Hello Family!
We've had an extremely rainy week here in Carti Tupile. And there's nothing like being shaken awake by the sudden crack of thunder at3:30 in the morning. I truly think that Hermana Hastings and I lose about 5 years off our lives each time it happens. Though heart-shaking at times, we do love the storms, and are grateful for the water. This morning we woke up to pouring rain, which is my favorite sound to wake up to. We crawled out of our hammocks and washed our hair using our rain-collecting invention . . . it's the small luxuries in life that make us happy. As I headed over to the other side of the chapel for seminary Hermana Hastings walked up to me with a sheepish grin on her face. I already knew what she was going to tell me. She had locked the keys in the bathroom . . . again. I just giggled and started climbing up to the small opening above the doors. This morning in seminary we taught Alma 6-7. Alma 7 is one of my favorite Book of Mormon chapters about our Savior. Few things bring me more satisfaction than testifying of Jesus Christ to my seminary students. I find so much joy in teaching them about the role that the Savior has in their lives and helping them to gain a personal testimony of Him that will bless them for their entire lives. Each day we are placing another block on their foundation. I pray each day that they will all remain strong long after I'm gone.
After seminary we headed to Lily and Miriam's house. It was still rainy outside so we all sat in their house together, as usual I was in a hammock with a few children piled on top of me. We love visiting them because they have completely accepted us as a part of their family. They love us so much and we love them right back. We shared a typical Kuna breakfast with them. We had cocoa, which despite the name is not the same as hot chocolate. We also had bread, which is baked fresh each morning. We were fortunate and got to in first this morning, so we were blessed to enjoy hot bread with our cocoa. Bread and cocoa has become my favorite breakfast. After spending a while with our favorite family we headed back to the chapel. Once there, Hermana Hastings headed in to begin writing her family. I got nice and cozy in my hammock and started studying a bit. After a while I got kind of bored, so I started inventing. I began digging around the depository and found almost everything I need to create another funnel system to collect water from our other rain gutter. It's a bit tricky because I'm lacking a few tools, but that's never stopped us before. I was excited about my new creation, so I decided to share it with Hermana Hastings. She started laughing and told me that she's never met another sister like me. Everybody tells me that, so I've gotten used to it by now.
A few nights ago I was standing in the center part of the chapel staring out at the black ocean, burying myself in my own thoughts when Juan came up and started talking to me. He asked me what my house in the United States is like. He even asked me if there are zombies there because he had seen a movie about zombies in the states. That made me giggle, then I explained that zombies aren't real, even in the states. After clearing that up the mood changed as he looked up at me and asked me why I have to go back home. My heart sank a little bit because I hate to think about leaving the ones I've grown to love here. I explained what it means to be missionary and that I still had some time to be here with him. He told me he wants to be a missionary too. I told him that he would make an excellent missionary. Being the wonderful and curious 12 year old that he is, he then told me that he wanted to meet God and asked if I had met him. I explained that God is our Heavenly Father and that we do know Him and He knows us. I explained that we lived with Him before and that we have to live so that we can live with Him again. Then he turned to me and said, "Do you know why I don't always come to church on Sundays? It's because I don't have shoes." I just smiled, put my arm around him, and told him that we'd take care of it for him. I told Hermana Hastings and she was all for it.
The next day we went shoe hunting. Not many shoes are sold on the island, so it was a bit difficult, but we ended up finding some perfect shoes for Juan. We were so excited to give them to him. During a Friday night activity we pulled him aside, told him to close his eyes, then placed the shoes in his arms. Words cannot explain the expression on his face when he opened his eyes, true joy and gratitude such as that cannot be put into earthly terms, it's merely felt. He immediately jumped on me and gave me the best hug I've ever had. He was so grateful and our hearts were so full! He told us how happy his mother would be and told us that he's be in church on Sunday. He was one of the first people to arrive on Sunday, in a white shirt and his new shoes. And we love watching him play outside with shoes on his feet. As if that wasn't rewarding enough, his mother, who was previously extremely closed off, has completely changed her attitude toward us. She always smiles when she sees us now and even invited us in the other day. I'm surprised my heart hasn't burst from the joy it's felt so frequently amongst these people!
To end, I'd like to share a scripture that I read this past week that has taken on a much more significant meaning in these past few months. 2 Nephi 10:21-22:
21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren.
22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also.
I know that those who inhabit Kuna-Yala are a chosen and special people. The Lord is mindful of them, and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to grow and flourish on the islands of San Blas. I consider myself extremely blessed to be here serving them and loving them.
I hope you all have a marvelous week ahead of you! Love and miss you all!
Go Forward With Faith,
Hermana Falslev
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