February 17, 2013

that awkward moment when your cover up no longer matches the color of your skin...

Ma chere famille!

Ay Bonjour. I'm still in Paita. Starting to get a taddd bit antsy, but trying to keep my head in the game and working hard here jusqu'a but. (to that end; for that purpose)  It's going good. I dunno why, but ever since I've found out I'm moving I've only been able to think of that and all the great people that are there, just waiting to hear the gospel!! But I do love being here with Soeur Kailiponi and Soeur Tere. We work hard together and it's always fun, even when nobody wants to listen. And that's where my subject line comes in... Lots of porte a porte cette semaine.Lots of door-to-door this week. Actually, not lots, just one day. And we were out in the sun knocking doors all day. And I don't think I've ever been tanner in my life. Which is a perk of porte a porte, though I'd rather have people let us in and not be in the sun, but rather inside teaching lots and lots of lessons! But hey, you win some, you lose some.

But this week was good! We are trying to figure out a problem we have, with transport and getting all our amis to church. But I know that with the Lord's help, we'll be able to find an answer. We were actually just brainstorming one night, after planning, what we could do to get all our amis to church, cause it's about 20/25 mins away in car. Paita to the chapel in Tontouta. But my vote is a bus. Cause we were talking, and Soeur Tere was talking about how in Tahiti in one of the wards at least they have a bus that takes all their amis to church. kray kray. But yah. That's what I got right now. Hah. If you have any ideas shoot them my way! 

This week one of the things I actually got the most out of was my studies. I worked my way through Chapter 8 of PME in french. And I learned lots. I'm trying to learn all the missionary ropes before they throw Soeur Lamb and I together so that we kinda know what we're doing and not just running around like crazies. But this chapter is on how to use your time wisely. And it's sooo good. A lot of the chapter is just for missionaries, the forms we have, the planner, the planning sessions that we do, but there are a couple sections dedans that I would reccommend for everyone. The premier, How to fix goals, and the deuxieme, the section at the end, entitled accountability. Seriously, kinda mind blowing stuff inside these two sections. Read them, study them, love them! They apply to everyday life. 

And that brings me to the challenge of the week. And really quick, to add to Elder Santos', (which by the way, I would like to second and add my testimony. This work NEEDS the members. It is for the MEMBERS of this church. As missionaries, our job is to teach the doctrine. And if the members do their part and talk to their friends, their friends who already know them and trust them, that is when this work is REALLY gonna explode. The world is exploding with missionaries right now, and I know that if the members help with this missionary explosion, we are going to see some amazing things happen.) I know it's kinda scary. I went through it before my mission. But, like all commandments of the Lord, the only way you can have all the blessings of this work is by DOING this work. LIVING this work. And, as a serviteurservant  of the Lord, I promise you that if you open your mouth, having faith in Jesus Christ, He will fill it and you will feel the joy and happiness that comes into your life that comes only from this work, and not only that, but you will not be able to help but to keep doing this work and sharing the gospel with those around you. I know that cause I've lived it. And I want to be a missionary for my whole life now. So even when the plaque (nametag) comes off, I will always be a missionary. I will keep sharing the good news with those around me, because I've felt the joy that it brings and I never want to live without this joy again! Anyways, that was Pup's challenge. Not mine. But I second it! You know, the whole two witness thing :]

Now my challenge. In the accountability section of PME, it says that in our nightly prayers we should give an accounting for how we used the Lord's time. And when I read that my brain just about exploded cause I love that so much! But also, cause it makes COMPLETE sense! In the temple, we learn the importance of accountability, or returning and reporting what we've done. This is especially important as a missionary, but I think it applies to all! What have you done with the precious and short time we have on earth today? Have you spent it as the Savior would? Serving others? Loving others? Sharing the good news? There's something powerful in reporting back to the Lord. If we are accountable each and every day I think that we will use our time with more wisdom. We will want to choose the BEST option. Not just good or better. So, with Elder Santos' invite, I would like to lance mine as well. Each and every night, return and report. Tell Heavenly Father what you did with this precious time. Ask Him how He'd like you to fill your time tomorrow! Be accountable. I know that if you do that, you will be blessed. The Lord will see that you are trying to follow Him and are trying your best to use this precious time avec sagesse. wisely

I love you family! I LOVE this gospel. It is incredible. It changes our very nature. Who we are. And it's incredible. I see this change mostly around me, everyday! But I also see it in myself when I take time to ponder. I'm so happy to be a missionary. Sometimes I just want to burst into tears I'm so happy!! To be here, in New Cal, preaching His gospel. The truth! Know that you are in my prayers and that I love you! Thanks for your love and support and your prayers! I love you!

L'evangile est vrai!The Church is true!

Love, Soeur Santos