Well its been another wonderful week! We have worked hard and I feel extremely tired, but luckily its p-day so I can take a nap. The weather here in Talcauhano continues to get hotter each day, the sun is soo strong here! Both my companion and I have started to get sun blisters on our skin that itch SO bad, so I am being more dillegent about putting my sunscreen on every day. (Ive never had a problem like that before)
Every three months we have a class with Elder Scholes and I always get SO excited to see him and Hermana Scholes. They are like my parents in the mission and its so great to talk to them about all of the people in Cauquenes and send little notes to the people there. Since I have left Cauquenes, one of the couples there was sealed in the Salt Lake temple, because the husband is from Utah, and also one of the young men got his mission call to Argentina! It is great to hear news from the people I new in my first area.
During Elder Scholes class I learned about the importance of listening. It is true that I often find myself caught up in giving advice that perhaps I dont take the time to pause and try to listen to what people are trying to tell me. We did a lot of practices where we focused on discovering the feeling of others and then showing sincere concern for them. We didnt practice sovling their problem, but rather simple learned how to listen intently and express love through showing that we care. I tried to put this into practice this week and noticed a great difference especially within my companionship.
Of course I always try to work in unity with my companion and show my love for her, but as I truly strived to pause what I was doing and take the time to listen to her, she expressed to me many of her feelings about difficulties she was facing that I had idea about, and I am with her 24-7. It was a valuable lesson that one of the ways to show someone that you truly care about them is to simply listen to their feelings. The world is so busy and loud and I think it is often hard, but as we strive to tone out the distractions and take a little time from our busy schedules to sit down and listen to a friend or family memeber, we can truly feel the joy of serving others. Its one of the greatest ways to express our love.
I am so grateful for the many beautiful things I am able to experience every day and the way my testimony continues to grow. I know that Christ lives and through his atonement we can feel light from our burdens and continue in faith. I know that Our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each of us and the only way to return back to his prescense is to follow his Sons perfect example. As we strive to become more like him every day, and continue eduring to the end we can prepare ourselves more and more to one day be embraised the arms of his love and receive more blessings than we can ever imagine. Every effort that we make in our daily lives to follow Christ will one day be rewarded!
Thank you all for your continuous love and support. I can feel the strength of your prayers every day. Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Parkin
Photo : With Hermana Scholes