Week 78 - Saying Goodbye is the Hardest Thing Ever To Do

I feel bad that I didn't wish you a happy birthday last week, Mom!  What did you do for your birthday?  I can't believe I will see you this week.  It doesn't feel real.....I just kind of want to cry all the time because I want to be here but I want to be there at home, too.

I feel like I've done what the Lord wanted me to do.  I honestly don't have any regrets
 1. Does it seem completely surreal that your mission is coming to a close?

Yeah... I still don't really believe it... I just don't believe it. It doesn't feel like 18 months. I feel like I just figured out how to do everything right and it's all over. I have my suitcases packed and I still just don't believe it. I had my last interview with Pres Dester, too, and I just don't believe it. 

2.  What did you do for P-Day this week?

 

Well, P-Day was really lame... it was raining so we couldn't do anything. We did errands that needed to be done and we went to Pizza Hut and now we are writing. But I have had fun joking around with Hermana S.

3.  How was this week?  Did anything unusual or exciting happen? 

 

Well, we did have a baptism and we went on divisions. I had my last interview with President Dester, too. So we went up to San Pedro and for the first and last time, I got to go into the office, lol. But I love President Dester so much and he always says the perfect thing! Right after the interview we brought the Hermana training leaders... and we just found out tonight that our area will get closed for hermanas. 

4.  Did Hno Ricardo's baptism go through?  If so, how was it?

 

It was so great.  :)  He was so happy and there was ward support.  We did his baptism between a Relief Society activity and the women's broadcast... heehee... and so everyone was already in the chapel. He just looked so happy. I had to speak. And when he went up there to get confirmed on Sunday he shook everybody's hand, lol, everyone that was seated on the stand and it was so cute. 

5.  Were you able to talk to a lot of people this week?

 

Yeah, mas o menos (more or less). Hermana S is great at talking to people on buses and so I think that she actually talked to more people than I did this week which makes me one proud mama.  :) 

6.  How was church this week?  Did you have many investigators and less active members there?  Did you learn anything new? Did Oswaldo come to church again?

 

Church was really good. I had the opportunity to speak on the atonement. I think that it was a good talk... We had Familia R there (even though Hno R got assaulted in his taxi Saturday night) and the wife of the menos active first counselor. We didn't have any inactive members there or anyone which was a little sad for me, but it was rainy. I realized that I have learned so much about the atonement and I view it in a completely different light than I had before and that makes me very, very happy. 

7.  How is Hno Nicolas?  How is Hno Ricardo doing? Were you able to get his house painted?

 

Well, the painting will probably get done this week.  :/ Nicolas went out of town. But Ricardo is doing great.  :) We were able to cut his lawn with machetes this week. And Elder Holmes (the District Leader) told me after the interview that Ricardo has a very strong testimony.  :) That made me so happy. I'm just so dang happy! I prayed for that baptism this whole change. 

8.  What did Pres Dester have to say this week?

 

He said that I shouldn't worry about coming home. That there are lots of good things waiting for me.  :) And I think he is right. I feel so calm. I know everything will work out. And he told me things that I need to do after the mission to stay pilas. And they are things that I knew I needed to keep working on. 

9.  What miracles and tender mercies have you seen this week?  Answers to your prayers?

 

I think the biggest miracle has been seeing the baptism of Ricardo. I love that old man. He's so funny and I think he looks at us like we are part of his family. 

10.  How has someone else blessed your life this week?

 

I don't know. I just fee so blessed by the Lord for the time that I have had to serve as a missionary... I honestly don't know the person I would have been if I hadn't served. I am so touched by all the people here and all they have taught me. 

11.  How is familia Galeas?

 

They are so great. They are my family here in Puerto. I act like myself there. I feel like they love us so much. They are willing to do anything for us. Hermano Juan Carlos baptized Ricardo.  :) They gave us dinner last night and we just talked for a while. They are planning to go to Miami the week of august 7th... I don't know when we are going to Disney, though... 

12.  What other members have you spent time with this week?

 

Familia Galeas.  :)  And I've been saying goodbye to people which is the hardest thing ever to do... 

13.  How have you served someone this week?

 

Like I said, we machetied Ricardo's lawn and I had the blisters to prove it!  I'm definitely a wimp when it comes to physical labor. I just don't like it, haha. So I supervised. 

14.  What was the best thing happened this week?

 

Ricardo's baptism. And just this whole week. We went to visit him like everyday and he's always waiting for us. He puts us to work. He scolds us when we are late, lol. I feel like we are family. He jokes around with us. I'm just so grateful that I got to teach him. 

15.  What was the funnest/funniest thing that happened this week? 

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed being Hna S's companion this week We have laughed so much.  :)  And she cries a little bit when she thinks of me actually leaving. But it's been a week of lots of laughs.  :) 

16.  What was the spiritual highlight of your week?

 

I think learning about the atonement. For our district meeting this week we had a really good capacitacion (lesson) on the atonement and I learned a lot. And I learned it by the Spirit and I felt the difference. And I realized how much I learned. I honestly didn't like singing sacrament hymns before the mission or talking about Christ suffering because that's all I could focus on, the suffering. I just didn't get it. I realize now that we should all rejoice in the great gift that He has given us. We should be happy! And then to crown it all off, I got to give the talk on Sunday and I just felt like  have learned and progressed so much. 

 17.  Do you know that I love you and I miss you?

 

Always:)

18.  What was the most beautiful thing you saw this week?

 

Well... it was rainy today so not the rain! I don't know.... 

19.  What was the best thing you ate this week?

 

We have eaten a lot this week because people just keep feeding me, lol. But I know it's how they show love... but the best thing... I don't really know. 

20.  What has been your biggest challenge this week?

 

Dealing with the being here and not wanting to leave but at the same time wanting to leave and be at home... it's terrible. 

21.  Are you still waking up and feeling anxious in the middle of the night/early morning?

 

Yeah.... 

22.  What was your biggest personal success/triumph this week?

 

On Saturday we went to the church to help with a Relief Society activity and so I was cutting up fruit and all of the sudden Hna S came in crying hysterically. She lost the only set of keys to our house. I feel like the former me would have yelled at her and lost it and freaked out in that moment. Instead I just laughed and kept cutting watermelon. It was the weirdest thing. I just knew it was going to be okay and even if it wasn't that freaking out wouldn't do anything, lol. So I kept cutting and she looked and looked for the keys and even bought a new lock and we got to the house and found out that we couldn't change the lock... but then a miracle happened and a little girl found the keys in the bathroom and it all turned out fine. 

23.  Tell me about a time you felt really happy this week.

 

I think for the most part I've been very happy this week. 

24.  Looking back, what are some of the experiences from your mission that stand out the most to you?

 

I think training for sure... also all of the moments that I have had one on one with President Dester, interveiws and such. I have so much love and respect for him. I remember the baptisms, especially Jorge Bonilla with Hna V. I loved being with Hna A because I felt the most like myself (just found out she is going to be a sister training leader -- she'll be great!). I think living without water is a big one, haha. 

25.  What are the things about Honduras that you have loved the most?

 

I love the people. I love that they eat with their hands. I love the cement houses and the pilas. I love that it's always hot. I love tortillas and beans. I love how everyone (for the most part) is super nice and that they all believe in God. I love their Spanish and all of their Honduran words. I love how they are always late, lol, because it's just so them. I love the buses and especially when we have to stand up because there are no more seats. I love walking down the dusty streets. I love that there is no air conditioning. I love the beach in Puerto. I love that they are willing to share EVERYTHING that they have. And I love that I have felt their love. 

I have loved the mission. I am so sad for it to end. But I'm ready for the new adventures that lay ahead. 

Hermana Gisseman

Cutting the grass with a machete...