Week 37

Meant to be missed, meant to be loved 

Buenos días from ALMENDROZA!!!! 

I hope you all have had a GREAT week - it's been super crazy here with lots to learn and do, but it's been awesome! I can't wait to tell you all about it! 

First, and as always, let's start with a scripture!  

 Scripture of the Week  

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass... And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." Alma 37:6-7  

Aight let's get into it! 

Lunes ~ Meant to be missed  

~ Went to the mall with the Centro elders and bought some new shoes! I know, I've already worn out my other ones  they had a crazy hole in the bottom of them, so much that the insoles touched the ground when I walked  so it was about time

~ Had to say goodbye to a lot of my people tonight. I'm honestly really sad - I've loved Machalí so so so much, more than I ever thought I could. The missionaries here are so great, and I am really sad to be leaving them. Some of them I probably won't ever see again - it's really really bittersweet leaving this sector.  

~ We cried with a member family while wishing them goodbye - they told us about how we, through a few heartfelt messages we shared over lunch, unknowingly reactivated their daughter who was inactive for years, and she just received her temple recommend this Sunday! God is always working behind the scenes.  

Martes ~ SANTA CRUZ, BABY!!!  

~ Cambios today!!! 

It was so sad saying goodbye to Hermana Martin, I'm going to miss her so so much. But the rest of the morning was spent on viajes to and from chapels throughout the mission, until we got to the almendroza chapel. There I met my new compy, HERMANA LIENDO!!! 

~ We were walking allllll day and I think I definitely got some new blisters while breaking in my shoes hahaha. But it was so good! I'm a little nervous right now and lowkey feel really out of place, but I know that this is where God wants me to be and I'm ready to give it my all! 

Miércoles ~ Prepared from the foundation of the world  

~ We had a meeting with Elder & Hermana Robinson today, who are currently serving as the branch president here in Almendroza. They told us that they need more support with the youth…and they asked me and Hermana Liendo to be a part of the branch young women's presidency!! I'm so excited!!

~ We had lunch in casa, so you know what that means!! Sushi, picnic, and a nap  I actually spent the time journaling and unpacking my clothes while Hna Liendo was napping but it was still the best lol

~ My feet hurt so bad - we walk sooooo much here  But it's honestly the best feeling being so tired at the end of the day! I know that I truly gave it my all! 

^^ view from our study window...spot the cows  

Jueves ~ HYPE HYPE HYPE

~ First consejo de distrito here!!! It was pretty chill! I love getting to know everyone! 

This morning they started calling me “the hype of the zone”  which is so funny to me because I was very much toned down from the amount of energy I had in our other district with Elder Whiting and Elder Silva  

~ Found some crazy cool people today! One of them told us that he's been building his family tree on family search for YEARS. He then asked when was the next time we could pass by so we could tell him more about “our book”  We gave him a book of mormon and we're passing by next week! Cool miracle

Viernes ~ Pobrecita falda  

~ This morning we knocked the door of an inactive member - Hna Liendo said they had knocked his door a bunch of times but with no success, but we went anyway. After a few minutes, a lady came out and told us that the member didn't live there, but we ended up getting to talk to her, and wow she is so cool! She has some sort of sickness that causes pain throughout her whole body in the mornings. But she has a deep desire to grow closer to God, so we made her a promise: if she decides to come to church, she will wake up on Sunday morning without any pain. It was kind of a crazy moment haha! Hopefully she decides to come - pray for Julia! 

~ Had a lesson with an inactive member with the Robinsons…and it was so good. The Spirit was so strong, especially when we were talking about the sacrament. 

But holy cow  this lady is an ANIMAL. LOVER. We walked in her house and I immediately started sneezing - she has 8 cats and TWENTY. DOGS.  

And the best part?? We sat down at the kitchen table and after a few minutes, one of the dogs came up to me, lifted its leg, AND PEED ON MY SKIRT  

But it's okay because Ana is coming to church on Sunday!  

Sábado - Filosofía bash

~ This morning in our referencias call, they told me that I'm going to do a training presentation in zone conference this transfer  Lil nervy but it's chill haha

~ Saw a cat get run over and have a seizure in the street this morning  it was so sad. We walked home in silence

~ We've been coordinating with the elders to plan for the transfer and plan out retos, Pdays, etc... I feel like I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing but hey we're doing it! 

~ We saw so many miracles today! One of our recent converts also came out with us and it was sooooo fun!!! We felt so much joy doing the Lord's work together!

Domingo ~ No perfecto, solo dispuesto

~ Today Presidente Crump and an Area 70 pulled up to church! It was super sick! They also announced that Hna Liendo and I officially have the assignment in the Young Women's presidency! Presidente was super happy. And I'm so excited - I feel like God has been preparing me for years to be able to serve in this branch 

~ Did a noche de hogar call with the zone tonight! I feel like I have no idea how to be an Hermana leader lol but we're figuring it out bit by bit! And I love it!!!

 Spiritual Thought 

In church right now, we're studying through the old testament! This week we read in 2 Reyes, but there's a story from 2 Samuel that has always caught my attention, ever since high school. So I want to share it with you!

In the story, King David sins against the Lord, so Israel is plagued and thousands of people begin to die. To end the plague and ease the demands of justice, David is commanded to build an altar and offer up a sacrifice (they did these in the old testament all the time, it's a reference to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and how He fulfills the law of justice and mercy!). 

So, David goes to a man named Araunah to buy all the supplies he needs for the altar. But Araunah, who respected David so much, told him that he could have all the materials he wanted for free. And this is what David said in response:

"And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24

And how fitting is that in our lives?

It's never truly a sacrifice unto the Lord if it doesn't cost us something. And that's what being a disciple is, that's what repentance is - sacrificing some parts of our life to dedicate our all to Jesus Christ. That's what David did, that's what all the apostles in the new testament did, and that's what we get to do too! Maybe it looks different for you, but whatever your situation, here's my invitation to you:

Pray and ask God what He needs you to sacrifice. Maybe it's a bad habit, screen time, a little bit of sleep in the morning to read your scriptures, a change in profession, friendships that aren't good influences... Or maybe you're like me, and it's 18 months of studying or working in order to serve a mission! Whatever it is, I invite you to pray about it, and ask God what He needs you to give in order to heal you and change you. And I promise that as you follow Jesus Christ, at a price, you will find that any sacrifice on your part will become completely overshadowed by a profound sense of gratitude for the privilege of knowing Him.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

I love you all so much!!! Thank you for always being there for me and for sending me your updates and pictures! I LOVE hearing from you, so never hesitate to reach out!

Send me a message with what God has been teaching you lately - I'd love to hear about it 

Talk to you next week!

All my love, 

Hermana Geary