Happy Mother's day! It was sure nice to talk to my mommy, dad, and my siblings even though we spent most of our time just making faces back and forth. I was super lucky that Emilia was willing to let us use her computer and that she was also able to arrange a time for a Skype session. It was a little funny that mom didn't recognize my voice at first. I could take that as a complement that I now have a Spanish accent, but I know that isn't true.
 
Quick story: Saturday morning was a little cloudy in the morning so we took raincoats and umbrellas. It did rain on our way to the activity in the morning for the Relief Society, but as the day progressed it cleared up. We ended up back home for just long enough to drop off our rain gear after the activity never expecting that more rain would be on it's way. Tricky Mass. weather. We took a bus to Watham and just before we stepped off the bus it began to sprinkle. There is no harm in a little water so we merrily went on our way. But then it started lightning and a down pour. Helpless without our rain gear we hurriedly made our way to a members home.
 
The member laughed when he opened the door and welcomed us in. We could wring the water from our clothes and I felt bad walking into their home. They were all laughing and told us that they had heard some "greengas" screaming and running down the street, but didn't know it would be us. Let me just say, that the screams were not ours', but a couple of boys on bikes. The family went to find us a towel, but came back with only a hand towel for us both to share. It didn't dry us very much, but we were grateful. As you can see in the pictures we were still soaked to the bone after making a puddle on the floor in the member's home.
 
We sure learned a lot that evening, but what can you learn from two soaking wet sister missionaries? There is a lot to be learned about preparedness and prejudging. But I want to share an insight in a different way. Some times in life we already have what we need. In this case, we had umbrellas and raincoats that would have protected us. We had prepared that morning for what was to come. In life, we are taught by mothers, fathers, leaders and teachers things that we are going to need for the rest of our lives. We take it into account but we sometimes decided to pick and choose when we want to live what we learn. We are not 100% obedient. Sometimes we feel like it what we learned and know doesn't apply to us in the particular situation or that we have grown out of our beliefs. Or we just choose not to listen and obey. In our case, we thought that we were in the clear. We thought that it wasn't going to rain anymore. We start to think that we know what is best. In these situations, we also seem to forget to ask the one who actually knows what is best.
Karee soaked in the rain!

Karee's new companion, Sister Loudie soaked from the rain!
 
 
No matter what the situation God, or Heavenly Father always knows the best. Sometimes we look at where we are in our life and it looks like smooth sailing. There are no clouds in the sky and the sun is shining. It is during these times, that we might let our guard down or we think that we don't need what we have been taught. Things seem to be fine, even though some clouds come, but we either don't notice or try to not pay attention. Then to our surprise we get caught in a storm. We fall down. We are caught without protection or guidance. We wander not knowing what to do or where to go. We might look in many different places to find that comfort and reassurance that someone cares. Sometimes we turn to things or people that cannot help us and actually make us feel worse. We might have found a temporary refuge of a tree only to find that the rain started to knock pollen on us and our situation got worse.
 
No matter how hard or strong the storm is it will not last forever. We will eventually find a place of refuge from the storm. We are protected from further damage of the storm, but we might find that it isn't what we expected. We were given only a hand towel to share. We may feel like we aren't getting the pity or resources that we deserve. We might ask, "why don't you understand that I already knew what I needed to do. I just slipped up and made a mistake?" We still felt wet and uncomfortable. We will continue to feel this way until we turn to the only true source of light and truth. 
 
Just as sure as disobedience (both sin of commission, or knowingly sin, and omission or sinning without fully knowing)  brings discomfort, loneliness and guilt, the light of Christ can bring warmth and comfort to us in these times. No matter how lost and forgotten, how uncomfortable and cold, Christ is there and He will help us if we let him. He has already paid the price for our sins. He can take away all of those feelings of sadness and guilt if we will just give them to Him. If we just repent and desire to change, trusting that through Him and by Him we can be changed and then doing our best to not repeat the sin. Then our lives will once again be filled with His light. Once again we will feel of God's love and we will have a desire to do what ever it is that God asks of us. We can not only become warm and dry, but we can become clean and pure. Better than we ever were before.
 
Hermana Garcia and Emilia

Karee and Emilia. Twins!
Playing garbage can basketball with Daniella