July 15, 2013
Family!!
How are you all!? I love all of your faces so very much
and I adored reading all of the letters.
This week was absolutely wonderful and super, super hard! I have a
feeling that is how it is going to be every week, yeah!? I can't even
describe how much I have learned. This whole learning a language thing
and not being able to talk in my native language has been absolutely
beautiful! I am learning so much.
Here is what I wrote in my journal because I don´t really know how else to describe it.
Wow I am amazed God really knows me! I write that and think of all
of the times I generally said that or was taught that but I learned it
on a much different level than ever before. I asked God in the CCM for
more faith humility and patience. When I asked God for these things I
thought I would one day just discover that I had patience because God
has all power and He would one day grant me the gifts of Christlike
attributes. I was very wrong. God granted me the perfect lesson plan!! He
did not just grant me the attributes. Now I find the attributes growing
inside of me. It is so beautiful though, because He used the most
beautiful things to teach me this lesson. I needed to learn attributes
of Christ, so God gave me something secular to learn; Spanish. He knows
me! Remember? Entonces he used learning something new (something I LOVE
to do) to teach me these eternal truths. But that is not all with that
He added a supportive family, companion and awesome pre-lessons in the
CCM for scaffolding. Put that all together and with an overwhelming
feeling of love for the people who speak this language, and I am not
just learning Spanish .... learning Spanish is the side effect. Wow I have a
good God! I wish there was someone who could write out this lesson plan! He is even
teaching me how to teach as he teaches me! I keep trying to follow this
lesson plan. I will think I know where He is leading me but as my comp
said today he teaches us and we don't really realize it at first. I know
I am not done. I have a lot more Spanish to learn and I know the lesson
plans will not stop after I finish the Spanish part.
The ward here is great! I presented myself yesterday and it went
really well. Every thing I say right now is pretty simple but I am
coming to discover that that is enough. We have some awesome families
that I am excited to work with and hopefully we will get more lessons in
the homes of members. I am starting to understand what it means to do
my job better. When it says invite others to come unto Christ I think a
big part of that is just loving everyone. That to me includes members,
non members, investigators, menos activos, and converso recentes.
We have some awesome families we are working with. Paola´s family
is doing great! They are so fun! I love going to their home because
there is always something exciting going on. I hope that they understand
that this stuff we are teaching is not just a nice story with nice
people, but principles that can change their lives! I think that is
important. We are going to try to communicate that to them next.
I am worried about Isidora. She is such a sweet heart. Her whole family needs
this gospel! I wish there was a way for me to help them understand that
but I think without the spirit they won´t fully get that concept. We are
trying to work with the whole family because if not, I don´t know if Isi
can stand on her own. I want to think of a way to help the parents
understand what they could have if they would just really listen.
Mariana is sixteen. She almost has a baptismal date but she has
fear. I want to help her family as well. Her mom Laures is a amazing but
is not around very much. Every time Marian prays she asked God to help
us help her family, because they are not very close. I want to help them
all so bad! I can tell Mariana wants the blessings the gospel offers
for families not just individuals.
So for the exciting parts of Chile... okay not exciting maybe just
the parts I don´t like. We have an area that is super sketchy in the
evening and we were walking one day when we saw two men walking straight
towards us. I did not think anything of it but my companion freaked out.
Luckily we knew someone else in the street and we turned quickly to talk
to her. I guess the men were talking about me speaking English and supposedly they think all
people who speak English here are rich I guess, so my comp thinks we
almost got robbed. It was a party. Lets be honest .... if they robbed me they
would get a whole whopping dos mil, a bunch of Libros de Mormon and la Bible. My companion was pretty sad because she had sopapias and it is
true that would be a tragic thing to lose (this delious deep fried bread
that love here in Chile!) Tambien, I almost got hit by a car. The cars
go so fast here and I am surprised there are not more accidents. But it
was pretty scary. Finally I get whistled at and lots of kissing noises
here. It is pretty funny. Not very many people here have light hair and
light eyes .... entonces I kind of stand out.
My companion is the best in the world! I freaking adore her! She is
so sweet and she is so patient when I have something to say and it takes
me a good twenty minutes to finally get it out. Also I got to see my
friends from the CCM! There was a conference. I am pretty sure all of us
looked like deers in the headlight but it was pretty exciting.
I love you all so very much! Sorry this email was long I just have
so many feelings! Ha ha no but life is good! I could not be happier I am
here in Chile! I am definitely enjoying being a Missionary! I love all of it
and I love all of these people! Thanks for the emails!
Love Hermana Carlie Webb
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