Hey all,
Thank for the emails mom and dad. Yeah, I think the ward has recovered a little because this week a lot more people came out with us to teach and helped bring investigators or recent converts to church. woot.
Blarg my thoughts are all muddled today and I don't know why. We just got back from eating lunch with the zone at Elder and Hermana Estribi's house because they live in our zone. They're an awesome senor couple and have been serving in the Misión Panamá for 4 years now. Transfers are next week, eek! Oh an awesome tidbit of news: If I don't get changed to an area far from the city, I get to go through the temple with Charlyn when she takes out her endowment before she leaves on her mission to Uruguay in June! Wahooo! She told me she wanted me to be her escort so I told her to call Presidente Madrial and ask him thinking he'd say no but he said I can go! yayyyyyyy! Now I'm just praying that I don't have transfers....!
I feel like things are finally starting to change in this area. The members are helping more, we're planning activities, and we have new progressing investigators. In two weeks we're planning on doing an activity/divisions with the YSAs for the whole afternoon which will help a lot. Also, one of the members who was on his mission in Nicaragua came home this week and is stoked to help us with the recent converts a less active people. We're also working on implimenting Alma 6:6 by writing out lists of the names of our investigators every week along with their needs, making copies, and passing them out on Sunday. It's sneaky too because I think if the members start praying and fasting for them ,they'll realize that's not enough and they'll start helping us more...hehe.
Love you all, sorry this is so short but I feel like I don't have that much to tell you. Se me fue de la mente. keep on keepin' on and bringing the sunshine to the Baltics!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Acts 2:46-47 blessings for going to the temple often and being united
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hey all!
We had interviews yesterday (for Pday, ..) so we're using the internet today instead. I already forget all the things I was going to tell you all because I had to speak in our "District Conference" (a mock zone conference that we had today instead of district meeting) so my brain is all filled with thoughts from that talk and the talk I have to give on Sunday in the ward.
Events of the week: Saturday we cleaned the Centro de Salud in our area. It's the doctors office/hospital for the poorer people and it was suppppper gross. I think anyone from the U.S. would be appalled to see that people receive medical attention in a place like that. We went with the whole stake and cleaned, painted, repaired, and did construction work for four hours and when we were done it was hardly recognizable. I'll send you some pictures next week. Also, Sunday afternoon I got stung by a bee and had a weird allergic reaction. My ankle got all swollen and it hurt a ton to walk. It's still all swollen but it doesn't hurt anymore, just itches like crazy. I think the bees are more intense here...
Hermmm, what else...we had zone conference this week too, which is always sweet. I still need to meditate and study a little more to figure out all the ways I'm going to apply what we talked about.
Things are going well with my companion. She talks to people in the street now and participates more in lessons. She's not exactly someone I would be naturally drawn with to live with for 2 months but I'm learning to have more patience and to love more like Christ does.
Speaking of loving like Christ does, I have lots of work to do. Last night we went to have an FHE with an inactive family. We left an hour early and traveled in 2 buses through a ton of traffic to get to their house, and then we got there and the sister told us they were all busy, we'd have to reschedule, etc etc. Yarg. So we sat down with her to at least sing a song, have a prayer and share a scripture. Her three grown daughters were in the kitchen but refused to join us (all of them are members and at least one an RM) . The RM one came in wearing a tank top and tiny shorts and demanded "Aren't they leaving? Then why are you going to sing?" Her whole attitude and manner was radiating dislike, if not hatred....and it bugged me. Later she came back in when we asked the hermana how we can help her and the she demanded "When are you coming to wash my windows?" Bahhh, I'm sorry to admit I wanted to tell her "Uhhh, when are you going to repent and come back to church?" But I didn't, I just told her what day we could and we talked about setting up a time to do it.
I was all irked when we left because her whole manner of treating us was demeaning, rude, and almost like she wanted to humiliate us. And then I started thinking about Christ and all the rude things he endured, all the humiliation he suffered, and how he never reacted with anger or vengeance. So I'm trying to develop that more. Because even though I didn't say anything rude back and I was all sweet and smiley, I had icky feelings towards her on the inside, and it shouldn't be that way.
Well, that was a little bit of a tangent but those were the thoughts that came into my head right now. I love to hear about how everyone's doing and how things are going in the mission. Tell Randy and Coleman congrats!
Love you all,
Hermana Dance
Isaiah 55:3-5
We had interviews yesterday (for Pday, ..) so we're using the internet today instead. I already forget all the things I was going to tell you all because I had to speak in our "District Conference" (a mock zone conference that we had today instead of district meeting) so my brain is all filled with thoughts from that talk and the talk I have to give on Sunday in the ward.
Events of the week: Saturday we cleaned the Centro de Salud in our area. It's the doctors office/hospital for the poorer people and it was suppppper gross. I think anyone from the U.S. would be appalled to see that people receive medical attention in a place like that. We went with the whole stake and cleaned, painted, repaired, and did construction work for four hours and when we were done it was hardly recognizable. I'll send you some pictures next week. Also, Sunday afternoon I got stung by a bee and had a weird allergic reaction. My ankle got all swollen and it hurt a ton to walk. It's still all swollen but it doesn't hurt anymore, just itches like crazy. I think the bees are more intense here...
Hermmm, what else...we had zone conference this week too, which is always sweet. I still need to meditate and study a little more to figure out all the ways I'm going to apply what we talked about.
Things are going well with my companion. She talks to people in the street now and participates more in lessons. She's not exactly someone I would be naturally drawn with to live with for 2 months but I'm learning to have more patience and to love more like Christ does.
Speaking of loving like Christ does, I have lots of work to do. Last night we went to have an FHE with an inactive family. We left an hour early and traveled in 2 buses through a ton of traffic to get to their house, and then we got there and the sister told us they were all busy, we'd have to reschedule, etc etc. Yarg. So we sat down with her to at least sing a song, have a prayer and share a scripture. Her three grown daughters were in the kitchen but refused to join us (all of them are members and at least one an RM) . The RM one came in wearing a tank top and tiny shorts and demanded "Aren't they leaving? Then why are you going to sing?" Her whole attitude and manner was radiating dislike, if not hatred....and it bugged me. Later she came back in when we asked the hermana how we can help her and the she demanded "When are you coming to wash my windows?" Bahhh, I'm sorry to admit I wanted to tell her "Uhhh, when are you going to repent and come back to church?" But I didn't, I just told her what day we could and we talked about setting up a time to do it.
I was all irked when we left because her whole manner of treating us was demeaning, rude, and almost like she wanted to humiliate us. And then I started thinking about Christ and all the rude things he endured, all the humiliation he suffered, and how he never reacted with anger or vengeance. So I'm trying to develop that more. Because even though I didn't say anything rude back and I was all sweet and smiley, I had icky feelings towards her on the inside, and it shouldn't be that way.
Well, that was a little bit of a tangent but those were the thoughts that came into my head right now. I love to hear about how everyone's doing and how things are going in the mission. Tell Randy and Coleman congrats!
Love you all,
Hermana Dance
Isaiah 55:3-5
Monday, April 5, 2010
Conference weekend is the best!
Hey all!
Wahooo, I love Conference weekend! And I was excited to hear president payne get called to the seventy. When they said his name is wasn't much of surprise-EP Ward is like a factory for future powerhouse leaders :) But yeah, conference is like Christmas and went by so fast :( Every time it comes around I feel happier and I notice more and more the themes each apostle has. Like Elder Uchdorf always talks about love, Elder Bednar always gives specific, detailed instructions for ways we can improve, Elder Holland is always super passionate and speaks in an awesome literary way-man, they're all so awesome.
Mom I wrote you a real letter today where I talked about some of my favorites so I won't go into much more detail about conference. You'll just have to a wait a month or two, sorry. Oh and Tuesday I finally got both of your packages and letters! Thanks so much! I hope my letter arrives faster over there than yours do here. This time I put (Europe) under the addess so they don't accidently send it to Korea again...oh panamanians...
Easter came and went without much fan fare. I guess that's how it should be though. Thursday we passed lots of drunk people taking advantage of their time off work and on Friday we saw a couple processions by the Catholics (here it's called Holy Friday instead of Black Friday which I think is a little more fitting) . Overall it made me grateful for the happy traditions we have of honoring Christ's resurrection instead of acting out his death and crucifixion.
Conference helped me chill out a little bit and I don't feel so stressed out but I still feel overwhelmed with all the work that has to be done in this ward and area. I feel like the salvation of everyone in San Miguelito 2 is hanging in my hands. Ahh! I guess that'sa little egotistical though since it's not even my work anyway but the Lord´s. Deep breaths.....
This week when I was freaking out about how can I help this ward become more spiritual and become a place where the members and investigators actually want to come, I decided to study about Moroni and his leadership. He was such an awesome and inspiring leader and I want to be like him and inspire these people like he inspiried the Nephites. The day I read about him, I got a letter from my friend Charlyn where she said she felt like Satan was attacking her a lot (she's waiting for her mission call). As I thought and studied I discovered a happy scripture chain that I shared with her and I want to share with you all too: We are amazing children of God, with all the potential to become like he is. So when we feel like we are being attacked by his fiery darts and shafts in the whirlwind, all we have to do is man up, put on the armor of God (Eph 6:10-17) raise our titles of liberty (Alma 46:12-13) and stick it to Don Satanás like Moses did (Moses 1:13, 16-17). Booyah.
Welp I'm out of time again but thanks as always for all your love, prayers, letters and support. You are the best family ever!
Love,
Natalie
P.S. Happy late birthday Jamison and Dad....oops. I sent a zebra card to Jamison a while ago but Dad's is still in W.I.P. inventory. accounting terms, gloik!
Wahooo, I love Conference weekend! And I was excited to hear president payne get called to the seventy. When they said his name is wasn't much of surprise-EP Ward is like a factory for future powerhouse leaders :) But yeah, conference is like Christmas and went by so fast :( Every time it comes around I feel happier and I notice more and more the themes each apostle has. Like Elder Uchdorf always talks about love, Elder Bednar always gives specific, detailed instructions for ways we can improve, Elder Holland is always super passionate and speaks in an awesome literary way-man, they're all so awesome.
Mom I wrote you a real letter today where I talked about some of my favorites so I won't go into much more detail about conference. You'll just have to a wait a month or two, sorry. Oh and Tuesday I finally got both of your packages and letters! Thanks so much! I hope my letter arrives faster over there than yours do here. This time I put (Europe) under the addess so they don't accidently send it to Korea again...oh panamanians...
Easter came and went without much fan fare. I guess that's how it should be though. Thursday we passed lots of drunk people taking advantage of their time off work and on Friday we saw a couple processions by the Catholics (here it's called Holy Friday instead of Black Friday which I think is a little more fitting) . Overall it made me grateful for the happy traditions we have of honoring Christ's resurrection instead of acting out his death and crucifixion.
Conference helped me chill out a little bit and I don't feel so stressed out but I still feel overwhelmed with all the work that has to be done in this ward and area. I feel like the salvation of everyone in San Miguelito 2 is hanging in my hands. Ahh! I guess that'sa little egotistical though since it's not even my work anyway but the Lord´s. Deep breaths.....
This week when I was freaking out about how can I help this ward become more spiritual and become a place where the members and investigators actually want to come, I decided to study about Moroni and his leadership. He was such an awesome and inspiring leader and I want to be like him and inspire these people like he inspiried the Nephites. The day I read about him, I got a letter from my friend Charlyn where she said she felt like Satan was attacking her a lot (she's waiting for her mission call). As I thought and studied I discovered a happy scripture chain that I shared with her and I want to share with you all too: We are amazing children of God, with all the potential to become like he is. So when we feel like we are being attacked by his fiery darts and shafts in the whirlwind, all we have to do is man up, put on the armor of God (Eph 6:10-17) raise our titles of liberty (Alma 46:12-13) and stick it to Don Satanás like Moses did (Moses 1:13, 16-17). Booyah.
Welp I'm out of time again but thanks as always for all your love, prayers, letters and support. You are the best family ever!
Love,
Natalie
P.S. Happy late birthday Jamison and Dad....oops. I sent a zebra card to Jamison a while ago but Dad's is still in W.I.P. inventory. accounting terms, gloik!
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