April 27th
2014
Sometimes when you are in a third world country you get
quarantined in the house because your companion tested positive for
tuberculosis that she contracted in the mission and she has a cold and everyone
worries that she’ll pass it so they leave you in the house for a while and make
the other sisters move out, just to take precautions. And that’s how my week
was.
We have been traveling to Santiago to take some tests for my
companion. We have been twice and have at least three more times to go. Here is
an experience firsthand from my journal about the metro-subway that we took
this morning.
I just survived the craziest thing, the metro in Santiago,
Chile. I was going to say that I have never been that close to anyone in my
mission but actually I’ve never been that close to that many people in my life.
I think it was worse than sardines. They should put that ride in Disneyland and
call it claustrophobe. There was a man in my chest, my shoulder in someone’s
face a kid with his butt to mine. It was so close that when the metro would
change velocity, I could feel him flexing to stabilize himself. To get on the
metro you have to push and have no fear. People suck in so the doors can
close... I made a great analogy. There were tons of people holding on to the
handrails but I couldn’t. I was falling. A kid reached out to stabilize me. We
each have each other to support but without a fixed bar, a stabilizer we will
always fall. Whether it be the forces of where we are, where we are going, where
we have been, or others around us, we cannot make it without a constant
support. That’s what I learned from the metro.
I don’t feel like my companion is sick, but we have to make
sure that nothing gets out of control like it did the last time in another part
of the mission. I appreciated prayers. I hope that we can leave soon to preach.
It’s been 5 days, and I’m antsy to go teach. The good thing is that more recent
converts went to church when we didn’t. They brought us the sacrament at home.
I felt the spirit so strong.
One more story. One day when we couldn’t leave, our neighbor
asked if we wanted to buy some completes (hot dogs). We said sure. I kept
thinking all day how I should share my testimony with them when they delivered
the completos . I wrote it, I thought NEVER POSTPONE A PROMPTING from Pres.
Monson. I gave them a card with my testimony ... I asked why they were selling
completos. They said it was to raise money for their brother with cancer. It
was a cool moment for me and I saw them reading the card. I hope that maybe the
reason we were home that day was to share with them and I hope it touches their
lives.
I know the lord has a purpose for all that he does. I have
felt so much love this week. I’ve read most of Alma, most of the cards from my
parents and friends from the beginning of my mission and feel close to Him. I
hope you all have a good week and find the reason for your circumstances.
May 5th,2014
Its not tb. don’t even fret
But I had an enjoyable week. We didn’t leave once. So
there’s all my email. The Lord loved me enough to send me one of the worst
colds I’ve had when I was at home (luckily not before or after.) I didn’t leave
bed for two days and slept most of the days. My companion watched 5 movies, I
only saw one. The rest I slept. Wow. I’ve never slept so much. Its nice when
there are possible tbcations that make you have to stay home. Other than that
we traveled to Santiago a few times, cooked good food and I read a lot a
lot.
I finished what I had left in Alma and read OUR HERITAGE in
one day. I loved to hear about our great ancestors and to think about how truly
blessed i am. Like really, we have so many blessings.
Also getting a new companion tomorrow. It always feels like
if I want a companion to stay, she or I go... if i want her to go she stays...
the Lord has always surprised me and I’ve grown so much. What a great
opportunity we have to see quickly how His ways are better than ours. I hope
you all have a week of great growth. Look for the little miracles, they really
are there. its true.