Feb 20, 2013 -Las cosas de la semana pasada

Hola todos! 


Yet another week has passed! I was not able to come to the library to use the computer on Monday due to the holiday but we finally had time to come so here we are writing to our loved ones. There are a lot of things that I would like to address in this email so I am trying to warm up my little fingers to get them typing a bit faster. So I will start there. It has been COLD here! Yesterday I went on exchanges with Hermana Perez and we were outside almost all of the day and it was seriously SO cold. We had a really good time though and found 4 new investigators for her companionship to teach. The reason why I was on exchanges with Hermana Perez is because this last week I found out that I am the Sister Leader for the area. This means that I am supposed to help the sisters that are closest to us with whatever they need and also I get to go on exchanges with them. President Keyes has asked me to do this and actually he asked me to go on exchanges with the other Kaw River sisters every week. I am excited about this! It is so good to get to be able to teach with the other sisters, to learn from them and also to get to pass on some of the wisdom that I have gained while serving as a missionary thus far. Next week I will be going on exchanges with the set of sister missionaries who live in a city called Overland Park. This is the most wealthy area in the mission, million dollar homes and everything. I will have to let you know how that goes:) I went on exchanges there once before and I really learned a lot. 

So a funny little side note...I have strep-throat. I am on an anti-biotic and it has really made me feel a ton better. I got to talk on the phone to the area doctor( a wonderful woman named Dr. Beard) who explained to me that the reason why I have gotten sick so many times is because I have never lived in a place so humid before(i.e. Utah and Idaho) and my body is not sure how to deal with it. Thankfully we did not actually need to go to the doctor, but we were able to call her, describe the symptoms and she sent a prescription in to the Walgreen's that is not far from our home. I am thankful for modern medicine and technology because we could have lost a lot of time in our area if we didn't have it. 

The work is going really well. We have found quite a few new people to teach and we saw some beautiful miracles this last week. We had interviews with our mission president this last week and yet again it was confirmed to me that I really am supposed to be here and that the Lord knows what He is doing. I know that the mission president has put a lot of trust in me in the assignments that he has given me and I do not want to let him or the Lord down. There have been several times when I felt so overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle a situation and so I took it directly to Heavenly Father. The way that He has really been answering my prayers lately is with a sure feeling of peace. This is such a big deal because there are so many different things that I could be worrying about as a missionary and things that I DO worry about so when the Lord gives me peace I feel so thankful. Have you ever heard the quote: "If we want to ask the Lord a question we pray, if we want to hear His answer we open the scriptures."? Well this is how I have been receiving the answers to my prayers as of late. I know that this principle is so true! If we will do as Nephi directs and liken the scriptures unto ourselves we will find more strength and power than we have ever known. 

I found this quote that I want to share because it really is exactly how I feel about my mission:

Highs and Lows

A mission is a strange experience,
It's a trial and a test.
A mission throws at you the worst,
Yet teaches you the best.

I've never been so happy,
Never been as depressed.
Never felt so forsaken,
I've never been so blessed.

I've never been so confused,
Things have never been so clear.
I've never felt Heavenly Father so distant,
He's never been so near.

I've never been so discouraged,
Never been so full of hope.
I feel I could go on forever,
I think I am at the end of my rope!

I've never had it quite so easy,
I've never had it quite so rough.
Things have never been so smooth,
Things have never been so rough.

I've never traveled through more valleys,
Never ascended so many peaks.
Never met so many nice people,
I've never met so many freaks!

I've never had so many ups,
Never had so many downs.
Never worn so many smiles,
Never worn so many frowns.

I've never been so lonely,
And never had so many friends.
Boy! I hope this is over soon,
I hope this never ends.

There you go...how I feel in a nutshell. Also I am happy and working hard. Go out and do the same. Also give someone a hug today that you usually would not. :D

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Thorne 

Pictures: I ate a CRAZY hot pepper along with Sister Allen, I got a WONDERFUL Valentine's day package from Nikki and Aaron Nelson, and I drank a heavenly drink made by a beautiful Venezuelan woman :D What a week. 

Accidentally touched a dead person's ashes(the picture of me pointing to the thing on the wall-I will explain this more fully in the email), Went on exchanges with Hermana Perez, and took a pic with some inner city artwork.