Well, sometimes life disappoints you, referring to the title of this email. When we were at church on Sunday, there was a sugary, heavenly smell coming from the kitchen. We, along with some other curious and hungry people, checked to see what it was. Two huge pans of cobbler were cooking in the ovens. Later on, we heard the timer go off, so we rescued them from burning. A few hours later, as we were about to leave the church, we checked on them again. They were still there. No one had claimed them. We decided that they were surely meant to be a dessert for after the fireside that was going to happen a few hours later. We were pretty excited. When we came back for the fireside, they were both gone. We had resisted the temptation to eat them for over three hours of church and meetings, for nothing. When people ask me at the end of my mission if I have any regrets, I will have to say yes.
I have felt pretty good this week because it seems like things are finally clicking. One of the great challenges in life is closing the divide between what we know we should do and what we actually do. I have definitely been getting better at that. Our companionship goal for our time together is "12 Good Weeks". Seems pretty doable.
We have had some really good lessons this week. I love when we are trying to find someone who is always busy, and they pull up right as we are on their doorstep. Or when young kids start explaining deep doctrine based on logic, and they are things we have spent a long time trying to study and reason out. We made some new friends, mostly people who wish they had more friends in the ward. We can identify with them. Going to a new place full of strangers is hard and sometimes a bit like your heart is being ripped out because all you can think about are the wonderful people you have left behind. A few miles might as well be half a world away.
Well, the people here need your prayers. There was a pretty big tragedy here last week, and the members in this stake are still suffering. And then there are the usual problems of cancer, single parent homes, abuse, and dangerous Central American countries. The world is a messy place.
Despite the ups and downs of being a missionary, things are great. I know I am here for a purpose. No matter where we are, the things we do ripple outwards into the eternities. The things you do probably have a much greater impact than you can even imagine. Just go for it!
Have a good week!
Love,
Hermana Pace