“My spirit’s warm like a thick blanket”

heyO!!! this week has been the longest but most awesome week ever!!! also hit 3 MONTHS THIS WEEK! uh CRAZY! time flies too fast out here

 

small plates: literally had some of the most incredible spiritual experiences this week. 

-last pday we were trying to figure out where to go at 8 because we still had an hour or so, but it was super dark so it's just an awkward amount of time. we were going through our area book and found a name that was definitely not Hispanic, but for some reason I was getting a crazy strong prompting to go visit, so we did. little did we know, this lady was a less active who was baptized in the 70's and she just found out that her husband has cancer. she was blown away that we just decided to visit her randomly and kept telling us that she was so glad we came and I was able to share a little bit about how my mom has cancer and how it's not easy to watch someone you love go through that, but that God always always gives the needed comfort to carry on. I bore my testimony and we cried on her porch and the spirit was incredible. I really bonded that night with this woman and I absolutely know that God places these people in our path for a reason.

-had the most incredible lesson with our friend Jenny. she just moved her and speaks 0 English so she was already glad to have someone to talk to, but she is just incredibly prepared to learn the gospel. we taught the restoration and she loved it, and then when we gave her a book of mormon, she just held it and looked through it and then looked up with tears in her eyes and that was when it hit me that this is why I'm here. this is why I'm sacrificing 18 months because I can literally see the JOY this gospel brings and I cannot even express my gratitude for this opportunity to be here

-we had a finding day and me and one of the English sisters found this most amazing guy. we just started talking with him about his beliefs and all that and then he opened up a little more and told us that his buddy actually died last week from cancer and started crying right there on the porch. sooo of course I start crying too because I'm a sympathetic crier and because cancer sucks, but I shared Alma 40:11-12 and told him his friend is okay and he's not in pain anymore. i also got to connect with him over the whole cancer deal and we just cried and cried. literally so sad that he doesnt speak Spanish because I want to teach him SO BAD, but sadly he is in the elders area. he is incredible. 

 

large plates:

-we ran over a nail this week and popped our tire. whoops

-i got a real bad head cold and died the whole week but all is well now

-we had to go to the mission office in Seattle this week and we got to go to CAFE RIO. I cried a little over my delicious chicken tacos. also had half of our meal paid for by one of the employees which was a blessing and a half. we also gotta go to Red Robin after the temple and I had some delicious American food which was fantastic 

-had our groceries paid for by some random man aka one of the 3 nephites

-taught the whole restoration to the nicest family and they liked it all until they realized we were 'mormons' and then were like "oh you aren't Christians we're not interested anymore" lol folks we literally have the name of Christ right across our nametags

-we had a combined fiesta with all the Spanish branches in the area and had a BLAST! we had so much food and I started learning how to dance like a Latina sooooo that's a win. we also brought cookies and they accidentally fell on the ground of our car for the whole car ride buuuut we didnt want to waste them so we just threw them back on the plate and called it good. I only felt guilty after they were completely gone at the end of the night but oh well hahaha 

-theres a Japanese family in our branch that gave us dinner so I got to have a traditional Japanese meal for the first time in a few months which was SO GOOOOD. highlight of the week man

 

highlight of the week/month/transfer: WE GOTTA GO TO THE TEMPLE TODAY!!! and it was INCREDIBLE!!!! I have missed being able to go more frequently, so I definitely appreciated this trip so so much. to everyone back home, if you have the opportunity to go to the temple, TAKE IT! the temple can give incredible strength and comfort and I can truly testify that nothing will bring greater joy because the temple is the closest you can get to heaven. sitting in the celestial room today, I just felt homesick for heaven because the spirit was strong and the veil was thin. 

 

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary and I love all of you! have such an amazing week!!!

 

con amor, 

hermana hess 

 

fotos: 

-we found some 4XL shirts at the thrift store so of course we got grandma earrings to match and took pictures

-rainbow!

-the freaking seahawk fans here paint their houses blue and lime green

-flat tire ;(

-CAFE RIO

-MEXICAN FIESTA

-TEMPLE

-my lovely stray cat friend