Monday, November 19, 2012

11.12.12 Guayaquil, Ecuador

Family,

This week had its ups and its downs.  I don`t know why but sometimes I just get super angry.  I guess I let my mind start to get the best of me and I get upset.  As I think like a total pessimist, and ask ¨Why me?¨ or ¨Where are my blessings?¨ I get myself all psyched out.  Anyways, so Tuesday morning, I just woke up angry.  We went to our normal district meeting and I did my best to not show how fuming I was.  Obviously my companion could tell and a couple other missionaries but everything was all under control.  Of course the Super unaware, 3 weeks into her mission, Sister May didn`t notice my attitude.  She asked me to give her a blessing after the district meeting.  She can`t understand Spanish very well yet and I was the only Elder that spoke English there, so she asked me to give it in English.  I took a huge breath and went ahead and gave her a blessing.  I think I messed up over 100 times looking for words and stumbling on pronunciation… but I made it through.  My companion laughed at me all day because he knew I was not super excited to give her a blessing, feeling the way I did.  After about half way through the day, we were walking and I think there was steam coming out of my ears.  I saw a man sitting on the curb looking very upset.  He had a lot of little Ecuador flags and key chains and dumb things like that.  I don`t know how or why I did, but I sat down next to him and asked him how he was doing.  He said, ‘tired’.  I told him I was too.  I could tell he was very shy and sad about his situation.  I asked him how his work was going and he said it wasn`t going well.  So I read him a scripture about how if we put our trust in God he will give us the success in life we are looking for.  Then I bought an Ecuador key chain and we went on our way.  I have never really been able to relate very much with the people I teach but I was glad to be able to relate to this man.  I didn`t feel super amazing afterwards, but I did feel the satisfaction that I helped someone out when I just wanted to kick someone in the head.  

I just still am so surprised for some reason that life is hard.  I am doing my best to notice all the good things in life, so I can refocus my energy and be grateful. 

David and Blanca got baptized.  It was awesome and I am so excited to see them progress in the gospel.  
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So it looks like you guys have lots of work to do back at home.  It is crazy how you can never take a break.  There is always something you can do to serve the Lord and better yourself.  

Anyways, i am sill very happy to be here.  I do love my mission and I am enjoying it.  I just have my moments.  The Lord wants me to show a lot of faith right now.  I do understand that. That is what I pray for every night.  Faith and Hope that everything will be okay later.

Love,
Elder McRae

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