Hello again,
Ahhhh it was so good to be able to talk to you all on Christmas!! I loved hearing everyone's voices and being able to still feel part of the family even though I'm so far away. Although I can see now why they only let us call twice a year beause after we talked I was distracted thinking about you all for the rest of the morning.
Lots of things have changed in the last few days since we talked. My trainer and first companion left to go home on Sunday and I stayed with one of the sisters in the nearby city of David. Our companions got in from Panama City late last night and all the buses for Volcan were long gone so we had to stay in David last night. We stayed for the district meeting, we're using the internet now as a district and then we're headed back to Volcan finally. Oh yeah, and one of my good friends from the CCM, Hermana Bloomfield, is the companion of the sister I was staying with. It's awesome to see her again.
My new companion is named Hermana Garcia and she's from Nicaragua. She trained one of the sisters who came in with me. She is beautiful and elegant and I'm excited she's my companion. She seems very sweet and I think we're going to have fun. She goes home in June, and I'm grateful that I don't have to see another sister go home because it's hard to watch them go around saying bye to everyone for a week and making plans for what they're going to be doing after when I'm just starting and feel like that day is so far away. Everybody says time passes fast but last week was probably the longest week of my life, second to my first week in the MTC haha.
I'm stoked to start a new transfer and a new year with Hermana Garcia and to learn from her. Lots of times as a junior companion/newbie I feel like I don't have much to offer, but thanks for your advice dad. I will do all I can to make sure we learn and grow together.
When I got here I remember thinking that I should make a list of how I want to be as a trainer but I never did it so thanks for the reminder. Oh yeah, and you never sent me your "And my father dwelt in a tent" talk. I want to read it!! I think the mail's been backed up for quite a while but I'm assuming they'll bring it when they come for zone conferences in a couple weeks. I hope so at least...
Hmmm, what else to tell you....Mom and Dad, did you get the Christmas card I sent? I think I sent it out kinda late so I'm not sure when it'll arrive. Oh yeah, and did you come up with any insights about that scripture in Ecclesiastes?
Welp, I'm almost out of time but thanks for you emails and support. I'm so lucky to have such an awesome family. So many of the Latino missionaries come from crazy sad family situations, or they are the only member in their family. I'm so lucky to have a strong, unified family who love and support me and send me good letters that motivate me and and help me to be a better missionary. And I know I'm being blessed by your service as mission presidents :)
Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Mosiah 27:25-26 new creatures in Christ (the scripture I meant to send with the last email)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Happy Christmas!
Thanks for the news and the updates. I'm happy to hear you are all together celebrating Christmas. It's weird not to be there with everyone but I just keep reminding myself that there will be more Christmases to come :)
I was thinking about how we went to see the missionaries sing last year and remembering how I loved watching the people dance around in their reindeer-ish costumes. On Friday we had a district Christmas concert and I was lucky to hear some really great music. (Latinos don't have as much of a culture of choirs and musical learning so it was a nice surprise).
Monday for our Pday we got to leave our zone and go the big city of David to eat as a district and go shopping because in November we had 11 baptisms when our goal was 6. We are the smallest zone (we only have 5 companionships and all the others have 10 or more) but we are third in the number of baptisms each month. Woot. The Lord has definitely blessed us with success and opened the hearts of the people here in Chiriqui (the province/state our zone covers).
As far as Christmas goes, we're spending Christmas Eve with the Martinez family (the ones that have the daughters our age who we're friends with, one of whom is my long lost sister Charlyn :). It will be fun because they are starting to feel like family too :) They've also invited us for New Years to burn the doll of the Año Viejo. It's this scarecrow looking thing they make and stuff with an article each person adds from the year and then they fill the rest with fireworks. I think it's sort of like a Guy Fox Day but with New Years. There's also a parade on Christmas night so we're going to watch that (I'm not a big parade person but might as well see what Panama has to offer..I think it will be a ghetto version of Holidazzle).
They changed our Pday to Christmas Day so today we're only using the internet and then working after. I'm not exactly sure what else we're going to do on Christmas day because everything will be closed and everyone will be together with their families. Maybe we'll do something as a zone but I'm not sure.
The other day I was writing in my journal and I remembered another story Hermana Madrigal told me when I was waiting for my interview. She told about a type of bird that lives high in the mountains. When it gets old (like 20 years) it flies up to the top of the mountain and goes through a very painful process where it has to remove it's own beak by pounding it against the rocks. Some don't do it because it's so painful, and they die pretty soon after. But if they DO go through the process to remove it, and pull out all their feathers as well, new ones grow in and they can live another 20 years. On our missions (or other times in life) we are like the birds. It's painful sometimes, but it's a growth process and we need it. Deep down, I want this. I didn't have plans to serve a mission, I didn't really want to come, but my spirit needs to shed it's old skin and experience a rebirth. And right now I'm going through the process of pounding out the vices to purge my spirit and help it grow. I keep reminding myself of my old motto: "I can do big things."This is probably the biggest things I've ever done, and I can do it. Even though it's hard and hurts sometimes. BUT. I also need to have more faith that I can do this and be happy doing it. I need to let go of the little bits of my old self and my old life that I'm still holding onto. I need to give everything, all of me, my whole self to Christ. I need to turn myself inside out for Him and let Him in. Only then will I be able to live again. I need to lose my life in His work, and then I will find it.
Welp, those are my thoughts of late. My time is up but have a happy happy Christmas and I'll talk to you Friday!
Love, Natalie
Alma 31:35
I was thinking about how we went to see the missionaries sing last year and remembering how I loved watching the people dance around in their reindeer-ish costumes. On Friday we had a district Christmas concert and I was lucky to hear some really great music. (Latinos don't have as much of a culture of choirs and musical learning so it was a nice surprise).
Monday for our Pday we got to leave our zone and go the big city of David to eat as a district and go shopping because in November we had 11 baptisms when our goal was 6. We are the smallest zone (we only have 5 companionships and all the others have 10 or more) but we are third in the number of baptisms each month. Woot. The Lord has definitely blessed us with success and opened the hearts of the people here in Chiriqui (the province/state our zone covers).
As far as Christmas goes, we're spending Christmas Eve with the Martinez family (the ones that have the daughters our age who we're friends with, one of whom is my long lost sister Charlyn :). It will be fun because they are starting to feel like family too :) They've also invited us for New Years to burn the doll of the Año Viejo. It's this scarecrow looking thing they make and stuff with an article each person adds from the year and then they fill the rest with fireworks. I think it's sort of like a Guy Fox Day but with New Years. There's also a parade on Christmas night so we're going to watch that (I'm not a big parade person but might as well see what Panama has to offer..I think it will be a ghetto version of Holidazzle).
They changed our Pday to Christmas Day so today we're only using the internet and then working after. I'm not exactly sure what else we're going to do on Christmas day because everything will be closed and everyone will be together with their families. Maybe we'll do something as a zone but I'm not sure.
The other day I was writing in my journal and I remembered another story Hermana Madrigal told me when I was waiting for my interview. She told about a type of bird that lives high in the mountains. When it gets old (like 20 years) it flies up to the top of the mountain and goes through a very painful process where it has to remove it's own beak by pounding it against the rocks. Some don't do it because it's so painful, and they die pretty soon after. But if they DO go through the process to remove it, and pull out all their feathers as well, new ones grow in and they can live another 20 years. On our missions (or other times in life) we are like the birds. It's painful sometimes, but it's a growth process and we need it. Deep down, I want this. I didn't have plans to serve a mission, I didn't really want to come, but my spirit needs to shed it's old skin and experience a rebirth. And right now I'm going through the process of pounding out the vices to purge my spirit and help it grow. I keep reminding myself of my old motto: "I can do big things."This is probably the biggest things I've ever done, and I can do it. Even though it's hard and hurts sometimes. BUT. I also need to have more faith that I can do this and be happy doing it. I need to let go of the little bits of my old self and my old life that I'm still holding onto. I need to give everything, all of me, my whole self to Christ. I need to turn myself inside out for Him and let Him in. Only then will I be able to live again. I need to lose my life in His work, and then I will find it.
Welp, those are my thoughts of late. My time is up but have a happy happy Christmas and I'll talk to you Friday!
Love, Natalie
Alma 31:35
Monday, December 14, 2009
Today's forecast: 80 degrees, windy, with a 97% probability of hering salsa-techno on the bus
Hey family
!It's good to hear from you all. This week we had Christmas Zone conference and Christmas lunch/dinner with the missionaries in our part of the mission and the president. It was fun to be all together and exchange gifts (my district did secret santas). Plus it's always awesome to hear from President and Sister Madrigal. They are amazing. I love when SIster Madrigal speaks, because she gets all animated and firey. This time she started by asking us to raise our hands if we believe our calls came from the Lord, and if we believe we've been set apart and have authority to teach, and then she asked if we believe we can have 100 baptisms in a month as a mission (we've been having between 50-90) and some of the missionaries didn't raise their hands. She talked about fear and how it's a tool of Satan and then she got louder and pounded on the pulpit and pointed at us and said "If you don't believe you can have 100 or more baptisms in a month, arrepientense! (Repent!)" It was awesome.
She talked about a lot more but I don't have time to write it all. Pretty much it was amazing. Mom, you definitely have the power to change the lives of the missionaries and motivate them. I can't really imagine you pounding on the pulpit, but you have your ways too :)
One of the sisters who is going home bore her testimony in zone conference and talked about how much she loved the people here. I want to be like that. I love the ones I know, but it's not the same as that pure, Christ-like love where you can love complete strangers even while they're rejecting you. I'm still working on that.
Dad, your spirit/passport experience was awesome to read. It definitely motivates me to pray to be able to be sensative to spiritual promptings and to have the courage to act on them immediately. I am always inspired by your example.
These days we're still working with Juan Aruaz and his daughters to prepare them to get baptized. THey had a baptismal date for Dec 19 but yesterday he said he didn't feel ready and we moved it to the 26th. He is a single father and has been fighting for the custody of his daughters for over 2 years and finally has them. I think having them live with him is definitely helping to soften him and motivate him to live accoring to Christ's teachings to be able to give them the best.
Ok before I forget. Hermana Madgrial said if you said packages, send them with only "N Dance" for my name, not Hermana Dance or anything that lets them know it's for a missionary. Also, decorate it with pictures of the virgin mary and the pope because then they don't open it. They've learned that when things come for North American missionaries, they're nice or expensive. So if it's decorated with Catholic stuff they're either more afraid to open it because of God or they know it only has bibles, rosaries, etc.
Welp I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm stoked to talk to you soon! I think I'll probably call on Christmas morning, but I don't know the time difference. I think you all are 7 hours ahead. So I guess sometime in the night of Dec 25.
Love you!
Love,Hermana Dance
D & C 61:36
!It's good to hear from you all. This week we had Christmas Zone conference and Christmas lunch/dinner with the missionaries in our part of the mission and the president. It was fun to be all together and exchange gifts (my district did secret santas). Plus it's always awesome to hear from President and Sister Madrigal. They are amazing. I love when SIster Madrigal speaks, because she gets all animated and firey. This time she started by asking us to raise our hands if we believe our calls came from the Lord, and if we believe we've been set apart and have authority to teach, and then she asked if we believe we can have 100 baptisms in a month as a mission (we've been having between 50-90) and some of the missionaries didn't raise their hands. She talked about fear and how it's a tool of Satan and then she got louder and pounded on the pulpit and pointed at us and said "If you don't believe you can have 100 or more baptisms in a month, arrepientense! (Repent!)" It was awesome.
She talked about a lot more but I don't have time to write it all. Pretty much it was amazing. Mom, you definitely have the power to change the lives of the missionaries and motivate them. I can't really imagine you pounding on the pulpit, but you have your ways too :)
One of the sisters who is going home bore her testimony in zone conference and talked about how much she loved the people here. I want to be like that. I love the ones I know, but it's not the same as that pure, Christ-like love where you can love complete strangers even while they're rejecting you. I'm still working on that.
Dad, your spirit/passport experience was awesome to read. It definitely motivates me to pray to be able to be sensative to spiritual promptings and to have the courage to act on them immediately. I am always inspired by your example.
These days we're still working with Juan Aruaz and his daughters to prepare them to get baptized. THey had a baptismal date for Dec 19 but yesterday he said he didn't feel ready and we moved it to the 26th. He is a single father and has been fighting for the custody of his daughters for over 2 years and finally has them. I think having them live with him is definitely helping to soften him and motivate him to live accoring to Christ's teachings to be able to give them the best.
Ok before I forget. Hermana Madgrial said if you said packages, send them with only "N Dance" for my name, not Hermana Dance or anything that lets them know it's for a missionary. Also, decorate it with pictures of the virgin mary and the pope because then they don't open it. They've learned that when things come for North American missionaries, they're nice or expensive. So if it's decorated with Catholic stuff they're either more afraid to open it because of God or they know it only has bibles, rosaries, etc.
Welp I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm stoked to talk to you soon! I think I'll probably call on Christmas morning, but I don't know the time difference. I think you all are 7 hours ahead. So I guess sometime in the night of Dec 25.
Love you!
Love,Hermana Dance
D & C 61:36
Monday, December 7, 2009
Hello all!
So, I already forgot what I wrote about last week and what happened this week. Everything seems to blur together and then I get all anxious when I get here because of the time limit and I can't think of anything intersting, cool, or inspiring to tell you. Kerble snoff boffit.
Here we are in December. It's weird to think it's Christmas season when there's no snow or cold, but I don't really mind :) I like the warm.
Winter here is pretty much over so now it's sunny and windy windy windy all day. It's pretty perfect actually.
Sorry I probably won't be able to send you guys anything for Christmas. I wanted to try to make something but I don't think I'll have the time or the money to do it or send it. I think you all understand though.
So this week the district president, Presidente Espinosa, went out to teach the recent converts about the priesthood with us. He's really young (29 I think) and was already the bishop of Volcan for 4ish years until they called him to be the district president in August.
I learned a lot more about the priesthood and how awesome it is listening to him. BUT what I really wanted to tell you all about him is what he does when he reads the scriptures. He has his mission Book of Mormon that he uses when he teaches lessons at church or to other people, but when he reads at night, he uses a blank Book of Mormon. If he finds something he wants to take notes on or underline, he writes it in his used scriptures.
When we have things marked and notes written, when we go back and read, we tend to look at the scriptures the same way. But when we start again with a completely new book, it's a new experience and we learn a lot more.
I've definitely had this experience as I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish, because I've had to dig in deeper to understand the words, plus there weren't any notes from before. I've gained so many new insights.
Presidente Espinosa said that on his mission he would read and blank one, mark as he went, give it away when he finished, and start over. Now he doesn't do that because he doesn't have the money to keep buying new books. But his example inspired me and gave me an idea for a goal for our family.
We are six, and if we each made the goal to read a new Book of Mormon this year, marking as we go, we could give away six marked Books of Mormon with strong testimonies at the end of 3-6 months (depending on how fast we go).
I decided that's what I want for Christmas. I guess it'd be for Christmas next year, but think of how awesome that would be. And if all our extended family did it as well--man, the western U.S. would be rocked :)
I know we will receive blessings for sharing and also for looking at the scriptures with a new eye.
Ok I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm excited to talk to you soon.
Love,
Natalie
Will Liz and Jamison be in Latvia for Christmas too?
So, I already forgot what I wrote about last week and what happened this week. Everything seems to blur together and then I get all anxious when I get here because of the time limit and I can't think of anything intersting, cool, or inspiring to tell you. Kerble snoff boffit.
Here we are in December. It's weird to think it's Christmas season when there's no snow or cold, but I don't really mind :) I like the warm.
Winter here is pretty much over so now it's sunny and windy windy windy all day. It's pretty perfect actually.
Sorry I probably won't be able to send you guys anything for Christmas. I wanted to try to make something but I don't think I'll have the time or the money to do it or send it. I think you all understand though.
So this week the district president, Presidente Espinosa, went out to teach the recent converts about the priesthood with us. He's really young (29 I think) and was already the bishop of Volcan for 4ish years until they called him to be the district president in August.
I learned a lot more about the priesthood and how awesome it is listening to him. BUT what I really wanted to tell you all about him is what he does when he reads the scriptures. He has his mission Book of Mormon that he uses when he teaches lessons at church or to other people, but when he reads at night, he uses a blank Book of Mormon. If he finds something he wants to take notes on or underline, he writes it in his used scriptures.
When we have things marked and notes written, when we go back and read, we tend to look at the scriptures the same way. But when we start again with a completely new book, it's a new experience and we learn a lot more.
I've definitely had this experience as I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish, because I've had to dig in deeper to understand the words, plus there weren't any notes from before. I've gained so many new insights.
Presidente Espinosa said that on his mission he would read and blank one, mark as he went, give it away when he finished, and start over. Now he doesn't do that because he doesn't have the money to keep buying new books. But his example inspired me and gave me an idea for a goal for our family.
We are six, and if we each made the goal to read a new Book of Mormon this year, marking as we go, we could give away six marked Books of Mormon with strong testimonies at the end of 3-6 months (depending on how fast we go).
I decided that's what I want for Christmas. I guess it'd be for Christmas next year, but think of how awesome that would be. And if all our extended family did it as well--man, the western U.S. would be rocked :)
I know we will receive blessings for sharing and also for looking at the scriptures with a new eye.
Ok I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm excited to talk to you soon.
Love,
Natalie
Will Liz and Jamison be in Latvia for Christmas too?
Monday, November 30, 2009
a short update
Hi family!
I hope I got all the email addresses right. I don't really have any time left because I was trying to figure out some stuff with my camera and a jump drive for the English manuel that mom sent me, but I wanted to send you all a short update.
I accidently brought the wrong cord for my camera, so there are no pictures this week, sorry!
The Pinedo family was baptized on Thursday! After lots of stress and crazyness getting them married at 3:00, we rushed back to Volcan for their baptism with their younger son at 6:00 p.m. Satan definitely was working against us because so many things went wrong (we showed up 40 minutes late for their wedding time, the witnesses wanted to come seperately and came late, a few days before the baptism Martin and Mila (the couple) had a big fight and Martin said he didn't want to get married anymore, etc etc.) But with lots of work, prayers, and the help of the Lord, everything came together and worked out.
It was so great to see them all together in their white clothes, and the branch has been very supportive. We still have a lot of work to help them become strong members, but I know the Lord is pleased with them and their decisions.
Now we're trying to help prepare them and get them excited to go on the branch temple trip in January. They don't have money so I'm not sure if they're be able to go but I know if they show the desire, effort, and sacrifice, that the Lord will help them.
A couple of our other recent converts are planning to go as well for baptisms.
Ahhh ok I'm out of time, sorry this is so short.
I love you all and I'll write you a better letter next week, I promise!
Love, Hermana Dance
P.S. The church is true :)
I hope I got all the email addresses right. I don't really have any time left because I was trying to figure out some stuff with my camera and a jump drive for the English manuel that mom sent me, but I wanted to send you all a short update.
I accidently brought the wrong cord for my camera, so there are no pictures this week, sorry!
The Pinedo family was baptized on Thursday! After lots of stress and crazyness getting them married at 3:00, we rushed back to Volcan for their baptism with their younger son at 6:00 p.m. Satan definitely was working against us because so many things went wrong (we showed up 40 minutes late for their wedding time, the witnesses wanted to come seperately and came late, a few days before the baptism Martin and Mila (the couple) had a big fight and Martin said he didn't want to get married anymore, etc etc.) But with lots of work, prayers, and the help of the Lord, everything came together and worked out.
It was so great to see them all together in their white clothes, and the branch has been very supportive. We still have a lot of work to help them become strong members, but I know the Lord is pleased with them and their decisions.
Now we're trying to help prepare them and get them excited to go on the branch temple trip in January. They don't have money so I'm not sure if they're be able to go but I know if they show the desire, effort, and sacrifice, that the Lord will help them.
A couple of our other recent converts are planning to go as well for baptisms.
Ahhh ok I'm out of time, sorry this is so short.
I love you all and I'll write you a better letter next week, I promise!
Love, Hermana Dance
P.S. The church is true :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Herro family
Helllooooooooo!
Happy happy Thanksgiving week! Today I just realized that Thanksgiving is this Thursday (I think).
We're baptizing a family of three this Thursday right after their wedding, wahooo! We're planning to do something awesome for them to celebrate but we're not exactly sure what.
Later today we're going to help another couple get married because some elders from before promised to help them. They don't come to church and I don't think they're quite ready to leave the worldly lifestlye/parties but we'll see.... If not, it's already easier for the missionaries who come after us because they're already married.
Welp, what else is new around these parts...my camera lives!! Wahoo!! Charlyn took it home and worked some gypsy magic and now it works :) Ok well I think she really just set it in her room to dry because her room is hot but either way, it's working now. I'll send you some pictures next time even though I'm ashamed because I'm getting chubby cheeks...and chubby other parts as well. Eeek!
I'm glad to hear that James is doing well. I've written him a couple times and heard back from him once and it sounds like he's doing well. How are Zach and Nicky doing with the new baby? And Randy and Coleman? This week I had a bunch of random dreams about pretty much all my cousins in some way or another so they're all in my thoughts and prayers :)
Things are going well here. We had our first English class on Saturday and I think it went pretty well. Only a few members came but I think it will grow and we're going to pass out flyers to investigators and contacts.
The rainy season/winter is pretty much over now so I finally get to see the sun! It makes me happy and it's awesome to be able to see the mountains. I live in a beautiful place! Plus now we're planning a trip up the volcano for a Pday in December with some members and investigators. I'm excited :)
The branch in Volcan is growing. Thanks for your comments on retention mom, I will keep them in mind because retaining members has been a problem here as well.
I love the gospel and I love the Lord. I know the Lord is mindful of His children, that He loves every one of us and answers our prayers. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to change lives because it teaches us the principles that Christ taught. I love you all and I'm praying for you!
Love, Hermana Dance
Alma 9:6 Why doesn't God send more authority than 2 young people to declare His word? People ask us this sometimes. 1 Corinth 1:26-27 If He sent some huge powerful person, it wouldn't really require much faithAlso Alma 9:8-10 He keeps saying that we need to remember-remembering is so important, that's why we have scriptures, church, etc. It reminded me of the talk you gave in the first zone conference in the Baltics mom about Helaman 5:12
Happy happy Thanksgiving week! Today I just realized that Thanksgiving is this Thursday (I think).
We're baptizing a family of three this Thursday right after their wedding, wahooo! We're planning to do something awesome for them to celebrate but we're not exactly sure what.
Later today we're going to help another couple get married because some elders from before promised to help them. They don't come to church and I don't think they're quite ready to leave the worldly lifestlye/parties but we'll see.... If not, it's already easier for the missionaries who come after us because they're already married.
Welp, what else is new around these parts...my camera lives!! Wahoo!! Charlyn took it home and worked some gypsy magic and now it works :) Ok well I think she really just set it in her room to dry because her room is hot but either way, it's working now. I'll send you some pictures next time even though I'm ashamed because I'm getting chubby cheeks...and chubby other parts as well. Eeek!
I'm glad to hear that James is doing well. I've written him a couple times and heard back from him once and it sounds like he's doing well. How are Zach and Nicky doing with the new baby? And Randy and Coleman? This week I had a bunch of random dreams about pretty much all my cousins in some way or another so they're all in my thoughts and prayers :)
Things are going well here. We had our first English class on Saturday and I think it went pretty well. Only a few members came but I think it will grow and we're going to pass out flyers to investigators and contacts.
The rainy season/winter is pretty much over now so I finally get to see the sun! It makes me happy and it's awesome to be able to see the mountains. I live in a beautiful place! Plus now we're planning a trip up the volcano for a Pday in December with some members and investigators. I'm excited :)
The branch in Volcan is growing. Thanks for your comments on retention mom, I will keep them in mind because retaining members has been a problem here as well.
I love the gospel and I love the Lord. I know the Lord is mindful of His children, that He loves every one of us and answers our prayers. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to change lives because it teaches us the principles that Christ taught. I love you all and I'm praying for you!
Love, Hermana Dance
Alma 9:6 Why doesn't God send more authority than 2 young people to declare His word? People ask us this sometimes. 1 Corinth 1:26-27 If He sent some huge powerful person, it wouldn't really require much faithAlso Alma 9:8-10 He keeps saying that we need to remember-remembering is so important, that's why we have scriptures, church, etc. It reminded me of the talk you gave in the first zone conference in the Baltics mom about Helaman 5:12
Monday, November 16, 2009
Placentero nos es trabajar
Hola familia!!
Thank you for the flood of emails this week! I like seeing mom and dad write together in the same email-it creates a happy picture in my mind of you two at the computer together :) Plus then I get to guess who wrote which part. Sounds like things are going well with you all. How are the new missionaries? Have the ones I met in the MTC arrived yet? I told them to tell you hi...
Today was transfer day but luckily I'm still in Volcan with Hermana Rodriguez. She FINISHES her mission the next transfer (Dec 28). So for sure I'll be here until at least February because I'm the one who will know the area and the investigators when she leaves. I'm stoked because it's beautiful here and not as hot and I love the members.
The Martinez family has daughters around my age (Charlyn is 22 and Dayana is 19) and today they took us to a nearby river to hike and play and then we ate lunch at their grandma's house. It was beautiful and we had fun but I don't know if you'll get to see the pictures because my camera fell out of my pocket into the canal...Charlyn rescued it for me but it had been submerged for over a minute so it might be dead. I'll see what kind of operations can be done.
Don't worry, things are definitely safe around here. I feel completely confident that we aren't in danger-they just wanted us to take precautions. And don't worry, I'm not getting infected by rabid puppies, haha. I wash my hands lots :)
Thursday we had the baptism of Felipe Castillo. I made paper cranes in different colors and hung them from the ceiling. Each crane had a question and reference from 3 Nefi 11 and while Felipe was changing we divided the members and investigators into groups to work on the questions together. It turned out really well. Felipe cooked for his own baptism, which I felt kind of bad about but he wanted to do it. He's awesome and is going to be a strong leader.
I've definitely been seeing the Lord's hand in my life. I feel more comfortable here and my Spanish is coming along. I would say I talk around 1/3 of the time in the lessons. I'm working my way up to half :)
I feel happy and I'm trying to find creative ways to serve and to help people here and create something awesome because that's when I'm happiest. Like last week I made a worksheet with questions and references for Candida, our recent convert because we don't think she's reading the scriptures. We also met with a Peace Corp volunteer last week who taught us how to give English classes so Saturday we're starting classes at the church. I'm excited to make lesson plans and games for them :)Plus I'm becoming better friends with the people here. Charlyn and Dayana go out teaching with us sometimes and I feel like they're really good friends.
The Pinedos, the family we're trying to help get married, are awesome too. They're a lot of fun and they like to learn. We're planning their baptism for the 26th of November (the day of their wedding).Other than that we're just looking for nuevos and teaching other investigators. Eek I'm out of time but I love you all! Sorry I didn't share an awesome scripture or experience but I'll write a real letter tonight! The church is true!
Love,Hermana Dance
P.S. Sarah Jayne! Letters are headed your way late because the post office was closed a lot for the holidays. But know that I love you and love hearing from you! Make your mark cuz you're a Clark!
Thank you for the flood of emails this week! I like seeing mom and dad write together in the same email-it creates a happy picture in my mind of you two at the computer together :) Plus then I get to guess who wrote which part. Sounds like things are going well with you all. How are the new missionaries? Have the ones I met in the MTC arrived yet? I told them to tell you hi...
Today was transfer day but luckily I'm still in Volcan with Hermana Rodriguez. She FINISHES her mission the next transfer (Dec 28). So for sure I'll be here until at least February because I'm the one who will know the area and the investigators when she leaves. I'm stoked because it's beautiful here and not as hot and I love the members.
The Martinez family has daughters around my age (Charlyn is 22 and Dayana is 19) and today they took us to a nearby river to hike and play and then we ate lunch at their grandma's house. It was beautiful and we had fun but I don't know if you'll get to see the pictures because my camera fell out of my pocket into the canal...Charlyn rescued it for me but it had been submerged for over a minute so it might be dead. I'll see what kind of operations can be done.
Don't worry, things are definitely safe around here. I feel completely confident that we aren't in danger-they just wanted us to take precautions. And don't worry, I'm not getting infected by rabid puppies, haha. I wash my hands lots :)
Thursday we had the baptism of Felipe Castillo. I made paper cranes in different colors and hung them from the ceiling. Each crane had a question and reference from 3 Nefi 11 and while Felipe was changing we divided the members and investigators into groups to work on the questions together. It turned out really well. Felipe cooked for his own baptism, which I felt kind of bad about but he wanted to do it. He's awesome and is going to be a strong leader.
I've definitely been seeing the Lord's hand in my life. I feel more comfortable here and my Spanish is coming along. I would say I talk around 1/3 of the time in the lessons. I'm working my way up to half :)
I feel happy and I'm trying to find creative ways to serve and to help people here and create something awesome because that's when I'm happiest. Like last week I made a worksheet with questions and references for Candida, our recent convert because we don't think she's reading the scriptures. We also met with a Peace Corp volunteer last week who taught us how to give English classes so Saturday we're starting classes at the church. I'm excited to make lesson plans and games for them :)Plus I'm becoming better friends with the people here. Charlyn and Dayana go out teaching with us sometimes and I feel like they're really good friends.
The Pinedos, the family we're trying to help get married, are awesome too. They're a lot of fun and they like to learn. We're planning their baptism for the 26th of November (the day of their wedding).Other than that we're just looking for nuevos and teaching other investigators. Eek I'm out of time but I love you all! Sorry I didn't share an awesome scripture or experience but I'll write a real letter tonight! The church is true!
Love,Hermana Dance
P.S. Sarah Jayne! Letters are headed your way late because the post office was closed a lot for the holidays. But know that I love you and love hearing from you! Make your mark cuz you're a Clark!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Holidays, interviews, and the latest happenings in Volcan, Panama
Ahh I never feel like I have enough time! This week was filled with Independence Day, Day of the Flag (Not really sure what that is), and interviews with the president. We didn't see much of the festivities but I don't mind because I'm not a big fan of parades anyways.
My first "real" interview with the president was awesome. It's weird because since I've seen the "behind the scenes" of a mission president's life and you two are serving I sort of felt like I was talking to dad when we had interviews. President Madrigal asked about the work in Volcan, who we're teaching, how my companion is, etc. and then he taught me from the scriptures. I know he is called and led by God. I know that even though I don't know how to express myself very well in Spanish, he understood and was able to respond in a way that helped me the most. The things he said to me were very specific to my needs and helped me a lot.
Felipe passed the interview and his baptismal date is set for this Thursday. We're really excited for him and so is he. Aside from the we've been working hard to find new people to teach this week. President Madrigal promised my companion that if we worked around the chapel we'd find a family to baptize, so that's what we're doing.
Today the elders are in Volcan to help us clear the yard of bushes and branches as a precaution because it's really dark where our house is. This week we've definitely seen the Lord's hand in our lives helping protect us. It's never been anything dramatic, just kind neighbors watching out for us and men who are members or who we know walking or riding past our house at exactly the time we arrive at night so they can make sure we get in safely. I know we're being protected and watched out for :)
Eek where did the time go!?? I guess I'll finish by talking about what I read in Mosiah 24:12-16 this week. When the righteous people of Alma were in bondage, they called upon God for help. He lightened their burdens so they didn't feel them (he didn't remove them). They were patient, faithful, and cheerfull in their afflictions. THEN, after God saw how patient and faithful they were, he delivered them the next day. Just another demonstration of how miracles FOLLOW faith.
Welp, sorry I can't share more but I love you guys!
Hermana Dance
Acts 27:10-11, 20-25 follow the prophets and we'll be safe!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Happy Dia de los Muerto
I don't have much time again because the internet was being crazy and not working. I'm glad you got the pictures. Elder Bustillo, and awesome elder from Honduras who was in the CCM with me and is in my district now taught me how to change my camera so the size of the pictures is smaller and I will be able to send probably six or seven in one email next time.
Thanks for the emails and letter. Dad I just got another talk from you from DearElder but I haven't read it yet because the elders gave it to me right before we came in to check our emails. I'm sure it's awesome.
So yeah, I guess you'll usually be hearing from me on Monday now and sometimes Tuesdays. Mom, thanks for sending me a real letter :) I just got some letters from people who wrote me around October 7th or 8th so I think the mail is pretty slow...I mailed you something last week but I sent it to the office address-Cesu iela or something like that. Let me know when you get it so I know how much time I have to leave in the future :)
It sounds like your Sisters Conference went well. I'm sure they loved it and thought it was fun. And that's good you're getting more bold-I'm sure they won't be offended, they pretty much worship you and dad :) That's how we feel about our president and his wife so I'm sure it's the same for you two. They're very sweet to us. After Zone Conference Sister Madrigal gave Hermana Rodriguez and I this homemade raisin bread and it made me think of you Mom just because I know you're always doing sweet things for the missionaries too.
Things are going well here. We've had two baptisms since I've arrived and we have another scheduled for Friday the 13th of this month. Hopefully nothing spooky happens :) Felipe, the one getting baptized, is awesome. He came to church yesterday and took notes in our lesson and in priesthood. He is reading the Book of Mormon, he has good questions and he's progressing fast. He's already planning on going with the branch on their temple trip in January to do baptisms.
We're also teaching the Pinedos, this awesome farming family. We're working to get them married on Nov 26th so they can get baptized after. Their 20 year old son, Martin Alexander wants to get baptized also. They're just a really sweet family and we love being around them. Mila, the mom, marks their copy of the Book of Mormon when we come over to teach them :)
Spanish is slowly improving and I can understand more. I still feel like I can't express myself much but I will learn. This week I've been reading Acts in the Bible. I'm realizing how much more I should've studied the scriptures before I left. I know the Book of Mormon, but I've never even read all of the Bible before. I'm learning so many awesome things from reading Acts. It's easy to see that every time the church has been established, it has face great oposition. In the times of Joseph Smith, but also during the times after Christ came. The apostles suffered a lot of persecution.
I've been thinking about what you and Dad told me about how faith helps us be led to and recognize people who are prepared to be baptized. I found a lot of examples of this in Acts. Acts 14:27 says that God "opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" and I'm praying that he'll do the same for the people in Panama and also for the people in the Baltics.
I know this is Christ's church and that it is the only church that has the authority to do the ordinances that bring us salvation. I know God lives, and that he loves us. And I know with Christ we can do anything. Love you all!
Love, Hermana Dance
Acts 18:9-11
Monday, October 26, 2009
My first attempt at sending pictures!
1. Me with my trainer, Hermana Rodriguez, when we got assigned.
2. My district family from the CCM! I'm pretty much obsessed with them. Hermana King, the little one under me has a better version of this picture but I'll have to wait until after the mission to get it. They're all amazing! Hermana Okura is the Hawaiian one, Elder Montoya is above her. Hermana Bloomfield is the blonde, Hermana Weatherhead is the one making a funny face and my companion, Hermana Caldwell is behind us in the teal shirt. Elder Adlard (he's from Kamas!) is the blonde next to Hermana King and Elder Dodge (he was working at Sammy's when we celebrated my mission call) is on the end with the blue tie. The bottom row (from the left) is Elder Hutchings, Elder Goodman, and Elder Davis. They're the best!
3. Hermana Okura, Hermana Caldwell, me, Hermana Brewer, and Hermana King in the MTC. Hermana Brewer was my companion in the MTC and I love her!! Hermana Caldwell was in a trio with us for part of the time. I promise they're all really cute, we just like making silly faces.
Ok that's all for now. Test run complete. Love you all!
Hermana Dance
2. My district family from the CCM! I'm pretty much obsessed with them. Hermana King, the little one under me has a better version of this picture but I'll have to wait until after the mission to get it. They're all amazing! Hermana Okura is the Hawaiian one, Elder Montoya is above her. Hermana Bloomfield is the blonde, Hermana Weatherhead is the one making a funny face and my companion, Hermana Caldwell is behind us in the teal shirt. Elder Adlard (he's from Kamas!) is the blonde next to Hermana King and Elder Dodge (he was working at Sammy's when we celebrated my mission call) is on the end with the blue tie. The bottom row (from the left) is Elder Hutchings, Elder Goodman, and Elder Davis. They're the best!
3. Hermana Okura, Hermana Caldwell, me, Hermana Brewer, and Hermana King in the MTC. Hermana Brewer was my companion in the MTC and I love her!! Hermana Caldwell was in a trio with us for part of the time. I promise they're all really cute, we just like making silly faces.
Ok that's all for now. Test run complete. Love you all!
Hermana Dance
Hello from Volcan! A day of sunshine :)
I don't have much time because this internet is super slow and I've been trying to attach pictures. We'll see how it ends up. I want to send them all to you but I discovered that if I try to attach more than three they all get deleted and it starts over. Wahmp wahhh. Three will have to do for now.
Thanks for your awesome emails mom and dad. I always learn from you and feel uplifted after hearing from you :) I wrote down the scriptures and I plan to look them up today and study more about faith, agency, and baptisms.
Thats awesome you got to set apart a couple from Latvia to be senior missionaries! How is the rest of the mission going?
Candida got baptized Saturday! It was a crazy day and we were running around all day doing errands and getting things ready but it finally came together. She looked so beautiful in her white clothes! And the Spirit was strong when they performed the ordinance. Lots of members came to support her but we need to work on teaching them to come in Sunday clothes...most of them (even the speakers) were in jeans and sports clothes. She said she felt good and was glad she got baptized. We still need to teach her a lot and help her get used to the culture of the church but I think she will do well :)
Things are going well. We have lots of people to teach and they're progressing but we still need to work harder to get them to come to church. Random stories from this week:
Saturday we ended up at a birthday party for a little girl who we didn't even know. We met her mom once and she invited us to the party and when we came with the Zone leaders (they were in our area waiting to interview someone) they were all excited and gave us all tons of food. People are so friendly and hospitable here-that would never happen in the U.S., haha. People are always giving us food and if we contact them at the tiendas they buy us snacks and juice half the time. It's different but a very good quality they have.
Ahh ok I'm out of time sorry this is so short but I love you all and I know the church is true. This is a great work!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Monday, October 19, 2009
Oops
So one of the downers of not speaking very much Spanish is that I never know what's going on. I thought we were leaving to go to the grocery store but then we ended up coming to use the internet so I don't have my camera to send you all pictures. Sorry, next week for sure!
Today has been good. Last Pday was crazy because we just rode on buses all day to meet up with our zone/district so we didn't get much time for anything else but today we got to clean our house really well and study longer, etc. It was more relaxing and one room at a time I'm slowly tackling the bugs and dust and ickies of the house. Elders used to live here up until 4 transfers ago and they didn't do a very good job of taking care of it and the sisters before us didn't try too hard to repair any of the damage so it's slowly coming together. Last week I cleaned out the whole fridge and almost all the cupboards and found lots of spiders, bug nests and cockroaches-eek. Mom remember when we helped you clean everything in the mission apartment when you moved in? It's like that but ten times worse. But it's getting better and I'm getting used to living with bugs :)
Mission life is an adjustment. (I'm not sure if I spelled that right. It's funny how my Spanish isn't really getting any better but my English is slowly getting worse...haha) So much can happen in one week that I don't even know where to start. Thank you for your support and prayers. I've definitely felt them this week as I've been trying to get used to this lifestyle, stop thinking about home/myself, learn Spanish and become a missionary. Sometimes when I've felt blobby and Debbie-Downer I've said a prayer and then we teach a really spiritual lesson and I catch a glimpse of how lucky I am to be here. It's a roller coaster but a blessing.
This month we're studying faith as a mission and I've been trying to better understand the relationship between us having faith that with the Lord's help we can find and baptize people and the personal agency of those individual people. We can have tons of faith but faith doesn't override a person's agency, so how does our faith that we can make a difference in this work create baptisms? I don't know if that made sense, I hope it did. If you all have any insight I would appreciate it.
We have a baptism on Saturday for Candida, a 16 year old girl from a humble indigenous family. She's very quiet but she's starting to open up to us and we can see that she's growing. Her parents can't get baptized because her dad has two senoras and they all live together in the same house. He would have to boot out half of his family if they were to get baptized. But I think her younger siblings will get baptized and we're working hard to get them involved and help them become truly converted.
The people here are really friendly and it's easy to contact people and get into houses but it's hard to get people to act by coming to church, reading the Book of Mormon, etc. We have a lot of work to do!
Oh, before I forget. I guess the postal service or the government or some sort of Big Brother figure doesn't allow any food to be shipped into the country. If anyone sends it, they take all the edible stuffs out of your package and leave a little note saying it's been removed. So if you were thinking about sending candy or any kind of food, please don't waste your money. I guess I won't be eating much American candy for a while... But it's ok because I've already gotten attached to these bland yet strangely addicting fried banana chip things. And they're only $.30, wahoo!
Welp, I'm out of time but I love you guys and I know this church is true! I'm praying for you all :)
Love,
Hermana Dance
Hebrews 11-the first 2 or 3 where it talks about faithfully running the race which is set before you and about how in the moment we don't take joy in our afflictions but later we're grateful for them. Sorry, I don't have my scriptures. Love you!
Today has been good. Last Pday was crazy because we just rode on buses all day to meet up with our zone/district so we didn't get much time for anything else but today we got to clean our house really well and study longer, etc. It was more relaxing and one room at a time I'm slowly tackling the bugs and dust and ickies of the house. Elders used to live here up until 4 transfers ago and they didn't do a very good job of taking care of it and the sisters before us didn't try too hard to repair any of the damage so it's slowly coming together. Last week I cleaned out the whole fridge and almost all the cupboards and found lots of spiders, bug nests and cockroaches-eek. Mom remember when we helped you clean everything in the mission apartment when you moved in? It's like that but ten times worse. But it's getting better and I'm getting used to living with bugs :)
Mission life is an adjustment. (I'm not sure if I spelled that right. It's funny how my Spanish isn't really getting any better but my English is slowly getting worse...haha) So much can happen in one week that I don't even know where to start. Thank you for your support and prayers. I've definitely felt them this week as I've been trying to get used to this lifestyle, stop thinking about home/myself, learn Spanish and become a missionary. Sometimes when I've felt blobby and Debbie-Downer I've said a prayer and then we teach a really spiritual lesson and I catch a glimpse of how lucky I am to be here. It's a roller coaster but a blessing.
This month we're studying faith as a mission and I've been trying to better understand the relationship between us having faith that with the Lord's help we can find and baptize people and the personal agency of those individual people. We can have tons of faith but faith doesn't override a person's agency, so how does our faith that we can make a difference in this work create baptisms? I don't know if that made sense, I hope it did. If you all have any insight I would appreciate it.
We have a baptism on Saturday for Candida, a 16 year old girl from a humble indigenous family. She's very quiet but she's starting to open up to us and we can see that she's growing. Her parents can't get baptized because her dad has two senoras and they all live together in the same house. He would have to boot out half of his family if they were to get baptized. But I think her younger siblings will get baptized and we're working hard to get them involved and help them become truly converted.
The people here are really friendly and it's easy to contact people and get into houses but it's hard to get people to act by coming to church, reading the Book of Mormon, etc. We have a lot of work to do!
Oh, before I forget. I guess the postal service or the government or some sort of Big Brother figure doesn't allow any food to be shipped into the country. If anyone sends it, they take all the edible stuffs out of your package and leave a little note saying it's been removed. So if you were thinking about sending candy or any kind of food, please don't waste your money. I guess I won't be eating much American candy for a while... But it's ok because I've already gotten attached to these bland yet strangely addicting fried banana chip things. And they're only $.30, wahoo!
Welp, I'm out of time but I love you guys and I know this church is true! I'm praying for you all :)
Love,
Hermana Dance
Hebrews 11-the first 2 or 3 where it talks about faithfully running the race which is set before you and about how in the moment we don't take joy in our afflictions but later we're grateful for them. Sorry, I don't have my scriptures. Love you!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Yaaayyyy Panama
It's been a while but I can finally write you all an email. The schedule's been a little weird this week because of different meetings we've had and our zone leaders had so I get to write you all today but I think normally you'll hear from me on Tuesdays. Monday is our Pday but we have to use the internet as a district/zone on Tuesdays when we have district meeting to keep each other in line and make sure we only use 30 minutes. I thought we'd get an hour out here but I guess the mission rule is 30 minutes. Ah well, such is life.
Next week when I don't have so much to catch up on I'll attempt to send some pictures. This time using the internet passes so fast though! Thanks everyone for your letters and emails-it's great to hear from you!
My first area is called Volcan and it's in the mountains an hour or two from the Costa Rican border. God is kind to me and it's a huge blessing for me to be here in Volcan because it's in the mountains so it's not boiling hot like everywhere else in Panama. I've been wearing jackets every other day because it rains all day and we were actually pretty cold by the time we got home. But I feel very lucky to be here.
There's a member family from America living here and they gave me the URL to a website where they keep a bunch of photos of the area and the missionaries so you all can see what it's like: www.flickr.com/photos/young-in-panama
I hope it works because it's beautiful here and it'd be nice if you could see what it's like. We had lots of orientations and meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then once I got put with my trainer on Wednesday we had a 10 hour bus trip to get to Volcan from the city. We stayed overnight with some sisters in David, and then continued the next morning. Overall it was a long first couple of days but I'm glad to be settling in.
My trainer is from Honduras and her name is Hna Rodriguez. I'm learning a lot from her about the doctrine, how to be a good teacher, etc. She goes home in September so we think I'm probably going to "kill" her or in other words, be her last companion. She's nice but I feel kind of lonely sometimes because I've discovered that I only speak church Spanish and not regular life Spanish so it's kind of hard for us to get to know each other. Plus everyone else around has different accents, and it's usually hard to hear them over the rain and they talk super fast so most of the time I only have a very broad idea of what's going on and I don't feel very useful. I want to be a tool in the Lord's hands but I feel very ineffective a lot of the time. But I'm studying and learning more Spanish every day and with time and faith I know it will get better.
The members and nice but there are only one or two really strong families. The branch attendance is usually around 30-50 so we definitely have work to do. We have lots of investigators and people to teach, and lots of walking from appointment to appointment. The people are very friendly on the streets and life is much slower here than in the city or the U.S.
I feel like a lost puppy because I just follow my companion around and do what she does and I don't know where anything is or how to do anything still. But she is patient and I am learning. I'm still trying to understand the importance of this work and to come to feel like the sons of Mosiah did where they couldn't bear the thought of any soul perishing.
I've been studying faith more because I know I need to increase my faith-faith that I can learn, faith that people will be receptive and that some have been prepared, faith that they'll progress and be baptized and that I can help them do that. I know that I have faith, but it definitely needs to be strengthened. I've been studying it a little bit in the scriptures and I keep reading dad's zone conference talk about faith-it's great.
Today I read Jarom and Omni because I'm slowly reading through the whole Book of Mormon in Spanish. This time I was struck by how around 200 years of history was covered by 6 or 7 people in only 4 pages. A lot of the writers in these two books just said something like "I'm writing to obey the commandments of my father, but I don't have anything else to add. All the prophecies are already written." It seems to me like they didn't do their best. Yes, they were obedient to the commandments and that's awesome, but they didn't do all they could have to write in the record. It's like me and my mission. Yes, I obeyed and came on a mission when I felt like the Lord asked me to. But merely obeying isn't enough. I have to obey and give my very best, my whole heart, might, mind and strength and give my soul as an offering to the Lord (end of Omni somewhere....verse 26 maybe? I don't have my scriptures out sorry). So I'm going to try to do that every day, even when it's raining all day and it's hard and everyone thinks we're crazy and our investigators don't come to church. Welp, these are my thoughts and now I'm out of time. I'll try sending pictures next time :) Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Omni 1:26-yup, I found it.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A letter to my Church News famous parents and famous-by-association family
Today is an awesome day. I got letters from my roommate, Paul and all his roommates, my MTC companion Hermana Brewer, Dad's talk on faith, and emails from each of you. Thanks so much for your love and support. I have the best family ever!
First off, it sounds like the missionary work in the Baltic States is going really well. What did Elder Perry challenge you to do again? 150 baptisms? That's awesome and it sounds like you're off to a great start.
Oh yeah, my schedule. Since there are only four showers in the bathroom some of us get up and get ready and other get up and have personal study first. So we have to be in class by 6:15 but we can go in our gym clothes and then we have time after to get ready. It hasn't been too hard to get up-I think I've been blessed to be more of a morning person than most people
So I did a PRP last week but then I when I was reading in the white handbook I saw that it tells us not to get up early to be alone so I decided that I could to the same activity during personal study in the morning. I felt like the Lord accepted my sacrifice and that it is enough for me to focus on pondering and receiving personal revelation during the normal study time.
I've been thinking a lot about the atonement and the Savior this week. We did an activity to assess our development of Christ-like attributes on Wednesday and one of the things both my companion and I realized we needed to work on was remembering Christ more throughout the day. It seems a little ironic because we're here doing his work but sometimes we get so caught up in working and studying and the schedule of the day that we don't stop to think of him. So we made goals to do things like memorize hymns and scriptures about Christ and the Atonement and to put a mini picture of him on our planners. Right after we made those goals, we both felt so happy. Our day and our lessons went so much better, and I know it was because we were making an effort to focus more on Christ.
A few days ago I was reading in 2 Nephi 27 and I came across verse 27 where it talks about how the unrighteous people will say the works of the Lord are "esteemed as potter's clay." I didn't really understand it so I went the footnote and read in Jeremiah 18:1-6 where it talks about how the House of Israel is clay in the maker's hand because he can destroy and rebuild a "marred vessel" just as easily as he can destroy and rebuild a wicked nation.
That was interesting, but then I really started thinking about the imagery behind Christ being at the potter's wheel. To make a pot he has to get his hands dirty, and his hands always have to be in the clay guiding it on the wheel or it will collapse on the wheel. When the pot is done, his fingerprints are all over it. The pot is like us and our lives. His fingerprints are in our lives just as the marks of our lives are on his hands forever.
Then it made me think of the scripture in 1 Nephi 20:14-16/Isaiah somewhere that mom shared during that first meeting with the missionaries in Latvia. Christ says "I have graven thee on the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me." Everything that stands as a wall or obstacle in front of us is continually on his hands before his face--he never forgets us or leaves us alone.
I know that's true. I love the Christ and his Atonement so much. All that is painful and unjust in this world can be overcome and healed and made right through the atonement. It covers EVERYTHING. I know that with all my heart, and I am so grateful for it.
Today is my last Pday for a while because next Tuesday I'll be on a plane for Panama, but I'll write to you all again as soon as I can. Thanks for your love and support. Miss you and love you all!!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Isaiah 54:10
First off, it sounds like the missionary work in the Baltic States is going really well. What did Elder Perry challenge you to do again? 150 baptisms? That's awesome and it sounds like you're off to a great start.
Oh yeah, my schedule. Since there are only four showers in the bathroom some of us get up and get ready and other get up and have personal study first. So we have to be in class by 6:15 but we can go in our gym clothes and then we have time after to get ready. It hasn't been too hard to get up-I think I've been blessed to be more of a morning person than most people
So I did a PRP last week but then I when I was reading in the white handbook I saw that it tells us not to get up early to be alone so I decided that I could to the same activity during personal study in the morning. I felt like the Lord accepted my sacrifice and that it is enough for me to focus on pondering and receiving personal revelation during the normal study time.
I've been thinking a lot about the atonement and the Savior this week. We did an activity to assess our development of Christ-like attributes on Wednesday and one of the things both my companion and I realized we needed to work on was remembering Christ more throughout the day. It seems a little ironic because we're here doing his work but sometimes we get so caught up in working and studying and the schedule of the day that we don't stop to think of him. So we made goals to do things like memorize hymns and scriptures about Christ and the Atonement and to put a mini picture of him on our planners. Right after we made those goals, we both felt so happy. Our day and our lessons went so much better, and I know it was because we were making an effort to focus more on Christ.
A few days ago I was reading in 2 Nephi 27 and I came across verse 27 where it talks about how the unrighteous people will say the works of the Lord are "esteemed as potter's clay." I didn't really understand it so I went the footnote and read in Jeremiah 18:1-6 where it talks about how the House of Israel is clay in the maker's hand because he can destroy and rebuild a "marred vessel" just as easily as he can destroy and rebuild a wicked nation.
That was interesting, but then I really started thinking about the imagery behind Christ being at the potter's wheel. To make a pot he has to get his hands dirty, and his hands always have to be in the clay guiding it on the wheel or it will collapse on the wheel. When the pot is done, his fingerprints are all over it. The pot is like us and our lives. His fingerprints are in our lives just as the marks of our lives are on his hands forever.
Then it made me think of the scripture in 1 Nephi 20:14-16/Isaiah somewhere that mom shared during that first meeting with the missionaries in Latvia. Christ says "I have graven thee on the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me." Everything that stands as a wall or obstacle in front of us is continually on his hands before his face--he never forgets us or leaves us alone.
I know that's true. I love the Christ and his Atonement so much. All that is painful and unjust in this world can be overcome and healed and made right through the atonement. It covers EVERYTHING. I know that with all my heart, and I am so grateful for it.
Today is my last Pday for a while because next Tuesday I'll be on a plane for Panama, but I'll write to you all again as soon as I can. Thanks for your love and support. Miss you and love you all!!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Isaiah 54:10
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Life is good
Pues, another week has passed in the CCM. Thanks for the emails and letters and especially for the missionary advice mom and dad. Haha I'll try my hardest not to be a frumpy missionary mom. Dad it sounds like you had a really cool experience with the scriptures on Sunday. It's funny you said the verse you were thinking of was 1 Nephi 2:15 because in one of our meetings with the president this week someone asked a question about that verse and we ended up talking about it for a while and thinking of some interesting things we can learn from it even though it's so short and simple. I'm excited to hear your thoughts.
I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I right before I left to go into the MTC one of my hometeachers told me about a PRP (Personal Revelation Program) that he did for a while on his mission. He said he and his companion would get up 30 minutes early and do 10 minutes of singing or reading the Book of Mormon to invite the Spirit, then say personal prayers for ten minutes, and then write down all their thoughts and the impressions they received for ten minutes.
I've thought about that a lot while I've been here and I've tried it a couple times but I haven't gotten up early enough to finish it. We already have to be in our classrooms for personal study by 6:15 so it seems hard to get up earlier but I know I need to do it. A few days ago I read an article from the August Ensign that talked about the same sort of thing (a PRP) and I felt like I needed to try it again but I haven't done it yet. I think I need to learn how to be faster at responding to the Spirit because Dad's experiences were another huge prompting that this is something I need to do in my life, even if it means I have to get up at 5:30 am.
Other things from this week...Ahh there's so much I want to tell you all but I know there's not enough time.
I'm not sure if I told you much about this earlier but one of the first meetings we had with President Christensen (our MTC president) was this awesome lesson about the Restoration. We looked at the 18 centuries that passed from Christ to the Restoration and how all these things contributed to the apostasy but then all these people lead the way and made the Restoration possible. I don't have time to explain it but I want to mail you the notes from it because it's so cool. It really helped open my eyes up to how the Restoration fits into the big picture of the history of the world, and how awesome it was/is and how much time and preparation went into it.
Ok, so this week were reviewing the ¨18 Centuries at a Glance¨ lesson as an activity Sunday night and I starting thinking about the Restoration and this idea that's been running through my head lately of how perfectly-crafted God's plan is. There were years of planning and preparation that went into the Restoration-it didn't just start with Joseph Smith. So as we were talking about all these things Elder Davis (an elder from my district who reminds me so much of Dad or at least how I think Dad might have been as a missionary) said something about how it's cool that you can see the hand of the Lord with us even when the gospel wasn't on the earth. Even when it seems like he wasn't there, the Lord was there with us the whole time helping to prepare people and places that would lead up to the restoration of his gospel.
After Elder Davis said that I started thinking about my own life, and how even though I didn't always realize it, the Lord's hand was in my life too, and years of preparation went into my own personal ¨restoration¨ or conversion. The Lord sent me so many people, experiences, and resources to help me.
Then I started thinking about how amazing it is that I get to be a part of someone else's restoration process in Panama. I get to help restore then to what they already knew and accepted before this life, to the gospel of Christ. And maybe for some people I will just be a Martin Luther or a Deist and they won't fully accept the truth, but it will help pave the way for them to experience their own full ¨restoration¨ some day. And that will be awesome.
Well, I'm pretty much out of time but I hope these thoughts make sense...I thought they were cool. I don't have time to tell you about how awesome my experience at the temple today was, but I'll try to write you a paper letter about it :) I know this is the church of Christ and that it was restored through Joseph Smith. I know God loves us and he always will and that we can always come to him.
I hope all is well with you all. Love and miss you!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Ooops, I'll send a scripture next week I promise!
I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I right before I left to go into the MTC one of my hometeachers told me about a PRP (Personal Revelation Program) that he did for a while on his mission. He said he and his companion would get up 30 minutes early and do 10 minutes of singing or reading the Book of Mormon to invite the Spirit, then say personal prayers for ten minutes, and then write down all their thoughts and the impressions they received for ten minutes.
I've thought about that a lot while I've been here and I've tried it a couple times but I haven't gotten up early enough to finish it. We already have to be in our classrooms for personal study by 6:15 so it seems hard to get up earlier but I know I need to do it. A few days ago I read an article from the August Ensign that talked about the same sort of thing (a PRP) and I felt like I needed to try it again but I haven't done it yet. I think I need to learn how to be faster at responding to the Spirit because Dad's experiences were another huge prompting that this is something I need to do in my life, even if it means I have to get up at 5:30 am.
Other things from this week...Ahh there's so much I want to tell you all but I know there's not enough time.
I'm not sure if I told you much about this earlier but one of the first meetings we had with President Christensen (our MTC president) was this awesome lesson about the Restoration. We looked at the 18 centuries that passed from Christ to the Restoration and how all these things contributed to the apostasy but then all these people lead the way and made the Restoration possible. I don't have time to explain it but I want to mail you the notes from it because it's so cool. It really helped open my eyes up to how the Restoration fits into the big picture of the history of the world, and how awesome it was/is and how much time and preparation went into it.
Ok, so this week were reviewing the ¨18 Centuries at a Glance¨ lesson as an activity Sunday night and I starting thinking about the Restoration and this idea that's been running through my head lately of how perfectly-crafted God's plan is. There were years of planning and preparation that went into the Restoration-it didn't just start with Joseph Smith. So as we were talking about all these things Elder Davis (an elder from my district who reminds me so much of Dad or at least how I think Dad might have been as a missionary) said something about how it's cool that you can see the hand of the Lord with us even when the gospel wasn't on the earth. Even when it seems like he wasn't there, the Lord was there with us the whole time helping to prepare people and places that would lead up to the restoration of his gospel.
After Elder Davis said that I started thinking about my own life, and how even though I didn't always realize it, the Lord's hand was in my life too, and years of preparation went into my own personal ¨restoration¨ or conversion. The Lord sent me so many people, experiences, and resources to help me.
Then I started thinking about how amazing it is that I get to be a part of someone else's restoration process in Panama. I get to help restore then to what they already knew and accepted before this life, to the gospel of Christ. And maybe for some people I will just be a Martin Luther or a Deist and they won't fully accept the truth, but it will help pave the way for them to experience their own full ¨restoration¨ some day. And that will be awesome.
Well, I'm pretty much out of time but I hope these thoughts make sense...I thought they were cool. I don't have time to tell you about how awesome my experience at the temple today was, but I'll try to write you a paper letter about it :) I know this is the church of Christ and that it was restored through Joseph Smith. I know God loves us and he always will and that we can always come to him.
I hope all is well with you all. Love and miss you!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Ooops, I'll send a scripture next week I promise!
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