Week 25: Chosen Frozen- Cerro de Pasco Central
Fotos* (*Photos): Sorry, there’s not that many- the Glassett family came and I sent home my memory cards with them! :( You’ll get them all in a bit.
Pensamiento Espiritual* (*Spiritual Thought): “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people that his bowels may be filled with mercy that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.” Alma 7:10-11
P-day! After internet and discovering our cambios* (*changes/transfers) (also, they’re pinkwashing the elders area and sending the elders to Villa Rica) we went to Feliz Dia and ate tres leches with Rosa C. and the elders! :) Luego* (*Then), I taught Sinks how to knit, we went leader-mandated House Hunting: Oxa for a place that could house all four hermanas* (*sisters), and we played volleyball before going and visiting the Elders recent converts, Carlos and Marta, and breaking the news to them and talking about trials. :) Oxa is getting flipped upside down, and it scares me a bit. I love the people here so much and this change worries me. :(
On Martes* (*Tuesday), the zone leaders came and picked a house for the four hermanas before us and the elders went to a cita* (*appointment) with their investigators, Ken and Vanessa! We ate pachamanca de pollo and talked about staying firm in the Gospel and perseverando hasta el fin* (*enduring to the end). At 3, we got a call notifying us that the elders were staying in Oxa! :) Sisters will reopen Villa Rica. So much major* (*better). :) Then, Sinks and I went to a less active, Rosa A., and found a surprise despedida* (*farewell) party for me, complete with an American flag cake and all. :) Era chevere* (*very cool)! Despues* (*Then), we went to Bishop’s house and talked to them for a while before going home and packing my stuff. Cerro de Pasco, here I come!
Wednesday! In the morning, Rosa C., Celia, Verenisse, and the pension bid me a quite depressing farewell and we got into a taxi at 8 am to travel to La Merced. From there, I left Sinks and got in a taxi solita*(*alone) to Tarma, and in Tarma, I got in another taxi to Cerro de Pasco, solita again, getting there at around 3:30 pm! The rumors were true. It’s COLD. It’s a cold big city haha. Exact opposite of Oxa. I met up with my new compi* (*companion), Hna Bernal from Mexico, and we went to lunch when I got a very unexpected call from the Glassett family from Utah! :) WE went and saw them in the plaza, took pictures, and talked. It was fantastic. :) Despues, Bernal and I went to an investigator, Iris, and taught her and her kids about the Ley de Castidad* (*The Law of Chastity) before visiting Lucero, a jovencita* (*girl) less active, and reading El LDM* (*El Libro de Mormon – The Book of Mormon) with her. :) Change is hard, but change is necessary to help us grow. I moved from Selva* (*forest) to Sierra, from the Amazon to the Andes, from heat to freezing cold, small town to big city. However, I trust in my Heavenly Father and know that He’ll help and guide me. :)
Thursday! We had no luck in the morning para nada. We went up a cerro* (*hill) with TONS of stairs, and there is NO AIR! Se cansa rapidamente jaja* (*This makes us tire quickly. Hahaha). After lunch, we contacted before visiting our investigator Milagros and teaching her about the Evangelio de Jesucristo* (*Gospel of Jesus Christ)! :) Despues, we ended up walking all over the place and taking combis*(*taxis) to no avail- everyone is gone for vacaciones* (*holiday). We ended up visiting our investigator Iris and reading 1 Ne 4 con ella* (*with her) and eating helados* (*ice cream). :) We walked more and more after to no success and then had dinner of galletas y leche* (*cookies and milk). It’s cold here, but I like it todavia* (*still). :)
Viernes* (*Friday)! Weeks FLY BY in the mission. After studies, we took out money and had planificacion seminal*(*weekly planning) and lunch before contacting for an hour! Luego, we visited with Sonilde, a recent convert, and talked about scripture study and its importance before visiting our investigator Thalia and explaining the Vida Preterrenal* (*pre-earth life) and the Expiacion* (*Atonement) and our purpose here on Earth. :) Despues, we visited Sonia P., less active, and talked about Earth Life and the Atonement. Then, we went to our investigator Iris and explained diezmos* (*tithes) before visiting Milagros B., a less active, and explaining to her the Book of Mormon. :) Fun fact- the Olympics of Rio 2016 started today! Loving Cerro. :)
On Saturday, we had a district meeting in the morning in San Juan (the tranquilo* (*quiet), pretty part of C.D.P.) and talked about adapting our teaching to every individual person before getting to know each other as a zona! Despues, we stayed with H. Cruz and Jaspers and E. Mortenson and Lograno to eat cake as a celebration of a baptism they’re having! :) We then journeyed back to Centro, our area, for lunch and correlacion missional* (*mission correlation) before visiting Gloria, an investigator, and talking about the nature of God. Luego, we visited a jovencita Miley, a new investigator, and got to know her a bit! Then, we had a cita with a reference and met with our new investigator, Edith! We got to know her and explained the book of Mormon and profetas* (*prophets) before visiting Lucero, less active, and teaching her about the importance of scripture study. :)
Sunday! Ayunando* (*fasting) is hard here due to the cold and altitude, pero Bueno* (*but hey), caballero (cowboy up)! :) After normal chapel meetings and consejo* (*advisory meetings) and lunch, we went and visited Josefina (investigator) and Miguel (converso recien) and taught them about the 10 Commandments and keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Despues, we visited our investigator Isabel and explained the book of Mormon before going to a few members to celebrate their birthday and get to know them! :) Era chevere. Luego, we visited a viejita* (*old woman) less active, Dora, and taught about tithing. To finish off the day, we visited with some members that recently got robbed and were a bit scared. We talked with them and stayed as Elmer dedicated the apartment. Lots of things were moved and taken, but the temple garments and tithing were undisturbed. It was pretty powerful. :)
Change comes. Trials come. Sometimes we feel lost, hurt, and alone. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. There is one who knows and understands us perfectly, who has experienced the lowest of lows. This is Jesus Christ. He can give us relief, comfort, and council. I testify that there does not exist a pain so deep that He cannot help lift, nor a burden so heavy that He cannot help us carry.
I know that this Gospel is true. It can change lives and has changed my life immensely. It can give us hope, purpose, and happiness that lasts forever. I testify of the love of God and the love of Jesus Christ for each of us individually. Because of His Atoning sacrifice, all souls can be healed through His power, mercy, and grace. I testify of my Savior, my Redeemer, my Healer, and my Comforter. Through Him, we are never alone. If we trust Him and let Him hold our burdens and pains, we can be comforted. We can be healed.
I love this Gospel and the eternal happiness it can bring us. I love this church. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love this work. I love you all.
I share this small testimony with all of you in the name of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.
Con bastante amor y mis oraciones para siempre jamas* (*with lots of love and prayers for ever and ever),
Hermana Schmid
(*Italic translations by Karissa’s mom using google translate)
