This week has been incredible, and so much has happened!
I was pretty lonely and bored at the beginning of the week because my entire district left before me, but things definitely picked up once I got into the field! I met my mission president and his wife, and they’re super awesome. As soon as we got there, they stuck us outside with some other missionaries and gave us the challenge to pass out a Book of Mormon. Then that night, they played guitar and gave an amazing steak dinner and we had a lot of fun with them.
The next morning I met my amazing trainer, Hermana Cornwall. She is from Orem and she just finished up her own training so she’s been here for 12 weeks. I’m technically in the Washington Vancouver mission, but we are actually covering an area near Portland, so that’s really cool. It’s really beautiful and exciting and I feel blessed to have been reassigned here. This mission actually gets lots of visits from general authorities because they’ve been impressed by the culture of obedience this mission has, and they have authorized us to try a lot of new things, like having smart phones and a new chapter of PMG.
I am so excited to be here until they reopen PR, and I know there’s a reason God has sent me here. I’ve seen so many little miracles this week, and being a missionary feels even better than I thought it would! When I taught my first lesson to a super sweet progressing investigator, it was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life!
We’ve also had two different returned missionaries from the area pull over to give us 20 bucks and lots of encouragement, which was super cool. The second time happened last night, after we had been trying to contact several people in an apartment complex with no luck. As we were walking down the street, wondering why we had felt prompted to go there, this lady pulled over and started screaming in excitement. She said she had been listening to a song that made her miss her mission and was praying for some comfort, and then she immediately saw us! I know we were an answer to her prayer, and I hope we can be the answer to many more as we find people who are prepared to hear the gospel, like the two new investigators we made this week!!
Being a missionary is incredible and has already helped me come so much closer to my Savior. If you are a member who is reading my email, continue sharing the gospel with as many people as you know, because it WILL bless their lives if they accept it. If you’re not a member, I would encourage you to go check out the church’s videos that they have for Christmas! There is a different video for each day of December, and each one includes a way to become a little more like Christ. I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys getting ready for Christmas!
P.S. Here’s your weekly dose of weird–We had a zone potluck lunch today and I took a dare to chug some Mexican hot sauce, which rapidly made me very popular among my zone 😂 If I can get someone to send me the video, I’ll forward it later. Anyway, sorry for the long email!
Love,
Hermana O’Barr
 
 