Maddy on a Mission: 1-27-14 SHE SAID YES!

Hola!

So first off, this week was CRAZY. I am not going to lie. I am starting to really understand why people say as a missionary you are ALWAYS tired. It's true. But this week was also filled with SO much joy. And an overwhelming amount of love from our Father in heaven. Did you know he REALLY does listen and answer your prayers!? I knew this my whole life, but here on the mission you become bluntly aware of how aware he is of YOU. On Thursday we had interviews with Presidente (Cambios are tomorrow!) And it was GREAT!! I have the worlds best mission pres. It was pretty much just 20 minutes of laughter. :) But right after we left interviews, we found out we had to move out of our apt, and find a new penchinista (long story). EVERYONE told us that it is nearly impossible to find a place to live, and even more impossible with acceptable standards for us. We decided to pray really hard that God would help us find something within a reasonable time ( a week or so). Well, we were given a ref, and we walked down this street and the FIRST door we knocked on had a beautiful room downstairs open for us! AND she said she would love to be our penchon!!!! We were shocked. God listened and answered our prayers and within 6 hours we had moved out and into our new house! Incredible.

Our beautiful new home!

Another WONDERFUL miracle was that we GOT PERMISO FOR SHEYLA!!!! Our investigator for SO long. Her mom finally said yes!!! Her baptism is tomorrow night and we are ecstatic. All of our prayers and fasting has been worth it. :)

So this new house has a great little band next door and Saturday night they played till 4am. :) That was nice... not much sleep hahaha. But it might be an upgrade from our old house with the singing people who cant stay on tune to save their lives ;) hahaha

So our laundry lady ruined one of my shirts so she brought us PIZZA!!! I never knew pizza would bring me so much joy, but hey, it does!

So along with learning spanish comes with messing up some times. This week I messed up on the word mejor, and mayor. Twice. I asked this little boy if we could talk to someone older, (mayor) but I said mejor (better).... he wasn't very happy. Also! We were at lunch with a member family and I was telling them about my little brothers and I said " they're a lot like your boys, but better" again, I meant older...hahaha. they thought it was funny. :) I am making sure I learn the difference between those words REAL quickly.

Also, there is a thing here for the month of February (only I guess it started this week...) called carnival. For ONE MONTH, and especially on Sundays, the whole town is in a water balloon fight. (well, kids, teens, etc..) Have you tried proselyting while getting water thrown from you on all sides!? Above, right, left, front, back, through doors, windows, etc... its super super funny, but scary. We have had to run HARD the last few days to avoid getting attacked. And on Sundays (yesterday) they do that all WITH flour. I will let you know how bad it gets. Also, they REALLY like targeting the missionaries.... oh boy.

We had a BIG rain storm this week... While me and hermana Rhoten (herman Rhoten was on divisions with a member) were at the VERY VERY top of a large cerro. we had a wonderful, powerful lesson with an investigator, and then the second we left her house, all heck broke loose. So we ran as fast as my toms, the rocks, and wearing skirts would allow, down a cerro. We were laughing the whole time though, it was so fun :). Then we got to the road and there were no motos! Everyone that passed had someone in it. So as we were trekking down this long highway type road, a member family happened to pass us and give us a ride. They are probably one of 5 or 10 families with a car too. Again, god REALLY looks out for his missionaries.

This week had a lot of struggles (most of which I don't tell) because I believe each , no matter how hard, has a lot of joy that is so much stronger. and I want you all to know that I LOVE MY MISSION: even when I can't understand 95% of what people say to me, and even when we hike muddy cerros in the pouring rain or all of our citas for the day fall through. Because I am HAPPY doing God's will and helping others feel Christ's love. I hope you all know how much I love you. I pray for ALL of you every single night. God Bless you this week! " and may you ever be found doing the Lord's work."

con amor,

Hermana Whitlock