string of pearls

Okay, so today was pretty stressful until now. Today is transfers and Ive been in Centro Civico for 3 transfers so far....in my interview with President G, he made it sound to start packing my bags for a new area & literally I had a huge pit in my stomach while he told me this. Ive felt so strongly like I just need 1 more transfer here with Sis S & with this ward! 

Miracles have been happening here & the greatest is that the members here, who used to be completely indifferent and almost cold when it comes to missionary work, are finally opening up! Me & Sis S have been trying to pick one member family per day to serve and its been shocking the results! The amount of outpouring love that weve felt recently.

Not like we ever went hungry or ignored, but the feeling has changed completely in the ward. Theyre happier! And because theyre happier we're happier. 

Its seriously a miracle! We may not have had any baptisms, but weve felt that maybe our mission in this area is to prepare the hearts of the members for future baptisms. And were completely fine with this! 

So much has happened that I cant include in this email, but I'll just share a lil story that Sis S shared while we were teaching R (the 18 yr old were teaching)

There was once a little girl who had a string of costume jewelry, fake pearls. She LOVED these pearls. She would wear them everywhere. In the bath, outside, even to sleep! There was absolutely nothing she loved more than wearing these pearls.

One night, the little girls father came in to her room to tuck her in. He asked her smiling, "Darling, do you love me?"

The little girl giggled and said, "Of course I love you daddy!"

He then asked, "Will you give me your pearls?"

The little girl was beside herself and said "Oh no daddy! You can have my stuffed unicorn, my nightlight, ANYTHING but my pearls...."

The father smiled and kissed her forehead saying "Okay honey, I love you, goodnight."

The next night, the same thing happened again, the father came into the little girls room and asked the same question,

"Sweetie, do you love me? Will you give me your pearls?"

"Oh no daddy!" the little responded hurriedly, "You can have my puppy, my favorite dress, my new book, ANYTHING else but my pearls."

The father smiled, kissed her forehead and said,"Okay, honey, I love you goodnight."

The next night, when the father came in to kiss her goodnight, he found her crying on her bed. The father became worried and asked, "Whats wrong honey? Why are you crying?"

Without saying a word, the little girl reached up her little hand to reveal her string of pearls and said with tears rolling down her cheeks, "Here you go daddy. You can have my pearls."

The father kissed her forehead,wiped her tears and took the pearls from her hand saying, "Thank you sweetie."

Then, taking his other hand from his pocket, he held out a box that revealed a string of real, genuine peals. 

The father said, "Ive been waiting for weeks to give these real pearls to you, but I could only give them to you if you gave me your fake ones first."

So many times we are like the little girl with the fake string of pearls. We love something we think is the best, prettiest, finest thing in the world. Feeling like nothing else could possibly take its place, never wanting to give it up for anything, and even willing to sacrifice other things in its place. It may be a job or career, it may be a habit, a sin or even a little insignificant thing we have a hard time letting go of, a relationship or comforts. 

If only we knew that our Father in Heaven has in his possession, a string of real pearls. Real blessings that bring us real happiness. But before he can give us our real pearls, we must first give him our fake ones. Sacrifice the thing we think we love most, and trust in Him that He will provide us with the real pearls that we are worthy of wearing, that we are worthy of having. 

Love yall so much! Thank yall so much for you prayers & your emails and letters! Keep the pics & the prayers & letters coming!!!

For yalls enjoyment, there are roads here named after countries, and I found Rua Holanda :) Served in dads mission for a few hours yesterday! :)