Elder D!
Subject: My face ... broken, hurting, but good
Fam!
Well family I am well. I am in pain, but it is a bit more bearable. The pain is not like it was at first and I am getting some sleep at last, so that is good. I saw the Mr. Mac issue. That stinks! I will try to get to Macy's. I am sure they will have a sale soon (or it is getting close to the holidays, so I assume they will) and I will replace my damaged suit.
Nothing eventful happened this week. I went to the doctor on Friday. And I did break my nose. It is broken. And to be honest, I was frustrated. I wanted to say to the doctor, "I could have told you that." I am not saying he is a bad doctor. But with my nose the size of a water balloon, I thought it was a dumb statement. So this week we sat at the apartment. The ward wouldn't let me leave because I was in so much pain. We taught Elders Quorum. My companion and I made a court case on why we should live the gospel or shouldn't. It was cool. At the last second we bagged the idea because the elders were smirking and were making comments. So we cut the lesson short and it was alright other than that.
So family, nothing major to report, sorry.
LOVE YA!
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: I love to be a missionary!
Hi!
Happy today! So great to hear from everyone--everyone sounds great. Elder D--your face is wicked cool these days. Fa real. Be proud of those bruises!! Dad was right, can't even see the glue. Mom--crazy that you are in the nursery. Haha, did you even see that coming? Send me a picture of your apron once you've made it!! I am envisioning something so so cute, I know you'll top what I already have in mind.
Okay--something so crazy just happened, ha. This guy next to us passed out kind of--oh it was so scary. He just started to like moan kind of, and then he like had no idea what was going on--he was holding the keyboard in a weird way like by his face and he was focusing on the elders behind us, and he started to fall backwards so I got up to help him and support his back and then he just sat there looking at me. And I asked if he needed help and he just looked at me--he had like no comprehension of what was going on--he was just kind of dillusional. And I kept trying to ask him to sit up a little bit while I held his back and then he just like "woke up" and realized something was wrong and stood up and tried to walk out, but he just walked into the wall. Someone just came to help him out, and now I am typing all of this to you. Ha, so crazy. I hope he is okay. Pray that this man is okay tonight, please.
ANYWHO, to answer some questions:
Teacher: I am going to teach in the hard schools--like the ones people don't want to go to--like title one schools where the students are coming from poor circumstances. M--- Y B--- M---- have taught me how to be the teacher I want to be. M--- just turned 3, B--- turns 2 in Feb. I think. These kids have had hard lives since the minute they were born. Hard, hard lives. They need a lot, they don't get most of what they need, and the love they get is conditional. It hurts me. Most people in their life labels them as "hard to deal with." One day before a lesson with their grandma, I prayed that I would know what to do to help those two kids that day. When I walked into that house, it was like I understood them completely. I talked to them in English slowly and clearly. I asked them about THEM--how they are, what they like, I listened to what that were telling me. I couldn't understand most of what they said, but we had awesome conversations. I didn't let them get away with doing inappropriate things. I loved them. Now, they listen to me, they love me back. They respect me in a way that is different from other adults just because I treat them in a way that made them see their own worth. I started to give them order, love, and value in their lives. That is what I want to do forever. I love these kids. They drive me crazy sometimes, and it is really hard to help them a lot the time. It is stressful. But I love it. I like the challenge, and I love, love these kids. I understand their background, their culture, their families--I'm in homes like this every day. They have so much potential, and I am learning how to help them see it and harness it. I love that. I love who they are. I know they can become something great. I want to help more kids see that, too. I've said before that I want to work in chools like that, but I felt like I would just hear all these reasons why that would be really hard for me, why maybe I should set my sights elsewhere. This is what I want though, and I am excited to learn how to help them.
My area is kind of like that--the honest truth is that people don't like to be in Woodstock, IL as a missionary--when missionaries find out I've been in Woodstock for 4 transfers, going on the 5th, their eyes get big and then they ask me how I'm doing, haha. It's just labeled as a "hard area." But oh my, how much they miss if that is all they see. If only we could see the potential that we have, maybe the way things can be instead of the way they are. Life would be happier. Truly, I hope I don't leave this area too soon, there is so much to be done here, and every minute is so great. I kid you not. I LOVE this area. With all my heart. It will forever be apart of who I am now. And so will the people! I love the people we are teaching. I love the branch. I love the testimonies they have, the people they can be and are becoming. Ah. I love Woodstock, IL. Let's all be grateful that I get to be here NOW.
What do I do for fun: we're carving pumpkins today!! Wahoo!! Pictures to come. :)
Okay, I still haven't written president yet. Bad missionary. So I must go. Sorry this letter is so crazy--I was really shaken up by that guy that fainted--my fingers are just now calming down! Sorry for the spelling errors and whatnot..I think they are worse that normal today, ha. There was so much I wanted to tell you this week and I just didnt really have time. So lame. Well, I will hopefully tell you some more next week. Well, let it be known that all is well, Woodstock is rockin' awesome per usual, and I love to be a missionary. :) We are so so lucky to have this gospel. It truly holds the pure teachings of Christ. He lives and loves us so much. I tell you, this is a lucky time to be alive. :) Love you loads!
Hna Delis
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Week of One-SIX: SUPER GLUE is a MEDICAL FIX!!!
Elder D!
Subject: I am fine I promise! It's not stitches just gluded!
Hello family!
I am alright! I am being taken of really well. The ward is watching out for me! I can say also tell you I am NOT being transferred and either is Elder R-----, which is nice. I am alright, I promise. Just pray for me!
So the accident ... I was biking from my apartment to the church to prepare for a lesson and I was trying to get back to the church really fast. I was going to make a turn. As I made the turn it was at an incline and it was not a big incline, but it was noticeable. As I made the turn I hit wet leaves and I loss control of my bike. When I was trying to save my face from hitting, my first response was to try and turn my body and I did that pretty fast. I ripped up my shirt and a pair of my suit blue slacks. I was on my way to try and recover myself from the accident when my backpack hit the back of my head and caused my face to hit the pavement. I did forget my helmet :( I took it off when we got to the apartment to get things for the lesson. The weird thing is that I normally leave my helmet on when I get things from the apartment and we need to leave fast after we get there. I also had an impression when I was getting ready that morning at about 5:30. I was deciding which shirt I should wear and I had the thought "Ya know, I think that I need to wear a shirt I don't mind getting dirty." I have been doing a lot thinking about the impressions I get and have realized that each one is for a reason. I will send you my memory stick so that I can send you the pictures of my face. I just have a swollen lip and swollen nose. I hit my tooth, it hurts a little bit and luckily did not get chipped. I will send you a picture of my slacks, but the ward took my shirt and so I won't be able to send you a picture of my blackened shirt that I tore.
So family, I do need to probably get my bike tuned up and I am definitely in need of some ice packs. And I am going to get some pain medicine and a way to get rid of the swelling as well.
Love,
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: YOUCH, ELDER DELIS!
Nice story Elder Delis! Sorry you had to get your face glued up. Some day I will tell you stories of bikes in the city. Hahaaa you will laugh. Missionaries get "doored." So great, ha, ish. Stories to come. :) Well, at least we can take comfort in Alma 40:23 on your behalf--your face won't be messed up forever. Haha, I'm just teasing, of course. :)
Well this week ROCKED! Just rocked. I am so excited because I am just seeing some big answers to things that I've been praying for a long time. God hears my prayers, and He answers them. I know He listens to me. Why, I don't know sometimes, ha. Be He does.
We are teaching SO MANY good good people right now and they are progressing so well. (she lists 10 names--I am sorry I don't feel comfortable including them due to mission rules.) These are my very best friends these days, and I just love them. I am so grateful that I get to know them, that the Lord has let ME be one of the messengers to bring them truth. I can't believe it some days. I can't believe that I get to be the one to bare my testimony to them. They are incredible. I always write about them to my mission president, and I will copy what I wrote today about them so you can hear, too... (again, sorry I am going to forgo attaching Kate's thoughts of her investigators. It really is for thier safety. There are too many stories circulating about how anti-members use missionary sites to harm investigators.)
I love being a missionary. I love the gospel. I love where I am in my life right now. I am so lucky. I can't handle it some days, ha. I can't believe the miracles that happen daily--around and in me. It is overwhelming the things the Lord gives me, just places in my life. Thanks for loving me enough to let me be here today and for giving me the support I need to keep going. I feel so blessed. :)
Love you lots! :)
Hna Delis
Mormon 9:15
Subject: I am fine I promise! It's not stitches just gluded!
Hello family!
I am alright! I am being taken of really well. The ward is watching out for me! I can say also tell you I am NOT being transferred and either is Elder R-----, which is nice. I am alright, I promise. Just pray for me!
So the accident ... I was biking from my apartment to the church to prepare for a lesson and I was trying to get back to the church really fast. I was going to make a turn. As I made the turn it was at an incline and it was not a big incline, but it was noticeable. As I made the turn I hit wet leaves and I loss control of my bike. When I was trying to save my face from hitting, my first response was to try and turn my body and I did that pretty fast. I ripped up my shirt and a pair of my suit blue slacks. I was on my way to try and recover myself from the accident when my backpack hit the back of my head and caused my face to hit the pavement. I did forget my helmet :( I took it off when we got to the apartment to get things for the lesson. The weird thing is that I normally leave my helmet on when I get things from the apartment and we need to leave fast after we get there. I also had an impression when I was getting ready that morning at about 5:30. I was deciding which shirt I should wear and I had the thought "Ya know, I think that I need to wear a shirt I don't mind getting dirty." I have been doing a lot thinking about the impressions I get and have realized that each one is for a reason. I will send you my memory stick so that I can send you the pictures of my face. I just have a swollen lip and swollen nose. I hit my tooth, it hurts a little bit and luckily did not get chipped. I will send you a picture of my slacks, but the ward took my shirt and so I won't be able to send you a picture of my blackened shirt that I tore.
So family, I do need to probably get my bike tuned up and I am definitely in need of some ice packs. And I am going to get some pain medicine and a way to get rid of the swelling as well.
Love,
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: YOUCH, ELDER DELIS!
Nice story Elder Delis! Sorry you had to get your face glued up. Some day I will tell you stories of bikes in the city. Hahaaa you will laugh. Missionaries get "doored." So great, ha, ish. Stories to come. :) Well, at least we can take comfort in Alma 40:23 on your behalf--your face won't be messed up forever. Haha, I'm just teasing, of course. :)
Well this week ROCKED! Just rocked. I am so excited because I am just seeing some big answers to things that I've been praying for a long time. God hears my prayers, and He answers them. I know He listens to me. Why, I don't know sometimes, ha. Be He does.
We are teaching SO MANY good good people right now and they are progressing so well. (she lists 10 names--I am sorry I don't feel comfortable including them due to mission rules.) These are my very best friends these days, and I just love them. I am so grateful that I get to know them, that the Lord has let ME be one of the messengers to bring them truth. I can't believe it some days. I can't believe that I get to be the one to bare my testimony to them. They are incredible. I always write about them to my mission president, and I will copy what I wrote today about them so you can hear, too... (again, sorry I am going to forgo attaching Kate's thoughts of her investigators. It really is for thier safety. There are too many stories circulating about how anti-members use missionary sites to harm investigators.)
I love being a missionary. I love the gospel. I love where I am in my life right now. I am so lucky. I can't handle it some days, ha. I can't believe the miracles that happen daily--around and in me. It is overwhelming the things the Lord gives me, just places in my life. Thanks for loving me enough to let me be here today and for giving me the support I need to keep going. I feel so blessed. :)
Love you lots! :)
Hna Delis
Mormon 9:15
Week of October NINE: Life is Good Because my Missionaries are FINE!
Elder D!
Subject: A good week!
Hey family,
Sorry for the late email. I have been super busy today! So this week we had a member of the 70! His name is Elder K--------. It was a powerful meeting he spent the whole talk on prayer! I am not even kidding when I tell you I took 6 pages of notes! The amazing thing is that every time I thought I was done writing I had a thought that I felt that I had to put down. The basis of the whole meeting was that we pray with our investigators! It teaches us to do that in the Preach My Gospel manual, but not as clearly as Elder K-------- stressed it. He talked about it for five hours, it was truly incredible. I had an enjoyable time at the Zone Conference. The spirit was strong and you could feel it. Also I saw President and Sister Y---- twice. It was interesting. He talked to me for a moment or two alone. He told me today mom you are doing great. I am grateful for you and I wish I could express how grateful I am! I love you and wish I could send you a hug ( ) (a virtual hug)! So thank you!
I have also an experience that was cool. My companion and I went to Walmart to get some NyQuil and DayQuil so I could make it through the week on Friday (yes I have a cold :( ) and we saw R---- L---- who is less active. We are trying to get him to come back to church. As we were there he asked us to come to his house. So we did. We gave his son a blessing and his son and wife want to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!! After all that, we are seeing some progress!!!
Well family, I am sorry for the short and late email. I want you to know I love you and that I really LOVE YOU!!! Oh don't forget, Find, Teach, Baptize, Retain...don't forget that you can help the members too. The work is absolutely nothing without YOU!
Love you so much!
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: "Tan esencial como lo que usted haga es la clase de persona que sea"
This week was GREAT. Cool things to know about:
J--- G-------: Dad, I wish you could meet this guy. For some reason, he just reminds me of the people I feel like you taught on your mission. I don't know why over others, ha, may because he's Puerto Rican, I don't know. But he is great. We met him outside and talked to him for a little bit, invited him to church, and then this week he came!! YEAH!! He is great. Sometimes there are people you meet and you just know they are ready to accept the gospel. He is one of them. I hope I can get a picture with him soom so you can see him. He's got a hard family situation, well, not awful--his wife just calls us messengers of the devil every time we come over, haha. I don't know why she's so mad. But she's just always mad where we're there. Maybe it's just while we're there. But everytime Jose opens his mouth, the Spirit just fills the room. It's crazy. The only way to explain it, is that he is ready for the gospel.
L----- Y M----: this pareja is so so funny. I can't stand it sometimes, they just kill me. M---- told us the funniest story ever. Ahh, I'm not going to have time, ha. I am so sorry. I promise I will tell you one day. They are just funny, and they are progressing SO WELL. I love them very much.
HNO J---: Our mission leader thought I might be leaving this transfer, and he wanted to make sure that he said goodbye just in case. He said some of the nicest things I have ever heard. All in Spanish. Sometimes I laugh because I can understand Spanish. How weird. But he said that he has learned a lot from me. And he listed very specific things--HOW BACKWARDS. Truly, so very backwards. One day I will have to explain the impact Hna J--- has had on my life. He is just the missionary I hope to be one day. He is so awesome.
Anywho, the Spanish phrase at the top of my heading, I am probably not going to get to explain now because I am short on time. But it is true: Who we are is so important. I am loving learning how to live and apply things I teach and learning how to teach what I am trying to live. It is so so great.
Okay, I must go. I love you very much!!!
Hna Delis
Subject: A good week!
Hey family,
Sorry for the late email. I have been super busy today! So this week we had a member of the 70! His name is Elder K--------. It was a powerful meeting he spent the whole talk on prayer! I am not even kidding when I tell you I took 6 pages of notes! The amazing thing is that every time I thought I was done writing I had a thought that I felt that I had to put down. The basis of the whole meeting was that we pray with our investigators! It teaches us to do that in the Preach My Gospel manual, but not as clearly as Elder K-------- stressed it. He talked about it for five hours, it was truly incredible. I had an enjoyable time at the Zone Conference. The spirit was strong and you could feel it. Also I saw President and Sister Y---- twice. It was interesting. He talked to me for a moment or two alone. He told me today mom you are doing great. I am grateful for you and I wish I could express how grateful I am! I love you and wish I could send you a hug ( ) (a virtual hug)! So thank you!
I have also an experience that was cool. My companion and I went to Walmart to get some NyQuil and DayQuil so I could make it through the week on Friday (yes I have a cold :( ) and we saw R---- L---- who is less active. We are trying to get him to come back to church. As we were there he asked us to come to his house. So we did. We gave his son a blessing and his son and wife want to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!! After all that, we are seeing some progress!!!
Well family, I am sorry for the short and late email. I want you to know I love you and that I really LOVE YOU!!! Oh don't forget, Find, Teach, Baptize, Retain...don't forget that you can help the members too. The work is absolutely nothing without YOU!
Love you so much!
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: "Tan esencial como lo que usted haga es la clase de persona que sea"
This week was GREAT. Cool things to know about:
J--- G-------: Dad, I wish you could meet this guy. For some reason, he just reminds me of the people I feel like you taught on your mission. I don't know why over others, ha, may because he's Puerto Rican, I don't know. But he is great. We met him outside and talked to him for a little bit, invited him to church, and then this week he came!! YEAH!! He is great. Sometimes there are people you meet and you just know they are ready to accept the gospel. He is one of them. I hope I can get a picture with him soom so you can see him. He's got a hard family situation, well, not awful--his wife just calls us messengers of the devil every time we come over, haha. I don't know why she's so mad. But she's just always mad where we're there. Maybe it's just while we're there. But everytime Jose opens his mouth, the Spirit just fills the room. It's crazy. The only way to explain it, is that he is ready for the gospel.
L----- Y M----: this pareja is so so funny. I can't stand it sometimes, they just kill me. M---- told us the funniest story ever. Ahh, I'm not going to have time, ha. I am so sorry. I promise I will tell you one day. They are just funny, and they are progressing SO WELL. I love them very much.
HNO J---: Our mission leader thought I might be leaving this transfer, and he wanted to make sure that he said goodbye just in case. He said some of the nicest things I have ever heard. All in Spanish. Sometimes I laugh because I can understand Spanish. How weird. But he said that he has learned a lot from me. And he listed very specific things--HOW BACKWARDS. Truly, so very backwards. One day I will have to explain the impact Hna J--- has had on my life. He is just the missionary I hope to be one day. He is so awesome.
Anywho, the Spanish phrase at the top of my heading, I am probably not going to get to explain now because I am short on time. But it is true: Who we are is so important. I am loving learning how to live and apply things I teach and learning how to teach what I am trying to live. It is so so great.
Okay, I must go. I love you very much!!!
Hna Delis
Friday, October 7, 2011
Week of October TWO: This week has emails and PHOTOS TOO!
Elder D!
Subject: Conference, what a joy to experience!
HOWDY!
I am hoping that you are well. I was reading your notes and YES I have grown quite a bit and that is not a joke!
I loved conference! I know I said that last time, but I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeffery R. Holland, I think had the best talk in Priesthood session. I loved that talk. It hit home and I thought that the way he presented the talk made it mean more! I really do love Elder Holland's talks. My favorite of all time is "Safety for the Soul." Every time I hear it and read that talk I feel the spirit. There is no denying the power in his voice when he is giving at talk! SOOOOOO GOOOD! Really I have to say that I am trying to do all that I can to have the spirit present in studies and in meetings.
(The last few weeks to make the most of his email time Christian has begun copying and pasting parts of his weekly email to his mission president. I've been worried about including them, that is why his letters have been shorter. However, today I think I will insert a couple thoughts because they talk about what he actually doing each day. Enjoy!)
"This week was a slow week. We are doing all we can to work with the members and gain their trust. We were unable to meet with the referrals we were given because of their schedules, we hope to meet with them this coming week. For less-actives members, it is really hard to get appointments with them because they are so busy. We are finding it is easier to just pop in. I am not kidding, we have more success running into them."
LOVE YA!
Elder Christian James Delis
---------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: CONFERENCE IS SO AWESOME!
Hi, Fam! Happy today to all of you. :)
Okay conference...guess who came and listened--M---- P---!!! YEAH!!! I am so happy about that. That day was so so awesome. The branch has a little fiesta in between sessions on Sunday and it was SO GOOD. Love was everywhere, and M---- had a blast, and I just felt like I was amidst all my best friends. AH, it ROCKED.
Speaking of conference, thanks for telling me what you loved about it!! It was so so good. I think it so fun to hear what everyone loved--EVERY time it is something different. Ha, I got such different things out of it. I went into conference with a few specific questions, themes I wanted to understand better. Right when it started, I kid you not, the first sentence was exactly the thing I needed to hear. And that first session just poured out more answers and ways to help me find answers. It was awesome. It was kind of funny, ha. I loved Elder Scott's talk about it. I want to develop my love for the scriptures, too. I decided to start memorizing scriptures in Spanish! I am really excited about it. This week I am memorizing 1 Nefi 1:3. I love that scripture. Also, I LOVED Elder Hales' talk. I love to the concept of learning to wait on the Lord. I wish I was good at it. But I'm grateful to learn how to become better. Sometimes when I look back on little experiences I have, it is just so tender to see how the Lord let me struggle. A lot of the time when I struggle, at the time I was so so mad about it, and I just hurt bad. But I look back and I see tht I became something good. I became just a little better. It just turns out that all the time the Lord just wanted to make a miracle out of ME. He wanted to help ME. I can hardly believe that sometimes--He cares that much about me. I know that He does care about us. And if we just take a minute to look at who we have become, we see that the Lord was so involved in all of it. He just loves us so much, and it blows me away. I think it blows me away because I feel like I don't deserve it. I just can't believe that I matter so much to Him. But it's true. Elder Uctdorf talked about that concept so beautifully.
Okay, I have to go big time, ha. I love you lots and I am so grateful for your examples, family. They mean everything to me--not a joke. :) I will talk to you soon!!
Oh--below are two photos from a mission council I attended this week.
Hna Delis
Subject: Conference, what a joy to experience!
HOWDY!
I am hoping that you are well. I was reading your notes and YES I have grown quite a bit and that is not a joke!
I loved conference! I know I said that last time, but I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeffery R. Holland, I think had the best talk in Priesthood session. I loved that talk. It hit home and I thought that the way he presented the talk made it mean more! I really do love Elder Holland's talks. My favorite of all time is "Safety for the Soul." Every time I hear it and read that talk I feel the spirit. There is no denying the power in his voice when he is giving at talk! SOOOOOO GOOOD! Really I have to say that I am trying to do all that I can to have the spirit present in studies and in meetings.
(The last few weeks to make the most of his email time Christian has begun copying and pasting parts of his weekly email to his mission president. I've been worried about including them, that is why his letters have been shorter. However, today I think I will insert a couple thoughts because they talk about what he actually doing each day. Enjoy!)
"This week was a slow week. We are doing all we can to work with the members and gain their trust. We were unable to meet with the referrals we were given because of their schedules, we hope to meet with them this coming week. For less-actives members, it is really hard to get appointments with them because they are so busy. We are finding it is easier to just pop in. I am not kidding, we have more success running into them."
LOVE YA!
Elder Christian James Delis
---------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: CONFERENCE IS SO AWESOME!
Hi, Fam! Happy today to all of you. :)
Okay conference...guess who came and listened--M---- P---!!! YEAH!!! I am so happy about that. That day was so so awesome. The branch has a little fiesta in between sessions on Sunday and it was SO GOOD. Love was everywhere, and M---- had a blast, and I just felt like I was amidst all my best friends. AH, it ROCKED.
Speaking of conference, thanks for telling me what you loved about it!! It was so so good. I think it so fun to hear what everyone loved--EVERY time it is something different. Ha, I got such different things out of it. I went into conference with a few specific questions, themes I wanted to understand better. Right when it started, I kid you not, the first sentence was exactly the thing I needed to hear. And that first session just poured out more answers and ways to help me find answers. It was awesome. It was kind of funny, ha. I loved Elder Scott's talk about it. I want to develop my love for the scriptures, too. I decided to start memorizing scriptures in Spanish! I am really excited about it. This week I am memorizing 1 Nefi 1:3. I love that scripture. Also, I LOVED Elder Hales' talk. I love to the concept of learning to wait on the Lord. I wish I was good at it. But I'm grateful to learn how to become better. Sometimes when I look back on little experiences I have, it is just so tender to see how the Lord let me struggle. A lot of the time when I struggle, at the time I was so so mad about it, and I just hurt bad. But I look back and I see tht I became something good. I became just a little better. It just turns out that all the time the Lord just wanted to make a miracle out of ME. He wanted to help ME. I can hardly believe that sometimes--He cares that much about me. I know that He does care about us. And if we just take a minute to look at who we have become, we see that the Lord was so involved in all of it. He just loves us so much, and it blows me away. I think it blows me away because I feel like I don't deserve it. I just can't believe that I matter so much to Him. But it's true. Elder Uctdorf talked about that concept so beautifully.
Okay, I have to go big time, ha. I love you lots and I am so grateful for your examples, family. They mean everything to me--not a joke. :) I will talk to you soon!!
Oh--below are two photos from a mission council I attended this week.
Hna Delis
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Week of September Twenty-FIVE: Missionaries Always SURVIVE!
Elder D!
Subject: How is time going by so fast?! ... Ummmm, since time never stops genius!
Hello!
So to answer a few of your questions. My companion and I are super busy trying to get less-actives to go to church. We are trying to be more creative. For our members lessons we are using handcuffs and 2 Nephi 2:27, while discussing how you can be like the devil or you can choose eternal life through the atonement. We also use a broomstick and the scripture Jacob 4:14, I will let you read it, but it is about missing the mark. One silly idea is Stop, Drop & Pray! With Enos as the example, we need to stop and ask for forgiveness and to be thankful as well. At times we sin and ask for forgiveness. Since we fires are as damaging as sin. Sin damages us spiritually and makes things hard for us. So we need to Stop, Drop & Pray so that we can have a more spiritual experience. These are some of the things we are working on to help inactive members since we are not teaching any investigators right now. We are trying to find ways to show the members we love them and how we are good teachers.
Also, guess what? I am also growing and I have grown about 2 inches in the last 3 to 4 months. And I am going to be honest not many of my slacks fit, they are a little too short!
Well the rain is starting to begin and it was pouring yesterday! Not even kidding! It reminded me of when I was biking in the rain for the scouting trip! So I was on memory lane all day it was just great! Hahahahahahah, Just kidding! ... But seriously! Oh and I was FINDING, TEACHING, BAPTIZING AND RETAINING all week long for you DAD! We had interviews with my mission president, President Y-----. They were super cool. We had stations and they were super engaging. I enjoyed it. I learned a lot!
Well, I love ya, miss ya and yes I shall FIND, TEACH, BAPTIZE, RETAIN! Until next time!
I am so grateful for all you do and I am grateful for the LOVE that I feel. I wish I had more time to write you, but this is all I can write for now! Until then....
Love!
Elder Christian James Delis
---------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: A little bit of the nonsense of mish life you don't really hear about...
Hi, fam! Como estan? Espero que todo este bien. :)
Pues...I am sad because I know I don't have enough time to read all your letters today, so I am going to be writing before reading them all. Man! I am sorry. But, I will read them today and hopefully have time to respond later in the next letter or something. A ver.:)
Okay. Well, I thought today you would maybe want to hear some of the usual, funny, weird things about mission life. And some things I am learning. Cosas asi. You don't normally get to hear the weird stuff that goes on, the usual kind of things. Entonces, aqui son algunas:
1. Weird companionship unity: The other day Hna W--- and I were planning for the coming day, and I go, "Hey hermana, do you remember those apartments we knocked the other day?" She answers, "Uhh, oh, those ones on that one street?" I answer: "Yeah!" Now, we knock multiple doors every day, multiple apartment complexes. Ha, I kid you not, we knew exactly what the other one was talking about. We paused after the conversation for like a minute, and just laughed hard. Our brains are molding together...so weird!
2. Phone calls: I used to absolutely dread phone calls. They are so hard in Spanish! They are still hard. BUT! I love them because of the messages we get. Yesterday we got two great ones. First, EVERYTIME we call Hno V------, He picks up, and answers in english with the most dull voice possible (he's this little old Mexican man who works like mad): "hello." Y digo yo, "Hola, Hermano! Somos las misioneras!" And immediately he says (in Spanish) "OH SISTERS! HI! HOW ARE YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WANT TO COME EAT WITH ME?" Haha, kills me every time. I love it! Y Hna M----- yesterday left us a way cute message: She goes (in Spanish) : "Hola Hermana Day-lee, Soy M----. I am calling to tell you that it will not be possible to have an appointment with you today! I am so sorry that I came back from work so late! PLEASE call me back so that we can meet maybe on Saturday? Yes, that is good because I have to got the dentist tomorrow. Okay, call me back! May God bless yous!" I love this woman SO MUCH. AH!
3. Omelets galore: I eat an omelet at least five times a week. ha. It's so easy.
4. My brain functions in "Spanglish": I can't think in just English any more. I am constantly translating things people say either to Spanish or English, and now it comes out while I am speaking in English to people. I say "Pues..." or "y" when I want to say "and" and I start sentences in Spanish when I want to be speaking English, and I ALWAYS want to bare my testimony in Spanish. It is so odd, ha. But it just comes out like that. It is embarrassing sometimes, but sometimes I love that it happens. I love Spanish. I really am starting to feel like that I am learning it, that I am understanding it better. AH. I love it.
5. Goats, corn, meat, meat, meat, and more more more: I eat weird food. One time we went to a members house to have a barbaque, and there was a cooked goat on the table. Like, you could tell it was a goat--I had some of the meat near the skull. Also, semi-funny: there were goats like running around in the field behind us. The one I ate was named Franky! Haha, okay, that wasn't true. His name wasn't Franky. :) But there were for real goats running around and our member just killed and cooked a goat for us to eat. Well, his daughter in-law. YUM! :) Also, ELOTES (n): Hispanic style corn. Please watch Nacho Libre and look at the corn on the stick that they eat. I eat it too, now! It's called "elotes" ha. It kills me: Corn on the cob, mayonnaise, parmasian cheese, chili pepper, all on a stick. Hahaaa...sounds gross. Kind of is. AND in all Hispanic households you are expected to eat GALORE. Lots of meat, lots of food. Again, kills me, ha. It is fun, though. The members that feed us love us. :)
6. Mistakes rock: I make mistakes in Spanish literally daily. The other day I told a less active in a message on the phone that "I will be the food provided at the women's conference." False information.
7. The scriptures are not just words: I love that scriptures are just coming alive to me. I love it. It is not just a story, just something someone decided to write down. You can know that the scriptures are sacred and still believe that they are just stories. But how much you miss if that is all you see! They are words patterned to fit your life. They will change you if you just let them. I'm studying the chapters in 3 Nefi when Cristo vino a las americas, y me encantan. In PMG it talks about how understanding the doctrine of Christ will do more to help members share the gospel than anything else. If you understand the gospel, YOU WILL LIVE IT. It is the pattern by which you will undoubtedly succeed. You are patterned for success and the scriptures will guide you. I know it.
8. We become: The mission is a miracle not because the gospel molds to fit our lives better. If you REALLY serve a mission, YOU mold to become better fit to serve the Lord. YOU let yourself change. You begin to see yourself as God sees you. The mission is an awesome environment to do so. Perfect environment probably. Exactly where I need to be, that is for sure. But I submit that this process is not dependent on the mission, rather the missionary, or the member for that matter. The gospel allows us to BECOME. Where ever we are, whatever we are doing, WE CAN BECOME. That is the miracle of the gospel. It was made for us, because it was created by one who loves us. It hurts to "become" sometimes. But throughout the hurt, I see miracles in me. Can you believe that? Someone loves me enough that He lets ME see miracles in ME. I am not alone. This gospel changes us if we just LET it. Let go of fear, of pride, of guilt. Just let it GO. And we become. It is a miracle. I am so grateful to be apart of the miracles that happen here.
Well, I love this gospel, and I love to be here in Woodstock. I pray for you daily, and I hope all is great. :) Sorry I didn't read your letters yet today, but I will! And I am excited to do so. Please pray for the branch here and for my companion! :) I love you all very much!
Hna Delis
Subject: How is time going by so fast?! ... Ummmm, since time never stops genius!
Hello!
So to answer a few of your questions. My companion and I are super busy trying to get less-actives to go to church. We are trying to be more creative. For our members lessons we are using handcuffs and 2 Nephi 2:27, while discussing how you can be like the devil or you can choose eternal life through the atonement. We also use a broomstick and the scripture Jacob 4:14, I will let you read it, but it is about missing the mark. One silly idea is Stop, Drop & Pray! With Enos as the example, we need to stop and ask for forgiveness and to be thankful as well. At times we sin and ask for forgiveness. Since we fires are as damaging as sin. Sin damages us spiritually and makes things hard for us. So we need to Stop, Drop & Pray so that we can have a more spiritual experience. These are some of the things we are working on to help inactive members since we are not teaching any investigators right now. We are trying to find ways to show the members we love them and how we are good teachers.
Also, guess what? I am also growing and I have grown about 2 inches in the last 3 to 4 months. And I am going to be honest not many of my slacks fit, they are a little too short!
Well the rain is starting to begin and it was pouring yesterday! Not even kidding! It reminded me of when I was biking in the rain for the scouting trip! So I was on memory lane all day it was just great! Hahahahahahah, Just kidding! ... But seriously! Oh and I was FINDING, TEACHING, BAPTIZING AND RETAINING all week long for you DAD! We had interviews with my mission president, President Y-----. They were super cool. We had stations and they were super engaging. I enjoyed it. I learned a lot!
Well, I love ya, miss ya and yes I shall FIND, TEACH, BAPTIZE, RETAIN! Until next time!
I am so grateful for all you do and I am grateful for the LOVE that I feel. I wish I had more time to write you, but this is all I can write for now! Until then....
Love!
Elder Christian James Delis
---------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: A little bit of the nonsense of mish life you don't really hear about...
Hi, fam! Como estan? Espero que todo este bien. :)
Pues...I am sad because I know I don't have enough time to read all your letters today, so I am going to be writing before reading them all. Man! I am sorry. But, I will read them today and hopefully have time to respond later in the next letter or something. A ver.:)
Okay. Well, I thought today you would maybe want to hear some of the usual, funny, weird things about mission life. And some things I am learning. Cosas asi. You don't normally get to hear the weird stuff that goes on, the usual kind of things. Entonces, aqui son algunas:
1. Weird companionship unity: The other day Hna W--- and I were planning for the coming day, and I go, "Hey hermana, do you remember those apartments we knocked the other day?" She answers, "Uhh, oh, those ones on that one street?" I answer: "Yeah!" Now, we knock multiple doors every day, multiple apartment complexes. Ha, I kid you not, we knew exactly what the other one was talking about. We paused after the conversation for like a minute, and just laughed hard. Our brains are molding together...so weird!
2. Phone calls: I used to absolutely dread phone calls. They are so hard in Spanish! They are still hard. BUT! I love them because of the messages we get. Yesterday we got two great ones. First, EVERYTIME we call Hno V------, He picks up, and answers in english with the most dull voice possible (he's this little old Mexican man who works like mad): "hello." Y digo yo, "Hola, Hermano! Somos las misioneras!" And immediately he says (in Spanish) "OH SISTERS! HI! HOW ARE YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WANT TO COME EAT WITH ME?" Haha, kills me every time. I love it! Y Hna M----- yesterday left us a way cute message: She goes (in Spanish) : "Hola Hermana Day-lee, Soy M----. I am calling to tell you that it will not be possible to have an appointment with you today! I am so sorry that I came back from work so late! PLEASE call me back so that we can meet maybe on Saturday? Yes, that is good because I have to got the dentist tomorrow. Okay, call me back! May God bless yous!" I love this woman SO MUCH. AH!
3. Omelets galore: I eat an omelet at least five times a week. ha. It's so easy.
4. My brain functions in "Spanglish": I can't think in just English any more. I am constantly translating things people say either to Spanish or English, and now it comes out while I am speaking in English to people. I say "Pues..." or "y" when I want to say "and" and I start sentences in Spanish when I want to be speaking English, and I ALWAYS want to bare my testimony in Spanish. It is so odd, ha. But it just comes out like that. It is embarrassing sometimes, but sometimes I love that it happens. I love Spanish. I really am starting to feel like that I am learning it, that I am understanding it better. AH. I love it.
5. Goats, corn, meat, meat, meat, and more more more: I eat weird food. One time we went to a members house to have a barbaque, and there was a cooked goat on the table. Like, you could tell it was a goat--I had some of the meat near the skull. Also, semi-funny: there were goats like running around in the field behind us. The one I ate was named Franky! Haha, okay, that wasn't true. His name wasn't Franky. :) But there were for real goats running around and our member just killed and cooked a goat for us to eat. Well, his daughter in-law. YUM! :) Also, ELOTES (n): Hispanic style corn. Please watch Nacho Libre and look at the corn on the stick that they eat. I eat it too, now! It's called "elotes" ha. It kills me: Corn on the cob, mayonnaise, parmasian cheese, chili pepper, all on a stick. Hahaaa...sounds gross. Kind of is. AND in all Hispanic households you are expected to eat GALORE. Lots of meat, lots of food. Again, kills me, ha. It is fun, though. The members that feed us love us. :)
6. Mistakes rock: I make mistakes in Spanish literally daily. The other day I told a less active in a message on the phone that "I will be the food provided at the women's conference." False information.
7. The scriptures are not just words: I love that scriptures are just coming alive to me. I love it. It is not just a story, just something someone decided to write down. You can know that the scriptures are sacred and still believe that they are just stories. But how much you miss if that is all you see! They are words patterned to fit your life. They will change you if you just let them. I'm studying the chapters in 3 Nefi when Cristo vino a las americas, y me encantan. In PMG it talks about how understanding the doctrine of Christ will do more to help members share the gospel than anything else. If you understand the gospel, YOU WILL LIVE IT. It is the pattern by which you will undoubtedly succeed. You are patterned for success and the scriptures will guide you. I know it.
8. We become: The mission is a miracle not because the gospel molds to fit our lives better. If you REALLY serve a mission, YOU mold to become better fit to serve the Lord. YOU let yourself change. You begin to see yourself as God sees you. The mission is an awesome environment to do so. Perfect environment probably. Exactly where I need to be, that is for sure. But I submit that this process is not dependent on the mission, rather the missionary, or the member for that matter. The gospel allows us to BECOME. Where ever we are, whatever we are doing, WE CAN BECOME. That is the miracle of the gospel. It was made for us, because it was created by one who loves us. It hurts to "become" sometimes. But throughout the hurt, I see miracles in me. Can you believe that? Someone loves me enough that He lets ME see miracles in ME. I am not alone. This gospel changes us if we just LET it. Let go of fear, of pride, of guilt. Just let it GO. And we become. It is a miracle. I am so grateful to be apart of the miracles that happen here.
Well, I love this gospel, and I love to be here in Woodstock. I pray for you daily, and I hope all is great. :) Sorry I didn't read your letters yet today, but I will! And I am excited to do so. Please pray for the branch here and for my companion! :) I love you all very much!
Hna Delis
Monday, October 3, 2011
Week of September One-EIGHT: A Short & Sweet email from Christian & a Long one from KATE!
Elder D!
Subject: Here's to a full week in Cottage Grove!
Hello all!
Well this is my first full week in Cottage Grove. It is cool to be here! I saw a family in my first area the R-------'s! It was super exciting to see them! So I am glad you got to see what a transfer day is like mom, it is intense! There is a lot that goes on on transfer day or the beginning of transfers that I can see how you thought is was a little stressful! Dad your thoughts about how we make an impact on others was just what I needed to hear. Thank you. I have spent a lot of this week studying the wars in the Book of Alma and how we need to have spiritual barriers and how it the needs to bebuilt stronger and stronger. To me, that is really what I am working on and being sincere is an important part.
So this week we have been seeing members and tracting and OYMing so my week was not super eventful or I guess I don't feel that it is. Oh my companion and I are trying to be as creative as possible when it comes to lessons with the members and with non-members so we can spark interest in missionary work or in the lessons. So if you have any ideas....PLEASE send them our way!
I love ya and miss you!
Love!
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: The mission rocks, per usual
Hey, fam! Happy today!
Well, this week was so hard. Ha. We had this experience that seemed like almost surreal. We had an appointment with M----- this Saturday at 11 and an hour before we went she called us. And we started to talk and she told us "No quiero bautizarme" (I don't want to be baptized). Life got so silent. She talked about how she felt so sad and depressed this whole week--she felt like she was leaving behind her family, her mom, her life, and she just couldn't do it. We asked if we could still come by and she said sure. Oh fam. You hear about moments like that all the time--you just don't believe they happen until you're sitting there on the phone and it happens to you. So I just prayed that we would have the words she needed. Funny enough, the lesson planned we felt funny about, as so we decided in comp study that we'd change it to talk about the gospel of Christ. Good plan change, ha. So anyway, we came by with one of our members and the lesson that followed was incredible. Hno J--- testified of his conversion and how he came to know of the truth of the gospel. We were surprised by some fo the things he said--he made it so clear that there were falsehoods in all other iglesias. It was incredible the things he said--I don't know if I would ever choose to say them like he did, haha, but they were said in the right spirit. After the lesson he apologized to us, actually--he was like "I am sorry I talked to much but I had to say the things that I did--I knew that I was being prompted to say all of them." It was true--it was very Spirit directed, and I was so grateful that we were in an environment where he could say what he needed to, and that the Spirit could testify to him what he felt he needed to say to her and what she needed to hear. Anywho, after Hno J--- talked about his things, the Spirit just POURED into the room. I felt eery sadness that she has felt this week. Not in that moment necessarily, but I have been in her shoes. I know what it feels like to have to make a decision. I knew what it felt like to be confused, really sad, kind of lonely, her pains I just know. I totally understand M---- P---, and I lover her. I just feel exactly where she is right now, and it just breaks my heart. All of our investigators are kind of at a point that I just totally understand. I feel it and their pains just burn in my heart. But here's where life gets really great: I know what it feels like after the pain. Life get exponentially better. I know that there are blessings just waiting for these people. I know that Christ knows them so personally. I know that He lives and He loves them. He is watching over them. He is listening to every prayer they say. In that lesson we testified of that simple reality. It was really simple, but it was so powerful.
The gospel kind of stretches us. It hurts on the inside a lot sometimes. But in those moments we become what Heavenly Father knows that we can become. We see who we really are. We are great. The only thing that holds us back from that understanding is us. M---- hurts a lot right now I think, and if I could take it away from her, I would in an instant. But she is too precious to not have this experience in her life. I don't want to pressure her into anything--nothing. I never what to do that ever. I want this to be all about HER. She is so special. Oh...I am running out of time again, I am sorry. Dang it. More to come next week. :) Pray for M-----, please!
I love you very much!
Hna Delis
Subject: Here's to a full week in Cottage Grove!
Hello all!
Well this is my first full week in Cottage Grove. It is cool to be here! I saw a family in my first area the R-------'s! It was super exciting to see them! So I am glad you got to see what a transfer day is like mom, it is intense! There is a lot that goes on on transfer day or the beginning of transfers that I can see how you thought is was a little stressful! Dad your thoughts about how we make an impact on others was just what I needed to hear. Thank you. I have spent a lot of this week studying the wars in the Book of Alma and how we need to have spiritual barriers and how it the needs to bebuilt stronger and stronger. To me, that is really what I am working on and being sincere is an important part.
So this week we have been seeing members and tracting and OYMing so my week was not super eventful or I guess I don't feel that it is. Oh my companion and I are trying to be as creative as possible when it comes to lessons with the members and with non-members so we can spark interest in missionary work or in the lessons. So if you have any ideas....PLEASE send them our way!
I love ya and miss you!
Love!
Elder Christian James Delis
--------------------------------
Hermana Kate Delis
Subject: The mission rocks, per usual
Hey, fam! Happy today!
Well, this week was so hard. Ha. We had this experience that seemed like almost surreal. We had an appointment with M----- this Saturday at 11 and an hour before we went she called us. And we started to talk and she told us "No quiero bautizarme" (I don't want to be baptized). Life got so silent. She talked about how she felt so sad and depressed this whole week--she felt like she was leaving behind her family, her mom, her life, and she just couldn't do it. We asked if we could still come by and she said sure. Oh fam. You hear about moments like that all the time--you just don't believe they happen until you're sitting there on the phone and it happens to you. So I just prayed that we would have the words she needed. Funny enough, the lesson planned we felt funny about, as so we decided in comp study that we'd change it to talk about the gospel of Christ. Good plan change, ha. So anyway, we came by with one of our members and the lesson that followed was incredible. Hno J--- testified of his conversion and how he came to know of the truth of the gospel. We were surprised by some fo the things he said--he made it so clear that there were falsehoods in all other iglesias. It was incredible the things he said--I don't know if I would ever choose to say them like he did, haha, but they were said in the right spirit. After the lesson he apologized to us, actually--he was like "I am sorry I talked to much but I had to say the things that I did--I knew that I was being prompted to say all of them." It was true--it was very Spirit directed, and I was so grateful that we were in an environment where he could say what he needed to, and that the Spirit could testify to him what he felt he needed to say to her and what she needed to hear. Anywho, after Hno J--- talked about his things, the Spirit just POURED into the room. I felt eery sadness that she has felt this week. Not in that moment necessarily, but I have been in her shoes. I know what it feels like to have to make a decision. I knew what it felt like to be confused, really sad, kind of lonely, her pains I just know. I totally understand M---- P---, and I lover her. I just feel exactly where she is right now, and it just breaks my heart. All of our investigators are kind of at a point that I just totally understand. I feel it and their pains just burn in my heart. But here's where life gets really great: I know what it feels like after the pain. Life get exponentially better. I know that there are blessings just waiting for these people. I know that Christ knows them so personally. I know that He lives and He loves them. He is watching over them. He is listening to every prayer they say. In that lesson we testified of that simple reality. It was really simple, but it was so powerful.
The gospel kind of stretches us. It hurts on the inside a lot sometimes. But in those moments we become what Heavenly Father knows that we can become. We see who we really are. We are great. The only thing that holds us back from that understanding is us. M---- hurts a lot right now I think, and if I could take it away from her, I would in an instant. But she is too precious to not have this experience in her life. I don't want to pressure her into anything--nothing. I never what to do that ever. I want this to be all about HER. She is so special. Oh...I am running out of time again, I am sorry. Dang it. More to come next week. :) Pray for M-----, please!
I love you very much!
Hna Delis
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