HAPPY P-DAY

FAMILIA,
So much to say as always...not enough time to write. Katie, you sound fantastic.  I´m looking forward to hearing about your experiences in J-RU! Shout outs to mikey, tiff, sierra, bund, hal, mom, dad...everyone. Thank you for your continued support and love for me. Keep them letters comin! 

Some shrapnel that happened this week...wow. Yesterday we woke up to a swarm of Testigos (JWs) in our neighborhood. We were in the middle of personal study when they knocked. It was the cutest little old lady with her granddaughter, who saw our plaques and then looked a little scared. We chatted a bit and the older lady didn´t understand that we were missionaries so she bore her testimony and it was just beautiful. We had zone conference and I spoke two times in front of everyone. President calls people up out of the crowd of about 30 missionaries to give talks and it fell upon me this time. DUN DUN DUN! I turned bright red, but I did it and people understood what I was saying. The second time, the Hermana called us up to bear testimony about something we´d been trying that is new in the mission. 

Anyways, zone conference was fabulous and inspiring like always. I got a letter from BECKY SWIM and RAMROD JONES...happiest day of my life. Letters from other missionaries are so refreshing and beautiful. LIke every time I fend off a rabies-ridden Chilean dog, I know Sister Swim is on the opposite side of the world fending off a rabies-ridden Chinese dog. Or every time a Chilean door slams in my face, I can hear the Ukrainian door slam is Sister Jones´face. It´s beautiful! I love the mission, I love to serve the Lord.

So this new year, I decided to read all the standard works...I´m reading everything but the old testament in Spanish. I reached the story of Joseph in Genesis this week and can NOT get ¨go go go Joseph¨ out of my head. I´m shocked at how unlike the musical the actual Biblical account is...there aren´t singing wives, and synchronized disco slash calypso numbers....where did Andrew Llyod Weber go wrong? Anywho, senior year rocked..

Back to the mission! Mom, I have two jobs for you. One, I think my companion, Hna. Aponte, is the convert of my seminary teacher Brother Hemming. I need you to call Olympus and ask him a) if he served in Buenos Aires (or any of his brothers) and 2) if He baptised Andrea Aponte. I would DIE to have this information and I know it would be really special for him. Two, in your next package, I need my converse shoes (the ¨nerd shoes¨that you and dad hate) and herbal tea of any nature (they only sell one kind here) preferably the one with a tiger on it that says ¨bengal spice¨ or something like that.

Dad, I love your thoughts for stake conference. I´ve always loved Moroni 7:48 because it says we will be like Christ BECAUSE we shall see him as he is. When we have the ability to look at a person (flaws and all) and see them the way Christ sees them (as a son or daughter of God with literally unlimited potential and glory) and treat them accordingly...THAT is charity. I think it´s the ability to understand the reality of a person. It´s the same with Christ. Many people saw him or walked with him or hear about him in modern times...most people don´t SEE Him for who He truly is...our Savior and Redeemer. Unless we develop charity (which includes all of HIs other attributes...Alma 7:23), we will not understand Christ, we will not know Him, and we will not be like Him. Service is one way to develop charity...I think THAT combined with year after year prayer, study, and church attendance. When we come to know Christ--not as some mysterious being or famous painting--but the real Jesus Christ our Savior, through our lifelong efforts, repentance, trial, and service...then will we be like Him. I´m positive we´ll never be very much like Him in this life...maybe gleaming moments throughout our life...but we can get a little closer. 

I love this mission. I have moments when I don´t ever want to come home. I want to be caught up in the lives of others forever...I want to help people forever...I want to keep coming to a knowledge of my Savior forever...I want to study forever...This time in my life is more beautiful and undeserved than I could´ve ever imagined.
I love you all. You are all some of my greatest blessings on earth.
Hna Bourne

Ps.. mom, I´m praying for you and Bette and Bubba...please let her know how much I love her and Bubba.