February 14, 2017

I truthfully cannot believe that this day has come. I have been feeling like crying since I woke up. 

My companion had to go back home, and she left on Thursday. Her veins were swollen and that is kind of really dangerous and so they sent her home so that they can start her treatment. She is going to have to have like a month of bedrest. So, I was able to leave on Thursday in the afternoon and I kind of felt like I was starting my mission over again, getting used to walking. Haha. But it's all good. 

I just want you guys to be ready for anything. I don't know how I am going to take being home again, and all I ask for is patience. 

Te amo mami, y no puedo esperar para verte. 

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Blackham

January 30, 2017

I have so many mixed feelings this week, it is kind of unreal. I can almost feel that time is running out. I have a feeling that these next two weeks are going to be some of the fastest weeks of my life and they might be full of tears of gratitude and stress and who knows what else. 

This week I learned a lesson that we need to trust in God and that everything turns out the way that they need to. on Saturday we had a baptism, and we also had a zone conference. The zone conference started at 9 and ended at around 2. Then we went and ate and leaving there we had to go to the church to clean and fill up the baptismal font. First I will tell the story of what went wrong. We started the day without the baptismal clothing for the young woman who was going to be baptized, without keys to the church, without keys to the baptismal font, without knowing how to fill up the baptismal font, without the programs made, without things to clean the font, and without people. The elders dropped clothes off at the church while we were eating, and we ate with the sister who is in charge of cleaning the chapel, so we had keys. We figured out how to clean the font, we opened the doors that show the font and the son of Sister Talamantes climbed in from there to open the door from the inside. We figured out how to fill the fon with the water and we ended up being able to clean it, also. The bishop arrived and we used the church computer to print and make the programs. Everyone came and we started only 10 minutes late. That baptism was a real miracle. 

We don't have much planned for this week. It has been cold, but not how it was last year. The elder from Canada speaks English and a little bit of French, about the same that I talked before the mission. I like going to church because it is the only time that I have to truly reflect on my personal goals and enjoy other people teaching. Although sometimes we have to teach a few classes because the teachers do not come. Casas Grandes was formed by the Mormons who came here because they were practicing Polygamy. It is kind of old. There is one museum, but it is closed on Monday so we can't go and visit it.

January 22, 2017

My typical day is that we walk a LOT. I think that is the only typical thing. And the time that we have to be able to study. The normal in the mission is that nothing is  normal. Haha :)

There are four missionaries in my district, and one of them is from Canada!!!!! Elder Noftle (Canada), Elder Gonzalez (Veracruz), Sister Alvarez (Oaxaca), and Me!!

This week I studied a lot about the Godhead, and how they are three different Beings. That was actually kind of really cool to study that, and I can see how so many people think that the Godhead is just one person. But it is Their unity that makes them one. One of the scriptures says that we can become one with Them also, and that is really cool. We truly have the ability to become like God, based on our desires and  on our personal conduct. Everything that we do needs to move us closer to Christ and to God so that we can become one with Them.

On pday we don't really do anything super fun. There really isn't anything that we can do for fun. Haha. It's just hand out and not have any lessons for the first part of the day. We always end p-day with our district meetings, and we start working at 5. 

My favorite part of the week is when we find someone new who wants to learn more about the gospel. But I also love going to church :)

January 16, 2017

The baptism did go through on Saturday and it was amazing. I feel like my mission was worth it just for this one baptism. The Spirit was SO strong and it was just amazing. I'll send you a picture of it:) It was a mother and her son that got baptized. Sister Martinez and Sister Creer found her at the house of her boyfriend who is an inactive member but who was talking to her about the church. I came in after she had two weeks being taught. From the beginning she has wanted to be baptized, and has wanted to follow Christ exactly how He asks. She had some things she had to leave a few things behind and that is why she waited so long to be baptized. But it was truly something very special to witness. Baptisms here are the same as back at home- that is the beauty of the gospel. Haha. Every church here has it's own baptismal font. The investigators choose who they want to baptize them. Patty and Leo chose the Elders to baptize them. In this baptism I played the piano and I sang Jesus Savior Pilot Me.  

The temple truly is something amazing to experience and sometimes you just can't explain what you feel. But they both look super happy and I am happy for them!

The gas prices have not gone down, and they probably won't. The president here is not a very nice, or good, man. Everyone wants him to leave.

January 9, 2017

We are knocking on doors, and yes we are allowed to do that. haha. It is very calm here in Casas Grandes. In Juarez they don't like it if we knock on doors but here, the people aren't usually out of their houses so we contact them if we don't knock on their doors! We usually go knocking on doors (or try to) every day. We need to contact daily.

My companion is Mexican and is from Huatulco, Oaxaca. She is 20 years old, well, turns 20 in two weeks, and is amazing. She is a convert and I feel like she came pretrained for the mission so it doesn't feel so much like a job, she is just a normal missionary! haha. She is super happy to be on the mission.

That is an interesting thought that the only label that matters in life is the label of "Child of God" and I love it. Label ourselves as children of God. When we label ourselves, we are mentally limiting ourselves to what we can become or what we can be. But if we label ourselves as a child of God, we have no restrictions or limits. We grow eternally.

This week I have been studying the life of David. It is an interesting life that he had. And he started out so good. But with one little thing, as he looked at Bathsheba bathe, he fell completely. And he didn't even know that he fell until the prophet Nathan told him. That is us, sometimes. We think we are doing good, we don't see our mistakes and then when we see them, we are already super far away from the right. Even though David doesn't receive forgiveness for kill Uzziah, he can still find comfort in the Lord. And I think that is cool. We can find comfort in the Lord as we work through our transgressions and return to Him. Christ is not a person who will put you down for what you have done. He will never accept your sin, but He can help heal you. And I think that is one of the most important things we can learn in life.

This week was interesting. There is something going on that is called the gasolinazo. They raised gas prices to the equivalent of about $4 a gallon, but here in Mexico they do not have a salary sufficient to be able to have gas prices so high. So they were protesting and it messed up the transfers a little bit and for like three days the stores didn't have any merchandise because they also closed the freeways so the trucks could not get from Juarez to Casas Grandes and then the gas stations also did not have gas and it was kind of crazy. But other than that, it was a good week! We are going to have a baptism this Saturday, and we are super excited for that. And we also put a baptismal date for Feb 11. Super exciting! We are working hard and having a good time here. 

January 2, 2016

I truly hope we get a bishop soon, too. I also have been praying a lot for the guy we have been teaching. He hasn`t been opening the door for us, or telling us that he is really busy and doesn't have time. My heart is breaking for him, but I still have hope that it will all turn out okay. I really truly hope that it all works out. Because it would just break my heart completely if he decides that he can't or that he isn't strong enough to repent. 

I have seen the Lord in the work in many ways. I think that the way most interesting and evident is that we were actually able to have lessons new years eve and new years day. We didn't have any these days last year. Also, I had a really interesting experience yesterday at church. We brought a less active family to church with us. It was only the mom and her two daughters, with the ages of 8 and 3. She doesn't have the best home life. She is separated from her husband and living with her mom. She works a lot and so she isn't home to discipline her kids, and one of her sons has gone wayward and is always out doing who knows what. She hasn't gone to church for a LONG time. But yesterday, my comp and I were sitting behind her, and I saw her potential as a mom and as a daughter of God. She has a long way to go, but I could see her as a faithful member of the church. I don't know if she will want to be a faithful member and make the changes necessary in her life, but I could see her as Christ sees us. Imperfect with a perfect potential. And I think that is one of the most important things that we can understand. That we, too, are imperfect. But we have perfect potential. It doesn't matter the mistakes we have made in the past. It doesn't matter who we are right now. If we trust in the Lord, and do what we need to do, we will progress into the eternities.

This week there was a lot of walking around and knocking on doors. But it was a good week. I am starting to feel the end of my mission and I spend a lot of time reflecting on what I have learned and what I have to learn still. My progress, and how I still have more progress. And I don't know. I'm excited for these last six weeks.

Speaking of, we have transfers!!! My companion is going to Juarez, and I am going to train!!!!! Crazy right?! Usually trainers are called to train for two transfers, but I will only be training for one. I'm excited for this adventure that I am going to have. 

Sisters at Zone Conference

Zones Colonia Juarez and Coloniz Dublin

December 26, 2016

I loved talking with all of your for Christmas, also. I think the hardest part now is getting used to the idea that it is going to end. At the beginning, the only thing I wanted was for it to end. But now I am happy being on the mission. Truly and completely happy to be here. Even when I am sad or stressed, I love being on the mission.

We are still working with Adán, he just has problems that are kind of strong. And so  he can't get baptized yet. However, he still has a desire to be baptized. so we are going to be working with him. One of the problems is that in the ward I am in, we don't have a bishop. One of the members of the Stake presidency is acting as bishop but he does not have the keys to work with the ward members. Adán is a little timid and we are trying to work with him with his repentance the best that we can right now.

The Apostolic Family is doing good. They firmly believe that God and Jesus Christ are the same people. They are also very sure of their religion. We feel like the father more so than the mother. But we are still working with them. They might progress, they might not. But we have not given up on them yet. 

Sunday was good :) We were actually able to have good lessons, and that was a Christmas miracle!!

Missionary work truly does come little by little. Those that are learning learn little by little about the gospel until they understand it all. There are many times when we don't understand what we are doing as missionaries, but with study and with the Holy Ghost guiding us, we figure it all out.

December 19, 2016

I think that love is what we learn the best here in the mission. Without love it is impossible to do our job. You have to love your companion, your investigators, the people on the streets, the Lord, and everyone. And it needs to be a real love, because feigned love just doesn't cut it when it is the only thing that helps you understand your purpose.

We are teaching a family and we are not the first ones to teach them about the gospel. They have listened before but we are going to try and use Family Home Evening with them to teach. They like talking and we are hoping that they feel the spirit and come to church at least once. They were a reference from a kid that was playing outside that told us that this family was listening to the missionaries before. Haha.

We aren't going to have the baptism of Adán this week ;( He drinks coffee, and we are working on this with him. I'll let you know when we have another date for him. 

Christmas is not as fun here. I don't know if it is because I am away from the family or what, but I like Christmas more back home. Haha. Where I am serving, it is more things that do with American culture than anything else. We have a weird mix of the two that results in being very little of them both. The thing they do most here is make tamales and menudo and pozole. 

December 12, 2016

A miracle happened and Eric sent me pictures of Rory this week. Haha :) She is super cute and I just want to meet her already! Lol :)

The teenager that we were going to baptize is not going to be baptized. She is not ready for baptism and is not keeping the commitments. The problem with her has more to do with her cousin who is her guardian than with her. Abi wants to be baptized and likes what she is learning but her cousin doesn't let her go to the activities and if her cousin doesn't go to church, she doesn't go to church. The saddest thing about this is that her cousin is a recent(ish) convert.

The other baptism is still on track. Adán is one person so prepared for the gospel that it amazes me. He is going to be baptized the 23rd of December. 

This week we found a family. It is kind of rare to find a family here! They are awesome, but are going to take a lot of work. They go to the Apostolic church. We feel, again, like it is us that need to be prepared, because they are already prepared to receive the gospel. It is an awesome feeling when we feel like people are going to progress.

November 28, 2016

This week was good. We met our goal for lessons! AND we put to baptismal dates! One for December 17 and the other for December 24! I am going to have a Chirstmas Baptism! :D Haha. On the 17th, it is for a jovencita named Abigail. She is living with her cousin right now, who is a recent(ish) convert. We are working with her in gaining a testimony. Right now she has been able to see a difference in her life as she has listened to us and started to going to church and whatnot but we are working with her on a testimony. Adán is going to be baptized the 24th. It is SO EXCITING!!!!! He has grown so much, and we also feel like we leave knowing more after the lessons that we have with him. He is amazing and is full of faith and love for God and it is absolutely the coolest thing in the world to see that. 

There is one investigator that we have that is a little difficult, sometimes. She is really receptive to the teaching, she believes it all. But she has a doubt in something, and I think it has to do with the temples. But I don't know how to help her. Her boyfriend is an inactive member who knows a LOT, but doesn't go to church and I think he has mentioned the temples with her. I have been praying a lot to find out how to help her.

November 20, 2016

Sister Mari is really awesome. She is amazing and truly helps us here in this ward with the missionary work. Thank you so much for the clothes that you are sendng, I am sure that I will love it! Hermana Creer called me and told me that she talked to you, haha. That was kind of funny. She was in the Pueblo (my old area) but is going to be transfered to Juarez! Speaking of. We had transfers! I am staying in my area with my companion. That was surprising because we both thought that my companion was going to be transfered to a new area. But nope, we are staying together! Which is good. We are hoping for three baptisms in this next transfer!

I truly hope my Spanish is improving. People are starting to say that my Spanish is really good and my response (in my head) is always, ¨well that's good, considering that I have 15 months trying to learn it.¨ Haha. But it feels good to finally be able to speak Spanish.

This week was good for us. We didn't reach our goal of 22 lessons, but that is okay. I am learning that it is good that have goals to work up to them and while it is okay not to reach them, you should never have excuses as to why. Accept what happens and decided to work harder the following week. The son of one of our investigators came to church yesterday, without his mom! That was kind of cool. I don't know many 10 year olds that want to go to church so bad. Other than that, this week was pretty calm. Nothing really happened. 

November 13, 2016

Adan is doing really good. He wants to learn and everything, the only thing is that he hasn't come to church. It is a little difficult for him sometimes. He often has to go to Chihuahua and El Paso during the week. But he has the desire to learn and he understands what we teach. I think that is something that doesn't always happen. He understands and often is the one who comes to his own conclusions before we teach him something. And yes, Adam is Adan.

I saw the super moon yesterday, and it was amazing, I loved it! Sometime I really miss having my big camera to be able to take really cool pictures.

This week was kind of hard for me. We didn't have as many lessons as we wanted, and we had more lessons with less active members than with investigators. We walked a LOT, and we had activities in other areas three times this week. It was fun, but at the same time it took a lot of time out of our week. 

The academy is a church school, from 6th grade to 12th. You can go if you aren't a member but it is a LOT of money if you aren't a member, and you need a bishop's reccomend. A lot of people want to go to the Acadamy because it is a really good school and it teaches you english. Those who leave after one year have perfect english.

November 7, 2016

I am realizing that I have almost no more time left on the mission. In two weeks, I start my last 12 weeks. That is insane. It is no time at all. And time is going to be going by faster and faster because there are only holidays left. Time always go by fast when there are activities.

My investigators that are going to baptise their nephew officially dropped us. Haha. They are going to go ahead with the baptism and don't want us to come by. We feel really sad and disappointed but that is okay. We have a few others that we are teaching. One of the investigators just won't accept a date! But I am learning that I need to be patient and wait for her to feel good with the date. I can't be the one who forces the baptism.

Last week we found a man named Adán. He is really cool. In January his house caught on fire and he did too! However, he has a lot of faith. He used to be an alcoholic and do drugs but changed his life and we can truly see that he has a lot of faith. We are working with him in going to church, because he hasn't gone yet! But we feel like he is going to really progress. Every time that we leave the appointments with him, we leave feeling happy and content and we can just feel like he his prepared. Hna. Martínez and I were actually talking about this after one of the lessons with him. That we feel the responsibility to be worthy and prepared to teach him. He is prepared, and it is us that need to work.

There is another jovencita that we are teaching. We think it is mostly because she wants to attend the academy, but she is also interested in the church. It is a strange mix of reasons that she is listening to us. 

This week I feel really greatful for Joseph Smith, and all the early church members, and everything that they did to be able to restore the Church. I found a book in the house called The Restored Church and that is a really interesting book. It talks about things that I never knew happened and it is truly amazing. 

October 31, 2016

This week was really good. We finally met our goal of 22 lessons, and we actually went over! That is CRAZY! And we picked up`7 new investigators. That is a MIRACLE. We are truly working hard here and finally are seeing the results. Yesterday was a bit of a challenge. We visited with one of our investigators yesterday and it was kind of heartbreaking. She came out (her husband was sleeping because he recently had a wisdom tooth pulled and that didn't go so well). But anyway. She came out and told us that she had bad news. A sister in law asked her and her husband to help with the baptism of her son. And they said  yes.  But the problem with this is that they would be studying and going to the catholic church. She knows that she can't prepare for that and listen to us at the same time. So we talked with her about what God thinks about baptizing children and she said that she was going to read and pray about it. She has had many experiences praying and knows that God will answer her prayers. I almost started crying in this lesson. We are going to pass with her another day and see how her prayer went. 

They don't celebrate Halloween on the scale that we celebrate over there in the United States. It is more Dia de los Muertos. Actually, funny story. I have been hearing for a few weeks that people make coronas for Day of the Dead. I thought they meant crowns, which didn't really make much sense. But it is actually a wreath that they make for their family members who have died. .

Speaking of mottos, I found one that I wrote in my journal. It says ¨every day is a good day, some just have more adventures than others.¨

October 24, 2016

My week has been really good. As a mission, we have the goal of having 22 lessons a week. This week we had 21, we have almost reached the goal!!! That makes me so happy! And we had four investigators that went to church! We have a good investigator pool here in Estacion. The first family that we have that is progressing the most is The Rodriguez family. It only consists of a mother (Paty) and her son (Leonardo). Paty is the girlfriend of a less active member who still believes everything, just doesn't go to church. I haven't met her novio but he is really supportive of her and everything, so that is cool. She has gone to church two times now, and is truly investigating the church with the intention to be baptized. We tried to put a baptismal date with her for the 19th of Nov. but she said that she hadn't felt 100% that it is true. But this is the cool thing. We had talked about fasting on Sunday, and she asked us if she needs to be a member to fast. We told her no, and then she said that she wanted to fast to have her answer. We fasted with her, and she said that she feels more and more sure as we keep visiting her.

Another family that we have are the mom (Lourdes) and her son (Ricardo). Ricardo reminds me of Logan a lot and it is really funny. But with them it is a little bit harder. They aren't as inclined to pray and read as Paty and Leonardo. However, I think that Lourdes is looking for the truth, she is just confused. She doesn't know what to believe because everything we teach is SO different than the Catholic religion. She doesn't want to pray, and is always super busy. But she came to church on Sunday, and that was a bit of a miracle. 

We are teaching a new family. They are not yet married, but we are working on that with them. They both want to get baptized, and they want to go to church, and we know that they are going to get baptized, we just don't know when. haha. Alonso works for a member, and he is always talking about his friend Bengy who explains things in a way that he understands a little more than when we explain things. Haha. But they are awesome. If you could pray for them that they can make it to church next Sunday, that would be the best! :)

I really like my new area. It is fun and interesting and they are a lot of people to teach. I live right across from the church, which is really awesome. I want to live across the street from a church back at home. Haha. I feel good about the work. My new ward is really good. It reminds me a bit of West Point. We have one member here that is a convert of 30 years. She works with us once a week, and she is awesome. Her daughter lives in Phoenix, and is going to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. So, if you want to send me something, she said that you can give it to her and she can give it to me when she gets back :) I also might be sending a package for you guys :)

I don't think I can explain my feelings about the Savior. He is everything. My comfort, my best friend, and literally everything. Everything that I have is thanks to Him. I know that He exists and that He knows our pains and heartaches. He understands us better than anyone. He knows what we need to truly progress and grow and learn. I don't know what I would do if I didn't believe in Him. This is actually something that I noticed this week. We have one investigator that spends most of her time in a wheelchair, but can walk around a bit. She has NO hope or faith and we always leave feeling a little depressed (we are probably going to drop her soon). The other is ALWAYS in a wheelchair, and can't walk. The difference is that She has faith and hope and when we left her house, we felt happy and encouraged. The Savior changes everything in a person. 

October 17, 2016

The transfers went fine :) My new companion is great. Sister Martínez is from Veracruz. She is 24, and only has 5 months in the mission. Two new sisters went to my area in the Pueblo. I don't know how to explain to you Casas Grandes and Neuvo Casas Grandes. Casas Grandes IS the Pueblo. Nuevo Casas Grandes is where I am. When people originally started settling here, they settled in the Pueblo, because it is higher up and there are less problems when it rains. However, in Nuevo Casas Grandes was were the train station was. So people started settling closer to the train tracks. Everyone here just calls everything Casas Grandes because they don't know the history. Neuvo Casas Grandes is like a small city, more like a town. Chihuahua is the state.

Estación is the center of Neuvo Casas Grandes. It has all of the stores. The super stores, the clothing stores, the shoe stores, the bus station that takes us to Juarez, and everything. I felt like I was in a big city when I arrived, but I'm still just in a small town! Haha. I don't know what I am going to do when I come home because I am NOT used to seeing a bunch of people and cars and everything. 

t feels really weird being the oldest Hermana. I never thought I would reach this point. Haha. I am not in the same zone anymore. The zones are organized for stakes here, and I am in a new stake. El Pueblo is a small town. There is one gas station, one supermarket, and a bunch of catholic churches. Almost none of the streets have pavement. You can't imagine it if you don't see it. No one understands if they haven't been to the area. Estación is more like a city. I am in a ward. Everything here is like Mexico. Even in Juarez it was Mexico, not the US.

October 10, 2016

This week is the week that my new companion goes home. She will be in her house on Wednesday. The crazy thing about that is that ahora, I am pretty sure that I am the oldest Hermana in my zone. I think. Haha. 

The investigator whose mom passed away is doing well. She is really open now, and I think that she is truly preparing herself for baptism. It is her goal right now. We have a LONG way to go, but I am excited for her. She has always been a receptive to the teachings. She just really truly has a super long way to go. She drinks, smokes, and isn't married. Entonces, I am a little sad that I am not going to be able to see her when she gets baptized. But she also has a lot of family in AZ, so she might come and visit at some point. Haha. That is something funny, and cool. There are a few people in my old area, in El Pueblo, that have said that they might come to AZ to visit. 

I am being transferred this time. I am going to be going to an area that is named Estacion. It is the center of Nuevo Casas Grandes. My new companion is named Hna. Martinez, and I don't remember where she is from. But I have met her and she is really nice. 

There were sisters there before me in the Pueblo. 

We usually have intercambios twice in one transfer. We are the only hemanas en la casa. Siempre es asi en la mision. Tal vez las otras hermanas (o eleres) tiene una casa a lado, pero siepre solo hay un casa por companerismo. In Mexico apartments are named apartamentos. Haha.

his week I was able to go to the temple and do a session! That was really awesome and I loved it and it truly was amazing. I wanted to just stay in the celestial room all day but I couldn't. After waiting a year to go to the temple, I felt like I was going to forget everything. But I didn't!

October 3, 2016

Sister Trujillo is from Oaxaca. That is in the very south of Mexico. My goal here in the mission is to meet someone closer to their house than me. haha :)

This week was full of rain and sun. Bastante de los dos. But it was fun. Everyone says that in about two weeks it is going to start to be cold and I am super excited for that. 

September 25, 2016

This week has been a little crazy, honestly. On Wednesday we had emergency transfers. I now have a companion, though, so that is fun! Her name is Hermana Trujillo and she only has two weeks left in the mission. It is a little crazy but mostly fun being with her. 

On Friday, the mom of one of my investigators passed away. It is interesting to see how she is dealing with it, and the sadness that she has. We are teaching her the plan of salvation right now but I don't know if she understands it completely or not. There is another sister that we are teaching that is progressing a lot. She went to the women's conference and likes going to church and goes even though her friend that is also listening to us doesn't go sometimes. Haha. 

This week I made tortillas all by myself for the first time! That was fun and it is nice to know that I can do it. I still have a little bit of experimenting to truly get the taste right but I will be able to make you guys freshly made tortillas. They taste SO different that store bought tortillas and now I don't like store bought tortillas so much. Haha. 

September 18, 2016

This week was fun, interesting, stressful, hard, and just about everything. On Monday, for P-Day, we went to a zip line that a member has in their backyard. It was super chicita y muy divertido.  We also went sight seeing a little bit. The only thing that I haven't done here yet is go to Paquime. It is Indian Ruins, and there is a museum that I want to go to but it is closed on Monday. We might change our P-day to be able to go. 

I say that this week was a little hard because in my area we only had ten lessons. I have to count separately all of the lessons that are from my area and that is in the other area of the pueblo. They didn't close my area, it is just that there are not enough Sister missionaries right now to be able to have both of the areas open. The good thing is that the lessons that we had were really good. 

One of my investigators came to church yesterday!  She came this week because she had a friend who came last week. And hopefully in the next week both of them will come. Her friend is the Catholic that came to church. Both of them are progressing, a little bit slowly, but they are progressing. After being in my area for seven months, it is going to be really hard to leave, especially now that there are people progressing in my area. Did that ever happen to you? Just when you started to have success, you get transfered?! I have a feeling that is what will happen to me in the upcoming transfers. 

This week I went to my first Mexican party!! And I hit my first piñata! It was the birthday of a recent convert and she really super wanted us to go. So that was fun :) I couldn't really celebrate los fechas patrias porque todo empieza después de las 9. 

September 12, 2016

This week for me was actually really good. I will be in the trio for this transfer, that is if no one goes home early or gets sick or something. We are the only trio here in the mission right now so if someone needs emergency transfers, we are going to be the first ones to be affected. Right now, we are in the trio because there are not enough sister missionaries to be have all be in pairs. But this week was better than last week.

I'm writing super early today because we are going to a zip line and go sight seeing in Colonia Juarez. So that is going to be super fun and I will have pictures for you next week! :)

On Tuesday, it was a little bit crazy. It rained for a really long time. We took shelter with a less active family and then when we left, all the streets were like rivers. One of my companions didn't want to cross the rivers and I have videos of that and it is super funny. At one point, an investigator passed by and gave my companion a ride to cross the river (my other companion and I had already crossed). 

The other awesome thing that happened. Right now we are teaching an Hermana . She is Catholic and has told us a few times that she doesn't want to be baptized but that she wants to learn and then she says that she doesn't want to learn because she doesn't understand. We ALMOST stopped visiting her, but for some reason we just haven't felt like it is the thing to do. This week we invited her to church, and she went! We picked her up and she was ready to go and everything. At first, she was only going to stay for the first hour, but then she ended up staying for all three. She said that she learned a lot and it was super cool to see the diference at the end of church. She was smiling and happy and I just really hope she keeps progressing. Her conversion is going to be a little slow, I think, but I can really see her progressing and being baptized. She also said that she wants her husband to come to church next week with her. And it is just SUPER exciting!

September 5, 2016

This week was a little hard and pesado. I am now in a trio, which is fun, but hard. We are joining the two areas together, but at the same time they aren't closing my area. We just don't have a lot of sister missionaries right now so they want to keep the area open. In the system, I appear like I don't have a companion. And sometimes I feel like that, too. But I'm doing okay, so don't worry about me :) I didn't have too many lessons this week but a few of the ones that I had were good. The investigator that I am always happy to visit is named Modesta. With her the hardest thing is going to be going to church. She doesn't have a car and lives a little far away to walk, but she believes everything we teach and reads the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets for fun in her free time. 

I also have a part member family that I am working with.  If you could pray for them, that would be awesome. The parents have problems with the Word of Wisdom. But they have to small desire to change and their kids want to be baptized. But first they need to be reactivated. 

This is our trio

August 29, 2016

Honestly, I think that praying with real intent is one of the hardest things that we can do. Because a lot of the times we pray with real intent... IF it aligns with our own plans. And when it doesn't, we get discouraged or decide to not do follow through. Praying with focus is also a hard part. Really concentrating on the prayer. But I can tell you that it truly does work! I will be praying for you, too!

We had stake conference this weekend and on Sunday one of the speakers was talking about fasting. He was saying that he LOVES food. And there was one time that God taught him a lesson. He fasted on fast Sunday like normal. And right when he finished breaking his fast, he got a call from his daughter asking him to fast for her for a test. And he said that he didn't really want to but thought about it and started another fast. And then when he ended this fast, he got another call from a daughter that wanted to fast for a different reason and she wanted him to fast with her. He said that it was interesting to see how the Lord can use fasting to help us. So, mom, it might also help to fast (or fast again) for this.

This week we visited with a lot of people. We are teaching right now an older couple. The husband is catholic, and the wife is cristiana. They both are really receptive, and really nice and sweet people. And it is a little funny when the husband doesn't understand what I am saying because then the wife will start teaching him for us. There is also an inactive brother that we visit. With him it is always a little interesting. He is living all alone, which is really sad, because he also can't walk very well. But he always is happy and loves talking with us. 

On Tuesday, we had an insane rain storm. It lasted for about and hour and a half, and after the streets were completely flooded and we had to walk home without our shoes on because we needed our shoes to be dry for the next day. This week I also went back to Juarez for a checkup just to see if the medicines they gave me are working and all that. The doctor said that I have a stress fracture, but it should get better

August 22, 2016

Just so you know, I totally had plans to have members email you, but then we didn't see any of the members this week! It was kind of really weird. Haha. This whole week was a little weird. I came back to my area on Tuesday, so I wasn't able to do any exchanges in Juarez. The doctor said that the pain is for all the walking that I do on the rocks. I put most of my weight on that part of my foot when I am walking and after six months of doing that, there is a little strain on my foot. We had shoe inserts made for my foot, and I am taking medication for the pain. But the funny thing is, the shoe inserts hurt me!!I just have to get used to them. And I might have to buy new shoes. But here is the thing. I can't activate my debit card because I can't call the number and there aren't any wellsfargo banks here. So, I am trying to think of some way to send you the number or something so that you can activate it because I also can't activate it online. You can only activate the credit card online. I do have the orthodics from the other shoes, but when I used them, my foot started to hurt a little more. But yes, I do have them and will try them out again now that my foot doesn't hurt so bad.

This week I learned a lot. On Friday, Elder Piper came and talked to us. He is in the Area Presidency, and is super cool. I didn't bring my notebook, so I don't have the notes that I took, but I will bring that next week and tell you more about that. 

As to fear, that is something that I have had to deal with here, too. There is a scripture that has helped me and I don't remember where it is. I think it is in Joshua. But he said that fear is not from God. And that is something that has helped me. In thinking about the future, about the present, about everything, sometimes I am full of fear. But actually, I was talking about this with Leah near the beginning of my mission and she said something that has stuck with me. She said, ¨God has taken care of you for this long, why do you think He is going to stop taking care of you when you get back from your mission?¨ And when she said that, it helped me put my thoughts in perspective. God has taken care of you your whole life, and what makes you think that He will stop taking care of you now? He won't ever stop taking care of you.

August 15, 2016

I don't have much time right now. I am in Juarez for the next few days because I have had a pain in my right foot for about three weeks now and medicine isn't helping so I am going to get that checked today. I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't want you to worry. However, I get to stay in my old house and that is a lot of fun

August 8, 2016

This week, I got to go to FSY. It is kind of like EFY, but not. Haha. But that was really cool. We had to teach a group of youth the first lesson. And then they had to give the first lesson to each other. At the end, one of my girls came up to me and thanked me and that was just really cool. My companion said that when I was talking with the jovencita that I was talking perfect spanish, and that my accent  was perftect and everything. And it made me realize that sometimes, we can't really recognize when the Spirit is working through us to help those around us.

August 1, 2016

This week was a little hard. We didn't have very many lessons and we dropped almost all of our investigators because no one is progressing, and no one is having the desires to change and go to church. So, we have been trying to contact and find new investigators. Prayers would be greatly appreciated to help.

July 25, 2016

The timing of the Lord is everything. My companion and I were talking about this, actually. We were both wanting to be transferred to a new area because we really don't have many progressing investigators. Actually, we have a total of zero progressing investigators. And it is a little hard to contact because people really aren't out in the streets and we can't knock on doors. The members give us references, which is awesome, but it is also a little hard because it is then difficult to find the references. But, my companion and I were talking and we decided that we are still here because there is someone that we need to find. Or someone that really needs us specifically. But it is hard to trust in this. My biggest weakness here on the mission is contacting. And I hate that I can't contact very well. That I get nervous and mess up my words and I wish so bad that I had the ease of talking to just anyone on the street. Being a missionary is a little hard. Especially for me right now because I kind of feel like I haven't progressed as much as I should have. I only have seven more months and I still can't contact, I am still timid, and I still sometimes feel like I could do more good being home, where I don't have trouble speaking. But I know I am where I need to be, for some reason or another.

This week was good. All the weeks are good. But it was a little hard, trying to be better at contacting and feeling like a failure when it doesn't work out. We had one full day that we didn't work because we traveled to Juarez to buy dress pants. Despite that, we still had a good number of lessons. But we need to work more with the members. And find more investigators. And put more baptismal dates. And with everything that we need to do, sometimes I feel overwhelmed, and I feel like I can't accomplish it. 

Yesterday I had a kind of cool experience. We visited an abuelita that is less active, but not by choice. She can't walk for long distances and so needs a ride to church. And sometimes her daughter doesn't let her go to church. But yesterday she went to church and then we visited her in the afternoon. Usually in the house there is yelling and screaming (she has five grandchildren between the ages of 1 and 12) and three of the four older kids don't really listen to her. So she usually looks a little sad and tired. But yesterday it was just  her and her youngest grandchild. And what a difference we saw in her. We always see a difference when she goes to church and when she doesn't go to church. But yesterday she was laughing and smiling and really looked happy. It was the happiest that I have ever seen her. And that was cool. The church, and the spirit that we feel at church, really does make a difference in our lives.

A sister in our ward went to cosmetology school and fixed our eyebrows.  :)

July18, 2016

I really didn't hurt my feet, i promise :)

The future is always stressful, especially when there are so many uncertainties. I've found that when things start to get really stressful and I start to get agitated and frustrated from the stress, it is the best to sing a hymn or read something in the Book of Mormon. And remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. 

This week was a good week. Mostly. Haha. On Friday I lost the cell phone for about 8 hours. We had transfers and so returned to the house so that my companion could drop off her clothes and stuff in the house. I had to use the bathroom and threw the phone on my bed before going. The chiste is that I forgot to pick it back up. It wasn't until we got to the house of an investigator that I realized that I didn't have the cell phone. We went searching for about an hour and a half until we found the phone and I remembered that it was on my bed. 

July 4, 2016

This week has been really good. We had 27 lessons this week, and that has been amazing. We really don't know how we were able to do that but we were. 

Something I learned this week was in Ether 6:5. The Lord sends the winds and the waves to us personally so that we can make it to our own personal ¨promised land¨. The Jaredites were tossed to and fro for almost a year.  The ships sometimes fell to the bottom of the sea and yet they were fine. And they were fine because they prepared in the way the Lord instructed them. When we do what is asked of us, and prepare for the winds that will no doubt come, we can be sure that we will arrive in our promised land. So, Mom, don`t worry so much about finding a place. It might take time, but the Lord provides for us. And the plan that he has for us is so much better than what we have planned for ourselves. 

Fun fact! Andrea was the language coach for my Mission President´s wife! She told me that she was there when Bret and Andrea got engaged, so I think that she knew before I knew! Haha ;) And they have a son that served in the Angeles, Phlippines mission the same time as Eric! Crazy Mormon world connections, right? But they seem really awesome. Very different from President Derbez and his wife, but really awesome. President Owen is the founder of Thermoworks. 

June 27, 2016

It is actually really good that I got your package when I got it, I am taking that as a blessing! The fans have been a lifesaver! I didn´t get my boots yet, instead I got two new pairs of shoes. Because my others did not work anymore. They literally had holes in the soles from walking so much. Where I am right now kind of destroys shoes because it is puro piedras. But the new shoes that I bought are REALLY really comfortable and they last! When you buy shoes for Megan and her mission, I recommend this brand, flexi. 

On P-day we usually write home, eat lunch, and buy what we need for the week, and have our district meeting. I have a washing machine in my house, so I wash in the washing machine. A new bra would be nice, 38 DD. And also socks. I need socks desperately and they don't have the kind of socks that I like here! The material is weird and breaks rapidly. So foot socks (for ballet flats) would be awesome.

This was our last week with President Derbez, and President Owen is going to arrive on Friday, and then is going to travel to Casas Grandes on Saturday to get to know all the missionaries over here. It will be interesting to see how things change and if things change. 

This week we got rained on! My companion and I were walking to a lesson and it started to sprinkle but then all of a sudden it started to downpour! We started running to our next appointment but along the way a family in the ward invited us into their house and saved us from getting completely drenched! So that was a lot of fun! We also had two investigators at church yesterday! Which was really awesome. We haven't had investigators in the church for like two months. 

June 20, 2016

Honestly I think I miss air conditioning more than anything here in Mexico. The food and the english and the puified water everywhere I can live without. But it is not fun living without air conditioning. 

We had rain a few weeks ago but not much. They do celebrate Father's day here, but it isn't as big a deal as Mother's day.

June 13, 2016

A typical week is a little crazy. We average about 20 lessons a week, and about 8 miles of walking a day. We eat with members every day and we try and work with the members to help them do the work. This is something that I have learned, is that the work is for the members. We as missionaries can only do so much and if the members are not doing their work with us, we will not have success. SO HELP YOUR MISSIONARIES!

Moving is difficult. I've been living in a way that I can pack up all my belongings in three hours if I needed to and it is hard. Haha. But change is good, even if it is hard.

The work is a lot of reactivation and finding. We have a few investigators that we think are going to progress and a few less actives that we are woking with. The less active members are a little more difficult than the investigators because they feel like they know it all. 

May 30, 2016

Conversion really is a life long process that can be stopped and halted and lost if we aren't careful. Just like we lose the ability to do math or play the piano or run or anything if we aren't practicing, we can lose our conversion, our conviction, our testimonies. 

I am doing really good here. We are going to have cambios next week and I am a little excited for them. One of the sisters in the ward has guessed that I am going to be moved to another area, but we shall see what happens next week.

May 23, 2016

This week was full of adventures! We had two special meetings with President this week. One as a double zone conference and the other was only for the Sisters. Those were really cool. We are working with working with the members and trying to get them to understand that the missionary work is THEIR work and that we are only here to help them. President told us that  he has felt that when our kids are missionaries, the only way to find people will be through members because poeple on the streets just won't want to talk about religion because people will be sick of hearing about religion. That was really interesting. And I believe it, too.

This week I also had exchanges and ate in the English speaking ward here in Casas Grandes. And that was interesting and fun and weird to be speaking in English. I've realized that the food really isn't super different here in Mexico, it is just prepared completely different. 

May 16, 2016

This week was good, but a little harder than usual. On Tuesday we had a total of ZERO lessons. There are a few days that I do not see a point in working on the mission because no one is home, everyone is busy, has family over, and doesn't let us in. Those days (at least here in my mission) are Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day. Haha. But despite that, we had a pretty good week. Working with members is cool and it is sometimes hard. We were going to have four investigators at church this week but two of them had a family member go to prison and Sundays are the only days they can visit the prison. And the two others we don't really know why they didn't go.

This is something that I have learned very intimately, how important it is to rely on the Lord and trust in Him and not my own understanding. I can't understand a lot of things, and sometimes I feel like I just can't do it anymore. But then I think of the Lord and how He has helped me so far in my mission. He knows exactly what I am capable of. I think that when we acknowledge the Lord, it is a way to use the enabling power of the Atonement. That is something else that I have learned. The Atonement is more that just the way that we have to be able to repent of our sins. It helps us to keep going, to find the strength when we have none, it helps us in EVERY ASPECT of our lives.  

May 9, 2016

I do like my companion right now. She's super cool. She is from the State of Mexico, and is a convert. The only other member in her family is her mom. They were introduced to the gospel by her step-dad. We get along really well most of the time. Haha. There are cultural differences and sometimes I can't express myself how I want to sometimes the way that she says things is a little hard but that's life. We can talk and it is comfortable if we aren't talking. 

May 2, 2016

I have learned how to make chocoflan and it is delicious and super easy :)

April 25, 2016

We are still returning early every night and I think that we will be doing this for the rest of the time that I am here. The people have been saying that the last time something like this happened it lasted for about three years. But we shall see. I haven't felt in danger at all or scared or anything of the sort. 

This last week was good, but hard also. Almost all of our investigators are gone on vacation. One of them had to move houses and we don't know where they are right now. They said they would call us but I  am pretty sure we will be the ones calling them. Haha. 

This week I was reading in the book of Alma, when Ammon is serving King Lamoni and goes to rescue the flocks of the king. And there is a scripture of gold amid this story. He says ¨sed de buen ánimo, y vayamos a buscar los rebaños, y los recogeremos y los traeremos otra vez al abrevadero...¨  In English that is ¨...my brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water...¨ As I was reading this I felt like this is the mission call. We have thieves and robbers in front of us, leading away the sheep of God unto destruction and death. We have the gospel and we have the ¨living water¨ of Jesus Christ. Our job is to go out and look for the sheep, the flocks of God, and bring them back to safety. 

This week I also learned that God is aware of us, and knows how to talk to us individually. I am honestly amazed at how well He knows us. I was feeling really down and really frustrated and feeling like a failure and it is hard to work with feelings like that. I was feeling like just giving up and going home. But then the song Bet on It from high school musical came into my head. And it was just what I needed to get back to work and stop worrying about myself. 

We did have the baptism this weekend and it was really cool to see a family be baptized and have the goal to make it to the temple to be sealed together forever. It is with the mom of the family that we are going to learn how to make chocoflan tomorrow!

April 17, 2016

The baptism is for this Saturday, the 23rd. It will be at 10am and I am SUPER excited for it! Chocoflan is flan with chocolate cake. I really do like it now, but we shall see if I can actually make it, haha. 

This weekend was kind of interesting. Do you ever check the news for the area that I am in? Right now there is some kind of turf war going on/starting and on Saturday, we had to stay in the house after eating with the members. And yesterday we had to be in the house before 8. We shall see if this trend continues for this week. 

This week has hard but fulfilling. On Monday, we received the goals for the week from President. And they really aren't that high, but we were trying hard to reach these goals. But we couldn't work on Saturday and our lessons yesterday all fell through. So we were short a few lessons for the week. We have a few investigators that we need to drop soon because they aren't progressing and we need to find new investigators and contact but it is REALLY hard because there aren't many people outside of their houses here in El Pueblo. The good thing is that the members give us a lot of references. If you want to make missionaries really happy, give them references!

April 11, 2016

It was good here in Casas Grandes. We have a family with a baptismal date for next Saturday and I am really excited for that! Also, I have found someone who is willing to teach me how to make flour tortillas by hand! So I will be making those for you when I get back! And I also learned how to make something called a gordita! And the mom of the family that is going to be baptized has offered to teach us how to make chocoflan. So I am excited for that, too. 

The dust might turn to mud. Probably will turn to mud. But I don`t think it is going to rain this week. Who knows, really. But it is going to start getting into the 80´s here. I am not looking forward to the heat. At all. That is one of the points that we are taught in the MTC, teach people, not lessons. It talks about teaching to the needs of the investigators so that they can understand. 

This week I learned that life is sometimes really stressful and not fun. But I also learned that through it all, the Lord is blessing us. That we can`t even see the support that we have from God. I learned that everything happens for a reason. That the Lord's timing is perfect, so perfect that we can't even begin to imagine it. God, our Heavenly Father, loves us. He loves us SO MUCH that when we feel even a glimpse of the love He has, it is overwhelming. 

Thank you for everything that you have done for me, mom. I love you and I miss you. But I am happy to be here. I don`t think I will ever get to the point that I don't miss home, that I don't want to be with you guys back in the US. But more so than that, I know that the Lord has called me to the work. And I am humbled to know that He trusts me with the salvation of His children.