- We had "3 Day" this week. It is three days (duh) of training from President and all the leaders in the mission. There was so much learning I filled half a notebook. (Now I just gotta put the notes into action.) I have never felt so inspired (and never felt like I have needed to repent so much in my life.) They showed this video and related it to being good examples as leaders. We always say that we won't make bad decisions, but then in the moment with all the pressure; our blood pumping, sometimes we make a mistake. The two boys who left the party had made the decision to not smoke before the option ever occurred. Look at how blessed they were because of their decision. I will share more aprendizajes as the weeks go by..
- After the meeting on Tuesday Sister Media, Acosta, a couple elders, and I were asked to sing at a funeral. The older man was a member but in the last couple years of his life was bed ridden. The service ended, and the family was invited to come up and say their last goodbyes. His youngest daughter went up to the casket and started sobbing frantically, screaming, "DADDY! COME BACK!" My heart sunk into my feet as I try to imagine what it will feel like the day my father dies. Tears rolled down my face, I couldn't hold back. Sister Acosta looked at me and said, "Let's go be missionaries, what we are called to do." She walked right up to the daughter, knelt down beside her and said, "Look at me. Everything is ok. Hold my hand. Everything is ok. Breathe." It took a couple of minutes, but she had the woman calmed down. She in simple terms explained the plan of salvation and that everyone must go through death. It is part of God's plan. She will see her father again. That is the good news we bring as missionaries.
- After the funeral we went to pick up the other sisters. They were in the middle of the lesson of the Restoration when we knocked on the door. All 5 of us testified of Joseph Smith being a prophet called of God to restore the church Jesus Christ established when he was here on the earth. We committed her to baptism, prayed, and then Sister MacArthur asked if we could help her. She said the common phrase, "oh, we are fine." But MacArthur walks into the kitchen and starts washing the dirty dishes in the sink. Then everyone else went in and everyone was cleaning dishes and singing. (Mind you its like 9:15pm) It was the funniest sight ever. I can't imagine having five 20 year old girls I met a half an hour previously cleaning my house.
- Yesterday there were four baptisms; 2 little girls from the ward, and two woman in the YSA branch. It was so amazing to see so many people being able to enter into the door that leads to eternal salvation. A couple of our investigators have expressed that they are scared to be baptized because they don't want to mess up after. The thing is; we all are going to mess up. We are mortal.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
We aren't ever going to be perfect in this life, but that is ok. God recognized that and that is why he sent his Only Begotten Son. Now is the day to use his atonement to become perfect. The only way to do that is through baptism by the proper authority.
- On a lighter note, on our run this morning we saw all the kids at the bus stop. School starts today. Sister Medina made the comment that when they get out for Christmas break we will be home. I screamed.
As for my new address, just send to the mission home:
Hermana Hemmingsen
200 W. La Vista
McAllen. Texas
78501
Que tengan una buena semana llena de milagros y bendiciones, hermanita hemmingsen.
guys i can finally speak spanish.