The Sunny Side of Life: Sweat

Sister Shaffer and I used our miles a little carelessly at the beginning of this month (it's just a rush when you get new miles) so we have been trying to figure out ways everyday to use our miles wisely while still really working our area. The answer we came to: Bikes.

I know that there is one great reason why I was sent Spanish (besides my ability to eat a lot of tacos) and that is that bikes are not my friends. But on the plus side I have definitely been burning off those tacos! The past week we dedicated part of our day to picking an area and biking around in it and we definitely saw miracles... and a lot of sweat.

The awesome part about bikes is that we get the chance to talk to a lot more people which means a lot more Spanish referrals for us. We actually got a few solid ones and it made all the sweat worth it for sure. At one point Sister Shaffer frantically looked at me and was like "touch my back". After I did I told her that was the nearest I was going to get to a swimming pool for the next year and a half. I honestly didn't know people could sweat so much but the Arizona heat and now humidity (thanks monsoon season) have definitely set new records. But with the heat comes tender mercies! After 3+ weeks of our A/C not working it got fixed this weekend! Being able to come home to a place that is less than 80 degrees is truly a blessing and it's nice that we don't have to sleep on the couches anymore (that room was cooler).

Funny moment of the week happened with our 13 yr old investigator Nohelia. She is awesome and really wants to get baptized and her parents have given permission as long as she actually shows a change and a true commitment to following the Savior. So as we have been working with her, we've also developed a friendship with her parents (we are trying to work with them). So we had a lesson with her last Wednesday and as we were about to leave to go to our dinner appointment, her dad yells "ninas vengan" and we were like "um us?" and he shuffled us into the kitchen and told us that they had food for us. We told him we were fine and he was like " I didn't ask..I told you!". It was literally the most delicious food of my life but we had dinner 20 mins later. I have never been so full before. At the end I had to sneakily slid food over to Sister Hanson to help me out. She's the real MVP.

It was a great week but a hard one. It definitely pushed Sister Shaffer and I too our limits physically, mentally and spiritually. At one point as we were frustrated after a long day of tracting and little success. I pulled the car over and looked at Sister Shaffer and said "Gosh dang it I'm going to be happy! This is a gospel of joy and I'm going to be JOYFUL!". It definitely helped pull us out of our funk and after we found a potential and a goldenish English person. It was definitely a moment where we pushed through some barriers of faith.

My mission has stretched and shaped me. It has broken me down and challenged me. And although it's rough sometimes - I love it because I love my Savior. I know that He died for me and for each person I meet. I know that it is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through baptism, that we can one day reunite with our Father in Heaven. I am grateful for the sweat, the stress, the hard moments because it is the least I could do for the One who has already done it all for me.

I know this church is true.

"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
- Acts 5:41

To the Moon and Back
Hermana Showalter