May 2, 2011

Hello Everyone!,
  Well now that I have philosophized on missionary work for the last several weeks, I think it is high time I tell you a little bit about missionary life!
Being a missionary is an ADVENTURE! Every day we set out to do the same thing, and we come back at night with completely new stories and adventures! Every day we wake up at 6:30, say our prayers and exercise until seven. Then we shower, eat breakfast and prepare for the day until 8. From 8-9 we have Personal study, 9-10 Companionship Study, and 10-11 Language Study. Usually at this point we will have lunch and then leave our apartment no later than 12 and return around 9 or 9:30. This schedule is different on Wednesdays when we meet with the other missionaries in the zone and Sundays when we have church. The bane of my existence is Thursdays: Planning Days! Mostly because we have to spend several extra hours inside planning the work instead of doing the work! It's ok though. I know why it is so important, even if I don't like it (kind of like singing hymns before comp study and nightly planning!)
The people I get to work with here are incredible. Right now we are working with a part-member family, who might just be my favorite people on earth! We usually meet with them on Mondays, so we will get to see them tonight. I have to tell you about last Monday though! So we go to the house and do a little chatting with Elizabeth (the wife/investigator), Jose (the husband/less-active member) and their universe-also known as their 2 year-old daughter Adrianna. Anyway, so we talk for a while and watch one of those really short living scriptures on Alma and Abinadi so that they can all have a visual of the doctrine of Christ (the lesson we are planning on teaching). Anyway, the movie ends and I talk about the parts that I liked and then look over at Hermana Dollahite to have her take over teaching the actual lesson while I keep Adrianna occupied. Well, the little traitor is already playing with her and gives me no inclination of stopping anytime soon! So there I am sitting on the floor with my English and Spanish scriptures open to 2 Nephi 27 and two waiting Peruvians staring at me... So I say, "Do you both have your Book of Mormon? Tonight we are going to talk about the same thing Alma, Abinadi, and every prophet teaches, the Doctrine of Christ." And then I taught it. For about thirty minutes. By myself. Completely in Spanish. Nuts. I loved every second! I love this little family so much, and I really hope that Elizabeth will follow through on her Baptismal date commitment for June 4th, because she is so ready. However, one of the reasons I love her is because she is SUPER stubborn, and she really sticks to what she believes in. I look forward to every single time I get to talk to her and her family.
Oh to be a missionary, we get to see the most ridiculous, funny, touching, and wonderful sides of life. Hna Dollahite has really had her eyes opened to the humorous side of God by spending so much time with me. For example: The very first time I ever in my life saw Tropicana Field (Oh did I not mention that the Tampa Bay Rays' Stadium is like ten miles from my house? Yeah, really funny God.) So Saturday we are driving around minding our own business trying to find some lost members when out of nowhere we run into the Trop, at 2, just an hour or so before they play the Angels there. I'm pretty sure God and Hna Dollahite laughed at me for a good 45 minutes as I wallowed in the depths of despair! Luckily, we saw a lot of miracles that day too, which made up for it...mostly.
How I love this work, and how I love all of you. Thank you for your love and support. I pray for each of you by name each night, and I know that there are so many people out there doing the same for me. Have a wonderful week and a wonderful Mother's Day next Sunday. And to all you Mothers out there just know that without you, this world would be chaos. Thank you for the love and adoration you give to your children. I know my Mother is the best there is. I love you Mom.
Love,
Hermana Levanger