The One Where I Played Guitar for the First Time in 4 Months!

Tuesday I started to feel super sick. Like really weak and I had a fever, but oh my – these people are THE SWEETEST! One less active saw I was about to faint and so she gave us some tea and bread and then we ended up having an amazing lesson about the Atonement. Another less active we visited told me I was way whiter than usual and gave me a bowl of kiwis so I could get more vitamin C. We ended up talking about service and how we show our love for God through other people. She started crying saying it was exactly what she needed to hear and even though my body ached, my heart burned. I realized our spirits are much stronger than our bodies.

               

              Oh, and I took ibuprofen to reduce the fever, but I had to call the nurse because it’s a rule to tell her every time we take medicine. She told us to go home and rest. So we went home an hour early and it broke my heart that because of me, we missed an HOUR of proselyting time. I hope I heal so this never has to happen again.

                On Wednesday, we had a special zone conference with our new mission president, President Harris. Hermana Janczak and I sang for the musical number “O Esta todo Bien” (Come Come Ye Saints), but it was Elder Johnson’s arrangement and it was beautiful! Actually I saw 3 elders with literal TEARS running down their faces. I promise I will never underestimate the power of music.

                Each companionship had a short 5 minute interview with President and Sister Harris. One of his questions was, “What have you learned in your mission so far?” I thought for a second and then the words just came out. I told him that to be representatives of Jesus Christ, we need to be willing to live what He lived. Not one moment of his life was easy. I said that I didn’t come here to do something easy. I want to suffer. I want to have to ask, plead for strength beyond my own. I want to walk the path that Christ is walking, no matter how hard, because that’s where I’ll find Christ. So basically I told the president that I want a hard mission, so shoot… but it’s okay because I’ll go where God wants me to go.

    

          

          Also we met with a less active family in the area of the Elders. They are about to have a baby and we had such a special experience talking about the power of the Book of Mormon. They shared examples of how they found an answer to a super important question in the Book of Mormon. Wow it’s so powerful. I learn so much from the people we are supposed to be teaching. It’s like in a marathon, the spectators are not actually there to help the runners – the runners are there to inspire the spectators. So the people who go to a race with the intention to “cheer on” the runners are really the ones who are inspiring in return. It’s like that here. We go around serving and helping and teaching these people, but their change, situations, and love for the Lord changes me.

Craziness has happened around here! So Saturday we had a big activity in the branch. Each organization presented a short spiritual thought on a principle of the gospel, then had a talent, and brought a treat! However,the lady who was going to do a talent didn’t show up. We are sitting there and they announce the sister who isn’t there. Everyone looked around and she wasn’t anywhere to be found. We just figured they would skip over this part, but no – the president of the branch just looks at us missionaries and says, “Will you do the talent?” We can’t say no, but great news! Someone brought their guitar! So I jumped up and played How Great Thou Art, and it was the best feeling in the world! Four MONTHS without playing the guitar. FOUR MONTHS! It was so comforting to put the shoulder strap on and strum and hold my hand in the chords. Wow, I didn’t realize how much I missed it. It was like instant therapy! Okay, I’m done rambling about the guitar, it wasn’t a big deal to anyone else, but I was dying inside because it was like Heaven.

                Anyways, after the song, the branch president asked me to give a talk in church the next morning. I was dying because what… a talk… in Spanish… tomorrow…? But I said yes and then 5 minutes later he comes up and says, “Oh by the way, your mission president is visiting so he’ll be there too.” I was basically ready to run away, but I didn’t, I knew I would have no time to write this talk so I just started pondering. Then like 5 minutes later he comes up again and asks us to do the musical number in sacrament meeting. Luckily we were all at an activity so we gathered the Young Women (2 girls) and practiced a song, threw in some harmony, and dynamics and called it good. OH, AND DURING ALL OF THIS, the zone leaders who were at the activity too receiving transfer calls. They knew but didn’t tell us and let me just say, it’s a strange day of emotions when we get transfers because everyone is so anxious to know if they’re going to stay or go or what. My companion and I were just dying to know.

                As we are cleaning up the activity and I’m pondering on my talk and the musical number, Elder Mesias asked if we wanted to know and we said yes. He said that I’m leaving. Hermana Betancur and I stopped breathing and just looked at each other because we couldn’t believe it. ONLY ONE TRANSFER TOGETHER?? We had no words, we were just super sad. Then I asked where I’m going and he told me Rancagua to Las Nieves (Rango) with Hermana Flores from Peru. Then Hermana Betancur asked who is coming to Santa Cruz and GUESS WHO? Hermana Owen! I’m dying because out of the 4 companions, 3 of them are the same. Hermana Robertson (MTC), Hermana Revolo, and now Hermana Betancur! Crazy. I’m so excited to hear about her experience here. Even though we have the same companion in the same house, streets, and branch, our experiences are going to be completely different. Still I’m so excited for Hermana Owen to meet these amazing people here!

               Sunday went well! I gave my talk on John 6:66-69 and great news – people understood it! Afterwards, President Harris thanked me and said it was powerful. All I can say is everything always works out when you realize you are nothing and completely rely on the Lord. The musical number was so pretty especially because these 2 young women sang even though they never had in public before. I learned that you don’t need to sing like Whitney Houston to bring the Spirit.

                All day on Sunday we visited people’s houses and they invited us to eat and talk and share memories and spiritual thoughts before Elder Geurts and I leave. These people are so amazing and I am so blessed to have met them and served with them. We took pictures and exchanged emails. It breaks my heart to leave Daniela and Lastenia, and Alicia and Jose, and EVERYONE here. However, I know this is for a reason and I already feel this love deep in my heart for those people in Rancagua.

                Today we cleaned and I packed in like 30 minutes (WOW the things you learn how to do in a mission). We are going to the zone activity, then to write our families. Tonight we’ll go out and visit as many people as possible and bear my last testimony. Tomorrow I’ll be in Rancagua ready to start my mission as no longer a “new” missionary. Tomorrow I’m no longer in training. So tomorrow I’m ready to learn and grow and apply everything (no matter how little) I know. I’m so excited because I don’t know everything, but I know enough, and I’m ready to trust my training!

             I know that Hermana Betancur and I are going to miss each other. She is amazing and exactly the missionary I want to be. I don’t know why we only got 6 short weeks together, but I am grateful for these 6 weeks with my beautiful best friend from Colombia. Her testimony has changed me and I will never forget her and the things she taught me through her words, but more importantly through her example. She was such an incredible blessing to me at the perfect timing. I’ll never forget Hermana Betancur.

Santa Cruz zone