THE FINAL COUNTDOWN --- you betcha I'm singin' it

HEY EVERYBODY

I’m so sorry I wasn't able to send out anything last week.  I was actually really sad about it because last Sunday was an incredible day! Our buddy Isaiah got baptized!!! We started teaching him in the end of March and he was excited from the beginning. Yesterday he came all dressed up in a suit looking fine and happier than ever. He has one more year of High School and he’s going on a mission!

Me, Isaiah, Natalie (member girlfriend), Lewis

All the Priests! (Isaiah in the middle)

Emailing/writing has been sub-par at best on my efforts and I could never put into words what has happened to me and to the people in this mission. I rarely share stories on here and even in my own journal I struggle to get the right words. My testimony has grown immensely when I compare it to before but at the same time I'm pummeled into a feeling of nothingness as I compare myself to what the Lord really needs his servants to be. Before my mission I was wholeheartedly praying that I would learn humility on my mission. The result (as of now) is that I have been so humbled that I know with a certainty that I will never be adequately humbled enough. And I'm okay with that. 

This is by far the most rewarding experience of my life. Sometimes my greenie looks at me completely tired and worn out and it’s not even at the middle of the day yet. I feel so bad. It may be sick to say but ultimately it makes me happy. Happy because I know that it's worth it to put all we have into helping others even when we get beat down or ignored or forgotten. In those moments of sadness I’m reminded of the Savior. Whenever we are down, we can get back up. When I see her frustrated or tired it fills me with a joy in the Atonement and I know that we won't be frustrated for very long before we figure it out with the Lord's help. She came pre-trained and ready to go and I’m positive that she’s taught me more than I have taught her.

We got the next transfer’s assignments and I’m happy to announce that I’ll be finishing my mission here in Nashua, New Hampshire with Sister Lewis! This will be the best 6 weeks. Are you ready for it? You're in for the ride with me!

Check it out. This is the first time we met each other back in March. If that's not a match made in the pre-existence than I don't know what is! 

My plans are to fill up one last notebook with study notes, training, thoughts, and daily journaling on what happens. I used an entire notebook in my 6 weeks at the MTC and felt like I was trying to drink from a fire hydrant. Leaving the training center didn’t change that. I have learned so much every day and I know that I will never, ever, be at a place in life that I’ll be done learning. So this last six weeks I’m going to prove just that by filling up another notebook. I will also use my two free weeks at Golds Gym right before I come. Not that I need to, but it seems to be a concern of all the missionaries going home fat. I've actually lost weight the whole time so I’m aiming to gain some muscle weight. Really I just love checking off little boxes when I complete something so I like making achievable goals. :p Aside from that I have half of the Book of Mormon in English and in Spanish that we started reading this transfer and we’ll finish that together before I go. And overall, I consider this transfer to be no different from the others. I will keep working all that I can, pushing myself to the very edge, and pray that when I jump off the cliff -- I’ll fly.

Hermana Campaz and Raquel, some of our best friends here.

Stinkin' Patricia.

 She was so happy that day because her son came from Florida to surprise her, but she never smiles in photos.

Last Saturday we had the first ever Spanish Group activity! We hosted a BBQ at the church and 69 people came! The next day only 18 came to church (including us)... so that was shocking. We love them anyway and are grateful for every day we have to serve them. We really have the best members here and I have made some of the best friends, too. One of them shared with us yesterday the story of a small branch they started in Bolivia. They said to begin they only had two families, and that today the same area has grown into a Stake. The Lord has plans for this place. He is hearing the prayers of the people and we're finding them every day and bringing them whatever they need. The requests are varied and often a surprise, but it's clear that the Lord knows his people and he's letting us be his hands. 

Making flowers for the cupcakes!

BBQ FUN

Oscar, Heydi and their kids

Zenia and Paula

You know when you wake up in the morning before your alarm goes off and your brain starts to come up with mini-dreams as you bounce in and out of sleep? This morning I had the best mini-series ever and I woke up with the biggest smile on my face. In one of the dreams my companion and I were driving down the streets of Dorchester, MA and the cars around us were driving like mad-men. We finally swerved off the road and onto a side street and she said, “Woah! What’s going on!?” and I went off on a tangent about all of the psycho drivers around us. My favorite line was, “I’m dodgin’ airplanes they’re flying so low!!!” and right then a plane dipped down right in front of us and zoomed on forward right over the road. Good dream. I woke up laughing.

Killer Geese at the apartment. They crazy.

LIFE IS GOOD

So so good.

Thanks for following me through this journey! One last stretch to go!

Hermana Hileman