Do You Even Lift Bro?

¡Hola!

This week was good but we are having lots of investigators flake on us, stop progressing and drop us so its been kind of hard. It got to the point that I became frustrated not knowing if I was doing all I could for these people. There are just not enough hours in the day and I seem to always fall short and don't do enough. We had exchanges on Wednesday and I was talking about this with my STL Sister Cook. She shared that often times she felt the same way and she was so hard on herself as well. She shared with me a motto she lives by. Its, "Do you even lift bro?" Because at the end of the day what truly matters is if we uplifted our investigators, members and companions. That's all we can really do, the rest is up to them. When we lift others it's kind of like lifting weight off of our own shoulders too. As I have focused on simply uplifting everyone I come in contact with I have found peace, simplicity and joy in the work. (This is also the subject line cause my arms are WAY soar still from our Spanish goal.)

I don't have much time and I wrote like 4 days ago so basically here's the 411:

• Wisdom teeth come out Wednesday morning so pray for me cause I am also sick with a cough and runny nose. 
• Investigators are progressing and I love them.
• Winter moves to California this week :(
• DJ's son is moving here from Bolivia and I am SO PUMPED cause he is also interested and we have a good feeling DJ's son is going to help him change and be better!
• Hna Doyle and I almost ran out of Target cause Despacito came on and we forgot how catchy it is.
• A less active from Mexico is making me pozole tomorrow (my favorite soup in the WORLD) and I am way too excited for it.
• My dance classes for the primary girls start tomorrow night and I am so excited.
• Hermana Doyle is the best compa in the world and also one of my best friends, she is the best example to me and so patient! Hoping that patience rubs off on me.
• Still love the Lord, Virgina and the people here.

¡EL TEMPLO!
Guys I love the DC temple with all my heart! I already miss it. We got to do an endowment session Thursday morning. A lot of Hermanas were there and we got to take Queen and two Hermanas from our ward. I really cannot compare the spirit felt in the temple to anything else. There is this peace and love that I feel that I just can't find anywhere else. Before coming on my mission I attended the temple every week and I definitely have missed it. I remember distinctly going to the temple for the first time when I was 15. I went with my best friends, young women's leader and the Elder's that taught me. As we were leaving one of the temple workers turned to me and asked me if it was my first time in the temple. I enthusiastically responded by nodding my head and smiling. He said, "Well come back soon because this is YOUR castle." As I went constantly and got my endowments in that very temple I quickly came to realize that it really is MY castle. I know that the temple is the house of the Lord and that as I strive to live worthy to enter I have felt this sense of belonging and joy. My wish is that all can enter and my goal is to be sealed for all eternity in there one day!

Love you all, adios!

Con amor,
Hermana Tapia