Hermana Brittany Lowe : Un ANO!!!

Hola a todos!

Saludos desde Ica, Perú por la ultima vez. 🙁 Transfers are this week, and I've already been here for 4 transfers, or 6 months, so my time is basically up. So sad! I love Ica (now that it's cold) and I don't wanna leave! It's gonna break my heart to leave the ward family and my companion. We get along so well and she has truly become a great friend to me. The changes here in the mission are so abrupt that we have to learn to be flexible. I'ts hard, but it's good. I'm learning a lot here, ha ha.

Well, I'm not gonna lie, it's been a little rough in our area these past couple weeks. We are working harder than ever and seeing very little results. Not many people want to listen to us or are progressing in coming to church or keeping their committments. We are a little bummed, but are still moving forward! We know it's just a trial of our faith and patience and that we weill be rewarded in the future.

The good news is that this week, I hit my one year mark! How absolutely insane is that?! I don't know how to feel or what to say. It's bittersweet.

Yesterday we visited a few members who invitied us over. While we were talking, he just kept giving us more and more packaged foods....first little candies...then pringles and a can of orange crush and gummy bears and coca cola and marshmallows....oh my gosh. I am now set for a lifetime on sugar. He's sweet. ( ha ha, pun intended).

Yesterday as well, we were proseltying in an area we don't know very well which is called Cachiche. We were walking, like normal, lost, when we accidentally walked past a popular tourist site, Las Palmeras de 6 Cabezas en Cachiche, Perú. So that was cool. Sadly, I didn't have my camera, so you'll have to Google it. Somethin' cool.

Well, I wanna share a scripture that I read this week that I liked. It's in Alma 36:21, in the Book of Mormon.

"Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."

Here, Alma is explaining to his son Helaman the change of heart he had and how he repented of his sins, first feeling sad and guilty, and later, full of joy! I wanted to compare it to my mission. I have felt a lot of pain here; being away from my family, living with someone with a different culture that speaks a different language, being rejected by people, feeling left out because nobody looks like me, and a few other hard things that I've been through. And I know that it's nothing, it's just hard fro me. But, I can also say that I have never felt such joy and happiness that I have felt here. To see people come to church or feel the spirit or be baptized, to feel the spirit speak through me as I'm sharing my testimony, to see a family dressed in white and preparing to go to the temple, talking to people in a different language about our loving brother, Jesus Christ, laughing with my companions or feeling welcome in a member's home; all these things, and more, give me so much joy, that I would not change where I am or what I'm doing right now for anything. In fact, it will be very hard to leave and go back to the real world in 6 months. I am not prepared for that. I testify that God gives us trials because He loves us and wants us to be stronger. We have had hard times so that we appreciate even more the good times. Be grateful for your trials and learn from them! God loves you. There is opposition in all things. Enjoy every moment. Remember Alma 36:3, a verse from the same chapter of Alma.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their ^atrust in God shall be supported in their ^btrials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be ^clifted up at the last day."

Put your trust in God! He loves you and is looking out for you. That's my little spiritual thought for you all. I love you guys. Have a fantastic week!

❤️, Hermana Lowe

Video chatting on Pday!

Lunch by Hermana Kari (sopa de leche y chuleta de cerdo con pallares y arroz, siempre hay arroz)

My companion surprised me on my 1 year with balloons and cute cards. She's the sweetest.

The letter that comes when you hit 1 year (or have six months left in the mission, "the trunky letter")....it's super hyped up but basically it just asked me in which airport I'm gonna return so that was a let down.