Enjoy the Journey

Wow. Just wow. Never in my whole time as a missionary would I have ever thought about writing my last email. This is so whack.

But here it goes.

These past 18 months of my life have been nothing but experiences. Fun, sad, hard, hilarious, difficult, confusing, you name it I dealt with it. I'm just in shock that a year and a half just zipped by...like no joke I sneezed and poof I'm done, I'm finishing.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE??

I am so beyond grateful to every single companion I have had, area I served in, district I played a role in, homiez I've made, THE AMAZING, AMAZING FOOD I HAVE EATEN, the spirit I have felt, and how much closer I have gotten to my Savior Jesus Christ.

I have loved loved loved being a missionary. I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything in the world. I needed to be here. God needed me here. The people needed me here.

I know without a doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I prayed and asked myself and received a confirmation from the spirit that it's true. The church I have been a missionary for these past 18 months is true. It has the same foundation and same gospel that Jesus Christ established and taught while he walked the earth. 

Jesus Christ is the best older brother anybody could have asked for. He carried everybody's burdens so we don't have to go through life being weighed down by our sins. There is healing and forgiveness in his Atonement. We all should utilize it the best we can. I know that since I've been gone his Atonement has really helped me realize that change is possible. I have changed so much this past year and a half because I have been striving to be more like Jesus everyday. It's been pretty difficult, but it's definitely been worth it. Putting his name next to my heart everyday has been the best reminder that I can be like him. I still can be like him without the tag. But I'm gonna miss it so so much. 

This week was an amazing week to finish off my mission here in Texas.
We taught some amazing lessons directed by the spirit, ate some delicious food, and sadly said goodbye to so many people that I'm going to miss SO MUCH when I get to Washington in a couple days.
The people down bear have touched my life in so many ways it's unreal. 

I'll always have a piece of my heart down here by the border.
I love and thank all of you for the support I have gotten along the over here.
I'm going to miss it so much.
But onto the next chapter of my life.
Enjoy your journey.

God be with you till we meet again. 🙏


Stay 2 legit 2 quit
Con todo mi amor,
Hermana Darling 💙

Pictures
We got Carlos to smile...he said no then cracked up...so we're laughing with him
Anarelly and Emma
Youth activity
Best sign in Texas
Alan and I...a lil awkward honestly but it was fine hahahaha
Elma and her family
Us and sister Ruiz
Rocio, Adolfo, and Eidy
My last goodbye to the cactus wall...one of my best friends here in Texas 😂😥

Only one more week mija...thanks Carlos💙🙏

The title is the first thing out of Carlos' mouth when we went and visited him. He gave me some sick marriage advice too hahaha

And gave me his address so I can send him a wedding announcement, that'll be in a while buddy...but this guy is literally my favorite ever. 

Take a look at some things that happened this week...

Built a Swingset and Drove to Roma--We went back over to Sister Ruiz' house and got to help build a Swingset for her grandkids it took wayyyyy longer then it should have but it was pretty fun to do it with the elders. But right after that we had to go home and get ready to drive almost an hour to a little place called Roma. My companion and the elders had interviews with President Ocampo. Mine is later this week or the day before I yeet out of here. But Hermana Miller was told she was training. On the car ride home she balled her eyes out the whole time...I tried my best to summon up my feminine/emotional side to help...I prayed to know what to say honestly. But this is going to be super hard for her but super good for her. I literally felt like her mom these past two transfers...now she's gotta flap her wings and fly. She's my God mija. She's got this though. I'm getting her excited to train because it's literally the best!!!!

SAD BOI HOURS-So we had some fuego people that had baptisms scheduled for this past Saturday and this upcoming Thursday. Both bailed on us 😭😭. Our home boi Edgar wasn't really converted to the gospel...that's all I'm going to say about that haha. But he told us he doesn't want to go to our church anymore and he's fine with his relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope he finds the truth sometime soon though.
Adolfo and Rocio were supposed to get married and Adolfo was supposed to get baptized this Thursday. But freaking Satan decided that he needed to work...and buy Rocio a dress.
So they moved it to January. 😢
But as long as it happens and he becomes the next Branch President I'm chillin. It just hurt a little ya know. But anyway I know God has a plan for them so I'm not too worried.
But on the flip side Elma and Faith are the mom and daughter of Ronnie who just got baptized. We've been helping the elders teach them because they wanted girls hahaha and they're getting ready for their baptism too. Yayayaya!!!! I'll hopefully be there for that. It should be sometime this week.
PRAY FOR THEM PLEASE hahaha

Our home boi Kevin-we got a text from him one morning and asked to meet in the park. So we had a good ole 9am restoration lesson and it was pretty fire. He doesn't have a car and walks everywhere. He liked the pamphlet and asked some good questions about the Atonement. He told us he'll see us at church too!!! Woohooo!! Milagros!!!

The last squad Pic - Elder Burton got et'd last Saturday and that honestly sucked. All three of them were soo fun to hang out with. I treated him like my son because he was brand new in the mission. He's always called me Mom hahaha... I'm so old in the mission I feel like everyone's Mom.
But he was super good and definitely changed some lives here in the Big Z.
Stay gold pony boy.

HOLY CRAP GUYS...
I'm starting my last week of my mission. I'm sad/happy/excited/pumped/scared... all of the emotions honestly.
This transfer has flown!!
But it's not over yet. I still have this week to see the miracles God has in store for me. I love this place and all the crazy weird people it has in it. But I wouldn't have asked for a better area to finish my mission.
ZAPATA STRONG🦅

I love being a missionary and wouldn't have traded these experiences for anything in the world
I know Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer. I know God loves all of us no matter what we've been through. His arms are always opened wide for us to come back to him.

Stay 2 legit 2 quit
Con todo mi amor,
Hermana Darling💙

Some pictures
Us, the elders, Ronnie and Faith
Our district 🙏
Prez taking a selfie
I found a flamingo to ride
Elma's Ken doll that looks EXACTLY LIKE Elder Anderson
Zapata sunsets

"I have two witnesses...the Sisters from the church. They're not just some random strangers."

Heyo my peeps. This week was pretty freaking awesome.

Sister Ruiz and Amazon-The title of the email is something Sister Ruiz told the poor costumer service lady at Amazon...she kind of was yelling at her because this is the second time in a row they sent her the wrong burrito bowls for her grandkids.
We are witnesses for her apparently hahahha
We were dying...it was honestly hilarious.

Zone conference - Our zone is really spread out because it's brand new. So we were finally able to be in the same place all together! Zone conference was super uplifting and full of the spirit. We talked a ton about Día de los Muertos and that's why our p-day was moved from Monday to Tuesday. So we could contact more people on the actual day. WOOHOO!!!

EDGAR- THIS GUY IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER. We had asked him about baptism a couple weeks ago but never set a date. So after having dinner with him and his daughters we asked him about the 14th and he said yes!!! Oh my gosh that made us all so happy. He knows he's on the right path and we're here to help him get closer to his Savior by following his example and getting baptized in the lake!! BOOOYAHH
The spirit was so strong!!!!

Branch movie night- We watched Mulan the brand new one. It was actually really good. And we related it to the importance of families and tied it in with Día de Los Muertos. We had a pretty good turn out. A couple families from the branch and Edgar came with one of his daughters. They loved it!!!

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS- What an awesome experience we had this weekend. So starting Saturday through Monday we were focusing mainly on our ancestors and helping people sign up for family search. We went to the parks and the cemetery here and got to talk to soooo many people and passed out some pamphlets. We even got some super interested people. We were also able to start Edgar and his girls with their family history. It was so amazing!!!!!!! What a perfect time of year to help everyone else remember more about their family members.

Here's a Carlos quote for ya:
"Oh watch out mamas your kids will getcha." I love this dude so much.

I love it so much over here in the Big Z. I have seen God's hand so many times over these past couple of months. He is mindful of each and every one of us. I know he lives and so does his son Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know that for certain.
I do it for the Lord.

Stay 2 legit 2 quit! Love you guys mucho.

Con todo mi amor,
Hermana Darling💙


Pictures
Us and Carlos 👍
The cutest little lizard I caught inside the church
Me and my nieta...because I'm that old in the mish 😢😂
District Pic with an inside joke...the elders made some weird faces
Us and a member named Richard at the cemetery
Compa y yo
Us and Edgar at the church!
A wall on Edgar's property...his daughters painted it