Hello Everyone!! Daut-eh!! (I'll never get to use that again in
public ;()
but it's ok b/c life is sooooo goood!!! As of Monday I have
officially left Fort Apache as most of you already know. I realized that truly
the hardest thing about being a missionary is leaving the ppl that you worked
soooo hard for.
Those that just accepted to be baptized, those that you saw do a
full 180! those that loveed and cared for you as if you were family. and those
you dedicated so much of your studies to. The ppl there really became my
family, I received so many gifts (apache's have a huge gift giving culture) and
in return I became a huge gift giver myself!
which I thought would never happen! Especially while being a poor
missionary!. It's amazing how it's true that the people that have the least are
always willing to give the most! Sunday was such a sad day. Took lots of
pictures, I realized how many memories I had made and how many laughs I had.
Last Sunday matching with my companion
The people there are one of a kind and I had the chance to learn a
lot from them. I was the first sister missionary to be "born" in Ft.
Apache. Meaning it was my first area so I was trained there. That was a huge
honor and it definitely had its pro's and con's. In the con's I would say that
it is a completely different mission than the rest of the mission. It's a lot
more LAX and you pick up a lot of bad habits that you can’t really have in the
rest of the mission lol. It felt like a different country often.
In the pros I would say it was the most psychologically humbling
experience I have ever had. I was glad i started there because it broke me down
to the person I needed to be, which would not have happened had I been in the
comforts of a large city like I am now. It really breaks you down because you
see the absolute worst case scenarios that a human being can possibly go
through. If you weren’t strong mentally it got to you, depression was always
ready to creep up on you as you lost hope in things like marriage, fidelity,
motherhood, fatherhood. The things that as Members of the church value the
most. You start doubting b/c for four months there was maybe one or two good
examples of a righteous father/husband/leader. But I always prayed and kept it
close in my mind that things are not that way everywhere. You just want the women
that you love so much to know that!
So Monday came I had the best road trip down to the valley (4hrs)
with a sister I had just met.
We stopped at chick fila and I met the daughter of the ward
mission leader in my trainer’s old ward. The Papago ward. "Lata" was
an amazing, fun, and hilarious woman. She had even served her mission in
Venezuela!! so you know we chatted like a bunch of parakeets there. Lol Monday
night I got to stay the night with some of my favorite people in the mission.
We laughed, sang, danced and stayed up way past curfew...but it
was a once in a lifetime type of night. I even was taught to play a tune on the
ukulele which I’ve always wanted to do. So too music videos later and 4 hours
of sleep later the day (Tuesday) came fast.
I am now in the Liahona 2nd ward in Mesa, Arizona on a bike. Let
me tell you guys my mind is just utterly confused. I never thought it was
possible to be so uncomfortable yet soooo happy at the same time!. I say that
because as Fort apache was psychologically exhausting, this experience here.
It's like a whole different mission!! Not the same at all but has the
PHYSICALLY Torturous and EXHAUSTING quality. I'm on a bike in over 110 degree
weather on a regular basis. Heat exhaustion and dehydration are always after
us. It sucks! my butt is too bony for this and day 2 of my period is not so
nice. (sorry for the TMI).
I HAD to cut my favorite workout leggings to use as shorter capris
under my skirt. The air is only allowed to be put at 78 degrees!! normally I
need to sleep in 60 degrees! WE still have to complete everything in the same
amount of time as all other missionaries on car which is insane because we have
to bike everywhere.
I said bye again to my nice make up...I’m out anyways and only
have $50 in my missionary account until next month. so oh well. I have no
food........and yet I am so utterly an completely happy/ecstatic. I feel like
being a mission nary is the best thing is the world...THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
yet when i look at the physical hardships it doesn’t make sense. I WANT TO BE A
MISSIONARY HERE FOREVER....crazy i know! But we get to see the best miracles
occur in a persons life!! on a DAILY BASIS. We get to see God manifest himself
in so many ways that most ppl never even experience!
Tuesday I got to meet one of our members at dinner yesterday.
Magaly was your typical humble, lower income immigrant from Mexico. Yet had the
biggest heart to serve and for this church. She ran up the stairs as she was
late and we were waiting at her door. She said "AYI VOOOOY!!" RAN
inside and prepared us the most delicious meal I have had in the past four
months.
I didn't realized just how badly i missed Hispanic cooking.
i WANTED TO CRY as I talked to her and took the first bite. Carne asada,
fresh salad with tomatoes, BLACK BEANS!! Fried asparagus, Fresh Cantaloupe
juice and fried plantain!!! Heavenly Father literally gave me all the things
that reminded me of home! I smiled and teared up as I told her that Cantaloupe
juice was my sister’s favorite and when we would go to Venezuela the girl would
live off of it!!! Lol. I FELT LIKE I HAD COME HOME AND WAS WITH FAMILY!!
I loved Fort apache and my experiences there will forever be
irreplaceable but man!!! it is good to be back with family. We had an amazing
lesson with her and her nonmember husband who for the first time ever had
joined us! (According to her comp). We shared on how sometimes like a gardener
cuts a bush for it to grow more beautifully, Heavenly father may cut some of
our options and give us what we see as a hard experience. Only we don't see the
beautiful bush that we are to become b/c of it.
VIDEO WE SHARED: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-014-the-will-of-god?lang=eng (ENGLISH)
El video que
compartimos: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-014-the-will-of-god?lang=spa (Espanol)
My companion sister Knouse is amazing. It's funny b/c i think
she's the companion that'll probably humble me the most though we don't seem
like an obvious match.
I'm a ppl watched and everything I’ve observed from her ties back
to a Christ like attribute. A non-native speaker who is from Maryland and has
only served Spanish for 9 months yet speaks it more fluently than me
sometimes...especially in Gospel terms. She has so much love, patience,
longsuffering. I've learned that her life is definitely not the best, and that
she deals with a lot of heart ships....yet she never seeks to please herself,
be selfish, be spiteful. No instead she's peaceful, understanding, and loving.
I kind off don't feel good enough to be her companion but I know it's only b/c I
have so much to learn.
my new home!!
As I passed our mission president in the hall at one of our
meetings he whispered to me "Enjoy your companion"..I was
confused...and didn't make much of it as she just seem very quiet at
first...but i quickly learned what he meant she is sooooo humble!. I'm
very excited for this companionship. Only thing is she will be the second
companion I "Kill" or that goes home after our transfer together.(6
wks)
I'm so excited for this area, it'll be different to be in a WARD
not to mention somewhere where the missionary’s don’t run absolutely
everything. I'm so excited for Sunday and cannot wait for Sunday!!
I love you all and hope you’re doing well!!
Love Sister Colina!!
PS. SO SORRY FOR THE TYPOS...I HAD ZERO TIME FOR GRAMMAR CHECKS!
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