Dear Family,
You know in those movies when someone is disarming a bomb and right when the counter is on "0:01" it stops? I have found that my mission is similar. Stress, stress, stress, stress, RELIEF. This describes pretty well what went down this past week.
As you all well know, the focus object of the final weeks of the mission has been and continues to be: "Get the Familia Barria married and baptized." I mentioned in the last letter that Elias, their 13-year-old son, wanted to be baptized this Sunday, the 24th, because he wanted to have his own special day apart from his mom and sisters. At first I was opposed to that idea until I realized that it might be just what we needed to help his younger sisters and his mom get more excited about the prospect of their own baptism. So when Francia (the mom) consented, we made sure to work really hard with Elias all week long to make sure he was ready for this step. On Friday the elders came to do the interview and Elder Euceda, my district leader, just about gave me a heart attack when he came out of the interview and told me Elias wasn't going to be baptized. Upon seeing the shock on my face, that was followed quickly with, "Just kidding!" and I was able to breathe again. I still have a small desire to punch Elder Euceda, though.
The baptism was scheduled for Sunday morning, so we got up at the crack of dawn to go fill the font as usual, making sure we left plenty of time to go pick up the Fam. Barria before the service started. As luck would have it, their relatives had stopped in by surprise in the middle of the night (gotta love those Panamanians) and Hna.Francia was frantically trying to cook them breakfast when we showed up. I tried to persuade her that seeing her son's baptism was of much greater importance than a few corn tortillas and she agreed. She just needed a few moments to get ready, so we offered to accompany Elias to the chapel so he could get ready while she finished up getting prepared, the idea being that she would be just 5 minutes or so behind us. Well, we got to the church and had everything ready to go, but by 8:15 Francia still hadn't shown up and the bishop was starting to get antsy about the time. I figured we could start out with the hymn and such to stall a little. By the time we finished the hymn and the first speaker was giving his short little talk, Hna. Francia still hadn't shown up. Not thinking I could live with myself if we baptized her son without her there, I was praying she'd get there, meanwhile the bishop was stressing me out with his constant glances at his watch. The time came for the baptism and Juan, our 2nd counselor who was perfoming the baptism, asked where Elias' mom was. I ran outside the chapel to see if by any chance she was close by and much to my everlasting relief, Francia and Michelle, her youngest daughter, were walking up the steps. "0:01" left on the clock.
She shed some tears when Elias was baptized and told us she felt something cool come over her. I know she's ready for her own baptism. We are just praying with all of our might that we somehow get a very kind judge this week who'll consent to do the marriage on Friday in time for a baptism this weekend, as we had originally planned. I don't know why, but I get the feeling that this one's going to come down right to the wire. Sometimes I wonder if the Lord doesn't just find it amusing to watch me fret...
So. There were are. In 2 weeks' time I expect to have some great stories to tell you all in person. In the meantime, keep praying please.
Love you all,
Hna. Brewster
p.s. I used a machete for the first time this week. Just so you all know. Quite proud.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Gettin' married in Panama
Dear Family,
Admit it. The subject line had you curious. "´´ Getting married in Panama´.....is she serious?" Well, I am. But I am not referring to myself. I refer to the fact that the family I mentioned in my last letter, la flia. Barría, is currently in the process of getting married so that we can go through with Hna. Francia's baptism this month. Yes, that's right. SHE HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE! She's been coming to church and yesterday she brought her son Elias with her, so we are definitely shooting for a July baptism. It was originally for the 24th but I think it'll end up being the 31st because getting people married is a pain in Panama. A PAIN. We made a run to the courthouse this morning to figure out exactly what we need to put together to get this marriage finalized ASAP. I have already made up my mind that I will not leave Panama until Hna. Francia is confirmed a member of the church. It's my dying wish, really. So please, if you could, include her and her family in your prayers. Really, for me this would be the miracle I've been looking for my whole mission long.
Just one month left and far from being trunky I am working twice as hard as I ever worked before. I think I'll be crawling off that plane because I plan to have nothing left at the end of all of this. My ¨hija¨ Hna. Rodriguez is learning fast and I'm doing my best to help her learn to enjoy the mission and work hard. It's kind of funny being at this point and be able to see the two different perspectives: the newbie and the oldie. When I think about all that's ahead of her it just makes me smile, really. She's in for a while ride but it's going to be the time of her life.
Last night we had a somewhat frustrating lesson with Jeannette's dad (the girl who got baptized two weeks ago). He's a very learned man who knows the Bible in and out, so you can imagine it wasn't easy trying to get him to accept that God had MORE to say. I've dealt with doubtful, combative people my whole mission long and yet I still fail to comprehend why people don't want to accept the gospel. It's almost like they try to disprove it. For me, I like the fact that there are so many promises for blessings beyond our wildest dreams and I choose to believe in it because it makes me happier and makes life more fulfilling. But...agency. There's that word again. Cursed double edged sword...
Anywho, I won't have much of a nose left by the end of all of this since I'm sticking it to that grindstone and all, but I will have some good things to tell you all. I'm sure of it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BEN, RYAN AND ANNIE THIS WEEK! (and the rest of the family, pretty much...)
love you,
Hna. Brewster
Admit it. The subject line had you curious. "´´ Getting married in Panama´.....is she serious?" Well, I am. But I am not referring to myself. I refer to the fact that the family I mentioned in my last letter, la flia. Barría, is currently in the process of getting married so that we can go through with Hna. Francia's baptism this month. Yes, that's right. SHE HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE! She's been coming to church and yesterday she brought her son Elias with her, so we are definitely shooting for a July baptism. It was originally for the 24th but I think it'll end up being the 31st because getting people married is a pain in Panama. A PAIN. We made a run to the courthouse this morning to figure out exactly what we need to put together to get this marriage finalized ASAP. I have already made up my mind that I will not leave Panama until Hna. Francia is confirmed a member of the church. It's my dying wish, really. So please, if you could, include her and her family in your prayers. Really, for me this would be the miracle I've been looking for my whole mission long.
Just one month left and far from being trunky I am working twice as hard as I ever worked before. I think I'll be crawling off that plane because I plan to have nothing left at the end of all of this. My ¨hija¨ Hna. Rodriguez is learning fast and I'm doing my best to help her learn to enjoy the mission and work hard. It's kind of funny being at this point and be able to see the two different perspectives: the newbie and the oldie. When I think about all that's ahead of her it just makes me smile, really. She's in for a while ride but it's going to be the time of her life.
Last night we had a somewhat frustrating lesson with Jeannette's dad (the girl who got baptized two weeks ago). He's a very learned man who knows the Bible in and out, so you can imagine it wasn't easy trying to get him to accept that God had MORE to say. I've dealt with doubtful, combative people my whole mission long and yet I still fail to comprehend why people don't want to accept the gospel. It's almost like they try to disprove it. For me, I like the fact that there are so many promises for blessings beyond our wildest dreams and I choose to believe in it because it makes me happier and makes life more fulfilling. But...agency. There's that word again. Cursed double edged sword...
Anywho, I won't have much of a nose left by the end of all of this since I'm sticking it to that grindstone and all, but I will have some good things to tell you all. I'm sure of it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BEN, RYAN AND ANNIE THIS WEEK! (and the rest of the family, pretty much...)
love you,
Hna. Brewster
Monday, July 4, 2011
Someone Outta Open Up the Window!
Hey Fam,
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! I am almost American again, so maybe we'll hold a late celebration when I get back. I am wearing a red shirt today and I listened to MoTab's "God Bless America" this morning, so that's about as patriotic as I can be here in my dear Panama... Hope you're all enjoying the festivities--not to mention the freedoms.
So! Big news. I am now the proud parent of Hna. Rodriguez from Guatemala. That's right--I have another greenie! Looks like they don't want me to die in peace on the mission, and let me tell you that I definitely will not. We are working harder than I have worked my whole mission long. My comp is a sweetheart but a tad on the shy side, so the goal right now is to help her get used to the mission and feel comfortable enough to come out of her shell. It's poetic, really--I started my mission as a greenie in this area and now I'm ending it as a trainer in the same area. It's definitely given me the opporunity to chart my progress and growth as a missionary. I try to assure Hna. Rodriguez that it does get easier with time--and a whoooooooole lot of practice. Heck, let´s face it, I'm still learning.
I think the most exciting news I have to tell you all is that one of our investigators, Hna. Francia, whom I have taught since the first time I was in this area CAME TO CHURCH yesterday. Not only that, she showed up in a dress, stayed for all three hours AND at the end of Relief Society she asked me to help her pay tithing. I was in absolute shock. You just never know when the Lord's going to surprise you with those curveball blessings. I haven't told you all how much we've prayed and fasted for Francia's family, but suffice it to say it's been quite a long road. As President Monson would say, "Tears were shed. Hugs were given." We just need to make sure her marriage gets legalized pronto so that I can see her get baptized before I leave. Please, please, please pray for her. It's a funny thing...I find that answers to my prayers seem to have a slight delay but they do eventually arrive. Just like the letters from friends I occasionally get in the mail :).
Anyway, we're putting the narices to the grindstone. i hope to have some great news for you next week as well.
love you all and Happy 4th! And happy birthday Hilary, too!
love,
Hna. Brewster
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! I am almost American again, so maybe we'll hold a late celebration when I get back. I am wearing a red shirt today and I listened to MoTab's "God Bless America" this morning, so that's about as patriotic as I can be here in my dear Panama... Hope you're all enjoying the festivities--not to mention the freedoms.
So! Big news. I am now the proud parent of Hna. Rodriguez from Guatemala. That's right--I have another greenie! Looks like they don't want me to die in peace on the mission, and let me tell you that I definitely will not. We are working harder than I have worked my whole mission long. My comp is a sweetheart but a tad on the shy side, so the goal right now is to help her get used to the mission and feel comfortable enough to come out of her shell. It's poetic, really--I started my mission as a greenie in this area and now I'm ending it as a trainer in the same area. It's definitely given me the opporunity to chart my progress and growth as a missionary. I try to assure Hna. Rodriguez that it does get easier with time--and a whoooooooole lot of practice. Heck, let´s face it, I'm still learning.
I think the most exciting news I have to tell you all is that one of our investigators, Hna. Francia, whom I have taught since the first time I was in this area CAME TO CHURCH yesterday. Not only that, she showed up in a dress, stayed for all three hours AND at the end of Relief Society she asked me to help her pay tithing. I was in absolute shock. You just never know when the Lord's going to surprise you with those curveball blessings. I haven't told you all how much we've prayed and fasted for Francia's family, but suffice it to say it's been quite a long road. As President Monson would say, "Tears were shed. Hugs were given." We just need to make sure her marriage gets legalized pronto so that I can see her get baptized before I leave. Please, please, please pray for her. It's a funny thing...I find that answers to my prayers seem to have a slight delay but they do eventually arrive. Just like the letters from friends I occasionally get in the mail :).
Anyway, we're putting the narices to the grindstone. i hope to have some great news for you next week as well.
love you all and Happy 4th! And happy birthday Hilary, too!
love,
Hna. Brewster
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)