I made it to my first p-day! This has been one of the hardest and most amazing weeks of my life and my mission has only begun. First, leaving my family was so hard. Nothing will compare to the feeling in my heart as I hugged my brother and mother goodbye outside of the MTC. I love them so much. It was in the back of my mind my whole first day and I couldn’t shake the feeling so I prayed for comfort. The night we met our branch president and his counselors, they each bore small testimonies. The first counselor, Elder Flores spoke about how hard it was for him to leave his family. He talked about how he knew he had to go on his mission because he loves the Lord more than he loves his family and he looked right at us and says, “I know that’s why you’re here too. Because you love the Lord more than anyone else.” It was so true. I love and miss my family more than I could say but my love for the Lord and desire to follow Him is so much stronger than any other feeling. That was so powerful and helped me remember why I came in the first place, because I love my father in heaven. So I forgot about myself and I got to work and the blessings just came pouring.
Being a missionary is so humbling and my Español is improving so much already! The ladies in the front office treat Hermana Vasquez (Rocio) and I like celebrities. For those that don’t know how it works, prior to missionaries entering the MTC they pray before setting up companionships. Hermana Vasquez and I got there at the same time and were waiting for our tags in the office and to meet our companions. We kept hugging and talking to each other because we were so excited and when the office lady asked, “Do you know each other?”
We enthusiastically responded, “We are best friends!”
“Awe… you’re in the same district.” She says.
We are so excited at this point. And then she gasps looking down at a paper and looks up at us again and says almost in disbelief, “You are… companions.”
Yep, my best friend since 9th grade that introduced me to the church is my MTC companion. Hermana Vasquez and I were crying at this point and hugged again. The lady asked to take a picture of us. She later emailed it to me so you all can see it. It’s literally us crying in the scheduling office and I’m literally holding my used tissue in my hands. Hahaha! It’s a tender mercy and we learned quickly why we needed to be companions and it’s been a humbling and spiritual experience! I’m so glad we get to share this experience.
The first night we met our branch presidency we all went around and introduced ourselves; name, mission, background and why you decided to serve. It got so deep when we talked about why we chose to serve. There is one Elder in particular that is a tall, larger structured young man that looks a lot older for his age. When it got to him he paused for what seemed like 20 seconds, looking back at him now I saw that young man with tears streaming down his face covered by his hands. Finally he said, “I chose to serve because I know this is what I need to do in order to become the man He wants me to be.” One by one I watched as 18 and 19 year old young men and women bore their humble testimonies and the spirit was so strong. We really are a chosen generation. It is NOT common to find an 18 year old boy that has such a strong testimony of his Father in Heaven and is willing to sacrifice it all because he loves him and wants to become who he was out on this earth to be. The gospel has changed all of our lives so that is what we are willing to give everything up to do what He commands of us. Witnessing that gave me chills~ that is the power the gospel has had on our lives although we are so young we know the Lord and we love him.
Also I was called to be senior companion on the second day. And Hermana Vasquez and I were called as sister training leaders for our zone on Sunday. We were told that hermanas get that calling after weeks of being here but our branch president said he saw tremendous potential in us and knows we can do it. It is so humbling when the Lord trusts me to be a leader but also makes me realize that He will expect more from me which can be overwhelming. But he truly helps me. I thought of a quote that says, “You do not shine your own light, you reflect His.” Callings are to help others come to Him and He works through me. I am so amazed at how much I love my friends here! I seriously lucked out in the district department because we have the greatest hermanas and elders! We all get along so well and are so focused on the work and work hard during class time yet have a blast at lunch and work out time. Hermana Alcalde and Hermana Cole are the sisters in our district and are literally like our sisters! We all get along so well and love one another!
Before entering the MTC I prayed a lot to know what my faults were. To more clearly see my weaknesses and what was standing in the way of me being the missionary, daughter, sister, friend, future wife and future mother that Heavenly Father wants me to be. And let me tell you, the Lord did not hold back from showing me my faults. I realized quickly that there was a lot of stuff I had to work on. But realizing that gave me hope… weird I know! But hear me out, when the Lord projects our flaws it’s kind of a way of saying, “Pstt! You are so wonderful but I want you to be better!” Isn’t that the point of this life? To learn and progress from our difficulties and our mistakes?! How often do we fall to discouragement when we realize one of our weaknesses? This is not what they are given to us for. Only through these difficulties and challenges can we draw closer to God and become more Christ-like. That is amazing to me, times when I feel weak I rely on Him and it helps me realize how much I need Him. I want to testify to you all that we ALL need him. If any of you have felt discouraged lately or are going through a hard time I encourage you to take that pain to the Lord and He will heal you and more than anything He will change you. My life as a missionary helps me to further understand my role in this life as myself.
This leads me to my challenge of the week! I invite you all to think about what you could work on, that can strengthen your relationships with others. I testify that if you rely on God to help you understand what those weaknesses may be and ask Him for help you will also strengthen your relationship with Him! Because we really do need Him so much. I have come to see that so much as a missionary. I need Him as much as He needs me and that is so powerful to know. I have a testimony of this and it has only grown here in the beautiful MTC (I will provide pictures of this gorgeous place below). There is so much I want to share and so little time but I love you all and thank you so much for your emails! It has taken time but I feel at home here and I’m working hard! As the wife of our first counselor in my branch said to us sisters Friday night, “The harder you work, the more handsome your husbands will be!” Hahahaha!
I have a testimony of this gospel and invite anyone who is wondering to learn more about it! It has brought me so much joy in my life that I could not imagine living without. I am learning and growing so much and I know this is where I belong.
I love you all!
Hermana Tapia
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