General Conference

The conference was really good! I loved it and learned a lot. The talk from President Monson was super good and it made me feel good that it's not only in mission that they're always talking about obedience haha! And of course Elder Holland and Elder Oaks were good. I really enjoyed it all. I remember before that I felt like the conferences never end and now I feel like they go by so fast!! I was able to see in English for the last three sessions. Just the first on Saturday I saw in Spanish. It was kind of hard to understand because there were two talks that the people talked really fast so then the translations were super fast. It's never as good as listening in English. Also Elder Falabella is from here! Woohoo! That was awesome to see.

We had a good week. We're really working with the Family Caal. The one that has all the kids. Sofia, Cesar, and Rigoberto are really coming along. This week we were able to talk about the restoration and put a date to baptize them. We have to work more with the parents to baptized them sooner but they really pay attention. The other two are a little bit younger and don't put as much attention. But of course they'll follow the family.

We're working with a family, the parents are Amalia and René. They're Evangelists but they really like the church. One of the sons was able to make it to the conference (that's why I saw one in Spanish) and really liked it. They're probably going to come this Sunday to church to see what it's like.

We also had a good experience. We were trying to visit a less active and when we got there they weren't there. We were knocking and the neighbor poked her head out to tell us that they weren't there. So we started talking to her and we were able to share a little. She really like the hymn I'm a child of God. She almost started to cry. They're searching for a church. Because she's raised Evangelist, her husband Catholic, and they can't decide on one. So maybe they'll go for the middle and choose the Mormons haha.

We're having alot of success here and loving it. My companion is great and we love every moment together. I'm glad that you were able to have a good week and hope that everything goes well this week. Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zone Conference

Things went well here. We were able to find lots of new families but I'll let you know after this week because we just put appointments with them. But it was a nice week. Friday we had zone conference and we were able to learn a lot about how we can work better. We did some practices and we able to find what we need to work on. They're focusing a lot on baptism invitations. That we shouldn't be afraid to invite the people because this is why we are here. And even more in that we have the Spirit with us so that they feel it in the lessons, that we can invite them to be baptized, and what we need to do to help them accept the invitation. It was really good and we really felt the Spirit. I feel like I've been growing a lot recently in trusting more in God and trying to complete my role and a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ.

We visited the family Caal (they're the ones that have the kids that are going to teach us Q'eqchi'. They're doing alright. The one that's progressing the most in Sofia (the oldest) but it's hard to meet with her because of her work. But we're working with it.

We were disappointed this Sunday because we didn't have any investigators there.....but we're working with them. I'm excited for this week because it's General Conference!!!!!! It's going to be great! I love all of the talks and everything!

Hope that you like the pictures. They're from Samuc Champey. The "Tikal" in Cobán. It was awesome and tons of fun. We wanted to go swimming so bad because it was a little hot but we were good and only put our feet in. It helped cool us off.

Well hope that you all have a great week! Love you tons and tons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Investigators

I had a good week! We were able to work a lot. We visited with a lot of less active members. There's one that's really awesome. Her name's Thelma. She's come to church two weeks in a row and she's willing to change and do things right. She has two daughters that are super great as well. It makes me super happy to see her there. It's been a little hard for her because single mother and all but she wants to do things right. Juana and her daughter don't want anything. So we don't visit anymore.

We also found a really good family! They're awesome! There's like 7 of them. There's three more children but I think that they live in the capital. The girl that we contacted wasn't there but the others told us that she's reading the Book of Mormon and we were able to share with the rest about the book and especially the parents. We feel like they're ready and it should go well. We also have an agreement with them that they're going to teach us Q'eqchi' and we're (or I'm) going to teach them English. They're like little rays of sunshine that we've found.

Well this week is the semana santa (Holy Week) leading up to Easter. Hopefully things will go well this week. There's a lot of Catholics here and they do parade like things where they carry a Jesus that's carrying a cross on their shoulders. I don't understand exactly why but they do. They also decorate the streets with colored sand or something that are called alfombras. Some are pretty creative. We missed the parade yesterday but they tell us that Friday and Saturday we're going to see a lot more. Sweet! We had to walk through one of the group (they do mini groups as well leading up to the big event) and there was a guy video taping it with the camera and we both walked right in front of it. Opps! So the ormon missionaries are going to show up the catholic movie....that was a mistake. Also the ward that I'm in has a trip to the temple this weekend. Friday and Saturday. That makes it a little hard to work because we have to have a member but we'll figure things out.

Well, hopefully the weather is good this week. Last week was super nice and it's kind of raining today but hopefully it'll be nice the rest of the week!

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

40-80 degrees!

So we had a pretty good week this week. We worked hard and we had lots of appointments. Some fell through but we're coming along. Sunday we were able to leave with an ex-missionary that helped us out a lot. So far we pretty much know the members and we working on getting more investigators. We have a lady names Juana and her daughter. They're kind of rejecting us a little. I don't know it's weird with them because she acts like she doesn't want us to come and then after she's like, why aren't you visiting. I don't know. We'll see what happens with her. We found a new family this Sunday, they're evangelists, but we're going to visit them and see what happens as well. Some of their neighbors don't attend church so maybe we can work with them as well.

We had stake conference this weekend and it went really well. We really felt the spirit and were able to bring some less active members. They really liked it. The members are all super great and really help us out with everything.

Today we went to see some caves that were pretty cool. This week was cold but finally warmed up this weekend and it's like in the 80s right now. It was in the 40s before. I had my coat, scarf, boots, leggings, like everything to try to stay warm haha. Yeah the houses are definitely different here. They don't have stuff to keep the house warm or hot and there isn't anything like conditioning or heating. Just some fans when it's hot haha. But it's all good. I like it! Hope you enjoy the warmer air as well!

I hope that you all have a great week and enjoy the pic! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My new companion and I at the caves

 

Coban

This week was pretty good. Tuesday I went around visiting people and saying goodbye. Wednesday I went to Santa Elena in the morning. Waited for the transfer with the other sisters and finally I knew that I was going to Coban. So then we went to the terminal around lunch time to take the bus and found out that there was a bus that wasn’t going directly to Coban with this group anymore. So three elders and I went a different route. We even had to cross a river in a boat (that doesn't happen too often in the mission....!) and finally made it to COBAN! And it was raining when we got there haha. Not too much just a little. I met my new companion. Her name's Hermana Cena and she's from El Salvador! She's really great! She's 19 years old! I thought I wouldn't get to meet a young one but here she is.

We're basically opening area because we were going to be three but the other’s visa came so she's going to her assigned mission. So we're learning the area. We already feel pretty good here and this week we're looking forward to working here.

Sorry I don't have much time today! Love you all and be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Goodbye Hermana Branderas!

Transfers!

Well....Daniel's baptism didn't happen....there was some stuff that happened. He left his aunt's house to live with his father (the father lives here in Poptùn) supposedly to "help" him. We weren't able to visit him but the elders did because it's in their area. He lied to the elders and the aunt lied to us as well. Right now we don't believe either side of the story and in the end it didn't work out. So that fell through.

 We had a good week. We really got out and worked on finding new people. We were able to get some more and we also received some references from some members so that'll help the area a lot.

I have a TRANSFER. It's for sure outside of the capital but I don't know where. They tell me that possibly Coban (it rains a lot and is cold there). I'm excited but also a little nervous. I'm going to be training again. I really hope that I don't die of cold there.....It's been hot here but the last few days we had a cold that wasn't as bad as last time but I didn't really enjoy it haha. Maybe I have to go there so that I don't die when I come home from cold ;) haha! But it should be great! A new experience and the best way to finish the mission! My companion as well will be staying here and is going to train. I'm excited for here. She's a little nervous but she'll do awesome.

Love you all and have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Hot, Hot, Hot

I can't believe that snow back home! I told Dad this but right now I can't even imagine snow. It's hot here. Yep we're sweating a ton. Drinking tons of water. Sometimes you shower at night because it's hot....but we're doing good haha! I always tell Anna to send me some cool air so that we don't die down here. I don't know what the temperature is here but it's got to be in the 90s. And with the dirt roads we have feet nice and tan at the end of the day for the dust haha!

 So this transfer we have 7 weeks because of the mission area changes that they're doing so this week is week 7 and next week are the transfers. We'll see what happens. It could be that I go, my companion goes, or we get a third. All we know is that like 40 missionaries are going to be entering this transfer. Maybe more.

Daniel is definitely coming along well. He finished the Book of Mormon. He's going to get baptized this Saturday!! He has a goal to graduate from institute and then convert his family to the gospel because he knows that it can really help them. We're so proud of him. He was so cute one day because we were talking about him getting baptized and he has such a hunger to learn that he asked if we were going to finish teaching him before his baptism. We said yes and he asked what would happen after, if we would stop visiting. We told him that we would keep visiting and that others would visit as well. He was happy haha! Tonight we're going to have family home evening with his family and Nilza's family (the girl that left for the mission).

We're also working with Marisol and Charlotte. We put a date with them to get baptized but this Sunday they couldn't come to church. We're not really sure what's going to happen with them because they're kids so it's alittle bit harder.

The family Flores made it to church again this Sunday so that was good. We're not really sure what to do with them because the parents really don't have much interest in learning more but they keep going because the son likes it. We're going to try focusing on just him and see what happens from there.

Well this week we went to a wedding. One of the members got married this week and invitied us all to his wedding so we got to go! It was awesome! The elders told that early in the morning the day before the wedding they went and helped kill the cow for the food that we would eat. Crazy! My companion and I just went to see them get married and then we got to eat. It was really good! And then we left because they started all the dancing and stuff haha. But it was really nice to see. This morning they were supposed to get sealed in the temple which is even better!!!!!

We also had a mission activity where we did a movie night. But not too many people showed up. We were alittle put down but we'll do a better activity the next time and involve people so they have to at least show up for a little bit haha!

Well I hope that you all have a great great week! Love you tons and tons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!