We got bikes! Wonderful wonderful! I've never been so happy. It was another hard week with a significant amount of tears and sweat and an equal amount of giggling and hard work. We talked to a lot of new people! I finally had to start forcing Sister Johnson to just speak up at the doorstep. I remember hating my trainer with a fiery passion when she made me talk during tracting but someones you just don't learn any other way! She did great and is becoming more confident. The most amazing family is the less active family who we bumped into- they moved from the Hopi reservation. They are the sweetest couple with a cute little girl who's about 7 years old.
It's precious to see a family just now establishing themselves in a new home. The have started reading the Book of Mormon every single night since we started coming over. They got furniture that one of the motels is throwing out. The dad works at the hotel doing maintenance and the wife does housekeeping at a different motel. He works a second job at Burger King. They share a cell phone. They are so humble. So sweet. They are so excited about these ratty old arm chairs that the motel let them have. The spirit is in their home so strong, not because they have perfect family home evenings or amazing insightful discussions- but because they are trying. They're trying so hard to make a loving home where the spirit can reside. And it's amazing to me. It's amazing how simple things can be.
Likewise I was thinking of a woman this week whose granddaughter we teach. Her house smells like cigarettes and she wears these big 80's glasses. She has ulcers on her legs that are healing and a kidney problem that makes her stomach swell up. She shows up to church in fuzzy white boots with her walker, and her books piled up on the seat of the walker. She sits in her recliner during lessons. Her hair is all gray and long. We brought a member out to a lesson and as we left their home she said "I know this is weird, but she's really... like... beautiful." I told her I knew exactly what she meant. There is no one more regal than that woman. And it's not about her appearance. It's not about her home or her mumu or the way she does her hair. But she's the most queenly person I've ever met. And it's amazing how a mission changes your perspective.
It's precious to see a family just now establishing themselves in a new home. The have started reading the Book of Mormon every single night since we started coming over. They got furniture that one of the motels is throwing out. The dad works at the hotel doing maintenance and the wife does housekeeping at a different motel. He works a second job at Burger King. They share a cell phone. They are so humble. So sweet. They are so excited about these ratty old arm chairs that the motel let them have. The spirit is in their home so strong, not because they have perfect family home evenings or amazing insightful discussions- but because they are trying. They're trying so hard to make a loving home where the spirit can reside. And it's amazing to me. It's amazing how simple things can be.
Likewise I was thinking of a woman this week whose granddaughter we teach. Her house smells like cigarettes and she wears these big 80's glasses. She has ulcers on her legs that are healing and a kidney problem that makes her stomach swell up. She shows up to church in fuzzy white boots with her walker, and her books piled up on the seat of the walker. She sits in her recliner during lessons. Her hair is all gray and long. We brought a member out to a lesson and as we left their home she said "I know this is weird, but she's really... like... beautiful." I told her I knew exactly what she meant. There is no one more regal than that woman. And it's not about her appearance. It's not about her home or her mumu or the way she does her hair. But she's the most queenly person I've ever met. And it's amazing how a mission changes your perspective.
I've seen the most wonderful home, and it's a tiny apartment with motel chairs. I've met the most dignified woman. And she's not anything you'd think from her description. I'm grateful for these new eyes. I'm grateful to see beyond what's in front of me, and see how much beauty there is.
In other news someone fed us jello this week and it had CHEESE IN IT.
TELL ME ON WHAT PLANET ITS OKAY TO PUT SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE IN JELLO.
I love you.
I love you.
Miss you lots.
Sister valdez
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