You
guys have no idea how refreshing ....and strange...it was to see you all
yesterday! I really don't know how to describe it, but YOU GUYS ARE REAL! It's
a weird thing, this mission life. You really feel like everything from before
is just kind of this foggy distant life that you know happened because you have
pictures and e-mails and memories but you kind of are just wondering if it
really happened.. Hahaha that probably sounds so weird, but it's true! It was
nice to have a good confirmation that yes, you guys are living your lives and
that you all know I'm in Chile and loving it. It was crazy to actually talk to
you all!
Right when I heard
Jacob's voice my heart just started beating like crazy and it just didn't stop
the entire time because then another sibling popped on and then my future
sister popped on (which I was not expecting at all) and then the rest of my
family popped on including my freshly returned missionary brother! It was so
exciting to see you all and just hang out for a little.
I don't know what to
say. I feel like I told you guys hardly anything! ...even though I'm sure I
did. But it was really special to be able to talk to you guys and see you
all.
I love you all so
much. And Happy Mother's Day Mom.
This week lots of
things happened, but I can't pick out very much because everything is just
swirling around because my mind is drawing a blank as I'm trying to send an
e'mail to my family that I talked to yesterday! Ah! I had so many plans to send
you pictures and everything, but I guess that will just have to wait until next
week.
I think my favorite
lessons that happened this week were with Trinidad, an 8-year-old. She is
really sweet and really interested. It's really neat to witness so clearly the
light of Christ that is in children. They really do have an innate desire to
learn of Christ and follow him. I love Trini's mom and little sister too. I
don't know if her mom, Joanna, really is interested though. She loves our
company, but we are wondering if she really has interest in what we teach
rather than just listening because she likes us. They assisted church last week
because Trinidad begged her mom. And Trinidad LOVED it. Joanna liked it too,
but not enough to have the ganas to come this week... We have a cita with them tomorrow and
I think it will be great. All we have to do is find a way for Joanna to connect
this gospel to her life in the manner that she realizes the value and
opportunity she has with learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trinidad
has been reading the Book of Mormon to Joanna and Trinidad told us she loves
it. Oh wow well there are just so many silly details and I don't really have
time to type it out because today I actually am short on time.
This morning the
Hermana Lideres called us to let us now that we will be doing intercambios tomorrow
with them and that I
am staying here in Valdivia. So I guess tomorrow we will see how well
I know the area and how to be a missionary without my Momma gringa missionary
there by my side. hahaha I'm kind of excited though. I really like Hermana
Palma. She's from Santiago and is just an awesome misionera. I think it might
be a bit of a challenge, but I'm really excited. I also can't wait for her to
meet my fantastic investigator buddies! I wish all of you could meet
them.
Maybe after my mission
when I don't come home because I am just going to live here for the rest of my
life, you can come visit me and meet my friends here in Chile.
Yesterday, when I was
saying bye, I couldn't believe it was already time to say bye and I realized
that the next time I see you will be when I am FURTHER in my mission which
means closer to not being on my mission anymore.... and that's what really hit
me hard. I don't want to come home. I love you guys so much and I miss you all
a lot, but I really think that there is no better thing than being called to
serve in the service of God. After getting home last night, really sweaty
because we had to run the whole way, I had to talk myself through the process
that yes, I will probably have to go home after my mission and that it's okay.
I thought about Seth being home and I REALIZED I FORGOT TO ASK SETH WHAT HE IS
EVEN DOING WITH HIS LIFE. But then I realized that life goes on... Weird. And
it's okay.
I just have to make my
eensy teensy time I have here in Chile the best it can be. I don't want to have
any regrets of not using my time here as a missionary the best I could.
I thought about it
more, and I realized something a little funny. The mission is the perfect
example of The Plan of Salvation:
I had a pre-mission
life that almost doesn't feel concrete
Then I was sent to
this mission-life with the purpose to follow the Savior's example by being
called as a representative as him
And then I am going to
'die'
Then return to live
with my family again in my California world.
And life is just going
to keep going on and I won't even be 21 yet..... and so I have AAAAAAALLLLL
this life ahead of me.
Interesting to look at
that and realize that if you zoom out to the eternal perspective of things and
see that this little missionary life I have that represents earth life doesn't
even compare to the ETERNAL scheme of time. Life goes on after this life.
Boy oh boy is this
life a treasure here on earth. We got to come get bodies and enjoy this earth
life, but guess what, this earth life isn't forever. So make the best of it.
Really, be wise.
Check your priorities
and make them worth something in the eternal perspective so that when you have
to return home, you won't regret how you used your little time here on
earth.
Yeah, I have no idea
if that made any sense you any of you. I was wanting to write it better, but I
don't have time I'm just hoping the get the gist of what I'm trying to
say.
I love you!
-----more details
later I guess. hahaha
LOVE,
Hermana Olson
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