Week 41: Busiest Week

Soccer with missionaries and a local family!

I have so many things to tell you because so many cool things happened but then I think if I already wrote that in my journal do I really have to write it again? Hna Jones and I made some good revaluations about 2 weeks ago and missionary work has gotten more productive. I feel like we are really on the rim--like this could be the turning point and we start baptizing the whole Pueblo de Rio Frio and we get a "casa de oracio" [house of prayer] started out there. This week we had more member presents than in the whole cycle combined and we are in the last semana (week) of the cycle.

But something REALLY cool that happened this week is that I found my Dad! I was eating lunch with a supernice family from Monte Corona and the 14 boy (who totally has a crush on me) was super excited to show me the librito de su family history and in this book it said his mom served her mission in Vera Cruz. So I got to talking and GUESS WHAT.  She has these 2 yearbook type pamphlets from her mission from 1986 and 1987 with Prez Beecroft and Prz Ramirez and I found pictures of Dad! It was so cool :) I was so happy and only kind of freaking out--hahah. I also found pictures of Elder Ayup. (Dad's great companion and friend) It just made me feel so connected-- imaginense finding pictures of your family in a stranger's house in Mexico--pretty loco!

I also found some cool quotes from Elder Bedanar--one from my comp's grandma--

"Give missionaries 10 things to do. The Elders will do 2 of the 10 and say, "I rock!" The sisters will do 8 of the 10 and say, "I'm going to hell." So, dear Hermana Lambert, be kind to yourself, know that you are doing fine and that the Lord is pleased with you!  And one in my personal study (this isn't word for word but casi [almost]) The surest way to know that the Lord has forgiven you is when you can feel the Holy Ghost working in your life again because "He can not dwell in unholy temples." Remember, the Lord doesn't expect you to be perfect. He expects you to be clean.

That helped me feel really good about myself. These past few weeks Hna Jones and I have been guided by the spirit time and time again. Our lessons have been better than ever :) I love the mission. I love working here. I love my family. I love the feeling that there is in our home.

 I honestly had forgotten what it feels like to be in a HOME With parents who are sealed to eachother and their children for all eternity, where everyone is happy. Where they are active in their various church callings, where they all read the scriptures and pray as a family. It is just so hard to find a family like that. We were about to leave because we had probably stayed too long already talking about the ward and going through the list of references they had for us ( we had already visited and dropped all of them) when their Dad came home. When he came home the house was filled and they felt complete. He called in his youngest children (6 and 10) to listen and we read Helaman 5 with them. It was such a sweet experience and the spirit was so strong. When we were done and just ended with our testimonies I told them that I hoped they were grateful for all they had, that I hoped they understood they joy that they have in their lives that so many don't have, and I started to cry right there at their kitchen table. Back home I cried a lot when I "felt the spirit." I don't know I guess I am just a sensitive person. But in the mission casi no. I mean I feel it all the time and I can't go around crying everywhere. But here I was in their house so touched because I had forgotten what it feels like to be part of a family with some much love, blessed by the guidance of the priesthood.

My family is like that and I am so grateful. Never in my life will I again undervalue the chance to sit around the table with my very own family and just be happy because that is what life is all about. Being happy in families. Forever.

see you in May-Hermana Lambert

Dad is 4th from the right, bottom row!

Elder Ayup, who also met Eliza on her mission!  Top row, 2nd photo