Transfer 4, Here I Come!

Transfer 3 is officially over and transfer 4 starts tomorrow!

🥁 Transfer news 🥁

• I'm staying in Little River! 
• Hermana Doyle and Hermana Tapia make a come back! HERMANA DOYLE IS COMING BACK!
• I love/will miss Hermana Gonzalez.  She's going to Sudley! 

Weather forecast: If you've seen the news lately you know that the weather on the east coast is nothing short of TERRIBLE. There were actually strict rules that we were only allowed to leave our apartments if we had set lessons between 12-7PM because it was just so cold. Luckily we had appointments with wonderful people this week so we weren't stuck at home. But wow, this weather is absolutely terrible. Good thing we have investigators and members that love and take care of us! I am alive and well!

Update on Winter: Her dad gets moved around a lot because of work and so they will be moving to California at the end of this month and we are so sad! Although, Winter is excited that Utah and California are so close so we can visit each other when I get home. One day we were visiting with her, her grandmother and her father. We were talking about serving missions. One of us asked her where she would like to go and after about 30 seconds of thinking she exclaims with pure excitement, "OHIO!" Out of all the places in the world... hahaha she's so cute.

Update on Minnie: Our best friend Minnie was having a hard week so we spent lots of quality time with her. I realized Saturday night when we were done with all our lessons and stopped by to see her that I really love her so much. She's like a sister to me and I know we did not meet for the first time on this earth. I'm so grateful I'm staying in Little River because I think I would be heartbroken saying bye to Minnie. She is such a hard working, hilarious, loving, accepting and bright person. We are sure we were best friends and probably went Latin dancing together all the time in the premortal existence, hahaha! I'm grateful for the people the Lord has put in my life, I've said this once but they make a bigger impact on me than I could ever make on them. Minnie thought she needed me but I think I need her just as much.

One night we had just barely gotten out of a lesson and it was 8:45PM. We end proselyting at 9:00PM exactly so we knew we had enough time to contact at least one more person. We ended up knocking on the door of an investigator we found in our area book that Hermanas taught months ago. This super sweet Salvadorean lady opens the door and says, "Oh! Come in, it's so cold outside!" (I am finally seeing the blessings of this weather). We come in and share a short message and introduce ourselves. Before we leave she tells us how shocked she is that young women our age choose to walk in the night knocking doors in this terrible weather and leave our families just to share the word of God. In that moment I reflected on the motives behind what I am doing here. I instantly thought of my mom. I received bad news about her health a week ago and thoughts ran through my head. Like how she's at home sick and struggling and how guilty I felt being away from her. I thought about my experience praying about coming on a mission because of fear of leaving my mom and brothers and reading the following scripture at the conclusion of my prayer:

D&C 31:

2 Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.
3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.

In that moment I realized how the Lord has promised me He would watch over my family while I am serving. How no matter where I am that if I do what he has asked of me he will guide me and protect me but most importantly he will guide and protect my family. Anyone who knows me knows how guilty I felt leaving my mother and how hard it still is for me. But everyday as I learn, serve and grow I go to bed everyday knowing my family will be blessed for my efforts. I found myself giving the woman that answer. I later realized it was an answer to her prayers and also one to mine. I really want to say that I love and trust the Lord and know He is so aware of our needs and the needs of our loved ones. I also testify that our decisions strongly impact our families and the best way to show love for them is by putting God first and letting your actions testify of His love for them. I know this is true and although I am not perfect at this my efforts have blessed my family and continue to do so. The peace that has come into my life from serving is really all I could ever ask for from my Heavenly Father. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The beginning of a new transfer is kind of like the beginning of the year for everyone else. It's a time to set new goals, reflect and start with a clean slate. I testify that this fresh start is offered to us every week as we partake of the sacrament at church. I encourage you all to set a specific goal that will bring you closer to your Savior and Heavenly Father, partaking of the sacrament this Sunday is a great place to start! I love this work and am ready for transfer 4 with my best friend Hermana Doyle in the best area in the world, Little Rio! Love you all!

Love,

A freezing cold Hermana Tapia