I have the worst memory ever. I don't know what it is, but I can't even remember what happened. Last week went so fast! I'll try to think of some highlights.....maybe I'll just include a few short entries from my gratitude journal and that will trigger my memory.
8-26-13: I am grateful for......the beautiful nature that gets me away from the world.
- We had a zone activity where we went on a small hike in Tilden National Park in Orinda. Orinda reminds me of home - it's only a ten minute drive from Oakland, but it seems so secluded. From this park, we can see our whole entire mission. There's a beautiful view of San Francisco and there's just so much peace. Even as a missionary, it's hard to find peace here in Oakland, especially when you teach huge Spanish families with rowdy little kids.
8-27-13: I am grateful......that Huge and Dunia accepted a baptismal date in the first lesson! And for all the things I've learned about myself as I've served my mission.
- We found Hugo and Dunia last Saturday but they were having a family barbecue so we couldn't teach them. We decided to just stop by because we hadn't gotten in touch with them over the phone and they were home! And accepted a date for the end of the month! Dunia is much more interested than Hugo and they need to get married but the Lord will make it work. Dunia's been looking for a church for a long time, and the Lord was just saving them for now!
- I've had a lot of quiet time to think this week and I've made time to write in my journal. I can't sum up everything I've learned and everything else that I'm still learning but I'm slowly uncovering more and more of who I am and who I want to become. It's an interesting self-analysis.
8-28-13: I am grateful.......for the opportunity to find and teach families.
- We went and saw Dunia and Hugo again and their son, Hugo Jr., was there and accepted a date right off the bat! The gospel is for families. And God gives us families so that we can learn to understand the gospel. They work together oh so well.
8-29-13: I am grateful......for less-than-perfect experiences teaching district meeting that humble me. A lot. And for golden Hispanic families that cry in God's Plan.
- Yes, I taught my first district meeting. It didn't go as smoothly as I hoped, but it taught us a lot. Our district is working on being more united so we can help the ward be more united in missionary work.
- I love the VC. And I love non-member Spanish families that feel the Spirit so strong that they bring their friends to come see the presentations. We got referrals from two golden Spanish families this week in Hayward and I just know that they'll accept the gospel. I just know it.
8-30-13: I am grateful......that they let Jose out of jail! Him and Bella are reunited!
- We stopped by our investigator's house, Bella, and she told us that her husband would be released from jail that day! He had been there for two weeks because of immigration problems. It had been a rough time but she thanks God in her prayers everyday that we met her right before all this happened so she could have the support. She was talking about how she's lost so many people in life due to death and other awful circumstances and she just could not have lost her husband. It was a great miracle. She said that even though she couldn't concentrate very well while reading the Book of Mormon because of everything that was going on, she felt peace as she read. She's well on her way to understanding our message - we're teaching her the Plan of Salvation today and we're so excited! It's exactly what she needs to hear!
8-31-13: I am grateful.........that because we forgot he was coming, Hermano Padilla (member) surprised us with food at the VC!
- It was SO good. There's nothing more I can even say. It was heavenly.
9-1-13: I am grateful.....that our investigator Luis came to church for the first time!
- Even though no one else came, he followed through. Helping people get to church is the hardest part of missionary work, but we'll get them all back. We had 2 families last week and we can do it again. Every family needs this gospel.
So, that's a pretty good summary of everything. There's more, but those are the big things. It would be impossible to list them all here. I'm grateful for the opportunity to see miracles everyday. This is the Lord's work - He'll take care of it as we do our part.
Love you all!!!
Hermana Hunsaker
