Note from Blog keeper: OOPS! a bit late on this one. So you will have 2 to read now. Sorry Folks!

 

 

 

 

This is an earlier time this week for emailing. And once again, completely unexpected timing. But, I will do my best to compile some highlights from the week.

The Latinos and a wave of Nortes are leaving again this week...Has it really been another two weeks? It is so crazy how fast time flies and I know it is just going to keep going faster.

This week, Was very fast, but there have been some great experiences. First off, I love my companion. She and I get along so well and I learn so much from her. She has a very relaxed disposition but is always ready to take on the next activity. Yesterday, she and I were asked to prepare a lesson for a few districts. We were caught off guard because we had been told we didn't need to prepare one, and we had other tasks that needed completing. In the back of my mind I had a rebuttle jump up, but she just calmly said, ´"We´d love to." It was a wonderful reminder to me to just step up to it and not complain. Someone had mentioned a saying I really like. "Don´t complain about it. Pray about it" It is only one of many of my new mantras. Another thought I´ve been atttempting to practice is the idea that everyone has their agency (ability to choose from right or wrong) and I need to employ mine more to not get frustrated when others aren´t doing what they are supposed to. This doesn´t mean I turn a completely blind eye to things, but simply that I can choose how I react to my surrooundings. It has been rather liberating. And I have not gotten nearly as uptight when things don´t run smoothly...because, lets face it- when does life every run smoothly?

Speaking of not running smoothly, one of my roommates discovered some news from home that really upset her. She was questioning whether it was better for her to be here or not. We did all that we could to comfort her. I have never been very great at verbally comforting someone...I feel awkward at it when there are lots of others doing the same thing-it just seems inconsequential. But I wanted so badly to do something for her. The thought popped into my mind to sing her a hymn. So, flipping to her favorite one, I sang ´Come, Come Ye Saints´ At first, I almost couldn´t do it. The song has a sweet spirit about it and the emotion from the morning made it difficult. But I said a little prayer as I sang, and my voice became more sure. It helped her a lot. And it was, truly, my way of being able to comfort her.

Also this week, there was a church activity where several local LDS churches brought their children to tour the CCM. They were the cutest little children ever! All of them wore badges that said ´Futuro Misionario´(Future missionary). We watched them from our window, but then someone told us to go down because they had something for us. They had decorated pens for us. A small, timid child was led up to me by his mother. He handed me an adorable pen with a missionary on the top. The missionary had brown hair like me and a little name badge and backpack (mochila), It´s adorable! Then, the best part, this one little girl gave a bunch of us Hermanas a kiss on the cheek. Heart. Officially. Melted.

Also, some fun stories. Some of our Elders live in the room directly below us. Last night they were talking really loud and because we both have our windows open, we could hear everything. Most of us went to bed-eventually- but one Hermana could not fall asleep. Finally, around midnight, she made a note, tied to thread and dangled it infront of their window. They immediately became excited and got the note. It read "Elders, please don´t share all your secrets with your window open. Have a good night!". Oh man! Then, they spent the next 30 minutes talking about all the stuff they had said and that the Hermana may have heard! I was asleep through all of this, but I heard the story from both sides, our roommate and some of the Elders in our District. Priceless.

Also, We watched a Devotional by Elder Bednar. He talked about effective ways to study and teach the scriptures. Funny thing is...I've actually learned a part of this before. One of my friends, Brandon, had taught us in a class at church that this was the best method. Or one of the best. It´s a Why (Doctrinal), What (Principle) and How (Application). It really is SO great. I don´t know why I stopped using it. But I'm applying it again.

I am continuing to learn Spanish...relatively quickly. Had lots of time to study on our own this Saturday which was very helpful. But I know I'm going to be so lost once I get into the field. Oh my....people talk FAST!

That´s all I have time for. Take care, family and friends! I love you very much. I will write again next Wednesday.

Oh and one more thing. I can email friends! My email: erika.schultz@myldsmail.net

Sincerely,

Hermana Schultz