The Beginning of the End - June 17, 2019

I call it the beginning of the end because this week marks week 1 of my last transfer in the mission... It`s been a pretty crazy week. It`s been crazy since we`ve had leader`s counsel, zone conference, and we`ve been helping out with some sisters that went home today, so it was really fast and really slow at the same time. 

One of the many things i`ve been learning is that it`s more important what the Savior thinks of you than what everyone else thinks of you. We`re never going to be perfect, but we just need to try to do our best, and "He makes up the rest". I am so imperfect, it`s one of the things that i`ve realized most as a missionary, but I know that I can be better, and I`m trying to use the atonement to be better little by little.

I`m grateful for my family, I`m grateful for your support (as friends and family), and most of all I`m grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I know He loves us and wants us to be happy. I know the He atoned for us and that he understands every difficultly, pain, temptation, sickness, etc that we could ever feel. 

I hope that everyone has a good week. We can always make the coming week a better one than the last :)

(Talking to her today made me grateful for the new communication guidelines!!  She cried for most of the call.  I am so grateful that I could talk to her and remind her of all her good qualities, and that the Lord loves her.  She has been with this companion for 12 weeks and found out on Sunday that she will finish her mission with her (another 6 weeks.)  I think she was kind of hoping to be transferred and have a new area or companion.  She said she has enjoyed a lot of good times with this companion but they have also struggled a lot.  She was able to speak frankly with me and tell me about all of the troubles as she hadn't been able to in past calls because her comp was not sitting next to her.  From what she described this comp has made her feel bad for wanting to be obedient, and that anytime she (the companion) is mad at Jessica it is her (Jessica's) fault.  It was super hard as a momma bear to hear her cry.  I know that she will bounce back because that is who she is but it was also heart breaking.  I reminded her of her happy, loving, obedient self and told her that she is not responsible for the way her companion feels.  I told her also that she can set boundaries with her comp.  She does not have to allow her comp to yell at her (ya, that has been happening...)  We talked about ideas to help her have a good transfer.  She is going to try to journal her feelings more, focus on her own obedience and set boundaries.  We talked about trying to find what the Lord would have her learn from this transfer with this companion, and to find the balance between working hard these last 6 weeks and reminding herself that she only has to put up with this comp for another 6 weeks.  I am soooo looking forward to my hug from her!!  

She also slammed her thumb in a car door this week.  They have an investigator with a baptismal date and she is excited about that.  Missions are hard! )

Con amor,

Hermana Rowe

Una Semana Loca - June 10, 2019

This week has been super crazy! We´ve been all over the place doing everything! We`ve had 2 intercambios, during both we had to go to other areas to help out other hermanas because they have been sick, so our area has been suffering but we`ve been loving the ability to serve! It`s sad because a lot of the investigators that have been progressing a lot have stopped progressing, gone to other countries or just disappeared. But the good thing is that we can always keep searching for others! It`s been interesting because the majority of my mission i`ve been in "harder" areas (the people aren`t as willing to learn or they are more prideful) but i think it`s something that has humbled me and made me better. Sometimes I get frustrated because i see other missionaries in other areas have 2 baptisms every week, that always have good numbers, etc. But! I`m happy to know that even just helping one person to come unto Christ is fulfilling the calling that the Lord has given me. I`m grateful for the many things I`m learning every day. :) 

(Jessica was put in charge of having zone sweatshirts made.  She had to find the sweatshirts and the aguayo (native woven fabric) and find someone to make them.  The aguayo is on the front pocket and in the hood.  She also had each missionaries name put on the back.  She said it was a big responsibility but it turned out great.  It is apparently a thing in south american missions to get matching zone t-shirts, or dresses and ties.  Some have worked out better than others.  She is really happy with these.  For p-day she went on another hike.  She had been to this place before but hadn't ever found these waterfalls.  She is excited to find out about transfers this Sunday.)

Con amor,

Hermana Rowe 

Sick Week - June 3, 2019

So i ran out of time because i talked a lot with the family, but basically my pensionista (the person who cooks 1 meal a day for her and her companion) gave me food poisoning and i was pretty sick this week. And we also changed pensions because we were done dealing with the way she treats us. (She said she is very excited about the new pensionista.  She understands what it is like to be a missionary (she and her husband both served missions.))

But! Even though it was kinda sad, we got to do intercambios and i was with Hna Mercado which was the best! and also with hna vara the kid of my kid in my old area.

And today we went and saw a catholic convent and did a tour. but we didn´t take pics for the most of it cause they said we had to pay if we wanted to... at least i have my memories. the photo that i´m sending i had taken before the tour, before i knew so...

(She was telling me about the history of this convent.  It was quite sad apparently.  When it was in use (a long time ago) the girls were taken from their parents (at age 13 or 14) and forced to become nuns for political reasons (to keep their parents under control.)  Jessica said she was trying to imagine what that was like.  In the tour she learned about how they lived and the rules/commitments they had to follow.  The structure was beautiful but the history of it was sad.  (I'm sure not all the girls who entered the convent were forced, that is just what they talked about in the tour.)  It made her very grateful for the ability to make choices and to worship how she wants.

She has a number of people that she is working with.  Alejandro was supposed to be baptized this week but isn't feeling ready so they are continuing to teach him.  Sulma and her daughter are in Miami for a few weeks (i believe to see family.)  They have another person who they are working with who has set a baptismal date (I don't remember the name.)  Aside from the food poisoning she had a good week and felt that they were able work.)

Sorry that that`s it but i love you all :) God loves you and wants you to be happy. You can find true happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hermana Rowe