[Hermana Hannah and her new companion]
The hand of the Lord isn't always easy to accept. Here in the mission, right when I feel comfortable the Lord throws out His hand and sends a curve ball. And that's just what He did today. Everything was going so well.
We worked with Hermana G. today. The appointments that we planned weren't set in stone, but thanks to the hand of the Lord everything worked out. Hermana M. and Hermana V. were both in their houses and things worked out beautifully with Hermana G. In the lesson with Hermana V., the scripture Ether 12:27 just came to mind. When I shared it I knew it was inspired-not only for V.'s but for G. also. And maybe just a little bit it was meant for me also.
After the lesson--at the end of the lesson-- J. showed up in his car. So he gave us a ride down the hill. While we were in the car, I checked my agenda and saw, unexpectedly, that we had an appointment with the S. family. J. dropped us off by their house but we decided to check up on Hermana A. because earlier we found out that she was in the hospital and was back in her house. She didn't answer, but we had time to decide that we would share a lesson on the atonement of Jesus Christ.
When we started the lesson with the family, I got a little bothered when right after the hymn--which totally set the Spirit-- Hermana G. started asking them about the dance on Friday and if they were going to go. I decided to go with it and I ended up sharing two personal experiences: deciding to go to a dance when I didn't have a fancy dress-- everyone said how beautiful I looked, and how my mom would say if your only reason for not doing something is fear then you're losing a great opportunity.
When we started the lesson with the family, I got a little bothered when right after the hymn--which totally set the Spirit-- Hermana G. started asking them about the dance on Friday and if they were going to go. I decided to go with it and I ended up sharing two personal experiences: deciding to go to a dance when I didn't have a fancy dress-- everyone said how beautiful I looked, and how my mom would say if your only reason for not doing something is fear then you're losing a great opportunity.
Then the phone rang. Since we weren't in the middle of a deep spiritual conversation, I decided to answer it. It was Elder D., Hermana G.'s mission father and one of the newly called assistants to the president. After some joking around, he told me that I have changes, that I'm going to David and I need to be in Albrook, the terminal, at 8 the next day. At first I thought he was joking and I laughed, and then I asked, "Are you serious?" Then I asked him to repeat what he said again..in part to take it all in and in part because I was unsure about the details. In this call, he said that I would be an hermana leader. When this conversation ended I looked around at my Panamanian family and started sobbing. Hermana Gomez freaked out and asked if it was my family. I shook my head no and then kept on crying.
By this point, everyone was really concerned and I knew that I had to say something. So midst my tears I somehow managed to tell them the news. Then Elder D. called again. I handed the phone to Hermana Gomez saying that I couldn't answer it. In this call he joked around with Hermana Gomez saying that her mom is abandoning her too. Then he told her that he misspoke about me becoming an hermana leader, but that I was going to David and I had to be in Albrook at 8 AM the next day.
The fact that I was with my family at the precise moment shows the hand of the Lord. They expressed the love for me that I feel for them and told me never to forget them. Each one of them offered me a little gift, searching among the things that they already had, saying that they had a list of gifts that they wanted to buy me, but that now it was too late. S. started handing me things that weren't his to give. M. climbed up onto my lap wanting to be near me. For a little while, she and I were crying together. When she stopped, I kept crying.
So right now I'm experiencing the hand of the Lord taking me away from my second home. It hurt so much that I have to believe it's for a greater reason than I can understand.
So I traveled from Colon to the terminal by myself. The assistants met me there and then sent me on a bus to David. I went by myself also. It was an 8 hour journey with a lunch break about halfway through.
My new companion is Hermana Mendez from Honduras. My new area starts with a D and is in the welcome to your new house picture that my new companion made for me [below]. Hermana Mendez came to Panama with Hermana Gomez so I'm still training.
What happened here is an Hermana leader went to Colon where I was with Hermana Gomez because she was disobedient, Hermana Hernandez, who was with me in my first area, was called to be the new leader, and I came here to be with her companion.
It was really hard to leave Colon because I was there for so long. Things are so different here. Everyone's white, I'm in the country nowhere near the city, the leaders of the church are super strong and super knowledgeable, and I'm surrounded by missionaries that I know from previous transfers.
When I got to the terminal here, I had to use the bathroom, so I had a guy help me with my suitcases. Later, I had to pay him one dollar. I called the hermana leaders cause they weren't there yet, found a place to sit down...waited and waited...and then eventually I was greeted by...Hermana Molina! She was my mission mom aka my first companion. I gave her a big hug and just started crying. She was there when I needed her. She's leaving the mission after this change and she says she needs me too.
So here I am in David in an area that I don't remember the name with a new companion. Crazy things happen in the mission. But I'm happy and loved...but I miss Colon and everyone there.
Oh and we had a baptism the second day here.
[Mom translating: "Fight your stress and don't let it dominate" and "Welcome to your new home and your new area 'Doleguita.'"]
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