On Saturday, we went with the Jimenez family (a family that we live next to that is awesome) to visit a family that lives in Punta de Arena. We stopped off before we went to visit at the top of this mountain where you can see all of Guaymas, and the beach, and watched the sunset. It was beautiful! That is one thing that I miss tons, the amazing sunsets on the beach.
The family that we went to visit is a grandma that lives with about 10 grandkids. They practically live in a shack, with little to eat, and two of the little kids have a disease where their bones and muscles are like glass, and super fragile. Their mom didn't want to take care of them and left them with their grandma. As we walked into their house, all the kids had HUGE smiles on their faces because someone had gifted them some bread and meat and they were going to eat some hamburgers. I didn't know what to do as I stood in their house, with nothing to offer them. I felt so ungrateful for all that I have. They practically have nothing, and I have all I need and much more. Lots of times we don't understand what we have until we don't have it, or until we humble ourselves and see the circumstances of other people.
My heart was hurting as I hugged the grandma and told her that everything was okay, and to stay strong, and that we were going to come back soon to help her and visit her. She explained to us that four months ago her son died of this same disease that her grandkids have. That people don't understand the struggle that it is to take care of someone all day long, and fight for their health, or just something to feed them. It reminded me of one of my aunts who has a handicapped son, who is so diligent, and has so much faith and just keeps fighting life with a smile. These people who can do this are truly amazing.
With tears in my eyes, when we were driving home, I tried to understand how it is that I can have so many blessings in my life, while some people are living happy with practically nothing. The only answer is the atonement of Jesus Christ. That because of Him, all the unjust things, and sufferings in this life will be made right. And that after a life of suffering and hardship, we can go to life with God and have eternal peace and happiness. And receive the blessings and rewards for all we fought for here in this life. And that these kids who live with pain, can have bodies perfect, without pain and suffering.
It is amazing how experiences can change your point of view in life in just an instance. I am so grateful, as always, to have so many experiences here that have really changed my life, and helped me understand just a little bit better the plan and life that God has here for each and every one of us!
Oceans of love to all,
Hermana Barton
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Meredith's letter to Joe for the week:
Wooohhh fired up--your barrel time sounds awesome! Fired up!!!!! And por
favor, you can't eat just two tacos, I think that's a sin, definitely at
least four or five! With yummy pico de gallo and aguacate... mmmmm.
Que rico!!!!!!
I am so happy to hear that Greg Madsen is doing better!
This week we started teaching a lady named: Kooka.. haha female kook!
But really, she is a little funny and definition of kook, but got to
love the lady. On Friday, we visited her, and she told us all about
her life. A rough life at that! Lots of abuse and bad relationships,
with lots of bad memories and effects that she has been lugging around
all her life. It was amazing to sit in her house and have the
opportunity as a representative of Jesus Christ to tell her that we
were sent to her, to tell her that she has a Heavenly Father who loves
her and knows her. And because of His love, He sent His son, Jesus Christ
to suffer all the things that she has experienced in her life right
alongside of her, so that she can ask for forgiveness, and forgive the
people in her life, and rid the burden that she is carrying because of
the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. She looked at us with tears
in her eyes and told us that she knew this was true, and she was ready
to start the process of forgiveness, and experiment with the atonement.
The spirit was powerful. In these moments, the spirit fills my whole
body with chills, and there is NO doubt in my mind that we have a
Heavenly Father, and a Savior, and I am so thankful to be here in
Mexico to testify of them, so many incredible experiences.
I had tons of amazing experiences this week. It is amazing that
Heavenly Father never runs out of blessings to pour upon us!
Te amo mucho, oh mi Papito. Mares de amor, y big Bomby barrels!!!!
Es bien cómico, que aquí en la noche todos dicen: ¨¨ Buenos noches,
que sueña con ángeles, y manana me dice como me ve con alas!;)
Este puede ser su manera nueva para despedir Lainie en la noche!
Hermana Barton
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Part of Meredith's email to Liza this week:
This week at one of our investigator's houses, she has a granddaughter, who is three years old, and wanted us to play with her. She wanted to play my little ponies. She started singing a song, that I didnt know... but I started singing along. And then my comp started singing and the little girl looked at me and said, ¨¨Haha um, your sister doesn't know the song like we do..¨¨ I was like, ¨¨Haha I know! How silly! How does she not know the song?...¨¨ but I had no idea what I was singing... it was funny! I felt like I was at home playing with Mia Chia Quesadilla.
I hope life is more than fantastic?!!! Other thing to always remember: ¨¨Girls kick!¨¨ ( They can kick whatever the heck they want, booty, dogs at the beach, balls, a test at school, can kick it with their friends and plebes, etc.) - word of wisdom from Pearl. Now you know cause it's Mike's Super Short Show! :)
Te amo mucho mucho!!!
Mares de amor,
Hermana Wilba
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Part of Meredith's letter to Mom this week:
Like I told you the other week, we are teaching a family. Their mom is inactive from 12 years old, and her four kids and husband aren't members. I love this family, (la familia segura meza) and love visiting them. I want them SO bad to progress and start coming to church. This Saturday I decided to fast for them that they could come to church. IN the night on Saturday, we went to visit them. The mom, when we showed up told us that she had been thinking all day that she had the impression that she really needed to start going to church. That that day as she was thinking about that, her mom had sent her a text with the lyrics to "I am a child of God," and then in our lesson we sang "I am a child of God." And then we had showed up unexpectedly, and she knew that this was an answer for her. WOW! How quickly Heavenly Father answered our prayers and fasting! Yesterday, she and three of her kids came to church, and loved it! And want to come back next week! She was inactive because as a child her mom forced her to go to church, so as any child who is forced to do something they hate it! (putting your clothes in the drawers, or reading, totally understand, or ¨¨seldomly doing the dishes¨¨ haha crap emoji)
So now that she has decided to come with her own will, and she didn't force her kids to come, they wanted to come too, they all loved it, and had a really good experience. I was completely STOKED yesterday, and all day today because they came! It is truly amazing how Heavenly Father answers our prayers and fasting when we have the faith and diligence sufficient to invoke the powers of heaven and desire the blessings and answers that God has for us!
Your Roots Trip sounds awesome! YOU are pretty close to me right now. Muahug... did you catch it? Maybe you can cross the border real quick for a good hot dog or two? haha
Have a blast and a half with the gals, but don't blast too much or be too jet propelled because Judy's wig will fall off... opps it just slipped out like diarrhea that you can't control..... I'll be remembered in heaven for this one and go to hell. Or as they say here... oops me va a caer un rallo..(I'm going to be struck by lighting). Sorry, Pearl sometimes just gets the best of me!
I got some awesome workout videos from Hermana Hauck of this awesome black lady doing dance workouts! Someday we will have to do them together... ¨¨Party time¨¨.. ¨¨ Working one side... you have to do the other, Girlfriend, because you can't just have one side sexy and the other not...¨¨
Te amo mucho!!! Mares de mucho amor.
Hermana Pearl
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Part of Meredith's letter to Lainie for the week:
Whoo Lainie, you are smashing it with your sports! Keep up the good work! I am so proud of you! Know that when you are playing I am cheering for you. Maybe I am not there in person, but in my heart and soul I am in the crowd doing the macarena when you score, and have a cow bell, and I am ordering the crowd to do a wave and cheer: L-A-I-N-I-E!!!!!
Mamma Kootzy, a Whoo Whooh!!! :)
Hows school going?!!
I am teaching a family, and they have a daughter who reminds me so much of you! You will be good friends one day. The other night I used her brother's bike and did a bike race with her in my skirt. And then we started dancing a little bit, and I showed her your dance move where you have your hands on your knees and then cross your arms in a wave, and then close your knees and elbows like that one girl on my team taught me!
Dang Lainie, you got to know that I love you tons. I think about you tons. And you are with me in my heart and mind as I walk the streets here, and dance with ¨¨Jessica¨¨ (The little girl's name).
Lubablubaloo. Muahug.
Mares de amor,
Hermana Bomby
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| With Hermano Jimenez |
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| The Companeras and Hermano Jimenez and the beautiful sunset view |
