Quarantined

April  27^th 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 5^th,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.