Monday, September 28, 2015

WEEK 71

Whew!!! I have time for a super quick update this week!!!! Several things happened this week...I lost my wallet with a bunch of really important stuff in it, a member found it later on the side of the road, it was a complete miracle that they found it, and no one took anything! I felt really grateful. 


"It's been raining a ton here!"

"A member showing up in the exact moment we are getting drenched!"
Dulce (investigator) got married. It was the event of the year pretty much the whole town went. Never seen anything like that in my life. 

But the best part is that she got BAPTIZED!!!! The Sunday after. And it was really beautiful. The room was full of people supporting her. She's been listening to the missionaries for a while now, her husband is less active. Hadn't gotten baptized yet because they weren't married. She was emotional after when she gave her testimony, said that she knew this is the true church, and that she wants to be sealed with her husband and baby for eternity. Her non-member parents came to the baptism and were crying as well, it was really emotional and something I won't forget! We are excited to keep working with their family so that they can get to the temple! 

Dulce's baptism- her husband is on the left
I absolutely loved general women's conference. As a missionary I just feel like I soak up every message and the conference flew by as if it were only 5 minutes. Got me really excited for this next weekend when we will watch general conference!!!  I feel like the messages the women gave us this past Saturday were so specific for our generation, i know they are inspired by God what they should say and how they should say it. 

I've been learning a lot and having a lot of great experiences but I'm struggling to put them into words right now...that's the mission in a nut shell ha. I've made a lot of changes on the mission but still have lots to work on. I'm really really thankful for the opportunity to have this calling. We are truly set apart from the world and its a beautiful feeling. I'm overwhelmed by how much Heavenly Father watches over all his children and knows whats best for each one of them. I know I needed this experience to help me be a better person. I will keep working hard until the end.

I so appreciate the emails I get from everyone encouraging me. I've been very blessed. Until next week! 

Monday, September 21, 2015

WEEK 70

Hermana Best promised some updates come October, but here are pictures to tide us over until then:


"We bought slingshots because they are wild dogs, and they bite haha."


"Puttin' on a show for us. Everyday something new."
"Loved these clouds."
"BEST VIEW EVER! We are so lucky to live in a tall building! Every night I see Puebla's city lights gleaming, and in the morning THIS!!! Those little figures are PUEBLA on the horizon. I love it here."
"Our last zone conference :( "
"Not a lot of food at the Ward Mexican Independence Day activity."
Maybe one more "pot" of corn?
"My first tortilla... ok a little ripped but it's OK!"

Monday, September 14, 2015

WEEK 69

Here are a few fun pics from our favorite Hermana:

"El Popo"

"In the boonies"

"Half pony half donkey :)"

Monday, September 7, 2015

WEEKS 67-68

ALOOOOHA! Thats how they say hello in Nealtican.
No, not true, thats only in Hawaii and its a total doozy.

Well I'm going to be honest, the first part of this week was a bit tough. Yes, GENERALLY SPEAKING as missionaries we are some of the most positive, filled to the brim with faith people you could meet on planet earth and I love every moment of having this calling. But we also have our moments of disappointment and discouragement. This week was filled with a TON of 'he/shes not home' 'come back another week' or 'we really don't need your help, thank you'. One person even added as we left (by means of cornfield) 'and be careful with the dog, it doesn't bark but all of a sudden it'll bite ya'. OK....good tip thank you!

Let me paint a picture for you of the two wards. (And yes, now I know how to say them and whose who) (mostly)

You got Xaltepetl. The ward thats actually in Nealtican (my zone). Small town, our area is LITERALLY about 3 streets. Every time I'm asking for names of people to try to get referrals my comp is quietly saying 'they're members.' haha well I gotta keep asking I guess or we'll never find the people that aren't! I've attached a pic of a banner as you leave the town. Its wishing a good trip to a Mariachi band thats comprised of a ton of members from our ward, they're super talented. The kid 2 in from the left  is our ward mission leader, an ex missionary thats super pumped about the work so thats great! His sisters are in an all girls mariachi band, I'm pretty jealous about that haha, and they also accompany us to lessons and one put in her mission papers! Definitely one of the coolest families I've met on the mission. We have one investigator with a baptism date for the 27 of September, she's getting married the day before! 

The picture (sorry, tried to lighten it as much as I could :/)
Xalitzintla I don't have a picture of because were never there on Mondays. Its an even smaller town , snuggled RIGHT up next to the volcano! Most people there aren't home if we try to spontaneously look for them because they work in the fields. It's overflowing with sweet little old people that walk around barefoot, not kidding. When we offer to help people they have put us to work with some interesting tasks. 

Off the top of my head, this week we helped load a bunch of dead, yellow, plucked chickens by their ankles from a big tub of warm water to a truck where they were going to take them to a party (50 chickens for one party, and thats nothing they say). The sensation was...interesting. We also helped to peel the bark off these weird...sticks? For this guy that makes bread baskets out of it. Super painful with all the bark and dirt jamming into my nails, then it started raining heavily. Went into the man's house for shelter and the power went out. He lit a fire and we realized we were in a shack type thing where he stores all the sticks for the baskets he makes. My comp politely asked if he wasn't nervous that the fire could spread being that we were surrounded by planks of wood? Laughing he told us that of course not!!! Super interesting. We shared a scripture by firelight. The mission is pretty cool. 

Another... interesting task performed by Lauren and her companion? Shoveling cow poop.
BUT AFTER MANY SHUT DOORS I had one of the most beautiful experiences of my mission this week....I was hoping to have some pics from it by the sister still hasn't sent them. The young women in the stake had a ONE DAY IN THE MISSION activity. We started by the 6 of us sisters in the zone each talking about a different theme (preparing spiritually, how to dress, etc) it was really great! Then they assigned each of us several young girls for a mini training. I taught an amazing group of 4 girls and all the words just flowed and came to my mind what I should tell them as far as how to teach! I did a demonstration first, then put them in groups to practice teaching. I felt like an MTC teacher, it was an odd sensation and I decided teaching is one of the best callings in the entire universe and I want to work with youth my whole life! Haha.

Then we went out to go teach a friend or family member that isn't a member of the church and had tons of success! I'm summarizing this a TON but by the end we were all teary eyed because the Spirit was sooo strong the entire day. It was such an uplifting activity. My little young women became my little sisters and they all say they want to go on the mission!!! I hugged the young women stake pres. after and we were just crying and i told her 'it turned out so beautiful' and she was just nodding . It was incredible. Im so happy to be on the mission!!!! adios!!!