In The Life of CoCo : Letter Dated February 16, 2015 Week #16

February 16, 2015

Hey guys!! No emails this week?? Que paso??

Anyways, I hope all is well. Hope everyone is safe and sound. Healthy and Happy!

This week...

Okay so last Monday we had a family home evening or un noche de hogar con la Familia Calderon y la Familia Flores. The Calderon’s invited the Flores family and Hno Carlos planned the whole thing. He planned a lesson and asked his daughter to do a game, and his wife to make snacks. THEIR FIRST FHE!!! WOW!! So crazy!! It was so awesome. Hno Carlos started by bearing his testimony. Wow... I cried the whole time. He told us all about the night that Hermana Patterson and I found him. He and his wife had been fighting and he was outside thinking about how he needs to change his life, and then Sis Patterson and I walked up. He also shared how he has ALWAYS wanted to go in to our church but never did because he felt weird just showing up. So when we invited him to church he knew that the church was going to help him. He also talked about how his first Sunday at church he felt such peace and knew that there was something different about our church. He then told us a story about when he was praying to know if the gospel was true…he was sleeping and he had a dream. In his dream a bright light came and then like sparked. He said it sparked his heart and he knew it was true. Crazy. I know. He just has such a strong testimony!! It is soo amazing to see his faith grow and grow!!

This made me think... How many people look at our chapels and don’t go in because they are scared or nervous? All they need is an invite! That is why it’s so important that we invite everyone! EVERYONE! There are people who the Lord has prepared and all we need to do is invite them to church, dinner with the missionaries, activities... anything! Everyone is a missionary, not just those of us with black placks. Everyone who has a testimony is a missionary! Being out here I realize how many people I could of shared my faith with that I didn’t and I feel this guilt on my shoulders for that. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel after this life if I haven’t shared the gospel, especially with the people I care about! Wow. Crazy. I LOVE THE MISSION!

Another thing that stood out to me was when Carlos said how he felt such peace in the chapel. So this past Sunday I sat there in sacrament and thought.. Peace... and I felt it! The spirit is soo strong in the chapels. We can feel it when we take the time to feel it. When we aren’t rushing in late, on our phones, sleeping, or talking to our siblings.. oops... we can feel the spirit. It is there. We just need to slow down so the spirit can catch up to us. We can really focus on why we have church…it is the opportunity to renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father. Wow! I love this gospel!!

Oh another thing!! JOSE!!! HE WENT TO SEMINARY ALL WEEK!! YAYY!! Miracle! He is exhausted but I know that he will realize the blessings. Seminary starts at 4am here! YIKES!! It is so nice cuz 3 of the other young men have been getting up even earlier and walking up to Jose’s house and walking with him to seminary! It is sooo awesome. It is proof to me of how ward fellowship is so so important. Converts need the support from us! They can’t do it alone. I am so grateful for awesome ward members who are willing to love and serve even when it is not particularly convenient!!

OK a random, awkward thing... I basically beat all of the elders at arm wrestling. Now all of the members want to play me.. and lets just say.. I haven’t lost yet! So awks.. WHY AM I STRONGER THEN EVERY BOY!! I’m never getting married. Ha ha ha Oh well.. Over it.

OK so the Hula I am teaching the youth for the luau has now turned into teach the relief society and primary a hula too! Pray for me. Never thought the mission would turn me into a kumu hula! Ha ha ha

We had a multi zone this week and we watched Meet the Mormons.. in español. It’s a lot better in English. Ha ha ha But I love that movie. It is sooo good!! We are having an activity this week in our ward, a missionary activity, and we are going to watch it again.

Sad news! I found out at the Multi zone that Elder Fua went home! He was the ONLY other missionary that came with me from the CCM. He had a leg problem so he has been home for a month and I didn’t even know it!! SO PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM!! Apparently he can’t come back for like 9 months. I’ll almost be done by the time he gets back out. So sad, but I guess it is for the best. Huh, that sucks though.