How`s life treating you these days? Can you believe I`m going to hit the half way mark??? I sure can´t. It`s absolutely loco. :) I had to put that title, slightly ironically and slightly en serio because it has dropped to a chilly 75, 80 degrees and I am FREEZING in the mornings. It`s ridiculous. I`m definitly not acustomed to the cold anymore. It doesn`t help that it`s humid. But my companion slightly mocks me in the morning because I`m always wrapped up in my sheet, with socks and a sweater just shivering. I love the heat of Cancún. :)
We had a good week this week, and we managed to find a few new people that have a lot of potencial! Carlos is this old military guy that only has one leg, and it was so cool to teach him. The missionaries taught him a boat load of stuff, but he never got baptized. He just has been pondering and thinking about the message for about a year now, and he had amaaaazing questions. We could see the clarity and the peace that came into his eyes to finally have an answer. He can`t see very well, so we`re going to print off a few verses from the Book of Mormon in giant font so he can read and pray. Super excited to see if he can progress!
And HAPPY DAY Araceli finally came to church! Esta niña....she`s so ready to be baptized, but it`s hard to come to church sometimes. We passed by for her and she was all ready to go!
We`ve been practicing a few musical numbers to play/sing in December. My personal goal lately is learn how to sing the alto part, because it sounds soooo pretty and I`ve always wanted to learn how to harmonize. With Hermana Merrick`s musical genius, I`m slowly picking it up. We`re going to sing "Be Still My Soul," in a mix of English and Spanish accompanied by a gorgeous piano part. I`m not super strong on the harmony yet, so sometimes it sounds like the middle ages creepy music. But I`ll get it! Hopefully, haha! I`m also basically the designated ward chorister, including for a slightly off-key Priesthood Choir. Fun stuff.
We had intercambios this week and Hermana Gunderson and Hermana Davis surprised us with homemade tortillas! It was their...third or fourth attempt, I think, and they turned out good! Gotta learn the secret of tortilla making before I finish up here in a short 9 months.
Another random story...the power went out with the cute Familia Bobabilla while we were having a Family Home Evening. They taught their kiddos so well, they knew just what to do and said a very faith filled prayer. The mom just kept cooking the refreshments on the gas stove, and we read the scriptures by candlelight. When we saw them the next sunday and asked them if the light came back, the kids were just like, "Yeah, it did! Really fast, too!!" They`re just a really great example to me.
Okay, and here`s my cool spiritual thought for the week. I studied a lot in first and second Nephi this week, and I know that these are the first chapters of the Book of Mormon for a reason. We can read them over and over again, know the stories inside and out, but we`ll always find something new. I loved how Lehi KNEW that he had seen a vision and that his sons needed to get the plates. Sariah started to complain abit, but it says that after her sons were back and the trial passed, she KNEW with certainty that they would be protected in the desert. Sometimes our trials are just what we need to be able to keep going, keep trusting, and keep believing in the Lord. It`s our experiences that form our faith and strengthen our testimonies. I also learned a lot about how Nephi reacted when the Lord told him to kill Laban. That was a crazy answer, that Nephi wasn`t expecting. But he thought it over, and really considered all the consequences. When he knew it was the Lord`s will, he acted and followed through. That`s the way we can receive revelation. And we need to act, even if it isn`t the answer we expected or wanted.
Anway, I know that the Lord will answer our prayers. I know that I am here, serving in beautiful Chetumal, Mexico for a reason. And I know that he will put the people that we need to teach in our path. It`s such a huge privelige and blessing just to be out here, and these last 9 months haven`t been easy, but I have felt a true sense of joy. It`s humbling, enabling, and just amazing.
I hope you all have a fabulous week!! I can`t upload pics with this chaffa computer, so here`s one of when I was just starting and still a jovencita in the CCM. :)
Lots of love from Chetumal,
Hermana Schwartz
