Si Dios Quiere

In these past two weeks I have come to realize exactly how well my Heavenly Father knows me.  Having accepted the idea of serving all of my mission in Tijuana, being transferred to Ensenada was the last thing that I expected.  I THOUGHT that Tijuana was better for me.  I THOUGHT that was what I wanted.  I THOUGHT that was where I was needed.  I THOUGHT I knew how the last 4 months of my mission would end. But then I arrived here to the Azteca ward.

As I mentioned in my last post, we are unofficially opening the area Azteca.  Starting from scratch.  The first week was rough, but as I mentioned last week, full of tiny milagros.  Second week, also rough, but the milagros continue.  That´s to be expected of course.  But what was not to be expected was how much this ward needs me, and how much I needed this ward.  

Now I´m not trying to claim that  I´m all that and a bag of chips, al contrario, I feel very inadequate as a missionary.  But I have realized in this area more than any other that the Lord really needs certain people at certain times in certain places.  

My companion needed me, someone who walks ridiculously fast (and if necessary, runs) across our gigantic area to get to our lessons on time.  Needed someone who has 14 months worth of ideas to find, teach, and animate.  The ward needed someone who knows the rules and isn´t afraid to tell them what they are.  Needed someone who could mas o menos sing, to help reactivate a brother who gives voice lessons for a living. Needed someone who was willing to eat absolutely anything to avoid offending the sisters.

I needed Azteca to start fresh.  I needed a challenge to get my blood running again.  I needed our members to give us support.  I needed to be here and they needed me too.  And Someone knew it the whole time.

I know you're not supposed to think too much about the numbers, and I´ve learned not to.  But I feel like sharing just 2 will help demonstrate my thoughts.  Last week we had just 2 investigators join us at church.  Yesterday we had 7, and all with a date to be baptized.

....si Dios quiere.

Open for Buisness

I'm suffering a culture shock. Ensenada is just so,.... nice.  Paved streets, stoplights, trimmed neighborhoods, toilets that work.  I don't know what to do with myself!  Not to mention that everything is as flat as an ironing board.  What happened to my lose-weight-quick hills?!

I guess I'll just adjust.

Hermana Miramontes

My first week out of Tijuana has been an interesting one.  I got here last Monday to find out that we didn't have a house to live in.  That was a delightful surprise.  Due to some security issues, the sisters in the transfer before me had to leave their old house and start looking for a new one.  So for the past month (and my first week here) they/we have been living in the house of a sister in our ward, Hna. Miramontes.  I swear, if my mom aged another 10 years and loosed a few screws in the cranium, she would be this lady.  Super kind, but rather crazy, so we get along great.  She has a daughter out in the mission as well so she is always curious to know how we are doing and what's the latest "gossip" of our investigators.  Anyways, that has been our housing situation for the past week, living out of our suitcases until they tell us when we will have our own house again..... which happened today.  Por fin they found us our very own little house and, with the help of the priesthood brethren, we moved everything in.  There is a lot of organization needed,.. and a boiler for a warm shower, but it's got the essentials.  Cold water wakes you up faster anyways.

Other fun fact about Azteca.  One transfer ago, my companion (Hna. Aviles) and her old companion were sent here to open the area.  But not only were they on a house hunt all of last transfer, but for the last three weeks the other sister was stuck in bed due to a fractured ankle.  So last Monday, the mission pulled her out and sent me in.  We are starting from zeros.  My comp barely knows the area and a few of the investigators and members who live close by.  It's been an adventure fo'sho'.  But although it has been a little stressful getting everything up and running, those of you who know me wouldn't be surprised to hear that I secretly like the challenge/responsibility.  It's been incredible to see the miracles that have happened in just this past week.  Our footsteps have literally been guided by the Lord.  Of that I have no doubt.  There is no other way that we could be randomly walking down streets, not quite sure we were and with no secure plans for several hours, and find lost sheep in our path.  It's going to be a lot of hard work, but if I'm meant to stay here for the last 4 months of my mission, I'm making those months count.

Azteca is about to get a face-lift.

Never say Never

La verdad, no se que debo escribir.  No puedo piensar bien o entender mis propios sentimientos.  This whole past week has been a crazy roller coaster of emotions, of which I don't have enough time to explain, but I'll do my best to give the highlights of everything.

First things first, I LEFT TIJUANA!!!!!!!  No puedo creerlo todavia.  14 months in this beautiful, colorful, mountainous, cultural, cholo-filled city.  Sure, at the beginning of my mission I wanted to leave, visit other cities and what-not, but now I've learned to love it.  It's all I know.  How the people are, transportation, personality, and even the never ending hills.  That's what I've come to know as my mission.  I was born there, served there, had a child there, suffered there, grew there, and was ready to die there. Mission Mexico TIJUANA...literally.

How can I leave?  Honestly, I'm still in shock.  But it's all good in the hood.  Actually, I find it quite fitting.  All of ano 2014 I served in Tijuana.  Now that a new year has begun, why not a new faze in the mission?  Just need a couple of deep breaths and.....

....wish me luck.