Sister Heather Crofts

March 12, 2018

Las Families son Eternas (Families are Forever)

I love being a missionary!!

So Saturday was just one of the happiest days. We got to visit some of the members and really connected with them. Funny!! So every couple Saturday's we eat papusas with Hermana Ramos. It was a blessing because she was just unusually happy to see us. She just laughed and sang with us and fed us papusas. The first time we went, she fed us 3. Listen... That's a lot of food. You are full for 24 hours after. So it's been 3 ever since and you kinda have to mentally prepare yourself. We are there on Saturday and I have eaten my 3. I am really really full. Suddenly I see her coming towards me with the happiest smile and another papusa coming straight to my plate. I just stared at it wide eyes. I think I looked at the papusa looked at my stomach and then looked at this 4th papusa and knew that it wasn't possible. She gave Hermana Jensen a 4th too and both of us just finally asked if we could take them home. She agreed. And that is a blessing my friends.

Let's just talk about Sunday (yesterday) that's when all the exciting stuff went down anyway. During PEC, I found out that my Grandpa had passed away the day before. It's one of those moments that just really hits you hard. The day had just started and woooo it was tough. But we just went on with the day as best we could. We stayed for the Boiling Springs sacrament and then we went to the Greenville 2nd Ward for the 3 hour block. It was a blessing to not be at Boiling Springs because I love the members too much and I think I would have cried all of church (and that's not very fun). Greenville 2nd was such a relief and has been a complete miracle. 3 weeks ago, we made some calls to members close by and the ward and got it going. We had 4 people in the first Spanish Sunday school there and we taught it. 3 weeks later, we had 35 members and 2 investigators!!!!!!!!! We were just amazed. We were wondering about how to provide translation and one of the members who is just now starting to come back to church again asked for the calling to translate. She speaks perfect English and is from Honduras. We got to go to Brother Hite's after and have lunch. The other Brother Hite came with his family. They are some of my very favorite people I have met. Hermana Serrano just kept coming up to me and giving me these big hugs because she was so excited we were there. She is like my Hispanic grandma and wow I needed that yesterday. That night, we got to visit with Melissa. She's going to the temple on Saturday to receive her endowment. Ahhh we are so excited for her. Just getting to talk to help her get everything ready was so so fun.

The longer I am on my mission the more I realize that God just puts us where he needs us to be and he does the rest. Yesterday was one of the hardest and most rewarding days. The morning started out rough, but as the day went on I just felt so much strength come to me. There were so many miracles throughout the day and I felt better and happier as time went on. That night, we went to a baptism for the YSA elders. I don't think that it was any coincidence that in the Boiling Springs sacrament and at the Baptism we sang "Families Can be Together Forever."

I really am just grateful to be on a mission and teaching people about eternal families. I am grateful that I have another angel looking out for me, strengthening me, comforting me, and someone to help touch the hearts of the people we meet. I am sure that Grandpa Crofts is making his rounds visiting all his loved ones, but once he's finished he's definitely headed for the Spirit Paradise Golf Course.

I love you all. Thanks for the constant support and prayers.

Have a blessed week!!

Con todo mi corazon

Hermana Crofts