¿Qué sopá? That's how they ask "how's it going?" in Panama.... Just so y'all know. :)
This week was INCREDIBLE. Also, incredibly long. :) I was rereading my journal entries this morning and I can't even believe everything that happened this past week because it feels like a lifetime ago! Last Monday was probably one of the busiest P-days I've ever had--yes, I've only had 8, but still. We got A LOT done. Funny (kind of funny) story for ya--I was washing my garments in our pila. Remember our lovely pila that I sent y'all a picture of? Yeah, I spent an hour handwashing my garments and other clothes. It. Was. Exhausting. And it was hot! I was sweating so much that it was running into my eyes so I couldn't see. Yeah....I love El Salvador. It's the best. (Don't think I'm kidding, because I'm not. I really do love it and I can't imagine life right now any other way....) :)
Umm...I still can't believe we're in May. It seems like it was just yesterday that Hna. Montoya and I were sitting in the CCM in Provo, completely flabbergasted that it was March and that we would be entering the MISSION FIELD in three days. So. Crazy. I sure do miss that girl! Hopin' all is well in Costa Rica....
On Wednesday, we had my first multi-zona conference! Woo hooooooooo! It was WONDERFULÍSIMO!!! yes, that's not a word, but that's how I feel about it. Just a few things--I ran into Hna. Kramer. She's one of the two other Gringas that entered the field with me. She and I have become such good friends even though we're not companions. She and I were talking on Wednesday and she said, "Every time I get on the bus here, I feel like the Law of Chastity just flies out the window...." But it is SO true. Us poor Gringa misioneras.... We are attracting all sorts of....people who make interesting decisions. I don't really like the buses here because I've had a lot of bad experiences, BUT it sure makes an entertaining journal entry. BE GRATEFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WE HAVE IN THE STATES. :) haha
So yeah. Back to the multi-zona--President and Sister Hintze both spoke, as well as the 4 asistentes. It was amazing. SUCH a spiritual boost! However, my companion and I were chosen to give a baptismal interview demonstration IN FRONT OF EVERYONE--including President and Sister Hintze. Ay, ay, ay! My first multi-zona, too! But....it wasn't terrible. We were just.....super direct. :) But that's all right.
During lunch, Sister Hintze sat with Hna. Kramer and I and this new Gringa misionera. Her name is Hna. Kramer and she's from Cedar Hills, Utah! She's super awesome and super tough! Anyone, Sister Hintze asked Hna. Kramer and I when we started feeling like we had adjusted--when we thought we could finally handle things. .....hehe I just told her, "It's different for everyone. You just need to remember to hang in there. Satan is going to try you in every way imaginalbe. When he realizes that a certain strategy doesn't work on you, he'll change tactics. He'll try you from every angle possible, but you'll just continue to grow stronger." Sister Hintze commented about how I said all of that with a smile. "It's because every day is a new adventure." I hadn't even realized I had been smiling during all of that, but it really is true. This mission has been incredibly difficult, but I love it! I love my companion. I love the missionaries. I love President and Sister Hintze. I love the people. I am SO happy here.
At the end of the multi-zona, the missionaries who are in their last transfer, bore their testimonies. I'm just beginning my mission, but I'm already dreading that moment. I don't want to reach that point. I don't want to go home. I don't want....to leave. I feel like Ammon--I want to live here possibly for the rest of my life. I can't imagine it any other way...
It has been raining A TON this week. And none of the umbrellas in our house were made for tall people. :) Soooo.....I'm always soaked, BUT God is blessing us. There are numerous members and people we know that have been getting sick because they got caught in the rain. But not us! And we spend more time out in the rain (all day) than they do. I am so grateful for the blessings of being a missionary. God doesn't only bless us though. He blesses everyone in their own special way. So I encourage you all to look for those special blessings/miracles that God gives you each day. I promise you that they really are there.
Okay. The other thing I wanted to mention was this lady we met last week--T___. She has had the most difficult life known to man. I'm not even kidding! On this particular day, it was SUPER hard to understand what was going on, but I knew she has had so many desafíos. All I could do was smile, try my hardest not to cry, gently rub my hand across her arm, and share Alma 7:11-12 along with my testimony. I realized that here I am in El Salvador. I've been complaining about not being able to feel the Spirit in every moment, but there are people here who have NEVER been able to feel the Spirit, to feel of that peace and that happiness. And God has blessed me immensely--I have this great opportunity EVERY DAY to share that feeling, to teach the people here that they can have this incredible thing that they didn't even know existed, to have this special bond with our Father in Heaven. They can prepare themselves each and every day to return to live with God and they can increase their faith in Him through this relationship with the Spirit that we can have. SHARE THE GOSPEL!!! Fear will always be the only obstacle between us and our family and friends, but it never should be. We should think about the relationship that we have with Heavenly Father. We love Him and we can feel the love He has for us. Don't we want to share that with our family and friends? Don't we want to share that with EVERYONE???
I love you all so, so much. I am so blessed to be able to serve in the El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize mission every day. I love the people here and I love this gospel. I am so grateful for every trial that God has sent me because I know it's an opportunity for me to grow and learn to depend more fully on Him.
Thank you for your prayers and support and more importantly--your examples. Keep pressing on and fanning the flame of your faith!
Love Always,
Hermana McCulloch
