Week 10: Roller Coaster of Emotions

I am a child of God, therefore what?

Because you are HIS child you not only need Him, but He needs you!

~ Sister Rosemary Wixom

Another great week in Gardena, California that has very bi polar weather but it is fine! Last Sunday I was freezing and needed a cardigan (it was only 72 degrees.  I am already turning into a baby.. winters in Pocatello are not looking great!) and then towards the end of the week it was 100 degrees every single day.  I am constantly sweating and I have some pretty sweet tan lines so that is tons of fun!!  And this week I got to see the ocean!  I was a few miles away but still seeing the ocean calmed be down a ton after a crazy day!

So.. I don't know if I have said this before or not but missions are an emotional rollercoaster.  And this  week has been a really crazy ride.  The week started really low but then ended up with a really huge high!!  So to begin.. the beginning of this week Spanish was really frustrating me.  I can't talk as well as I would like to and I was losing my patience.  We also found out that Georgina, one of our amazing investigators, has a coffee problem so she can't be baptized at the end of this week.  The stress here is real.  We figured everything out with marriage for them but they are struggling with wanting to be married.  We tried so hard explain to them the importance but they just weren't understanding.  

We decided to give them a few days and challenged her to not drink coffee then we would come back and visit them and have a little talk.  We prayed a TON for them and just went about talking to other amazing people and having some awesome conversations.  We had the feeling that we needed to talk to them about repentence and forgiveness and it was an amazing lesson.  Turns out that they had some things that they needed to take care of and needed to forgive each other of and so we left it at that again and gave them some space.  Then the bishop went and talked to them. They asked when they could go and get their marriage license and go get married!!!! We are having a wedding this week people!! I am soo excited for them! They are soo ready to be baptized and to make changes in their lives.  They love this gospel so much.  We really are not doing anything to motivate them. They are making changes all on their own.  They have such a strong testimony. We are here finding the elect and God is preparing His people!!  And even better... Georgina has not drank coffee for 5 days! She is doing so awesome!  There baptism is still going to be pushed until next week but we feel that is the best thing for them anyway!  

I love this gospel so much and I love the opportunity I have to share it with others.  One of my favorite scriptures that I found is in Alma 26 verses 29-30. 

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

This week we had a ton of doors slammed in our faces but then we have moments like this with Ignacio and Georgina that makes a mission so worth it!

I love you all so much and loved getting letters this week! I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Hermana McMinn

And I think she misses her family:

Taryn is such a nut.  The more I am away from her the more I want to be around her. hahahah

If you have a minute and would like to send her a note I am sure that it would brighten her day! We are so proud of her.