Gracia Sobre La Gracia

Hey yall!!! Feliz lunes!!!

This week was literally sugar overload, not complaining at all. We've been focusing a ton on ministering to members and building relationships with them. A lot of the time it's easy to just ask and ask for help all the time, we focus so much on the friends we're teaching and how our members can help them that we forget to be there for the members too. I adore our little branch, they're like a second family out here and deserve all the support in the world aka cookies and heart attacking, just the missionary love language. But wow, I don't think I've made so many cookies in my life. I have the recipe DOWN fr. I also ended up eating like half the dough every time oops. It made my heart so happy to see how much it made their days to just do little acts of service like that. Never forget what one little kind word or action can do for a person. Everyone deserves to know they are loved.

We were finally able to get nacho into the temple, we were real worried cause now the temple is closed for 6 months cryyyy, but we got a session on Tuesday and it was honestly so needed. I really love the temple and my mission has just taught me to love it even more. Nacho looked so happy and I knew he was right where he belonged. He got to be baptized for Hermana Leebert's great-grandfather which was so cool. After that we got tacos at Biancas since we were in the area, but seriously biancas 10/10 would recommend.

Sad goodbye to Hermana fletcher this week, we only got her for 5 weeks before sending her to Chile. We had to drop her off at the airport and walk her to security and that was it, she made it safe, we said a LOT of prayers cause she had to travel without a phone, but I'm so so proud of that girl, for her example to me of trusting in God's plan no matter what comes and giving her all day in and day out. She taught me so much and I can't wait to see her bless the lives of people down in Chile. Love you girl!!!

The rest of this week was pretty much a freezing soccer night at the park, having pretty much a thanksgiving dinner and playing barbies with the maldonados daughter who is the cutest, celebrating hna peine's 21st bday yayyyy at mama lis' house with the best homemade latina dinner, I'm getting the hang of making the tortillas hahaha (sorta), three of our friends came to church (Abel, Hugo, and Elizabeth!), and making a music video with a bunch of our amazing members. We were asked to make a video of us singing Yo Soy Un Hijo De Dios with some of our members, so we recruited a bunch of them to help us out after church, it got a little chaotic with Hermano Vidal's son Asher who's four running laps around us while we sang, all the hermanas were cracking up so we did a retake minus Asher, a lot more calm let me tell you. 

Spiritual thought time! I shared Matthew 11:28-30 so many times this week, I thought it was because others needed to hear it, which they did, but I think I needed the reminder too:). 

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love the phrase "I will give you rest." Jesus gives us rest. He shares your burdens, you never have to carry them alone, and He doesn't want you to! Give yourself grace, Jesus already has. Give what you can, and then let Him give you rest.

Jesus quiere que encontremos descanso en Él. Él llevará nuestras cargas con nosotros, siempre está listo para darnos gracia.

I love you all!!! Have the best week!!!

- Hermana Neil

Photos:

- tienda finding pt 1

- tienda finding pt 2

- first piece of pumpkin pie 2023

- my girl sister walker

- spontaneous lunch date with our fav kathy

- don't recommend home depot for finding, don't ask how we ended up there

- my girls at the temple

- nachoooo