Coming in with a BANG(s)!

¡Hola! ¡Tengo muchisimo que compartir hoy!

1. This blog title is what it is because it's been the most eventful week and a half of my entire mission. 
2. This blog title is also bang(s) because my inner 2012 Lili got the best of me and decided to get bangs (the infamous hairstyle I had from 4th-7th grade) and talked my Hermana Doyle into getting some with me. Photographic evidence of our "compa bangs" is provided:

Wisdom teeth announcement
I am the most stubborn person when it comes to pain. I have this bad habit where I don't like to let people know when I'm experiencing pain cause I'm a strong believer that with time it simply goes away (especially with some GOOD Mexican remedios or Vaporu). Which time and time again has proven to be a dumb idea. SO I've been having jaw pains these last few... weeks. I went to the dentist confident that it wouldn't be my wisdom teeth because I was told before my mission they wouldn't be a concern. And... I will be getting my wisdom teeth removed here in VA next week. At first I was like NO WAY. But I've accepted it. I'm not that nervous anymore I am just shocked. Anyways, more news on that next week!

Facebook & Smartphones
We got both this week and it is the coolest thing. I am so grateful that the Lord has provided me with these tools at this time. I am humbled by the fact that He trusts me to use it to my best ability. I have a new Facebook account where I can post updates and communicate with ward members and teach investigators. As excited as I am it's weird to be back on social media. The mission helped me realize how addicted I was to it before coming. Now is the time to develop healthy habits with social media and use it as a missionary tool. I encourage you all to do the same! 

🔇No Inglès🔇
My hardworking and incredible Hermana Doyle is working so hard to improve her Spanish. In attempts to work diligently on that this transfer we decided on a companionship goal that if we speak English outside of the apartment we have to do push ups as a punishment that night. That's right, puro español people! For each sentence of English spoken outside of the apartment we will have to do 5 push ups. It's only been a few days and my arms are sore. You know what that means... this girls arms are going to be TONED.

Okay, I'm done with random updates. Time for some experiencias espirituales. 

Becoming like Christ. The concept of that sentence blows my mind because I know that is what God asks of me and I am just so far from ever reaching that goal. But this week during zone conference the best mission president in the world put this worry at ease for me. "I'm sure that on judgement day God will not sit there and point out the mistakes we made in our lives but instead look at the bigger picture; who we became." So often we are so hard on ourselves for mistake we make. This discouragement is often times what prevents us from progressing and growing. Repent, let it go and learn from it. What matters is what we do with our temptations, shortcomings and mistakes. Remember, what matters most at the end of the day is who we are.

"I believe in His perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become. No! With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness always in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn't include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed,or demolishing self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for Primary children or anyone else who honestly sings, "I'm trying to be like Jesus." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Miracle Mystery Family

I was just sitting there reading Predicar Mi Evangelio Sunday morning when out of nowhere we get a call. It was a man I briefly met knocking doors last month, he was using my ward mission leader's phone. When we met him last month in December he said he was busy, didn't give us a number or a return appointment but still we shared a pamphlet with him and our card with the address/time for church and our number. Then we never heard from him again. So back to the phone call, I answer and he says, "Hermana Tapia? Hey it's (his name)! I'm here at church with my wife, daughters, brother and my brothers girlfriend. Where are you?" At this point I had absolutely no idea who he was but if there were people at church that weren't members with their family then OF COURSE I could remember! "Uhh... yeah!" I said. Hermana Doyle looks at my puzzled and I whisper, "I have no idea who this is." We had visits and a meeting that morning before church so we couldn't just run over to the church. I explained to him that the time had changed to 1PM this year but that we had no way of contacting him. He told me he would come back at 1PM. Our ward mission leader helped us by giving them a church tour and getting their information. Sad news: they didn't come at 1 AND our (really wonderful) mission leader accidentally deleted their information... sad day. Pray hard so this family contacts us or comes to church again Sunday!

I went to the Washington DC Temple today but will talk about that on Monday!

Lastly, congrats to my AMAZING little brother that made both Mnt. View & Orem High Varsity soccer teams as a freshman! So proud of my boy! Just had to add this sister bragging section. :)

Talk to you all in 4 days! Los quiero!

Hermana Tapia