Mba'e Cheipa familiakuiera!
Well I did it again! Another week has passed. Sister Willis is great and we're working really hard. This week we've been super focused on what our goal is for our feeble little ward here. We want to get the members to recognize that this is THEIR ward, not the missionaries'. We're really trying to get them involved and excited about the Gospel in their lives. We are also trying to build and strengthen testimonies of investigators and the menos activos, not just get them to church, but REALLY help them feel the converting power of the Holy Spirit.
THAT'S the other thing we've been working on. Feeling, recognizing, and acting on the Spirit. I know I have felt the Spirit loads of times, but it's still like a foreign language when it comes to deciding what it's SAYING. I have been praying and will continue to pray for help with that. That's 3 languages I'm trying to tackle, Guarani, Espanol and the language of ANGELS! One language for each MOUSE we have caught in the past 4 days. YUCK. Hahaha. It's always an adventure. . . but this adventure has more rodents then I would like.
Glad to hear you´re carrying my onion-legacy. Hermana Willis thinks I'm an onion vacuum because I eat like a whole onion every lunch time. The taste of my home tastes like garlic, onion and black pepper. The reason I haven't really answered the "whats the food like" question is because I haven't really experienced it yet. Members are few(we had 5 adults in sacrament meeting this week) and they don't feed us. On the bright side I haven't yet faced the problem of being SO full and having 3 more dinner appointments lined up. Also, we´re not really supposed to go out to eat. I'm on a sugar fast so I haven't had any treats... We just make sandwiches and scrambled eggs. That's not Paraguay food, thats the Hermanas apartment food.
Last night we were walking home after a HARD day of WORK with no visible "rewards" and we were feeling kinda bummed or disheartened ... not a ton but just like.... this day was weird. We walked by the paneria and they were playing MY SONG! I dont think it was Jose Luis Peralez. . . but I am sure it was an answer to a prayer in someones heart for me and the whole night was better after that.
Im doing well here. I'm kinda getting the hang. I have a REALLY hard time waking up because my body feels like it's been through several meat grinders and needs to heal. The prospect of getting up to work out is as inviting as an appointment to get my fingernails removed with pliers... but I try, and Hermana Willis is patient and tries to help, too.
It's also hell when in the middle of the day (after the fist meatgrinder)
I KNOW there is no option of a nap (sob)
BUT that being my biggest problem I'd say I'm pretty lucky.
I am loving my mission. Where else could I obtain crazy stories of German Jehovah witnesses following us home, meeting a man who claimed he was God and the details of the capturing of our family of mice all whilst soaking wet, whether it be in sweat or rain.
As for my packages.... I don´t really know. I sent some ideas to Harminee. No, I don't need those yellow boots for winter, but Hermana Willis predicts my shoes won't last so I may need other shoes for walking... durable and maybe water shoes so they dry fast when the unexpected rain comes...
More little sock things maybe? Any yummy food is always welcome. This morning I was wanting some of Moms pumpkin pancakes with that creamy sauce, so eat some for me. Maybe some CDS with awesome mission appropriate jams. Otherwise just send me notes and pictures and things that will make me wanna die and live forever at the same time since I love you guys too much. Hahaha.
I still miss you guys and I bet I will forever.
So much love to all my people.
I think of you all all day forever.
I'm so excited to (after 17 months) be with you all forever and ever.
XOXO
Hermana Valenzuela
