Week 52: 369 Days Later …

I’ve been a missionary for a year.

What?

Hermana González and I are known to take pictures of each other from a distance

My absolute shock at this news out of the way, it’s been a fun week! A very busy one, full of office exertions, nurse duties, service, and a severe lack of contact time. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some of that done in the week Hermana González has left. Oh yeah.

Hermana González finishes her mission next week.

What?

Hermana González made fun of my pinkie 😤 No companionship can be perfect ig

But back to the exciting exertions of the past seven days! A bird somehow flew into our apartment (even though all of the windows were closed?), and I was worried about reliving the pooped-on treatment (true fans of the weekly already know), but that was miraculously avoided. Hopefully that means God has decided I only need to be pooped on once in my mission? Perhaps for my entire life? Fingers crossed.

To paraphrase the song, “painting down the house”

We did service for a member with the district, and we got to paint and sweep! I got myself covered in paint, to no one’s surprise, but I honestly find a lot of joy in getting covered with art supplies, so I didn’t mind at all. Then we had to rush home to take a shower so that we could have a spiffy night at the restaurant that’s the talk of the town: POLLO CAMPERO.

Me taking pictures with the Pollo Campero himself!

Real talk, Pollo Campero is this wings place that has the décor sensibilities of Village Inn. It was a really fun night, though! And I got to pose for a photo op with the gaudy golden statue of a chicken in the front while we were waiting for the family we were eating with to show up, so it’s all good.

The improvised party to celebrate my one-year mark!

For my year mark, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of announcing it or anything, but when we went to our member lunch, Hermana González clued in Hermana Vilma, the Relief Society president, and she set off straight-away. She made me a balloon animal bunny rabbit and gave me pancakes with sprinkles and a candle! Then she and Hermana González sang me “Cumpliste años” (“You’ve Had a Birthday”) and it was honestly super sweet. Basically, everything the members did this week was sweet.

In John 15, Christ says:

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

I am so grateful for all of the expressions of love I’ve been able to give and receive on my mission. This country, this city, and these people are so beyond wonderful. I think back to when I was on that crazy bus from the hotel back in June, and when I stepped off the plane in Nashville last November, and when I opened my call on August 11, 2020. There is no way to explain the changes in the world that we’ve experienced. But what’s even more miraculous has been the change in me. I hope I’m kinder, more patient, and more like Christ.

— 369 days wiser,

Hermana Newton