Week 58: Put That in Your Weekly

Happy Thanksgiving!

These entire last two weeks, all of the Christmas decorations have been going up, and my American mind is like “uhhhh where’s the festive autumn decor??”

I forgot a salutation last week?

I’m sure no one really cared, but if someone did, I formally apologize to you, specifically. In order to make it count, I also included two salutations instead of the socially acceptable one. I hope that makes up for my sins.

We love a good landscape photo!

As many a week on the mission, this one was good! We got to participate in an activity called Four Week, where all the new missionaries come to the mission offices and get evaluated on what they’ve learned their last four weeks in the field. It is so fun to see the growth of these élderes and hermanas! And it’s also a good excuse to see old friends.

After our service project, we climbed up the mountain to a prayer altar. It was so cool, and I’m glad we had permission to take photos!

I got to go on exchanges with Hermana Westbrook, who was the only other gringa when we came in. Now there are four, but we’ll always be the OGs. We had way too much fun for me to be comfortable saying that we should be companions, because I have a feeling that we would not get anything done. Seriously, we were laughing so much. She also came up with the phrase “Put that in your weekly,” so this entire email is an homage to her.

Obispo Ortiz somehow got his hands on MARTINELLI’S?? I have never been more excited to see a beverage in my entire life!

But after exchanges, you’ll never guess what happened! I lost my voice! So for two days, your girl was on vocal rest, and tbh I should probably not talk too much today if I want to be ready for zone conference tomorrow (definitely more on that next week!). So I just got to mime what I meant all around Baul and feel very silly. It made me realize that I contribute a great deal to the conversations, because there were some awkward pauses and a lot of me typing on my phone furiously to share what I was thinking. Through this experience, I learned how much of your job as a missionary is to talk to people, and how utterly useless I felt without being able to communicate effectively.

Doctrine and Covenants talks an awful lot about using your voice. Preaching and sharing what you know. In Section 71, it says:

1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants... that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will. …

3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.

Sharing the gospel is a beautiful thing that definitely doesn’t need to be constrained to 18 months or two years, but I think that these verses make a very good point, which is that missions are only a season. A lot of the experiences we have are ephemeral. Yo’'re never going back to kindergarten, or high school, or even yesterday. Which is why it’s important to make it count, and why our actions matter, and why your best is needed! Don’t be afraid of putting effort into the things happening in your life. I promise that it’s worth it.

—I’m telling you,

Hermana Newton