Trip to the Panajachel

Yesterday we got to go to Panajachel. It's a place by the Atitlan Lake which is actually known as the waters of Mormon. They really think that is where that is and WOW it was soo pretty. The president called me and said how many pdays do you spend in the hospital and I said almost all of them and so he said I give you permission to go and so a family here took us and we went. I felt like I was on a road trip with my family. They are amazing people. The mission presidents wife said turn off your phone and have fun and if there is a real emergency they will call me. She is great! I really needed it. There is another missionary in the hospital right now. Its crazy. Today I actually asked for a blessing of comfort because its hard, not going to lie and its exhausting sometimes. 

I know I will be blessed for everything that I am doing but wow it's a lot!! 

Christmas was great!! Christmas Eve at 9 we got to go to a members house and all of my district went and we had food and hung out.  Then at 12 we had turkey and mashed potatoes and watched the fireworks on the skyline of my area because we were on the hill. We also got to go on Christmas day to a family and we had lunch with them! I had another adventure of sleeping in the hospital for two nights and that was entertaining! Really the mission life is never a dull moment. Always something happening. I have learned that we really need to enjoy every minute of the mission even though there may be the hard times!! Time really does fly by soo fast!!! I cant believe it and we need to share the gospel with everyone!!!! 

Pictures

Baptism

Busy Christmas week. Spent night in Hospital.

Well this week was a different week to say the least. Thankful for my great companion who sprung into action with me. First off, we went to the hospital on Monday to help missionaries and didn't get home until like 4:00 and started working at 5:00. Tuesday, was normal. Wednesday we went to our Christmas Activity which was really fun, we played games and we did a live nativity, we were angels. They made us really feel like it was Christmas. Thursday was planning and then we thought we were going to have a normal day and got home and I received a phone call about an Hermana who was really sick and needed to go into the hospital. We had the assistants come and pick us up and we went to the hospital, my comp went to the other Hermana's companion in her area. I slept at the hospital and then in the morning the traveling assistants came and picked us up. I then met my comp and her comp at the other Christmas party. On our way home we were stuck in traffic for four hours and so we ended up not working at all for two days which was weird but it was a good feeling to help the missionaries. I am soo thankful to be the nurse even though its not an easy calling. We all need to remember why we celebrate Christmas and the importance of it.

New companion. Baptism

Well this week we had changes!! I got a new companion and she is from Colorado! She is wonderful. I really am so thankful for her and that we can learn from each other. We definitely laugh a lot and are making soo many memories. This change is 8 weeks and so thankful for that! We had a baptism this past week and that was a miracle! We challenged him last Friday to be baptized and he said yes. Then after his prayer, he gave his mom a hug and started crying. Then he said another prayer later on and said thanks for giving me the impulse to get baptized. He has been listening for over a year!! It was wonderful. I LOVE THE CHURCH!!!

Christmas Spirit

Well this week was quite an interesting week. I had ups and downs and all arounds, but I made it through. I am thankful for all of the many moments of learning. We went and helped set up a Christmas Tree for a lady and that was fun. She has two grandkids and they are helpers. They are soo funny though. They always put a smile on our faces when we see them. Teaching has been good, we are working our hardest and just keep working and doing what we can! I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that we can work hard each day to be able to see the difference in the peoples lives here on earth even when they reject we carry on because we know that one day they will realize the importance of the Gospel. Share it with everyone and look up the video He is the Gift! Its a great video and can help us all get into the Christmas spirit! Also, share your testimony you don't know the impact you have on someone until you leave. I was able to see some of my converts and members this past weekend from another ward and they all came up to me and hugged me, they all wanted to say hi. It really makes someone feel good when they can see that impact! I LOVE YOU ALL!

McDonald's for Thanksgiving??? Christmas Home Evening at the Bishop.

This week was good. I celebrated Thanksgiving talking on the phone in the morning literally nonstop.  Then I went to the docs, I was with two elders.  Then we had our thanksgiving dinner at McDonalds!! YAY!!! It was a good day to remember. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to serve the missionaries, so it was a good day for Thanksgiving.  It hasn’t felt like Christmas here until last night when I went to a Family Home Evening with my bishop and his family.  When we walked into their house,  they had a candle burning that smelt like cinnamon and I was like its Christmas time. We watched the movie Joy to the World and it really sunk into me. It´s crazy it is Christmas. This week of teaching was good, we have had some good lessons. We have one lady that tells us that we come to her house when she really needs it and I love that. Teaching the gospel is great!!  

Pics

These are the assistants that always help me out.

Service Work

Stay strong in the gospel.

Well this week has been pretty good. No major trips to the hospital like the last week. We have working hard in our area, but could use the prayers for these people to have that desire to learn more. We are working hard to find them. It's a challenge sometimes, but we all know that our lives aren't easy and that we have to go through the hard times to find the good and to learn each day from them. We just need to stay strong in the gospel and don't let anything get us down and we will all be okay. Even though we have the hard and the easy we learn each day. I know the Lord wants each one of us to become stronger and stronger and that should always been in our mind. 

No pres, pres wife or doc. All on her own. Way to go Annie.

My week to say the least was an interesting week. Not what I expected for anything. I was in the hospital three days and our president, his wife and the doc were out of town, so I had to do it all. I couldn't call them, but I could text them.  They didn't always have their phones on them and I had two times that I went to the emergency room with missionaries. One time I slept there and didn't go to sleep until like 2:00 or 2:30 and that was crazy and wake up at 6:30. The doc at the hospital and I were talking at 1:00 in the morning. It was good but crazy!!!! I didn't work much in my area last week, but I am doing my best.  We are working on what we can have the faith and the hope to see miracles. My comp is just following me around. She really doesn't have a say on if we can go to the hospital or not. Teaching is great though!! I am grateful that I can be the nurse and a missionary!!  Everyone!! Share the gospel with everyone!!!! 

Week after Chicken POX

This week was great! I was able to work!!!!!!! We had a zone conference and then came home and I worked and what a great feeling it was. It was different to get back to work after a week, but then it was like I didn't rest at all. I am thankful for all of the moments that I have had. The help from the members was great and I know its what needed to happen. Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us and he knows what is best in the moment. My comp and I are working hard and enjoying our time. The church is true!!!!!!!!!!! We should not doubt the blessings we can receive when we share the gospel with others and what blessings they can receive as well from us from knowing about the gospel!!!

Fun Pictures

Jail with Relief Society President

Just Kidding

Sick with Chicken Pox... McDonald's food.

Girls remind Annie of her own sisters. 

Year Mark Blessed with CHICKEN POX.... WHAT???

My year mark was spent in the hospital helping an elder as I was finding out that I have the Chicken Pox. In other words this week has been a bit different. I haven't taught since Wednesday, but I have been able to do stuff in my house, so that has been nice. I know we all learn from the experiences that Heavenly Father puts in our paths. Sometimes we wonder why is this happening to me and then we just learn to accept it and know he has a better plan for us than we know. I am thankful to be able to learn each day from my experiences and to see the help of the members come into action to help us out so my companion can continue to teach.

Baptism

Another Baptism Happy Day.

I am doing good. This week was great! We had a baptism and that always makes us happy when that happens. She is great as well, I love this lady. I also helped the missionaries a ton this week which is always an adventure. We make it through though and we have to make it a good time. I am thankful to be serving a mission and helping them out. Yesterday I had a pday and I was writing in my journal and totally fell asleep with my pen in the hand and yep slept for like a half an hour. It was great! I never have those moments. Teaching is great and being the nurse as well. Even though there are the hard times we make it through and help them out. I will not be having changes so I will be in the same area until December and will have 11 months in the same stake, it's good though. I love this stake!! Share the gospel!!

Hospital visit with a Sister.

Well this week was a little different to say the least. I thought I was going to my zone pday and ended up going to the hospital which it was good to help a sister out. I got a call at 4:00 in the morning and we headed to the hospital. She is all good now and we ended up sleeping at the hospital. It's always an adventure on what comes each day. I don’t  know what comes each day, but always try to be prepared for what may come. Teaching the gospel has been good, we are working hard trying to find the chosen. Sometimes we knock doors a ton, but we don’t lose the faith we just keep working hard to be able to find them. The church is true!! 

Always busy, never a dull moment.

This week was a good week! It was an adventure yesterday in the capital helping the missionaries. I had 8 missionaries to help, 5 being glasses, but wow was I running. We left before 7:00 A.M. and didn't get back till 7:30 at night. That was a long day but it was good helping the missionaries and we got all of our contacts in and we had two lessons. We just keep going! I had divisions with one of my good friends here and we had such a great time. People thought we were twins and we sorted plastic bottles into their appropriate color, that was eventful. Also, liver isn't super good, it has a weird texture. The best thing to do here is eat and then ask that's what I did. The church is true and we teach under what comes down from the sky! We are all here sitting soaking wet because it was a down pour and was a river in the street so our skirts are sopping wet. Good times! We keep moving forward to bring children unto Christ!! 

Marriage on new convert

Baptism

Baptism



Bajio Rice



P day Fun

Great General Conference

Conference was AMAZING! I got to listen to it in English with other North Americans. The funny part was when I was listening to Elder Holland didn't realize it, but I was translating in Spanish, looked down and had written a few words in Spanish. I loved how we need to stay on the ship and don't forget the times when the Lord is helping you, be who you need to be! It's soo true. All of us need to continue to become who we need to be in the eyes of Heavenly Father. I know he is always helping us even when we have our errors. The week was good, my comp is from Mexico and she just finished her training! We are working hard and having a good time going to the capital for pday and helping the missionaries at all times. Well more of it she is my shadow because she can't go anywhere without me, it's good though. I am so thankful for the church and that I can share it with people. I want to print off Elder Bednars talk and give it to everyone. Share the gospel!!

Great Week

Well this week was great! We had some difficult times, but hey we get through them. It's the way of learning. I am thankful to be able to learn each day. Nothing too exciting happened. We taught and of course I helped the missionaries. We had to go to the capital to help a missionary another day besides my pday and that was good. Hermana Markham came with us! She is so great! Also, we had a big Family Home Evening with a couple families and then four investigators came. That was fun. We watched a movie and then played a game. Those are the moments that we won't forget. They are wonderful! Everyone share the gospel! They all need it out there! Poco a poco y ellos van a escucharles!!! little by little and they are going to listen to you all!!

Marriage and Baptism

This week was great! I had a marriage and a baptism which was wonderful!! I loved it! The husband is a member but she wasn't and now she is. She has been listening to the missionaries for a year and a half and now is a member!! It was great. We also had a good conference for the sisters which was great and we need always remember who we are! We have had some difficulties trying to find new investigators, but we are doing our best at trying to find them. The church is true and there are people that are waiting to hear from us!! Share it with everyone!!

Trial of Faith

I am thankful for all of the experiences that I am having and that I can learn more and more each day. This week was a trial of faith, but we made it through. We knocked on doors for two hours straight and 4 minutes before 6:00 someone opened their door and listened to us. We can't knock on doors after 6:00 it was a trial of our faith and our animo umm... I cant think of what that means in english right now. haha Anyways we also got to listen to Elder Ochoa he is the first counselor in the Area Presidency. I talked to him and shook his hand, that was really good. He taught us that we need to hold on to the Saviors hand, so that He can help us and we can be led to others. It was a good week! I also watched 17 Miracles yesterday which was soo wonderful. I love that movie and I love the song on it.. Savior My Redeemer!! So pretty! Keep sharing your testimonies with everyone!!

The Light Within

Things in the mission life of Hermana Newman are good. I am going great! Just trying to do my best with everything. We all know we have our faults, but we try and change to become better. Not anything too strange happened this past week. Just teaching and helping the missionaries quite often. We knocked on a door and the lady was super happy, then she said can you come back another day, so we did on Sunday. She told me that I contacted her in the street in my last area and that her daughter said did you see her eyes. Then when I went knocking on her door, when she saw me again she said I want to be here when she comes and visits. We went to go visit with them, but she wasn't there. Hopefully the next time she will be there. I told Hermana Markham about it and she said its because they also see the light in your eyes. It was really sweet of her. Teaching is good, its nice when the language has finally gotten better. I was talking on the phone with the Bishop and he said I didn't know it was you because your voice sounded like us haha that was sweet of him. It was funny. Its definitely not perfect and I need to know more words, but it will still gradually come with time. The mission life is good. Just doing what I can and plugging along with missionary life!!! It's good to be able to help the missionaries even though at times it's not easy, but we make it through it! I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!

Bishop Family

More Rain

Rain Rain Go Away

Service Work



Sisters in Zion



Silly Picture

Member going on a Mission

Pday at the Zoo

Pres & Sister Brough



Chocolate Covered Bananas Yummy



Baptism

Half Way Mark

Honduran Compaion made food from her Country



Baptism



Baptism

Bishop & Family

Companions



Elder Armado from the Seventy



Baptism

Sweet Companions

Farewell to Brother & Sister Brough

Baptism

Miracles and Record calls from Missionaries. Along with another Baptism.

Well this week was great, full of miracles and calls from the missionaries. I had a baptism on Sunday which was great as well. She is awesome and will progress in the church!! One of the stories that I want to share is that two times this happened this past week. We need to contact 10 families each day and in my area its hard to find them. It was like 7:30 at night and we still needed to find 6 families. Well we decided to pray literally in the middle of the street and then we were guided to them. We found them!! It was amazing! The Lord really listens to our prayers! Yesterday I had a pday, it was great. I was a handy woman in the house. I ended up changing out the shower in this house because our water was ice cold and now its warm. YAY! Always took the breath away. haha Nursing is going good, I had many phone calls this past week. One day I had about 10 calls which goes on a record, but hey its okay, we made it through and I pray for them all each day to feel better. My area is good, just teaching and trying to find the chosen ones. Its good though. My area is different but I love it! I am thankful for the members here in this ward. We have Sunday lunch with one family and it just reminds me of Sunday dinner with our family!! Share the gospel!!!

New Area. Same Stake. New Companion. All is Well.

Well things here in my new area are great. It was really funny at changes because I thought I was going to go closer to the capital, but no I am like a 20 min walk from my old house. I am still in the same Stake which it's great to still be here. I got a little change, but still in the same surroundings of where I was. My companion is great, she is from Peru, I have known her since we have been in the same zone for a while. It's different trying to understand and learn another area and everything but it's good. We have a good time together and she is helping me out a lot. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to be here and serve the Lord. We taught Relief Society this past week, that was a good time, they told us Saturday that we are teaching and don't have time to plan a lesson, so we winged it, but it turned out really good. It was on the Atonement. Teaching has been good, we have some families to baptize here and that is going to be great. We are working hard to find more. I am thankful for the work of the Lord and that I can be an instrument in his hands to help others come unto Christ. Nursing has been good, just trying to help them all feel better and that they can all work with all their heart, might, mind and strength!!

Saying to Goodbye is never easy. New area.

This week was good but I have sad news....... I am getting transfered out of my area. I have been here 7 AMAZING months with these people of Amatitlan!! I will surely miss them but I am soo thankful for opportunity to meet more people. I was saying bye to the bishop last night and he said there are families waiting for you in your next area!! I am looking forward to find them and teach them. Nothing too out of the ordinary happened this week besides it flying by soo fast. My companion and I have had soo much fun together this past transfer. I am so thankful for all of the many opportunities that I have had here with her and the many more that I will make. These people here will always be a part of me and they are my family for always and forever!! Nursing is definitley keeping me busy and I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to be the nurse. Sometimes I cant imagine Hermana Markham being the nurse as well. I sure do love you alll!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miracles of Mission Life

It was a nursing type of week this past week. There were some days where I left my area to go to the hospital and it wasn't my pday. One of the days I went with Pres and Hna Markham to take care of an Elder. My comp did divisions with a member here so we could get lessons in. It was good. Pres Markham asked me in the car when do you go home and I said in April and Hna Markham said we have her for a while. She is soo sweet. Then Saturday morning I got a call from an Hna who got stung by a bee and then was allergic and turned into an infection so we had the opportunity to go to the hospital and have a sleep over, her and I. It was an experience to remember. She was soo thankful that I was there with her. My comp went with her comp back to their area to work and I stayed with her. We saw soo many miracles. I called our zone leaders to ask about a Taxi to get there faster and they said why the secretaries are here in our area and can take you. It was crazy! They never are here and then we were driving and we met up with the Hermana and got in a taxi with her because the secretaries werent going as far, but we happened to be in the same city at the same time. We spent the night Saturday so Sunday morning we didn't go to church. The assistants brought us the sacrament, so that was an experience to remember and we read General Conference talks for church. It was wonderful! They also took us back to our areas. They are so willing to help out in any way. Hna Markham didn't want me to go because she said that I have done a lot and I just said to her it's my calling. I am here to help. It was wonderful. They were like three or more hours away from the hospital. This made me appreciate more that I have this calling. It's not easy that is for sure but it's rewarding. Teaching was good even though we didn't have many lessons this week. We are working hard to find people to come to church and have a desire to learn more. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to serve and know this is where I need to be in my life. I really have seen the Lord work miracles this past week!!!!!!

Missionary life in nutshell.

Well this week was good and interesting and all of the above. The zoo was fun, its small but it was great and wonderful to go and relax a bit and breathe. I also had another pday yesterday in my house which was great. There is a sister in our ward that well now she is a missionary, she is at the MTC in Mexico. She left today. She helped us out sooo much. I am going to miss her soooo much!! We went to her setting apart because I knew that she really would appreciate that and when we walked in her face lit up. She came over yesterday, we talked and then we took pics. I know the Lord knew that we needed that time with her. We also went to visit this lady who is great, then all of the sudden she came walking to her house, entered, looked at us and said I am Catholic and will always be, you guys don't know God. It was really interesting. When she was talking we felt something weird and our hearts were beating faster. We also saw our convert drunk in the street. Ya that was a good time. I know the Lord helps us though through the hards times and the good times. We had a great zone training today where we talked about our purpose on missions and that we need to change. We were all crying and our president was there and they were crying. We really felt the spirit. They really know what we need to hear. We are definitely guided by the spirit. SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Annie have Ups and Downs and all Arounds??? That's my girl trying to keep up.

This week was definitely a different week. It was a week of ups and downs and all arounds, but hey we made it through and now we have a new week. I have a convert who is going out on visits with the missionaries and it really puts a smile on my face because I can see a change in him. I love seeing that. I have been doing quite a bit of nursing stuff well trying to help out a couple missionaries and that is good. Each and every day in the mission is different. Never is it the same. I love the experiences that I am having though. The church is true!

Lord always lending a helpful hand.

The mission life is going good for me. Just doing my best that I can do. I am thankful that each day I get to learn more and more. Its a blessing to be able to serve a mission and to learn more about the gospel. We passed by a convert to walk to church with her on Sunday and she said that she wasn't going to go because she has two kids. We said we are here to walk with you, so she hurried and got ready but we had 30 minutes before church started. We were like a 20 minute walk or more to church. ya I was twittling my thumbs because I didn't want to be late, but we were fine. The Lord helped us. We left her house at like 7:55 which church starts at 8. We walked up the street and I said to my companion, we are going to ask this family who has a car if they can take us because their ward doesn't start until 10. Their daughter took us, we got their right when they were singing the sacrament song. Oh wow does the Lord help us. We also have been teaching this man. His daughter was always said he isn't home, but you can come back. Then we asked if we could teach her and she said no, when he comes back. Well one night we knocked and she was the only one home, we started talking to her about English. Then she started to gain confidence in us and now we are teaching her too. She looked at us one night and said are you guys going to come in. Oh how I love seeing the Lord helping us. It's great!!! Nursing is good as well. I have my days where it's hard. Yesterday we left our house at 7 in the morning and we didnt get back until 4 and we start working at 5. Ya didn't have a pday, but next week we are going to the ZOOOOOOO and I will go there. YAY I am excited! Share the gospel with everyone!!!!!!!

Searching for Investigators

Nothing too exciting happened. Just trying to help the missionaries and my investigators. We are doing our best to find new investigators but at times its a little hard. We need to just increase our faith more that we can find them. I gave my talk on Sunday and well that was the first time in my life that I actually gave a normal talk without crying the whole way through it. I felt like crying in the beginning and the end but I didnt. I definitley felt the spirit but the Lord was really helping me which was a blessing. These people are great and they are definitely like my family. We are teaching and contacting. We now have two more converts which is great and one of them is going to be so awesome and going to go out with us to go on visits. YAY!! I hope that all of you are sharing your testimony with everyone!!!

Earthquake, Baptism, Talk in Church, Service... The busy life of a missionary.

Did you hear about the earthquake on Monday? well yes I definitely felt that one, it was pretty strong but nothing happened where I am at. We are all safe, it was crazy though. I had two baptisms this past Sunday which was awesome. It was a mother and her daughter. They are awesome. The daughter said that every time we visit her that she is converted more. I love that. I am also going to be here in my area for another transfer with my companion!! At the end of this next transfer I will have 7 months here. I told the bishops daughter that I am going to be here again and she jumped and said yay we love you! It was sweet! I am also going to give a talk in church this Sunday. That is going to be a good time. haha We had the opportunity to give service this past Saturday which was so fun. We had an investigator go with us and we had a good time laughing. We planted trees on a hill by the lake that is by us. It was great! It was a helping hands project for the church. It's a blessing in my life to be able to serve a mission and to help people come unto Christ. I am thankful for this opportunity that I have to be His servant!!

Farewell President and Hermana Brough

My week has been good. I now have a new mission president. I never thought it would be so hard to say farewell to President and Hermana Brough. President Brough told me when you come home come find us and I will give you a big hug. He is great! Hermana Brough was writing me all sorts of the little text message throughout this past week which was great. I loved texting her. I have talked to Hermana Markham and she is so nice! I will see and meet them both on Thursday at a conference. This past Sunday four of us sang in church. You all know that my voice isn't good at all, but hey I attempted it because our first counselor asked us to. After they said that we were not singing alone and it sounded like we had lots of other people singing with us. They said it was like angels were singing with us. Not just the first counselor said it other people as well. It was interesting haha. Teaching has been good. We have two sister members that are preparing to serve missions and so they have gone out with us. They are so fun. It's a good time to go out with them. We just laugh and I love it!! Yes we teach as well. This gospel is so true!!! I am so thankful that I can share it with these people and learn from all of these experiences that I am having. I know I need to be here serving the Lord and teaching his children. Also, I know that I need to be here helping the missionaries. The mission presidents wife said that she is so blessed to have me here. She is so sweet. SHARE THE GOSPEL!! and go to the TEMPLE!!!!! Oh side note. I tried chicken heart this past week. It was interesting.

Busy, Busy Week, Temple, Stake Conference, Farewell to Mission Pres. and Wife

This week was great! It was definitely a different week. We only had Wednesday that was a "normal" day. Monday we had our district meeting and I had to go to the capital and Tuesday we went to the TEMPLE!! That was such a great experience to go there again! I have missed it so much. So all of you should go to the temple as often as you can because there are so many temples that are so close to you!! When I was sitting in the Celestial Room, all I could hear was grandpa saying to me I love you too sweetie. Really, I could feel him there with me. It was a special feeling. Thursday we had our last conference with President and Hermana Brough, that was a sad day, but it was good. We cried and they both talked and shared how they met each other. President Brough also looked at me and he said come find us when you get home and I will give you a big hug. It was sad, but it will be good to have a new mission president to learn and grow from. Friday we planned. Saturday we had Stake Conference and so we got to go to that which was great. I got to see Pres and Hermana Brough again!!! YAY!! and then Sunday we had the actual meeting of Stake Conference. That was awesome. Elder Amado from the first quorum of the seventy came and spoke to us. It was great! I gave Hermana Brough one last hug and she was just crying and she said she will write me one last text right before she leaves. Wow its going to be hard to not talk to her, but I know that Hermana Markham and I are going to work good together as well and that I will love her. When I said bye to President Brough, he told me again to come find him and then he said you know how to take care of a mission presidents wife, you really do. I thought that was really nice of him to say. ya we text each other pretty much everyday and most things are about the missionaries but we do have some texts that are what we need for each other to lift us up. It has been great to be able to help the missionaries and to also teach my investigators. It's such a great opportunity to see the change in the people. You all should go out and share the gospel with everyone!!!

Families are FOREVER. Earthquake (yikes)

Well this week has been the best that it can be. Thank you to all for your support for my family right now at this time in our lives. I am so thankful for the knowledge that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!! What a blessing that is in our lives. I am just testifying more now of this knowledge, that I have that it's true!! and that we will see our family once again. I hope these people can feel it when I am testifying. Sometimes I start crying and I can see a difference in their faces. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE! and I know now that my grandpa is on the other side teaching about the wonderful gospel and sharing many of his lifes experiences with everyone. Teaching has been good and helping the missionaries has been good as well. I just never know what kind of call I will get but I am thankful that I can help the missionaries out. You all should go out and share your testimony with EVERYONE!!! Oh fun fact well this week I was on my knees praying in the morning and all of the sudden I am shaking and I look up and my companion is looking out the window and I said Que es esto and well it was an earthquake haha someone said it was like 4.8 haha After I said well I will finish my prayer now. haha It was funny.

Meeting goals, Missonaries Sick, The Church is TRUE

This week has been great! We had a goal for our mission to have a perfect week. We have specific things we had to meet and my companion and I met them!! We were the only ones in our zone that met these goals!! YAY!!! It was a good feeling to know that I accomplished what our president wanted us to do even though I had some challenges with the missionaries being sick. I have had many call me this past week, but I know that Satan is working hard on us because we have a goal as a mission of baptisms and he doesn't want us to achieve, so everyone is getting sick and calling me. I am getting through it and learning from it. I am so thankful for Hermana Brough, she is AMAZING! This week has been good teaching, We have an investigator who is 20 years old and she is awesome. She is funny and she is just becoming our friend which is awesome!! I love the work! I love seeing the change in the people. I got to work with my first companion in the field Hermana Yepez. She is a Sister Training Leader so she came to my area with me. She is great. She said that she doesn't have any worries about me and she knows that I am here for the right reason. That is always a good feeling. THE CHURCH IS TRUE! La Iglesia es verdadera!

Rain, Rain go away. It's making the mission a challenge.

Things here in Guatemala are going well. Yesterday was a pretty eventful day for nursing. I had three appointments to go to with the missionaries and it usually takes us like an hour and a half to get to the capital, but yesterday it was four hours. It was raining and there apparently was an accident. It was a good time! Also we would be walking down the streets and there is a ton of water in the street and the cars would pass by and yep you all already know what happened we would get splattered. Good memories we made! My companions first pday with the nurse haha She won't forget that day. We didn't get back to our area till 5;45 and we are supposed to be teaching at 5:00, but the weather and traffic made everything push back. My companion is from Honduras. She has been out 10 months. We are doing good together, just trying to learn what I can. It has been a little difficult guiding the area again, but I am doing it and the Lord is helping. We have some investigators who are progressing and one said that she might have a religion in her life! Its great to hear and see the progress of them.! We are doing our best to try and find people. THE CHURCH IS TRUE AND YOU ALL SHOULD SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

The changing of companion's.

Tomorrow we have changes and I am going to have a new companion. I have sure loved being with my companion for 12 weeks. We have had a great time together working hard. We have had our difficult times, but we get through them. It's sad to have her leave me, but it will be good to have a new companion and learn from her. Pres Brough I know has chosen someone who will work great with me and that will be patient with nursing things. Well this past week has been good. We have had some great lessons, but we have also heard people say that they don't want to listen anymore. It's sad because it's the people surround them that often say things to them about us which things are not true. The people just dont understand. We are working hard to find the chosen. Those who are prepared to hear about the gospel. We had a lesson with one of our investigators and the second counselor in the Stake Presidency visited him with us. It was AWESOME! One of the best lessons that I have had. He challenged him to be baptized this Sunday and he said I will be there at your baptism. It was awesome. We had ward conference and it is so great when I can actually understand. The bishop last night asked us what I thought and I said it was what we needed to hear and I said it's great when I can actually understand it too. It's a blessing. It's a wonderful priviledge to teach these people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! Everyone share your testimony with others!!

Finally a PDay to enjoy.

Things here are good. Just teaching away!! It's been a good but hard week. The reason it was hard is because we have had people that don't want to listen to us anymore. They have said that they are attending another church, we even have some converts that are going to another church. It's a bit difficult, but we are working with them. Last night we were with the Bishops wife she went out with us before her Family Home Evening and she told me that she remembers when I first came here and that I could hardly speak Spanish and she has definitely seen an improvement. Thats good to know! We are just working hard and trying to find investigators! We had a young woman come church who is 13 and she really liked it a lot!! She is praying and reading and she wants to come again. Her mom isnt ready to come to church with us but her other sister came as well. That was awesome!! Yesterday I finally had a pday. The mission presidents wife gave me permission to go to a doctors appointment another day so that I could go to Antigua with my zone! It was great! I had a good time and definitely was needed. She told me that I needed a pday! Now I am ready to work this weeek!!!

Working Hard, Mission Pres kind words, Mother's Day

Well this week was good, but hard. People really didn't want to hear from us, but we just worked as hard as we could. There was a carnival here so a lot of the people were there and not in their houses, but it's all good. We have this week to work hard. I had a good interview with my president and he said if you don't remember anything else remember that WE LOVE YOU! It was way sweet. He is amazing and really has the spirit with him. This week on Saturday which was Mother's Day here we were walking down the street and a lady in a Paca (where you can buy used clothing) she looked at us and and waved her hand to come to her. She gave us both a hug and then just started crying we had no idea why, we didn't know her. I felt though that she was a member from a different ward. Well it was true. She is a member from a ward that is right by us and she has a daughter on a mission. She needed a hug because her daughter isn't there with her for Mother's day. It was way sweet and glad that we could comfort her. I am so thankful for this opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I have learned a lot and I am so thankful to be able to continue to learn more. I KNOW THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS IS TRUE!!! Yo se que la Iglesia de Jesucrist de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es VERDADERA!!!

Fun Pictures

new companion

Trip to the lake

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Teaching the Gospel is fun to do, fun to do, fun to do.

Well things here in Guatemala are good. Yes I am preparing for the rainy season, it rained the other day and they were not joking when they said rivers, and I had my crocs on and that was a blessing. Teaching the gospel is GREAT! I love it! One of our investigators who has had an interview for baptism didn't show up for his baptism. We have been teaching him still and then Saturday as we were asking him about the Book of Mormon he said I have to tell you guys something, I have made my decision and I have accepted to be baptized. He wants to do it this Sunday because it's his wife's birthday. She passed away five years ago. It was such a great experience to hear that from him and then we taught him on Sunday. He said that God knows that he has made his decision. That was awesome! We also taught another lady who has been praying to find the truth and that her door is open. We taught her and she is great! We need her to attend church with us to learn more as well. Oh it's great to find the ones who are ready to hear about the gospel!! My companion told me this past week that in one of our lessons that my Spanish was amazing and that she wanted to talk, but I was just going at it. She said that they understood what I was saying my words were great! That makes me feel good to hear that. The spirit definitley helps with the language! I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to serve the Lord!

Funny Moments - The Church is TRUE

Well things here in Guatemala are good. Just hot and sweating all the time, but hey its all good because I am teaching the people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We had a good week this week. We had some funny moments. One of them was my companion asked "How many Churches do we see now on earth". The man said, "I dont know because I can't see". The other was "What were the fundamentals that in which Jesus Christ formed his church" and the man said I don't know I wasn't there. Oh dear, I had just explained it to him, haha good times. The church is so true! We have seen miracles but also have had some hard times finding new investigators. We had an experience I was on divisions with another Hermana and we found a lady that night at like 8:45 who has always rejected us and she finally let us in because her nephew had been testifying to her that he knows the church is true and that there will be missionaries to come visit her that day and we came! It was great. She said sorry for never letting you guys in. I actually had a pday yesterday and we went to a lake with a family that lives here. She is our cook and they are like my family here. It was fun! Nice to do something fun. My companion and I had a good time. Oh when we had divisions the Hermana that I was with she said that she can tell that I am here for the right reason and that I am sincere with my investigators and that I love them. Its great! I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

Success in contacting sweet people of Guatemala

Well this week was good! It was a fast week. My companion and I contacted 109 families and 459 people. It was a great week of contacting in the street and on the buses. Our families that was awesome!! Teaching is good, we have found families that want to learn more the only trouble is that they need to attend church and there are some that need to get married. This week we were teaching a family who are MARRIED (miracle. After teaching about Joseph Smith I asked the father how he felt and he said that he has listened to other people talk about their churches, but hasn't felt like this before. It was great!! Teaching can be tough sometimes especially when you dont understand everything but its good and my companion helps me out too. We also had Family Night last night with a family whose two daughters aren't members and we watched video. I love learning more about the gospel. As a mission we are reading Preach My Gospel which is great! Nursing stuff is going good. One Hermana told me yesterday that she was thinking about me and she said that I totally just forget myself. Sometimes thats what I do, because I dont really have pdays because I am at doctors appointments with the missionaries. Well I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!! I am so thankful to be a member and to be a MISSIONARY!!!

Toasty days, Teaching, Cleanest house of Hermana's

Well Guatemala is getting a bit toasty these days. Soon we are going to hit the rainy season next month and they say that we will be walking in rivers, so thats going to be a good time. The mission force will still be going strong amidst the weather! We don't worry about the weather here, rain or shine we are out teaching the gospel to these people. I am so thankful for this opportunity in my life to serve. We have found families and I love teaching the families. Sometimes it's hard to make sure that everyone is listening and paying attention but it's good. Families are the most important, because it brings a family into Salvation. Teaching the gospel is great, sometimes it's hard especially when it's in a different language and you want to really express yourself, but sometimes don't know the words in Spanish. I get by though and the Holy Ghost puts words in my mouth for me! I love seeing the progress of my investigators. Its great! Things for nursing are going well! Just taking the calls everyday and then going to the doctors appointments. It's good to help them out. It makes me feel good when I know that I have helped a missionary. Oh my companion and I between two zones my companion and I won the cleanest house out of the Hermanas!!!!!!!!!! yay! We got a big bag from Costco of pancake mix, pop tarts, trail mix, bacon, peanut butter and jelly! It was great!! Ya we cleaned each night before we had the inspection because our pday was spent in the capital, but we did it!!! If you have the opportunity go out with the missionaries and share your testimony!!

Loving all of the experiences of a Mission

I LOVED Conference and the best part was I got to listen to it in English!!!! YAY!! Things here in Guatemala are going pretty good, just working hard teaching the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ! Helping the missionaries out when they are sick. Its a great feeling when they tell me that they are better and that they are so thankful for me. Teaching is great. I contacted a lady on the street a couple weeks ago and we made an appointment with her. That day I told my companion that we need to go to this appointment, we went and she is progressing, she came to General Conference and really enjoyed it. Last night (we had family home evening with the bishop, with her and her two girls)I felt really impressed that we needed to visit her and she told me that before we came to visit her, she was depressed and now she is more upbeat. We asked when we could visit her again and she said whenever you want. We are going today. She said that her husband is going to come to church this Sunday as well! So great! It's such a great feeling, when it was you who was the first person to talk to them about the gospel. We have another investigator who was reading his pamphlets over again and was thinking about us and how he needs to be baptized. Its great! I really love the gospel!!

Training, Emergency Room, Loving the Gospel

I am doing good! The mission is a good time! I realized this week that the more I teach the more I love it! I am grateful that more and more I am understanding the language which is a blessing. Sometimes I just look at my companion when I dont understand and she helps me out. Sometimes people look at me like, she is speaking spanish. Well yes its kind of necessary when you are living in a country that speaks spanish. This past week, I have been busy with nursing stuff with having a training, going to a doctors appointment and then having to go to the emergency room with a sister missionary. As well as take the phone calls from the missionaries. Satisfying to hear when you have made a difference. One sister missionary said she is going to make me 12 batches of cookies when she gets home because I have been so patient with her haha It was funny. Teaching the gospel this week has been good. I contacted a lady on the street last week and we visited with her this past week and I feel like she is going to progress. She is really thankful that we have come to visit her and she wants to come to church with us! I love seeing the change in the people! Some are really converted! Teaching the gospel is great and if you have an opportunity to teach the gospel. DO IT!!

Who needs a Plumber or Electrician when you have Hermana Newman?

Baptism, Plumber/Electrician, Nursing - This Sister is busy.

My mission is going good. This week we had a baptism which was wonderful. What a blessing it is to see the change. This man has been waiting for 8 months and he finally was able to be baptized. He told us that he didn't think that this day was here. He said that it doesn't seem real. It's great to see the change. Another investigator this week said that he is realizing that baptism is necessary!! Yes! It's very important in your life. The lessons have been good, sometimes its hard to find new investigators, but we are working hard. I am an electrician as well. I was able to change out our shower head which it's not just a normal shower head thats in the US its one that you have to disconnect the wire and then you have to reconnect it back up. It was a good time. That was part of my pday as well as washing clothes by hand. haha good times. I was proud when I finished the shower head and we had hot water again. Our other shower was spraying in all different directions and just wasn't working out for us. It's was wonderful to take a nice warm shower with pressure today. haha Nursing things are going well, just learning each day how to help these missionaries because they are calling with different things each day, but it's good to help them out and be there for them. I love to be able to help them. I know that this church is true! I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve and to able to bring these people into the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!!

Teaching - Learning - Experiences of Plenty - Embracing the Gospel

This week has been good. My companion and I have had some good times of laughter and success. Then hard times when our investigator doesn't show up for his interview or when we are trying to be guided on who to teach. It's good though. Everyday is a learning process which is great. I love learning more about the gospel and wish that I could just study all day sometimes, but I know I can learn as I teach these people as well. At times it's weird to think that I am speaking in Spanish, I must say it's great when people tell you that your Spanish has really improved since I first was in this area. Some funny moments that happened this week was we came back to our house one night and my chips were on the ground and my companions bread had some bites taken out of it, she looked at me and said un gato and I thought oh dear, it was silent for a moment and we heard meow. Yep we had a cat in our house, but don't worry I got it out well just moved a block because it was trapped and it ran out. SO FUNNY! Also, a little girl asked me as I was talking to her mom in the street, she asked if I had contacts in or if they were the color of my eyes. I said they are the natural color of my eyes. People here dont have blue eyes. It was funny! Three of our converts now have callings in the ward and two of them are in the Young Mens Presidency and the other is a secretary for the ward. It's great seeing the change in them and seeing them be faithful in the gospel. One of our converts saw me the other day and just gave me a great big hug and said, I am just so excited to see you. She is great! We are working to have people progress and to find new people who are ready to hear the gospel. There are many in the street, when we talk to them who just look at us like it's the missionaries again and others walk faster and then there are some that actually listen to us. Its good though. Makes things fun and the ones who are ready will listen. I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!! Go out and work with the missionaries!

What a sweet missionaries.

Baptism