Haircuts and Eyebrow Scissors

ust wanted to drop you guys a quick line

- new year same lice-

but anywayssss

buen dia buen dia!!!!!

first off AH first baptism this week with my all time best friend emanuel! it was amazing and everything i could ever dream of😍 my companion and i were able to sing the spirit of god and we thank thee oh god for a prophet in honor of our sweet president monson. ill send a video next week<3

yes, the rumors are true i cut my companions hair with eyebrow scissors but before you think what were we thinking, just go look at the pics of her she looks DANKER THAN EVER

everyone here tells us we are angels and my bishop is convinced i am shakira???? yeah idk

i have to say, missions are physically, emotionally, and mentally draining in all aspects. but oh how rewarding they are:) before i came on my mission, making the decision to come was the easiest decision i have ever made. but once i was here, actually doing it and going through the trials that i was always told about, i couldnt help but think "im a girl, i dont have to be here, im choosing to be here." if im being completely honest with you all, it wasnt until this week that that thought completely left my mind. there is ABSOLUTELY nothing more i want to do with my life right now, than to become closer and more like my savior jesus christ. life at home is just as hard as life here. different and rewarding in different ways, yes. but i have finally realized that, there is no better place to be, to become closer, better, grow, and learn than on a mission. 

it all started with reading some talks about the priesthood this week. and realizing how big of an influence women actually have on priesthood holders. (just wondering why i didnt realize how major it is until now???? thank goodness im here.) i learned of my imprtance and calling as a woman of the church and i can honestly say that i have found the answers i have been searching for since day one of my mission. i´d love to share some of the things i read, that had such a great impact on me:)

i can say that i think about my future family at least 1000 times a day, pray for my future husband and kids at least 2000 times a day. thats a big reason as to why i am here!! the talk i read that changed my whole perspective of my mission. the main idea is just about how  men who have integrity of heart are men to be trusted, because trust is built on integrity. i love when the scriptures use the phrase "integrity of heart" when it describes a persons character. men who have the "integrity of heart" are men to be trusted because trust is built on integrity. being a man of integrity simply means your intentions, as well as your actions, are pure and righteous in all aspects of your life, both in public, and in private. with each decision we make we either gain gods trust or lose it. and this principle shows the divinely appointed responsibilities as husbands and fathers. husbands and fathers have the responsibility from modern day prophets, seers, and revelators in the family, a proclamation to the world- fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness, - fathers are responsible to provide the necessities of life, and fathers are responsible to protect their families. 

 as i was reading this i was like dangggg men have so many responsibilities, how can i possibly help them and what can i do to marry a man with these qualities?! how can i play my part and what should i do? this first thing is to be righteous. being righteous doesnt mean being perfect or never making mistakes. it means developing an inner connection with god, repenting of our sins and mistakes and freely helping others. we arent perfect, but we know how to repent and keep trying! the second is to be articulate. clearly expressing how we feel about something and why. each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons for our faith. how do you feel about jesus christ? why do you stay in the church? why do you believe the book of mormon is scripture? where do you get your peace? "be not afraid but sanctify the lord god in your hearts, and be ready to always give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" the third is to be different. innovation and creation are spiritual gifts! when we keep our covenants it may make us different from others but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions, different approaches, different applications. we arent always going to fit in the world, but being different in a positive way can be a life line to others who are struggling. we need to practice living the gospel before emergencies so that, unafraid, we will be strong enough to help when others are being "swept by the current" and lastly, the fifth is to do one through four in happy ways!! keeping the laws of god, and lifting and building others. when we build, when we lift the burdens of others, it blesses our lives in ways our trials cannot take away. "you dont build out of pessimism or cynicism. you look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen" there is an energy that comes from happiness and optomism that doesnt just bless us, it builds everyone around us. any small thing we do to light real happiness in others.

after reading these 2 talks together i asked myself these questions. - will you be righteous? will you articulate your faith? can you bear being distinct and different? will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship? will you turn on your light?

i know, that personally, if i want my answer to be yes to all these things i need to stay right where i am in uruguay, continuing to serve my jesus christ, being full of faith, from a full time mission<3

xoxo hna mcewan❤