youre my lil rabbit from india!

This was a killer week filled with two exchanges, two conference, lotsa lessons, lots of goodness, and some stunningly delicious food. And also it's summer here now almost so I walk outside in short sleeves. I'm so happy.

MILAGRITOS:

• I went on exchanges with Hermana Cabrera (my cute lil bebe from a few transfers ago) and it was SO fun. It was kinda awesome cause we already knew each others teaching style and how to work together, but in the months that we haven't been comps, both of us have grown a LOT and become much better missionaries. We taught 3 lessons that day and in every one I felt the spirit so strong and in every one we asked them if they wanted to be baptized and in every one they said yes. Miracles happen folks. My favorite has got to be Walberto who likes to get distracted but we kept relating his super random thoughts back to what we were talking about and at one point he said "wait. Do you guys know if I'll ever be able to see me dad again?" And we told him YES and he practically did a happy dance and was like "this is so amazing you guys are changing my life THANK YOU" and it was adorable and so cool to be a part of that moment.

• This week at church we had 7 people who weren't members, 4 people who haven't been to church in forever, and a heck ton of members. And IT WAS RAINING. (anyone who lives in South America knows how much of a miracle that is) And we had a class all about how we need to "lift where you stand" and essentially the bishopric called out everyone for not serving and being good to each other and sitting watching TV instead. Therefore like a million members asked us what they could do to help us and we gave them all assignments tehe. I left that chapel a very happy woman. (Especially cause a member gave us raspberry cheesecake and lemon meringue pie to eat after so that was a whole other miracle and a testament that God loves me)

• We had two different conferences this week and MY WORD God is good. I was filled to the brim with new ideas, love for my Savior, and love for the people in my area and my fellow missionaries. Gah I love serving in this work.

• We had several lessons this week where I just could FEEL the spirit so tangibly and was reminded once again that this really is so true. This gospel changes lives. I've seen it with my own eyes, so no one can ever tell me otherwise. (That rhymed like three times). God is good.

JAJAJAJAJAJAJAs of the week:

• When I was in San José with Hermana Cabrera for the day, the members gave us dinner which was mashed potatoes and chicken. But one of the missionaries in that apartment had left taco seasoning from the US that her parents had shipped her. So as any normal, taco seasoning loving person would do, I ate taco seasoned mashed potatoes. My expectations were truly very low but lemme tell you it was SO GOOD. I highly highly recommend. I even got Hermana Cabrera (a professional chef in Paraguay) to try it and she really liked it. Next time yall have some instant potatoes lying around, yall know what to do.

• Our good friend Walberto from the milagritos section at the end of the lesson told us "I have a gift for you" and he turns on his TV and starts playing an Uruguayan tango and with his TV remote as a mic starts singing along. Simply belting every single word while his top row of teeth fell out every two seconds and he had to shove them back up with his tongue. I felt like I was in a movie and it was the best gift I could have asked for.

• Quote of the week "dang you guys travel a lot" "nah it's okay. I see a new cow every time!"

• I did in fact find out that instead of saying "you're my guinea pig" (like, when you're trying something out for the first time With someone) in Spanish you say "you're my little rabbit from India" No idea what happened to the little rabbits in India (or to the guinea pigs now that I think about it) but let's stop doing experiments on them, shall we?

SHPIRITUAL SHPEEL:

A recurring theme throughout the week for me was "what would Jesus do?"

Now, I know that probably half of you have a WWJD bracelet on right now, but this phrase really hit me this week.

My mission president has really stressed us being "representatives of Jesus Christ". In the street and knocking doors and introducing ourselves to new people, instead of "hi we're the missionaries", we try to say "we're representatives of Jesus Christ"

This week, I introduced myself to a lady on Facebook and she responded "representative of Jesus Christ is a bit much, don't you think?"

And if I'm being honest, I shrunk a lil bit. I think it IS a bit much. Jesus Christ was perfect. I, for sure, am not that. Jesus Christ loved everyone. And sometimes I struggle with that "everyone" part. Jesus Christ taught with power and wasn't afraid to help others. Sometimes, those things cannot be said about me.

But do you know what I learned in a conference this week? Jesus Christ cannot physically be here with the people in Canelones, Uruguay. And because of that, I am here. To spread His gospel, to love His brothers and sisters, to help others the way He does. I am not perfect. I sometimes get scared to talk to people. I sometimes don't think nice thoughts about the people who are mean to us. But God has asked ME to be here, in place of Jesus Christ. That's a big, hefty calling, but He has asked me. So here I am.
As I have thought more about this, this doesn't just apply to missionaries. We are ALL representatives of Jesus Christ. He cannot physically be there with the people in Kaysville, Utah, or in Silver Spring, Maryland, or in France or Arizona or Massachusetts or Bolivia or wherever you are. When you love someone the way He would love them, you are representing Jesus Christ. When you bake someone a cake because of our love for them, you are representing Jesus Christ. When one of you priesthood holders gives someone a blessing, you are representing Jesus Christ. When you teach your children the gospel, you are representing Jesus Christ.

If your calling is the relief society president or the stake president, great! Jesus ministered to "great multitudes". If you are a ministering sister or brother to one person, great! Jesus ministered to the one. If you don't have a calling, great! Jesus ministered to those on the way, the ones who may have been forgotten, without being asked to do it.

He said, "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Nephi 11:11)
We can't be THE light and THE life of the world, but we can be A light and A life in this world. We can't suffer all that He did, but we can use our trials to turn to our Father as He did. We can glorify our Father. We can do our best to do the will of the Father every day.

I'm not perfect. You're not perfect. But as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are His representatives. So go out there and think to yourself, "What would Jesus do?"

You are loved! By me, by God, and by more people than you'll ever know. Don't you forget that.

- hermana allen