November 26, 2012

Ma chere famille,

Greetings from New Caledonia!! I am loving it here! Really. Sorry for my mildly emo email last week, but I am happy again! Maybe cause I'm actually starting to understand the language that is being spoken all around me. And also because these people are amazing! And I have been called of God to preach the gospel to these wonderful people! And so I am doing well. And after a rough first week, I am doing well again! I LOVE THIS WORK, and I love this place. I legit have eaten my weight in lychee this week cause it's EVERYWHERE, and the members give it to us for free, which is fantastic. And right now it's a tossup, whether I love mango or lychee more. They're both just so good. And I eat them both everyday. hah. THE BEST!! Also, I have a plumeria tree and a hibiscus bush in my front yard. So yah know, can't complain :] 

I got pics of pup and Elder Bledsoe and Elder Fletcher and I just about started crying. I LOVE THOSE CRAZIES!! And I'm beyond thrilled that they got to meet! They are all the best. Pup, good luck with district leader! And I know your TEACH!! Frere Grossin is a boss. You'll have fun with him! Did you getta meet my teachers? Frere Blosil and Frere Sybrowsky? I love them both! They're the best! And I'm glad you had automatic friends your first day in the mtc izzle. I told the world you were coming, so I'm not surprised in the least :] I hope you're having fun. The MTC is th best! Work hard, and I'm praying for you! 

Also, thanks everyone for your emails! I'll try to respond quickly to all of them, but I don't have enough time, so it'll be short. And this will probs be shorter than normal too. But I'll try and write all the important stuff.

The people we're teaching. They are great. Two of my faves this week were a lady named Delphine and another younger one (a bit older than me) Named Nana (Which is coincidently a way to say goodbye here, But I digress...) Delphine. We were teaching her this last week, and she lives in the woods, just off a development with her brother (Francois) but yah, they have practically nothing. They live in a tent and they have some pots and pans and a bit of food, but really, not much. So we taught just Delphine this night, cause Francois wasn't there. But yah, Soeur Marae was testifying of God and that He is our loving Heavenly Father, and that Delphine is a daughter of God, and! Something amazing happened! The Spirit washed over me. Like HUGE. And that hasn't happened for a while, the spirit in French, cause I haven't been understanding so well, But it was a tender mercy. And I was able to feel some of the love that Heavenly Father has for all of his children. Even though life is extremely hard for Delphine right now and she doesn't even have a house, Heavenly Father LOVES her. And He wants her to be happy! I love this gospel. It is a gospel of eternal truthes. And it can help everyone be happy. And the other ami de l'eglise, Nana, she is sooo great! She had a baptism date, but she wasn't ready. But she needs one again, because she is sooo great! We were teaching her about the law of chastity, and she had like studied up on it before. And she had all the answers. And something that she said that really struck me was, "This is such a small commandment, but there are so many blessings that come from living it!" I couldn't have said it better myself... Its true! This gospel is hard to live sometimes, it's hard to endure to the end, but if you think about it, it's only really hard when you don't think about it with an eternal perspective. Because the blessings that we GAIN are SOOOO MUCH MORE than any temporary happiness or pleasures we give up here. 

Ok, well, I have to bounce. Write me letters! It's kinda hard to read and respond to all the emails. But thank you all for writing! I LOVE YOU ALL!! I know that I have many imperfections and that I don't know and understand everything, but for all those reading this, there is something I do know. For a fact. And that is that this gospel is TRUE! This is the truth on the earth for us and for us to share with all those around us. So I invite you to do so. And if you don't know that this is the truth, I'd invite you to pray to know. Because that is how we can and will know for ourselves. 

I love you all! Thanks for your prayers and love and concern! I pray for you every chance I get! But I know that the Lord is taking care of you while I am far away.

Je T'aime!
L'evangile est vrai!!

Love, Soeur Santos