Dear
Family and Friends,
It is starting to get
cold here in the mornings and nights, but still really hot and sunny during the
day. Hermana Ortega is not training
right now. I saw her 4 weeks ago on my
B-day. She is doing well. Still miss her!! I love my new companion!! She´s hilarious!!! The work is going good. Ridiculously busy and I never have time for
anything!!
So, I’m not quite sure
what to write about today, but I’ve been having some important thoughts lately
so I’ll try to get them out and explain them as best as my little hands typing
on this Spanish keyboard will allow me. ;)
First off, I received
a dearelder this past week with 2 letters from Rachel and one from Aunt
Kristie. They both touched my heart a
little. Rachel said something that I’ve
definitely already known and realized, but it’s always nice to get an outsiders
opinion because sometimes I feel like my view on certain things is very limited
in the mission. She mentioned the changes that have been taking place in me and
that she can see. It’s funny because I
always said that I wasn’t going to “change” on my mission (which she also
mentioned to me). As I look back upon
saying that before my mission, I can plainly see the reason why I said that. It arose from 2 main things. #1— Pride and #2—
A misunderstanding of the word “change”.
Change is a natural
process of life. Everyone and everything
is always changing. We can either accept
it or neglect it, but it is there. Change
is evident every day in our lives. Everyday
is different and therefore changes are taking place. Sometimes it is hard to recognize the changes
that take place and sometimes we just don’t want to. If I would have stayed home, I would have
continued changing. But, I know with a
plain assuredly that the changes that are taking place in me now are good
changes and for the best. No, my
personality is not changing. I’m still
the same crazy, laughing, nerdy, weird, hippy, indie, “intellectual”,
Harry-Potter-loving Sarah. The essence
of me has not changed, but what has changed is my perspective and understanding
of life, people, ideas, eternal principles, God’s plan, Jesus Christ, and even
myself. And these things will continue
to change until one day my will, will be perfectly in line with God’s.
This day is not likely
to happen in this life.... We are all human and therefore it is impossible to
be perfect, but really this life isn’t about being perfect; it is all about
attaining perfection. And that is why
the gospel is so important. We can only
progress in this life by living the gospel principles and acquiring gospel
knowledge. And that is why it was prideful for me to say that I wouldn’t
change on my mission because that is supposing that I knew more than God. This is His plan and He has granted us this
life so that we CAN grow and progress and change.... Anyway.... after years of
rambling of what I’m sure makes little sense (because I’m a confusing person
and often confuse myself within my own thought processes....ha!), I’ll get to
the point, which is that I am incredibly and eternally grateful for my mission.
That night after
reading the dearelder from Rachel, I spent some minutes in prayerful thought
and came to the sudden realization that after the wondrous gifts of the
Atonement and the Holy Ghost, my mission has been that greatest gift that God
could have ever given me. Not because I
haven’t been “seriously so blessed” (Ha! Ha!
Rachel) with a wonderful home, family, friends, and country my ENTIRE
life, but because my mission has helped/taught me to realized and appreciate
ALL the gifts and blessings that I already have been given.
Anyway, I loved what
Aunt Kristie said, too! Like I said
earlier, your perspective on a few things is sometimes limited in the mission,
and for me that is mainly because I have no idea what is going on back home and
how people see and view me from the outside. It’s nice to know that I can be influencing
people for good even though I’m a million miles away and in an entirely
different country, culture, and language... :) That really is all that I
could ask for. Just hoping that perhaps
somewhere in the world there is maybe someone that I could help or influence
for the better. And that is what has
been on my crazy mind lately. :)
Love,
Hermana Hermansen
P.S. Okey doke family,
I have some quick business to address quickly....
Mom— Just got your
e-mail and time is almost up! Who did
Zach marry??? Has anyone heard how Lyndsie
is doing?? Is she alive??
Please apologize to peeps
because I’m horrible at responding to letters, but there simply is NO time! That is actually stressing me out a little....
But I’m still working on letters home and a little tiny package.
The packages I have
received have been BOMB!!! I seriously
feel sooooooo spoiled!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU!!!!!
Courtney— I lol-ed sooooooooooooooooooo hard at the
pics!!! LOVED THEM!!!!
Mal— We’re totally
going scream/vent/cry driving in your new car when I get home!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL LOTS,
LOTS, LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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