Hi Mommy and Daddy,
I got both of your emails....thank you! I'm sorry it took me a few extra days to write back. It's been kind of an eventful (well, in a manner of speaking) few days. I started getting sick on Thursday and it totally destroyed me emotionally on Friday. I spent Saturday at home with lots of pharmaceuticals and a very loving, wonderful companion. Oh I also developed what I think is pink eye, but I used that tea that you put in the herbal first aid kit, so it cleared up pretty well by Monday. Church Sunday, a fireside in the evening that was all about missionary work with a focus on recent converts. It was SO great. Our Stake President is an amazing man--very charismatic, very motivated, very inspired. His Spanglish is the stuff of legends. Monday was a way weird day....We had a mission meeting (all but one zone---they're up in the middle of nowhere, poor guys) because they just made reassignments so Elder Richard J Maynes and Elder L. Tom Perry are in charge of the western states missions now. They and their wives came and spoke to us about how to make the most of member missionary work, how to find "truth seekers", and other such awesome nuggets of wisdom. Elder Perry is a lot more sarcastic and funny than I would have imagined. We got to shake his hand, tell him our names, where we're from, and nothing more. He said "I don't want your life story, just tell me where you're from." I guess we were the last mission he visited in an 8 day tour, so I'd probably say the same. Our former district leader, Elder Gruenewald was the last of all the missionaries to greet him, and when Elder G. told Elder Perry he was from El Paso, TX, all Elder Perry said was "Oh that's too bad" and sent him on his way. I almost died laughing.
It was a super cool, super inspiring experience and it made me excited to work my little tail off. Afterwards, since we never have more than 3 zones together at one time, we had a missionary fiesta in front of the chapel. SO many pictures, SO many missionaries, it was wonderful! We had another sister cut our hair while we were in Santa Clarita, then we went out for lunch and finally got back to NoHo late in the afternoon.
Yesterday I was so bad that we couldn't even get to the library for email. Our sweet elders brought us food and kept us from going stir crazy. Our members have been helping out so much, too. Our fridge is well-stocked with caldo de vegetales y pollo, chiles rellenos, sopes, pupusas, and ceviche.
I'm feeling much, much better today. Apparently the flu is going around and one of the symptoms is red, gummy eyes, so maybe it's not pink eye after all.....(I'm still dubious). I'm nervous to do a whole lot, even though I really want to, so we're taking it slow. Hna Marquez has been such an angel.
Sorry it's a lot of detail, but I figure nurse mom appreciates it.
Back in July, Chelsea wrote me an email about some defining points on her mission and how they helped her. I've referred back to that email multiple times throughout these last few months, but there was one that really helped me out this weekend. She had written about when she finally realized that missionary work is HARD: physically, emotionally, spiritually and how she learned how to trust the Savior to make up what she simply could not do. I've been noticing these past few weeks that I don't see missionary work the same as I used to....of course, I'm not supposed to, but I found that my motivation of love for individuals wasn't cutting it anymore. Well, on the one hand, yes and on the other hand, no....it's hard to explain...I've been more and more content with my responsibilities as a missionary, but I've just felt totally exhausted. I always knew that I wasn't pushing myself as hard physically as I could, so I figured that whatever I lacked in other areas, my physical reserves could cover it. When I got sick, however, I felt totally defeated and like I had absolutely nothing left to give. Heavenly Father sent me angels to help me right then, and I love my companions, roommates and district members for being so wonderful and willing to help.
I am getting worn down to the nubbins, but I think one of the reasons my recovery from the flu has been so slow is so that I can recover a little emotionally, too. I think this is sounding a whole lot more dramatic than it is....I'm tired, to be sure, but I know Heavenly Father will make me enough, especially for these last few months. I want to share the joy of the Gospel with all the world and everyone I see because I've been able to see and feel the change in my life and the support in difficult moments. We were talking to a woman the other day who felt disappointed in the church because she saw that even the most faithful of members had really terrible things happen to them. We said "That's not the point, though. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain or sadness. It offers hope, direction, and purpose for when those times come. We're here to learn and grow. Some of that process hurts. A lot. But God loves us, so He gave us the Gospel to know what to doand why in those hard times"
That idea really struck a chord with her, and it's something that I know with all my heart to be true. Maybe it's trite and cliche to talk about life in terms of "it knocks you down, but you get stronger every time you get back up" but that's only because it's true. The kind of truth that you can base life decisions on and rely upon, like President Monson says "in world of changing standards and values". There is absolute truth and it comes from Father.
Anyway, just a few things that have been going on lately. Jeovany is doing GREAT and the ward totally loves him. Josefina is going to come to church this Sunday. Please pray that she will feel God answering her prayer to know that this is the church He wants her in.
I'm so glad I'm a missionary. Really. it's the best.
Ok....as for your questions: mom, I'm coming home June 13th....so would I fly into Denver, get released, then come to Charlotte? I think that would be cool.
I love you more than Nyquil,
Hna Manzana
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