July 23, 2014

Well,

Life is still plugging along in Teresina. The work goes forward, the tarantulas attack..... did I tell you about that one? I was cleaning the baptismal font and walked into the bathroom, lifted up my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face and BOOOOOMMMM humongous tarantula was ON MY STOMACH!! No idea how he snuck in there!!!!! 

Let's see whats happened this week.

My companion is awesome. For the first time in my mission sometimes I don't go to bed on time because we get to talking about everything and swap stories and all that good stuff.

Know that things are good here and Sister Morse is doing great and my health is....decent. 

We have a transfer this next week. I'm a little queasy. I feel like...things are so good right now...when's the shoe gonna drop? President will have to open 3 new areas to sisters because 6 are coming in and none are leaving. So he will need 6 trainers and 3 new areas. As I am always training and have opened 3 areas already..........I'm nervous he's going to pull me out of Parnaiba. If that were to happen, I don't have doubts that Sister Morse would train as well. She is doing wonderfully. Really blossoming. Her Portuguese has really improved in just the last 2 weeks and its a blessing to have her as a companion. Being as I have already learned in the mission that the Lord likes us to have difficulties so that we grow faster....... who knows!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMI

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO UUUSSSSSS

WE'RE THE BEST OF THE BUNCH

My birthday was wonderful. I received a ton of phone calls from members and friends and investigators...some I had no idea how they got my number. But I even got presents! Tatiani gave me shoes, Isabelli gave me a necklace. Sister Silva gave me a key chain....don't know why. Orlando gave me earrings. And here's the best one...Valeria gave me beans! Best present in the world!

And you'll never believe this.... I ate cake. Chocolate cake. With no gluten. No lactose. No saturated fats. It was made from soybeans. It was.....it was tasty. I think I'll stick with fruits though. Hahaaa!

Now for a spiritual thought.

I was studying in Nephi and I got to thinking....why is so much time spent, literally chapters and books, describing Nephi's trips and missions and teachings... his trek into the wilderness, his return to Jerusalem, his getting the plates.... And then uses maybe a verse or two to say he got married and has kids? I don't think it was because his marriage was of little significance, but that his mission was of such importance. The Lord wanted to make a better Nephi. Mend him and change him, turn him into the man he needed to be to then get married and have kids. 

All of my life I've had my parents' mission stories to guide me. I have seen the effects of their missions. That not one day goes by that they don't remember their missions. That every good thing that has happened in their lives, is because of their missions. I am convinced that my mission is not specifically intended for me to be the best baptizer of them all. But to mend me, bend me, even break me down...until I become the woman God intends for me to be. The wife my husband will need. The Mother my children will need. I am so grateful for my mission. Especially for the difficulties and the challenges that I face. Because it's during the trials that I grow. And I come face to face with who I am, and am forced to climb a little bit higher.

Until next week! Love you all, Sister Wainwright