Maddy on a Mission: 8-25-14 The Hardest Thing I EVER Loved to Do.'

Great song about the mission and totally true. Listen to it :)

I think the mission in SO many ways can be and IS the hardest thing I will ever do, but I would not ever ever wish to be somewhere else. I LOVE being a missionary.

So. Lots of weird events happened this week and lots of unexpected, most of which you'll just have to wait till I am home to hear. ;) Do you like that? hehe

Good news of the week: DAYELI IS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And her mom who would not sign her permission for a LONG time, came to the baptism :D Feliz Friday for all of us!!! She was the most calm and collected nina I have ever seen get baptized. Also, when she gave her testimony, she said that when she came out of the water she was bursting with bubbles. It was so cute. And she is very excited to be an official member of the church! Also, her little 4 yr old sister has improved SO much from when we started (well, when my comp and her other comp started actually) we have taught her how to pray and she ALWAYS prays on her knees! Also, we sing Soy un hijo de Dios and Oh esta, todo bien every lesson because she LOVES to belt them. We asked her to say the prayer at the baptism and she did it-- on her knees. Adorable.

So. I have a boyfriend... ( TH AT'S A JOKE) he's a 4 yr old special needs boy and I love him with all of my heart. And the elders call him that because every time he sees me he calls MANA!!! Which is hermana and blows kisses at me. Also, he tries to run after us and follow us every time we pass him. He's the BEST!

Elder Layton told me to tell Uncle Danny HI!

Also!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIF CARLSON!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! I hope your Sunday and birthday was FANTASTIC. Oh, write me.

So this week I got lots of super sweet compliments like how all of the mosquito bites on my face are getting worse (I convinced these girls that's what zits are) and one said, even though they're bad, you're still beautiful.... thanks, love. haha

Also, I got told I was fat at LEAST 5 times, and some members were looking at my facebook and they said there is NO way its me, because I used to look like a model. Peruvian Honesty is the BEST! ;)

So we were in a lesson this week and my comp and I were trying to teach them but the baby (2yrs) kept distracting everyone. So I decided to go sit away from them and play with him. For TWENTY minutes I kept him entertained with a pen. Waving it in front of him, popping on the lid, and shaking my ring on it. He was so thrilled. I realized in this moment how much I LOVE how simple life is here in that sense. The fact that something so plain could entertain and bring so much happiness to this little guy. I think we are so easily caught up in life trying with technology and other mundial things that we forget the beauty and simplicity that life has to offer. I was SO happy watching this little kid and it just really made me reflect inside.

I witnessed a LEGIT duck murder the other day. And no, it wasn't fun. I hated it. Ewww.

John 3:30--- He must increase, but I MUST decrease. I think this is one of my new favorite scriptures. Think about it. :)

1 Cor 9:24--- ...so run, that ye may obtain...

Heb 12:1---- ...run the race with patience.

Oh my GOSH these are the coolest scriptures! Especially for all of you runners out there. Go look them up please. This life is all about patience and perseverance, in times of difficulty and trials. But we WILL, if we continue running even if we don't think we can, win the prize-- the ULTIMATE prize of Exaltation and an unending happiness and rest from our labors, trials, tears and pains. I love this knowledge that we get to have. How LUCKY are we!?

Remember!!! You can't do it alone. Let Christ carry you when you don't think you can run mas.

Side note: I REALLY hope my next comp loves running. :)

(There are no quote marks on this comp that I can find,,, ooops!)

Let someone know about what YOU know to be true this week!!! And do it with a smile. You are offering them the best thing EVER.

Mosiah 2:41

Love you all. Please keep all of us missionaries in my mission in your prayers this week. There is a lot going on that needs YOUR support. And its cambios. ;)

Hermana whitlock