Hola
pals!
This
week without a doubt has been one of, if not, the hardest weeks of my
mission. I know I say that a lot, but Dios just keeps trying me! There
were a few nights that I cried myself to sleep, but sometimes that is all you
can do as a missionary to calm down and relax. So releiving.
Yes,
Hermana Vela had her surgery this week. All is well now, and we are just
on the long road of recovery. After weighing all of the options, she
decided to do teh surgery. This will take less recovery time, allowing
her to stay in the mission. She is in a lot of pain, and it is
stressful being a companion to someone when I feel so helpless. I cant
understand what the doctors advise me to do to help my companion, and now I
feel like I have all the responsibility. I have talked with the
president, his wife, the mission nurse, and every other important person you
could think of on the phone to get things figured out. Talk about
scary. I now know more medical words in spanish than I ever knew in
English. hah. Well, also Im pretty sure I never want to be a
nurse. Lifting people out of bed to help them go to the bathroom gets old
pretty fast. Send my props to all of the hospice nurses :)
Her
surgery was on Thursday, and after sleeping in the hospital and just sitting
and waiting a TON of time, 46 hours later, grease ball hairdo, nappy teeth, and
basically starving, we were able to leave!!! I NEVER want to go back there, and
it truly is like a terror movie. Now we just sit in the pension day after
day after day. Ill let you in on a little secret. There is nothing
worse than soaking in your own sweat in the pension everyday, when you are
completely healthy. Maybe having your body cut open would be worse, but
these past few days have been so long! We just sit and watch life pass
by. Sometimes we watch a disney movie, (which many times, only makes me
miss you at home), or we play the same card game for the 18th time in one day,
or I clean every inch of the house. Ive already read the entire
missionary library, and the standard works 4 times so what more can I do????
haha chiste. But its true, the kitchen is now spotless, the floor shining,
the fridge odorless, and the oven less rusty. haha. It is so frustrating
that I can´t leave her for one minute. We have to send the elders on all
of our errands, which they probably hate just as bad as we do. I cant
even walk to the corner to buy myself some toilet paper when it is desparately
needed. Well, sacrifices bring blessings.
Speaking
of surgery, how is Jackie doing? Ive been praying for her and her family.
I hope all is all right!
Despite
the pain, we went to the conference on Sunday, which was an hour drive en
collectivo (like a double decker tour bus) Bad idea. Hna Vela was
only in pain the whole time, so we sat in the wings, and didn´t hear any of the
talks or the General Authority Raul something or other. We only entered
to sing our choir numbers. No, we were not made a stake which was a bit
of a let down, but the time will come soon! I just know it!
This
week, I have thought a lot about wounds with the whole surgery situation.
Also, we sang DID YOU THINK TO PRAY. One part in Spanish says, "Que
reposo al cansado es la humilde oración. Trae consuelo al heridos, paz al
corazón" basically says, "Oh how humble prayer rests the
weary. It brings comfort to wounds, and peace to the heart"
hahaha how awful it is to translate! I cant even remember what it really
says in english... but anyways. Also, I read in the Story of the 2000
jovenes in Alma 57:25-27. This talks about how we are all going to have
wounds in this battle, but we will not fail, and we can succeed with faith
filled prayer. This got me thinking. Prayer is something so simple
yet so powerful. It has the power to heal our wounds. Spiritual,
emotional, physical or whatever really!!! If you have a problem in your
life right now, my advice to you is pray. Pray pray pray until it is all
better. Pray until you have nothing more to say. Prayer will change
your night to day. It has changed my mission, and it has changed who I
am. Cuando la vida es obscura, no olvides orar.
Man,
when I look back, I am a different me. The mission isnt what changes
people. It is the spirit of the Lord every minute of every day that
invites us to change and give our hearts to Christ, the only one who loves us
completely. Yes, I am the same old quirky me who dances in the night with
weird voices, and commands my zits to leave from my face (but now only in
Castellano saying, SALI CHE! - yes Im in argentina che.) Im the same me,
only rounder, smarter, sweatier, and closer to Christ. There is nothing
better.
I
would be lying if I said the mission was easy, but I would also be lying if I
said that I am grasping every moment and loving the challenges I am
facing. This week I have learned more about faith, love, humility,
patience, service, diligence, patience again, hope, service again, knowledge,
obedience, and did I mention patience? No but really, basically in this
week, I was able to act like Christ in the whole circumstance. It is a
privledge and an honor to be hear in this moment, even if we are caged
in. I am a servant of the Lord, and I will always testify of his power
and his love. He is my Savior, and of these things I know.
The
best is yet to come! The Savior is on His way!
Hurrah
for Israel!
Les
amo mas que saben! MUY MUCHO (an Argentine phrase that is incorrect, but
everyone says it)
con
mucho amor,
Hermana
Woolley
transfers are this week! Ill keep you updated if i'll be here
for another 6 more weeks!!!! I love you all! Best wishes y cuidense!
At the conference with the missionaries in Bell Ville
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