Final Letter

I can´t remember a time when I didnt´want to serve a mission.  Getting my mission call was just about the most exciting thing ever. When I learned that I was going to Chile I was surprised at the love I instantly felt for a bunch of people that I didnt know. Its strange how the love came before the faces, names and stories. 

 

The moment I got set apart...that President Murphy said I was a real missionary..I felt a peace and happiness envelope me like I have never felt before.That peace carried me through the goodbyes and getting on the plane alone and has carried me through every moment here in Chile. Its been like I can almost see the army of angels surrounding me. 

 

All of Mexico and the CCM was like a dream. I was always so fascinated by all the colors and constant fireworks. Walking around the cobble stoned streets with Hermana Page and our new badges...I felt like I was walking in heaven! Well at least the first couple of days. After that reality set in and I really just wanted a nap all day long. But the CCM felt like walking inside the Temple all day. The speed at which we learned everything was incredible. Watching all the teenage boys turn into elders was incredible too. In the CCM it was like having my mind expand by 100 every day. I loved everything about Mexico and the CCM. I think what i loved most though was the food. Oh my!

 

In the words of Elder Haws ¨"I eat it and I just cry. I sob because why does food taste so good?" Everything was like a dream. And I felt so ready to come to Chile and just continue my mission with the same level of fun that I had in the CCM. I was fully prepared to come with my almost perfect spanish and just baptize everyone. 

 

Well I had quite the shock when I landed in the Santiago airport and didnt understand a word anyone said for about 4 months. Coming to Chile was like slipping into a black hole that took a long time to climb out of. Not being able to communicate with anyone for months is really lonely.

 

And Chile was strange. Strangers kissed me face...that was weird. Members gave the hugest portions of food and got mad when I didnt eat it al and ask for seconds and thirds. Toilets didnt flush. Packs of dogs followed us around in the streets and shared all their fleas. People didnt stand in line to be baptized or let us inside even when it was pouring rain. People called me fat and thought it was nice. Fleas and lice and bugs just lived on us. We had to start a fire to heat up water. We had to bring matches inside the bathroom to have light and see. Drunk men chased us in the streets and threw shoes and food at us. People didnt think my lack of spanish skills was adorable. I wasnt the Chile or mission I expected.

 

And I was completely miserable. And I dreamed of home. And clean beds and food with mayonnaise and being able to actually understand people. And I learned to be humble. To be patient. To pray. Because even though no one else understood my english...God did. 

 

We started teaching sweet Maria and even though I couldnt understand what she said I understood what she felt. And I learned to trust in the spirit a little bit more. And I realized I didnt need to be able to talk to have others feel my love....or for me to feel their love. And I realized that it didnt really matter that I had a vocabulary of about 20 words...that wasnt important. The important thing was the love I felt for others. 

 

Hermana Phelps taught me how to easily love others. It was always so easy for her to love everyone. She taught me that I shouldnt be so stiff and proper..but that I needed to throw my hands up a bit more and just enjoy things. And do I did. And I think it has changed everything. 

 

And I learned to see the drunk men on the street crying-and everyone we met as Children of God. And it kind of shifted me whole world. To really understand the love God has for each person and the potential each person carries. 

 

Chillancito..such a dirty little city but filled with people so full of love. Like the Gonzalez family who always took such good care of us. Making me scarfs and rain jackets when I showed up so unprepared for the chilean storms. Making me favorite manjar cake and always so patient with me and my 10 min sentences. They gave everything they had in a second..never thinking about how little they actually had to give. 

 

And Hector who risked everything to be baptized. And the Chavez family..so good...so full of love and ready to sacrifice everything for anyone. And sweet Maria who could hardly walk but walked to church every sunday and held my hand all throught it. And Raul! The sweetest little old man in the world! He lived all alone in a little shack and hardly ever had money for bread. He couldnt read or write but tried so hard to read from the Book of Mormon and faithfully did everything that was asked of him.

 

In Chillancito I learned how much I love chilean food and how fast I can gain weight. Bread, empanadas, pie de limon, sopa pillas and endless manjar! We walked along the cobble stoned streets in a cloud of baking bread..with all the colors and all the dogs and all the love. 

 

And Hermana De Leon..so obediant and diligent and always tried so hard to be good. I cried the first couple of nights with her because we couldnt communicate at all...but I grew to love her so much! And her endless singing of bachata and love of aji and salt. 

 

And the youth following us along the streets skipping and singing. I didnt miss my family or anyone anymore because I was in love with Chile and my new family. 

 

My emergency transfer to Linares was a slap in the face. Saying goodbye to so much love was so hard. To go and train hermana Arndt when I felt like I still couldnt speak spanish...I cried the whole 4 hour bus trip to the little town in the mountains. It looked so calm and peaceful but Libnares turned out to be the nightmare after my dream in Chillancito. 

 

I was so stressed trainign hermana Ardnt. I felt like I didnt know anything and that I needed to know everything.Hermana Ardnt was so innocent and full of love and hope. And for awhile no one understood anything we said we walked around completely lost. But we learned to just laugh at all our mistakes...we laughed a lot. And realized that it is the spirit that teaches people and works through us...that changes people. 

 

And so many miracles happened. Finding so many amazing people..not freezing in the rain and snow and being physically protected from so much bad. Like the time the man tried to put us in his truck and we ran away and he ran following us...up and down empty streets so dark. And in the middle of nothing finding the little bakery shop..hiding inside til the elders came to rescue us. So many men following us in the streets all the time. So many close calls but always being okay. And the time when we saw someone get shot then then dragged away by his neck...like a dog. We never wanted to leave the house again....but somehoe we knew that we would be okay. And we were. Even though members got excummunicated for killing each other...and almost the whole branch went inactive over evil spirits in their houses....we were always okay. 

 

But Linares was just full of problems like that. It was always freezing cold and no one ever wanted to feed us. The good thing was that I lost weight. But there was so much work to do with the members...so many problems in all directions. And it was so hard because everything was just so bitter. It didnt help much that I couldnt walk much and pretty much cried all the time while walking from the pain in my leg. But I was okay because I had hermana Arndt. 

 

Then I got Hermana Urteaga. At first I cried everyday and experienced a hard that I have never known. But she taught me the importance of unconditional love and seeing the potential in everyone. It doesnt matter what road someone has walked..they can change and be good! But we have to give them the opportunity tp do it..we have to expect it. I was amazed at the amount of love I had for this hermana in such short time. I knew it was God´s pure love that I felt. God really loves each of His children so perfectly. And when she decided to go home it just about broke my heart. 

 

She left me alone for a month and I was companionless. In the midst of so many problems I had to work alone. Teach alone, find alone, try and deal with the members alone. And all the members and everyone just started quitting...and I kind of wanted to quit too. We were only moving backwards. It took me awhile to remember that this is God´s work-not ours. And it will never fail..even though it may seem impossible at times.There are a ton of amazing people in Linares. But there was so much fighting and blame. We just had to teach them to work together in love. And little by little..we saw miracles. 

 

There were so few members that had to be so strong and stand alone in so much opposition. Like Euphemia..who with an unlimited energy went about doing the work of 50- happily! And Yolanda who was always so strong and tried so hard so alone. Carolina who didnt always know what to do but was so full of love and patience with everyone. And Hermana Sonya-always the example of patience in all her trials and constant problems. 

 

Then Hermana Jennings came and I wasnt so alone anymore. But sometimes I wished I was still alone....She taught me patience and was a wonderful example of diligence. Then Martin came along all ready to marry me. When I did not accept the marriage proposal things got a little ugly. Thanks to his following me in the streets and never ending yelling and anger I said goodbye to all chances of sleep for awhile. 

 

Hermana Lorea was my angel during this time. God sends us difficulites but always along with the help we need to get through them. 

 

In all the rain and snow and ice my leg leg took a turn for the worse and walking got to be nearly impossible. I felt really bad about that. But God loves me even though I´m not perfect. I cant do a lot but I can do the I can...and that is enough. 

 

The time came to leave my little town in the mountains. I was sad. But coming to Haulqui was like waking up from a long nightmare. And Hermana Villanueva was so fun! So full of love for everyone and ready to teach me to dance bachata and make tortillas. And all the members were so wonderful and so willing to help. Then one night a couple of men decided to break in and do some damage. Once again I lost my ability to sleep and it was really awful. But I learned to trust in God more. And more people tried breaking in...poor elders. Running to our house at 3 in the morning every other day. No one got much sleep. We thought about going to a safer place but decided that there really arent places that are safer than others. There are no ïfs¨in God´s world. The center of His will is our only safety. 

 

One night I was really struggling. I hadnt been able to sleep in a long time and was just really exhausted. But every sound on the roof and drunk scream outside had me wide awake and reaching for the iron rod I slept with. And I started praying. Just begging for God to protect us..to protect our house...to take every bad thing out and take away all my fear. And it was like the room was filled with angels. I couldnt see them but I knew they were there. I knew that they were always there..the whole time. And eventually we were all able to sleep in our own beds again and without all the lights on. 

 

I think one of the biggest miracles I saw were with Patricio and Manual. Both huge drug dealers with destroyed lives that changed everything and became two excellent members of the church. There were so many doubts from so many people...but in the end God knows His children and He knows what they can become. We struggle a bit more at seeing the potential in people. 

 

And hermana Piriz came..such a wonderful daughter. So new and innocent and unsure but blossomed into one ofthe happiest people ever! Just bursting with energy and singing down the streets. She helped me be patient too with my never ending leg problems and constant not knowing what to do. Will my leg fall off? Will my hernia explode? How many pain drugs and steriods can I take before I ruin my brain?

 

It was all very difficult and I didnt really understand what I was supposed to learn from so much pain. But I learned to be humble and to patiently wait for answers. 

 

Our wise Father in heaven knows when we are going to need things. We cant run ahead of Him. When the time comes that we have to learn a difficult lesson..we will look into our hearts and find the strength we need-just in time. 

 

Hermana Monroy...the best companion in the world! With more patience and love and goodness and fun believeable in such a tiny body. She has helped me in everything. Helped me with my meltdowns over going home..helped me be able to sleep at night...helped me to resist eating manjar for breakfast...and everything in between. 

 

There really are so many amazing people here. Like Isnelia..the most giving person and always so incredibly HAPPY! And Maria who endures everything with so much hope! and Solange! Who like Aracely solo will leave for her mission only a year after her baptism. And Violanda..the funniest little grandma with the energy of a 3 year old boy. And hermana Cecilia and her food straight from heaven!

 

And my Chely..sometimes I think that my whole purpose in coming to Haulqui was to be her friend and help her and have her help me. Her whole story is a miracle in itself. I never guesed I had such best friends in a tiny hidden town at the end of the world. 

 

Oh Hulqui and its rose covered hills. So many colors and dogs so many streets that lead no where and so much love. I want to keep my badge on forever. I want to feel this love that God has for His children always. My heart begs to stay. I dont feel like I am going home..but that I am leaving home. I love Chile so much. I love all the people. I love the food. I love being a missionary.

 

The mission was not easy..but it was the best. I could never even begin to explain how much I love everything about it and every moment. Sometimes I wondered why everything had to be so hard. But we shouldnt ever want to change the story..we dont know what a different ending could hold. There is a reason we are not writing the story and God is. He knows how it all works out, where is all leads, what it all means. We don´t. 

 

But I have felt His angels protecting me and I do know that this was the best thing I ever could have done. There is so much work to do. Its kind of overwhelming. 

 

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

2 Weeks Left

My mind spins when I think that I will be home in two weeks. 
That is so weird. I always thought I would be a missionary forever.


Anyways, last week I didnt have time to write because I was helping Chely pack her bags and finish everything up. Then we went to her setting apart and it was so special! 
To look at little Chely and see her as a missionary was so amazing! It reminded me of my setting apart. 
I remember when President Murphy said that I was set apart to be a missionary in my blessing....and just feeling a happiness like I have never known. And after that just feeling...different...being able to see clearer or be more peaceful...or I dont know. But I still remember that moment. And everything that came after has been so beautiful. Really the best ever. 
Being a missionary is the absolute BEST! I dont ever want to take off my badge. Or leave Chile. 

Tuesday we went to the airport with Chely. And sent her off. Half the ward came too and her whole family. It was really great. And she was really happy. I on the other hand was not too happy. I started crying during her farewell sunday and didnt stop til this morning. It was a hard goodbye. Mixed with feelings of jealousy...I want to go on another mission! Why is my mission ending!? I dont understand!! I´m not ready!!

Anyways, this week we visited a grandma that is 106 years old but still talks and walks and sings and everything. I hope I am that awesome at 106. 

What else to say....

I love Chile and I never want to leave. 
I love everyone here so much. 
This last year and a half has not been easy...but it has been the best!

Okay I´m out of time....see you soon!

Love you all!

Beautiful

Hola Hola! 

What a BEAUTIFUL day in Concepcion!! The sun is very very bright but it doesnt feel like an oven like it always does in Haulqui. Hualqui literally is the hottest place I have ever experienced. I dont get it...how can the winter be so cold and the summer so hot? Literally my feet burn as we walk because the streets are so hot. I`m surprised I still have hair on my head and that it all hasnt burned off. I actually started wearing sunblock for the first time in my life because I`m getting really worried about my skin. 

Tuesday was a wondeful day. We went to zone class where we had a wonderful announcement! So for my whole mission and I think for the history of missions...we have always had to have numbers. How many numbers of lessons we teach every week, new people we find, references we receive, how many less actives come to church, how many less actives have a caiing...etc ect..there are like 100 numbers we have to keep track of. And sometimes it can feel like we are here just to get numbers..and its sad when I see how many people work for numbers...like its a competition or something. Anyways, from now on we wont be having any numbers! Which means we can work more creatively and more for pure love! Its great. Too bad I can only enjoy it for 3 weeks. But I know it will be great for the mission. 

This weekend two investigators got married friday and then got baptized saturday! It was lovely! We made little cupcakes for their wedding.

My mind cannot accept the fact that I am coming home so soon. Every once in awhile I force myself to think about it. Its kind of painful. So for now I will just eat as much manjar as possible and enjoy the beautiful rivers and mountains. 

Friday we found this little country street and started walking and walking and walking...we probably walked for 6 miles up and down little hills and through fields. Every once in awhile finding peach trees and little abuelitos to teach in tiny houses. Then it was late and we realized we had about three hours of walking to return to the town. so we said a little prayer and a car out of no where showed up and offered us a ride (literally we were in the middle of nowhere...I have no idea where the car came from).

I just love everyone here so much. I love Chile. I love everything about it. I love being a missionary.

Love you all! See you soon!

Hermana Orchard

Dying in Haulquiiiiii

Hola! 

Wow! Can you believe we are starting a  new year? How sad! 2014 has been so wonderful and I just dont want it to end! I dont want anything to end...ever. Especially my mission...but I´m not going to cry right now.

After weeks of crying thinking that I was going to leave Hualqui today......guess who will have 8 months in Haulqui....ME! I will!! I will stay in Haulqui! My real home forever! I am insanely happy to be able to stay here for 6 more weeks and finish my mission here....but leaving here after 8 months....not a pretty thing. Oh well. It will be all of you that will have to deal with that change! 

The sad thing is that my favorite fellow gringa is leaving me! Hermana Vawdrey is leaving and I didnt realize how sad I would be about that. I have loved reading her journel and singing high school musical with her all through the night. It´s been fun. And I will miss her. 

I get to stay with my little daughter and finish her training. I am so happy for that. Hermana Monroy is the absolute best and I love her so much! I learn so much from her every day! Like this week she tried teaching me how to dance salsa. Tried. Good luck to anyone who tries teaching me how to dance. But she is just the sweetest thing and we get along so great. I already have plans to visit her in Gautemala. I am happy we have 6 more weeks to sing different harmonies of "Alleluja" in the streets. 

Tuesday we had a nice long trip to Chillan where our entire mission gathered for a Christmas conference. It was so fun seeing old companions and friends all in one place! 

Christmas eve we went out to the country and tried to find some people.  It was fun but I kept falling down and came back quite the mess. We were supposed to have a christmas dinner thing with a family at 8 but when we got there the family said they couldnt anymore. There was absolutly no one in the streets and no one even looked out their window when we knocked doors. So we ended up sitting at a bus stop singing hymns for a couple hours. It was really cold and we were hungry but all the stores were closed so we only could eat banannas when we got home. We thought it was a pretty lame Christmas. Then Chely called crying saying that her parents had kicked her out of her hosue.  So we walked to pick her up. And it broke my heart to see it. Christmas eve and her parents kicked her out of her house....because she is going on a mission. We took her back to our house and made a weird dish out of rice and bread then put her to bed. We spent the night writing letters to Chely and each other and making little gifts and putting them under the paper tree on our wall. And somehow in doing all of that I felt better. Because even though I wasnt with my family...I know my family will never kick me out to the streets. And I started thinking about all the people here. Mostly the woman. They are so strong. 

Ellie...a year ago her mom got run over by a bus right in front of her house. She has no money and has to work 15 hours days in a field moving around metal just to buy a little bit of bread. But she told us she is always hungry and there is never enough food. She doesnt even have enough money to wahs her clothes with soap. Her husband beats her all the time and forbids her to go to church. Her kids are out of control and always drugged. She doesnt have any friends or anyone to help her yet still prays for her kids constantly. And when her husband is too drunk to know...she sneaks to church sundays. 

Maria..She has 6 kids. Her husband got excommunicated a couple years ago because he had a child with another woman. But she forgave him. And keeps forgiving him when he doesnt pay for this other child and has to go to jail for a couple weeks. She has a son with lots of disabilities and doesnt have any money either. She has to work all day every day...but even with that she finds time to lead the ward choir and give us missionaries lunch every week. And accompany the missionaries. And deliver bread to sick people. 

Iileen...her husband left her when she had three little kids. He left her with literally only a couch in the middle of the street. Somehow she alone built herself up and raised her kis. Now she lives alone with her 30 year old son who has down syndrome. She is the most grateful person I know and is constantly giving and sharing. Literally the sweetest person I have met. 

Marta...her husband left her. · of her 4 kids dont talk to her or visit her. She lives alone with one son who has really strong drug problems and steals all her stuff to but drugs. Last month he stole her sewing machine...she works as a seamstress. Now she has no way to work or pray for food or anything. But somehow she still sings to us, laughs and is always the first one in church. 

And then there is Chely. I wont give her life story but she is amazing and inspires me so much every day. 

Sometimes I wonder why there is so much suffering. Why some people have lifes so easy...when others have it so hard. But really God tries his strongest people. And thanks to Chrismtas...that Christ lived and died for us...all this suffering will go away. But the amazing thing is that we dont have to wait for the life after to rest from our suffering or to have peace. With Christ we can have peace now. We can be happy! It may seem impossible at times...but really that is the miracle of the atonement. And I´m so grateful for it. And I love the people her so much. They amaze me. And one day...maybe a million years from now I can be just half the people they are. 

Yesterday was special. We were able to go with Chely to her going away party that the relief society threw for her. It was amazing to see everyone come together and give just little things...but all the little things added up and she has everything she needs for her mission now. Which is good because she confessed to me last week that she cant sleep because she is so worried about money. But the whole thing was really sweet. 

Christmas morning we all opened our little presents....Chely said it was the first Christmas she had presents. We got to call home and at night went caroling with the elders. It was a good day. 

Mostly I am happy today to be here in Chile. I love Chile and I love being a missionary. God loves me too...becuase He is blessing me so much. 8 months is a place so beautiful and wonderful...

Love you all! Hopefully no one put pictures of your Christmas presents on facebook...I hate when people do that.

Hermana Orchard

Feliz Navidad!!!

Hola Familia!!!!!!!!!

 

Feliz Navidad!!!

 

This week Hermana Vadrey flooded the entire house while taking a shower. The drain doesnt work too well and next thing we knew the stove was pretty much floating in water haha. Poor thing needs her glasses at all times.

 

While closing the house gate one night we heard screaming coming from the house connected to ours. We listenened for a min and heard sobbing and somebody yelling something about Mattias falling and not waking up. We all assumed that a little boy or baby or something had fallen from the stairs and was unconcious. So Chely jumped the neighbors gate and started trying to break in the window. I started running down the street screaming. My companion called the ambulance while the other two hermanas tried climbing onto the roof. The little neighbor girl who was babysitting was absolutly hysterical. As we were about to break in the parents zoomed up and ran inside. As we were on the phone with 911 and pretty scared the dad walks out. We all look for the dying baby in his arms....and see....a little poodle? 

It was pretty funny. Not when the police showed up but....really....so much crying for a dog? The dog was fine too by the way. It was wide awake and barking. 

 

I remember this time last year we were teaching a little boy who lived in an orphanage. He was completely abandoned and had nothing. At 15 years old he had nothing in his life....and it looked like no future either. He was sad and hurt and confused. And when we tried to teach him that there is a God...and that He is our Heavenly Father who LOVES us...he didnt believe it. Because how could God love us and give us so many trials at the same time. Maybe God loved other people a lot...people who had money and families and nice things....but him. God had probably forgotten about him. Because he didnt have anything. 

 

And the last 16 months I have seen too many similar attitudes. God maybe loves everyone else. But not me. I see it from the people in the street who dont have anything...from the good woman whose husbands beat them and leave them in the street....to converts who try to hard to do right...and dont get any help. To my own life sometimes. Because sometimes....we try really hard...and we dont see results. Its one thing after another until we feel like we are going to burst! I had a little moment like that this week. 

I dont have any blessings. God doesnt love me. I´m going in circles...bla bla bla.

But then I started thinking

 

I love Hualqui. I love the trees and how all the blossoms blow and get in your eyes. I love our little house. I love my companion Hermana Monroy. She is one of my favorite people ever and probably my greatest little daughter blessing I could have. I love singing. I love Chile and that God let me come and love Chile. I love that God let me know one of my long long sisters here in Chile...Chely and that I have been able to have 6 months learning from her. I love food. All food. I love all the companions I have had and all the things I have learned from them. I love my family and that they have always been supportive of me in my mission. I love that on days when I feel like I cant just walk around in any more heat....it just starts raining. I love everything. And I am probably the most blessed person on the planet. And so are you. Because God knows us perfectly and blesses us and challenges us in His perfect ways..just the way we need it! How silly that we so oftan forget our blessings. 

 

People here dont really celebrate Christmas the way we do. They do it the right way. Without trees..without lights and presents and a whole lot of fuss. They just remember Christ. And no one here is confused in what is the real meaning of Christmas. I feel sick when I remember getting on facebook Christmas morning and seeing people put lists of their presents...or photos...or anything like that. Here people dont even have money for a tree. Or food. But they are happy. And they can focus on Christ. On the atonement. One lady we are teaching astounded me by saying that she loves Christmas because she can focus on her opportunity to repent and be clean thanks to Christ. That He was born. That He came to clean us and to right every wrong. 

And God loves us. We are the reason that God gave His Son. We are the reason that Christ gave His life. And we should feel so so blessed. Because even though we fall. Even though we are not perfect at all. We can be...we can get up and brush ourselves off and keep walking. 

 

There are so many in need. Needs that are real. Not needs of a new iphone or clothes or movies. But needs like food and blankets and love and care and interest. Lets all go out and find those people who are REALLY in need this Christmas. And not just serve them for an hour or two to check service off the list....but really give a gift of our heart. A gift that lasts more than a lifetime and more than a day. A gift that is a real sacrifice and maybe hurts a bit to give. 

 

I love you all so much and am so thankful for the blessing of YOU in my life! 

 

Have a very thankful, and peaceful and thoughtful Christmas. 

And eat some food for me! This week we are living off yogurt and bananas. :)

 

Hermana Orchard

The Race

Quit! Give up! Youre beaten! 

They shout at me and plead

Theres just too much against you now

This time you cant succeed

And as I start to hang my head

in front of failure`s face, 

my downwards fall is broken by

the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will 

As I recall that scene

For just the thought of that short race

rejuvenates my being.

A childrens race-young boys, young men

How i remember well

Excitement, sure! But also fear,

It wasnt hard to tell

They all lined up so full of hope

each thought to win the race.

Or tie for first, or if not that,

At least take second place

And fathers watched from off the side

Each cheering for his son

And each boy hoped to show his dad

that he would be the one

The whistle blew and off they went, 

young hearts and hopes afire.

To win and be the hero there

was each young boys desire

and one boy in particular,

whose dad was in the crowd,

was running near the lead and thought:

My dad will be so proud!

But as they sped down the field

Across a shallow dip,

the little boy who thought to win

Lost his head and slipped.

Trying hard to catch himself, 

His hard to catch himself,

His hands flew out to brace,

But mid the laughter of the crowd

He fell flat on his face

So down he fell and with him hope

He couldnt win it now-

Embaressed, sad, he only wished

To disappear somehow

But as he fell his dad stood up, and showed his anxious face,

Which to the boy so clearly said,

Get up and win the race!

He quickly rose, no damage done,

Behind a bit, thats all-

And ran with all his mind and might

to make up for his fall.

So anxious to restore himself

to catch up and to win-

His mind went faster than his ñegs,

He slipped and fell again! 

He wished then he had quit before,

with only one disgrace.

I`m hopeless as a runner now,

I shouldnt try to race.

But in the laughing crowd he searched

and found his fathers face,

that steady look which said again

Get up and win the race!

So up he jumped to try again

Ten yards behind the last-

If im to gain these yeards, he thought

ive got to move real fast

Exerting everything he had

He regained eight or ten

but trying so hard to catch the lead

He slipped and fell again!

Defeat: he lay there silently

A tear dropped from his eye-

Theres no sense running anymore

Three strikes1 I`m out" Why try!

the will to rise had disappeared;

All hope had fled away

So far behind, so error prone

A loser all the way.

I`ve lost, so whats the use, he thought

Ill live with my disgrace

But then he thought about his dad

Who soon hed have to face

Get up, an echo sounded low

Get up and take your place

You were not meant for failure here

Get up and win the race

With borrowed will get up, it said

you havent lost at all

For winning is no more than this;

to rise each time you fall

So up he rose to run once more

And with a new commit

He resolved that win or lose

at least he wouldnt quit

So far behind the others now,

The most hed ever been

Still he gave it all he had

And ran as though to win

Three times he`s fallen, stumbling,

Three times he rose again,

Too far behind to hope to win

He still ran to the end

They cheered the winning runner,

As he crossed the line first place.

Head high, and proud, and happy,

No falling, no disgrace

But when the fallen youngster

Crossed the line last place,

The crowd gave him the greater cheer,

for finishing the race.

And even though he came in last,

with head bowed low, unproud,

you would have thought hes won the race

to listen to the crowd.

And to his dad he sadly sad

I didnt do too well

To me, you won. his father said

You rose each time you fell

And now when things seem dark and hard

And difficult to face,

The memory of that little boy

Helps me in my race

For all of life is like that race, 

with ups and downs and all

And all you have to do to win

is rise each time you fall.

All God wants to do is help us every time we fall! We will fall a lot. But that doesnt matter. We are not in a race against other people here. 

Holaaa!!!

Holaaa!!!

Wow! What a whirlwind of a week! I dont think my mission experience has been very normal...but I have loved all of it! 

Remember how I have already had scabies like 3 times...and never ending fleas and bedbugs and everything else? Well one thing I havent had yet on the mission is lice. I was thinking about that the other day....like...wow what a miracle it is that i havent had lice. Welp..for about a week my little daughter has been complaining about her head itching....I just told her it was normal...we swim in fleas here I am constantly itchy. Then she came out of the shower tuesday morning to say she found a bug in her hair. Oh no....We called our zone leaders to tell them we couldnt come to class because the four of us had to stay home and clean the house and our hair...

But they said they didnt think the lice would be jumping and flying around so fast as to infect everyone in an hour. So we had to go to class. 

And they made us sit in the back about 40 feet behind everyone else.

And no one came over to kiss us or shake our hands. 

And everyone knew. 

And we felt like animals. 

But it was hilarious and we laughed the whole time and then came home to deep clean the house...again

And then i washed everyones hair in that nasty lice cream. 

Then Chely came over to help us clean our hair from all the lice nests and all that....am i grossing you out yet? It was an all day project but we got it down!! Yay! We are lice free! At least for a week..!!

Today we went paintballing in the country. I wasnt super enthusiastic about it at first but once we started playing I kept winning! I won every time against 30 elders! I enjoyed it.

I was able to go with Chely yesterday as she got her patriarchal blessing. She called my president and got permission for me to go! I felt like I was in the temple again. It was an amazing experience. Oh I just love my little Chely so much! We are going to be sisters forever! 

One of the converts here has had lots of trouble with drugs. It had gotten to the point that he was robbing from his mom and anyone else to buy drugs. He wanted to change...but didnt seem to be ablt to have the ability. So we fasted and prayed for him to have a stronger desire to drop his addiction. And Friday night he got completely beat up....they broke his jaw and everything. He had to have surgery and spend the week in the hospital. But guess what...he hasnt taken any more drugs and says the thought of smoking makes him throw up! God works in different ways sometimes....but its always to bless and help us!

I forgot to bring my agenda with me so I cant remember anything else.

See you all February 11th! Can you believe thats only 9 weeks away?! 9 weeks....I wonder how many empanadas I can eat in 9 weeks....

Love you all!

Hermana Orchard