Wow, I am not even sure where to start.
Last Monday, Elder Cook came.
We even ran into him later that day and were able to take a picture with him!!!
Something that really struck me is that he said, ''You are exactly where you are supposed to be.'' It was something that kind of hit me different because this week was hard for some reason and also really rewarding. I'll try and explain it all.
So recently, I have been realizing that my time left as a full time missionary is very short and I feel like I have way to much to learn and do in the time that is left. It kind of left me a little frustrated and then thinking about the plans we had to visit the sisters this transfer, well they all kind of crashed and burned. We did a lot, but there was always something that went wrong. I spent a lot of time praying and reading and really just pondering. It was so much that the sisters who live with me started to ask if I was alright because I was a lot more quiet this week thinking about everything.
1. Well, on to more exciting news. My family went to Mexico this week! Which is not the exciting part. But what was neat is that I got to return to Puerto Maldonado for 3 days where I started my mission. It was incredible. I walked off the plane and felt connected to my family because it reminded me a little bit of Mexico and Hawaii (where my little sister is!!!) So I am sending a few photos...
2. Pedro! I opened the area book first thing when we got to the room of the sisters in Puerto and saw that they were teaching a recent convert named Pedro. Pedro didn't get baptized my very last week there because he was in the hospital. The sad part is that when we went to visit him, he only had 1 leg. I was in shock. It made me a little sad, but I am so excited that he really stuck to what he knew was true and despite his difficulties of amputating his leg, that he continued strong and still continues with a smile on his face in his wheelchair.
3. The Aguilar Family. There are the parents, one of the twins, and then Percy. The parents were inactive when I started to visit them! They now are going to church every week. The twins are preparing to go on missions and Percy (he's not part of the family, but works there) He wasn't even a member when I was there. The really sweet part was when we walked by, the mom runs out and gives me a HUGE hug and says wow I was just looking at your picture that you left us and thinking about how much of a blessing you were. It touched my heart. The other nice part was one of the twins told me that I had lost weight! :) Always a plus!!!
4. John! He's the one next to me. Someone had told me that he was no longer coming to church.... I was way sad to hear the news. Until I saw him at church when we went to a reunion. In fact, he is a ward missionary and super active. The people got confused with the wrong John. Anyways, he walked out and looked me in the eye and said ''I can't thank you enough for the lessons you taught me.'' It left me speechless. I just wanted to hug him... but couldn't because I'm a missionary. But it brought tears to my eyes. You know, the more time that passes, the more that I realize that I really don't do a whole lot. The Lord and the Spirit do so much and lucky me, I get to be SOOOOOOOO incredibly blessed. I get to know all of these people and share my love for them, but what comes back? More love than I could ever imagine.
5. So we are walking down the street and I hear my name, ''HERMANA LANG!!!!!!!!!!'' I look to my side and I see Ruth. She is a little girl that I met at the beginning of my mission and was never able to get baptized. When I prayed so hard, I felt like the fact that I would not abandon her. Time has gone by but when I saw her in the street that day, she ran and gave me the biggest hug! I haven't seen her in a very long time, but you know what? Friends never abandon each other. I showed the sisters where she lives and I hope that things go well, but if not, I know that I will find her again and that someday, she will be able to be baptized like she desires so much.
6. Yuri. He had a lot of problems with alcohol. He said he didn't believe he could stop drinking because he had tried SEVERAL times. Well we met him and 2 weeks later he was baptized. Well, to this day, he still hasn't drank! When his friend called and said I was in Puerto, he didn't believe it, but it was so great to see him as well!
Wow, how blessed am I? Just when you start to feel down on yourself, remember that you were born to be great and that you truly are great even if you can't see it. I was just so fortunate this week to be sent a lot of little reminders that Heavenly Father loves me and is happy with the things that I am doing, even if I can't see it ALL of the time.
7. You are not here to suffer. I got to see Yaneth the other day here in Cusco. She is someone that I taught that suffered from depression and abuse. One day, I stopped and almost yelled at her that she was not there to suffer. It was SOOOOOO harsh and I wasn't sure how she was going to take it. Well, now that she has been baptized, she told me about the 180 degree change that has happened in her life. She said, ''You know what Hermana Lang! I will never forget those words, you are not here to suffer, because it is so true and I am so much happier than I could have ever imagined. I just had to take a leap of faith to get there. Those words hit me and helped me to have the hope that really I could have the kind of life I always wanted.'' Yaneth reminded me of a good lesson, that I am here to be happy!
8. Rita! She was baptized this Saturday. It was so lovely. Her best friend came to support her and she was just beaming. She said, you know what, there were so many trials for me to get here, but God helped me and here I am.
So I hope that you were able to meet some of the wonderful people that I have gotten to know over this year in Peru. Just as these people are so dear to my heart, so are all of you.
I hope that this week treats you well. I love you all and thank you for your support!
Love Always,
Hermana Carly Jo Lang
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