Chicken Salad Sandwich

ALEJANDRO

Alejandro is our investigator.  He is hilarious.  On Sunday he showed up to church, and in the middle of fast and testimony meeting he stands up, walks up to the stand, and gives the most darling and sincere (not to mention powerful) testimony I've ever heard.  Then in gospel principles class when the teacher was getting to know everyone asked Alejandro,

"Are you a member?"

"Yep," replied Alejandro.

We all paused.

"Wait, no your not!" shouted someone from the back of the classroom.

"Oh ya, I'm not, I'm an investigator." Alejandro responded cheerfully.

He's so golden he even forgets he's not a member. 

So darling.

Hermana Crystal and I were talking about it the other day, and we decided that our investigators are like our children.  All we do all day is work for them, think about them, pray for them, plan for them, laugh about them, cry about them, and talk about how adorable they are and how much we love them. It's the best.

LISTEN

We felt an impression to go see a less active that never comes to church.  We sat down and asked how she was.  It was dia de los muertos so everybody was remembering and honoring their loved ones that had passed away.  Her mom died about two years ago and she needed a listening ear. 

She launched in and talked for about an hour and a half to two hours.  We sat and we listened.  We nodded.  And we laughed.  And we cried.  We probably said about two words the whole time.  She talked things out and in the end she came full circle and came back to the conclusion that she needs to go to church.  We nodded.  She then asked us to come by for her Sunday morning because she was going.  

Sometimes as human beings we think we need to talk to people, give them the answers, tell them how it is, find the solution for them.  But, sometimes we just need to listen.  Nod.  Smile.  Hold a hand. And maybe even cry a little.  And in the end they get there on their own because its not us that 's bringing the message.  It's not us that's changing lives.  It's God.  We're just along for the ride.

CHICKEN SALAD

The wife of the president of the mish invited us to lunch at her house.  AMERICAN FOOD!!  She fed us chicken salad sandwiches and crepes and I almost cried tears of joy.  It did however feel very odd to eat without a tortilla.

As I sat there at a table full of beautiful sister missionaries I was struck.  Every single one of those women were just such amazing people.  From different countries, situations, personalities, looks, opinions, but all of us were united as one.  All best friends. 

They all glowed with the light of Christ. What an honor it was to stand around the piano with them as our mission president's wife played hymns and we all sang together.  Women united to fight for right. Women trying to be like Christ.  I felt so very privileged to count myself as one of them.  We laughed and we sang and we took a lot of silly pictures.  Oh how lucky I am to serve a mission. How very very lucky.

*me and a GIANT bread that our members make in a wood burning oven. They sent us home with a mini version of this piece. It was still hot.

*double chinning it hard core.  Eating nothing but fried meat, beans, rice, cheese, and tortillas can do that to a person.  Is anyone else out there gaining the poundage or is it just me(xico)?

*there's the iguana that was in my clothing last week.