Phillip

This is Phillip. He is my first missionary companion. And he is adorable.

For my 18th birthday, Libby promised to take me to Build a Bear because I was an eighteen-year-old who had never been to Build a Bear. How pathetic is that?  Phillip came over a year and a half late, but he was worth the wait. While we were in Utah, Lib and I hit up Build a Bear and guess what...They have missionary bears! Phillip's outfit is the whole shebang with dress socks, shoes, missionary tag, tie, and Book of Mormon. My life is complete.

I chose the softest, most cuddly bear they had. Then I got to choose Phillip's heart, make a wish on it, rub it on my nose for good luck, and kiss it. I filled him with stuffing until he was just the right amount of huggable. Lib and I chose all of his clothes, got him dressed, made his birth certificate, and decided on his name. The name Phillip was Libby's idea, and it is perfect. Phillip is perfect and I have the best little sister in the world.  Now when I am in Peru and I need a hug from my little sister, I will hug Phillip, and it will be like getting a hug from her across eleven countries and two oceans.  

Because We Follow Jesus Christ

This past week I have been back in Utah and I was able to visit my friends from my old ward, which was fabulous!  President Jack Christiansen and his amazing wife Melanie lived in my old ward, and they recently returned from The Rochestor New York Mission where he served as mission president.  

As I was visiting a friend, she told me of some advice about how to share the Gospel that President Christiansen taught those preparing to serve missions from our ward.  He taught that when answering any question that you may not know how to answer, or when an individual you are trying to teach is becoming contentious, always begin with "Because we follow Jesus Christ." 

"Because we follow Jesus Christ, we believe in keeping the Sabbath Day holy." or "Because we follow Jesus Christ, we accept trials as learning experiences that help us to become more like our Heavenly Father." or "Because we follow Jesus Christ, we know that the Atonement can wash away our wrongs and we can be clean and pure again."

This statement is the essence of everything we do in this Church. We don't keep the commandments because it makes the prophet happy, we don't build temples because they are good publicity for the Church, and we don't go on missions because we want to stay busy while the boy of our dreams is on his mission. We do all of these things, and everything else, because we follow Jesus Christ. 

It is impossible to reverently speak the name of Christ without bringing the Spirit, and as you invite the Spirit through speaking of Christ, you will be impressed what to say to touch the individual.  Heavenly Father knows each of His children and exactly what they need, and it is our job as missionaries, to be tuned into what He wants us to say and do.  What better way to stay in touch with the Spirit than testifying of Christ?

I love this doctrine and cannot wait to put it to the test while teaching the beautiful people of Peru.  Only 32 days to go!!

Shots. Shots. Shots.

It turns out that there are a lot of diseases in Peru that they don't have in Duncan, Oklahoma, so I have to get a seemingly eternal number of shots before I head out.  All of my friends living in Utah can just go to their local health clinic to get all of their foreign shots like yellow fever, meningitis, etc.  I called my health clinic and they told me that I have to go to a travel health clinic for those shots.  Excuse me..a what?  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  So I found the closest travel health clinic (which happens to be an hour and a half away from my house) and called to find that the total cost for my shots would be over $500.  Holy guacamole.

My mama and I decided instead to have them done at the Army base 30 minutes away from my house...for free--having military base privileges can be so convenient.  We had to separate my shots into four trips.  I have done two so far.  Only two to go.  The first time I went, they gave me Brother Bear stickers and a lollipop.  Pretty much made my day. :)  Definitely felt like I was six again, but it was so worth it.

The second time I went, after they gave me my three shots for that week, they had me sit out in the lobby for fifteen minutes to make sure that I didn't pass out...hmm sketchy.. I was fine so I left after just a few minutes. I was okay until about 4:00 when I started getting really sick.  Stupid yellow fever.  At least now I won't get the real thing because just the after effects of the vaccine were pretty miserable.  

Now I just have to hold out for two more trips to the base so I don't die of a deadly disease when I go to Peru...in only 38 MORE DAYS!!    

           

No Hablo Espanol

One of the main things I have focused on in my mission preparation is practicing Spanish.  A couple weeks ago, I asked a friend who is on his mission for mission prep tips.  He told me to PRACTICE SPANISH! As a missionary, it doesn't matter how well you know the Gospel if you don't have the ability to teach it.

I want to be the best possible missionary, so everyday I listen to at least three Spanish podcasts, which have helped my Spanish take leaps and bounds.  This past week, I flew to and from Utah, and while i was flying i spent the whole time listening to Spanish podcasts.  I was pretty proud of myself.  :)  Also, sometimes when I am volunteering at the hospital, and I don't have a lot to think about, I'll try to only think in Spanish, and translate what others say into Spanish in my head.  My friend told me to think of everything that I want to say in Spanish, before I say it in English when I am having a conversation. I am not quite to that point yet..everyone would be wondering why it always takes me at least two minutes to respond..but I'm working on it.

Even though I have struggled with Spanish in the past, I have faith that Heavenly Father can turn my weaknesses into strengths and bless me with the gift of tongues.