Visit to the ER: The Sequel

Hola!

An emotional hermana here. Sorry I've been terrible at writing these blog posts this transfer. I have a story to start this off...

It all starts back to my interview with President two transfers ago. He asks me to extend. I'm super nervous and not really sure what to say. A million plans and people come to mind. Can it really work out? I tell my President I need to pray about it and get back to him. My companion and I get in the car and I'm just looking out the window thinking about what I'd have to do in order to extend a whole transfer more. I stop and decide to check our phone to see the messages we missed during our interviews. We receive a referral from California; the Jaldin family. I read the description from the elders that sent this family. They're moving to our area that weekend. They seem really interested. Immediately it distracts me from my big decision to extend and we get excited. We call the number and talk to the mother. They are open and excited to continue taking the lessons in Virginia.

That night as I prayed about my extension. The Jaldin family comes to my mind and I feel peace. I feel a confirmation that everything will work out and that I need to stay. I accept the extension.

Throughout the last 2 transfers we have taught this family. They're amazing and so desirous to learn and live the gospel. The dad is a little more skeptical and that slowed down their progress a little. BUT I knew even if they weren't baptized before I left that I needed to learn from them and teach them. They're such an amazing family. They have taught me so much and I adore them. They're so special.

Now fast forward to yesterday after sacrament. The wife comes up to me after church with tears in her eyes. She says she received her answer and she wants to be baptized this Sunday before I leave. I couldn't believe it! We hugged and cried. We are now preparing her for this Sunday! They were prepared all this time, we were just trying to help them realize it. So this was a miracle.

My decision to extend was the best decision I could have made. I have been blessed beyond measure and I treasure this time I got to continue serving. I had this misconception that in serving a mission I would be repaying Christ for all he has done for me. BUT if anything I am even more in debt with him. My mission has been a revelatory experience. I know for sure I had to meet the people I met here and I love them with all my heart.

Other events this last transfer:

• I had my last charla fogonera. (pictures of me in the purple dress) Members and recent converts from all over Virginia came to say bye to me. Some drove nearly two hours. I love these people so much!

• The baptisms of two people I have been teaching since July! It took 8 months but they have entered the waters of baptism and are preparing to return home to Heavenly Father. The older man I met my first week in Spring Lake when I was recovering from my appendectomy. I was so tired and felt so sick that day cause I was still recovering and made it a goal to talk to one more person. It was HIM! Hard work pays off.

• We had a Sister's Conference for Valentines Day and this is a picture of the hermanas in the mission. Then it's me and my 3 beautiful hijas (companions I have trained).

• It's been snowing like crazy here. Don't ask me how many times we have been snowed in.

It has been an amazing last transfer and I'm sad to announce this week will be my last week as a full-time missionary. I'm so excited to go back home and see you all but a bigger part of me has come to love missionary work and the people of Virginia so much. It's like leaving home all over again. It might even be harder to leave here than it was to leave Utah! Hahaha! I know it's because I have felt the pure love of Christ for these people and have learned and grown so much here. Virginia will always be a sacred place to me.

BUT I'm so ready to keep working hard this last transfer! We had 2 baptisms this week for some amazing people I have taught since I first got to this area last July. And we have more this week for some people I have met more recently. Everyone is trying to get baptized before I leave. I don't think they ever thought I'd actually leave. It's been 8 months in Spring Lake. I love this place! I love missionary work. This is the only work that can bring people salvation and that can create eternal families. I have felt the Savior help me as I do this work. This is only possible because of Him.

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. Next week I'll write my last email and send off my testimony but for now I'm getting back to work and having the best last week ever!

Oh yeah, my subject line! It wasn't me that was admitted to the ER, it was another hermana in our ward we just had to take them. Just a little subject line to draw you all in... I'm okay!  hahaha!

Love you all! I'll see you soon!

Hermana Tapia

China + México = Italy ??

Que tal mi pueblito?!

It's been a while but I'm back with the 411 on my last transfer! We are 2 weeks into my last transfer and I can't believe my mission is coming to an end. Every week I realize how short my time is here and it motivates me to really give the Lord everything I have. You might be wondering where I am for my last area and who my companion(s) is/are....

Well, my prayers were answered and I get to stay in Spring Lake (my home) for one more transfer. That makes 6 transfers in Spring Lake! I bore my testimony in sacrament yesterday and said, "For those who don't know me... my name is Hermana Tapia." And literally everyone busted out laughing cause I've been here since July.

My companions are Hermana Young and Hermana Feser! I am trio training! Hermana Young is a younger missionary learning Spanish and Hermana Feser is brand new to the field and we were actually friends and hung out before the mission so it was crazy to find out I would be her trainer! I did this thing before my mission where I'd go out teaching with friends that were thinking of serving missions and Hermana Feser came with me to teach my cousins Grecia and Lily!!! Small world! Hermana Young's family is from China and Hermana Feser's family is from Italy... hence the title. I've learned a lot from them and have a lot of anxiety about leaving my area to other missionaries but they're awesome so it makes me feel better. Sterling will forever have a place in my heart. 

There is one family I have taught my whole time here in Spring Lake. The daughter was baptized in August, the son in December and their mother had a hard time coming to the decision. She knew the church was true, she didn't have any doubts she would just always tell us she couldn't be baptized right now. She later shared she was doing something that was against a commandment of God and made it so she could not be baptized. We worked so hard with her to overcome this obstacle, help her understand the atonement and continue pressing forward. I have grown to truly see her the way God sees her, I love her so much. Last Sunday we were playing Jenga with her family after FHE and she announced out of nowhere that she finally is ready to be baptized and I was like UHHH WHAT?! And guess who entered the waters of baptism yesterday... that sweet sister. I don't think I've ever cried so hard at a baptism Hahahaha! Her testimony is so powerful and she is so prepared. Her two children gave the prayers and sung "Families Can Be Together Forever" for the musical number with us. It was perfect. After she got out of the water and we hugged her we all just cried tears of joy. She said, "Hermana Tapia, I made you suffer so much!" Hahaha! I hugged her and assured her that it was all worth it. She bore her testimony to us of missionary work and the blessings of following the commandments she said that keeping the commandments made her feel free and happy. We all sobbed. This is the difference between keeping the commandments of God and not keeping them. 

Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

There is this misconception that the commandments restrain us. I disagree, they are what make us free. Free of guilt, shame, sorrow, pain and misery. We should all strive to receive the blessings of obedience.

This last transfer I have felt more than ever the love I have come to develop for missionary work. There is nothing else like this in the world. I have never felt so much joy, I have never felt stronger the love of Christ, I feel I have changed so much. I sincerely get out of bed excited to teach and testify. I love this work. I love you all too but to be honest it's hard to think I have to leave soon. Here's to my last month as a full-time missionary.