June 25, 2018 "Nooo Pinky Pan!!!"

Hi all--

My title for this week is from the incredible Hermana Torres, who feeds us every Friday without fail. Her home is only two rooms, and she has twin 4-year-old boys hanging on her the whole time, but she somehow manages to whip out the most amazing meal nonetheless. Honestly, it's Aunt Katie or Aunt Jenny level. Her boys, Jacob and Nephi, are the cutest, but like all four-year-olds can't focus much on our message when dessert is on the way. Hermana Torres had bought sweet breads with pink icing, and the boys, especially Nephi, just couldn't take it. They gave her absolutely no piece until she finally shouted in exasperation, "Noooo pinky pan!!" This surprised them into silence for about thirty seconds, and then they both started back in with "Pan, mama?" "Piiinky?" I don't know what about it was so funny, but Hermana Stanfield and I just about died laughing. When the day starts to get long one of us is bound to turn to the other with, "Pan?" "Piiinky?" 

I failed to tell you all about my amazing trainer last week! Hermana Stanfield is amazing. She sings like an angel, has great Spanish, used to be a swimmer, and is from Ohio. She is unfailingly patient with her greenie, and I'm super grateful for that. 

This week was honestly so hard. The advice, "missionary work teaches you patience," took on new meeting. Almost every single appointment fell through. Nearly all. Our investigators either didn't respond, or weren't home. I told Hermana Stanfield that missionary work is kind of like standing in a desert with a glass of water. All the investigator has to do is walk to you and take it. This week was a little like standing with that glass of water, begging our investigators to take it, while they make sand-angels and tell us "Gosh, it's awfully hot out here!" You have such a love for these people, you want so badly for them to share the happiness of the gospel, and when they won't act for themselves it's so very sad. Some of our most promising investigators are going through a lot. Lily, who desperately wants to be baptized, can't give up her lifelong smoking habit. Mariza had some family trouble this week, so she wasn't able to meet with us at all. It was discouraging to stand on so many porches, waiting for an answer that never came, or to send so many messages knowing they'd go unanswered, but it taught me just a little about the kind of patience God has to have with us constantly. In the words of Gordon B. Hinckley, "Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. It must be terribly frustrating for him, but he sticks with it!" Good grief I'm so grateful he's patient with me. I think a lot of the time he must be up there going, "Oh boy, there she goes again. I said to go right and she's definitely going left...oh dear she'll get there eventually!" 

On the bright side, we also had some amazing moments. Can't go a day here without at least one. The highlight of my week was telling our investigator Jesse (who is an Aztec dancer btw how cool is that? Fire and everything)  that he'll be able to receive the priesthood after his baptism. He knew hardly anything about the priesthood, and when I explained his eyes and smile got so wide...I can't even explain it. 

Love, 

Sarah 

Great Quotes: 

"I'm great today. Because I woke up today, and you woke up today. God whispered in our ears, and he woke us up, so we need to live this day and be happy!!" --My favorite old man from George White

"Can I theologically beat you about the head? You don't just exist for you!" --the sassiest lunchlady at George White

"Hola Mamita! Hola bebe!" --the little abuelita who wears giant fake flowers in her hair. Ironic that she calls me both, but I love it. 

"I don't get why people don't want more scripture. If you like brownies, and I offered you more brownies, wouldn't you want more brownies?" --Me

"he's a bit of a nut-bar, but hey." --hmna Stanfield 

Pics: we're still laughing about this text from Jesus. Hope he just wasn't having a good day.