Holy cow! The weeks go by so fast! I haven't written a week summary email since the beginning of the transfer and I feel like I wrote one last week. I guess these are "monthlys" and not "weeklys" at this point.
This transfer has been AMAZING! I love Hermana Takahashi so much! And I know I've said basically the same thing about every comp. BUT I'm serious, Hermana Takahashi and I get along SO well and I have loved serving with her. We will be lifelong friends for sure.
I'm gonna summarize my transfer so far into one word: love. It is all about love. Recently we had a mission conference with Elder Bennett of the 70. The main thing that was mentioned was being motivated by love in all we do. Why do you think everyone says you should choose a career you're passionate about and marry someone you absolutely adore, serve others, love our enemies and see the best in your family members? Cause it's all about love. If we are not motivated by love in all we do we will be miserable. I can't say I have ever felt miserable on the mission but times when I didn't feel as excited or motivated about the work I really wasn't making an effort to love my comp/area/people I served. As I have focused on love I have felt SO much joy. I have come to feel Christlike love.
This was a big theme for Hermana Takahashi as well. Adjusting to talking to strangers on the street and doing it in a foreign language has been hard for her. She was filled with lots of fear and so I was filled with fear that I couldn't help her overcome that. What is stronger than fear? According to modern and ancient apostles love and fear cannot coexist. Either we feel one or the other. As Hermana Takahashi has come to love Spanish and the Hispanic people it has become easier to overcome that fear. As I have loved Hermana Takahashi and have been motivated by love and patience in helping her we both have felt joy in the work. Whatever your problems are right now, your solution is: love.
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."It reminded me of an experience I had when I was having a hard time before the mission. I remember kneeling on the side of my bed asking Heavenly Father for help. After my prayer I accidentally hit the table next to my bed and a letter came out of my scriptures. I pick it up and realize it was a letter that was given to me at my baptism by the elder who taught me, Elder Hill. (Shout out to the best elders ever, Elder Hill and Elder Stoneman. I love you both so much!) The letter was Elder Hill congratulating me on my baptism and sharing thoughts of the experience he had in teaching me the gospel. At the end he says that love has been a huge lesson he has learned on his mission. He finished his letter with the sentence, "Remember, it is all about love!" And inside was a heart made out of metal he had made for me. It was an answer to my prayers then but I don't think I truly understood that until now. It really is all about love.
Speaking of love, people I love were baptized this week! One of my best friends ever who I have been teaching named Selvin and my cousin Mikey in Utah!
Selvin's baptism was perfect. He embraced his brother who baptized him after coming out of the water and they hugged each other tightly and cried in each others arms. I didn't see a single person in that room who didn't also cry with them. Families can be eternal. Next step: the temple!!!
My cousin Mikey emailed me this last week explaining that he decided to be baptized cause he felt something special meeting with the Elders and knew he wanted to be sealed to his family and have God's help in his life. I'm so proud of him! Next step: the mission.
I have so much I want to share and not enough time. I just hope you all know I love you all so much and am grateful for you all and my time here. I also want to give a quick announcement...
I will not be going home in January.
After a good interview with my President he felt prompted to ask me to extend my mission and stay till March. It was a shock to me since I have been preparing to leave in January so I prayed about it a lot and I have accepted the calling to extend and will be staying until March 5th.
I know that this is God's work and He is in charge. Because of that I know He is who has asked me to extend my mission and not just President Caplin. I love my Father in Heaven and want to please Him in all I do because I love Him. After all, it is all about love.
Chau!
Hermana Tapia
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