Week 22 - Game-Changer Week!!

Heellooo!!! I hope you're all doing great and that you had a spooky Halloween!! We actually got ONE group of teenage trick or treaters so I was very happy about that!! Otherwise our Halloween was a pretty normal day haha :)

However, on Tuesday we did have an AMAZING district counsel that completely changed my attitude towards missionary work. I'll be honest, things were starting to feel a little repetitive and I was losing some of my enthusiasm. But we talked about applying some counsel given to us from Zone Conference a couple weeks back, and as we've been applying it (for ex, using the Book of Mormon as common ground in EVERY contact, exploring people's concerns and helping them find their own solutions, inviting people to repent and be baptized and partake of the goodness of the Gospel). I would say my vision of baptism especially was changed. Inviting people to be baptized was something that scared me for a lot of reasons... I didn't want to feel like I was imposing my beliefs on them, didn't want them to get the idea that we're just here for numbers, etc. But now I have a much stronger testimony that inviting people to be baptized and helping them actually progress to baptism is just a huge expression of our love to them. When Christ visited the Americas, one of the first things He did was teach baptism and gave them the authority to do so. Why did He do that? Well, really because it was what Heavenly Father had asked Him to do, and Christ is obedient to all of God's commandments. So the real question is, why did Heavenly Father place such a strong emphasis on baptism? I think it's truly because He loves each and one of His children SO much, and He wants them all to return to live with Him again. Baptism and living all the principles of the Gospel are the only way we are able to accomplish that. So our call as missionaries to teach repentance and baptize converts is a HUGE way that God shows how much He loves us.

Anyway, I'm rambling a little bit, but this idea is what was a game-changer for me. I feel like a different missionary, and I'm finding soo much more joy in day-to-day mission life because of it. I have a better idea of my purpose and I feel more love and connection to every person I talk to. I truly want each of them to feel the peace and happiness that comes with baptism and living the Gospel. 

Tomorrow will be my 5 month mark as a missionary... knowing that my 6 month mark is quickly approaching is giving me lots of motivation to keep working and progressing. Mission time is kind of hard to grasp sometimes!! It feels like I've been away for awhile now, but time also seems to be flying as I look back. It feels like some sort of weird time warp haha :)

This week we met THE funniest and cutest Haitain woman EVER. She just has SO much energy and is the smiliest, happiest person I have ever met in my life. We asked her if we could help iron her clothes, and she legit CRACKS UP and goes, "HAAA HAAA!! Non non non, ca va ca va!!!! HaaaHAHAAaaha" I dont know if I can adequately describe that through typing but that just try to use your imaginiation haha :) We also got to teach her mom!! They were SUPER excited to start reading the Book of Mormon and I think they really got the importance of it as well. So I'm excited to see what will come in the future with them!!

Yesterday we also found some BEAUTIFUL houses here in Guyane where a bunch of rich French people live haha. They're up on this hill looking down on the ocean and on almost our whole area. It was beautiful, and we found a funny African man there! He is Muslim but accepted a card and even called us last night to say he had read the short message on it! So maybe something will come of that as well, which is exciting :)

Anywho, in short, this week was a game-changer for me. And it all boils down to my point of view that really changed. Approaching missionary work with an eternal perspective has changed everything!!

PS. This morning we went to the Guyane Zoo again, and I LOOOVVEEED it just as much as the last time. One of the monkeys reached out his cute little hand and tried to hold my finger!! I could only reach far enough to give him a stick, but seriously, something about that exchange fulfilled something deep within my soul haha.

I hope you know I love you all and that I pray for you often!! Have a wonderful week :)

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" -Matt 11:28