Well Here We Are

I can hardly even believe it...but here I am, my last pday sitting here in this little Internet cafe here in la Plaza de Maipu. Today we as the go homer group had lunch with President Barreiros at his house. Spent a few hours in the subway and the bus system to come back. Did some small purchases for the week. It all just seemed so natural...like this is my life. This is my home. This is what I do. I use the bus system and talk to people about the Restoration of the Gospel while going from one end of Santiago to the next. I hear Spanish rap in the streets and sing a hymn in my head. I buy Chilean treats like Mote con Huesillo and come to this little Internet cafe because that is what I do on Mondays.

Because I am a missionary and today is pday, a week just like any other.

You know, I usually write in my planner a small list of bullet points of wonderful things that happened during the week so that I can paint pictures with my words to give you all an idea of what my Chile is like. I love it. I love painting pictures every Monday because I love my mission. I love teaching and preaching and talking to people in the street and on the bus and while we wait in line. I love helping people recognize their beliefs, because even though many believe in God, they just don't know how to put it into words. And I love even more when we can apply the doctrine of the Restoration to what they believe, because it all just makes so much sense, right? A restoration just makes SENSE if we truly believe that God lives and loves and wants the best for us. I even enjoy when people reject us, because it is at least one person that has heard the message. An individual usually interacts with missionaries 7 times before accepting them in their home. Literally EVERYTHING we do is helping the stone continue rolling forward.

I would love to talk about all that I have learned...all that I have come to know about the gospel and about myself and about who I am and who we are and how we can be in the future. I could go on and on about what the scriptures say, recount the first vision with as much vigor as I possibly can muster, I could talk for hours of the testimonies that I have obtained of prayer, study, obedience...faith, repentance and of course baptism. The gift of the holy ghost, one of my personal favorites. How we can endure to the end to receive eternal life.

But for now, I will just leave y'all with a cliffhanger :) I'll share it all with you soon, I promise :) For now, I will simply testify that I know that this church is true. I know that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us so much. He loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. They truly spoke to Joseph Smith and through him, the church was restored. I have purpose in my life through this gospel. It is beautifully life changing, and I have seen that in these last 18 months. I have no doubt that this gospel is the plan that God has for us to have JOY in this life and HOPE for the life to come.

I love you all. And I will see you all next Tuesday :) Be Bold, Stay Rad, Do what you Do and Let your light so shine because your light is JUST GLORIOUS.

Hermana Harkins

Me with my mission president and his wife today at their house for lunch

Me sitting at his desk :)