Sain bainauu?? Yu baina? -- that's "hello, how are you?" in Mongolian!
Haha, I'm sending this e-mail a little later today because Sister Roman and I just came back from attempting to go shopping. Every time we get in the car together, alone, we get lost. No matter where we go.. lol... she can hardly read English and I'm over here trying to drive on the highway and look at the map and exits at the same time. We laugh so much though, there is never a dull moment with this sister.. haha. She always tries to tell me where to turn and when I listen to her we always get more lost -- and then we are like " well... now we know where NOT to turn next time..." haha.! always staying positive..
I've realized how quickly the time is passing, and it is driving me crazy!! I just want to put this time on pause and be superwoman for a day! I can't even fathom the idea that it's almost going to be 3 months that I've been out on my mission. Noooo! One thing is for sure, I told myself that I was not going to waste time, and Sister Roman and I do such a great job at that! In our mission area kind of thing there is a lounge that has couches and stuff for us to do our studying or extra place to eat, but seriously almost every time I go in there I see a sister taking a nap... I'm like ARE YOU KIDDING?! How does anyone in their right mind have time to SLEEP. Sister Roman and I promised ourselves to ALWAYS take advantage of EVERY minute we have. There is always always always at least one person on the square that you can talk to and uplift. No matter how much time we have or how exhausted we are or how cold it is outside or how emotional we feel, we do our best to remember our purpose here and not to waste a second of the Lord's time. We are His missionaries and we are here to work hard. every. single. second. Every day there is someone in our life that we can uplift. How can you go through a day without making someone smile? Try to start uplifting at least ONE person every day. You'll see how satisfying it really is!!
Ahhh, one of the coolest things happened the other day as well. So, I'm not sure if you remember Brother Craig Green from when I was in the MTC, but I met him when we were able to come to Temple Square before we actually came out here and he was a super less active member who came to Temple Square with these two other women who he goes running with. I was able to keep in touch with him throughout this entire time I've been on a mission.. calling him a couple of times a week or once a week to help him take steps to rebuilding his relationship with God and with Jesus Christ. He went through a "faith crisis" and just completely let go of all of his beliefs..So, he's been through quite a bit... and just recently he told me that he's going through a divorce with his wife right now and has had so many personal issues happen but that he is so extremely grateful for me and my persistence in helping him stay on the right path because if I hadn't been there he says he probably wouldn't have even thought to ever go back to believing in God or going back to church. I almost started crying. And then he said "I've got a long ways to go, but the hardest part is over" What magical words..! Seriously, and I've really been able to see his growth throughout this time in his prayers and in his attitude toward spiritual things. He also said something that really helped me in my testimony about the things we don't know in this Gospel. He said that in his last lesson at church that they were talking about how we need to stop looking at the Gospel with a magnified glass to try and find something wrong with it or in what ways make it or God and Jesus Christ look skeptical, but instead be edified and uplifted by the teachings of Jesus Christ and apply them into our lives and be enriched by the outcomes of it. So true, so true, so true.
Ohhh! Yesterday was super fun. So I am still currently working on my Spanish. It is far from being perfect, but I have come to take small steps in accepting that and being patient with myself. The Assistants to the President select certain sisters to gives tours to our VIP guests at Temple Square and there was a Spanish tour of 15 Architect Professors and Students from the Dominican Republic to show them around ALL of the highlights of Temple Square. AND THEY CHOSE ME. I just about had a panic attack. I had a days notice and I really really was doubting my Spanish abilities. I had no idea what to expect and I was so nervous. I took the tour with Sister Wilhem from Chile -- and thank goodness for that because she is PHENOMENAL. I was so excited to be teaching with her. It turned out to be a 3 hour long tour, but just about half of them referred to learn more, receive a Book of Mormon, and to keep in touch! My Spanish is still not where it needs to be, but I've realized that I really can't mess it up. I can not mess up the Lord's work. If His children are ready, they will be ready no matter how messed up my Spanish is. I've taken so much comfort in that and I know that God is so mindful of each and every single one of us.
Yeaah! So when I got my mission call, mom said that I got called here because I can make a wall talk. I was like yeah yeah yeah whatever mom... but honestly.. I've come to realize that it really is true and it makes me so happy to say that.. lol! Haha.. I had an investigator lesson with some missionaries from another mission in SLC and one of the couples that they came with referred one of their sons to us. His name is Jose Luis and he's 24 years old. I got a hold of him on the phone and he was SO SHORT with me. Honestly, like he had no interest in talking to me WHATSOEVER... but me and my persistent self - didn't give up. And I kept asking question after question after comment after question and was almost at the point of giving up when he started talking back to me with more than one sentence. I started making him laugh and then we now have had such amazing conversations and he is coming with his parents to Temple Square for us to teach him tomorrow!!!!!! Ahh! Talk about a miracle. I know they happen. They soooo do. Honestly, if I really didn't have my purpose drilled into my head, being completely honest, I would have been like "OK forget you then!!" But I didn't because I know that a lot of people go without feeling God's love for a very long time, but that as representatives of Jesus Christ, we are here to love. We are supposed to love all people because sometimes that's the only time people feel God's love for them.
I continue to say I love being on a mission because for real...I LOVE being on a mission. This mission is tough and it's hard and sometimes days are long and my feet ache and I'm crabby and I just want to crawl under a rock.. but I honestly wouldn't mind doing this for ever.
I know that miracles happen and that God is aware of us. Jesus Christ is there to take care of our burdens when we feel down and to make sure we are comforted when times get tough. That's the beauty of having a relationship with our Savior. We know he is there and know that He lives and He loves.
I invite you all to PRAY for a miracle to happen in your life. BIG or SMALL. Be conscientious of it -- and you WILL see it.
Hope to hear from you soon!! Don't be shy... you're welcome to send me letters!!!!
I seriously do my best to reply... pleaseeee.
SMILE :D, BE HAPPY :), & REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!! <3
Con mucho amor,
Sister Corina Selene Cuevas
p.s. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually has the LARGEST womens organization in the WORLD. Cool stuff, huh? It's call the Relief Society and there is a meeting this Saturday!! If you want to watch it... give it a shot!
http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09?cid=HPTH091213087&lang=eng :D
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