tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91084386924737734342024-03-18T21:41:43.460-07:00Barcelona BoundLetters from a mission... and a bit beyondAlayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-15636658091494078692017-04-27T16:32:00.006-07:002017-04-27T18:06:23.330-07:00A Year in the Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No, I'm not talking about Gilmore Girls. And it's not the <a href="http://shesbarcelonabound.blogspot.com/2015/11/525600-minutes.html">525,600 minutes</a> of my first year in the mission, but you're getting closer. These lyrics from the one good song in <i>Rent</i> just work so perfectly to commemorate today's landmark: My first year as returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So here are some thoughts on that.<br />
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I occasionally pull out my old mission journals--not too often--and read what I was doing a year (or two) ago "today." What a blessing perspective is! I can read of a truly frustrating moment with the knowledge that something wonderful was just around the corner. I can read about one little half-forgotten moment scrawled into a margin that was the beginning of something extraordinary. But sometimes I read about a hyped-up contact, a "fool's gold" future investigator, that disappears from both the page and my memory. All of them are treasures to me now.<br />
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My last week was just... surreal. I was determined to be happy and peaceful, resigned to the end. I put on a good face and really, made it my own. And now it's been a full year, here's what I remember most from the mission as a whole:<br />
I remember moments of intense power: After a prayer was said and a powerful silence permeated for a moment; moments of testimony when I knew what I bore was going straight to the heart of the hearers. At times I was knocked almost breathless with the realization of the power in the room. It was a time when people listened and watched me in what I said or did. I was a true leader, and yet more humble then I've ever been before or since.<br />
I've witnessed true healing: of hearts, faith, and body.<br />
I've seen people grow and blossom. I've served them in their hard times and been blessed to see them stand, and serve others in their turn. I've planted seeds and seen them grow, even come to see them bare fruit. I heard his first testimony, and now he's sitting next to me, bearing fervent testimony to a stranger at the drop of a hat.<br />
I remember the heartbreak of every transfer call that tore me away from those I had come to love and the cities that had become my home.<br />
Yes, I remember the food. (I'm eating a Milka bar right now, and I couldn't be happier)<br />
I remember the people, my friends.<br />
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I remember what was said to me in my last week.<br />
"You did it. You did it well. Maybe better than anyone has done it." -my last companion.<br />
"You were truly special, you were a truly consecrated missionary. You were incredible."-last Ward Mission Leader<br />
"I've been wondering... it there life after 'Een?' It'll be hard to see you go." -President Dayton<br />
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.' That is what the Savior is saying to you; that is what I'm saying to you."-President Dayton<br />
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But now a year has gone by. As focused as I was on "dying well" when I left the mission field, I've had to focus even more on "living well" now that I'm back home. My journal-writing is only a fraction of what it was in the field (I went through two in a year when I was in the field. Now I've gone through... about 25 pages front/back, of a single journal). I think of my mission, and sometime I look at the clock and think, <i>it's 10 pm in Spain, and you know that the obedient El Faro missionaries are running home</i>. It's a wonderfully happy thought... even though, with all the time I've been home, I only know a handful of them that are still out there.<br />
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I've seen things happen both here and in Spain. I've seen friends fall away and forget the truths I so fiercely defend. But I've also seen (literally, we Skyped) a dear friend finally accept them and be baptized. I've been there for faith crises, both on the home-front <i>and</i> with friends from the field... and I've seen them overcome despite all odds or my own disbelief. I've felt the power of the Holy Ghost working through me to teach, perhaps not as often as I did during my full-time mission service, but as I stand and speak--whether to give a talk in church or a simple spiritual message at FHE or Ward Prayer--I feel it in me again. I feel the power of truth and the force of conviction that came through consecrated service. I teach again, I just switched citas for Visiting Teaching appointments. I have served again (they're a lot more willing to let the sisters do some heavy lifting here). I have loved my roommates and have tried to be there for them, just as I did for my companions.<br />
I have not stopped serving the Lord.<br />
I don't see the work of salvation up-close as much as I did then, but I may be participating in it now more than ever before. In my year home, I've averaged weekly temple attendance. I've worked through a big stack of family names, found by my aunt. Next, I'll just have to find my own.<br />
On my mission, I felt to sing the song of redeeming love. <i><b>And I still feel so now</b></i>.<br />
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Today is the year-mark of my last day as a missionary (at least, I'm pretty sure. The whole flying/time-zone thing is a little confusing). And being the deeply nostalgic person that I am, I wanted to commemorate it. Not in a big public way, that's not what the mission was for me, but in a service-oriented and ponderous one. So I went to the temple in the dress that I wore for my last mission interview and finished the last saving ordinance for my last of 18(ish) temple names. There's still so much more to do, but I have my whole life to do it. And I will... <a href="http://shesbarcelonabound.blogspot.com/2016/04/lo-que-el-senor-me-ha-ensenado.html">because missionary work is worth a lifetime.</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day before flying home</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the temple this morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaQPnywmXAKTc0GBkFI1YdoW3i2TF1j8DfuS4_DqBSWJCKXppAcJfmJQn5elW1xSK2rLoZis5aTBLzQEE_26RWPewPuW0iToIam4KL0aXEpEOabTkhx6LhphIeLOiyXNMj1Nakhf2SV0/s1600/DSCF3017+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaQPnywmXAKTc0GBkFI1YdoW3i2TF1j8DfuS4_DqBSWJCKXppAcJfmJQn5elW1xSK2rLoZis5aTBLzQEE_26RWPewPuW0iToIam4KL0aXEpEOabTkhx6LhphIeLOiyXNMj1Nakhf2SV0/s400/DSCF3017+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 18 lovely ladies I've been working with this year.</td></tr>
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<br />Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-7198270055550528442016-10-23T15:22:00.004-07:002016-10-23T15:23:59.063-07:00Leaving the field<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Words for a friend who is leaving the mission.</span></h4>
<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
"To die will be an awfully big adventure" -Peter Pan<br /><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There sure are a lot of references to death when someone talks about a mission. And it's an easy comparison to make, as I'll talk about a couple of examples before moving on to a happier, higher note, so hang in there.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Leaving the mission feels like dying. You don't know when or if you'll ever see these people again, and try as you might to ignore it you know that even if you do, it'll never be the same. And it won't. Unlike natural death, you know when it's going to happen, almost down to the hour. Don't let that make you paranoid. As a missionary, you know that you should never waste time but that doesn't mean that you should beat yourself up for every hour that didn't go as "perfectly" as you planned and hoped it would. Don't have unrealistic expectations for these days just because they're your last. When you look back on your mission, this week will be lost amidst the many other miracle-filled ones you've witnessed because of your continued faith and obedience. You've done well. Now comes the part of "enduring THROUGH the end." Have patience with yourself.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">The death-bed speech: You can choose your attitude. You can either be an "old man filled with regret" for the things you wish you'd done better and for the opportunities lost now that your time is up, OR you can take the time to be grateful for the experiences and blessings that you've had. My last week in the field was one of the most peaceful weeks of my entire life because I knew I had served honorably and I let the Spirit remind me of it from time to time.</span><br />The charade:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Try and go about as normally as possible, for your companion's sake, at least. Try as you might to avoid it, sending you home will make your companion a little trunky. Don't contribute to that more than necessary. Remember that mission life will continue without you- people will be taught and baptized, contacted, and dropped. That that is as it should be.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Remember the life you've lead: Take a nostalgic moment now and again. Remember that we are only called for 18 months. Accept that your time has come, and be at peace.</span><br />Freak-outs:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> If you haven't had one yet, you might have one soon. I remember as I faced the first day of the month in which I would go home, I was a wreck. I followed my companion around the streets without even the heart to contact and eventually sat down to sob at the approaching reality of my departure. If you have to cry, do it, it's ok. Normal, even. "The only way to take the sorrow out of death is to take the love out of life" and oh! How dearly have you loved these people! Your sorrow at leaving is a sign that you have developed charity- true Christ-like love. And that's a wonderful thing.</span><br />The upside:<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">As you pass through this veil, you get a glimpse, just a small one, of the incredible impact your time as a missionary has made. In the lives of some people, you have made ALL the difference. In mortal death, we have no lasting connection with those whom we leave. But thanks to the miracles of modern technology, YOU never have to loose the people you have come to love. I was a big Facebook user before the mission, posting pictures and "clever" statuses, but since I've returned I've used it to connect with dozens of beloved members and recent converts, even some investigators! I've had video calls and Manuela has called me every week since I left. These people are a part of your life now. No goodbye's only, "Hasta ver's."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Interview with President: It's really special. I won't give too much away but if a part in the middle of his monologue sounds familiar... that's because he borrowed it from my "Lo que el Senor me ha ensenado." See that? I'm haunting you from beyond the grave. ;) Also, it may comfort you to know that you don't actually have to turn in your emergency money. They just tell you that you do so that you aren't reckless throughout your mission. So if it's gone but you still have enough to live on for the next few days... you're fine!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is proof of a GLORIOUS resurrection. You are going to die. You will fly home and see your family. It isn't going to be perfect, so don't expect it to be, but it is going to be so, SO good. And then.... you're back. A stronger, smarter, happier, more focused version of you. And you go on living a wonderful life, forever changed for the better by what the mission taught you. As a returned missionary, I have felt SO much JOY in sharing my experiences, taking the opportunity to bear my testimony, and hearing of the faithfulness of my recent converts. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I remember thinking that I was somehow doomed to misery when I came home. I thought I would be abandoned by the spirit simply because it would no longer be possible to completely live a missionary lifestyle. I realize now just how silly that was. I remember the answer to a fervent prayer, "How will I keep up on spiritual learning?" and hearing in my head, "duh, Institute." Missionary lessons? Visiting Teaching! Do the simple things.</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("//ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/ellipsis.png"); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; opacity: 0.3;"><img class="ajT" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" style="background: url("//ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/ellipsis.png") no-repeat; height: 8px; opacity: 0.3; width: 20px;" /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">My mom got me a book called "Taking off the tag" helping missionaries adjust to normal life. It's helped me a lot. The gist of it is, don't forget. Don't forget the self-mastery you've learned or where your real priorities lie. Don't forget to serve and seek out the spirit. Don't forget to be HAPPY.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm telling you that it's all going to be ok. That I'm so, SO very proud of you, how you've grown, and all you've accomplished. My pride pales in comparison to that of your Heavenly Father, whose work you've done so diligently.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Well done, thou good, and faithful servant.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hope to see you soon!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">If this is your last time reading/writing emails... Hurrah for Israel!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hasta pronto, Hermana.</span><br /><span class="im" style="color: #500050; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #888888;">-Alayna Een</span></span></h4>
<span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></span>Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-39648747344379550082016-07-04T00:25:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:26:49.671-07:00God bless AMERICAThis one's going to be quick, But here's a couple of things.<br />
I spent 9 hours working at an outdoor pool and am now tanner than I ever thought possible. I'm working a lot but still try and find time to go to church activities. This last one was "humanitarian night" where my sister Eliza kicked my butt with her beautiful crocheting skills making a scarf for orphans in the Ukraine. I started making one too, but I'm pretty sure not even freezing orphans would want that ugly tangle of yarn. I need to brush up on my homemaking skills.<br />
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We were learning from Alma today in church. (I LOVE ALMA, in case you hadn't caught on to that yet) Something really cool was brought up about the famous verses at the beginning of Alma 29: 1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!<br />
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.<br />
The teacher brought up that when his words were immortalized in the Book of Mormon and as we carry that book to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in the hands of lovely capable missionaries, WE are fulfilling Alma's wish. He, as an angel (because... he's dead), is speaking from the dust and declaring the truths of the gospel to all who will listen. It's like the whole missionary force was adopted into the "Make a Wish" foundation and assigned to Alma's case. Good on you, genies!<br />
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My mom went up to girls camp with my little sister this week and having her gone for a week (not being able to ask her where something was, her opinion on this or that, etc) was pretty annoying. Then I had the thought, well, I was gone for a YEAR AND A HALF. So tell your family you love them today. They're making a big sacrifice, too. When she came back her leg was in a cast- leave it to my mom to break her fibula within HOURS of coming home. Lot's of one-legged and "break your leg" jokes are going around but I promise that we are otherwise being very considerate.<br />
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I was asked on my first date as a RM. He's short and a mutual friend suggested we go on a date because he thinks we'll "get along well." And since we're both RMs and are pretty much the only people who talk and volunteer for things in Gospel Principles, he has a point. Too bad I'm still in the "super awkward" phase. I'll let you know how it goes.<br />
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I'm ridiculously excited to celebrate the fourth of July here in AMERICA. Freedom and happiness are SO connected, and are the building blocks of our great nation. A sweet friend of mine said something in our testimony meeting today that I'd love to share with you.<br />
" I wish I had the guts to fight for my country, But I don't. So I do it in God's way, by defending His church."<br />
Onward, Christian soldiers!<br />
With patriotism and gratitude for the country upon which the church was restored,<br />
Hermana Alayna EenAlayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-18015100863579018372016-06-27T00:24:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:36:44.022-07:00BackyardsOnce you find one excuse not to go to the singles ward, suddenly there's an excuse for almost every week. (it's Father's day, my Sister/cousin is performing in church, we're out of town for a homecoming/farewell, etc.) They probably think I'm inactive. Anyway, We went to the home ward sacrament meeting and then back to the YSA Sunday school/RS. As we got in there I realized the topic was Alma 5 and couldn't wipe the grin off my face. My sister says that I love Alma more than ANYONE other than possibly his wife and Amulek, and I think there could be some truth in that. ALMA 5:26 "...If you have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask CAN YOU FEEL SO NOW?" I just want to ask everyone, shout it from the rooftops, put it on a billboard, paint it on a wall, EVERYTHING. It needs to be read, said, and repeated.<br />
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I watched a "chick-flick" in theaters for the first time in forever with my sister and a couple other girls. It was a guaranteed "tear-jerker" but I left the theater with dry eyes. So I'm still heartless, and I blame my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation for my complete disregard for the supposed sadness of death. I'm part of the fearless tearless<br />
...until someone reads a "Chicken soup for the soul" or sings a song about worth and value of a soul or bears their testimony, then I'm a gonner. The mission makes you weird(er).<br />
I also donated blood and compared missions to a high school friend who just got back.<br />
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I've been going to the temple every week (such a blessing!) Unfortunately, I've see the sort-of unfolding of a favorite Doctor Who quote "Make all of time and space your backyard, and what've you got? A backyard." Basically, because I was used to doing it, I slipped up and forgot how special it was, started zoning out a bit... until I caught myself falling asleep and snapped out of it. I had to do something, so I started looking at it a different way, reading in between the lines and gestures interpreting old, familiar things in a new and exciting way. And after the session we had a gospel geek session in the celestial room for 15 minutes. It was the most exciting and energizing and spiritual time I've had since the first time I went through. And I learned a lot: What is old and commonplace can be new again if we look through different eyes; God knows our hearts; there is always ALWAYS more to learn of what you know.<br />
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At some point we'll all have to face it: you all are in the final steps of this wonderful journey. These miraculous and life-changing experiences have been your metaphorical "backyard" for a long time now. Don't let that make you miss SEEING them.<br />
I had a friend over who served a mission around the same time as I did. We talked of this and that, one thing leading to another and I brought up one of my "Hermana Een Theories" about "versions of Heaven." [Basically how we all say 'it wouldn't be heaven without so-and-so' and we build up our own groups of who we would like to hang around with for eternity. Unfortunately we're not perfect so there's always someone who -whether we admit it or not- we'd rather not have in our "version of heaven." The take-away point is that there is NO ONE who doesn't fit into GOD's "version of heaven."] Well, the conversation died down and she had to go home, but a few minutes later, my brother who I thought was completely absorbed in his computer game, turned to me and said "I like your theory." I smiled and asked, "Which one?" he thought for a moment and then said, "All of them."<br />
I know that I gained a unique perspective of a LOT of things on the mission. It really IS 10 years of experience and knowledge crammed into 18-24 months! Don't forget to share it when you can. Don't loose it. They truly are treasures. You will come home a different/better person, don't forget that appropriately sharing what you did, what you learned, and what it meant to you can CHANGE the lives of others. You are a living testimony that the gospel is true and the work is so very WORTH it.<br />
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A vencer, amigas!<br />
I'm praying for you all, so keep up the good work!<br />
-Hermana Alayna Een<br />
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*Facebook posts you might want to know*<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">A vencer, amigas!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm praying for you all, so keep up the good work!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">-Hermana Alayna Een</span></span>Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-25607689709115276592016-06-20T00:22:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:22:39.864-07:00Risky BehaviorRisky: Full possibility of danger, failure, or loss<br />
Behavior: the way in which one acts or conducts oneself.<br />
21: the age of a "real adult" in which such risky behaviors are legalized. At 21 you can drink. And you can also (if you have 3 years of driving experience) be the "adult supervision" for a person with a driving permit. And with my brother behind the wheel, I don't know which one is more dangerous. ;)<br />
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Well, this has been a... week. I turned 21 (which I don't expect any of you to remember because you don't have Facebook to remind you, but it's worth mentioning.) My dear friend and recent convert, Manuela from Bilbao, tried on 5 separate occasions to call and wish me happy birthday, but I was never home/ didn't have my cellphone. But no one does dedication like Manuela. So at 4:48am on June 18th, I got my first birthday wishes. Bless her.<br />
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I've been working a lot more: teaching lots of kids how to swim, running out of things to do and say and feeling super awkward spending most of the day in a swimsuit. In one of my classes I raced a 9 year-old girl... and it was a close tie. (She has swum 2hrs a day her whole life and I didn't even touch a pool for a year and a half, so my pride is injured but still intact.)<br />
Because my records were first moved to my home ward and then to a Singles ward... I had two sets of visiting teachers. And just how things turned out... they both visited me on Thursday. (Doesn't happen to everyone!) Just a heads up, your future visiting teachers will be afraid to teach you, since RMs are supposed to know everything and be on a spiritual high. Help them out! I shared with them how as a 6-month missionary, I was sent to be the Sister Training Leader on an intercambio with someone who had a year on the mission. I felt much like they did, teaching me. Don't approach it as "I'm here to teach you something." but as, "I'll lift thee, and thee lift me, and we'll ascend together."<br />
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Study<br />
On the funny side: I've decided to start the Book of Mormon over again, paying attention to the author- what they said and how they say it and what THAT says about THEM, what the intent is, what they thought was important and why... it sounds a bit silly but every day I find it exciting and new even though the words ("I, Nephi") are ones I've heard hundreds of times. ANYWAY, I was reading in 1Nephi 4 (Nephi kills Laban, gets the plates, finds an unlikely friend in Zoram.) Zoram is originally (understandably) a little freaked out about going with them to the Promised land but agrees within a couple verses and then off they go. But get this! In verse 36 they say, "Now we were desirous that he [Zoram] should tarry with us for this cause, that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should pursue and destroy us." <br />
It really is a sticky situation. Zoram has to leave EVERYTHING he knows and go into the wilderness with strangers, or Nephi would have to kill him or something because he COULDN'T have gone back to the castle because then he would have been questioned and forced to tell the whereabouts of Nephi and his brothers. Playing dumb wouldn't have worked either. But ALSO...<br />
CSI Jerusalem finds decapitated Laban in a hallway with his sword and clothes AND the brass plates missing and suddenly his servant Zoram is nowhere to be found? If Zoram had stayed in Jerusalem he would have either led the Jews to Lehi's family or been convicted for Laban's murder.<br />
CSI Jerusalem. ;) So Zoram's addition to the group really WAS inspired and even though his decedents kind-of plague the Nephites for the rest of forever... it was part of God's plan.<br />
Serious side:1 Nephi 10:17 has this beautiful definition, "Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him..." The Holy Ghost isn't some VIP membership benefit. ALL those who DILIGENTLY seek him... can feel his presence. You don't have to be perfect, but you should be good, and constant, and constantly good. ;) You have to ask for and invite him, but not much more than that. 'Tis a simple "gift."<br />
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I went to Deseret Book for the first time since I went to buy mission things. My heart ached with longing looking at the missionary section- seeing the same bag I carried EVERY DAY of my mission, new and ready for sale. Tears sprung up as I soaked in the small Spanish section of the store. I felt the spirit so strongly as I looked into the eyes of the many depictions of the Savior in the art department, each sending a message to my soul. It was a bitter-sweet experience, a reminder of an ending. Two years ago today, I opened my mission call to the Spain, Barcelona mission. I couldn't begin to enumerate or explain the many ways my life has changed since that day, because every minute since then has been influenced by that simple decision to serve. In the simplest words of a Hymn, "I Stand All Amazed." And I know you will, too. I would love to be in your shoes, but I can't wait for you all to have my vantage point: to see the spiritual and overall growth in yourself and sneak just a peak at all the GOOD you've done.<br />
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Happy American Father's Day! Take care, dear friends, and give your best in the Lord's service.<br />
... And send me a line if you have the time (at least forward your group email.)<br />
Les quiero!<br />
-Hermana Alayna Een.<br />
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Father's Day (With the favorite girls...)<br />
My new favorite picture of christ with the title "Well Done." Couldn't be more fitting.<br />
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<br />Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-33995752996016944782016-06-13T00:18:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:19:15.846-07:00A Wonderful Week and WillyThis week had a national friendship day thrown in somewhere (not international, but I love you all anyway. ;) ) and that was actually kind of the theme of my week. Work started, but they didn't give me ANY hours (to speak of) so I "disfrutared" and had a "hanging out with friends" marathon. I enjoyed catching up with my "seven year friends" the ones that have been there for so long (at least 7 years) that even when you go long times without seeing or speaking to each other, you start right where you left off. It's magical. (And since the mission is like 10 years of experience crowded into 18 months, we've got a head-start on that 7-year thing. ;) )<br />
Someone was moving on Friday and I got all giddy and ridiculously excited to help them. We (my sister and I) were the only non-priesthood holders there besides the Relief Society President. Turns out that even in the REAL world, Hermanas don't do "service" like that. Turns out I still have that stubborn determination to defy that mindset. And in doing that service -seeking that opportunity- I felt like I did as a missionary.<br />
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I went to the Temple with a a friend.... and got us hopelessly lost. Turns out you can go to the same place every week and STILL not know how to get there.<br />
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I went out with the Sister Missionaries for the first time since I've been home (they don't ask me often and when they do it's last-minute and I'm at work). Their cita fallad (we all know how that feels) but we had a really good talk on the ride there and back (far away+driving mission). I mentally reminded myself that I was NOT their Sister Training Leader... and then continued to act like I was (asking questions, listening, giving advice, testifying with experiences...) old habits die hard.<br />
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But the clear, obvious, and winning highlight of the week was this morning. When Willy, a man that I worked with in Barcelona (after almost a full YEAR investigating) was finally ready to be baptized. And thanks to iPads, willing missionaries, and the miracle of modern technology, I was able to BE there! (Facetime) It was a sweet and tender moment, as the current sister missionaries sat in the front row of the baptismal room with the Hermanas who first contacted and taught him (Hermana Wiseman and I) on the iPads in their laps, and together we watched a dear friend take the first covenant on the path back to his Heavenly Father. This was a moment that "defied all description." In this work of harvesting, sometimes we plant good seeds. I was lucky enough to see this one in it's long growth. Every little effort counts.<br />
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I was looking at that picture of the Savior knocking at the door during Sunday School today. It's something we've all seen a million times, but this time I saw it and thought of all the times we spent in similar situations. We're out there knocking doors... and we're in good company. I also went to a fireside tonight and something the speaker said really impressed me and made me think of the importance of the work you are doing.<br />
It was these simple questions: "If not YOU, who? If not NOW, when?" When we get shy or embarrassed and let someone pass by or if the fear of rejection stops you from pushing farther or extending a commitment, I want you to think of these two questions. Be determined, be brave, be bold. Know that you're backed by the BEST and the Spirit won't let you down.<br />
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I love you girls and hope you have a FANTASTIC week of miracles. If you aren't already forwarding me your emails, DO it, or drop me a line, I want to know how you're doing!<br />
LOVE!<br />
Alayna Een<br />
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some of the best people in Barcelona.<br />
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Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-668397691838053382016-06-06T00:07:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:08:23.493-07:00Another WeekI'll try to give an update without boring you too much. (That, and I've already re-started the habit of staying up too late. Don't do that! ;) )<br />
-This week I re-started my old job as a lifeguard/Water Saftey Instructor. I was looking for something a LITTLE more grown up (little miss soon-to-be-legal-adult) but hey, it's easy and it pays well. It's weird to re-enter a familiar world only to realize how much YOU'VE changed... and that they haven't really.<br />
-I taught my mom's YW kids a dry-land synchro routine for their girls camp skit (my mom owes me BIG time) and showed them the Noche de Talentos video when us missionaries did it in Barcelona for an example. Good times. It was impressive stuff!<br />
-Went to the temple. I've tried to make a weekly trip. So far, so good! Now if we could stop cutting it so CLOSE and almost missing the sessions!<br />
- Had a choir performance on Sunday after church for a group my mom roped us into. She basically wants to show off her talented kids (my sister and brother). Who can blame her? Anyway, it was also FAST SUNDAY and I was trying to be good so I didn't eat and... almost passed out on stage. Saved by a timely intermission. Lesson: Don't fast during performances, drink water, don't buckle your knees, and ditch the heels (even the little ones can be deadly!)<br />
- Singles Ward stuff. You re-run into people from long ago. They're familiar so you can talk to them, but you also have NO idea what has been going on in each other's lives for the past 2ish years, so it's a bit awkward. One kid asked "Didn't someone have their mission call? When do you leave?" To which I answered "18 months ago." Turns out he mistook me for one of the other girls in the room who is leaving for Missouri in a month. I'd switch places with her in a heartbeat. (even though we all know Spain is better).<br />
-I've gotten some friend requests from veteran missionaries. Signifying the start of a new transfer. Make it a good 6 weeks.<br />
I remember in one of my last District meetings, we talked about how many of us knew people who said they wanted to "do the mission over again." Sure it's a great sentiment... but in what context do they wish it? Do they want to do it again because it was a wonderful experience- a time in which they were fully consecrated servants of the Lord and were able to feel the spirit and witness miracles? Or do they wish it because of regret- they realize too late that they slacked off, fell short, or missed the point?<br />
Know that the decisions you make now determine your destiny, and decide to give it your all. The miracles you see in this transfer, this week, TODAY can be greater than any you've seen in your mission so far! If you prove to the Lord that you trust him. If you give your all, and if you let Him lead His work.<br />
Today in Sacrament meeting a missionary stood and said "Our level of obedience reflects our level of conversion." Exact obedience is a result of deep and honest conversion. (And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. That's where our example comes in.)<br />
Ok, I'm done preaching.<br />
I love you all and pray for you often.<br />
Have a great week!<br />
-Alayna Een<br />
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bonus: family photos we finally got. (Does the shirt look familiar? It's the one I used to say goodbye on every transfer Sunday.)<br />
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Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-36895467429015099232016-05-29T00:12:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:38:46.910-07:00Transfer TimeI imagine that, with the recent transfer calls, all of you will be saying goodbye to an area or a companion. You've been on my mind a lot this week. I'm wishing you all the best and anxious to know where you are and who you're with. So don't forget to tell me... I have no other way of knowing. ;) (real life probs)<br />
The boring/life stuff this week was a trip to the DMV on my mom's birthday (Lame but necessary), a minor moving violation (18 months out of practice didn't help my already awful driving skills), and the set up for an interview at a law office on Tuesday (wish me luck in a "grown-up" job... most likely filing).<br />
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You're all in Spain so you probably didn't notice, but tomorrow (Monday) is Memorial day. It's a day most people have off of work, one of the few national holidays we have (Spain has bastante). I came up to Utah for my cousin's homecoming (he served in Peru) and (because 90% of all El Faro missionaries seem to live in Utah) took advantage of the shortened distance to see some missionary friends.<br />
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On Friday I met with Hermanas Eyring, Bastidas, and Fenn. We talked about Spain, about the mission, about life, and got into a really long and detailed dating story (you can guess that it WASN'T mine). The mission has helped me make life-long friends.<br />
Saturday I met up with an old roommate, watched my first movie in a theater since I left, and VISITED THE PACES.<br />
They send their love to the mission and it's missionaries. They are still the sweetest/most Christlike people out there and seeing President Pace with his grandkids was enough to melt my heart! It was a long time coming, but that "Welcome home" hug was well worth it all. He showed me their mission reports for the years that I was there with them, and I got a peek at the old noticias (seeing my name or miracle) and then he shared with me a his notes from their last concilio- when every Sister Training Leader and Zone Leader stood and bore their testimony. That June day (almost a year ago now) I said something like "The gospel is more than just 'interesting.' (you know how people say that in the streets "interestante" in response to our testimony). The Restoration is the most important truth that this world has ever known."<br />
I knew that was true then. I know that it's true now. What other truth can rival it? It's the beginning of hope for our day and the pathway to our future. It's a life and eternity changing. And it's worth every effort to share. Always remember that.<br />
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This Sunday night I was able to talk with my trainer, Hermana Manwill (now Vanessa Dayes), for the first time in, well... forever. I've been home a month now, so... around 16-17 months. It was so nice to catch up.<br />
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The friendships you make there will be a benefit and blessing to you for the rest of your lives. So keep meeting new people, share your special quirks and talents, and remember that YOU can make a difference.<br />
I'll wrap up this weekly pep talk with a couple of pictures and just want you to know that I'm thinking of and praying for you all!<br />
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Love,<br />
Alayna Een.<br />
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The last one is a chess set my cousin Michael brought back. Spaniard royalty vs. Peruvians. History says I win! ;)<br />
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Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-46026620650992154522016-05-23T00:05:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:05:31.817-07:00More Stuff<div>
I'm getting REALLY creative with my titles...</div>
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Hello Hermanas. </div>
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Fun week!</div>
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We made a girls trip and went to three California temples/beaches (but spent WAY more time at the temples than the beaches #RMprobs #stillwhite #fairestofthemall), a broadway show (the Newsies), and an incredible homemade icecream sandwich place (definitely worth mentioning). So your names and the names of my various past investigators/converts are scattered around different parts of Southern California. It was fun to be in a place that was partially settled by/discovered by Spanish conquistadors! We stopped of at a lighthouse (El Faro forever!) didn't have ANY car problems (a straight up MIRACLE for my family, with our track record), stayed in military hotel (connections are cool), and watched the Incredibles (YES. it's as good as I remember it. YES I know it mostly by heart and my excessive quoting of it #sorrynotsorry was mostly accurate). </div>
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It was a fun little escape and then we came back to family life, work stuff (for the first time in a year and a half, I smell like chlorine again), and the like. </div>
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I bit the bullet and went to the YSA ward today. It was... I mean... fine. Except for the fact that there were so many disgusting COUPLES everywhere. I thought that the Singles ward was a sad place for the lost and lonely not a crazy dating machine. And due to my recently self-diagnosed "Post-mission romantic gag-reflex" (it's a real thing!) I didn't quite enjoy it. But then I was asked last-minute to talk in the mission prep class and the teacher cited part of my "What the Lord has Taught me" which I had emailed him after my report to the high council. People REALLY listen to RMs. </div>
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I've been home almost a month now. There are some things I've done well. There are some ways I've fallen short (I haven't written in my journal ONCE!). I'll continue to do and be better and invite you to do the same.</div>
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Food for thought:</div>
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In the lighthouse there was a quote that I really liked, said by George Bernard Shaw (who is somehow famous)</div>
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"I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve."</div>
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Cute, right? And as missionaries, that's true of you as well. You've left it all behind and rebuilt yourselves as servants of the Lord. You're there to help others. You teach, lead, and guide lost souls. You are the self-less saviors of those Spaniards! </div>
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Let the lower lights be burning.</div>
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You are in my heart and prayers. Have an incredible week!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Hermana Alayna Een<br />
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Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-10799030279520475902016-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:002016-07-08T00:05:44.435-07:00Return and Report<div class="ii gt adP adO" id=":1ra" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 5px 15px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative;">
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Return: Go back to previously inhabited place or time</div>
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Report: give updates</div>
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A little bit of info on the week, and tips for those of you still in the field.<br />
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This week I've watched a lot of Marvel movies, Star Wars, and The Hunger Games. Tip for the future: You don't have to catch up with two years of cinema in a week. Or... ever. Disney movies, however, deserve to be caught up on.<br />
We watched Star Wars:The Force Awakens which was quickly followed by the unfilmed but inevitable sequal, "The Alayna asleepens."</div>
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Working on the work situation and other boring life stuff.</div>
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Talking with the Relief Society was really neat. They had a sister preparing to serve speak, the current missionaries speak, me, and then Skyped in a missionary who had gone home from our ward with health challenges. It was really interesting to see the different levels of spiritual power that accompanied them all. I've decided that the RMs have an Avengers-worthy super power. You give me a word, ANY word, and I will SHOW you how the root of that word... can be related to a true principle of the gospel, of which I will then testify, give a scripture reference, show you a mormon message for, and refer you to the local missionaries for more information. BAM. Power. </div>
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I gave my homecoming talk this weekend. It was funny to reflect on my Farewell as I gave my Homecoming and see the things that have and haven't changed.</div>
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1) Talking style- In my Farewell, I spent a full day writing a concise and perfectly scripted one-page talk, stood up and gave that talk.<br />
In my Homecoming, I basically re-gave my "Lo que el Señor me ha enseñado" with mission experiences tossed in for flavor and the most "preparation" I did for the talk was spending the past 18 months as a missionary (which, to be fair, is quite a bit of prep!). </div>
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2) Follow-up speakers: In my Farewell Sister Ballard spoke after me (and was a bit shocked I didn't talk longer). In my Homecoming, Bishop Ballard (her husband) spoke after me (and had a rather short talk). </div>
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3) The color orange: That was a given. Everyone in my family wore it. Even Bishop Ballard went home after a meeting to change into an orange tie for the occasion. </div>
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4) Photos with a Spanish Flag: We took them with people before I left, we took them with people today. My hair is longer and my face is a little thinner but everyone else seems to look about the same. </div>
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5) Paella and Spanish food: Of course, for my farewell party we didn't actually know what paella was supposed to be like so it was nowhere NEAR authentic. Yesterday I slaved over tortilla de patata to varying degrees of success and my mom bought out the "taste of Spain" special in Smiths. </div>
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6) Family musical numbers: We make the Sound of Music seem lame. Last time EFY medley, this time our good old mission song.</div>
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Anyway, it went a lot better than I thought it would, thanks to the spirit, and there were many improvements. </div>
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I've communicated with some recent converts and investigators and members from Spain. I had a missed call from Manuela (CR, best recent convert on this side of the veil) and she said it was really important so I freaked out all night until she woke me up with a phone call the next morning just to say..."Thank you for teaching me, thank you for loving me, I love the gospel and I have a testimony. Have a nice day." It was really sweet. Almost gave me a heart-attack at first, but really sweet in the end.<br />
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No boys to report on other than the freakishly tall one I call my brother. I haven't made it to the singles ward yet but I'll get there eventually. I went to do baptisms and things with my family the other day and saw more baptisms in 30 minutes than I did in my entire mission. What a funny thing missionary work is. What a pleasure it is to do it in whatever form.</div>
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Food for thought:</div>
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You can only teach the teachable, but you can testify to everyone.<br />
The best measure of success at the end of a day is if you can sing "Have I Done any Good in the World Today" from the top of your lungs and with all of your heart. (Preference to the Alex Boye one)<br />
The gospel is a gospel of constant progression. There are always ways you can improve, repent, and be better. Find one.<br />
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We'll be doing a girls temple trip in California this week (trying to hit as many temples as we do beaches), so I've got that to look forward to.<br />
Love and prayers being sent your way! Hope you have a great week!</div>
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-Hermana Alayna Een</div>
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A random non-member sent me flowers, so that's nice...?</div>
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Alayna Eenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177311655020481402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-36866537320584851062016-05-02T00:02:00.000-07:002016-06-13T21:16:07.575-07:00After the (Spanish) Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sky: A thing that airplanes fly through</div>
Spain: An incredible European country, with half of my heart scattered around in it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sighting on the escalator by the lady who had also come from Barcelona--and choreographed "High School Musical"</td></tr>
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Understandably, a lot has happened in this last week y pico. I spent my last time in my area and with my companion. I did my last intercambio. We had our Talent show which turned out better than expected. Saturday night was transfer calls, and although it didn't really matter to me (I already know where I'm going) it was an exciting experience. As a missionary leader, and even more so as a member of El Faro, one of the greatest responsibilities as you end missionary service is metaphorically "passing the torch." Sometimes it's more literal. My companion, Hermana Arauco was called to be (and sort-of replace me as) a Sister Training Leader. I also found out that Hermana Manotas (mi hija) was called to the same position and also to train the new missionary. It was a great way to see the legacy continue with the the people that I love.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last intercambio with Hermana Martinez</td></tr>
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I had my exit interview with President Dayton (which included a longer talk on marriage and dating than I was banking for) and then was free to visit my old area of Barcelona. And so I did. I was able to visit with Willy, who was wandering a bit on that straight and narrow path we'd shown him. I went with sweet Norma (Best Spanish member ever) and shared Alma 5:26, and now he's dedicated to start again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willy and his family, in my Barcelona visit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear sweet Norma. She's a missionary, just without the chapa. And so in an unplanned moment... I gave her mine. </td></tr>
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I also met with sweet Edy, ate gelato, reminisced, and caught up. On the last day I was able to stay with Hermana Manotas and O'Neill (a good friend going home with me) and catch up with whatever missionaries wandered through the Barce Sans Train Station. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barcelona, Valencia, Lleida. Hermanas Een, Manotas, and O'Neill</td></tr>
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And then I came home. I wasn't alone on the flights because of two facts<br />
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1) Missionaries contact people: I talked with the sweet lady sitting next to me on my long flight.<br />
2) Members contact missionaries: Almost the moment we sat down by our gate, different groups of member came and talked to us- congratulating us on our service and asking about our return, and one of them stayed with me through my connecting flights and on into Las Vegas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Daytons on my last night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A last goodbye to Hermana Arauco</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A last goodbye to Hermana Randall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uq28J8ivU-cKWpgqMfeGPsMIMwTxsNGwcV9zzladdfQCPdx0QEmt1UCFY_r2oglWv8YFivpLafbFHo5391ffh2-Ghymn2_6e5XE8D1ZusDZ44IF_IcIwTG9g5JlVDP-ye1O5ypBqjMw/s1600/DSCF2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uq28J8ivU-cKWpgqMfeGPsMIMwTxsNGwcV9zzladdfQCPdx0QEmt1UCFY_r2oglWv8YFivpLafbFHo5391ffh2-Ghymn2_6e5XE8D1ZusDZ44IF_IcIwTG9g5JlVDP-ye1O5ypBqjMw/s320/DSCF2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell at the mission home, which felt like mine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye at the gate, homeward bound!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFTriIo1plVVX8gzIjYXT276tF2f2ju-uS08Gtv43rbTu2ofOgLeeO_10JufRamwr98FziTpFpFbhQITwMIyhIo81pTG6UfTRA23BA9hzRpizLYXTmFH64NJG-ryF0PdDWmkBslz1SNs/s1600/DSCF2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFTriIo1plVVX8gzIjYXT276tF2f2ju-uS08Gtv43rbTu2ofOgLeeO_10JufRamwr98FziTpFpFbhQITwMIyhIo81pTG6UfTRA23BA9hzRpizLYXTmFH64NJG-ryF0PdDWmkBslz1SNs/s320/DSCF2623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barcelona sidewalk, my holy ground</td></tr>
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It was quite the trip, and I was blessed along the way with understanding customs officers, perfectly timed flights, and so on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little brother that grew . . . and note the broken shoe strap.</td></tr>
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And so I came home. It was a sweet reunion. I was released as a missionary. It was a little sad and a little strange, but it was also time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting with President Gutierrez to be released.</td></tr>
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I've spent time with my new niece who is now old enough to waddle around and say words. I've gone to the temple, a wedding reception, a swim meet, a YSA devotional, church in English, and I've watched my first movie (Cinderella).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First temple trip as an RM</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At David's swim meet, he cut 10 seconds of his backstroke and qualified for regionals, also bettered his time on the IM.</td></tr>
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Although I miss being a missionary and still slip in silly little ways while I'm continuing to adjust (I still call everyone "Hermana" and have to awkwardly translate little phrases to Spanish, and let's not talk about how many times I've almost awkwardly besoed someone or had to tell myself it's ok to hug guys), it really is good to be home.<br />
The best way to describe this feeling, a heart torn between two good worlds, is said by a dear friend, Jack (from the musical, Into the Woods).<br />
<br />
"When you're way up high, and you look below<br />
At the world you've left and the things you know,<br />
Little more than a glance is enough to show<br />
You just how small you are.<br />
When you're way up high<br />
And you're on your own<br />
In a world like none<br />
That you've ever known,<br />
Where the sky is lead<br />
And the earth is stone,<br />
You're free, to do<br />
Whatever pleases you, (ok, not exactly, whitehandbook. Conversely, agency.)<br />
Exploring things you'd never dare..." (Going to Spain, the mission, the untold adventures that follow)<br />
(Then someday you go home and...)<br />
"The roof, the house, and your Mother at the door.<br />
The roof, the house and the world you never thought to explore.<br />
And you think of all of the things you've seen,<br />
And you wish that you could live in between,<br />
And you're back again,<br />
Only different than before,<br />
After the sky."<br />
<br />
Thanks for coming along on the journey,<br />
Love you all!<br />
(No-longer-Hermana) Alayna Een<br />
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(#thatawkwardmomentwhenyouforgettowearORANGEtoyourhomecoming)<br />
<br />
Oh ye who labor planting seeds... in the month since I've come home.<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-28139495643928543912016-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:002016-06-13T14:42:41.653-07:00Returning home: a letter from the Mission President<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-59747030607524403822016-04-26T11:45:00.000-07:002016-06-13T14:35:16.157-07:00Death of a Missionary: The Pending Return of Alayna Een (Hermana no more)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Apparently missionaries refer to the time when they leave their mission to return home as dying and it's a thing to stage a death. It seems rather morbid, but here is a picture she took for the occasion. She hasn't sent an email this week, she warned us that might happen. I figure when you die someone writes an obituary, so I did. She'll resurrect to a new life tomorrow as she returns home. This is the 100th post on her missionary blog.</td></tr>
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OBITUARY OF HERMANA ALAYNA EEN</div>
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Hermana Alayna Een, Age 546 days in the Spain Barcelona mission passed away April 27, 2016 at her mission home in Barcelona, Spain. She was born in the Mission October 28, 2014 at the Madrid MTC (CCM) as part of the Amulek District with Hermana Ashley Curtis [Alternatively, December 10th, with Hermana Vanessa Manwill in Valencia]. She was received and prepared to spend her new live in ‘Zion’ by President Kenneth D. Lovell. She was delivered to President and Sister Pace to begin the work of El Faro.</div>
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As a newborn Hermana Een moved to Valencia, Spain and lived with her proud Mama, Hermana Vanessa Manwill, together they were ManwillEen. They were joined by Hermana Stilson, proving that they were StilWilEen. After the untimely death of Hermana Manwill and the transfer of Hermana Stilson, Hermana Een became a mother (teen mom) herself to a bouncing baby girl, Hermana Manotas, a native of Spain. She later adopted (step-mom) Hermana Ruth Terraza, with whom she completed her undergraduate education (12-week training program). While in Valencia the area celebrated her successes with the Fallas Festival.</div>
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Hermana Een moved to Barcelona for the graduate school of Sister Training Leader with continued studies at monthly intensive training at concilio that would continue throughout her life there. While in Barcelona, Hermana Een studied with Hermana Megan Wiseman. Hermana Een moved to (whitewashed in) Bilbao, the capital of the Basque region to continue her studies with Hermana Amanda Randall and the city celebrated their arrival with a festival that lasted more than a week. </div>
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Hermana Een then moved to Lleida, Spain for some advanced studies with Hermana Shania Ingram and Gutoff and most recently was in Vic (enjoying Semana Santa), Spain with Hermana Natalie Arauco. </div>
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Hermana Een enjoyed life to its fullest in El Faro and pursued many hobbies and interests, including intercambios, citas, fechas, and especially enjoyed standing at the water’s edge and watching people she loves dress in white. She loved reading and kept up her education with study that included ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Preach My Gospel’. She enjoyed writing and regularly contributed to the blog, “ShesBarcelonaBound.blogspot.com”.</div>
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Hermana Een was preceded in death by Hermana Manwill, Hermana Curtis, President and Sister Lovell, President and Sister Mark Pace, and Hermana Terrazas.</div>
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Hermana Een is survived by President and Sister Dayton, Hermana Manotas, Hermana Wiseman, Hermana Randall, Hermana Ingram, Hermana Gutoff, Hermana Arauco, and many others whom she loved.</div>
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Burial will be held at the Las Vegas Nevada Stake offices located at 6100 West Alta Drive, at the intersection of Alta and Jones, presided over by President Gutierrez. A memorial service will be held at the Evergreen Ward building at 221 S. Lorenzi Blvd at 1 PM on Sunday, May 15, 2016. Visitation will be at the Een home. Family will be pleased to greet friends and relatives.</div>
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In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints missionary fund. Condolences may be left on Hermana Een’s facebook page.</div>
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Addendum:</div>
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Yesterday we received a letter in the mail from Alayna's mission president, Merril T. Dayton. Here are some excerpts:</div>
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"Congratulations on the consecrated missionary service of your daughter, Hermana Alayna Een. Having been faithful and obedient, she has successfully and honorably completed her term of missionary service in the Spain Barcelona Mission."</div>
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"Hermana Een has served with distinction as a Junior Companion, Senior Companion, and Sister Training Leader. All who have labored with her are appreciative of her devotion to the work of the Lord. She has brought much joy and happiness into the lives of the people that she has taught and loved."</div>
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"We have loved serving with her. We trust that your daughter's adjustment to life at home will come quickly, and that she may always be found on the Lord's side, building and strengthening His kingdom."</div>
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"May the Lord continue to bless your and your family."<br />
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We certainly are blessed!</div>
<br />Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-39471152783916850752016-04-18T00:27:00.000-07:002016-06-09T14:25:46.977-07:00Lo que el señor me ha enseñado<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
El Señor: the Lord<br />
Enseñado: taught<br />
T-10: a card used for ten trips in the metro. Could also say 'T minus ten' which would be about how many days I have left.<br />
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So I guess this is it then. It's been quite the journey. Thanks for those of you who joined me through email correspondence, who've watched along with the adventures, seen the growth, and heard the stories. Thanks to all of my incredible companions (you all are, you know?), and many thanks for the friendships I've made that will last for the eternities.<br />
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When I first stepped foot in the mission home (a place I've been in MANY times since) President Pace shared the words Oliver Cowdery wrote about his time as a scribe of the prophet. "These were days never to be forgotten." Looking back, I can only gratefully say the same. Truly, "These were days never to be forgotten." All 500 and something of them. I love my companion. She loves me too. She's making this a lot easier than I think it might otherwise have been, and I think I'm just starting to realize how much I've helped her as well. It's been a mutually beneficial transfer that we're both sad to see the end of. Know that we've seen little miracles (recent converts taking seriously the role of a member missionary, and the friend of an old contact finding us and showing great interest to name a few). <br />
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We're gearing up for a busy week: District Meeting and crunch-time intercambio on Tuesday, all Thursday in our favorite pueblo with some promising news lined up, and the activity of San Jordi (Catalan festival of give a book and a rose? BOOK OF MORMON!) followed by a giant Noche de Talentos...which was moved just so I could be there, last Sunday (guess who's giving a talk), Monday exit interview and visits in Barcelona, Tuesday mission meeting (I think), and Wednesday... I'm going home.<br />
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I always knew that leaving the mission would be hard, and I've been hit a few times this last month with just HOW hard it is. But this last week and a half, I've been blessed with an increase of peace. Of all the feelings that could overwhelm me right now, the greatest of them all is gratitude. And I'm determined to go with grace. After all, "Death is but the next great adventure."<br />
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There's a tradition in the mission for dying missionaries to give a short speech, share a message, not of what they learned, but what the Lord has taught them. I promised to share it with you all eventually, and since I don't know if I'll email again, I'd like to leave it with you now. I find it to be a fitting epitaph.<br />
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Lo que el Señor ME ha enseñado.<br />
God loves your companion, and he loves you. He put you together for a reason. The trick is finding out why, learning and teaching what you can, and 'leveling up' in the game of becoming better.<br />
Two different people can live together in harmony when their focus and purpose is the same- other people. <br />
You can only teach the teachable, but you can testify to everyone.<br />
God hears our prayers, every single one of them. And in his own time, he answers them.<br />
When we work diligently with exact obedience, we are blessed to BE the answer to another's prayer. Sometimes we're just another missionary passport stamp on that person's path to salvation.<br />
Rejoice in the daily good you do. <br />
I learned what it means to be and bring the light. John 8:12<br />
I learned to believe in 10 minute miracles: eternity changers that happen from one contact, one question, a single well-spent moment. Don't waste the Lord's time.<br />
In turns, I was taught humility, consecration, diligence, and the great importance of keeping the commandments. I was repeatedly taught patience and learned to love on a level I didn't even know existed.<br />
Obedience is the first law of Heaven, and love is the greatest. They work hand in hand.<br />
I know how incredibly perfect and personal the plan of salvation is. I know that repentance is real, that we can all change for the better because I know that I have.<br />
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And I know that missionary work is worth it. Its worth it because it's true. The book, the church... all of it. It's worth it because of the seeds you plant and the testimony you write on your heart every time you bear it. It's worth it because of Christ, and the honor I have to bear his name. It's worth a year and a half. And someday when out of habit my hands move to do that "chapa [nametag] check" and don't find that physical manifestation, I can find comfort in the knowledge that it's still there, written on the "fleshy tables" of my heart. Because missionary work is worth a lifetime.<br />
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Alma 26:5 "Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted."<br />
I know what kind of servant I want to be. "Thanks for your service," and off you go? No.<br />
Oh, prove faithful! be obedient! Fear not man more than God, and work to be worthy of the welcome, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."<br />
And that's all I ever wanted.<br />
This is what the Lord taught me, and what I know to be true, and I close this grateful testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.<br />
Hermana Alayna Een<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last intercambio with Hermana Francisco</td></tr>
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Bonus:<br />
Placentero nos es trabajar- a hymn that's not in English. It's a mission farewell. And here's the direct (not all that lyrical, sorry) translation.<br />
1. It's a pleasure for us to work in the Lord's vineyard, it's an honor for us to preach His law and His love to his people. For His light, for his light, it's a pleasure for us to work. For his light, for his light, we'll die in Him without sorrow (regret)<br />
2. listen to the word of God with diligence, loyalty, and strength to always remember his purity, truth, and love. With love, with love, listen to the word of God. With love, with love, wave his flag.<br />
3. Oh brethren goodbye, goodbye! The moment to go has come. If we keep our faith in the great God, we'll see each other later on/over there. Over there, over there, oh brethren goodbye, well, goodbye. Later on, later on, we'll dwell with God in love.<br />
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Companion fact: in constant need of hand lotion. Loves Hermana Een, and is geared to continue doing great things.<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-83380605544332077472016-04-11T01:08:00.000-07:002016-06-09T16:20:21.772-07:00Candy, confessions and el finCandy: a sweet food made by sugar or syrup and combined with chocolate, fruit, or nuts. Hermana Een hoards it, 72 hour kit style. You never know when you'll need it and you always want a good supply. <br />
Confession: a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime<br />
Fin: in Spanish, "the end."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francis and his family including "Panchito"</td></tr>
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Intercambio and a million street contacts. I went on an intercambio with Hermana Tamayo in Granollers. She's a four-foot-something happy Ecuadorian so we made quite the pair. She's a little afraid of contacting and wanted to work on that so when all of the citas fallad [appointments failed] we took it as a "go ahead" from God and went from work. We talked to SO MANY people and walked all of Granollers.<br />
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Kamal (que mal, means "how bad" in Spanish. Funny little coincidence.) was not baptized this week. He's been hard to meet with and still has to gain a testimony on some important things before he takes that step. That, and he is convinced that he has to have a serious girlfriend before he can be baptized so that he can have someone to support him. An interesting theory.<br />
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We had a couple very humbling "Badly done, Emma" moments this week (British literature, my friends). We had done some good things and are always, always trying to keep everything together and not leave anyone behind or let anyone down. But in two cases we really failed. It's hard to take that in stride.<br />
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It's starting to really sink in that I'll be going home soon. We're planning to extend those faithful "two week" fechas... Inviting them to a service I won't be in. So that's a little strange. A famous/favorite gospel principle is "perseverar hasta el fin" (endure to the end). I'm "perseverando hasta el EEN." (Agenda pic... Next week)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open market, every Tuesday and Saturday. As seen from our window.</td></tr>
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This week I've been doing an "English fast." It's something I've always wanted to do and now seemed like the best time. So for seven days (ending tomorrow) I've been in a 24/7 Spanish mode. (Only speaking in English when necessary, like to the Africans we teach.) My mom sent me a package with American Easter candy, and as motivation to stay strong with my "fast" every time I slip and say an English word, I put a piece of that treasured Easter candy into a box. At the end of my fast, I will give that box to the Elders. It's been an interesting experience. At the end of the day I dutifully drop the treasured candy -more or less, chocolate or jellybean, depending on the gravity of the transgression- into the box. And there it sits, a physical manifestation of all my mistakes. Some of them were pure accidents -a small English word in an unguarded moment, a full phrase when I'd just forgotten- some (the bigger ones) were conscious decisions- fully aware of the consequence from when I just needed to express myself and communicate with my companion, and English was the only way to do it. I don't like looking at it. And although it's "good candy".... I'm excited to give it away, to get rid of the reminder of my mistakes and remember instead the success of speaking only Spanish for a full week. <br />
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And that's what Christ is like. He takes our box of sins. We don't have to be burdened by or reminded of them. And though they're hard to give up sometimes, we have the promise that the Lord will "remember them no more."<br />
Sinning is part of learning. But you know something else I discovered?<br />
Every day I got better, remembered more, and "sinned" less. That's the process of becoming perfect. As Bednar said, "increasingly spotless."<br />
And all that is possible through Jesus Christ.<br />
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Mathew 11:28<br />
28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.<br />
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.<br />
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light<br />
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D&C 58:42<br />
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.<br />
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them.<br />
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Companion fact: says she can't sing, but rocks the one-handed piano for church every week.<br />
Terrified of pigeons.<br />
Doesn't like eating breakfast<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-57910161521796507692016-04-04T21:20:00.000-07:002016-06-02T15:43:30.299-07:00Conferencia genial; a spiritual charge Conferencia: a semi-annual spiritual feast<br />
genial: great, brilliant, witty. The Spanish equivalent of 'awesome.'<br />
A new missionary mistake, trying to say 'general.'<br />
Spiritual charge: high point, electricity, empowerment, being filled with the spirit.<br />
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I thought that my opener was clever. So clever in fact, that I'm almost certain that I used it last conference. But since I didn't save the note and don't have access to emails I sent six months ago, I'll just take the chance and go with the possible repeat. That's kind of what conference is like anyway, right? It's not the message that changes, it's us.<br />
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On Wednesday we had a great meeting of the Badalona zone where Hermana Larsen and I reviewed the teachings of President Dayton in Concilio. Since he was there sitting in, I asked if he wanted to teach it himself but he respectfully declined. ;) worth the shot. We talked about perfectionism, set inspired goals, learned what that we "FEAR NO MAN" and heard the words of dying missionaries (me again).<br />
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We met a miracle named Helen. She was standing on the corner with three bags of groceries and soon became the second person in my entire mission who has ever said "yes" when I've asked them if I could help with groceries. She is the definition of positivity and mentioned that when she recently sprained her knee her first action was to thank God in prayer that it wasn't broken. We can learn a lot from her. She asked all the questions, loves the way we pray, and we'll be seeing her soon!<br />
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April first was a hard day. Conference sessions come on eternal timing. And we learned a lot! Little one-line lessons from all the speakers will be included below for those of you who would like to peruse them. Hearing my former mission president called as an Area Seventy (President Pace! So VERY in favor!) and the announcement of new temples only added to the sweetness of the meeting.<br />
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But now I would like to speak with you for a moment about "spiritual charge." Anyone who goes to conference with an open heart will be edified. Our friend Kamal entered a little late to the session, sat down, grabbed a marker, and started taking notes without us explaining much other than "these are prophets and apostles. They speak to us."<br />
At the end of the session he stood and said, "I feel good. I like this. I will come back tomorrow." Feeling it in the moment and even a few hours after is easy because the charge is fresh, the spirit lingers, and you just feel invigorated. But how long can you hold the charge? President Holland talked about spiritual peaks and the necessary descent back into the world. I've found that spiritual experiences alone have a rather short shelf-life. Are we like the dead cars my Dad works with, needing two jumper cables from a stronger neighbor and even then, barely making it back home? where every outing is an accident waiting to happen? After a conference, after the mission, after any of these peak experiences, it's our responsibility to keep the car running and in good repair with daily adventures in the scriptures, consistent personal prayer, and active participation in church meetings. And if we fall and forget and are stranded without charge in our journey, we know that rescue is possible and there will always be others to rely on... But that's not really the point. Our point is progress. I got some much needed peace and was reminded that the gospel isn't just something you do on the mission. It's an essential part of life and eternity.<br />
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Review your conference notes this week and make that "action list."<br />
Keep your battery in good repair.<br />
Love you all!<br />
Hermana Een<br />
(If this was a repeat well then, I guess it was worth saying twice.)<br />
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Have you come hungry for the word of God?<br />
We do more than listen to prayers, we add to the petition.<br />
Kick off the weight of the world.<br />
'Child of God' should be our primary identity.<br />
Where are the keys? (Not that funny, we've be been locked out of piso twice in a week!). There is no 'X-Ray paper cheat here, no way around it, you need the priesthood keys.<br />
If we win/lose/live with grace, then we will receive it at the end of this life.<br />
Remember on whom you rely, and pray to him with gratitude.<br />
How do you receive God's greatest gift? Don't distance yourself.<br />
Tears shed in pure testimony as a righteous choir praises their God, 'prone to wander.'<br />
See through the window of service and be His hands (that includes carrying groceries).<br />
What shall we do? We all need a place to belong, we are builders in his kingdom.<br />
I was a stranger, she hath wrought a great work.<br />
Go and serve. You do not go alone. Because I have been given much...<br />
PRESIDENT PACE IS AN AREA SEVENTY.<br />
We sustain inspired leaders, do we really listen to their counsel? No one goes his way alone.<br />
God loves his children, knowing someone's name makes a difference.<br />
Don't delay the rescue.<br />
Ask your questions, receive your answer.<br />
Initial, continued, and retained cleansing from our sins through the three ordinances.<br />
Though we share DNA, we see things differently.<br />
If we chose Christ, we chose right.<br />
Knowledge and belief, bring it from your head into your heart.<br />
Challenges are sometimes a signal of the Lord's trust in you.<br />
Make any changes necessary to 'see yourself' in the temple.<br />
Obedience is not a popular word, but it is a powerful principle. We carry within us the substance of divinity.<br />
It's simple, the Holy Ghost.<br />
He knows us and all our faults, and love us still.<br />
Our response to the needs of refugees will help define US.<br />
Some things can only be learned by faith.<br />
We need the temple more than anything else.<br />
Someday I will be healed, someday I will be whole.<br />
Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord God will do wonders among you.<br />
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Hermana Een<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-49254929624107646052016-03-29T21:02:00.000-07:002016-06-02T15:32:08.811-07:00The Last SupperThe Last Supper: Christ's last meeting with the disciples when he institutes the sacrament, sets up his betrayal by Judas, and the last thing he does before going to the garden. It happens Easter week. My "last supper" in Concilio also happened this week, to a mix of emotions.<br />
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This week was full of so many good things, and there are so many things coming to the beautiful full circle. Zone Conference: Familiar faces from the Barcelona and Badalona zones, together for one great mission meeting.<br />
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Intercambio: With Hermana Iregui in Girona. We were blessed to repeatedly be in the right place at the right time and saw so many little tender miracles and mercies. One involved a member who has a sister that lives in the little Pueblo of Olot (which we go to a lot. An overused joke) and she gave us her number so we could start visiting her. Her name is Sandra. Hermana Iregui started out the intercambio a little afraid of me and intercambios and by the time I left, she was comfortable with both. :) little successes.<br />
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The best day ever: We went to our pueblo of Olot. Our 'for sure' morning cita fallad <span style="color: orange;">[failed appointment]</span> and in the sudden heat of spring, we found it hard to focus on contacting and working. But after a quick rest to regathering forces we went out a little more determined, and just a little braver. We talked to a lot of people, and left some good impressions/got some return citas <span style="color: orange;">[appointments]</span>. Then we followed on with our afternoon plans and were able to see Sandra. She was SO cute...and really needed our help. Her husband died suddenly in her country 9 days ago, and ours was just the message she needed to hear, and we set up to see her again soon. As we got on the bus to head back to Vic we were still obsessing about how good of a day it had been. As we reviewed what had happened, counted the lessons, we were both surprised to see that we had found 7 new investigators. Our goal for the Easter week as a mission (sharing the 'Good News') was that every companionship could hit the pauta<span style="color: orange;"> [mission goals]</span> of 8, and we saw the difference a dedicated day can make.<br />
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Not the best day ever: Good Friday wasn't that great. We locked our keys in piso<span style="color: orange;">[apartment]</span> and after a lot of wasted time had to pay a locksmith to get them out. Opposition in all things, right? And we're definitely a bit poorer this month. On the plus side, Kamal came to the Noche de Hogar <span style="color: orange;">[ward night]</span> and LOVED it. He has the goal to be baptized on the 9th. (Liliana was out of town this but<span style="color: orange;"> </span>we haven't forgotten about her!)<br />
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Saturday/Sunday: Turns out it IS possible to dye brown eggs. It just takes a lot more patience. We shared a lot of Easter messages to some people who really needed to hear it. I also went down to Badalona that Sunday night (for the second time that week...) because of CONCILIO. <br />
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CONCILIO: I expected it would be next week, and that I would have more time to prepare for what would be my 11th and last Concilio. D&C 39:22 <span style="color: orange;">[And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they shall be gathered unto me in time and in eternity. ]</span> and we just have to go with it. But it was so, so good. I've been so focused on being the torch bearer and keeping the light burning, now is the time to pass it on. But I looked around the room in the leadership conference at the old friends, young faces, and incredible new leaders... And I just felt peace. I'll endure a little longer and do all I can, but the mission is being left in good hands.<br />
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I also had to give my "Lo que el Señor me ha enseñado"<span style="color: orange;"> [What the Lord has taught me] </span>which I'll share with you all in my last week.<br />
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We're excited for General Conference, and to hear the prophet's voice. We are ready to go forth in faith and without fear. We are praying for the missionaries in Brussels, and know that are blessed to be missionaries. We have had some fun run-ins with members this week from Sabadell (Near Barcelona), mother-daughter from Australia, and honeymooners from Cornwall, and it's incredible to feel the love, support, and respect we automatically have for each other.<br />
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Love you all!<br />
Hermana Een<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-1004331673303401642016-03-21T11:17:00.001-07:002016-06-01T18:39:00.580-07:00Semana Santa, Spanish SpringSemana Santa: Holy Week leading up to Easter, starting with Palm Sunday (or randomly on Saturday so they can get in a whole week of cool cultural stuff) including weird parades and candlelight processions. When you're in the heart of a Catholic country, it's a big deal.<br />
Spring: the season after winter and before summer in which vegetation begins to appear. Signifying new life.<br />
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Fun cultural things of the week: St. Patrick's Day hot air balloon launch from the plaza Mayor (city center) of which our piso [apartment] has a perfect counter view; a parade of the patron Giants and animal statues on Saturday; human towers (Castillos?) and a symphony leading a simple circle dance I'm pretty cure even I could do on. Sunday afternoon; a weekend fair near the capilla [chapel]; and a solemn procession of "Roman soldiers" and black-robed figures with tall pointed hoods we almost literally ran into as we sprinted home Sunday night.<br />
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I'd like to start with a miracle.<br />
As missionaries, we give our number out to a lot of people, always inviting them to call us. And we hope for the best, trusting in God’s plan and his timing and all, but I can count on a shopkeepers hand the number of times someone has actually DONE it. Well, this week that hand grew another finger. We were walking around in our area after a couple of failed passbys when my companion got a call from an unknown number. The woman introduced herself as the girlfriend of a member and asked if we had time to meet with her... now, if we could. So we headed off with a million possibilities buzzing around our heads. Thankfully Hermana Arauco vaguely recognized her from the ward<br />
Valentines activity and as we exchanged besos and saludos [kisses and regards] (not quite knowing what to do) she told us that she had just broken up with her boyfriend. Instead of launching into a drawn-out of hysteric word vomit and blame, she simply said, "I want to change and be better-a better mother, too- and I KNOW you can help me do it." I have rarely met someone with such great and sincere desires and honest determination. We testified of the change that comes through relying on Christ. We taught her how to pray. We invited her to church. It was one of those mission moments that reminds you why you came. I could see the simple difference our conversation had made in her. The awakening of hope. Even better was later on that day, seeing her boyfriend in an activity, hearing that they had made amends, and receiving his heartfelt gratitude. They were both in church on Sunday. The start of something new.<br />
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There are so many great people here. The problem is that most of them can only meet on weekends because of crazy work schedules. One of them in Kamal. He is accepting everything so well, and told us that what he likes about our message is that everything centered on Christ. It's something we mention in every contact, but it's amazing the difference it makes when people discover that for themselves: we teach of Christ.<br />
(2 Nephi 25:26)<br />
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Sunday is always a great day. Tip for the future: if you have a half-way decent voice and want to feel like a superstar, come to church in Vic. The members will love you. The second hour was a split of only English speakers (our African friends) and only Spanish speakers, so the Ward Mission leader asked me to translate in English as he taught the class in Spanish. It was definitely a mental exercise, but went surprisingly well. An Hermana who used to serve here and is now long-distance dating the Ward Mission Leader is visiting and it's an interesting dynamic... especially since it doesn't seem like all that long ago I was serving alongside her. But the bonus is that she brought jolly ranchers.<br />
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Spending holidays- especially Christian holidays- in Spain is always a special experience. You see the differences. Here, Easter means the crucifixion. It's a week celebrating Christ's life how it was lived and how it ended. It's gothic, beautiful, laudable even, but not complete. Because I think they forgot...<br />
He lives.<br />
He died for us and for our sins. But he was resurrected and gave us the hope of higher things, of eternal glory and new beginnings.<br />
And as I see it all and soak in the sun of another Spanish springtime<br />
in the Lord's service, all I can say is...<br />
Hallelujah.<br />
FollowHim.mormon.org. #Hallelujah.<br />
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May not forget our risen Savior in this Holy Week,<br />
Hermana Een<br />
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Companion fact: never broken a bone.<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-78107686305899726972016-03-14T21:44:00.000-07:002016-06-01T18:32:41.867-07:00Gossip girl, crisis de chisme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Gossip girl: a tv show. (Ask Ari) Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.<br />
crisis: a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger<br />
Chisme: gossip. No me vengas con chismes. [Do not give me gossip.] (Thanks, Spanish Dictionary)<br />
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This week has been amazing and much of that has been due to my companion. She's full of energy, funny, fun to be around, focused, obedient and trying and just... great. She's great. And I just feel SO so blessed. I approached this transfer apprehensively, knowing that wherever I went or if I stayed, someone would have the burden of "killing" me. There's nothing I can do about it really, but I just felt bad for the poor Hermana who would have to do it. (Princess Bride, "You seem a decent fellow; I hate to kill you." "You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die.") But Hermana Arauco said that she has always wanted to be my companion. She's talked with people who have worked with me, heard my mission reputation, hoped and prayed and well... here I am. I told her I was sorry it came with the price of "killing" me and she responded (and I quote) "Hermana Een has got to be the best missionary to kill. Man, give me ten Hermana Eens, I'll kill 'um all!"<br />
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All talk of homicide aside, it's been pretty great. Vic is beautiful. It's the perfect little city of cobblestone, tiny streets, greenery, fields, tower bells that ring in every hour, and everything that Spain is supposed to be. The Hermanas here have been working hard and had an unheard of number of baptisms last transfer, which is great! So we have a lot of recent converts.... and no investigators. Pero no me importa, [But I don’t care] we'll get this area growing again if it kills me (and it probably will. Ok, no more jokes). We've talked to a ton of Africans with the charming ice-breaker "Ecom di-me pa!" (I am very hungry,) have done some good service, and eaten a lot.</div>
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But, as you know, there is opposition in all things. For the first time, I've been exposed to the mission gossip. I didn't even know that it EXISTED and never had the opportunity to take part in it -not that I'd want to. I feel as if I've been shown the shadow of El Faro. My heart ached and I wanted to disbelieve it all, but the stories fit too well together as circumstances were explained and it grew on the hint of a doubt I might have had. I've been blissfully and naively ignorant of it all up until this point and as my eyes were opened my outlook became grim. I know that no missionary, leader, mission, or person is ever perfect, nor do we pretend to be. But I still had the hope that all of them were at least good or trying to be.</div>
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In my gospel study I continue seeing the oft repeated plea, "keep the commandments," and now I'm starting to notice the importance of staying faithful as well. Keeping the commandments requires constant, continuous effort. It requires dedication, integrity, and well... faith. Faith in the principles of the gospel and that the inconvenience and potential social awkwardness is NOTHING to be compared with the blessings that await. This life is a character test, and there are no cheats involved because you're only cheating yourself in the end.</div>
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It doesn't matter how many miles you traveled on the right path if in the end, you miss the mark.</div>
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Qué fuerte [How strong], Hermana Een!</div>
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Endure to the end.</div>
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Remember the saving strength of the valiant few, those 2,000 sons of Helaman.</div>
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Oh, prove faithful.</div>
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Hermana Een</div>
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Dearest Children, God Is Near You</div>
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1.</div>
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Dearest children, God is near you,</div>
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Watching o’er you day and night,</div>
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And delights to own and bless you,</div>
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If you strive to do what’s right.</div>
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He will bless you, He will bless you,</div>
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If you put your trust in him.</div>
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Dearest children, holy angels</div>
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Watch your actions night and day,</div>
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And they keep a faithful record</div>
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Of the good and bad you say.</div>
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Cherish virtue! Cherish virtue!</div>
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God will bless the pure in heart.</div>
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Children, God delights to teach you</div>
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By his Holy Spirit’s voice.</div>
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Quickly heed its holy promptings.</div>
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Day by day you’ll then rejoice.</div>
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Oh, prove faithful, Oh, prove faithful</div>
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To your God and Zion’s cause.</div>
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Companionship fact: she has never been to a wedding and has only been</div>
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to one funeral.</div>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-41752918410872457262016-03-08T13:48:00.001-08:002016-06-01T18:27:32.647-07:00Voy a Vic. Me muero aquí.Morir: to die, stop living. (Thanks Spanish dictionary)<br />
Six week shaft: A term I learned from my dear friend Sister Farmer for changing areas in your last transfer. In this case, it's seven weeks.<br />
Voy: first person, to go<br />
Vic: a charming little Spanish town in dead center Cataluña between Barcelona and France. It has a lot of pueblos (little cities) and a rama (branch... Not quite a ward, but almost).<br />
Me muero aquí: a phrase my stressed trainee would often say. Basically "I'm going to die here."<br />
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We had a pretty great week. On Wednesday we had a great zone Enfoque [focus], focusing on unity, which was something that had been stressed in Concilio [leadership council] and honestly couldn't have come at a better time. We needed it. But we were also supposed to talk about teaching the word of wisdom so... we played a unity-building game of "eat the fruits and vegetables as fast as you can and go cheer on the next group." Kind of hard to explain, but it was great fun. We had kiwis. The group that had oranges all got sick after, but it was well worth it.<br />
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After that I started what was my 4th intercambio [exchange] with dear sweet Hermana Schmidt. We've sort of followed each other around the mission, and I have had the great opportunity to work, teach, see, and make miracles with her. It's always a pleasure to be with her and see the beautiful city of Zaragoza in the MANY buses that we took and ran to catch. Lots of running and great street contacts, but I wouldn't have it any other way. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Hermana Schmidt in Zaragoza</td></tr>
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Lleida hasn't been the easiest of areas for me and I know that as I've probably expressed in past emails, we haven't been able to see many of the fruits of our labor. BUT one day last week we met Alexandria. She was the only one on the street and we started talking to her,<br />
"Would you like to know more?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
Really? "Can we write down your number?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Can we visit you on Thursday at 5?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" Ok, we didn't say that part, but it was ALMOST that perfect.<br />
We texted to remind her and she texted back within minutes. So we went to the cita [appointment], excited to teach. That excitement turned to nerves as she let us in, introduced us to her two other super interested and similarly perfect friends, and they all sat down to listen. It's been so long since I've met someone who understands and really wants to listen and to suddenly have three of them was overwhelming in the best possible way. Lleida's looking up!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Alexandria and friends</td></tr>
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We had some fun citas with a member that were more like "missionary present lessons" because sweet Daniela spent most of the time talking in Romanian, to which my gift of tongues does NOT extend. Pero bueno [but hey, it’s good].<br />
Saturday of transfer calls is always interesting. It's filled with throwbacks (just in case) and anxiously trying not to think about it.<br />
Planning is more of a hypothetical thing because if one of you leaves... there are people that NEED to be visited.<br />
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And so I got the call to go to Vic and be with Hermana Arauco.<br />
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So the week was full of goodbyes and packing (kind of a trial run, if you think about it, which I tend not to). We had 4 eating citas (good thing we'd fasted on Sunday) and at one point literally hopped from one members' car to another's. It's good to be loved, and I love SO many of the members here. I was blessed to get to see almost everyone I needed and wanted to, including Norma (one step closer to getting her papers done) Alexandria and her friends (for the BEST plan of salvation lesson ever), and the Arrandas (My family, but the Spanish version).<br />
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It's been good. That isn't to say it hasn't also been hard. On Sunday I had a big pain in my chest that might have been troublesome as it surged and ebbed but I didn't worry too much because I'm pretty sure it was just heartache. Es una cosa de la mission [It is a thing of the mission]. But that's when you know you've come to know a little bit more what true love is like. And it's worth it.<br />
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I shared this scripture with everyone because it's one of my favorites, so I guess I'll share it with you all again as well<br />
Mosiah 2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accidental matching outfits</td></tr>
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So send your last letters to this address (seven weeks is plenty of time, hint hint.)<br />
Love you all and have a great week!<br />
Hermana Alayna Een<br />
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Hermana Arauco: has seven half-blooded siblings, and no full-blooded siblings. Is from Virginia.<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-5356617544029851892016-03-01T01:12:00.000-08:002016-06-02T16:24:08.525-07:00Cumpleaños cumpliendoCumplir: to complete or carry out. Cumpleaños literally means "finish year" and we call it a birthday. It was Hermana Gutoff's birthday. Cuplir also means to finish. I had the opportunity to be with Hermana McWhorter- an Hermana I stayed with in my first night in the mission and who took me out contacting my first morning in the mission- who went to her last Concilio and will be going home this Tuesday. Cumplir can also mean to keep (guardar is the better word) as in "keep the commandments."<br />
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Cumpleaños. We started out the week with my companion's 20th birthday. A birthday in the mission is usually a once-in-a-lifetime thing (unless you're an Élder or... special) so there's a little bit of pressure to make it something AMAZING (I guess...). And thanks to some 'piso find decorations,' a breakfast, a mission coordination meeting turned party, and some over-the-top contributions from the Elders, it really REALLY was. Basically, I'm STILL pulling confetti out of my bag, books, and agenda. Photos to follow, if I remember to include them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Wars came out, and is still a really big deal</td></tr>
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I did an intercambio [exchange] with Hermana Stapley! She was trained by Hermana Fenn (from my group and basically one of my favorite people in the world). Her hair is white blonde and I'm 90% sure that it's because of the sunshine in her soul. She's incredibly upbeat, loves Harry Potter, and could quote "Meet the Robinsons" along with me like a pro. Our intercambio started out a bit rough- I only caught the train by a hope and a prayer with two minutes 'til departure and the recent convert we were working with was stopped by (tip for the future, always carry your bus card) and then RAN FROM the police. Intercambios, always an adventure. But everything ended well, and then back to our areas and our companions, both a bit better off from the exchange.<br />
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We had a great lesson with an African man who sounds like Mufasa (the temptation to record him reading James 1:5 was GREAT) and rediscovered the missionary magic of brownies. (Member gives reference. The girl is "busy." We say "we're making brownies at Saundra's house." She says "que guay!" and comes.) I have a renewed testimony that God really does help us achieve our righteous desires when we go the extra mile and do OUR part.<br />
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Concilio was great as always. I felt like almost everything addressed (Christlike listening, district/companionship unity) was meant to help me, my companionship, and our area. I'm excited to teach and apply it. I don't know what it is, some sort of magic of the mission home, but for the whole time I'm there, I feel such a profound love for EVERYONE there. It's incredible. Another bonus is that many of these Hermanas are coming from areas where I've served and have incredible, heartwarming things to tell me: Manuela gave her first talk in sacrament meeting and went to the ward temple trip. She's giving out references like candy and her family is finally opening up. Carol (someone I taught in my first area) is still obsessed with me and sent me Honduran scripture cases!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last concilio together</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0wUmjVQq5_fN8MFZ98xpfplxhk_eQnp3rr4OyC_lLR-6qUP7l7GH7NoylF3fLvaCsMHvXGjnnLTqiVAs4iQxdgmFXr5nF5VIOnstjcwYoGr7QlrtMichyCm6mzl5Skjq4HqvZ7f2qlY/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0wUmjVQq5_fN8MFZ98xpfplxhk_eQnp3rr4OyC_lLR-6qUP7l7GH7NoylF3fLvaCsMHvXGjnnLTqiVAs4iQxdgmFXr5nF5VIOnstjcwYoGr7QlrtMichyCm6mzl5Skjq4HqvZ7f2qlY/s320/IMG_0911.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first concilio together, </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPILdmTdnWflkeN1bKODpcB1sOXiWHvxUOKbISeLlTzTCh0nm8BW3XOR7iT-xLHjuWhir4d-ixP-4HuH83ogyWAu4jtKTzLhfytV1EFthTxGJWe8sIZ8zriyqlcGxIkeC4NdEoxz7Ag/s1600/017d38f1bd6a028d5fc5941d0c107ebccdc3d5281b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPILdmTdnWflkeN1bKODpcB1sOXiWHvxUOKbISeLlTzTCh0nm8BW3XOR7iT-xLHjuWhir4d-ixP-4HuH83ogyWAu4jtKTzLhfytV1EFthTxGJWe8sIZ8zriyqlcGxIkeC4NdEoxz7Ag/s320/017d38f1bd6a028d5fc5941d0c107ebccdc3d5281b.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elders Kimball,Day, Hermanas O'Neill and Fenn,<br />
All from the same MTC group. All leaders. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGATY9E2_WlQZDseV8KV-3h1fXfVSZexVEllCVPoUMXhsp5RDtT4exzcKG3_eSseQ8RhoHwlxSRVkr7hYvljiwy-rejiT7uQrJR6525XZce5o8Okh87IWmyoq0cLizMbI_Ck87u6mPw/s1600/01d7abd7359fff36b03398a9345a408f53d4c40552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGATY9E2_WlQZDseV8KV-3h1fXfVSZexVEllCVPoUMXhsp5RDtT4exzcKG3_eSseQ8RhoHwlxSRVkr7hYvljiwy-rejiT7uQrJR6525XZce5o8Okh87IWmyoq0cLizMbI_Ck87u6mPw/s320/01d7abd7359fff36b03398a9345a408f53d4c40552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermanas pic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXCXLtKwx90Z5GaKPxzLAgeHUVAC638QL67RSSbOcp-ortuMV52a0ngyhyphenhyphenFvDgZ7FICOsGLVePR3oXrYD5AjScwxcsnFgq-ut1M8puuGXSYqcQNo7_wamjU5qSDCYFzYSOY2fQ78AaQ/s1600/0111f1b31ac95f7dddfe94250d4c8771b0a11afecf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXCXLtKwx90Z5GaKPxzLAgeHUVAC638QL67RSSbOcp-ortuMV52a0ngyhyphenhyphenFvDgZ7FICOsGLVePR3oXrYD5AjScwxcsnFgq-ut1M8puuGXSYqcQNo7_wamjU5qSDCYFzYSOY2fQ78AaQ/s320/0111f1b31ac95f7dddfe94250d4c8771b0a11afecf.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Hermana Wiseman, they served together in Barcelona</td></tr>
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On my 16th month mark I completed a mission goal: I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish. It quickly turned into another goal: to read it all again before I end.<br />
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It's going to be a little bit harder (to finish in 2 months what it took 16 to complete) and require focus and sacrifice but I'm energized to do it. And I noticed something as the train rides gave me ample time to read: the phrase "keep the commandments" appears on almost every page, sometimes multiple times. Its been cropping up everywhere in my gospel studies and I'm starting to realize again just how important it is. Many times we think of "commandments" and immediately our minds go to "the 10." I haven't murdered and I'm not a liar, so I'm good, right? Not quite. God continues to speak to us, and he usually "speaks by way of commandment." God gives us commandments because he loves us and is a fair bit smarter than we are, so he gives us things to make our lives easier and better. The word of wisdom. Law of Chastity, etc. We keep the commandments because we love him. And then we are doubly blessed by it. How cool is that? And now, out mission rules are given us not to restrict our freedom or frustrate us, but to bless us and help us live the higher law. It isn't always easy, but it is always, ALWAYS worth it. Mosiah 2:41. Actually all of that chapter. Read it, it's a good one. <br />
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Mosiah 2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.<br />
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Next week is transfers. Mixed feelings. Not at all sure what to expect or feel, but on we go.<br />
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Keep the commandments. Have a great week.<br />
Love you all!<br />
Hermana Alayna Een<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-87416395260486397432016-02-23T07:52:00.000-08:002016-06-01T17:53:54.472-07:00The Work is Worth It<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Worth: of high value or merit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Work: activity involving mental or physical effort in order to achieve a purpose or result<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We sure walked a lot in the beginning of the week. Whether it was by poor planning on our part or communication issues with our investigators, I can't quite recall, but I remember walking, talking with people, the chill air as the hours passed, and being tired at the end of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">At some point my companion, thinking aloud, asked, "I wonder how Christ faced rejection." I imagine it was something like this: his face takes on a hint of sadness as he lets them get the last word or walk away and then quietly, lovingly, and humbly, he says "that's ok, I'll pay for your sins anyway."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Random deep mental wanderings aside, it's been a pretty good week. We sort of consistently struggled to get citas<span style="color: orange;"> [appointments]</span> but had the typical meetings and weekly things kept us going: District Meeting where we were attacked with confetti cannons in the most loving way imaginable, English class where getting them not to roll their 'r' is the HARDEST thing ever, coordination with some newly called and very excited Ward missionaries (and food, of course, because Javier wouldn't have it any other way), Noche de Barrio<span style="color: orange;"> [ward night]</span>, and half-hearted practices for some more last-minute musical numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We had a pretty incredible lesson with Ana and Norma and a new roommate named Celeste. We talked about the "what, why, and how" of baptism. I had had a hard time focusing in personal study that morning, though I had done all of the things I was "supposed" to do (read in PMG, the Book of Mormon, another book of scripture (D&C this time)), I just wasn't feeling it until, with about 29 minutes left, I thought about Ana and Norma. I thought about what they needed, how we should teach them, and what scriptures/experiences would help get the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">message across. And like flipping switch I felt a new energy and excitement in what I found for them. It was the perfect jumpstart to the day. And I learned again the paradox: focusing on others is the best way to help yourself. As we moved smoothly from idea to scripture to discussion, Norma said "We aren't baptized, but we go to church. If we aren't members, then... What are we?" A great question. You can go to church as often as you want and feel the spirit, but if you don't make the covenant of baptism you'll never have the promise of his constant presence. And I think they finally got it. Norma is just waiting on papers to get married. Ana has a harder choice to make, but she committed to sincerely pray about it. And I finally feel like </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we're helping them again. Hermana Gutoff gets bad migraines sometimes, and it's gotten worse lately. I should have seen it coming: 50% of the missionaries I work with end up with serious health problems and I've at least crossed paths with every missionary who's had to go home early. I'm like a bad luck charm. ;) but we'll get it figured out.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How you survive piso purgatory. The District, arts and crafts, journaling, food, and phone calls.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes I wonder about worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I've sent out hundreds of reminder texts for church and activities, made thousands of unanswered phone calls, and seen no results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Worthless is what it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As every transfer comes to the last few weeks, I evaluate myself as a leader and missionary and am overwhelmed by just how much I've missed the mark. I haven't hit pautas <span style="color: orange;">[mission goals]</span> for over six months or had a baptism since Eduardo, I don't even work with members as well as I should and really, why haven't I been released yet? Why haven't they just given up on me "it's been a nice run, Hermana Een" and passed the torch on to a more worthy candidate? Am I really worthy to be considered a leader?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We stop and talk to so many people: most are Muslim, all are busy and we find very few who stop and listen, much less who want to learn more. And yet we keep walking. We keep talking, and we keep inviting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And then there are times that restore your faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because a man named Julio you contacted and called actually followed up on his promise to come to church, and you realize that SOMEONE at least, got the message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because yesterday was Specialized training, and in the leadership meeting they of course talked about how we can help missionaries work better, but we also talked about how our first goal is the exaltation of the missionaries we work with, strengthening their faith, diligence, and testimonies. And I know that I have at least done that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because the Lord’s elect are out there. Manuela is one of them. Eduardo was too. And we're not here just to fill the font and see our names in the mission news. We are here to build Zion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise run-in with the Dayton crew at the train station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And I know that missionary work is worth it. I know that it's worth every rainy, windy, gloomy day. It's worth every pain, headache, and broken toe. It's worth every slammed door and rude contact. It's worth it because it's true. It's worth it because I know. I know that I am a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">child of God. I know that everyone I've ever contacted in every area I've ever been in is a loved spirit Child of our Heavenly Father. It's worth it because of the disciples of Christ that we are becoming. It's worth it because the book of Mormon is true. And I love it. I love the example of great missionaries like Alma, Amulek, and Ammon. I love the examples of the great missionaries I work with. It's worth it because of the seeds you plant and the testimony you write on your heart every time you bear it. And someday those who've heard it will remember and it'll ring familiar and true. It's worth it because of Christ, and the honor I have to put his name over my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It's worth a year and a half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It's worth a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">You were worth every drop of blood he shed for you. And helping people come to know that is a high and holy calling. One I'm grateful to hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please remember your worth this week. And give a special prayer of gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love you all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Een<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Companion fact: obsessed with seafood, prefers salty to sweet, and has 4 sisters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Answer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because some of you have asked...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Companion: just hit half way. Has 5 siblings but only one brother. Is the second youngest but only missionary... Most are menos active. I love her a lot. She gets migraines and likes to talk things out which is great most of the time. I know I'm here to help her heal and grow. She's from Utah but both of her parents are from Argentina so people expect her to be native. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Area: a solid 80% of everyone we contact is Muslim, and it gets harder for me to find the energy to continue in what seems like it will probably be another dead-end contact. Our most promising people don't have solid schedules or don't answer their phones, but we keep working and are blessed with miracle moments that makes everything else worth it. We're a little lonely, being the only hermanas here, but the district is like a family. A really weird, high energy, slightly awkward family. ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Een: finally starting to realize that I have less than 60 days left in the mission field, determining to finish strong and see those last few miracles. Ready to go to my tenth Concilio and sometimes just feeling all around OLD. But there's still much to learn, grow, and DO. And on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">we go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love you all!</span></div>
Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-49131229230705265092016-02-15T01:18:00.000-08:002016-06-01T17:37:55.598-07:00Asombroso amorAsombroso: Amazing, astonishing. Not quite what we thought it meant in the MTC as our poorly equipped tongues tried to find the Spanish equivalent of "awesome."<br />
Amor: love. What does love mean? An intense feeling of deep affection. I guess any reader with a bit of insight and slight awareness of the date (day after Valentine's Day) could guess what this week's sermon will be. But first, a little about our week.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">We had a zone Enfoque in Zaragoza. I had the great pleasure of reviewing a section of the white handbook (Blanca biblia). I love the white handbook... A sacred trust to cover the section about "the opposite sex" the week of Valentine's Day. ;) But really, it's important to remember that we've been set apart. That we can't act the way we did before, we need to aspire higher. Do more than avoid the appearance of evil, give the appearance of GOOD. We came back, did a couple of pass bys, went to missionary coordination (where I've come to be called 'sergeant' because of my attention to the time and attempts to keep us on topic).</span></div>
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We got home justo en tiempo (just in time) and were greeted by our door, dark and hanging open. Moments of possible danger bring out your true nature. I'm a fighter (umbrella= weapon. Let's go!). My companion isn't. So we called the Elders and they searched our piso, finding nothing out of place. We thanked them and spent the next 45 minutes running through every detail of the day, seeing if it was possible that Hermana Gutoff forgot to shut the door.<br />
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Spring's showers are coming. We got caught in them sometimes this week. Fun stuff. We continue to find new people and have had some great moments following the spirit and keeping the faith this week. God answers prayers.<br />
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On Sunday we were running just a little bit late to church, walking fast trying to get there on time. Part way through I realized that if we kept walking we would be late. So I prayed we could be there in time, apologizing for leaving late, and we started running. Not two minutes later a woman pulled over to the side of the road, honked the horn, and said "Hermanas!" We were at church in plenty of time. God is in the details and answers prayers when he knows we'll do our part too. (Best part- I'd never met that member before...)<br />
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Oh Valentine's Day. As we said goodbye to Élder Barney in the train station he pointed out one perk of his departure "At least I'll get to celebrate Valentine's Day for real this year, which you can't really do." My straight-faced response was, "Actually, I'm going to celebrate it pretty much the same way I always have." And you know what? We did. We went to church, made brownies, cut out a million paper hearts and stamped them with those good old Hermana Manwill leftovers. In our little way, we filled the world with love. We met with Ana and Norma, something we haven't been able to really do for a good while. The good thing is that they said they felt the difference, and they most definitely will be going to church next week: rain, wind, walk...<br />
They'll be there.<br />
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A while ago I was reading through the New Testament. I got to a chapter in 1 John and about half way through said to myself "<i>this sure has said 'love' a lot.... Maybe I should start marking it.</i>" Several minutes later I was staring, dumbfounded, at my scriptures crowded with little hearts and boxes. In only 21 verses, 1 John 4 contains 29 references to the word 'love.' So I started a tab in gospel library, and since then, it's been showing up everywhere.<br />
LOVE.<br />
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I always thought that love was a sort-of cop-out answer. Harry Potter was protected by his mother's love, true love's kiss is always magical, love heals a "Frozen" heart, etc, etc, etc. It was the easy, cliche, eye-roll answer to all the problems people face. But the more I learn of the gospel, the more I realize that society and imagination - for once- actually got it right. Because love- Heavenly Father's love for us and the Savior's love for us and Him- is what brought us here, what will save us, and what will bring us back again. It breaks the bonds of death, lifts us, and continually blesses and heals us.<br />
For God so loved the world...<br />
It really is everything.<br />
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Our mission president is a fan of musicals (a big part of what made the switch easier). And there's a song. He wants it to become a sort of secondary mission anthem. It's already played through my mind and heart a million times, and I love it. It's a constant question, a self-assessment, and a motivation.<br />
For those of you with YouTube capabilities, I encourage you to look it up.<br />
But here's the last verse.<br />
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Did I Fill the World With Love?<br />
In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset, at a moment in<br />
my life when the night is due.<br />
And the question I shall ask only I can answer.<br />
Was I brave and strong and true?<br />
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?<br />
Did I fill the world with love, did I fill the world with love, did I<br />
fill the world with love my whole life through?<br />
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I love you all.<br />
Have a great week, and fill the world with love!<br />
Hermana Een<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-41710552943663113462016-02-09T23:28:00.000-08:002016-06-01T17:19:10.938-07:00ABCAlegría: happiness or joy<br />
Back to the Basics: to return to an essential foundation or starting point<br />
Carnival: typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries involving parades, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lleida District.<br />
Elders Alder, H. Johnson, Christensen, Jacobson, Woodmansee, and Byington. Hermanas Gutoff and Een</td></tr>
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As it turns out, I'm still rather bad with directions. I'm never quite certain where something is, even though I've been in this area for a couple of months now. The good news is that everything is familiar and I haven't gotten too lost. New eyes have helped us see miracles in the area and meet some good new people. We're planning to follow up with all of them in the coming days. We've done some good things: taught English class; did a favor and taught a mutual class about the lost sheep to the ONE girl who showed up (a little ironic); lots of contacting and pass-bys; had some great visits with menos active members (one who promised to make us the traditional African dish, Foofoo); had a couple of great lessons scattered in and finally.... Got caught in another Spanish festival. I have all the luck.<br />
We walked out of a visit and were met by a mob of costumed kids and families. If I had a dollar for every Ana and Elsa I saw that night, I could easily take care of that pesky college tuition. There was a parade route with little floats and confetti throwers and we almost got stuck in the middle of it. Thank heavens for Spanish side-streets.<br />
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We're working out the kinks of a new companionship and seem to be doing pretty well. Open communication is key, and we've got that part down. A fun little miracle happened on Wednesday morning- the first full day of our companionship. I had read all around in personal study: the next chapter in Alma, continuing working through PMG (Preach My Gospel: A Missionary Resource), a conference talk someone suggested that I hadn't gotten around to yet, etc. it all seemed pretty scattered and I felt a little bad that although everything I had read was good and edifying, hadn't really prepared for the lessons or plans we had for the day. Then came the part in companionship study where we share what we learned. She went first and mentioned some of her insecurities and problems, some of the things she was struggling with. I listened, a little shocked, as every word and every point she brought up related directly to something I had studied that morning, and I was able to really, truly help her. God is in the details.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermanas Wiseman and Een at Concilio</td></tr>
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Sunday night I left for Concilio (missionary leadership meeting) with a special joy in my heart. Why? Because (thanks to the recipients list on a leadership email) I knew that Hermana Wiseman would be there. That welcome hug was long awaited and gave me a small taste of what a reunion in heaven would be like. Concilio was incredible. We clarified, brainstormed, talked about negative thinking, taught, learned, and testified. Confession: I wanted to train in these, my last two transfers. I wanted that newbie fire to keep me going. I wanted that focus and those fundamentals. And in a way, I'll get it. We've decided to go through the training program as a mission- focusing on the fundamentals and getting back to the basics. After presenting it, President Dayton said, "Did you see that? You all just became trainers!"<br />
God is in the details.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Fenn and I tried to match and were going to be "Hermana Feen" with the chapa and everything... But it was on loan to Hermana Arauco.<br /></td></tr>
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The ABC's are the building blocks of our language, the three simple letters we start with. As Spanish-speaking missionaries, we had three other vitally important building blocks as letters. We call it "OLA."<br />
Orar: pray<br />
Leer: read<br />
Asistir: attend church.<br />
These are the little things we do to build our testimony. It's as easy as 1,2,3, simple as do, re, mi.<br />
I testify to the importance of these three simple things, as we learn to waltz to the beautiful music of the gospel.<br />
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Love you all and hope you have a great week!<br />
Hermana Een<br />
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9108438692473773434.post-32964758083986854892016-02-02T15:23:00.004-08:002016-06-01T12:38:27.988-07:00Called to ServeCall: inspire or urge (someone) to do something: I am called to preach the gospel. <--Thank you, new Oxford American dictionary.<br />
Serve: perform services or duties for another person. Something NO ONE EVER ASKS THE HERMANAS TO DO.<br />
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Let's start with a little rant (sorry). No one ever asks hermanas to help them. When there is painting to be done, a house to be moved into, cleaning, or heard work to do, people call the Elders. We usually find out about it after the fact. Elders are expected to serve. Hermanas are not. I speak for all hermanas out there when I say that we are just as qualified and willing as any other male counterpart. Ok? Ok.<br />
But on the positive side, we were able to do service this week! Ana and Norma changed pisos and didn't really want to ask for help but we've gotten so close that they let us come over. Downside: they moved out of our area... And are still living with their boyfriends. We'll see how this works out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lleida ward</td></tr>
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Lots of other things happened this week. Wednesday was the worst day ever. (Hate to be dramatic, but its true). Splurge buying dark chocolate and gummy octopus helped. Basically, we found the true meaning of diligence by still pushing on as everything steadily got worse.<br />
Saturday was transfer calls. For the first time in a long time... I'm not the one that's leaving.<br />
It'll be the first time since Hermana Manotas that I'm NOT the one saying goodbye. Strange. Hermana Ingram will be going to Valencia (promised land!) and be a trainer-breaker. It's just the change she needed. God knows his children and President reads emails.<br />
We said a very VERY dramatic goodbye to Élder Barney as we sent him home. For the first time it really felt real: that someday (not that distant), that will be me.<br />
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Something else about service. On several occasions on my mission, people have thanked me for serving, being an Hermana. Technically, we're not obligated to go so it's somehow more special when we do. But service is what runs the church: it's the machinery that keeps the stone rolling, it's the expectation of every member, missionary, and family. We serve one another, we serve the Lord. Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.<br />
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And I'm everlastingly more great full for my call to serve a mission. Love you all, we'll chat again next week.<br />
Hermana Een<br />
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Companion fact: Hermana Gutoff. Doesn't like rice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorite Romanian family</td></tr>
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Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955525625748208990noreply@blogger.com0