Week 26

A la mitad del translado!

We are halfway though the transfer again! Wow this one has to be the fastest going month for sure!

This week we saw the first signs of fall. As I have heard in Tennessee we dong have all the seasons like we have in Utah. I guess Fall is usually about a week and then it is mostly really cold or really hot. So far its true!

We were able to go to the temple this week. I haven't gone for six months. I truly needed it though. I felt like had my batteries charged and ready to go for the next six months. The Nashville temple is small but so beautiful. Living in Smyrna I'm only 25 minutes away:)

It's been a good week:) I cant seam to remember much of what happened but it was a good one. One of the things that stood out to me this week is how amazing the members are. They are so wiling to help us out and to give us rides to where ever we need to go. I love getting to hear their conversion stories and for them to share them with the people we teach is just a spiritual boost.

This last Sunday I gave a talk about the responsibilities a member of this church has. There are five that I mentioned that are also found in the Book of Mormon: Missionary work, keeping recent converts, less active work, temple and family history work, and the teaching and learning of the gospel. I was pretty nervous about it but it all seamed to go alright:)

Another thing I have been working on is getting in shape. As you all know my companion is a maniac when it comes to being healthy and she has motivated me to be in the best shape of my life. I'm not sure how well I am going to do but she is sure going to make me try it:)

Hasta luego,

       Hermana Orellana

PS More Birthdays! This week my older brother Jafet is turning 33 on Thursday:) Te quiero mucho Apet! Felicidades y que te la pases bien:)

Week 25

The best of times, and the worst of times!

This week was so crazy!

Our friend Erick was baptized this Saturday:) It was out of this world! We kind of threw it all together in a day and it was probably one of the most stressful days of my mission life but, oh boy, was it worth it! The spirit was so strong and I think my favorite part was watching our Erick become part of the ward yesterday. We couldn't be with him all of Sunday so we told him "Erick, its your time to fly out of the nest" he went right off into the sunset with all the other members and began his new life. I didn't get to teach Erick very much but from the times I did, and the stories I heard, he was the most prepared person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Erick knows his Bible like no one I have ever met and it was tough trying to make him see that all that we taught went right along with the Bible and that the Book of Mormon complimented it perfectly but in the end he received his answer. He wanted facts and we eventually gave it to him, but he eventually understood that it wasn't so much about the facts but more about receiving a witness though the Holy Ghost.

Last week Hna and I almost got kicked out of a traler park. My life is probably put in danger multiple times a day when I am riding my bike. Oh and the other day we sang church songs outside a park while everyone was walking to their car after soccer practice! It was bunches of fun:) (I really wish I would have gotten a picture of that, UNFORGETTABLE)

So this new area is quite a bit different then Paducah. First of all we have a Spanish branch! Yes! No more translating. There are also many more members, strong members. There are so many Hispanics it's like I could seriously knock on any door and there is a 50/50 chance of it being a Hispanic home. There are miracles every day! I have been working a lot on exercising my faith and having my Heavenly Father direct the work. All I have to do is pray and ask for guidance and somehow everything works out. My prayers are answered every day.

Smyrna is working me to death! So this whole time I have been spoiled with a car every day and here I only get a car every other week. This means we bikes all last week. And Smyrna isn't like flat with lots of sidewalks like Paducah was. No, no, no, NO! There are hills and no sidewalks and everything is spread out! Also my companion is HEALTHY! Like really healthy! Like we run 3 miles twice a week (only because I couldn't physically do it more than that), we work out hard every morning! She has me drinking water all the time and I seriously eat a salad every day for lunch! And I have healthy snacks throughout the day that include bars with protein and almonds.... I might die here... Today she convinced me to stop drinking milk and turn to the dark side with Almond milk!

I absolutely love my companion! She is an angel sent from heaven to me in answer to my prayers. She really makes me want to be a better person and when I don't want to be better she makes me anyways!

I really love this area:) I love the people already and I love this gospel. No matter how many confirmations I ask for, and even when I don't, I know that the Book of Mormon is scripture. All you have to do is read it and pray. I know now and I am so certain that I could never deny it without it affecting my salvation. This is true happiness:)

Con todo mi amor,

       Hermana Orellana

Week 24

I am being transferred to Smyrna Tennessee! I will also be finishing a new missionary's training because Hermana McNeill will be going home.

Its been a good week full of fun things that I cant seam to remember. All I can think if is bikes! We have been doing A LOT of biking and it has been the hottest week of the year! I dong think I have ever been this brown.

I had some sad moments when it came to saying good bye and some disappointments with the Velazquez family in Mayfield. it looks like they were anti-ed pretty bad and when I tried to say goodbye to them on Friday a mean lady from a church that they were going to told me that it was a "Christian home and that they would not be accepting anymore visits. I wasn't able to say goodbye to most of the kids and I left there feeling sadder than I have been in a long time.

My mood was lifted when I got to Guadalupe's house. My recent convert. She had made food for us as she always does ever Friday night and we had joked around about some fishes in salt that she had cooked. She made me try some and it was nasty. We ended the night playing some cool Mexican bingo game and took come pictures. Guadalupe and her boys, Roberto and Luis will always have a specially place in my heart.

On Sunday we had a family come to church! Maira and Pabro. They were referrals from the elders:) (Just as Juan was) They had two little children and I had some fun trying to get them to stay in their primary class long enough to have our lesson. We talked about the sacrament and they told us that they had enjoyed it and would be there next week! I'm supper jealous that Hna Stokes gets to teach them.

Last night we were also able to go down to Metropolis and visit my favorite (other than the Garcias) less active family the McCraws! Brother McCraw made me laugh all night and made me cry before I left as he told me how much they were going to miss me. I will never forget them and their sweet family.

I absolutely loved my time in Paducah and I know that I will never forget this little town for the rest of my life.

Now I am off to some new adventures:D

Hermana Orellana