Week 45: Before the Flood

Welcome back to another weekly!

You can always count on your comp to catch you at your finest moments.

It was definitely a rollercoaster of experiences. We had lots of lessons, encountered people who were at the very least interesting (shoutout to the drunk guys who stopped their other drunk friend from driving — true heroes; negative shoutout to the drunk guy we heard puking behind us on the way to a lesson), successfully baked brownies in our toaster oven, and, notably, were flung about by the forces of nature.

We love a good mural!

Basically, it’s very rainy here in Xela. For my first transfer, it was pretty dry, but these last couple of weeks have had some crazy downpours. This week was a perpetual case of buckets, followed by sunny skies, followed by more buckets. The sunny skies element is key, though. Basically, every day, we’d be getting ready to go out, and it would be ridiculously warm. I’m sure it’s not actually super hot, but I’ve gotten used to the temperate climate, so subjectively, it is. And because of that, cumbersome rain jackets are not comfortable. Which means that we’d bring an umbrella, but not a rain jacket. And then, during the course of the day, the rain would come, and it would not hold back any punches. On Tuesday specifically, we got absolutely drenched. You see, we were walking to visit a member referral — Hermana Villatoro’s mom. So it was a pretty big deal. It started raining, and we were like, “Maybe we should go home and visit another day,” but then Hermana Gonzalez reminded me of something I say all the time, which is, “No effort is wasted,” and with that inspirational quote and our meager umbrella in hand, off we went. We kind of looked like stray dogs standing in front of that door, but it was a really good conversation and experience! And after, we were able to go home and change into dry clothes, so all’s well that ends well.

Here I am with a brownie (full pan not pictured; we were ravenous).

Tempests are commonly talked about in the gospel. They’re full of some pretty nice metaphors. I think what I’ve learned from the ones I’ve been in this week is that we sometimes handle them imperfectly. We shrug off the things that will ultimately make us happier because of the more immediate gratification of an easier way. But that doesn’t change the reality that the trial will come. And it also doesn’t detract from the good you have done. A little pink umbrella is so much better than nothing at all. And of course, keep in mind what Helaman 5 says:

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

A lot of things in life are hard. I think that goes without saying. But trials do not mean you can't find calm. My mission has been chock-full of discomfort. A lot of tears, a lot of fears, a lot of growing pains. But it has also been a time where I have gained genuine peace. I am so grateful for what this adventure has taught me, and I’m grateful for the storms. After all, it’s the water that makes us grow.

— As always,

Hermana Newton