Family!
Wow! Today has been a super crazy day. Just 5 minutes
ago I got back from my last temple experience for the rest of my mission. It
has been a pretty emotional morning....but I was able to soak it in
the temple for 3 hours which was such a blessing! The
temple has grown to be unbelievably special to me...especially here because it
is an escape from the chaos out on the streets. The peace is tangible. It was
sad to think that this was my last time but, today as i sat in that small, intimate
and gorgeous celestial room...my heart flashed back to the day I entered into
the celestial room at the SLC temple with each of you. I was overwhelmed with
joy and tears----realizing I can give the people of Peru that sacred
experience. Allowing them, like I did, to look into the eyes of their siblings,
spouses and parents and know with assurety they can live with them
forever......just like I can with you. That promise is unbelievable to me!
Right after this we are going to "interpool"
to get our Visas....it may take all day haha. Soo....we will see if I will be
able to stay in the country!
It has been a great week! But nothing too new has
been happening here....we are all just counting down the single digit days
until we get out into the field next Tuesday! I can’t even imagine that right
now. I am definitely going to have to learn how to be a professional at Charades
with my Latina companion because my option to take a break and speak English
just goes out the door! It will be super hard to leave the people here at the
CCM because it feels like I have gotten to know the Latina sisters and elders,
the teachers and even the cleaning people. For example, there is one cleaning
guy who we call "chocolate"....because every time we do service (cleaning)
he asks us if we want chocolate....and we get super excited----then he hands us
a rag an says "mmmmm yummy....come back when you are done and I’ll
give you more". The people are so
loving here. I am super scared to leave but all I need to do is trust the
Lord as I hop on that steep learning curve. It will be great!
The classes are awesome mostly because the
teachers are amazing. I swear they are all going to be general authorities soon.
Each week we get a new investigator...so right now we are teaching 3 "fake
investigators a day" which is sometimes a little bit crazy. But some days
I have 4 lessons because the Elders always ask me...have no idea why?... to be
the "RS pres" or "member" in their lessons. It’s pretty fun
though!
It is insane being the oldest group here because I
definitely don’t feel like it! But a new group of 32 North Americans came
in on Sunday. They were supposed to come on Thursday but because of the
weather they had to come later! In that new group was my really good friends
Sarah Stringham from Olympus. It was so exciting when I saw her...and
actually... her companion is from Skyline and we played against each other in
bball. I know it’s bad but right when I saw her face ii just got a flood of bad
memories haha. That Oly/Skyline rival never really goes away I have found! But
she is super nice and we realized we hung out a couple of times...small world!
My though of the week was sparked on Sunday....we
listened to a devotional at the Provo MTC by Elder Anderson...titled "First
love, then sacrifice". At the beginning of my mission I felt like letting
go of the comforts of life, my friends, and most importantly you guys...was a
burden and a trial. But gradually through this CCM process that state of mind
has changed. And Neil Anderson said it perfectly when he said "as we sacrifice
for the things we love, we begin to love to sacrifice". And those
"things" I love are my Heavenly Father and you, my unbelievable
family! Thank you for being the root of my love because.....because of that I
am able to find joy and love in the things I have sacrificed and will continue
to sacrifice on this mission. And Anderson goes on to say that as we begin to
love sacrifice.....our love for the things we sacrifice for will magnify! That couldn’t
be more true right now. My love has magnified for the Lord and each of you
through sacrifice. I love you!
Anyway....it is insane that the next time I will
talk to you....I will be in my mission. I am nervous but as it says in
Alma 26:12....With the lord, I can do all things! And so can each of you. I
feel your prayers for me in my every step and I hope you know I am praying for
each of you individually each night and morning! I miss all of you! But just
keep smiling!
Love, Jess
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| Sorry this is the only picture I have for this week because today was kinda crazy but....happy late valentines from our district! Love you! |
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