I never want to stop being a missionary!

 

This week I just keep having moments where we are walking or talking or doing whatever we normally do, and I think to myself, "I never want to stop being a missionary!" It isn't that I love Houston in particular, but I sure love being in the service of my fellow men. And that is what I am coming to realize is the best part. My mission is only training me to sacrifice and serve for the rest of my life. I never have to stop feeling this way! I think of Mom and Dad and the things they do every day that are just pure service, and I am so grateful for the years that lie ahead of me.

Some great things that happened this week:

Hermana Tu'i and I are really getting into the swing of being together. For example, we were knocking doors the other day. We see all the neighborhood black kids gathering to the community basketball court...there's about 40 of them.....with all sorts of sweet afro's and combs in their hair and stuff. So as we are just kind of standing there on the balcony, another kid walks past on his way to play bball, and I was like, "Hey! Are you gonna go chill out, max, relax, all cool?" and Hna Tu'i goes, "Do you spend MOST of your days on the playground?" And then we turn to each other and were like, "were you born AND raised in west philadelphia?" And then we just bent over laughing. He didn't hear any of it. But that is about how it goes out here in louetta west when we are too bored. I really enjoy being her companion. Except for when I remember I am just a straight-laced white girl still. Tongans are a lot of fun.

Also, we happened to notice one of our potential investigators outside the other day when we pulled up and  hurried and helped grab some groceries to carry in. Her house always smells like animals. When we asked if we could explain more about the church she explained how she really has no time, because she had to clean and cook and get everything ready to take to her husband's rancho for the weekend. I was like, "Excuse me? Did you say.....rancho?" and then she started talking about all the animals they have to take out to his ranch and beckoned towards the garage and we went and opened the door and it was FULL of cardboard boxes with chickens and chicks and little baby ducks with their mom duck. I am telling you, Heavenly Father never ceases to fill my days with tender mercies. She even let me feed them all when I explained to her that it wasn't actually service--I enjoy doing that kind of thing. She even offered me some eggs! Then I realized that she had incubators in her living room filled with eggs that are going to hatch soon. She said one day I could come out with her to help on the rancho. It is probably outside of the mission, but the fact that she offered makes me feel that I must have looked pretty good while feeding her chickens. After that I was super understanding that she didn't have time for the missionaries hahaha. We will definitely keep working with her. She likes us even more now!

I love being a missionary. I love this area so much. It is paradise. The ward is amazing. they are always asking us about our investigators, they drop everything to do service or go out with us, and they are completely oriented on missionary work. Yesterday in ward council we started planning the next ward activity: FREE MARRIAGE! by the bishop. hahahaha. yep. we are going to offer to all of our investigators a free marriage! It is quite the common problem here among the hispanic population. You are teaching people with 4-6 kids who have been together for 10-20 years and then you find out they aren't actually married. Sometimes they want to be married but the problem is that they have to get divorced from their first spouse in Mexico first! Other times they are like, "I can't get married to him! What if tomorrow when I wake up we don't love each other anymore?" hahaha. You've been loving him for 14 years......

It is teaching me a lot about commitment and that we are our own agents. If you truly want something, you will do it. There is no "I will try my best...." Do or do not. There is no try. I think a lot of times Satan blinds us to our own agency. People feel that they are victims of fate or that they have no control over the future. If you always want to be active in the church and gain eternal life, then keep your covenants everyday. By our simple, daily choices, we decide who we are and what we achieve.

Sure love all of you! I can feel the support of your prayers.

Also last night Carolina and Kaylyn invited us over for a BBQ with their cousins who are members of the ward, the Alvarenga family. We are talking Mexi BBQ. It was so good. And we were the special guests of honor simply because they love us. Also during the week Carolina and Kaylyn had a "girls night" during which they read a chapter from the book of mormon and watched "The Restoration". ! Doesn't that just make you so happy????