My Crazy Zone with those who Celebrate Birthdays in November

So this week we spent partly in the house and partly outside. My companion and I continued to switch who was sick and when we had divisions planned they all fell through. Last Monday though we went to the office to  meet with the nurse.  She gave me medicine thinking I had broncolosis again. I am not sure what it was though but it is all good. 

 

In the night time we has a NDH and it was a great lesson. Somehow in the prayer though I felt super bad like I was going to be sick and I was really dizzy. When the prayer was over I just got up to leave and then I had to sit on the floor. I felt really bad and we still didn`t have our phone so that night we didn`t call the Elders. 

 

The next day I felt much better but my comp didn`t. We mainly just stayed in the house except for when we went to get our phone from the office. There was so much rain and flooding in the streets and the lightning was really loud and close, I loved it. It was really funny though because during one really close lighting and thunder a lady screamed. The whole bus was laughing but it was good. On the way back we took a taxi. At one point I was a little worried because I didn`t know where we were going or if he was taking us to the right place. My companion was sleeping and we passed things I had never seen before even a huge bridge. It was really pretty but I didn`t want to go to some place hours away from our area. Then finally he went a way I knew. I talked to him though and he is planning to take his family to church. I really hope he went on Sunday because I know how much it can bless his life.

 



Me

Tuesday night we found out that Wednesday we had interviews with President Stay. I love interviews but there are always things we have to memorize or prepare. Something I have really noticed is that I actuallly have a great memory and I memorized the 13th article of faith in English and Spanish in 5 minutes. President is really here for a reason and I know that a big part of why I am in this mission is him. He knows exactly what to say and how to help us. He talked about spiritual eyes and ears and how they help us to see more but that others may not have them to understand. That made a lot of sense and helped me with some things. 

 

Thursday even though we weren`t fully better we went out to work. I love working a lot and it makes me feel so much better. We also met a new family this week who are actually members. They are excited to start going back to church and their kids are as well. I love  when we meet someone and we can help them to come back to church or help them to know the truth. 

 

So I think just to end this that I will tell you all about my new boyfriend I have here. He is 4 and his name is Bradford. It was so funny because him and his brother has a strength competition lifting their bikes over there head to be my boyfriend. Really he is just a little boy who likes me but he is really cute and likes to tell people, " Ella es mi novia".  Well anyway that is basically it and I will write you all next week. A

Birthday in November in our Zone

dios

Guatemala this Week

Right now I am a little sad to say that I am sick. It all started when my companion was sick a few days ago but we will get into that later. Last P-Day was really great because we got permisison to visit San Juan and San Raymundo. I loved going back and showing my previous area to my companion along with seeing a few people there. I did try to find one of my investigators but I couldn´t find them anywhere. One really cool thing is that I got some clothes from Guatemala. It isn´t from San Juan but I really like it. A recent convert gave it to me. I just love it and I didn´t think it would look good on me but I like it.

Guatemalan Dress from an Investigator 

Thank you Hna. Laura for my Ropa Tipica

Visiting in San Reymundo

 

Tuesday we met with a lot of interesting people. One of them told me about how I can get rid of my asthma. They told me to get a baby cat and raise it for 6 months only feeding it milk and bread. Then kill it and cook it in water and salt. If I eat everything my asthma will be gone. Interesting right? I might just have to try it lol.  Along with that I am so grateful to live in the USA where everyone has the opportunity to learn. If you aren´t great at learning here your parents don´t put you in school. 

 

At the end of that evening, I had a really cool experience. I was in a lesson with a family that always has a lot of questions and they like to argue a bit. I never argue back but bear my testimony. The spirit came really strongly and everyone was crying. Then after I bore my testimony there was complete silence. They didn´t have a single argument, we prayed and left. Really it was such an amazing experience.  

 

Wednesday we went to vist an investigator who only really has time to meet with us on the weekends. When we got to her house she wasn´t there but her mom was. We taught her and at the end our investigator came in. After the lesson we asked if there was anything we could do to help her but she said no and then asked if she joined the church and then didn´t come anymore if she had to pay for all of the service we did. I reassured her that we don´t do service for money. It doesn´t matter if you are a member or not. She felt better about that but it was a little funny. As we left we told her the visit that day would cost 20Q she laughed and told us if we wanted to leave it was 40Q. We joke around about that now. haha

 

Finally we were able to bring the family Aparicio to the house of a member. I know that when we do have a lesson with a member they are so much better. I want the people I teach to remember the members here that helped them more than me. 

The kids in the Family Aparicio menos 1 y plus un amigo

 

On Thurday our phone stopped working and so we have to use a pay phone right now. It isn´t that bad but we don´t call as many people. I opened it up and there were bugs inside but that is Guatemala for you. Good thing I love it here. Right now there is also always a little breeze and so a lot of people fly kites. I love seeing them in the sky. Also I just love seeing all of the fruit trees here. When I have my own house I want to be sure to have a garden and fruit trees. I always loved that growing up. 

 

Friday we had a zone meeting and I met some of the new people in my zone. We all are working hard and the new girl in my district worked with my companion from the CCM, Hna. Coats in Nicuragua. It was nice to find out how she is doing.  Speaking of companions it is official that only one of mine is in the mission and that is my companion right now. All of the other ones are in another mission or home, how weird is that. 

 

Saturday my companion woke up and went to use the bathroom and then she blacked out. Luckily I was there to catch her but she still hit her head on the wall a little bit. That day she just slept and in the night felt better. Then the next day I woke up with a fever. The good news is that I made a plan of salvation but there is so much more to do and lots of people to visit so I hope I get better soon.  

 

Spending time outside when my companion was not feeling well

I am really excited to hear from you and I will tell you more about what happened in my week next week. I feel fine aside from having a fever but it was really funny one night when my comp and I were outside to call the elders from a payphone and report the data. It was pouring and no one was answering we just laughed and made a great memory. We should get a new phone today though which will be good. 

In Guatemala we have Dogs inChurch

Una Semana Mas

The title to this email was made by my district leader. Sometimes it is hard to always be creative but the good news is that I am always coming up with creative things to do in the work here. It is crazy to think that I have spent 6 weeks here in Ciudad Quetzal and that now I will have six more. For some reason at the beginning of the week I felt like I would be leaving here only after this one change. That made me a little sad since there is so much happening here. Then as the week went on I felt more comfortable with the change that would come. Then on Saturday, I had a feeling I wouldn´t be leaving and that I would be staying here. It is weird how I know things like this. I asked Hermana. Calero the other day if I had changes and she said that I did. Then when I had the feeling I wouldn't be leaving, I recived notice that there were no changes. Sorry this may not make sense to some of you, but I think it is cool that the spirit can testify to us as well what will happen. 

 

Last Monday I went to a huge mall in the Capital called Villa Flor. I felt like I was in the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas a little bit. It was fun to go and explore a bit.  Like always though coming back the busses are always super full.  

 

Sharing Gospel with Good Food, Fun and Spirit

Tuesday we had a zone meeting which was really nice. I really love Zona Milagro because we have really great leaders and they are really pushing us to be our best and have a great plan. I feel inspired to reach even higher and do my best when I am with them. Our Stake President even comes to our meetings with our zones and shares the best insights and gives the best advice.  After the zone meeting my companion and I rushed to Quetzal to eat, get our things and then leave for divisions with the sister training leaders. Hermana Calero is leaving to go home since she has been here 19 months. For the last division she wanted to have it with me. I loved working with her.

 

There is a man in her area that has been an investigator for about 23 years or more. I had a lesson and talked about my experiences and how we cannot just be idle with the things that we know. I also explained about when I was baptized and how I wish I wouldn´t have waited so long to make that step when I knew it was true. After that he told Hna. Caleo that he would be getting baptized in a month. She was so amazed and it felt truly amazing.

 

Wednesday we ended our divisions and I went back to my area. I am happy to report that I am seeing miracles wherever I am here in Guatemala but especially in the area that I am working in. It is so much fun to leave every morning not knowing how things will go or who I will meet.  At the end of the day while waiting for a bus, my companion and I were talking to these little kids. They asked us who we were and if we could teach them something in English. Then when the bus came they all chased it as it left saying bye and thank you.  How cute right?

 

Thurday, we started teaching a lot more new families. It was so funny in one of the lessons, because after it was over we asked one more time if anyone had and questions or needed anything. There was one little daughter who asked if she could go and live with us. I love little kids so much!  We also met with a part member family for the first time and set a date with the husband. He has read the Book of Mormon and knows that it is ture. He has not once met with misisonaries because he was always afraid of what his family would think.  It is such a great feeling to feel the spirit working through us.

 

Friday I was a little sad when I went to the Aparicio families house and they were doing some things they shouldn´t.  We ended up not having an official lesson but we talked with Jazmin the mom and she spoke about all of the ways their family is changing for the better especially with her husband. It was nice to see how even they are noticing the differences and while they are not yet ready to be baptized they are preparing for this Grande Paso.  

 

This was also the day of Elder Mendoza´s birthday so we went as a district to eat lunch at a members house. The food was really good and she had us take pictures as little people with our shoes at our knees which was funny. We even sang head, shoulders, knees and toes for her. 

 

Saturday we used the time we had for lunch to cook since we do not have a Comedor on Saturday or Sunday. I was really excited for this because I really love to cook and teach others as well. We made a tuna casserole which is my companions favorite food and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. When I have a family I want to share meals with people and invite them over to eat,

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

that would be so much fun and would be a great way to share the gospel with good food, fun and the spirit.

 

My New Planner

This Sunday was fast Sunday here and there was a lot that needed to get done. We always leave the house on Sunday at 6am to help get people ready. This week we did a lot of service and knocked on a lot of doors. Then at church the elders had an investigator family who was there. The little two year old felt weird and didnt want to go to her class. The mom was out in the hall with her so I took them into a classroom and made a special little lesson for her. She really liked that and went to the last class by herself. 

 

Later in the day we contacted two new families who are now our investigators as well. Something happened with the mom and we just clicked. They are like my best friends here which is really cool. We get along really well and I am excited to work with them more. Well That is about it for the week. I hope that you have a great week and I will right again next week. Adios!!!!

God Speaks

Right now I am soaking wet but I love it. For a week or so I thought the rain was gone but now it is back!!!! This week has really been amazing. I really do think the more that I am on my mission the more that I love it and don,t want to leave. There was something really amazing that did happen this week. If you don´t know what I am refering to it is General Conference. If you didn't get to watch it, DO IT!!!!! Your life will be so blessed.

 

Night Time in My Area

So last Monday my companion and I went to Walmart and we bought a lot of food to make cookies and good meals. I am really excited and she is excited to learn how to cook. Then on Tuesday the elders had  us make a Baptism Plan for October to give to President Stay. We had less than 24 hours to do it with a busy day. We finally fishished it and ran to the church. I think it turned out pretty well though. 

 

On Friday we had a differnet tyoe of activity with our awesome investigator family. Anderson wanted to make a note book to get ready for Conference.  I think it turned out amazingly and he even wrote a question in it about how he could feel the spirit.  

 

Anderson with his Notebook we made.  It was great!

Roses from our Yard

The General Conference was the highlight of the week and everyone in my district had investigators there. It was really awesome. I felt like the main themes were placing Christ in the Center of our lives, strengthening our selves and enduring through trials.  

 

On Sunday I hit my 8 month mark on my mission. After conference, was a busy day of visiting our investigators and teaching. It was going well but then once again all of the animals were against us. We decided to go and study after we got attacked by five dogs. They didn´t bite us but it was close. My companion and I were both on the ground and we have some bruises but it is all good. I love doing this work. Well,  have a great week!

Mosquito on our Roses - they love us!

 
 

Honoring Covenants

Good Morning!!! I am really happy right now. I think I am happy most of the time but I just love hearing from those that I love on Monday. I hope that everything is going well. This week was really great. 

Making Molinetes - Pinwheels

 

On Monday I finally was able to just relax in the house. That never really happens so I thought that it was amazing. After that we went to teach the Aparicio family about the Word of Wisdom. They have a little bit of problems with this but they all comitted to change the bad habits they have. So far they are doing very well. When someone has the desire to follow the commandments they will be given the power to do so. The next day we also taught about the law of chastity and they began planning their wedding. Basically everyone I know here needs to be married before they are baptized. I love being with this family though and seeing how they all work to strengthen one another. All week there were activites in the church for the kids that I didn´t even know about and they went to every single one. To make things even better at the end of one of our lessons, the two youngest kids asked how old you have to be to get baptized. I told them 8 and they both got a huge smile on their face and said, "YES!!!!!".  We left that lesson beaming.  

 

It seems like lately we have only been contacting Jehovah´s Witnesses. It is really interesting to talk to them but I have become better at it. We teach basic principles of the gospel. They really do have a good knowlege of the scriptures.  

 

The Bishops wife was talking to me this week and she told me that I look like a latina and that my accent is  really good. There are just a few words where I sound like a gringa. That was interesting to learn. I knew that my Spanish was pretty good but I wasn't sure about my accent.  

 

I feel like we have had a lot of problems with animals this week. Our house is a grave yard for bugs. Also there are a lot that are living. We at one point in the week had a beehive growing in our backyard. I tried killing it but it didn´t fall so we had to use the bug spray. :(

Another problem is that all the dogs wanted to attack us this week. For some reason they only seem to be in the street where our investigators live.  

 

Thursday we had a Zone Conference where we learned about all of the new standards of excellence. We were also given ideas on how we could reach them and had a lot of practice. It was really great and I am so excited to work really hard. 

 

Zone Conference 9.13

Saturday we were also able to watch the Relief Socitey Broadcast which talked a lot about covenants. Why they are important, how we honor them. There was also a lot about how our trials can help us cling to our covenants and they really do strengthen us in this life. I know that this is true. I am so grateful for all of the trials I have had in my life. I am also really excited for the opportunity to watch General Conference this weekend. I want all of you to take the time to watch it. Have questions in mind that you want answered. The conference is on Saturday and Sunday. You can find out more information on LDS.org. Any way have a great week. Thank you for your love and support!

Using Every Second

I feel like the work here is really progressing. I am not sure what is going on but I am working my hardest. This week we had over 20 lessons, 10+ hours of service and we have 14 new investigators. Evey day I felt super tired and I wasn't really sure why, but now I am thinking it is because of how hard we are always working. 

 

Last Monday we had another crazy p-day going to many different places to prepare for the week. One day I will hopefully be able to relax just a little bit. It is good to be working hard though. After we sent letters we went to the Mega Paca because my companion needed some new skirts. Hers are long and there is usually a lot of rain so she needed shorter skirts.

 

Tuesday was a big day of service. We thought we would be helping one of our investigator families for about an hour but we were there for about four and then we helped out another member. We helped our investigators with their scooter which was out of gas and had flat tires. It was a lot of work but also a little fun. Then on the way home we went to another members house on the way to see if they needed help. Usually they say no but they really needed help that day so they were really grateful we were there. In the end, we ended up making chuchitos, tamales and paches. I helped teach my companion what to do. They told me that I needed to live in Guatemala after my mission because I was really good at making the masa and everything. 

 

I am truly grateful for all of the time I spent in San Juan because I learned a lot about the culture and how to do things. They say I am a puro Sanjanera. lol.

 

Reunion de Hermanas

We changed our weekly planning session to Wednesday this week becasue we had a repair man coming to our house. Our land lord really likes to make sure the house is in working order. It is good though because before we had a little bit of problems with water. In the night we went with the Familia Aparicio. They are so amazing. My favorite investigator Anderson is there. He is 11 but really wants to receive an answer. He is always reading the scriptures and asks great questions. This week he asked several about how he could feel the Holy Ghost and pray sincerly. It is amazing to see the desire he has. The rest of that family is great as well. In other words they are bien pilas!!!

 

For the rest of the week we did not have to plan any lessons the night before because our agendas were super full. Most of this week is planned as well. It is amazing to see the work here and to be a part of it. At one point my companion and I were praying that everyone we contacted would be a reference for the Elders in our area because there are so many people we need to teach but not enough time. Luckily, I know with the Lord´s help we can do it all. 

 

One good thing is that we are finally getting to know more and more members here. I love working with them and geting to know them better. Saturday´s we also teach an English class. It is a lot of fun and even helps us to learn a little more Spanish.

 

Sunday was really great as well. I played the piano in church and while it wasn´t perfect we had music. This week should be better though because the bishop has a keyboard in their house they are going to give us to use. That means that in the night after we finish everything and before we leave in the morning we can practice!!!! I am excited to learn how to play.  Also I gave a talk in church about missionary work. As early as  yesterday afternoon we saw some fruits of that take place.  Well I hope you all have a great week. I know that I will. Thank you for your love and support.

Buscar Los Frutos

I feel like every week on my mission I am just happier and happier. I love doing this work and I love being a missionary. Right now I feel like there is so much work to do and so many people to help. In my area we have a lot of new families that we are teaching this week and they really have a desire to know and follow Jesus Christ. To me that is so amazing and I will do everything I can to help them come unto Him and make covenants. The blessings of the gospel are infinate and eternal. 

 

Last Monday we had a regular p-day. I feel like in my new area there is a lot more time to do different things. We also bought boots which have really helped a ton. Every afternoon it pours and the streets turn into muddy rivers. I kind of love it now though and with boots there isn't any river we can´t cross.

 

In the evening though we had a lesson with the family Aparicio. There are three children in this family and two parents. The day I met them the youngest turned eight. They have such a strong desire to learn and know what they can do to be better. After the lesson we asked if they would be baptized. The question they asked was how. "What things do we have to do to change and prepare to be baptized?" That was so cool to see that they want to change and be better. Later in the week we taught them about the restoration and afterwards the dad said,"I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but how can we learn more about him?" The next lesson we watched the prophet of the retoration and when it was over they wanted to watch it again. They all have a Book of Mormon and wrote there names in it. They also read differnt parts, mark the scriptures and have questions. It is amazing. This is the same family that when I came into the area I saw there name and I knew we needed to focus on them. 

 

Tuesday we had zone meeting and recieved a whole new list for the Standards of Excellence. It seems like it will be a little hard but I know that I can do it. We have already started seeing some of the fruits of our efforts as we have set out to meet these standards this week.  

 

Being with my new companion is good. Like all companionships at first we need to adjust but I feel like we can do a lot together.  It was a little hard a first because she felt bad about how much I knew about the gospel and she felt she needed to know more. She thought that I was perfect but I am helping her see that I am not. That we are both here to help each other. Also, I think she just needed a little help to realize how amazing she is.  Being from the same culture really does help a lot of things though.  

 

On Thursday we had a sister Conference. It was nice to see all of the sisters. There are 32 of us and the chruch will only allow up to 40 in this misison because it is dangerous. We had an activity where we were were blind folded and didn´t get any directions. I didn´t really understand it but it was fun and the rest of the conference we learned a lot and ate good food. 

 

Friday we found a new family. The Ortega family. In this family there are the parents and then there 1.5 year old daughter. They want to learn so much and were given a Book of Mormon four years ago but never had the lessons. They have a lot of questions and we have spent up to 2 hours There several times. When we try to make it shorter the time just passes by. I am not sure how to change that. In the first lesson they told us they felt something different than with any other preacher or religion. They like how we teach from the scriptures and that they need to know for themselves directly from God. They told me, you are so sincere. It was really good that people in our first contact can recognize a difference and know we are representatives of Jesus Christ.

 

Saturday was the day before Independence Day but they celebrate everything the day before. The run in the streets with torches and blew whistles. They also would go throwing water on people. My companion was soaked but I saw what was going on and stepped out of the way.  haha. 

 

We also went to practice the piano because there is no one that can play in this ward. I have never learned how to play but I could play the songs. It is so cool. It is only one note at a time and the melody but I will now be playing in church. Wish me luck.  

 

Sunday was also a little busy day becasue there were a lot of parades and things going on. My favorite part of the day though was my personal study on faith. It was different than the others and the spirit was really strong. When it was over I almost wanted to cry. It is amazing- I just love studying the scriptures and learning so much.  

 

Well that was basically my week. Thank you for everything. Oh and my district has 5 Nortes and one Latino it is funny. Have a great week