Letter #54 - Crazy Change Week 3.14.2016
Helloooo! Hope you all had a great week! This was crazy change week! Week One This week was the first week of changes! We said goodbye to the missionaries that ended this change and said hello to all those who just arrived! It is always a week full of a lot of different emotions! My companion and I did not have changes! Woohoo! This week is a little different than the others. We helped Sister Richardson with the dinners for those who left and those who just got here. There are only two new sister missionaries. One from Argentina and one from Peru! There were only 4 Elders that came. Thursdays we always train the new missionaries about health. I have learned that by the 3rd day of lectures the missionaries are dead tired. So, we have been playing a game with them to help keep what we are teaching a little more exciting! The missionaries love it and so do we! My companion and I have made a new goal to start running every morning. We set the alarm for 6, but some how it always gets turned off and we keep sleeping until we know we have to get up at 6:30am. Haha! Hopefully, we will be a little more successful week 2!
White Wash Our sector was changed this week. We were not expecting it, but we got a call from the Assistants a few days ago. We gave the Elders that are going to be working there a tour of where all of our investigators and less actives live. It was really sad for me (of course) since I have been in that sector for more than a year. I know that area inside and out. I know so many people that live there and have really come to love each one of them even those people who decided they didn't want to listen. Sunday we saw miracles. One of the families that we have been working with in our old sector came to church for all 3 hours for the first time in more than 2 years! Woohoo! I looked over at my companion and said "Wait, is that Jenny Gonzolez?" We couldn't see her face because of her hair. She was studying the scriptures in her lap. I kept staring (creepy, I know. I couldn't help myself). I think she could feel someone was looking at her because she finally looked over and had a huge smile on her face! I gave her a huge hug after church. I'm so proud of her determination and example! We are learning our new sector. It is a lot closer to the hospital which will be nice since we are there a lot. There are a lot of doorbells which are not a missionary's best friend, however, the Lord's hand is always in this work. Anything is possible with his help! We were able to find several people that listened to us and that we were able to make other appointments with this next week! We are praying a lot to find another family of 6 in our new sector and we know we will find them!
The Funniest Patient We had a nother appendicitis this last week. It was actually the old fill in nurse for the Quito mission. She leaves in 3 weeks. Talk about bad luck! haha. I think that she was the funniest patient that I have ever seen after surgery. She didn't remember anything that she said the next day...I have a video, but it is too big to send. Some of the things she said: "When I was leaving she shouted BYE JESSICA...I looked at her with my mouth open. Whaaaaaaaaat? Haha! Her: "They took out my appendix...you are psychic!!" Her: "I feel like I broke the Word of Wisdom...Don't tell President." Me: "I think President already knows." Her: "WHAT? Nooooo!!!" Me: "It is normal when you have surgery". Her: "Just don't tell him." Me: "He is going to come later today to see you" Her: "No, he can't! That is so embarassing. I am not modest right now!" Her: "Can we go home?" Me: "No". Her: "I won't tell anyone." Me: "Ok, let's go". Her: Trying to get out of bed..."Oh no. I can't. I am too lazy." Her: "Where is my belly button?" (there was tape over it) Me: "They took it out." Her: "They took my belly button too? How can they take my appendix and my belly botton?" I fount out later that she told President that they took out her belly button and wanted to show him and he was like "Noo, it's ok. Don't show me. I know you still have your belly button. I will tell Sister Pemberton that you still have it!" Her: "Can I have my appendix to put in my journal?" Her: "Have you seen mormon messages?" Nurse: " No I haven't." Her: "Well, you should because they are dope!" Her: "My mom is going to poop her pants when she finds out and she is going to cry." I was laughing so hard that I was crying! She wins funniest patient after surgery by far!
Growing Closer to God I am so grateful for every trial, difficulty, and weakness that I have in my life. I know that struggling with problems is at the very core of life's purpose. I know as we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser and stronger. I have learned in my mission that there are so many things that I need to be better in. I feel like all my weaknesses and faults have been been put under magnifying glass here in the mission, but I love it because it helps me to see what I need to work on. I have also learned that when we start to see more of our weaknesses, usually means that we are moving nearer to God, not further away which is what we usually think. I have also learned that we must give ALL that we have. That giving only ALMOST everything is not enought. If we almost keep the commandments, we almost receive the blessings. Who wants to almost receive the blessings. NOT ME! We must be willing to give everything, because God can't make us grow against our will and without our full participation! I challenge each of you to pray and find one weakness that you have this week and diligently work to make it a strength. I promise you if you do this, you have the help of the Lord to overcome whatever weakness that you have. If you have the faith you can change it, I promise you through the Atonement you will see it change right in front of your eyes! Ether 12:26 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Always remember the essential part that reading the scriptures and praying will play in making your weaknesses strengths! "If we want to talk to God, we pray. If we want God to talk to us, we read the scriptures". -Elder Holland Love you all with ALL of my heart! Have a wonderful week! Love Always, Sister Pemberton












