Monday, August 31, 2015

Week 52: "My Husband Was a Slum Lord", Said a Recent Convert

5 Questions:
1) What kind of topics have you had to speak on in church as a missionary?
2) What do you remember being the best things you were sent at USU or on the mission? 
3) Do you have an idea how soon I should get your winter weather clothes together for you?
4) Are you learning to make any favorite Hispanic dishes?
5) Did you ever get a copy of the General Conference Ensign or in Spanish Liahona?

1. In my first area, in one of my wards, I spoke about a Christlike attribute. I think it may have been charity, but I'm not positive... All four of the missionaries spoke on Christlike attributes that Sunday because our Bishop's speakers had fallen through or something.
Then in my second area, I spoke about missionary work as it relates to our baptismal covenant. Because, as members of Christ's church, we have all made a promise to our Heavenly Father, to God, that we will proclaim the Gospel.
And here in Rochelle, I gave a talk about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, which I based on a missionary meeting we'd just had that week.

2. Well, at the Utah State University, the best thing that was sent to me would probably be my mission call....I honestly can't remember much of anything else that was sent to me. Letters and cards from grandparents always make my day, so those would be the top two at USU.
Here on the mission, best thing that's been sent to me....probably a letter from one of my converts in Peoria. Man I love her. Mostly I just love getting letters and cards (and emails for that matter) because I love reading what people have to say. The only down side is responding. Writing emails is probably my least favorite thing to do on P-day, in all honesty. But, it's a part of life. So I will continue to do so.

3. The members have told us that winter usually doesn't really start until October at the earliest, so I should be good until then. This year, the fall weather has started a bit early here, but I still have scarves and cardigans and fall boots so I won't be in want of more clothing for a while. I think I'll be fine until the beginning of October or so, maybe even later actually. Probably the transfer in October. That'll be the....27th of October. Unless you hear some crazy news about Illinois winter starting extra early, I think I'll be fine until then.

4. Yes! Well, maybe not my favorite, (I still don't know how to make flautas), but definitely some good ones. I've been taught how to make arroz con leche and horchata (well, I kinda taught myself on the horchata), but I also learned to make tres leches, lentil soup, cochinita pibil, mexican salsa, and curtidas. I'm hoping to pick up more recipes throughout my mission so I'll be able to cook real mexicana comida for my family when I get home. Because man have we been missing out!

5. Yes, I got a copy. We get copies from the mission. Plus, it's on Gospel Library which is on the iPad so I'm definitely covered as far as the general conference talks go.

Well, this week we had a mission tour with a member of the first Quorum of the Seventy. His name is Elder Renlund (and his wife, Sister Renlund). They were so much fun! On Friday they came to the Rockford stake center and we got to learn from them and the Spirit. It was really neat because literally everything that was said was just for me, I sear. It was amazing. This week has been a bit rough, in all honesty, because of various factors but I just needed that pick me up. And then Sunday I received a priesthood blessing of counsel, as well as some proddings from the Spirit due to a well-chosen video from the Elders in our branch. So, even though we still haven't seen any success numerically, I know we're doing what God wants. And if we just keep on keeping on, eventually we will. Because He promises to bless us. I believe in the vision of our mission president: 1000 baptisms in one year. It's definitely achievable and we're going to make it happen. Of course, it will require "all our heart, might, mind, and strength" as well as the attributes of "faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, and diligence" and we need to have "an eye single to the glory of God", but I know it is possible. (see D&C 4). "The field is white already to harvest", just like the fields of corn out here in northern Illinois. God didn't send us here to plant seeds, He sent us here to harvest, to reap. And I know the time is now, for each of us to "thrust in [our] sickle, and reap with [our] might" so that we may "[lay] up in store" and "[perish] not, but [bring] salvation to [our] soul." God is mightier than all, and we were sent to be successful. For, "if God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). I know that we are on God's side. We are representatives of Jesus Christ and we have been commissioned to preach His word, to baptized thousands, and help God's children inherit eternal life through the saving ordinances of the temple. I love this work. There is no truer work. And it is a privilege to be a part of it.

Con Todo Mi Amor,
Tu Hija y Amiga,
Hermana DeBuck

Fotos
1. So we get to volunteer at a museum weekly and this week we got to help document some donations. So here's me modeling a couple of them! First is a headdress from Jerusalem. Isn't that the coolest thing ever! I felt like I could be in a Bible video, which are only my favorite things of all time.



2. Now I'm modeling an Egyptian headdress. The woman who donated it wore it while they were in Egypt and did some sort of dance. Unfortunately, I wasn't imbued with any such talents while wearing it.

 
3. We won a missionary "competition" of sorts and this was our prize: Bobo the Clown. Isn't he creepy? We thought so. But we had to document our winning anyway.

 

4. The last hat for this week: while doing service at a member's home, I found this and put it on and then she said "you can have that if you want". Of course I accepted. No questions asked.

 
 
5. So Illinois has this thing with water towers. Which is cool, no problem. But I can't figure out why this one is advertising Mac n Cheese....




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