Querida Familia y Amigos,
So I have a funny story for all of you. Lately in my prayers, I have been praying hard for the gift of tongues. I have been praying for an opportunity that would really help me stretch and grow in Spanish. I feel pretty comfortable with it as of now, but it's not perfect. I can understand about 90% of what is being said, but sometimes I struggle speaking. So I was thinking that maybe I would train this transfer. I know all of you know this, but let me just bare my witness that the Lord works in mysterious ways. So, his morning was transfers. Both of my companions left me, but in the middle of the meeting we realized that there weren't any other Hermanas there and no Sisters were coming from Mexico. Ummm.....There was a little bit of panic, a little bit of amazement that my prayers might actually be answered.
And what do you know? I HAVE A KOREAN COMPANION! Sister Lee! Luckily for me, she speaks fluent English, but I am on my own for Spanish this whole transfer....gulp.... It's fine. I know it's going to be hard to not have a companion to rely on to know any Spanish at all. But I know I need this. It's going to make me be fluent. Most of all, I know that I need this challenge to bring me closer to my Father in Heaven. There will be growing pains (please pray for me and the people here), but there is nothing that God can't do so I know I need to exercise my faith and let Him work miracles.
This past week I went on exchanges with a greenie, an Hermana in Kirkland, WA ( FYI home of Costco). We taught a girl from Spain with a different accent and we were able to teach a family from Brazil. I keep having testimony builders about the power of God. Even though they only knew Portuguese, a little Spanish and a little English and us only knowing Spanish and English, we were able to full-on communicate and teach them. It was an amazing experience that has given me the faith to know that everything will be alright this transfer.
Random Story: This week we met a guy that looked like a wanna-be Tony Stark. His dog's name was Thor. Yup, there are some pretty neat people that you meet tracting.
We did have a really cool experience when a member from the Overlake ward called us over to talk to a Hispanic guy that was working in her yard. We talked to him for about an hour. He told us about his long search for truth and how he really likes what the Mormons teach. He asked us for a Book of Mormon. He also told us about a dream he had and the Holy Ghost helped him interpret it to mean that he needed to find a church and come closer to Christ. "We can certainly help you with that Jose!" We also had a lot of less actives and some investigators come to church this week. Super exciting! I love the branch so much! I love getting to play volleyball and soccer and going to church with them every week. It's the life!
Things have been going well with the new mission president and his wife. I think they are really stressed right now, but they don't let it show too much. They are very gentle and sweet. Very different from President Choi. I am happy. I loved my companions and we will be life long friends. I am excited for this new journey that I am about to embark on with Sister Lee!
I have been learning a lot about faith recently. I know that we all need to constantly nourish our faith and let it grow. We can only do that by acting. That's how we can gain a truth of all things. I know that when we strengthen our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, we are strengthening our relationship with Him. He will trust us more. He will love and protect us. Sometimes we have to walk in the dark a little bit to more fully see the light. I love this gospel. I know that it's true with all my heart!
Con Amor,
Hermana Stoddard
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