Week 55: "Footprints in the Sand"

January 19, 2015

Louetta is the area of miracles.

I absolutely love being a missionary and I am so grateful to be serving here! I love these people with my whole heart! I have grown so close with so many people and {although I would never choose to live in Houston} it has become a little piece of home. I am at the point in my mission where I am just loving it! I LOVE driving and tracting and teaching and studying and learning and speaking and growing and being a missionary! It has been really interesting to see how God qualifies the called, how even though huge obstacles come I am strengthened to overcome them. I am a completely different person than I was a year ago! I am becoming the best me I can be, and I love it. :)

We got a call from the other Hermana Misioneras in our ward and she was called to be a trainer! So until her trainee came we had to be with her and cover both of our {enormous} areas. Stress! but we had UNREAL miracles! Every single lesson we went to was so powerful, my favorite of which was with an old man in Denny's- one of the most spiritual lessons I've had. Then we got to pick up her brand new little trainee... straight from Guatemala! 

On this week's episode of "Fumigation: Nightmare from Heck" I learned exactly who to go with when I want a problem solved. That person would be none other than the mission president's wife. In less than two hours she had people looking for a new apartment for us and we will be moving this week.

I FINALLY got to talk to E---'s mom on the phone and get her permission to baptize him! Miracle of all miracles. We are literally bringing him to a member's house for safekeeping until his baptism this weekend {this kid has put me through the RINGER!}

Our zone leader gave me a bag of "lifesavors" and said that he thought I was being transferred {join the club} and wanted to thank me for everything. So sweet!

One night we were walking and I saw a man across the parking lot. I said hi to him and after chatting for a minute found out that he had met with missionaries and come to church in Mexico for six months. He started crying and when I asked him what was wrong he told me that his mother had passed away earlier that day and he had been praying for comfort, and that "God heard my prayer and sent me angels."

We had the mission president's fireside in Spanish this week! So amazing! I got to say the opening prayer! 

The Hermanas had a baptism this week... SO SPECIAL. Pedro: bawling. Bishop: bawling. Ward Mission Leader: bawling. The Spirit was so strong. Pedro bore his testimony about how when he was a kid and didn't have a family he would just talk to himself so he didn't feel so lonely, but now he has the Gift of the Holy Ghost and he isn't alone anymore and he has someone to talk to. AHH! I died.

Funnies of the Week:

My 2nd missionary haircut was a significantly better experience than the 1st.

There's a joke among missionaries that each zit on our face is named after the investigator from whence it came... if that's the case, all of my ulcers are named E----. 

Yesterday we were the first ones in the church building and... 12 hours later we were the last ones out.

A man asked me if he could help me with my bags as we were taking our stuff to the other Sisters' apartment for the night, and I got talking to him. Turns out he's from Pakistan! 1st funny: his face when I spoke the little Ordu I know. 2nd funny: when I told him I am a missionary he shouted, "I LOVE MORMONS!"

The new trainee learned English by watching tv and working in a call center... all week she's been swearing up a storm! HAHAHA {She had no idea she was saying swear words!}

Tried visiting a very mean menos activo in our ward, and after his very rude rejection I simply said, "We love you!" and walked away, and I heard him mumble/grumble "love you too." haha

I love you so much! Thank you for all of your love and support!

Hermana McOmber

My favorite!  L & G

Transfers!

  

Denney's with a member family!

I made a gold glitter scripture case for my military size- haha!

Love the gangsta cars out here - love the SPIKES!

New district!

Investigator

Sorry Hermana Miller - they took us to Madeline's!!

Rosabel!

I got to teach him so much I felt like he was mine - haha!

Happy Day!

Fireside!

P-day!

Fun package I got from Nick Shorts!

Heavenly Father has been bombarding my mind with the "Footprints in the Sand" poem this week.  First my idea for a planner cover, then found it on a Spanish bracelet, then an investigator gave the entire thing to me!

One Year Ago!