My Heart is Brim with Joy - November 10, 2014

Hola a Todos :)

Well it was another wonderful week!! Started off by doing exchanges with some of the Sisters in Longmont. I went with Sister Martinez, who I lived with while I was in the Branch in Greeley. It all went really well! She goes home in just 2 weeks. We had a good time together :) 

Also this week I got my Trunky Papers!! For those who don't know what these are... basically I have to write this long essay about my entire mission! Everyone I have taught, things I learned, how I will apply those things when I go home, goals I have for the future, etc. Most people write about 20 plus pages! So Ally and I have been trying to work on the papers this week! They take forever! But getting them just made it really hit - that I am almost done... :( It is crazy! It has been a real treat to be able to think about my entire mission and how amazing it has been, though!

So something funny that happened this week was that we were at a members home, the McDonald's, and they were telling us about this inside joke of theirs about a Baby Satan... It was hilarious! And they have this saying... "Not today Baby Satan!" They cut out these pictures and put them all over their house, like fridge, microwave, closets, etc. about the whole joke. Well, Sister Cropper, who used to serve here, left a bunch of these creepy porcelain baby heads here in Boulder. So during weekly planning, I colored one and made it this creepy Baby Satan and we wrapped it up and gave it to the McDonalds! (we used walmart bags as tissue/wrapping paper.. haha! #ghetto) It was hilarious!! They loved it and said it was the best present that they have ever received! haha!

Then on Saturday we had a great day full of lessons! We went and visited a less active part-member family and they fed us pasole... we had another dinner right after... a member took us out and we got sushi :) yum!! Then we had a lesson with R and J and their family and she made us Papusas! They were DELICIOUS!!! like oh my goodness!!  But I was SO full!!! 3 dinners back to back! :( Last week we had double dinners, this week triple. Oh man!! 

We had a wonderful lesson with M this week about the Word of Wisdom! She committed to live it :) and she also told us that she was fasting while we were there! We had taught her about fasting last week and she wanted to do it! We apparently didn't do a good enough job explaining it because she did kind of a Lent-type fast. She gave up breakfast for a week. :) But I don't care how she fasts! She is trying and that is all that counts! She was so happy about it too!! it was awesome :)

We had a wonderful lesson with B this week! We watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration. Oh man! I loooooooooooooooooooooooove this movie!!! I cry every time! My testimony of Joseph Smith is just strengthened every time I watch it! I know he was a prophet and that he restored the church on the earth!! 

This week our sunday school class had just 1 couple that attended. We taught... correction, Ally taught :) haha! Well actually the couple just took over! The lesson was supposed to be about eternal families but they just told us ALL of their problems... it was like confession and a psych visit all at once. It was crazy! They were telling us the problems they are having with their 14 year old son... The Hermano was saying that the Hermana used to be more patient but not anymore... it just went on and on... that she would look better in that dress if she was skinnier... oh man! They weren't angry at all... just vented and had no filters and just unloaded! It was intense and we were just in shock and worn out after! haha! But with that said, I love this familia! They are amazing! They have gone through a lot and are just trying to get their feet back on the ground and return to activity! :)

This morning while I was studying I had the best experience! I read this talk that Ally found called, The Opportunity of a Lifetime. It was all about missions and what we should be learning from them and how they prepare us for the rest of our lives. Really fabulous! Then I read in Alma 26 :) This is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon!! I love how Ammon is just so full of joy!! He is so excited as he talks! I love how he explains about how even though many of the Nephites perished in war against the Lamanites, they were able to bring many Lamanites unto God. (Bury up their weapons, Anti-Nephi-Lehi's) And how happy Ammon was that he got to help be a part of that conversion! And then Aaron calls him out and says he sounds prideful, basically, and immediately Ammon replies...

I do not boast of my own strength nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever... Therefore let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26: 11-12, 16)

Oh!!! I LOVE THAT!!!!!! I was able to reflect on my mission and how grateful I am that I have been able to play apart in the conversion of others and bringing them closer to Christ. I know that it is not me, but it is Heavenly Father who has made that possible!! I boast of him!! My joy is full from this opportunity I have had! And I too can not even say the smallest part which I feel. It is hard to explain! But it is wonderful! I am grateful for Heavenly Father! I know He is helping me and has throughout my entire mission! I know through Him we are made strong and can do anything! I know sharing the gospel brings us an insane amount of joy and I feel honored that I am able to experience that!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Hna. Mangum Sr :)