool! I have an Aunt in New Caledonia." And I asked if she was a member and he said no! So Soeur Lamb and I took her name and her husband's name down and we're gonna go find her once we get down there!! THE BEST!!

We also taught our last TRC on Thursday. We taught about how to receive revelation through the Book of Mormon. And it was cool! We actually asked during the lesson what a specific problem was that one of the people in the room had. There were three of them, so it was more than usual, but I guess one of the people was having trouble with his room mate, so we talked to him about how he could change and how he could maybe invite his roomie to come unto Christ. The more I learn, the more I know that this gospel is for everyone and can help everyone with their lives. It is honestly universal. And that's what's sooo amazing about it! The good news of the gospel! The Atonement! It applies to all!! And it's incredible! 

Yesterday we had in field orientation which was pretty awesome. It just taught us things about being in the field and how to contact, find, teach people, work with members, etc. It was great. But. the start of the day was the best part. My district and one more (cause we're so small) did the cereal challenge with Marshmellow Matey's! (There were 9 of us total.) And it was pretty ep. Elder Grigsby carried the team on his back and ate like 7 1/2 bowls of cereal. It was ridiculous. Soeur Lamb and I were tied for second with 6 bowls each. Elder Fletcher ate a respectable 5 bowls. And Elder Bledsoe ate 3. But he's been sick, otherwise he coulda done more. I dunno what the other elders ate, but Elders Queen, Mackay, Dawdy, and Cambell helped us down the entire container. (The last three of those 4 are coming to New Cal with us! So they'll be down there in 6 ish weeks.) But yah. That was fun! District Unity at it's finest!! hah.

And today was just ridiculous. I felt like the Schmultz family. But I'm gonna miss these wonderful people! Luckily I'll still have Soeur Lamb with me in New Cal, but I'm gonna miss Elder Grigsby, Elder Bledsoe, and Elder Fletcher. And my teachers. Frere Blosil and Frere Sybrowsky. I'm not too worried though, we'll be buds when we all get home. It's just sad. We're like a family! hah. But I'm stoked for everyone to get to where they're supposed to be. Elder Grigsby's leaving for Halifax on Tuesday morning, and the other two are leaving a week from this Monday. So they'll getta see pup!! Also, Frere Blosil ate lunch with us today and Frere Sybrowsky ate dinner with us, so that was fun. Oh! And Frere Sybrowsky wasn't even supposed to be here cause he was going to be in St. George on tour with Men's Chorus! But I guess they canceled it cause it snowed a ton here yesterday and today. So yah. That was a pleasant surprise! We sang "Souviens-Toi" (my fave french hymn everrrr, which is to the tune of Dvorak New World Symphony movement 2) as a district and recorded it, and Frere Blosil took all our cameras and recorded his parting words to us on all of them. And we had a little mini testimony/goal meeting this morning. So basically, it was a day of tears and sadness, but also excitement. One thing that Frere Blosil said though at our parting was that the mission is going to be hard, but it will be amazing and we will see miracles if we are obedient and push past the minimum standards of what we are supposed to do. He said that people always told him (before his mission) that French was a "hard" mission. That they felt bad for him because the people wouldn't listen. But! When he got out there and worked, they did! They are baptizing in France and we are baptizing people around the world! It's harvest time. The Lord is hastening His work and miracles are occurring.

Family. I love you so much! I love this gospel more than I can say. It is the truth! And I LOVE being a missionary and doing this work. It is honestly the work of salvation. I don't think I fully realized how important this work was until I got out here. I still don't know if I fully understand... But I KNOW that this work is the work of the Lord. I know that we can all help Him build the kingdom, so I would invite you to do so. Reach out to your friends and those around you. This is a message that everyone needs to hear. It is incredible! And it is true. I feel so blessed to be a missionary at this time. I wish it could last forever! But I know that time is running out, so I will wear myself out in declaring the truth to everyone that I see! I got a Book of Mormon for the trip so that I can talk to people and place one if I get the chance! STOKED. I love you all! Thanks for being my examples and supports! I pray for you!

L'evangile est vrai!

Love, Soeur Santos