Wow, 17 months ago today I sat nervously in the basement
packing my belongings and wondering what the next year and a half would bring
me. Terrified, I wondered if I would
ever be able to learn Spanish. I
wondered who my trainer would be. I
questioned if I would really be able to serve a mission. I was anxious, and excited to have the
adventure of a lifetime here in Guatemala.
16 months ago, I sat in the MTC doubting my own sanity as I unsuccessfully
tried to learn Spanish.
15.5 months ago, I sat on my very first Guatemalan bus,
watching Hermana H interact with the people.
Exactly 2 seconds later, I realized that I understood absolutely no
Spanish.
14 months ago, I received my first Latina companion.
13 months ago, I left Petapa and met the CP family.
1 year ago, the CP family got baptized and I had surgery...
On my head... In Guatemala...
11 months ago, I realized how much I truly loved the
mission.
10 months ago, I came to the coast for the first time and
hated it.
9 months ago, I learned to love the coast.
8 months ago, I received my best friend Hermana Z and we
opened a new area together in La Gomera.
7 months ago, After suffering being rejected and
hospitalized... We had a miracle baptism.
6 months ago, I left La Gomera and went to Palin to open
area and train Hermana C.
5 months ago, we got the notice that Hermana C's Mom was
going to die of terminal cancer. She
decided to continue with her mission.
4 months ago, we had emergency changes (one day I will tell
you all why) and we went to open a new area (again) in Santa Elena.
3 months ago, we met and baptized the S Family. They were a miracle.
2 months ago, I started the training of Hermana S. She changed my mission.
1 month ago, I got the notice that I was going to leave
Santa Elena...
And now I am here.
Sitting in this hot sweaty internet cafe in the middle of
Guatemala. On the 4th of March, exactly
17 months ago, I said goodbye to my family and packed my belongings. I felt so worried, so fearful about what I
was leaving behind. I was anxious and
doubtful that I would be able to achieve what would be expected of me. I questioned if I would truly be able to love
a people and a culture so unfamiliar and if I would ever feel comfortable
conversing in Spanish. I dreaded the
thought of wearing a skirt every day. 18
months seemed like an eternity.
And yet, here I am... 17 months later. The suitcases so meticulously packed are
battered and beaten. The clothing that
once filled them has all been destroyed or given away. The things which once seemed so important to
me now don't seem to matter at all.
In seventeen months I have been worn down, rejected, cast
out, ridiculed, and beaten down. Yet, I
am the happiest I have ever been. I have
seen miracles and have been carried in the hand of The Lord. I have been an instrument in bringing to pass
the eternal life of man. God has shown
me my weaknesses and my flaws and somehow made use of me anyway. I am the ungrateful servant. My effort will never be enough, but through
the atonement of Jesus Christ I can be redeemed. Though I am weak through Him I am strong.
I have been transformed through my the love of my Savior
Jesus Christ. The more I learn of Him
the less I ever want to leave His side.
Like the disciples awaiting the resurrected Christ my heart burns within
me. I pray to one day have the same
confidence that Enos had at the end of his life. I hope that I feel the assurity that Christ
will say to me "ven a mi tu, bendito eres.
Hay un lugar preparado para ti en las mansiones de mi Padre." All I want in life is to return to my
Heavenly Father and help as many others as I can do the same. I can't say that "the mission changed
me" because the truth is that I am still Sierra, just refined by the
atonement of Christ.
I feel my Savior's love.
This is His work. This is His
Gospel. He lives.
I am grateful for the time that God has given me to serve
His people here in Guatemala. This time
is precious. Seventeen months ago, a
year and a half seemed like a sacrifice.
It looked like a lifetime.
Seventeen months later I realize it was never a sacrifice at all.
The end of the mission is painful and beautiful. I know that God has so many things prepared
for me, not only for this next month but for the rest of my life. I am so glad that I chose to be a part of
it. I am grateful to follow Jesus
Christ. I pray that I will be able to do
all He wants me to do while I am here.
This change is flying out from under me. We are doing 3 divisions a week and I don't
even feel the time passing. Working with
the other sisters is rewarding and incredible.
They are teaching me so much!
Tomorrow I get to work with Hermana C... I am pretty excited.
Thanks for all the love and support! Praying for you guys!!!
Until next week!
Hna Wise
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