Last Email Home - Week 17 - Nueva Cordoba - November 9, 2015

Ok, I have put off enough time not writing this last letter home to you.  I cant believe that it has all come to an end.  But ready or not, it has come.  

I truly want to thank you two for being the constant support.  You dont know how many misionaries I have come to meet and know who many times will go weeks without getting a letter.  However I always was sure to see an email from my fossils.  I have treasured this time and your words have been inspiring.  I have every email printed out (however they wont be able to come home with me.. its a lot of paper and a lot of weight) and stored.  I often went back through to reread, and even study.  In my P Blessing it encourages me to rely and look to my parents in the decisions in my life.  Without you even knowing, in these 18 months, I have looked to you to find my answers.  Often times, answers were found even though you had no clue of the question.  Thank you for staying true.  Thank you for being worthy and for loving me.  It means more than you will ever know.  I also think that now we will be the greatest of friends because here in the mission I have gotten used to speaking to the parents in all of the families.  It will be just like home!  

These 18 months have been full of learning and growth and I see how the Atonment continues to change me.  Yesterday I gave my last class, and I feel honored to be here doing what the Lord has sent me to do.  I know that the Atonement is so real.  As we were conversing in the class of Gospel Principles, I was remebered once again of a Mr Keyes Phrase.  our goal should be to INSPIRE and not IMPRESS.  

Christ lived by this rule.  Why did he come? To lead us to our father in heaven.  He did not come to "one up" or to "beat all".  He came to inspire us through his actions, faith, obedience, love, diligence, and patience.  He came to inspire us through his Atonement.  He has inspired me and I will continue to give my all so that I may be able to live with Him, my father and my family más allá.  Like dad always said, the atonement is the most motivating act that we have here on this earth. 

Let us put it to use.  Let us inspire others with the testimony of hope in that our savior lives.  In that our father loves us beyond measure.

As my companion and I were studying the other day, she found the answer to one of her greatest questions.  How can we be more grateful to our father in heaven?  There are many possible answers, but the one that we like best : to be happy in sharing this happiness.

God has given me everything.  He has given me my family, the gospel, the priesthood, my mission, covenants, food, prayer-- even his own son.  How can I show him my gratitude?  I can be happy with what he has given me. 

I am honored to have been able to serve him with happiness and a spirit of constant repentance in these times, but the service and grateful happiness doesn´t stop here.

Also this week we had a great successful activity as we had a FHE in the church.  Many conversos, investigadores, miembros activos y menos activos were present!  

We did a little show!  We acted out this story from President Hinckly of Big Tom and little Jimmy.  We had fun as the misionaries being the roudy classmates, then as Big tom found that his lunch had been stolen, a 16 yr old (mentally special) youth from the ward offered himself to be whipped and beaten instead of the young hungy boy.  Quickly a silence feel upon the whole room and the older sister of the special ed boy had tears flowing in her eyes.  Big tom (david from our ward) was able to bring a spirit of peace and gratitude and love with his flawless sketch.

It truly was a moment that I will never forget.

We are full with miracles this week and I hope to be able to finish well.

I love you all so much and I cant believe that it is just around the riverbend.

Hoorah for Isreal because Christ lives.  He is our Savior and the plan of redemption is being realized.  We have proof.

con mucho amor (for the last time... signing out)

Hermana Woolley

also, today we have pday de zona, entonces estare haciendo ( will be doing) trunky shopping muy muy rapido, y despues, hemos alquilado un toro mecanico!!!! (later we rented a mechanical bull) Yee haw! hahaha.  so I wont be getting on email (later) mas tarde- any last words-- its now or never

Week 16 - Nueva Cordoba - November 3, 2015

ok.  This week was yet another week FULL of emotions and what not.  We had 2 conferences (one with president and his wife, and the other with the president of area ELder walter F Gonzalez), a temple trip ( I bawled as I steped foot in that celestial room and now I am a proved model that the water proff mascara I have works!) , and  a Leadership counsil with all the zone leaders and sister leaders and the president.  Baiscally... all in all a week full of revelation and desires to change, repent, and give it all Ive got.

In one of the conferences I was asked to give my last testimony (mi testimonio fiel).  It is awful becaue all of my comps, and friends, and leaders are staring at you with a silence that kills.  There are often tears, and nerves, and so much more.  As I stood up there to rendir cuentas a little bit about my mission and what it means to me, I was surprised that I did not feel nervous.  I had prayed a great deal before, only pleading to be able to feel the spirit testify through me.  And the truith is, I have no idea what I said, or what I had planned to say, but I sure did feel the spirit.  I know that what I am doing here is right, and that it means the world to me.  Then everyone started telling me goodbye.  What a hear wrenching experience.

To update you on some things--

K*a- Remember how we found her and the other family through a miracle??  well. it was shortlved.  After passing by 3 millino times, her husband opened the door and gave us back the book of mormon.  It hurt, and I would be lying if I said that I didnt cry as we walked away from that home.  They need the gospel, but have chosen another path.  The other family also told us that it would be impossible to meet up with them. It can be discouraging being a missionary sometimes, but they are moments that I am sure that I will miss dearly.  There is nothing like being down and having a great companion at your side who makes you laugh, or suggests to go get ice cream.  I am scared of being alone when I get home.... jajaj truth comes out.  These are sacred moments that only help us get stronger with each experience. 

Halloween- doesnt exist here.  They say that it s diobolic.  how sad right? So, a Hna tulian (mini misisonary) came back to viist us and played us the monster mash.  That was how I enjoyed my night.  However, me and Hna Ascuña, and Hna Ortiz all put on black and white to try to dress up a little bit.  We forgot to take the pic, pero bueno.  YOu win this year with your costumes

another torture that I am currently living...... today an elder returns home from his mission in chile to come back to the ward.  We have spent the last week doing everything for this overstressed mom in the preparations of her sons arrival. She has been so nervous that she has had diarreah and vomits for 1 week now.  Please dont tell me that you at home are so emotionally exhausted that this is happening to you because it is loco......  Just keep being you and all willbe well.  We have been oing lots of cute crafts from pinterest to decorate the church, and much more.  ya... puts me beyond trunky.  Then the Hermana Baca looks and me and just hugs me and says "sorry that this is so close to home... BUT MY SON IS ON HIS WAY!!!!!"  she then will squeeze me so hard that I truly thought that my ribs were ghoing to be broken--- like grandpa woolley.  I now understnad.  So my expectations for the HOMECOMING:... I want people in the airport, I want signs, I want hugs, and I want tears.  Bring it on!  It will be a moment that we will only experience once and I want it to be sacred!  I would also love to stop by the temple on the way home since I get in at 10:30 that morning!!!  and go with all the fam :))

I am not quite sure what else to expect or say.  I just want to get home to you .

Travel plans- still dont know when or how I will be getting to buenos aires.... but this next week I should be getting the run down.  When the decretary handed me my itenerary yesterday.  I also cried, but I am not sur itf they were quite the same tears as dads-  overwhelming no mas.  also, you bought me a car???????? que????????  You think that after living in this country of awful drivin gthat I will be willing to drive one of those things when i get home.... and  in. the. snow.  jajajaja 

One last spiritual thought.

Today as I was studying, I came across a verse that says that the fruit of the tree of life is the most precious. above all other things.

yet, what does it reperesent?- the love of god.

However, there is  another scripture that is quite similar.  What is the greatest gift we can recieve- above all other gifts?  Eternal life.

I began to think.... Do these have a connection?

I believe so.  Why is eternal life so great?  Because there we will be able to always feel of the love of god as we live in his precense with our families.  This is pure happiness and it is greater above all things.

ON sunday my comp gave the lesson in RS about the love of god, and there were many tears shed in an example she gave.  I loved it and will share it with you when I am home.  remind me to tell you about it and the feelings and imp`ressions i had. 

I am out of time.

sorry i couldnt uplaod pictures of the week.  You will see them soon enough! 

I hope you have the greatest week yet, and keep on praying for me and Hna Ascuña.  We send you our love!!!

con amor,

Hermana Woolley

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!