Weakly Planned

For multiple reasons.

NUMERO ONE: This week was the Webster definition of an (singular) 'hot wreck.' I may have mentioned in my hastily scrawled letter of last week that we lost our car to the dealership and had biked a bit (even though we were told that due to past concussions that would be a bad idea😅) and eventually stole the Semoran sisters’ car. WELL. We received a call Tuesday morning saying, "Sir or Madam; are you in need of medical resistance?" o sea "Sisters; need pick-up." We booked it over there with band-aids, triple antibiotic, and a box full of Andes mints and patches our scraped-up Hna right up! They were biking to service and she decided to wrestle a mailbox. ... Sadly, only one of them was still standing in the end. And it was the mailbox. She's feeling up to going to service so off we go, back to the blessed land of UAP. Good memories. But because hermanas lack in mailbox wrestling, we returned the car back to them. And then biked 7.5 miles to dinner. Imagine 2 beanbags wobbling on bikes up a hill and that was us.

NUMERO DOS: If we weren't at the STL's, or with the Semoran sisters, or at service, we were weekly planning. It's really hard to weekly plan (In case it wasn't obvious, Weekly Planning is the planning session where you plan for the new week. If you're fast, it only takes 2.5 hours. We are NOT fast.) when you don't know if you have a car. So we planned for 2 different weeks: 1 with and one without a car. 🙈 ugh. It was all poorly done, if I do say so myself.

TRES: ...I can't actually think of a tres, but I just really wanted to quote "Que Hora Es?" But some fun highlights of this week are when we smashed furniture at service with the Elders. They were very patient and gave us pointers on how to swing a sledge hammer and a hatchet. It's ridiculously stress-relieving.

CUATRO: We saw old mission buddies on our temple tour! Shout out to Elder Cruz, who spent 6 transfers with us here in O-Zone, and Elder Isaacson, the ONLY member of the fantastic 5 (original Mexico squad) who isn't here in O-Zone right now. It was really good to see them!

CINCO: Spiritual Moment, brought to you by the Book of Mormon. Please turn to Mosiah 23:36-37 (and also a little bit of 27 and 29).
I've never quite understood why Alma just gave up his people to the Lamanites. Why not just book it out of there? You all did it once, just do it again. Or why not lie to the Lamanites, and while the rest are wandering around lost in the desert, overpower the guards that are still there and THEN book it out of there? Well, this time, I was studying spiritual gifts while reading this part, and it clicked. Alma (the older??) had spent so much of his life lying and cheating and deceiving and being a terrible person. When he came across the gospel and felt the truth strike deep in his core, he would've had to make some MASSIVE changes. And as we make hard, sacrifice-requiring changes in our lives, we find ourselves closer to God and quite happier. He would've had a testimony of the joy of living the gospel. And then, as we learn in verse 27, he has Faith like unto the Brother of Jared! He knew that God was aware of who they were and what was happening in their lives. He would take care of them. And Alma believed that so much that when it came to the decision between lying to the invading army or telling the truth and probably getting taken over, Alma chose the harder right. His actions told God that he would rather always be honest and on the Lord's side - even if that means becoming slaves to the Lamanite army - than to return to the slippery usage of trickery. And so they became slaves. ISN'T THAT AMAZING!?! And perhaps the even cooler part of this is how God reacts to all of this. In chapter 24 verses 16-19. God allows them to be honest in their "being delivered out of bondage." Unlike the people of Limhi who bribe guards with wine and then sneak out at night, the people of Alma walk out the front door in broad daylight. They then spend only 12 (unguided, mind you) days in the wilderness before they find Zarahemla. WOW! I love that the faith of Alma in the Lord to deliver them from all trials was strong enough to perform a miracle that profound! God really does have us, and He really will take care of us. Do you trust Him?

 ...: Ok, I'm done.

FOTOS!!
The few successful moments on Tuesday.

Breakfast with the STL's

Sis Boyd with a stress reliever

Us with Chris, who we took on a temple tour.

SEIS!! The Florida temple. Que bonita! 

In 3 More Hours, I'll have 5 Hours Left

Ah this week. Everything broke. Again. Our shower, our car, our sink, our phone for a hot sec, and also my companion. RIP. So let's jump to highlights!

> We spent the first 2 days with our STL's on exchanges, then emergency exchanges when our car broke. They're super funny!

> Wed. night, I went on mini exchanges with the Semoran Hnas, where I spent the night back in Semoran and Hna Robinson (my comp) and Hna Perry went to Windy Ridge to see a baptism. It was sad not to go back to my baby area, but it was really fun to get a lot of hugs in where I really feel like is home. It was so much fun! I'll tell you more, soon.

> And now, a message from Elder Bair: Hello, another Bear has been found. Florida has been a blast for us bears! Rest assured that with one of our dear kind returning home honorably from a great mission, that I will remain to carry on the legacy of the forest. There is still much to do for the gathering of Zion, and now Orlando's future is even more bright with a new bear in town to follow in the great footsteps of Hermana Baer. -- And that's Elder Bair for you.

> We spent the next day with the Hermanas de Semoran. We then stole their car. ':D My bad. But we had a great Zone Conference, and I got to catch up with Hna Robbins all day. It was so Good!

> A couple more long days, then an amazing night where I was just feeling the sins and sorrows of the world on my shoulders. I was so sad that so many people don't have the same joy we have. And it was, again, just really sad. But then, a member walked in (you could tell because of the celestial smile:) and, I felt like God loved me. It was good to know that there are good, knowledgeable members scattered around. That was cool. Thanks God.

I've been studying Spiritual Gifts in the book of Mormon. Ask for my list upon return.

Ok. Y'all rock. See ya! Remember to keep studying Come Follow Me!!

Hna Baer

No time so Picture time!!
Our Fabulous Zone. Don't look too close.

EXCHANGES! Sis Stephen's up close and personal with Sis Richards happily behind her.

Empanadas with Hna Silva. I heart her SO MUCH!!

A broken shower. ...There are no words.

Now I Know Why I'm Here

{Insert picture 1}

While here in Valencia, I have fixed our bathroom sink, our shower drain 2 times, once in the Semoran sisters apartment, and a countless number of church toilets. It's a Me, a-Luigi. |:"

But really, we had a super cool weekend! We had 2 really cool experiences right on the weekend, so I remember it as a really good week. We happened to be in the right place at the right moment to help someone from the Virgin Islands get to the airport. Wow! Half the miracle was in that the members we were visiting were home to answer the door, but between the 2 of us, we got her a taxi to the airport! It feels good to be in a position to help people!
Which leads me to Sunday night: Hna Robinson and I both suddenly remembered a member in the elder's area that we knew was struggling and we decided to sacrifice miles to go see her. She was home and as soon as we sat down, she opened right up. We explained the new changes in the church and how Come Follow Me is a lot more of how to grow your personal testimony and helping yourself become a disciple of Christ, which really is what she needed. She shared all her stress and fears (blessings of being sister missionaries;) and we could testify so powerfully of God's love and of Enduring to the End. The spirit was so strong! We were both exhausted afterwards, but that's just more proof that we really were on the Lord's errand!
Sometimes as a missionary, I feel a little like God just wants me to wander until I've earned enough 'points' to deserve a miracle. But this week, I learned that God really is preparing people as we go out and nudge others even closer to Him. He's not just waiting for us to be ready for something great (impatiently tapping His foot so the while) but rather orchestrating harmonies in a way that will make right now tie in in the future. God's so cool!

Thanks for letting me ramble:) I really wanted to share that with you. I hope you have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you NOT SOON! heh... heh heh...

Hna Baer

Hna Robinson took a shower while I made her the 10-month mark German pancakes. She came out and said, "Hermana, we have a problem."

Another time this week, we had non-alcoholic wine. And it was NASTY!! OH SO GROSS! It was like a rotten grape that had sat in water for far too long. #notgrapejuice.

Also we went to Jimmy Hulas. Mostly, I just can't remember the last time I sent a picture of me home, and I was feeling guilty. Now you can all see how gordita I am :]))

"Are they? Are They? are THEY??”

...I love threes." - Larry the Cucumber as Sheerluck Homes

This week happened in 3's: We cleaned a members house after dinner for 3 days in a row, we ate pizza for 3 of the 4 meals on Friday, and I vacuumed out not just 1 cat's bed for the first time in my life, I vacuumed out-- YOU GUESSED IT!! I vacuumed out 3 :) And yes, Hna Andrus, the cats were thorough (We had a service opportunity in Ft. Pierce where, helping a member move into a new house, we cleaned out the fridge that had been left behind by the previous resident who owned 9 cats. That was the hairiest freezer I've ever cleaned/been in!!)

But on one of the other services, she asked us to help, but we had a planned lesson right after that, so we felt super bad as we told her we had to go, but as we started driving away, the lesson fell through, so we rushed back and knocked on her door. The look on her face as she realized that we had come back to help her is one that I won't forget anytime soon. So to all those who are having a bit of a miserable day, grab your broom, mop, and bucket and head over to your neighbors! It'll make you feel so VERY good.

Anyways, more than that, it was just a lot of sitting and eating. We had a cool moment where, as we were running home to get supplies for poster making, we stopped by the house of someone one of our members was trying to share the gospel with. She was really busy and of the 4 kids running around the house, the only one that wasn't running destructively was wailing loudly. As you could guess, we didn't really have a spiritual moment or really anything that could be called 'success,' but I remember feeling just so good as we walked away. Now she knows who we are and will feel a little more comfortable when we show up to the FHE the member's planning with her :D

More than that, I just had a rockin' study on the timelines of the people of Zarahemla compared to the "lost people" of the Land of Nephi and what exactly was happening as a lonely Amaleki was heading towards the grave. If you don't want to read another episode of Hna Baer fan-girling over the Book of Mormon, you can now kindly skip down to the pictures:) (Jokes on you because at least 2 of them are parts of the Book of Mormon timeline I downloaded off of lds.org! Hah!) For those in for the long haul, prepare to be bored with more details than you ever thought would come from a missionary's email!!


OK! After an extensive search, some map comparisons and a 1.5 hour long language study, this is what I learned!: (All of this is based off of Amaleki's contribution to the Book of Omni otherwise known as verses 12-30 as well as Mosiah 9 intro - the intro of chpt 10) (PS Amaleki is actually one of my favorite people in the Book of Mormon for kicking the laziness of his fathers and actually writing in his journal/ the ancient records. And also, who doesn't just feel in verse 30 of Omni??)

Mosiah flees the Land of Nephi aka the wicked land of the fathers, and all those Nephites probably straight up get destroyed. He takes his people with the Lord, and they all find Zarahemla. Mosiah teaches everyone Nephite-eese (aka english classes) then gets 'em up to date on their God. They prosper in the land until the Lamanites eventually get bored and hunt them down again. Mosiah eventually gives the kingdom to his son King Benjamin then goes all the way of the earth. King Benjamin whoops the land into shape and drives all the Lamanites out of it. Before he shuts the mouths of all the false christs and punishes 'em, Amaleki, lamenting the unknown fate of his brother, gives the plates to King Benjamin and kicks the bucket.

MEANWHILE: While Mosiah still alive and enjoying the peace and quiet of being unknown by the Lamanites, Zeniff takes a group of (a little presumptuous, if you ask me) people back to the Land of Nephi to try and re-inherit it [There's a lesson here somewhere...], with the brother of Amaleki in there. So before Mosiah kicks the bucket, Zeniff is attacked by the Lamanites, but they turn to the Lord to help them out of it. They have an amazing testimony building moment as they fight off the Lamanites (killing ~ 3000 and only losing ~250) and continue to keep 'em out of the borders for the next however long time until Zeniff dies, conferring the kingdom upon his son, the infamous Noah. Then, there's about a 7 year overlap between when Noah takes this spirit-filled people (I guess no promises they were still filled with the spirit by the time he gets them...) and runs the nation into the ground and when Amaleki dies, bemoaning the unknown fate of his brother. {Fun Fact: There's about a 10 year overlap between when Noah takes charge and when King Benjamin finally gets everything ship shape and Bristol Fashion.}

SO: When Amaleki is going down to the grave and gives the famous heart-wrencher of a verse 30, his brother is probably doing some gross things/iniquities with his dumb king, Noah, or is too old to stop all the otha' sinna's and is living, like Moroni in the end of the Book of Mormon, in days of sorrow. ...Unless this nameless brother was older than Amaleki and also lived a shorter life than him (which is really unlikely seeing as how the elder brothers generally got the plates before the younger (ponder relationship between Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton)) or unless he had died as one of the ~250; Unless an unusual event/ Divine Intervention kicked in and the brother died at least 7 years before Amaleki, poor Amaleki probably really did have a right to mourn. The people haven't been brought into captivity yet, but are using their agency as rebelfully as possible.

That kinda just makes this part even more sad. Poor Amaleki!! It's alright: They're together now! #FamiliesareEternal #Wait,didtheyhavetemplesbackthen??? #0.0 #DoYourGenealogy!!


That's it for now folks! Thanks to all those who sent me updates on where they were in the Book of Mormon! It was really fun to see others get excited about it too! And for those other Hna's who haven't quite finished yet, I had a cool study about mercy this week. Which I won't share right now, but will summarize to "Keep going! Even if you cross the finish line after the race is over, you at least fulfilled the commitment to finish the race! It still counts!"

Ok. I'm really done now. CIAOOOO!!!

PICTURES!
The Most and Second Most helpful photos I saw this week, in that order.

Working hard at the Ward Institute Start-up night

Hna Robinson putting beans in a cup.

This is our neighbors pet turtle named Shelby! Or Chelsea. Or chubby. It changes every time...

Prospero Año y Felicidad

I can't remember if I geeked out about that last time, but now I know what the fweet that means!!! I always mumbled something before the mission with a P, but...... #blessings!

So, a bit of a rough week as Christmas calmed down, but family was still hanging around. But, we did... something. Probably just a lot of repentance. :/

But we found 2 new people to teach! Mostly, God just dropped them into our lap. Please pray that Desidario and Ivette... well, come to church this coming week, and respond to our texts. And then get baptized. A member referred them to us, so the pressure is on! 🤤

I hope you all enjoyed the reading of the Book of Mormon as much as I did! I decided after enjoying it so much, that I'm going to reread it before Valentines day, marking all the promised blessings. It's gunna be LIT!

Ok, the gatorball call has gone out. I gotta go break some ankles.

FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!

CHRISTMAS!!!

 Dodo -- so many strange birds in Florida

Brennan 3-D printed this puzzle maze

Hermana Robinson

We had a white elephant as a zone. It was almost funny....