She Has Arrived

Some of you may already know this but for those of you who don’t, the 4th is my favorite day of the month. Keep in mind this was all coincidental, but I was baptized May 4th in 2012, entered the temple for the first time June 4th, received my patriarchal blessing August 4th, these are big events in my life but the list goes on and on! Wonderful things happen on the 4th of every month and it’s always a coincidence. I have cool experiences and sometimes just simply feel God’s love stronger on this day. I was emotional on my flight to D.C. this morning and I looked down on my tablet and the date read: September 4th 2017. In that moment I felt God’s love so strongly. Maybe this is another “coincidence” but I like to think Heavenly Father is mindful of me and what I go through. I know He knows me and cares for me, I love the 4th of every month, and this is something I like to see as a tender mercy.

Leaving the MTC was harder than I thought it would be, lots of goodbyes to such good friends and I miss them already! Hermana Vasquez and I got A.G. a journal with our testimonies inside of all that we had taught her and a few words of love for her. We were all so emotional and A.G. mentioned that we are like her daughters and that she will never forget us. We love her and I miss her already.

This weekend after in-field orientation we were at dinner and it was finally sinking in that we were all leaving. Out of nowhere one of our Elders says, “We were talking last night and we want to thank you Hermanas for being here and serving missions.” Another of our Elders adds, “Yeah, out of all the Sisters here we all agree you four are the coolest ones here.” Sunday night we had a final testimony meeting with our district. It was tender and we love our Elders, they’re seriously our brothers, I’ve always wanted a big brother, now I have four. I will always cherish my time at the M.T.C. and the friendships I was able to make.

But now the mission REALLY begins! Aside from being a little emotional I AM SO HAPPY TO NOW BE IN DC!!! I feel so blessed and am ready to get started! Our plane took off this morning and being out in the real world feels soooo great, I just want to talk to everyone and I can’t stop smiling! Oh no… I’ve become a weird missionary. OH well, maybe it’s part of the process. Haha! My travel compañera, Hermana Porter and I decided to talk to an older man in the line for McDonald’s as we waited to order at the airport. He ended up telling us about how he believes in God but not religion. We explained how religion is just a way in which we worshiped God and he opened up to us more. That was my first experience doing that and it went really well!

   

My last week I pondered a lot about my attitude on the mission. Sometimes getting up at 6:30AM was NOT fun and I often got lazy with some of my duties. Brother Savage from the MTC shared verses from D&C Chapter 78 with us and it says;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. 

19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

I don’t know about you but I struggle to have a good attitude when I don’t want to do something. But as we try to be of good cheer and receive all things with thankfulness then great blessings are promised if we do so. I understand you’re all going through life, going to school, working, raising families, and sometimes we just go through life and become unmotivated or dread doing the things we need to do. My challenge this week! I invite you all to see these duties with good cheer and to have a better attitude, I know that as we do so we will be blessed for our efforts and we will just enjoy life in general.

My p-day on the field is still Mondays and I can’t wait to meet my mission president and get to the mission home and tell you all about it! I miss and love you all!

Greetings from beautiful Virgina!

Hermana Tapia