Dear Family and Friends
This week has flown by. I need to write more in my journal so that I remember the things that happen each week. CONFERENCE! It was amazing. I especially loved Saturday's sessions, and we got it in english so I could understand it. They had it in the sacrament room with like three projectors but the north american missionaries were all in this little room with this tiny tv. But it was in english!! Yay!
One interesting experience, Hermana Gordillo wanted to go to the rebroadcast of the relief society session saturday morning at 11. We were walking and she was pretty sure we would catch our bus then we saw it pass by up ahead and we couldn't reach it. Hermana Gordillo wanted to run after it but, I didnt think we would be doing much walking because of the conference and so I had worn some shoes that have a centimeter of a heel so they are a bit wobbly which is weird because they should be more sturdy. Anyway I was like I am going to die if we run after that bus so we sat at the bus stop and Hrma Gordillo called people and thought about what to do. Finally she decided to get a taxi. My desire to see that session was not as strong as hers so I was pretty much just following. The taxi took us to the stake center and no one was there. Literally all the gates were locked and not one woman in Salto came for the rebroadcast. Hermana Gordillo couldn't believe it and so she called people to make sure that we were at the right place at the right time. We were, but no one was there to open the church or turn it on. I guess she called the zone leaders and they called someone to go and turn it on. So we were the only ones in the chapel/gym watching the relief society session. I understood some but it was hard for me to remember and put together ideas of what they were talking about.
After that though, we figure it out so Hermana Gordillo and Hermana Jordan listened to the sessions in spanish and hermana coral and I listened to them in english with the other english speaking elders. It was a very spiritually uplifting experience. The last talk of that session from Elder Uchdorf I think, was really powerful about how the people in the church are not perfect and why people leave the church. Sometimes I worry and have questions about stuff in the church and one thing he said was to "stay a little bit longer". It kind of takes the stress off and helps me relax. I just need to take one day at a time.
Update on the family Suarez, their daughter Yennifer was baptized last week. Their mom is back and forth, being accepting of the doctrine and the other day doesnt want to have anything to do with it. One thing that hurt me was we went and visited them and Ingrid, the mom, started off about how I offended them and how I was really rude. I didnt understand at first but I finally caught on that I was in trouble. This last week for english class, Stefani Suarez was supposed to come before to the chapel and we were going to teach her lesson there so we could have more time. She wasnt there and so Hermana Gordillo told me to call her. I did. I thought she said that she was on her way, apparently she asked when our next discussion with her would be and she wouldnt be able to come. I said o si ciao and hung up the phone. She didnt come and I was a little confused but thought something came up or whatever. So in our meeting with them her mom went on to tell all the ways I had offended her family. I felt so terrible. I had no intention of hurting their feelings at all, my actions were I thought, motivated by love, but they did not take it that way. I apologized for everything and Ingrid started crying and said she was sorry too. I felt a little offended that they would use my lack in the language to attack me. I am careful now around them because I feel like they are trying to find ways to attack my language or actions. I am tired of it. I am trying to forgive them and I think I have a little bit but I am a little wounded. The other thing I did to offend them was I took a pen from Daiana and closed her hymnal during the lesson and that was disrespectful to Ingrid. I just wanted Daiana to pay attention. I continue forward but I dont have the same feeling of love when I enter their home.
There is another Hermana in our zone, Hermana Coral that is my friend. We get along pretty well so on pdays and stuff we hang out. I love being around her. She is actually leaving today for Montevideo but I hope someday to be companions with her. Oh the atm machine ate my debit card that for the mission. I wanted to figure out how much money I had on it and I put in my pin and it gave me a receipt with the amount on it and then warned me not to share my pin and wouldnt give me back my card. We have had a fun time calling the financiers and trying to figure out what to do. I know it will work out but for the mean time it is a little annoying.
One lesson that we have been doing is the one with the rocks and the jar and sand. If you dont know this one ask someone. It is about priorities and building your life on the rock of the gospel. When you put the sand into the jar first and then try to fit in the rocks the rocks fall and dont all fit. This represents a life of stress and unhappiness for your spirit. BUT if you put in your rocks first and then the sand. Everything fits. When we place our lives on Jesus Christ and place those things with importance the things that we want to do and the things that are good to do we can do as well. Before my mission I loved to watch tv. I didnt have much time to read my scriptures because I didnt have enough time. I noticed that the nights I decided to read and pray before watching tv, I had enough time for both. I know that if each of you will build your life on the important things the other things will fall into place. This week has flown by. I need to write more in my journal so that I remember the things that happen each week. CONFERENCE! It was amazing. I especially loved Saturday's sessions, and we got it in english so I could understand it. They had it in the sacrament room with like three projectors but the north american missionaries were all in this little room with this tiny tv. But it was in english!! Yay!
One interesting experience, Hermana Gordillo wanted to go to the rebroadcast of the relief society session saturday morning at 11. We were walking and she was pretty sure we would catch our bus then we saw it pass by up ahead and we couldn't reach it. Hermana Gordillo wanted to run after it but, I didnt think we would be doing much walking because of the conference and so I had worn some shoes that have a centimeter of a heel so they are a bit wobbly which is weird because they should be more sturdy. Anyway I was like I am going to die if we run after that bus so we sat at the bus stop and Hrma Gordillo called people and thought about what to do. Finally she decided to get a taxi. My desire to see that session was not as strong as hers so I was pretty much just following. The taxi took us to the stake center and no one was there. Literally all the gates were locked and not one woman in Salto came for the rebroadcast. Hermana Gordillo couldn't believe it and so she called people to make sure that we were at the right place at the right time. We were, but no one was there to open the church or turn it on. I guess she called the zone leaders and they called someone to go and turn it on. So we were the only ones in the chapel/gym watching the relief society session. I understood some but it was hard for me to remember and put together ideas of what they were talking about.
After that though, we figure it out so Hermana Gordillo and Hermana Jordan listened to the sessions in spanish and hermana coral and I listened to them in english with the other english speaking elders. It was a very spiritually uplifting experience. The last talk of that session from Elder Uchdorf I think, was really powerful about how the people in the church are not perfect and why people leave the church. Sometimes I worry and have questions about stuff in the church and one thing he said was to "stay a little bit longer". It kind of takes the stress off and helps me relax. I just need to take one day at a time.
Update on the family Suarez, their daughter Yennifer was baptized last week. Their mom is back and forth, being accepting of the doctrine and the other day doesnt want to have anything to do with it. One thing that hurt me was we went and visited them and Ingrid, the mom, started off about how I offended them and how I was really rude. I didnt understand at first but I finally caught on that I was in trouble. This last week for english class, Stefani Suarez was supposed to come before to the chapel and we were going to teach her lesson there so we could have more time. She wasnt there and so Hermana Gordillo told me to call her. I did. I thought she said that she was on her way, apparently she asked when our next discussion with her would be and she wouldnt be able to come. I said o si ciao and hung up the phone. She didnt come and I was a little confused but thought something came up or whatever. So in our meeting with them her mom went on to tell all the ways I had offended her family. I felt so terrible. I had no intention of hurting their feelings at all, my actions were I thought, motivated by love, but they did not take it that way. I apologized for everything and Ingrid started crying and said she was sorry too. I felt a little offended that they would use my lack in the language to attack me. I am careful now around them because I feel like they are trying to find ways to attack my language or actions. I am tired of it. I am trying to forgive them and I think I have a little bit but I am a little wounded. The other thing I did to offend them was I took a pen from Daiana and closed her hymnal during the lesson and that was disrespectful to Ingrid. I just wanted Daiana to pay attention. I continue forward but I dont have the same feeling of love when I enter their home.
There is another Hermana in our zone, Hermana Coral that is my friend. We get along pretty well so on pdays and stuff we hang out. I love being around her. She is actually leaving today for Montevideo but I hope someday to be companions with her. Oh the atm machine ate my debit card that for the mission. I wanted to figure out how much money I had on it and I put in my pin and it gave me a receipt with the amount on it and then warned me not to share my pin and wouldnt give me back my card. We have had a fun time calling the financiers and trying to figure out what to do. I know it will work out but for the mean time it is a little annoying.
Other than that we walk, we talk, we plan, we pray, we read, and we invite. This is our day in a nutshell. I am thankful for your love. I pray for you and I need your prayers as well. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church that Jesus Christ established during his life on earth and it has been restored in these days. I invite you, as well as everyone in Salto :), to learn more about the gospel. Gospel means Good News. IT is good news, news that we can live with God again through our covenants or promises. Vamos Arriba!
Love,
Hermana Beatie
