Morning Everyone!!
Well, it'll be short one today. Sister Tanner got her Visa so she came up from New Orleans last night, stayed the night with us, and we've got to get her off yo the mission office so President can take her to the airport. I'm so excited for her! Plus it's been so fun to see her again! Even if it was only for 10 hours. :)
It's been a good and crazy week. We didn't teach too much, and it's just plain hot. So there's always that, but we've had some cool things happen (no pun intended cause it definitely wasn't cool :). It seems like ages ago, but I suppose it was last Monday that we had our most recent miracle happen with Myara. I told you about her right? I seriously can't remember. We had this big roadblock of her husband (Nino) working 12 hour night shifts, which meant we were pretty much never going to be able to teach him or the family together. But! We stopped by Monday night and there was this guy standing outside with Myara and some other people. I introduced myself and it turns out that he's Nino - her husband! He just "randomly" got his work schedule changed. He now works a totally normal schedule and is home at night with his family. We know that he was the reason that Myara stopped going to church 5 years ago, so we weren't really sure what would happen. They live in this really nice trailer park, and after introducing ourselves he just invited us over to sit out on their little deck with them. It was great! So we got to know him a little bit, and we set a return appointment. Which they kept! We got to teach their whole family on Wednesday!!!!! I've never been able to teach a whole family!! (We thought we were gonna have one with Grisell, but that's still not working out.) So anyway, it was just so awesome. We all just sat outside. They have four kids, plus a niece that was visiting so it was totally loco but so fun. I literally was just so happy right then. Family is the reason I came out on a mission, but I've never worked with one. I work with lots who have families in Mexico or Honduras, but know they'll likely not see them again. Ok, well I could go off on my thoughts about families and how awesome this is, but no time. I'm super grateful to know them.
We had our branch activity I've been planning last Saturday. It was just another movie night; we watched The Testaments on the big screen in the gym. Super fun, and SO MANY people came!! Way more than came to church yesterday. :) haha. Most weren't members. Now I just wish our members would come so they could meet these people. After all, that is the idea! Myara and Nino all came! So did Dunia and David. It just warmed my heart to see them all sitting there. Unfortunately, again no one came to church on Sunday, even though Saturday night they said they were excited and planning on coming. Baby steps I suppose. :) I'm ok with it though. You know, some people talk about not seeing many baptized on their mission, some talk of not seeing many reactivated. Well, really, just ordinances in general is what it comes down to. I'm realizing that I really may never see many do so much as participate with the ordinance of the sacrament. And while I suppose it could be sad because of how much I care for them, it's alright. I'll just keep hoping and having faith, and working with them, and also finding those who are ready to take those steps. And with those who don't seem to be acting much right now, I'm not worried. I'm urgent in doing all I can to help them to come to Christ, but I know that mine is just a part in the miracle that God will work in their lives to bring them unto Christ. My mission is learning to be content with, faithful to, and grateful for that part that the Lord has given me to play in the lives of those I love so much here. Transfers are next week, and who knows where I'll be. I would hope here because of all the in and out this area has seen with Hermanas in the last little while, but I'm not sure. I think that it is Myara and Nino's time right now. They're ready, they have the desire, the kids do too. This branch is going to have an awesome family join them! Just like with Rob and Brenda! So I don't know if I'll be around to teach them like I would give almost anything to, but it'll all be ok in the end. The Lord will give them what they need. And He'll do the same with me, as not-fun as that is sometimes :)
How was the family reunion? I hope it was wonderful. Were there many their to celebrate grandpa's 90th? Any fun plans for your b-day Will? I hope it's a good day!
I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Hermana Marks
Well, it'll be short one today. Sister Tanner got her Visa so she came up from New Orleans last night, stayed the night with us, and we've got to get her off yo the mission office so President can take her to the airport. I'm so excited for her! Plus it's been so fun to see her again! Even if it was only for 10 hours. :)
It's been a good and crazy week. We didn't teach too much, and it's just plain hot. So there's always that, but we've had some cool things happen (no pun intended cause it definitely wasn't cool :). It seems like ages ago, but I suppose it was last Monday that we had our most recent miracle happen with Myara. I told you about her right? I seriously can't remember. We had this big roadblock of her husband (Nino) working 12 hour night shifts, which meant we were pretty much never going to be able to teach him or the family together. But! We stopped by Monday night and there was this guy standing outside with Myara and some other people. I introduced myself and it turns out that he's Nino - her husband! He just "randomly" got his work schedule changed. He now works a totally normal schedule and is home at night with his family. We know that he was the reason that Myara stopped going to church 5 years ago, so we weren't really sure what would happen. They live in this really nice trailer park, and after introducing ourselves he just invited us over to sit out on their little deck with them. It was great! So we got to know him a little bit, and we set a return appointment. Which they kept! We got to teach their whole family on Wednesday!!!!! I've never been able to teach a whole family!! (We thought we were gonna have one with Grisell, but that's still not working out.) So anyway, it was just so awesome. We all just sat outside. They have four kids, plus a niece that was visiting so it was totally loco but so fun. I literally was just so happy right then. Family is the reason I came out on a mission, but I've never worked with one. I work with lots who have families in Mexico or Honduras, but know they'll likely not see them again. Ok, well I could go off on my thoughts about families and how awesome this is, but no time. I'm super grateful to know them.
We had our branch activity I've been planning last Saturday. It was just another movie night; we watched The Testaments on the big screen in the gym. Super fun, and SO MANY people came!! Way more than came to church yesterday. :) haha. Most weren't members. Now I just wish our members would come so they could meet these people. After all, that is the idea! Myara and Nino all came! So did Dunia and David. It just warmed my heart to see them all sitting there. Unfortunately, again no one came to church on Sunday, even though Saturday night they said they were excited and planning on coming. Baby steps I suppose. :) I'm ok with it though. You know, some people talk about not seeing many baptized on their mission, some talk of not seeing many reactivated. Well, really, just ordinances in general is what it comes down to. I'm realizing that I really may never see many do so much as participate with the ordinance of the sacrament. And while I suppose it could be sad because of how much I care for them, it's alright. I'll just keep hoping and having faith, and working with them, and also finding those who are ready to take those steps. And with those who don't seem to be acting much right now, I'm not worried. I'm urgent in doing all I can to help them to come to Christ, but I know that mine is just a part in the miracle that God will work in their lives to bring them unto Christ. My mission is learning to be content with, faithful to, and grateful for that part that the Lord has given me to play in the lives of those I love so much here. Transfers are next week, and who knows where I'll be. I would hope here because of all the in and out this area has seen with Hermanas in the last little while, but I'm not sure. I think that it is Myara and Nino's time right now. They're ready, they have the desire, the kids do too. This branch is going to have an awesome family join them! Just like with Rob and Brenda! So I don't know if I'll be around to teach them like I would give almost anything to, but it'll all be ok in the end. The Lord will give them what they need. And He'll do the same with me, as not-fun as that is sometimes :)
How was the family reunion? I hope it was wonderful. Were there many their to celebrate grandpa's 90th? Any fun plans for your b-day Will? I hope it's a good day!
I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Hermana Marks