zdras-voo-tye (Hello - Здравствуйте) -- That's russian!! Thanks Sister McGhie! :D Haha.
Well, it hasn't been a week since I last wrote you, I know, I know.. Sorry!! lol. I should hopefully have this P-Day for the next 6 weeks. We will see though, you never know! Sister Roman is just as amazing as I figured she would be! We are like a powerhouse!! It is SO awesome. We take tours in Spanish and English the majority of the day and then we keep in contact with our investigators that are learning more every day.
Ahhhhhhh!!! Not even going to lie, the first day we were companions was a little rough. Our first tour we took together partially traumatized me.. haha. It was just people who came to Temple Square to argue about our beliefs. I am all about people being of different faiths, that's totally awesome -- but reallllly we don't go to your historical sites to bash on your beliefs and to persecute you for your beliefs. It's so sad and it was so contentious for me, honestly. When we got on explaining some part of the Gospel they would ask questions that were so smart alicky. Luckily for Sister Roman, she still doesn't understand much English (this is only her 7th week learning it) so she is just standing there smiling and nodding her head and pretending like she knew what they're saying - but it was honestly SO mean. & I mean of course I did everything I have been taught to try to keep the tour moving and to change the subject back to the history or something but it was one of the longest, toughest tours I've ever taken. I just kind of stood back though as they explained what they felt. Sister Roman was amazing at honestly just showing her love to them. I was amazed and it was a really big reality check for me. It just brings such an awful feeling when people tell me I'm not Christian or that I don't know who Christ really is. It breaks my heart. But all I can do is to continue to show my love for them and to try to leave it on a positive note. I know who Christ is and I am most definitely a disciple of Jesus Christ and do my best to follow His example on a daily basis. Just as I said in one of my first e-mails... My purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ. He is my BEST friend and I know He is there to help me through everything. He understands more than I could imagine of what it feels like to be persecuted. He went through the hardest persecution of all -- but he ultimately continued to stand strong. I am here on earth to follow in His example and I will continue to do that despite any sort of adversity. In Matthew 5 it says
" 44 But I say unto you, aLove your benemies, cbless them thatdcurse you, do egood to them that fhate you, and gpray for them which despitefully use you, and hpersecute you;
45 That ye amay be the bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth crain on the just and on the unjust."
Isn't that the truth!!! It will all be alright because I know that what I'm doing is what makes me happy and can help others find happiness and peace in their own lives. I was told that there will be a lot more people coming to Temple Square just for the purpose of arguing much more because General Conference (When we listen to the Prophet and Apostles speak) brings a lot of anti's to the Square.
Sorry if that was a little depressing, It sounds sad, but I know that all it will do is make me a stronger person and missionary. I can't control what other people say and do, but I have full control over how it affects my day and my happiness. And I know that that is one thing we ALL have control over.
So I want to share one of the Chat miracles that I had the other day. So we have Teaching Center time where we make our phone calls to people and our investigators and also accept any chats of people who go to mormon.org. So I accepted this one chat of this guy named Andrew from Maine and he told me that he has never believed in God and doesn't have a religious background but that he has already researched and learned so much about our faith and really feels that he wants to receive God in his life. He is married and his wife thinks he's crazy because she doesn't believe in God or anything and he's so nervous about her reaction.... what's cute is that these were his exact words when I asked him if I could teach him more another day:
"Andrew: I can't wait to receive God in my life
Andrew: and it feels great to say that!"
There is honestly no better feeling than helping someone come to the realization that they truly are a child of God and that he LOVES them. I called him yesterday and taught him how to pray and he told me that he wants a Bible and a Book of Mormon -- that he is excited to read them and everything. He is now meeting with missionaries!!!!! I'm so excited to call him tomorrow to follow up with how things are going. He is amazing and sounds so genuine!
Oh my gooodnessss -- I almost forgot to tell you!! -- I can not even believe what happened to me after e-mailing on Monday (while I was still with Sister Ellis & Sister Lam). We went to Walmart to buy groceries and I really really needed food. So I literally packed up my cart & even went a little veggie crazy and even bought nutella for my personal reward. We were in line and started talking to the lady in front of us and found out that she was LDS. She was so excited to see sister missionaries because she had never seen any before at the grocery store. She was SO nice and was just finished paying for her food when she says "Sisters, would you please let me buy your groceries? Would that offend you?" And we were like No no no... we have SOOOO much food and there are 3 of us. It's okay that would be SO expensive.. but she insisted and we let her. Just as a reminder for those of you who may not know me very well.. I don't ever really cry. It is very very rare that I do and I have NO idea what came over me but I just started balling. Literally! Even my companions were in shock because I really don't ever cry, but I could not believe this woman. She was telling me not to cry not to cry because then I would make her cry... but that was just too bad because I had no control. I was SO touched by her kindness it literally overwhelmed me. She was telling us that she usually likes to do that for missionaries when she sees them but she has never paid for sisters before & that "the Elders never make [her] cry" I was just filled with gratitude to every piece of my body. I love that woman! Her name is Sister Russon :)
One more thing...At the end of every night when we are planning for the next day, Sister Roman and I reflect on our day for "5 Gratefuls" and write them in our planners. It has been so uplifting! I love love love it. At first I was like... I don't know if I can come up with 5 really big things I'm grateful for, but then I realized that it doesn't have to be a big thing! For example a couple of mine have been
1 Free roles at the Lion House!
2 Sister Nielsen's care package!!! :D :D (Thank you by the way!!!!)
3 A new sister gave me a cookie she brought from the MTC
4 3 people complimented my crazy curly hair in less than half a day
5 I received 2 letters from people who love me! :D
I invite each of you to do that same thing...AND write them down....!! I promise you that as you being to do that you will be able to appreciate more and more the happy things that happen to you in your life and it will make you a much happier person!
Thank you for all of your love!! I love hearing from you!!! <3
Smile :D, Be Happy :), & Remember Who You Are!!! <3
Love always,
Sister Corina Selene Cuevas
p.s. btw, I'm STILL on lds.org......
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