Want to know who doesn't celebrate Independence day? Hispanics. So we were pretty hopeful that people would be home. But, any opportunity to celebrate and peace out to Tijuana is taken, so the 4th of July was pretty quiet haha. But the fireworks were pretty so I can't complain! Dad, i loved your email about the family reunion and it sounded like a blast! The next one should be in San Diego!! I know all the good taco shops, so life would be great!
This week was great! We finally met our new mission president, President Schmitt, and he is SO COOL! It's %100 different! He's only 40 and has 4 kids ranging from ages 6-15. All of them got up to introduce themselves and we were all so impressed with the whole family. It's definitely a whole new dynamic-having a family at the mission home, but it feels so right. The minute they all walked into the room all of us knew that they were perfect for the mission and the ones who needed to be here at this time. President Schmitt was a lawyer, his wife is a physician, they come play P-day sports with the missionaries, she speaks fluent Spanish, the kids have stronger testimonies than I do, and they say the word "awesome" a lot. It's awesome! We love them already. We are especially grateful in the way they talk about the Claytons-they're so grateful for them and constantly tell us that they don't want to replace them, but build upon the foundations that they've already set. I have full confidence that they will guide the mission where it needs to go and I'm excited for the things that they will accomplish, even within these next few weeks!
This week was a great one for recognizing small miracles! There wasn't tons of people home all week, but the lessons that we DID have were so powerful and spirit-filled that there is no doubt in our minds that it was a successful one. We had lots of chances to teach simple lessons on one solitary principle- faith, repentance, God is our loving Heavenly Father, etc.. Those lessons are always my favorite! We can simplify and intensify and the spirit so easily carries the truth of the message to the investigator. We were teaching Karina, who stopped coming to church and reading, a simple lesson about faith and the spirit was working so hard in that room. She asked such inspired questions-i love it when they ask inspired questions-and we KNEW that she felt something. Her countenance changed completely. That's the power of simple lessons, people. It's never worth over-complicating things or trying to cram tons of principles into one lesson.
Remember Bertha? Our investigator who read the whole Book of Mormon in two months, bore her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel in testimony meeting, and actively participated in church before she went back to Mexico? SHE"S BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do y'all hear that sound? That's the choir of heavenly angels singing their hallelujahs. All is well in Zion, and i am a happy camper. LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAND the obligatory Gonzalez report. They are still coming to church and loving it. I looked over during the closing song and Mayra is balling her eyes out (" I know the my Redeemer lives" will do that to ya....). We went over to her house and she told us that the moments she loves the most are when we come over and cook with her and teach her family. They are all so different....understanding the Gospel will do that to ya. They are beginning to UNDERSTAND and not just KNOW the gospel. I feel like that's been such a big lesson that I've learned on my mission. What we teach is the same thing that we were taught in primary, but as we understand it more, which only comes by living it's principles, we change. We become better. And we are happier. I cannot say that i understand my Savior or my Father completely, but I've gotten to know them more these past months and i am grateful that I get the opportunity to understand them more as life goes on. Again, enduring to the end is a blastyblast.
LOVE YOU! I am boring. SORRY! Have a great week!!!!!!!
Hermana Hess
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