"Boof" -Obispo

The Bishop here in my current area is one of my favorite people alive. There is no one who loves the missionaries or new converts more than Obispo Cornejo.

But he also says the funniest things like when he doesn't like something, he yells "BOOF," or he loves telling stories from his mission and explains his gringo companions as "wimps," but my favorite is that anytime we compliment his food, he tells us it's "frog." Such a chistoso king.

We had the most tender encounter the other day with our new friend Ricardo Zuñiga.

Last Sunday, he felt the need to read the Bible, so he downloaded an app on his phone, and the app made him fill out a form with his phone number and address. That information then got to us, and within minutes we called him and set up a time later that night to pass by his house and teach him more about Christ.

Our lesson with him was extremely spiritual, and by the end of the lesson, he thanked us for bringing such a beautiful feeling into his home.

3 days later, we passed by his house again, and this time there were 2 cakes (one gluten-free), arepas, fresh raspberry juice, and different meats and cheeses on the table. He was so excited to share what he had made/bought for us.

The member who accompanied us in the lesson asked why he went through all this trouble to make/buy us all this food.

He then began to explain,

"I have met a lot of 'Mormons' (members of the Church of Jesus Christ), but these missionaries have something I have never seen before.

For example, when Hermana Pickens walks into the room, she fills it with joy and light.

When Hermana Briones talks, I feel immense peace and tranquility in my heart.

And la Hermana (points to Hermana Rindlisbaker because no one knows how to pronounce her name is charismatic and passionate when she teaches.

These three missionaries have brought me closer to God and I wanted to share my gratitude with them."

We all had big tears in our eyes as we listened to the sincerity of Ricardo and his gratitude for Christ's message that we so proudly share.

As I have reflected on this moment, it has made me think of section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants,

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

•There are many who are called as missionaries, but few truly access the power that comes with this calling.

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

•One of the reasons not every missionary accesses the true power of their calling is when he or she does not put the things of the world aside (due to fear, laziness, lack of focus, disobedience, etc.) and become spiritually, mentally, and physically lost in the work

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood [you access power in your calling by taking upon yourself the following attributes], only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile.

I realized early on in my mission that the title of "Elder" or "Hermana" means very little if we don't know how to unlock the godly power that this calling holds as full-time missionaries of Christ.

I have been SO extremely blessed to have boss companions who have truly taught me by example how to put aside the things of the world and focus my time and thoughts on developing Christ-like attributes that add to the power of my calling. While not perfect, their constant efforts have not only changed my life but have blessed and changed the lives of so many around them.

Whether we are full-time missionaries right now or not, we have been "called" to be disciples of Christ (through baptism), and each one of us can be the "few [that] are chosen" as we purposefully invite the power of the Spirit into our lives by living and leading according to the example Christ put before us.

Highs:

-Our miracle friend from Haiti came to church and I got to practice my Creole

-Zone conference

-3 intercambios

-Buying 5 kilos of cherries

-Hermana Pamela taking us to buy bread, meat, and cheese after our lesson with Ricardo (an argentino king) #once

-Singing "Love One Another" in zone conference

-Getting to hold baby kittens all week #RIPsusanB

-My tan lines have never been so marked

-Getting into locked passages and knocking all the doors

-Asado at the family Donoso house

-JUST BEING A MISSIONARY