Hola Familia,
I had one of the most fulfilling weeks that I have ever had in my life. This past week was the last week of the transfer and it turned out to be the last week I had in Nápoles, Tacubaya. I got a call Saturday night that I would be going to Cuauhtemoc(Kwow-te-mok), Tenayo. Its fun to say right! However, with this new transfer and area came a wonderful and exciting surprise. I have just been called to be a District Leader! What a great opportunity I have in front of me to serve and to not only help investigators but also missionaries. I am praying and going to fast to know how to carry out this calling to the very best of my abilities. What a responsibility but with the Lord's help I know that I can take in on and lead my district to success! Thank you mom and dad for your excellent examples of carrying out your callings. I can't tell you how excited I am to be in a new area and look for the elect that are prepared and waiting. I was in Nápoles for 6 months which is super rare and such a blessing. I loved the ward, the converts, the investigators, and all the wonderful experiences that I had there.
Speaking of leaving Nápoles, it was incredibly hard to leave. The members were devastated and all told me that I would be missed. They have all told me on multiple occasions how thankful they are for all the work that I did in their ward and for the wonderful families that we helped start going to the ward. They were all telling me things way to nice and a couple cried when I started sharing the news. I have grown to love the ward and it was hard to see them cry, however the missionary that will come and take my place will no doubt be a hard worker also. I gave a talk in the sacrament meeting and it was a special experience to share with them a couple of the amazing moments I had while serving in the ward. It was neat to look out over the stand and see the fruits of the hard work and obedience that my companions and I executed for 6 months. They went by incredibly fast and man they were amazing! I have been writing in my journal every night and I am so thankful for this goal that Craig gave me the idea to set because I want to remember every moment of my time here in the mission.
The hardest part of saying goodbye was to the families that I said goodbye to. They were all wrote a message in a notebook I bought and we took pictures. I shared a couple of thoughts with them and told them just how much I have grown to love them. They all cried and it was hard to finally wave goodbye and walk out the door. However, I know that I need to move on; I have a new opportunity to search for the wonderful souls that the Lord has prepared for me to find and help. I have attached the photos of the families that I have grown to love so much and in the last couple of months. I will never forget them!
One of the photos I am holding a bag of fish! Lourdes and Karina, the two on the far right, bought them for me. They were balling as they told me how much they were going to miss me and I'll never forget the appreciation they have for the little things I was able to do for them. We can't have any type of pet and so I gave them to the two little girls in the photo, the one where we are sitting on a bed. Another family bought me a malcajete (a stone bowl thing to make guacamole) and a maquina (to make homemade tortillas). It was SO hard to say goodbye and know that I will be able to see them again, if not in this life, in the life that comes.
I hope that all of you had a wonderful week because mine was a amazing and super special; I'll never forget it! I love all of you and look forward to informing you all about the wonderful experiences I will have here in a new area.
Con Amor,
Elder Janis
