Cutting Grass with a Machete

Hey guys!

So this week was... interesting. It was not that anything crazy or weird happened, just that I think I am getting used to it. It has almost been six weeks, and I can not believe how fast it is going by, it is like the CCM never happened, and that this is the only thing I have ever known. I love everyday, and can not imagine who I would of become without my mission (it has only been 12 weeks!!!!) So much has changed about me and I am really glad to have had this opportunity to serve!

Sorry, stepping down from the soap box now- It really was a good week.

Things that happened... A family in the rama made us pizza, and holy cow!!! I have never had better, it was amazing, and the closest to actual American pizza I have had in a while. While eating at this family's house, a trash pile that they had been burning, which was not on fire- at all, suddenly started on fire again, we were just sitting there eating, and the fire nation decided to attack, that was fun :) We then were able to visit the family that we killed the pig with, do not worry, no animals were harmed...this time. But they are super sweet, they let us feed the chickens, and I am told we get to kill one, in the next weeks, fun!!

View outside Taina's home at sunset in Paraguay

 We also missed the colectivo that day... and walked for an hour in order to catch another, it was fun! Another fun thing, in honor of my wonderful twin little sisters, we bought cake and chocolate milk! That is how it works right, you buy yourself cake in honor of someone else's birthday?! The cake, was pretty much corn bread that looked like it should taste like chocolate, but it was fun! Other things that are fun, cutting grass with a machete, a really big knife, that was fun, also if you have never swept up a yard, not rake, sweep I highly suggest you do so!! As dad likes to say: SO MUCH FUN!!! 

I hope you all have an amazing week, and keep the emails coming, I love hearing from all of you! 

Quick spiritual thought: I absolutely love the talk by Holland Called Missionary work and the Atonement, please take the time to look it up, you will also love it, but one of my favorite parts is when he is emphasizing why salvation, and the steps to achieve such are not easy 

"If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” 11  then little wonder that salvation is not an easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way."

I really am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and share this gospel with the people of Paraguay. I am in love with my mission, and am grateful for the gospel in my life. If you are questioning or unsure, ask- through prayer and you will receive a answer. I know this church is true and the principles that are taught, through the atonement and in this church will help us to be able to achieve the greatest glory, living with our families forever in the presence of God- 

Have a wonderful week!!! 

Love,

Hermana Douglas