February 6, 2017
Well, well, well,
Sorry about last week. Not a lot going on but I will try to
be more specific this week.
Oh man, let`s just start with the big guy. So, golden family
that we walked into the house and told us they wanted to get married and
baptized has had some REAL challenges in their papers. And, I have had to do
everything which has been a little stressful. First, we couldn`t find their
birth certificates because both of them were born in little pueblos on the
river. So, we went into some deep investigation coordinated with some people
with some boats and, miracle after miracle, we got the birth certificates!
Thought the coast was clear. Turns out it was not. Went to the municipalidad
because the hermano had been married before and we had to get a copy of his
divorce for his new marriage. Well, shocker of all shockers, there was no
divorce. He is still married and divorces take a lot of time to get through. Oh
man. We were discouraged. Thought that it was done for for February. Then, we
went one last time to the municipalidad and checked with the lawyers and they
found that he had a separation! but not a divorce...yet. They had done
everything but the last step. Another couple of miracles and the divorce is being
processed and we are on track! Deep breath, forehead wipe, and we are still
going. We have had a lot of challenges with this wedding that have nothing to
do with their conversion or desire to get married and be baptized and it has
really been evidence of opposition in all things. But, we have also had so much
divine help and little coincidences that aren`t coincidences at all that I know
Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives.
We also started auto pensioning breakfast and dinner this
week and it has been delightful! Getting to decide what I want to eat, how much
I want to eat, and take my time to do it has been great. I just felt a special
peace in the morning in my studies as I was able to eliminate that small stress
and really focus on the Spirit and meditating and learning.
- a little turtle we are hoping to eat soon!
-this is a cholao - what is it? we aren`t sure either but it was yummy
-eating a cholao
I really liked a mission president`s quote that I found in a
Liahona this week about the five things we have to eliminate as missionaries
(and people) so that our faith can be efficient:
-doubt
-discouragement
-lack of diligence
-disobedience
-distractions
It really is so true, not just for missionaries but for
everyone. I can feel the Spirit working more tangibly and actively in my life
when I distance myself from these things.
- ward activity this week playing volleyball- this is literally more people than show up at church
- Zoraida went to church! with her son!
I have enjoyed reading Jesus the Christ and the New
Testament and I have been reading about the apostles. One thing that has called
my attention is the imperfectness of the apostles and their lack of
understanding of Christ`s mission even though he was there and with them. They
were simple men, called of God and fulfilled their office to the best of their
ability, but sometimes failed in their responsibilities because of their own
frailties. I have learned especially as a missionary that we all have our
weaknesses and the gospel really is taught by the small and simple but each
missionary is called of God. I really liked the conference we had with the
general authorities because Elder Bednar basically told us to stop feeling bad
about not being good enough and to just do what we can and it is good enough.
It was something that I needed to hear and I have been reflecting on what is
¨good enough¨ for the Lord. It`s really hard to know that but the Lord always
lets us feel His love even when we aren`t ¨good enough¨ by the world´s
standards. I am so grateful for His grace and His love.
Today I enter into my last six week transfer as a
missionary. Wow. That is weird to even type or think. I don`t know where I will
end or who I will be with but someone asked me this week what I want to achieve
in this last transfer. I don`t think it`s something you achieve in one last
transfer, it`s something you achieve throughout your whole mission but I just
want to take advantage of every last second that I have here in Peru as a set
apart representative of Jesus Christ and His church. That is my joy and
privilege-
-walking down the street at sunset
Hope that was a little more informative. I love you all and
will talk to you soon
Hermana Fitzpatrick
