Patience

The last few days in the CCM will be cherished my whole life. So many testimonies shared, so much love, and sad goodbyes. On our last day of class, we started the day off by sharing the things we see and love about each person. It was special to really think about each person and what Christ would see in them. I love that district so much and am forever thankful for the examples they were to me. We closed the night off by baring testimonies. So many tears and some tears from people who had not cried. The spirit was with us.

 

 

The final Sunday we sang Nearer my God to Thee for the final hymn and it was pure. After church we just packed and played games and talked for a long time. I went and weighed my bags and yes they were over. One of the senior missionaries said, "You need to learn how to lighten your life." Which is hilarious and I died but it is fine. Hermana Dowdy and I wanted to get blessings before heading to Argentina and it was so perfect and exactly what I needed. I know that the priesthood is real and that it comes from God. The Elder giving me the blessing was saying things from my patriarchal blessing and it was so cool. Then we said goodbyes. The next morning I had to get up at 4 and got ready to go. Woke up Hermana Dowdy to say our goodbye. We hugged and I just had tears in my eyes. I love that girl so much. I got so lucky to have her as my first companion.

 

 

Okay, travel was absolutely insane. We rode in a bus to the Mexico City airport and then had to roll around my heaviest bags. When we were getting them weighed the lady told me the first one was over, which was my lighter one and I was like it's okay I will pay. I put the second bag on and she says that I would need to pay for that one too and I was like it is okay. Then I pull out my card and am handing it to her and she just says actually you don't need to pay. BLESSING. It was so sweet. Then I just waited in the airport with Elder Ekins and Elder Adams. It was so good to have people who I knew with me. Then we parted ways and I boarded the plane. It was HUGE. 9 seats in a row. I got a window seat which was a blessing also. I got emotional taking off just feeling scared to actually be going to the field. I started a scripture study shortly after the flight though. Before starting, I prayed to feel comforted in knowing this is what I needed to do. I had never had an experience like the one I am about to share. I turned to where I had left off the day before and the very first verse I read was Alma 42:1 and it says, "And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind..." and then the final verse of the same chapter says, "And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen." I cannot begin to express how much peace this brought as I read this. It was a direct answer to prayers. Anyways, it was 9 hours so I slept lots, read the scriptures, and watched Croods. We landed in Buenos Aires and had absolutely no idea what to do and we did not have phones. Eventually a guy came up to us to take us where we needed to go. Keep in mind, there are more than 30 missionaries. So they split us up and we drove to a hotel to stay the night. Nice hotel but everything around it was crap. Then we go to check in and yeah everything is in spanish now. They do not have any of the names of the people going to Bahia Blanca on the list. So we sat there for about 3 hours waiting for something to happen. Then the hotel people just say there's someone coming to get you and you have to go to a different hotel. So we wait and then taxis pull up and I am like ain't no way we are allowed to go in these. So we called the church travel here and they said yes go. So me and one other Hermana hop in this taxi with a random man and had no idea where we were going. Not one word was said while we were in the car. We pull up to another hotel and it was also way nice and I was like I hope everyone else makes it. It was 2 am and we just went to bed. Woke up to a call from the front desk saying that the person to get our bags was there so we shoot out of bed and went down without getting ready at all. Then they took our bags and not us. The front desk said nobody else showed up, we were stressing. So we sat in the lobby for another 30 minutes. Then a van pulls up with the rest of the people going to our mission. We went to the airport and then flew an hour and a half to Bahia Blanca and that was that.

 

 

When we got there, our mission president and his wife and the AP´s were there to get us. They were pure. We rode in a bus to the mission office and there were fields and fields and then houses of cement and then we got to a city and then we were there. We go in and he starts to explain everything. He told us our areas and our comps and I was so excited. My companion is Hermana Trimble and she is the cutest ever. She is from Arizona so english speaking but she is actually really amazing at spanish. We are in an area that is about 4 hours from the mission office. BUT before we went there, we stayed two nights in Bahia Blanca with like 10 girls and it was chaotic but it's fine. When I got there, it was not nice and I was like oh no but it's okay and it will get better. Nothing that crazy happened while we were there. We just did random studies all the day long. Then we drove to the area. Got there and the streets are dirt and it is so windy and there are actually some nice houses but also lots of just cement one. That first day we had a member lunch and I promise the spanish is insane here. I can barely pick out any words but I just nod and say si. Or I look at my comp and she translates and then I can normally form a sentence back. Which basically sums up my week.

 

 

We are living in a pretty nice place but we have 2 other sisters right now waiting for their place to be done. It has been pretty busy but also fun to have extra people to talk to! Hermana Rojas only speaks spanish too so that pushes me to use more which is awesome.

 

 

We had a baptism on Saturday!!! Pablo!!! Spent a little bit of time with him before and he was awesome. He said the sweetest things. He said that talking to me felt like he had known me his whole life and I literally could cry. Anyway, Saturday came and we filled up the font and got everything ready. Then it was time for the baptism. The sister missionaries all sang when I am baptized in spanish and it was pure. Then Hermana Trimble and I shared a little scripture and bore testimony. Definitely messed up at parts but oh well. It was a beautiful day and he is precious.

 

 

The next day was Sunday. They did their testimony meeting and as we went around and said hi to everyone, the counselors told me I would go up before and introduce myself. So I am prepping what to say in my head and I get up there and it all leaves. I am baring testimony and I say, "Jesucristo es mi Salvador, mi hombre, y mi amigo." See ya. I meant to say hermano. In english that means I said Jesus Christ is my Savior, my man, and my friend. OH so embarrassing. Everyone just was so nice about it though. Pablo got the Holy Ghost and he told us after that while he was getting the blessing he felt like he was in heaven and he was crying during the testimonies because the spirit was so strong. He is pure. We have spent lots of time getting to know the members and our friends. It has been beautiful. It is crazy to be here. It is hard. Spanish is for real now and it is not making sense and I just wish I could say all I want to say. I know that in time it will come. I just need to trust in God and the gift of tongues. I still cannot believe I am here, but I just feel so blessed. This is exactly where I need to be. I love all of you so much. I sure miss you all too!!! I pray for you always.

 

 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Morley <3