January 26, 2016

Summary:

We decided to give both Juan and Patricia, (the investigators that had accepted a baptismal date), some time without missionaries lessons. We were a little bit sad and felt left without any soon-to-be-reached goals, but then the miracles came pouring in!  Two other investigators that we met last week accepted a baptismal date. Maria Jesus and her son. We also met a great family of four, Maria Louisa and her three kids! We also were led to find two less-active members of the church this week that expressed to us their strong desires to go back to church and feel te spirit there. Their names are Beatriz and Gabriel. 

On Wednesday we had a general meeting with all of the missionaries in the whole world watching. They talked about "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts." Elder Oaks, and Elder Bednar spoke, along with other general authorities. On Friday, Elder Spitali came and spoke to us as a mission. It was a week FULL of personal revelation.

Spiritual Experience:

In a lesson with an investigator, my companion held up a painting of John the Baptist baptizing Christ. The investigator looked at it and just said, "I feel like I need to do that too. I don't really understand, but I just feel that I need to." 

Funny:

We met a lady who's kind of deaf and she let us go into her apartment to teach her a little about the gospel. We had to speak way loud the whole time. Afterward, we got into the elevator and my companion looks at me and yells, "I don't know how we're going to teach her!!" I covered my ears and my eyes got all big as I reminded my companion that the lady is deaf, not me. She just cracks up laughing and goes, "OH true. Sorry." 

January 19, 2016

Summary:

My new companion is Hermana Saez from Los Angeles, Chile! She's 24 years old and a convert of three years. Our personalities are actually really similar and we get along great! My new area is a lot different from my old one. It's a lot richer and more city-ish. The good news, though, is that there are good people everywhere. We've already been able to meet some new investigators and get the area book into order. We were also able to go to the temple to do a tour with a less-active member. Also, I was happy to see in zone class yesterday many familiar faces, including Hermana Bartholomew from St. George! 

Spiritual Experience:

Last week, we talked and felt like there are some people here who have been recieving missionary lessons for a long time, but aren't progressing much spiritually. We didn't necessarily want to spend all day walking and walking because of a lack of appointments, but we prayed about it together and took a leap of faith, trusting that as we leave those souls who aren't ready to progress, we will find the ones who are. And so it was! We were lead to them! We found some very special and prepared people this past week, including Maria Jesus, Rosita, and Enzo. I'll let you know how it goes with them later on!

Funny Story:

My companion the other day was talking about where all of her companions are from. She goes, "Hermana Penrod is from Cornflake, Arizona." I said, "Snowflake?" She's all, "Yep... Oh woops did I say cornflake?" 

January 12, 2016

Summary:
What a week! We've had District meeting, a Zone Activity in a place called Pirque, Zone Conference, Exchanges in Vicente Valdez, Leadership Counsel, and then we just recieved word that both Hermana Parra and I will be getting transferred, as well as the two sisters that we live with. They're going to do what's called a "White Wash," which basically means all the current missionaries leave the area and new ones come in. They're going to put elders here! I've honestly loved serving here in Cordillera and have learned so much from both of my companions and all of the people.I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything and feel confident that the elders who come will be lead to know how to help the people here who are progressing in the gospel and find others who are prepared. Fortunately, I don't feel that there is anyone who will stop progressing just because Hermana Parra and I are leaving. I will miss Hermana Parra, though. She's the greatest. I know right now is that I'm going to one of the richer stakes of this mission and my companion will be Hermana Sanz. All I know about her is that my companion from the MTC was her trainer and that she's Chilean! I'll tell you more next week I guess!

Funny:
A couple weeks ago we were traveling in the metro, which is the underground train they use here. People are always getting on and singing and playing their instruments and then asking for coins and stuff. Anyways, a couple ladies got on the metro and started singing a song and dancing and stuff and I turned to my companion and said, "Wow, they're so brave. Nothing in the whole world could ever make me sing on the metro." 

Well, last week our Zone Leader tells us all we have to be early to the metro and we were all going to travel to Zone Conference together and that we were going to sing hymns for the people on the way. Of course, a bunch of people got on and I got trapped in between a group of like five people away from the rest of the zone. I caught eyes with my companion and she was just laughing so hard because I was alone in the corner with a my little hymnbook singing quietly. Later she goes, "Nothing in the whole world, eh?

Spiritual Experience:
This actually happened as we were singing, too. I looked over and there was a guy with his wife-beater shirt, flat rimmed hat, and huge headphones. I thought he was listening to his rap music or something but then I looked closer. He was mouthing the words of the hymn that my zone was singing, "All is well, all is well..." He knew every word! I couldn't get to him because I was trapped by people but we made eye contact and I mouthed, "Are you a member?" It looked like he got a little emotional and he just smiled and nodded. 

January 5, 2016

Summary:
It's been a crazy week! We've done two exchanges, celebrated the start of a new year, took a trip to the temple, and had a zone activity in a pretty place called Pirque.

Funny:
We were in a lesson with a less-active family that is just hilarious. They're a couple that lives with their grandson named Mosiah. The grandma was telling a story about how her maid had an encounter with a devilish spirit in her house. She was saying, "... she turned the corner and saw it and it scared her." Mosiah says, "Who? The maid?" The grandpa replies all sarcastically, "No, the devil." We all just cracked up so hard after that. 

Spiritual Experience:
On Saturday, we were able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for Rosita's parents and her brother that passed away. At first, she was all worried because there weren't any men to do the ordinance for her dad and brother. Right on time, the president of the temple showed up and was able to be baptized in their names. I don't think I'd ever seen Rosita so happy. There is nothing better than watching the face of someone who is beginning to see that families really can be together forever.