Tu Sabes Wk 3

Welcome back everyone to your regularly scheduled update on my life! How is everyone doing on this fine Friday?

Let's see let's see, there's not much to update on over here. We've been in full Spanish immersion in class all of this last week and I think the pictures will show you how that's going. It's very long but fun except it makes me nervous that maybe I'll never be able to speak Spanish! 6 hours a day of focusing on just trying to follow along is muy difícil and sometimes my brain just gives up by hour 6 and I cant even understand English or Spanish.

Oh I totally almost forgot! We had a slight scare at the beginning of the week. A few missionaries in another district in our branch tested positive for covid! they only had to isolate and deal with boredom and zoom classes for a few days and were able to still leave on their scheduled day and not have to stay in the mtc longer! But a few people in my district were starting to feel sick too. And as language missionaries we honestly can't afford to miss any class time. So I was un poco stressed. But luckily everyone ended up being fine and it didn't spread any more!

In addition to spikeball our district has also found a love for beach volleyball! It's so much fun! We're not good at all (and by we I mean me) but we always have a blast! We even played in the pouring rain today and got soaked and sandy! It gets pretty competitive sometimes

Spiritual Thoughts:

On Tuesday we had a devotional with Elder and Sister Godoy and it was absolutely incredible! The spirit was so strong and they both said so many things us missionaries needed to hear! So for any current missionaries, future missionaries, or just anyone on this email list, these are some of the things he shared!

- conversion can happen at different times for different people! Elder Godoy was baptized when he was 16, his father didnt get baptized until 5 years later and for his mom it took another 20 years! Those who are ready will hear it when they need to

- it might be the 10th, 30th, or 50th lesson youve taught, but its never just another lesson. This lesson could change someone's life.

-the Lord is in the details. He knows the people you're teaching and who you will meet. Just do your part and He will do His. Somewhere out there, there is someone who needs you because you are you. You will speak the language of their hearts.

I was reading a collection of devotionals and personal study prompts and this section by Dave Butler really hit my heart! He's talking about when Jesus was baptized and he says

"When He did actually get baptized something simple and sacred happened. A voice came from heaven. It was His Father. And this is what He said:

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

Up to this point in the story, Jesus had done nothing really. (At least the way the Gospel Writers tell the story)

He has performed no miracles, raised no one from the dead, nor healed any blind people. He has not taught any big sermons or had any one on one tender conversations with lowly people. He hasnt really done anything praiseworthy or note worth yet.

Jesus had done nothing. And yet....and yet His Father still has those things to say about Him

"This my beloved Son in whom i am well pleased"

He was known. He was claimed. He was fully loved. And so. are. you.

Before you have done anything you are known, claimed, and loved. Its the identity you came to Earth with and it is the one you leave Earth with.

"This us my beloved Son in who I am well pleased." Known. Claimed. Fully loved.

When we begin to doubt our identity or when it is attacked, this is what we live by. These words.

This can be hard to believe sometimes. We get up each morning and look in the mirror and see what is wrong or unloveable. We see our failures and our shortcomings and all the disappointing memories we want to forget. Especially when it feels like we have disappointed God.

But just because it is hard to believe sometimes doesnt mean it isnt true. Each of us in our own unique(and even quirky and strange) personal way is a beloved child of God. We are an heir to His unfailing love. Exactly where we are, as we are. No matter what we have done or not done, this will be our identity. We came with it. We leave with it.

You have a name. You have importance. You have so much possibility. And God is so pleased so thrilled

that you are His."

Some other good quotes I've heard recently

"We don't pray because we are worthy. We pray because we need help. We don't take the sacrament because we are perfect but because we are willing to be perfected. We don't go to the temple because we've made it but because God is making us better there. We are not earning a treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things." Brad Wilcox

"When the mission gets tough and Satan is on your back, that means God and his blessings are just around the corner and Satan is scared."

"Satan wouldn't be working as hard to bring you down if there wasn't something valuable inside you. Robbers don't break into an empty house"

Hope you all have a great week!

Pictures!

(I have way too many pictures from this week so I'm gonna send two parts sorry not sorry)

- full immersion is exhausting, we use our 10 minute breaks wisely

- me and hermana anderson

- 2021 afy gang in the cafeteria

- scored a free watermelon

- volleyball

- Las hermanas de 337

- added my name to the list of legends