Sister Jessie's Mission

FAM!

Hey! I can hardly believe that I got to talk to you and see your beautiful faces yesterday. Everyone seems to be doing so great which gives me so much comfort! Anna, Milo just seemed like one of the family sitting there in Midway. Ah and I can’t believe how big Mills, Eleanor and Abey are! It just about broke my heart when Abey gave me a kiss over the computer.  And how Mills was repeating every Spanish word that I would say. Ahhh it was so amazing to talk to you guys and realize I actually have a living family still.

Well this week has been great but a little bit of a challenge. It all started during planning.  My companion had a really bad migraine and soon enough we were in the emergency room with her. She went into the doctor and he said that she would not be able to work for four days due to the stress of the mission. Soo she stayed in the hospital and I had to direct the area for three days. Each day I had to call people to be my companion for the day.  Both of them were 17 years old and in the ward. During this time every decision, turn of the corner and every lesson depended on me and my young companions just followed along. I felt so weak but somehow I did it. I’ve only known this area for 5 weeks but things seemed to work out ok. The last night of these three days I went back to my penchanista’s house and Hna. Rivera said the doctor checked her and absolutely everything was fine with her. Was this a coincidence? Absolutely not. Hna. Rivera and I were talking later that day and came to the conclusion that Heavenly Father gave her this health problem in order for me to grow and get a little taste of what it is going to be like if she leaves this transfer. During this transfer I have been struggling with having confidence in myself. However, through this experience I was able to realize that I have the capacities, but I just have to have the faith. Heavenly Father lets us struggle because he loves us and this is definitely what I learned through this challenge. 

Let’s see  . . . like I told you yesterday, Jose Maria wants to get baptized but is waiting for a couple weeks due to family things, traveling and such, but all that matters is that he has the conviction and the desire to enter into this covenant! I’m pretty sure he is going to be the next prophet in the future.

Our other investigators that I was talking about last time, Rene and Marisol?  Yeah, during a lesson this week we were talking about the sacrament and how "those who have made this covenant with Heavenly Father, which you haven’t yet." They both looked at each other and said, "Well there is something we haven’t told you yet.  We have been baptized..." WHUUAA??  This completely threw me off.  For two weeks now they have been acting like they are investigators. But no worries. It is not only our job as missionaries to help others come unto Christ through baptism, but help these people through the most important part of all this, enduring to the end!

We have an amazing family that we are teaching right now. It is a single mom and she has three kids. She lost her husband two years ago and now she says she is looking for the right path for her and her family. She is looking for comfort and peace during this time of unbelievable responsibility and trial. Tonight we are going to have a family home evening with this family and talk about the blessings of the temple and eternal families. I am so excited!

The topic of the temple seems to be theme of my mission right now. We are working with so many less active families and are helping them along the path to get to the temple right now. It is amazing to see the blessings that come not only when one goes to the temple but before, as these families prepare, I can see the change and the difference in their lives!

Well, I hope you liked my "chop" of a haircut. I don’t think my companion got the message that I just wanted a trim. But it’s all good--welcome to the mission! The unexpected! Wow, this week has been a challenge, but just know that through the power of the atonement we cannot only endure but ENDURE WELL. I love you all so much. Thank you for your examples in my life, without them I wouldn’t be here today.  Keep smiling through the tough times!

Love, Jess

Guess who I let . . . . cut my hair!