Well... the other day on the bus I contacted a man with a great story....
He´s Jewish. He is also German.... but from like 6 generations back. He looks like a gringo, but has perfect Guatemalan Spanish, because he has lived here all his life. He also speaks Hebrew and German. His wife speaks all those plus English. I will just say that this never happens in Guate....
Also, we got a phone call the other day from Nacho Cabrera from Barcelona. I was convinced at first that an Elder was pulling a prank... but it turned out to be real. He had a reference for us.
I love the mission.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
A couple pics...
5156 - Welp.... I said goodbye to Hna Ayala. She had to move yet again, so she was a bit sad, but she´s a great sport. This is her last change.. She´s with another gringa in the capital.
5155 - My new, gorgeous, tiny, incredible hija.
Hermana Garcia is from Ahuachapàn, El Salvador. She is 21. Her brothers, sister, and dad all served in this same mission. She´s been a member her whole life. And... she´s fantastic in every way. She just entered, but most of the time, I feel like I am teaching with someone that has a good amount of time in the mish. She is fearless and hilarious. She told President Brough before we got put together, that she wanted a companion that would kill her (as in... work so hard..). She´ll do lots of incredible and amazing things in her mission.
Monday, December 12, 2011
December 9, 2011 - email
Well... I´ll just confess that I will not be able to give a good amount of info about what has happened in this past week and a half... that´s a long time to cover... sorry.
Super pday: played and ate lots. Last night we saw (for the first time for 99% of us missionaries) the new pioneer movie by the Church, "17 Miracles." Wow... it´s incredible. Everyone must see it... even if you´re not a member of the LDS Church. They had an incredible amount of faith in Jesus Christ. They trusted in Him, His Atonement, and His promises. Wow. I just love pioneer movies and stories, because they´re true and life-changing. You know it´s powerful when you hear a room full of 20-ish year old men sniffling and crying.
We went to the temple this morning and it was so refreshing. I was able to think a lot about families and realize how essential they are to God´s plan. I need to re-focus my goals as a missionary. We need to find and help everyone... but the families are so so important. I was also able to ponder about the covenants that I have made with the Lord. I have a lot to live up to. The Lord expects so much, but really so little from us.
President Brough talked yesterday about the "privilege" to suffer (or at least what we think is suffering) for Christ and his Work. We really don´t deal with very much at all, but when times are hard, we must realize the incredible opportunities that the Lord gives us to grow, trust in Him more, see miracles, and receive blessings.
A few days ago, we were with Anibal and Jenifer. We were talking about faith (he has told us many times that he is a man of faith and that he believes that he has more faith than even us), when Anibal asked me," Hermana Marin, do you believe in God?" It was a little surprising, but I responded in the affirmative, of course, and he said, "Because I know that God exists, but sometimes I feel like you just believe that you believe." I was caught so off-guard and it actually hurt for a milli-second and then I got my head on straight, asked for the Spirit, and responded.... boldly. I told him that I know without a single doubt in my heart or mind that Jesus is my Savior and that God is my loving Father and that nothing could change that. I told him that if he truly had more faith than I do, then he should be able to give up drinking, because he would know that God can do anything and everything and that his faith would be enough. I truly feel like I felt, for a moment, Godly anger. I felt as if he was mocking God.....
Well, I´m out of time :)
Love,
Hermana Marin
Super pday: played and ate lots. Last night we saw (for the first time for 99% of us missionaries) the new pioneer movie by the Church, "17 Miracles." Wow... it´s incredible. Everyone must see it... even if you´re not a member of the LDS Church. They had an incredible amount of faith in Jesus Christ. They trusted in Him, His Atonement, and His promises. Wow. I just love pioneer movies and stories, because they´re true and life-changing. You know it´s powerful when you hear a room full of 20-ish year old men sniffling and crying.
We went to the temple this morning and it was so refreshing. I was able to think a lot about families and realize how essential they are to God´s plan. I need to re-focus my goals as a missionary. We need to find and help everyone... but the families are so so important. I was also able to ponder about the covenants that I have made with the Lord. I have a lot to live up to. The Lord expects so much, but really so little from us.
President Brough talked yesterday about the "privilege" to suffer (or at least what we think is suffering) for Christ and his Work. We really don´t deal with very much at all, but when times are hard, we must realize the incredible opportunities that the Lord gives us to grow, trust in Him more, see miracles, and receive blessings.
A few days ago, we were with Anibal and Jenifer. We were talking about faith (he has told us many times that he is a man of faith and that he believes that he has more faith than even us), when Anibal asked me," Hermana Marin, do you believe in God?" It was a little surprising, but I responded in the affirmative, of course, and he said, "Because I know that God exists, but sometimes I feel like you just believe that you believe." I was caught so off-guard and it actually hurt for a milli-second and then I got my head on straight, asked for the Spirit, and responded.... boldly. I told him that I know without a single doubt in my heart or mind that Jesus is my Savior and that God is my loving Father and that nothing could change that. I told him that if he truly had more faith than I do, then he should be able to give up drinking, because he would know that God can do anything and everything and that his faith would be enough. I truly feel like I felt, for a moment, Godly anger. I felt as if he was mocking God.....
Well, I´m out of time :)
Love,
Hermana Marin
Sunday, December 4, 2011
14 Months Tomorrow (November 28th, 2011)
I don´t understand how time is flying so fast! This change with Hermana Ayala has seriously felt like a dream. I´m scared that time will just keep going faster and faster.
Well, the next time I will write will be Friday, the 9th. President Brough is planning a Super Bday... two days long! He has assured us that it will be incredible and I know it will be... especially because the second day we are going to the temple in Guate! There are nine zones in the mission, so we will be doing it in pairs. Our zone, Chimaltenango, will going with one other zone.
Dad... I forgot to tell you last week that I received your package! Thank you thank you thank you. We are especially in love with our arbolito. Members and investigators always visit us while we are in the house... they come to the window and talk to us. Right now, we have the tree on the tree in front of the window, so they are always commenting on how much they love our decorations. We hope to put even more up!
Also, Grandma... I got your card, thank you so much! That was a nice, sweet surprise.
I just need to mention how much I love the honesty of all the Guatemaltecos... I can ask any person I know here, "Estoy engordando, ¿verdad?" and they tell me honestly and without vergüenza or hesitation, "Sí" jaja. What will I do when I get back to the states and no one tells me the truth, but they all think it!
The members here are incredible. So many of them have been sharing the Gospel so much. One hermana, Maria Elena, is constantly introducing us to her friends and sharing her testimony with them. Another, Rafa (Rafael), has brought his friend to Church twice and is really helping him learn and understand. He says that he wants be baptized. I´m telling you... the members are the key! We cannot see nearly as many people brought to the truth of the Gospel without the members.
The lucha is still going with Jenifer and Anibal. He didn´t drink for a few days, but then fell otra vez. She is so frustrated. She wants to be baptized, but she isn´t 100% convinced about marrying her husband. She is willing to do it, but the situation is hard and wants the best life for her and her children.
We are working with a widower, Juan. He is incredible. He´s around 65 or 70 years old or something and is so joyful!! He went to church for the first time yesterday and was so incredibly happy afterwards, when we went to visit him. He assured us that he would be going the next week.
We are hoping to have a white Christmas :)
Johana received the gift of the Holy Ghost and became a member yesterday! I love that girl. We are working with her mom, too, mostly by trying to get her to support her daughter more, but when it comes to coming to church there is always an excuse.
Have I mentioned how much I love my area... even if all the rocks kind of kill your feet and everyone claims to be hard-core Catholic... I imagine that my area is as close as you can get to a Rome, Italy, mission... ;) But, honestly, there are a good amount of Evangelicals, too.
Well, hasta el nueve de Diciembre!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Well, the next time I will write will be Friday, the 9th. President Brough is planning a Super Bday... two days long! He has assured us that it will be incredible and I know it will be... especially because the second day we are going to the temple in Guate! There are nine zones in the mission, so we will be doing it in pairs. Our zone, Chimaltenango, will going with one other zone.
Dad... I forgot to tell you last week that I received your package! Thank you thank you thank you. We are especially in love with our arbolito. Members and investigators always visit us while we are in the house... they come to the window and talk to us. Right now, we have the tree on the tree in front of the window, so they are always commenting on how much they love our decorations. We hope to put even more up!
Also, Grandma... I got your card, thank you so much! That was a nice, sweet surprise.
I just need to mention how much I love the honesty of all the Guatemaltecos... I can ask any person I know here, "Estoy engordando, ¿verdad?" and they tell me honestly and without vergüenza or hesitation, "Sí" jaja. What will I do when I get back to the states and no one tells me the truth, but they all think it!
The members here are incredible. So many of them have been sharing the Gospel so much. One hermana, Maria Elena, is constantly introducing us to her friends and sharing her testimony with them. Another, Rafa (Rafael), has brought his friend to Church twice and is really helping him learn and understand. He says that he wants be baptized. I´m telling you... the members are the key! We cannot see nearly as many people brought to the truth of the Gospel without the members.
The lucha is still going with Jenifer and Anibal. He didn´t drink for a few days, but then fell otra vez. She is so frustrated. She wants to be baptized, but she isn´t 100% convinced about marrying her husband. She is willing to do it, but the situation is hard and wants the best life for her and her children.
We are working with a widower, Juan. He is incredible. He´s around 65 or 70 years old or something and is so joyful!! He went to church for the first time yesterday and was so incredibly happy afterwards, when we went to visit him. He assured us that he would be going the next week.
We are hoping to have a white Christmas :)
Johana received the gift of the Holy Ghost and became a member yesterday! I love that girl. We are working with her mom, too, mostly by trying to get her to support her daughter more, but when it comes to coming to church there is always an excuse.
Have I mentioned how much I love my area... even if all the rocks kind of kill your feet and everyone claims to be hard-core Catholic... I imagine that my area is as close as you can get to a Rome, Italy, mission... ;) But, honestly, there are a good amount of Evangelicals, too.
Well, hasta el nueve de Diciembre!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Monday, November 21, 2011
¡Johana se bautizó!
3017 - Us with Johana and another little girl that got baptized that day from the ward, Jaquelin.
3002 - Johana loved posing.
2758 - Lunch in Antigua with one of my most favorite women ever, from La Mariposa, Blanqui, and la Hermana Wetzel!! Bliss. two weeks ago.
2801 - Then, this past week for pday, Blanqui and her girls came to Antigua and we had an incredible day.
2847 - Oh, and Mom, to finally answer your question.. Yes, we can see the volcanoe from our house :) Volcan de Agua.
3014 - Almost the whole branch was there because the bus dropped us all off in Antigua from Stake Conference (which was a broadcast from SLC... Pres Uchtdorf and Elder Holland spoke... just for Guatemala... incredible).
After many scares... a teenage girl that the missionaries (before I got here) have known for a long time, got baptized yesterday. She was so cute and happy. She has gone to girls camp, attended church a bunch of times, has actually come out to do visits with us, etc., so she was very ready. She just has a step-dad that is constantly changing his mind about letting her be with us, but it´s okay, because the mom loves us.
This was not a good week for me and men. I may actually resent them a little bit right now, but it´s a good thing that there are a lot of incredible ones around here, too, that sort of makes up for it. 1 - Johana´s step dad. 2 - A husband of a woman that has come to Church a million times with her daughters, but won´t let them get baptized for ridiculous and controlling reasons. 3 - A drunk less active that we visit and claims to have more faith and know the Book of Mormon better than we do. 4 - and of course there are always those men that cat-call, whistle, follow, and say horrible, sick things to us. It´s kind of a bummer that I understand Spanish lots better than I did when I first entered, because there are some sick men here. But there is a group in our area that is always in the same house that is worse than any other cat-callers I´ve dealt with so far.
Anyhow... oops... out of time!!!
Love you!!
life is fantastic and happy!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Fast week
Well... this past week didn´t turn out like we were expecting, but it was still good.
Anibal and Jenifer are having a tougher time getting married than we had anticipated. We aren´t sure if he is actually divorced or not. Please keep praying for them. We´ll see how many baptisms we´ll have this weekend.
I forgot to tell you more about Hermana Ayala last week. She is taller than I am! My first comp that is. Crazy. And she´s gorgeous, so instead of the people on the street constantly and only looking at me, the looks are just about even between her and I. Too great. Time is flying with her, because we´re both happy and doing great. She´s a wonderful person. She hasn´t had the best rep in the mish, but I just don´t understand, because I haven´t seen any of the things that people have said before. That is why gossip is terrible.
I love teaching Anibal and Jenifer. They are so much more open-minded and deep-thinkers than the whole rest of the people that we normally teach. They challenge us and make us think more. I love it. It´s tougher for the members, because they are much more simple people, but I know that it is good for them. It just makes me realize how much different the mission must be for those who are serving in more educated areas, like the U.S. and such.
Well... I´m out of ideas ;)
Keep the faith.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Anibal and Jenifer are having a tougher time getting married than we had anticipated. We aren´t sure if he is actually divorced or not. Please keep praying for them. We´ll see how many baptisms we´ll have this weekend.
I forgot to tell you more about Hermana Ayala last week. She is taller than I am! My first comp that is. Crazy. And she´s gorgeous, so instead of the people on the street constantly and only looking at me, the looks are just about even between her and I. Too great. Time is flying with her, because we´re both happy and doing great. She´s a wonderful person. She hasn´t had the best rep in the mish, but I just don´t understand, because I haven´t seen any of the things that people have said before. That is why gossip is terrible.
I love teaching Anibal and Jenifer. They are so much more open-minded and deep-thinkers than the whole rest of the people that we normally teach. They challenge us and make us think more. I love it. It´s tougher for the members, because they are much more simple people, but I know that it is good for them. It just makes me realize how much different the mission must be for those who are serving in more educated areas, like the U.S. and such.
Well... I´m out of ideas ;)
Keep the faith.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Friday, November 11, 2011
Changes
Well... you might not believe it... because I did not believe it, but Hermana Guaranda and I had changes this past week. I´m still in Antigua, but she went to La Gomera!!! This is her last change, so she will be dying there.
I´m here with Hermana Ayala from San Salvador, El Salvador. She has 16 months in the mish and ends in January (this change and one more after). She is the absolute only member in her entire family. She´s 22. She was studying accounting also, but wants to change to be a chef or nurse. And.... she´s incredible. Life with her has truly been fantastic from the start. I feel so comfortable with her. She is very humble, happy, and gorgeous. This is going to be a fantastic change.
I don´t think that I have mentioned anything about the family Lopez... here goes (as always, I´m not going to do any justice). The Friday before changes, Hermana Guaranda and I went to the house of an inactive member of the church. His name is Aníbal. His wife is Jenifer and they have three children - 1, 2, and 6 years old. He has been a member all his life, but has not really attended since he was about 12 or 13. He is 47 years old and Jenifer is 28. He´s a big artsy guy... hippy-ish. Well, they both are. They are fantastic! They´re from the capital (which makes sense, because these kind of people are not found in our area :)). I cannot even begin to describe how much I love this family. From the first visit they have done everything that we have asked. The went to church that sunday, and this past sunday. She´s accepted the challenge to baptism (this Sunday), they are getting married Friday or Saturday (we just have to make sure that he was legally divorced from his old wife), he´s trying to give up alcohol, they´re reading the Book of Mormon, we´re having the Noche de Hermanamiento in their house tomorrow, and so much more. We visit them at least every other day (if not every day) and they always thank us for everything and say that everything has changed since we first visited them. They´re incredible. They are incredibly intelligent, but they don´t let it get in the way of their faith. Please please please pray for them, especially that Anibal can get everything taken care of with his old divorce so they can get married and she can get baptized this weekend!!! I am dying to send pictures of them!!
I finally saw Hermana Wetzel!!! She came to San Pedro on Sunday and went to a few visits with us (including one with the family Lopez)! It was absolutely incredible, but at the same time, very weird. I was with her when I knew absolutely nothing... Now, I know a little bit more, but she is even more amazing than she was before. It was great, because I got my okay-I´ve-got-to-kick-it-in-gear-to-try-to-be-as-incredible-as-Hermana-Wetzel boost.
Heavenly Father has really been blessing us. He loves us. We must be patient, faithful, and look for His hand in all things. Everything will come as it should and on His time if we are faithful. And even when we don´t do as good as we should or can, he will accept our repentance and the little that we actually do and bless us a hundred fold.
Thank you all for your support, love, prayers, and faithfulness to the Lord.
All my love,
Hermana Marin
P.S. I just got a letter from Anny! Woohooooo
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
PICTURES!!
2619 - Jeronimo´s baptism!!
2628 - Another of his baptism... do I not just work in the best branch!?!
2642 - This is how the women carry heavy things here. This was my first time. We had to lug it all up a ridiculous hill. We were helping the mom of a recent convert... she was going to carry all that, plus another bucket, plus her really chubby baby up that hill with the help of a few of her other young kids. And all this after she had just washed it all by hand in the community pilas in the central park. We were real tired afterwards... the women here are REAL strong.
2675 - The traditional clothing here :) Corte and I can´t remember what the tops are called...
2683 - My companions random picture taking skills... This is taken from a part of our area. We were on our way to a visit with some investigators that live way high up and couldn´t resist the temptation to take pictures.... but pictures don´t do this place justice. It is GORGEOUS.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Happy
Help: does anyone have any hair loss tips... because I am still losing A TON. Luckily, I still have a good amount, but not nearly as much before :(
Jeronimo received the gift of the Holy Ghost and got confirmed a member of La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Días... it was VERY relieving and wonderful. Right afterwards, he went around the Sacrament meeting room (don´t worry, it´s pretty tiny) and shook everyone´s hands. It was a little out of the ordinary and maybe a tad unorthodox, but it made me soooo incredibly happy. He was just so happy and grateful to all of the members and their support and to God. It was beautiful.
We constantly find widowers here. It´s insane. Hna Guaranda says that it has been like this her whole mission, she doesn´t know why, but she promised me that once we aren´t together that I won´t be finding them like we are now at all... haha.
As always, one of our biggest hinderances is getting people to go to church, but we are bound and determined to help these people progress.
I feel like each week I have less and less to share, not because it was an uneventful week or anything, but maybe because missionary life is becoming more normal.... but it can´t be like that! I must recognize the miracles and blessings that are constantly being given. That is one gift that my companion has. She recognizes the most seemingly unnoticeable tender mercies. Her prayers are so specific and completely different every time. She remembers so many things that happened in the day, the people that are in need (even if just a little bit), and so much. I can´t even explain it. She is very unselfish. She would give all of her belongings away in an instant if someone was in need. Her love for the people is huge.
I hope that all are doing well. As always, thank you all so much for your love, support, thoughts, and prayers.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Jeronimo received the gift of the Holy Ghost and got confirmed a member of La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Días... it was VERY relieving and wonderful. Right afterwards, he went around the Sacrament meeting room (don´t worry, it´s pretty tiny) and shook everyone´s hands. It was a little out of the ordinary and maybe a tad unorthodox, but it made me soooo incredibly happy. He was just so happy and grateful to all of the members and their support and to God. It was beautiful.
We constantly find widowers here. It´s insane. Hna Guaranda says that it has been like this her whole mission, she doesn´t know why, but she promised me that once we aren´t together that I won´t be finding them like we are now at all... haha.
As always, one of our biggest hinderances is getting people to go to church, but we are bound and determined to help these people progress.
I feel like each week I have less and less to share, not because it was an uneventful week or anything, but maybe because missionary life is becoming more normal.... but it can´t be like that! I must recognize the miracles and blessings that are constantly being given. That is one gift that my companion has. She recognizes the most seemingly unnoticeable tender mercies. Her prayers are so specific and completely different every time. She remembers so many things that happened in the day, the people that are in need (even if just a little bit), and so much. I can´t even explain it. She is very unselfish. She would give all of her belongings away in an instant if someone was in need. Her love for the people is huge.
I hope that all are doing well. As always, thank you all so much for your love, support, thoughts, and prayers.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Jeronimo!!!!!!!!!!! (October 17th, 2011)
After a few scares, LOTS of prayer, a fast here and there, and a few legit fights from Satan.... Jeronimo got baptized yesterday!!!! My testimony was definitely boosted this past week. I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Satan has nothing on Him. Like Elder Holland said, ¨Satan is real¨ but he cannot win if we are on Heavenly Father´s side. Honestly, when Satan knows that we are working hard and truly have faith in Jesus Christ, he will do all he can. Thank you all so much for devoting part of your prayers to Jeronimo. He was truly strengthened and SO HAPPY after his baptism.
We went through so much with this man and he knows it. He even got up and shared a few words after his baptism... we didn´t even ask him to, he volunteered. You could feel the sincerity and gratefulness in his words. He teared up and bore his testimony. It was beautiful... and worth every scare, worry, and effort that went into his making of a new life.
We had to go to Antigua in bus (about 30 minutes) and then walk to the chapel (15 minutes on foot)... and get this - about 25 people from the branch came. It was incredible. Jeronimo also made big sacrfices. He has a bad leg and it´s hard for him to walk, but he did it all, and we took our time. He was very overcome with all the people that went to support him.
We had a zone conference this past week with President Brough. He is absolutely incredible. He doesn´t just tell us to do things differently or better... he shows us, gives us examples, makes promises, and bears his incredibly strong testimony.
There was LOTS of rain this week. Especially Saturday. I got soaked. It was a tougher day, but all the better because it made Sunday that much brighter... literally and figuratively :)
Hermana Guaranda is much better. She made a lot of sacrifices, and even though her foot is still bothering her... we worked. Hard.
Love,
Hermana Marin
We went through so much with this man and he knows it. He even got up and shared a few words after his baptism... we didn´t even ask him to, he volunteered. You could feel the sincerity and gratefulness in his words. He teared up and bore his testimony. It was beautiful... and worth every scare, worry, and effort that went into his making of a new life.
We had to go to Antigua in bus (about 30 minutes) and then walk to the chapel (15 minutes on foot)... and get this - about 25 people from the branch came. It was incredible. Jeronimo also made big sacrfices. He has a bad leg and it´s hard for him to walk, but he did it all, and we took our time. He was very overcome with all the people that went to support him.
We had a zone conference this past week with President Brough. He is absolutely incredible. He doesn´t just tell us to do things differently or better... he shows us, gives us examples, makes promises, and bears his incredibly strong testimony.
There was LOTS of rain this week. Especially Saturday. I got soaked. It was a tougher day, but all the better because it made Sunday that much brighter... literally and figuratively :)
Hermana Guaranda is much better. She made a lot of sacrifices, and even though her foot is still bothering her... we worked. Hard.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Monday, October 10, 2011
Blue, green, purple ankle.
2551 - Hermama Wetzel!!!! When we said goodbye....
2486 - My bday dinner that our sweet neighbors made for us, complete with a delicious cake :)
2553 - Hna Guaranda!
2568 - Our night on the town ;)
2571 - Self explanatory... I think
2580 - How we celebrated my year in the mish.. aye aye aye...
2593 - And you´d better believe that that is my comp with her not-broken-but-very-injured foot.
So.... we didn´t really work that much this week. On Tuesday, as we were finishing up our grocery shopping for Pday, Hna Guaranda fell and twisted her ankle. It got real bad real quick... swelled up a lot. She attempted to go out for the first day on Saturday, but before that I was just going out with a sister from the branch and another one would stay with Hna G... when it was possible. It´s a very small branch, so we don´t have a big pool of people to help us. Let´s just say that I studied A LOT this week :)
But it was a good week. Hna G and I did lots of bonding and talking, so it was fun. She was going a lot more crazy than I was though, because I got out a few times, but she just wanted to get to work!
We are so close to seeing the baptsim of Jeronimo. He has a few fears that we are trying to help him get over, because his testimony is so strong and we know he´s so close to being ready. He´s a widower of about 45 years. He´s hilarious... and talks A LOT. I have to interrupt him a lot ;) I´m getting real good at it... kind of. So, if you could include him in your prayers... that would be incredible.
Well... I don´t have much to say... just that I read more than 50 pages of Jesus the Christ these past few days... and I just love Him. I love learning about Him. He was/is absolutely incredible. I love feeling my testimony grow as I learn and testify of and rely on Him more every day. He lives. He loves us. He did all He did... for US. Our part in thanking Him is insignificant and so meesly in comparison, but He accepts it as long as we try our hardest to be obedient to all of His commandments.
Con much amor,
Hermana Marin
Frio!! (October 3, 2011)
I think I'm going to get fatter here. We constantly are given food. I DON'T GET FULL... I don't know how it works, but I can eat and eat and still keep eating. I think it's because it's so cold here. In La Gomera, I would get so full so fast and just wanted to drink fluids all day.
I love my area. It's so small and cute. The members are great, but we need to work on this loving and serving each other thing. Everyone is very poor, more so than in La Gomera.
Things are good with Hna Guaranda. Did I mention how feisty she is? I'm definitely learning a lot about myself with her. I think Heavenly Father is giving me a piece of my own medicine, because she has some of my feisty qualities, but more in extreme. I am understanding a little bit more of what I must have been like with my other comps. But she is fantastic. She has so much love for the people and if someone falls well with her, she is willing to go way out of her way to help them. It's awesome.
General Conference was incredible. Thanks to my get-what-she-wants companion, we actually got to watch it in English, so that was a huge blessing. I just adore conference. I hate when it's over. BUT... we have a lot to learn and improve on for the next six months :)
With mucho mucho amor!
I love my area. It's so small and cute. The members are great, but we need to work on this loving and serving each other thing. Everyone is very poor, more so than in La Gomera.
Things are good with Hna Guaranda. Did I mention how feisty she is? I'm definitely learning a lot about myself with her. I think Heavenly Father is giving me a piece of my own medicine, because she has some of my feisty qualities, but more in extreme. I am understanding a little bit more of what I must have been like with my other comps. But she is fantastic. She has so much love for the people and if someone falls well with her, she is willing to go way out of her way to help them. It's awesome.
General Conference was incredible. Thanks to my get-what-she-wants companion, we actually got to watch it in English, so that was a huge blessing. I just adore conference. I hate when it's over. BUT... we have a lot to learn and improve on for the next six months :)
With mucho mucho amor!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Where do I begin!?!?
Ok loved ones... here goes.... I have a very long list in front of me...
I thought I would be staying in La Gomera (I only had 3 changes there)... but I didn't!! It was very tough, especially to say goodbye to Ana and Julio (Mom, could you find the picture I had emailed you of her baptism and email it to me, por favor :) gracias).
I had to say goodbye to Hermana Wetzel... but it was a huge blessing to be at her final change meeting. And get this.. I didn't cry!! The Lord has been preparing me for these past 9 ish months to be able to say goodbye to her.
I may or may not be in the coolest place ever... ANTIGUA!!! But I'm not in the same area that Hna Wetzel was in. I am not in the center, but in the little villages (aldeas) of Antigua. We just have to drive 15 ish minutes to get to the center. It is gorgeous. Reminds me of home (weather, mountains, etc). So, Dad, there will not be any problem with me finding the things that you wanted.
I am with Hna Guaranda. She is from Ecuador. She is VERY feisty and it is awesome. I went on divisions with her one time in La Mariposa when I only had a few weeks in the field. She finishes her mission in December. We're both hoping I'll get to kill her. We already get along TOO well. She's 27. Has 2 bros, 1 sis, mom, and her dad died just 6 years ago. She and her family have only been members for five years. She's incredible. She has had two other gringa companions - the only two Hawaiian sisters in the mish - and she ADORES them, so she was happy to hear that I was born in Hawaii.
Ya... I am in love with my area. San Pedro Las Huertas. We live in that aldea, but also work in 2 more. I'm in another branch. It's bigger than Sipacate, but smaller than La Gomera. I fell in love as soon as we got there. It is so peaceful. The spirit in the area is beautiful. I have not felt nervous or sad one bit, honestly and truly, since I arrived.
Our home is GORGEOUS. I can't describe how completely opposite La Gomera and San Pedro are. It's hilarious. I thought the weather change would affect me more, but it helps that it's almost exactly like Oak Harbor, so I still haven't gotten sick :)
However, we don't have a hot water heater or anything, so we heat water up every morning and bathe in the shower with buckets :) haha.. have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Guatemala? I've gotten good, too, at first I had to use two full buckets of water, but I can now do it with just one.
All of my Gomera plagues are slowly going away... without the help of frogs :)
I saw a family from La Mariposa here in Antigua on Saturday... family Morales (it's weird to know that Hna Wetzel could - should - be reading my emails now) don't ask how... I'll tell you in 7 months. We may or may not have seen downtown Antigua at night time, with fireworks and everything... DON'T WORRY... we had permission. Gorgeous. I love this place.
The people here are wonderful. All of the members are VERY new members. Most of them have under 5 years to be members. They are soooo humble and willing to do whatever. We don't have a capilla or anything. It's in a house... probably a little bigger than the capilla in La Gomera actually.
It's been easy to get to know everyone. The attendance is usually around 35 people.
It's cool to be able to see, yet again, how the language has come along. I've been able to be myself, so it is much easier to be able to get to know the people faster.
It's also fun to see a few people that know and love Hna Wetzel, so that's fun.
General Conference is next week!!!
I can't express how happy I am. Plus... I'll probably (hopefully) be passing the Navidad in Antigua!! Pretty cool, huh? It will be beautiful.
The Lord, yet again, has blessed me way too much. I don't know why He insists on making my life so blissful, but I just know that that gives me so much more reason and responsibility to work that much harder. I know He expects so much from each and every one of us. I know I don't receive all of these blessings because He loves me more or anything, but because He knows each and every one of us perfectly. He knows what we need, who needs us, what we can handle, what we are capable of, and from there WE must cumplir. I know He lives and loves us... too much really.
Love you all,
Hermana Marin
I thought I would be staying in La Gomera (I only had 3 changes there)... but I didn't!! It was very tough, especially to say goodbye to Ana and Julio (Mom, could you find the picture I had emailed you of her baptism and email it to me, por favor :) gracias).
I had to say goodbye to Hermana Wetzel... but it was a huge blessing to be at her final change meeting. And get this.. I didn't cry!! The Lord has been preparing me for these past 9 ish months to be able to say goodbye to her.
I may or may not be in the coolest place ever... ANTIGUA!!! But I'm not in the same area that Hna Wetzel was in. I am not in the center, but in the little villages (aldeas) of Antigua. We just have to drive 15 ish minutes to get to the center. It is gorgeous. Reminds me of home (weather, mountains, etc). So, Dad, there will not be any problem with me finding the things that you wanted.
I am with Hna Guaranda. She is from Ecuador. She is VERY feisty and it is awesome. I went on divisions with her one time in La Mariposa when I only had a few weeks in the field. She finishes her mission in December. We're both hoping I'll get to kill her. We already get along TOO well. She's 27. Has 2 bros, 1 sis, mom, and her dad died just 6 years ago. She and her family have only been members for five years. She's incredible. She has had two other gringa companions - the only two Hawaiian sisters in the mish - and she ADORES them, so she was happy to hear that I was born in Hawaii.
Ya... I am in love with my area. San Pedro Las Huertas. We live in that aldea, but also work in 2 more. I'm in another branch. It's bigger than Sipacate, but smaller than La Gomera. I fell in love as soon as we got there. It is so peaceful. The spirit in the area is beautiful. I have not felt nervous or sad one bit, honestly and truly, since I arrived.
Our home is GORGEOUS. I can't describe how completely opposite La Gomera and San Pedro are. It's hilarious. I thought the weather change would affect me more, but it helps that it's almost exactly like Oak Harbor, so I still haven't gotten sick :)
However, we don't have a hot water heater or anything, so we heat water up every morning and bathe in the shower with buckets :) haha.. have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Guatemala? I've gotten good, too, at first I had to use two full buckets of water, but I can now do it with just one.
All of my Gomera plagues are slowly going away... without the help of frogs :)
I saw a family from La Mariposa here in Antigua on Saturday... family Morales (it's weird to know that Hna Wetzel could - should - be reading my emails now) don't ask how... I'll tell you in 7 months. We may or may not have seen downtown Antigua at night time, with fireworks and everything... DON'T WORRY... we had permission. Gorgeous. I love this place.
The people here are wonderful. All of the members are VERY new members. Most of them have under 5 years to be members. They are soooo humble and willing to do whatever. We don't have a capilla or anything. It's in a house... probably a little bigger than the capilla in La Gomera actually.
It's been easy to get to know everyone. The attendance is usually around 35 people.
It's cool to be able to see, yet again, how the language has come along. I've been able to be myself, so it is much easier to be able to get to know the people faster.
It's also fun to see a few people that know and love Hna Wetzel, so that's fun.
General Conference is next week!!!
I can't express how happy I am. Plus... I'll probably (hopefully) be passing the Navidad in Antigua!! Pretty cool, huh? It will be beautiful.
The Lord, yet again, has blessed me way too much. I don't know why He insists on making my life so blissful, but I just know that that gives me so much more reason and responsibility to work that much harder. I know He expects so much from each and every one of us. I know I don't receive all of these blessings because He loves me more or anything, but because He knows each and every one of us perfectly. He knows what we need, who needs us, what we can handle, what we are capable of, and from there WE must cumplir. I know He lives and loves us... too much really.
Love you all,
Hermana Marin
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Another change
Well, we find out if we have changes tonight. I don´t think we will, but who knows.
We went to Antigua. I didn´t buy a thing (sorry dad), but I´ll def be going a few more times before I finish. I saw Hermana Wetzel!!!! That´s the main reason I didn´t buy anything. We didn´t know if we´d see each other at the change meeting this Wednesday... so we had to say goodbye. It hurt LOTS. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE goodbyes. But I think that I´m getting better at them... even though they still hurt real bad...especially with Hermama Wetzel.
I still have the awesome arm gunk. It´s a little better though... Istuck with the lime and sugar trick.. it actually seems to work pretty well. But the same fam gave me a cream to put on it, because the hydrocortizon doesn´t seem to be doing much :)
THANK YOU thank you thank you for all of the bday wishes. It was fun to read all the snippets.
Yesterday was great. Only our neighbors and one hermana in the branch knew it was my bday, so it was almost exactly how I wanted it..without anyone knowing. But our neighbors surprised us with an awesome dinner and cake. It was very very sweet.
Again... we had more disappointments this week. A baptism that didn´thappen. It was going to happen yesterday.. the best bday present ever... but she said she didn´t feel ready. It was tough. This area has been real tough. But the Lord blessed us with a few different fruits yesterday. More investigators in church.
We are also working with an incredible family. Family Corzo. A widow,2 sons, and a daughter in law. The widow is Adriana and she is incredible. Her life has been WAY too hard. Everyone we talk to knows and loves her and they all always tell us how hard her life has been. She´s the most humble and faithful person. She is constantly in pain and has horrible arthritis, but the first time we met with her, she went to Church and has now been two times in a row. She is wonderful and makes me want to be so much better.
Love you all!
We went to Antigua. I didn´t buy a thing (sorry dad), but I´ll def be going a few more times before I finish. I saw Hermana Wetzel!!!! That´s the main reason I didn´t buy anything. We didn´t know if we´d see each other at the change meeting this Wednesday... so we had to say goodbye. It hurt LOTS. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE goodbyes. But I think that I´m getting better at them... even though they still hurt real bad...especially with Hermama Wetzel.
I still have the awesome arm gunk. It´s a little better though... Istuck with the lime and sugar trick.. it actually seems to work pretty well. But the same fam gave me a cream to put on it, because the hydrocortizon doesn´t seem to be doing much :)
THANK YOU thank you thank you for all of the bday wishes. It was fun to read all the snippets.
Yesterday was great. Only our neighbors and one hermana in the branch knew it was my bday, so it was almost exactly how I wanted it..without anyone knowing. But our neighbors surprised us with an awesome dinner and cake. It was very very sweet.
Again... we had more disappointments this week. A baptism that didn´thappen. It was going to happen yesterday.. the best bday present ever... but she said she didn´t feel ready. It was tough. This area has been real tough. But the Lord blessed us with a few different fruits yesterday. More investigators in church.
We are also working with an incredible family. Family Corzo. A widow,2 sons, and a daughter in law. The widow is Adriana and she is incredible. Her life has been WAY too hard. Everyone we talk to knows and loves her and they all always tell us how hard her life has been. She´s the most humble and faithful person. She is constantly in pain and has horrible arthritis, but the first time we met with her, she went to Church and has now been two times in a row. She is wonderful and makes me want to be so much better.
Love you all!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Marin Clan Growth and pics
Cool!!! This Marin fam is growin good!! WOOOOHOOOO.... Congrats everyone, especially Leslie, Kris, Izy, and Kaylie! I hope everyone is doing well (baby girl and Leslie!). Thanks for keeping me updated.
And thanks to everyone for the bday wishes. haha... cute.
Your eyes are not deceiving you in any of these pictures.
That´s our cute little bathroom... actually a lot better since we took down the curtain.
That´s our amazing view/perfect sky, weather everyday.
That´s a frog being rubbed againt my arm for the random disease (I don´t really think it´s a disease) that was once on my left arm, went away, and is now on my right arm :) This is one of the good old Guatemalan coast recipes for getting rid of whatever discolored skin problem someone might have. Last time, I used a different recipe, put sugar on a lime and rubbed it all over the skin, without washing it off, then slept like that all night :) Have I ever mentioned how much I love Guatemala?!?!?!
We saw some FRUITS!! The largest amount of investigators went to Church yesterday than in my whole time in La Gomera. It was very very happy. We found a ton of new people to teach this past week and now we´ve just got to keep the flow and help them all progress.
Love you all!!!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
WOW
Holy email overload!! This might just be my favorite email day of my mish yet. THank you thank you for your love, support, and emails! Thank you President, Aunty Puni, Fay, Abuelita, Goddess, mi Papá, Toph, Izy, y mi Mamá Guatemalteca. I have lots to read. Thank you thank you thank you.
This past week was a very good one. We had divisions... I didn´t get to go to La Mariposa, but I did go to El Esfuerzo in Escuintla for the second time and my third time with Hermana Manzanares. It was cool being with a latina comp again for a day.
I don´t feel like I have very much to share. We are working hard, but, as I´ve said before, the fruits aren´t as abundant or as easily grown here... But we are so positive and know our efforts are not in vain. One of our biggest challenges is just getting the people to attend church!!! It´s a big problem... especially when we aren´t in the two areas at the same time during church.
But know that things are great and we´re happy!
Love you all! I´ll try to write back :)
Hermana Marin
This past week was a very good one. We had divisions... I didn´t get to go to La Mariposa, but I did go to El Esfuerzo in Escuintla for the second time and my third time with Hermana Manzanares. It was cool being with a latina comp again for a day.
I don´t feel like I have very much to share. We are working hard, but, as I´ve said before, the fruits aren´t as abundant or as easily grown here... But we are so positive and know our efforts are not in vain. One of our biggest challenges is just getting the people to attend church!!! It´s a big problem... especially when we aren´t in the two areas at the same time during church.
But know that things are great and we´re happy!
Love you all! I´ll try to write back :)
Hermana Marin
Here goes... (Monday, August 29th, 2011)
Sorry about last week... I´ll try to do a quick sum up of the most important things...
Familia Marin. Older couple. Juana and Jacinto (crazy, huh, Mom?!). The way we met them was awesome and I truly thought they were elegidos. He went blind about 7 years ago and sought after God. They are poor poor poor. He sings beautifully... evangelical hymns that are truly quite pretty. Les amaba. We were teaching them and all was well, but when we got to Joseph Smith, we couldn´t even get a word in. They got defensive and said he couldn´t be a prophet because his name isn´t in the Bible. It was tough. There was no way for us to try to explain. At the end, Hermana Jacinto asked us what our true purpose was in being there and I bore my testimony, telling him that all we asked of him was to pray. Pray to find out the will of God and the truth. I started crying. I had never cried in front of investigators in a lesson before. Never. It was heart-breaking. I just saw the closed mindedness of it all.
That same night, we were in a branch activity, when my drunk, street friend that we have talked to a few times showed up. All of the members were a bit caught off guard and surprised. We asked him to come talk to us outside of the church. He basically told us his life story and it was heart breaking, too. I bore my testimony of the Savior. I saw a child of God in front of me, who has dealt with horrible challenges in his life, and somehow (including many choices and actions of his own and others) ended up how and where he is now. He cried. I cried.
The next night, we were with one of my absolutely favorite La Gomera member families. They have been having marriage trouble lately, so I had given them the talk by Pres Monson in Phood meeting, but in a week they still had not read it, so we did with them. We each shared our thoughts. The wife cried, the husband teared up, and I cried.
I just know that the Savior is capable of everything and anything. Only He can truly heal us. Only He can make this life worth living and enduring. I have seen so much pain in these past couple of weeks. So much. I know I can´t fully understand, but I have felt a little bit of it, too. But only Jesus Christ truly knows firsthand what each and every one of us feels, goes through, and thinks.
Needless to say, I cried a bit the week before last. This past week was a bit better, but still with lots of disappointment.
The week previous we invited at least 30 people personally to church in Sipacate, but only 1 of those who we invited came. The attendance was 13. This past week, we invited at least 35 people personally to church in La Gomera, and a few showed up. We have been working so incredibly hard. Waking up extra early, running around like crazy, challenging people to fulfill commitments, so much... but something President Brough talked about in interviews this past Friday was the importance of not just being diligent and obedient, but also having faith and hope. I like to think that I´m a pretty positive person with a bit of faith, but yesterday, I noticed that I was finally allowing all the disappointments, lies, etc. to get to me a bit. I know what I need to work on.
These past few weeks have been ones of sooo much change. I feel like I have lost so much of the fear and hesitation I had before. I´ve come to understand more of ¨many are called, but few are chosen¨ and how it is my duty to find the elect, so we must invite all to come unto Christ. I will not be held responsible if others don´t accept, but I will be held responsible if I don´t invite. I´m opening my mouth more. At times, I feel like I am just condemning people more, after they refuse the light and truth we (try to) give them, but it´s all part of the plan. Yes, God is merciful, but He is also just. He loves us and does everything for us, but at some point, we must realize our nothingness and realize that our part is huge and we have a lot of work today if we truly want to return to live with Him. It´s not just about our happiness, but it´s also about the love and appreciation that we show the Lord. HE wants us to be happy, that only comes through keeping the commandmets, building our faith, action, etc. When we settle for less, we are just condemning ourselves and denying Him.
I am happy. I know I am in the right place doing the best thing. I have a lot to improve, change, and do, but I know that it is all possible.
All my love,
Hermana Marin
Familia Marin. Older couple. Juana and Jacinto (crazy, huh, Mom?!). The way we met them was awesome and I truly thought they were elegidos. He went blind about 7 years ago and sought after God. They are poor poor poor. He sings beautifully... evangelical hymns that are truly quite pretty. Les amaba. We were teaching them and all was well, but when we got to Joseph Smith, we couldn´t even get a word in. They got defensive and said he couldn´t be a prophet because his name isn´t in the Bible. It was tough. There was no way for us to try to explain. At the end, Hermana Jacinto asked us what our true purpose was in being there and I bore my testimony, telling him that all we asked of him was to pray. Pray to find out the will of God and the truth. I started crying. I had never cried in front of investigators in a lesson before. Never. It was heart-breaking. I just saw the closed mindedness of it all.
That same night, we were in a branch activity, when my drunk, street friend that we have talked to a few times showed up. All of the members were a bit caught off guard and surprised. We asked him to come talk to us outside of the church. He basically told us his life story and it was heart breaking, too. I bore my testimony of the Savior. I saw a child of God in front of me, who has dealt with horrible challenges in his life, and somehow (including many choices and actions of his own and others) ended up how and where he is now. He cried. I cried.
The next night, we were with one of my absolutely favorite La Gomera member families. They have been having marriage trouble lately, so I had given them the talk by Pres Monson in Phood meeting, but in a week they still had not read it, so we did with them. We each shared our thoughts. The wife cried, the husband teared up, and I cried.
I just know that the Savior is capable of everything and anything. Only He can truly heal us. Only He can make this life worth living and enduring. I have seen so much pain in these past couple of weeks. So much. I know I can´t fully understand, but I have felt a little bit of it, too. But only Jesus Christ truly knows firsthand what each and every one of us feels, goes through, and thinks.
Needless to say, I cried a bit the week before last. This past week was a bit better, but still with lots of disappointment.
The week previous we invited at least 30 people personally to church in Sipacate, but only 1 of those who we invited came. The attendance was 13. This past week, we invited at least 35 people personally to church in La Gomera, and a few showed up. We have been working so incredibly hard. Waking up extra early, running around like crazy, challenging people to fulfill commitments, so much... but something President Brough talked about in interviews this past Friday was the importance of not just being diligent and obedient, but also having faith and hope. I like to think that I´m a pretty positive person with a bit of faith, but yesterday, I noticed that I was finally allowing all the disappointments, lies, etc. to get to me a bit. I know what I need to work on.
These past few weeks have been ones of sooo much change. I feel like I have lost so much of the fear and hesitation I had before. I´ve come to understand more of ¨many are called, but few are chosen¨ and how it is my duty to find the elect, so we must invite all to come unto Christ. I will not be held responsible if others don´t accept, but I will be held responsible if I don´t invite. I´m opening my mouth more. At times, I feel like I am just condemning people more, after they refuse the light and truth we (try to) give them, but it´s all part of the plan. Yes, God is merciful, but He is also just. He loves us and does everything for us, but at some point, we must realize our nothingness and realize that our part is huge and we have a lot of work today if we truly want to return to live with Him. It´s not just about our happiness, but it´s also about the love and appreciation that we show the Lord. HE wants us to be happy, that only comes through keeping the commandmets, building our faith, action, etc. When we settle for less, we are just condemning ourselves and denying Him.
I am happy. I know I am in the right place doing the best thing. I have a lot to improve, change, and do, but I know that it is all possible.
All my love,
Hermana Marin
Sunday, August 28, 2011
PSYCHO week
Man oh man.
Lots of disappointment and a few tears this week... but just know that I am good. I have found peace in the Savior and all is good and I am happy. More next week. Sorry.
Love you!!!!!
Lots of disappointment and a few tears this week... but just know that I am good. I have found peace in the Savior and all is good and I am happy. More next week. Sorry.
Love you!!!!!
Mas fotos!! de las adventuras en La Gomera
Well, I already broke my goal of taking at least one picture everyday... but I´m still trying to take lots, don´t worry.
2317 - My new comp, Hermana Park!
2318 - My old comp, Hermana Angel :(
2319 - My mom, Hna Wetzel, and two sister, Hnas Johansen and Cuellar
2344 - My ugly face. Who knew that I would never have acne probs until my mish? ;)
2348 - Our neighbor who always gives us cocos!!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Monday, August 15, 2011
Changes!!!
You won´t believe... because I didn´t believe and am still in shock... but I´m with a GRINGA! It´s a big deal, because this doesn´t happen with the hermanas in this mission, just when people are training. Sister Park has 14 months in the mish, is from Orem, Utah, and is loving La Gomera. She´s pretty dedicated to Spanish, so we hardly speak english at all.
Hermana Wetzel is training for the third time, but this time my sister is Latina! Cool, huh. Hna Wetzel is still in Antigua and goes home in a little less than 6 weeks :(
I must admit that I´m a tad bit worried about my Spanish. 1- I´m in the coast... and they are not the most correct speaking-speakers, actually the grammar´s real bad sometimes. 2- I´m with a gringa... haha... but the Lord will provide!
There are cool, little things that help me realize the progress I have made with my Spanish: seeing Sister Wetzel, showing my area to a new missionary, being with a gringa again, etc.
Yesterday was a great day of miracles. 2 of the (REALLY) less active members that we visited during the week came to church, the same thing happened a few weeks ago with a different person, too. It´s amazing what a visit can do.
We met a bolo on the street and talked to him for a good while... I gave him some loving chicote... it´s okay. It´s just the second time it has happened. It´s really easy to talk to drunk people sometimes.
There was a PSYCHO storm Saturday night. Not too bad, just TONS of rain and a bit of thunder and lightning and wind. It started around 8 in the capilla, but we had to get home by 9 and by 8:30 it still hadn´t stopped, so we had to go out :) Don´t worry, we got home safely. It´s just that I didn´t have my umbrella (seriously... the ONLY day that I didn´t have it with me), so I got drenched :) And we usually have plastic bags to put our scriptures in, but I didn´t have those either, but I have an amazing backpack and cool book covers, so my scriptures just got a little wet.
We usually don´t knock doors that much, but yesterday we dedicated a little time. One family of a door we knocked let us right in and just started pouring out lots of questions. It was awesome. Hna Park is a little more on the quiet side (very opposite from Hna Angel), so I have been talking LOTS more lately and it´s fun to realize that I can actually do stuff and that I actually have a personality in Spanish. Crazy.
I gave the talk by Pres Monson from the sacerdocio session of general conference to a family that is having a few marital problems right now. It´s so hard sometimes, because we really aren´t the people who can or should be giving marital advice... but the prophets can! It´s an amazing talk.
We are dropping one of the families that we have been working with. Family Cristales. It´s not out of the ordinary to drop people, but dropping this family hurt a LOT more than anyone else has in the past. It´s just so hard to do all you can, truly want the best for people, knowing that our message can change their lives and bring them eternal happiness, but for whatever reasons have to leave them, at least for a time.
It´s amazing how roller coastery the mission is. Don´t worry, heartbreak still happens all the time. I remember talking and writing a lot more at the beginning of the mish how much heartbreak there is, but I don´t do so as much now. I don´t think it´s because there has been less, but tampoco do I think that I am getting used to it... I think it´s because my perspective and faith is changing, for the better. I still have way too much to learn... and I learn lots everyday. I just know that this message is true. I also know that we all have our agency. Heavenly Father truly just wants to the best for us and He has given/does give us everything that we need to return to Him some day. We can´t think for a second that we don´t have a huge responsibility or lots to do.. because we do. It´s not gratis.
Sorry for the tangents.
Love you all!
Hermana Marin
Monday, August 8, 2011
Anyhow...
1938 - a typical backyard where we teach :) We taught/teach Fernando here most of the time.
1950 - the chapel is Sipacate
1970 - Fernando and Presidente Telón (Sipacate branch president - who actually lives in La Gomera, but there isn´t anyone else in Sipacate able to do it...)
1995 - If you look closely, you may just see a real big lizard in our window... and it was not outside.
2028 - BEACH!!! I hadn´t seen one in over 10 months!
2085 - This is what happens when previous missionaries don´t stay organized...
2094 - Our recent convert, Ana, had her bday. It was one of the most humbling experiences... she has never had a bday celebration (and what we did was real small, but she was overjoyed), never received a wrapped present, and had never cut a cake before....She didn´t even remember or realize that it was her bday!!
2119 - Chapel in La Gomera
2089 - We share our backyard (technically our part only is a small part with a pila, but the owners of the house are real nice and let us share, Faustino and Evangelina)... we had a nice lunch the other day under a palm tree.
Really... those pictures are just a taste of life in La Gomera. I have not done any justice. I can´t wait to share all of the great photos and experiences someday... and even drag a few people back to Guatemala with me :)
This week was a tougher one with one of our investigators who was going to get baptized. I have just really been having a tough time understanding the choices of others. I want to be able to help people truly understand the importance of the Gospel... That´s probably the biggest challenge here. Satan just really really sucks. But hope is never lost. Heavenly Father is infinitely more powerful.
But don´t worry, life is good. We went to the beach in Sipacate :)
Tonight, we find out if we have changes. Most likely (but definitely not for certain) Hna Angel will leave and I´ll receive someone else here in La Gomera. I´ll let you know in a week :)
All my love,
Hermana Marin
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Baptism in Sipacate! (Week of 8/1)
Hola hola...
Yep... there has not been one baptism in Sipacate this year. It´s our area that we are only able to go to twice a week, has an attendance of about 15 people, and needs lots more support than what we are able to give.
He´s a niño of 8 years old. His grandparents are members, his mom wants to be baptized, but her husband won´t marry her, so she can´t... so we´ve been teaching him for the past couple of months. He´s the greatest. Yesterday, I helped him pay his tithing (1 quetzal), he gave the closing prayer in sacrament meeting, and he was just all smiles during his baptism! He makes us too happy.
Funny story: the other day we were teaching Carlos and Rosa. Carlos is going to get baptized this Sunday, but his wife still has doubts. It´s the same family that I talked about before... the husband always responds for his wife. We always have awesomely interesting lessons with them. We were teaching them about the Palabra de Sabidurìa (the word of wisdom) the other day. Long story short, near the end she said to her husband "No. ¡Vamos a sequir tomando nuestra cafesito!" We still have big dreams for this family... we´re gonna keep on luchando.
Yesterday, we were visiting a family reference that we had received. La familia Sanchez. When we first started, we only saw one lady, but then a few other people walked in and we realized there were already a couple of people in the room that we hadn´t seen before. So, really there were 5 people in the room. All family. We were mainly talking to the couple (parents and grandparents of all of the rest). By the time we went to say the closing prayer, there were 8 people in the room (still all family members), and when we opened our eyes at the end of the prayer there were 11 family members in the room with us!! They all just kept on walking in. Most of them were teenagers, so I thought they were going to bail out, but they all came in and actually stayed and talked with us. It was awesome.
I love how the families here are all just so huge, most live close to each other (sometimes in the same home, sometimes neighbors, sometimes in the same town, and occasionally some live far away), and they´re always together or getting together to spend time. It´s fantastic.
Life is great. We´re happy, healthy, and trying to be better everyday... even though I can still have my grumpy times... whoops :)
Love,
Hermana Marin
Yep... there has not been one baptism in Sipacate this year. It´s our area that we are only able to go to twice a week, has an attendance of about 15 people, and needs lots more support than what we are able to give.
He´s a niño of 8 years old. His grandparents are members, his mom wants to be baptized, but her husband won´t marry her, so she can´t... so we´ve been teaching him for the past couple of months. He´s the greatest. Yesterday, I helped him pay his tithing (1 quetzal), he gave the closing prayer in sacrament meeting, and he was just all smiles during his baptism! He makes us too happy.
Funny story: the other day we were teaching Carlos and Rosa. Carlos is going to get baptized this Sunday, but his wife still has doubts. It´s the same family that I talked about before... the husband always responds for his wife. We always have awesomely interesting lessons with them. We were teaching them about the Palabra de Sabidurìa (the word of wisdom) the other day. Long story short, near the end she said to her husband "No. ¡Vamos a sequir tomando nuestra cafesito!" We still have big dreams for this family... we´re gonna keep on luchando.
Yesterday, we were visiting a family reference that we had received. La familia Sanchez. When we first started, we only saw one lady, but then a few other people walked in and we realized there were already a couple of people in the room that we hadn´t seen before. So, really there were 5 people in the room. All family. We were mainly talking to the couple (parents and grandparents of all of the rest). By the time we went to say the closing prayer, there were 8 people in the room (still all family members), and when we opened our eyes at the end of the prayer there were 11 family members in the room with us!! They all just kept on walking in. Most of them were teenagers, so I thought they were going to bail out, but they all came in and actually stayed and talked with us. It was awesome.
I love how the families here are all just so huge, most live close to each other (sometimes in the same home, sometimes neighbors, sometimes in the same town, and occasionally some live far away), and they´re always together or getting together to spend time. It´s fantastic.
Life is great. We´re happy, healthy, and trying to be better everyday... even though I can still have my grumpy times... whoops :)
Love,
Hermana Marin
We were almost all healthy (Week of 7/26)
¡Hola hola!
Well, last week, we were both pretty much all cured, but a few days ago, Hna Angel started getting a nice bit of tos (cough) action. She isn´t too bad, but she doesn´t have too much energy and has an awesome horse cough at times. We´ll see how this goes again ;)
La Gomera and Sipacate are great! I´ve been realizing a lot of things that I need to change and improve in the way I teach and be a missionary overall... I know I know... I almost have ten months in the mish and am still trying to get everything figured out... but I know I will not even feel like the missionary I want to be by the end of 18 months... poco a poco and there is always room for improvement. I am learning though. Before, when I had the realizations of the ways I needed to change, I felt bad about myself and what I was doing, but now I see it more as a good thing. We must realize and face our weaknesses and challenges in order to improve. It´s the only way.
I´ve also been thinking a lot about our desires lately. Everything starts with our desires... our thoughts, actions, faith, etc. I´m trying to figure out how we can help people with their desires. If someone doesn´t have desires to change, they won´t. We can´t force anyone to change their desires...that´s the tough part I have been faced with lately.
Hope all is well and all are happy!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Well, last week, we were both pretty much all cured, but a few days ago, Hna Angel started getting a nice bit of tos (cough) action. She isn´t too bad, but she doesn´t have too much energy and has an awesome horse cough at times. We´ll see how this goes again ;)
La Gomera and Sipacate are great! I´ve been realizing a lot of things that I need to change and improve in the way I teach and be a missionary overall... I know I know... I almost have ten months in the mish and am still trying to get everything figured out... but I know I will not even feel like the missionary I want to be by the end of 18 months... poco a poco and there is always room for improvement. I am learning though. Before, when I had the realizations of the ways I needed to change, I felt bad about myself and what I was doing, but now I see it more as a good thing. We must realize and face our weaknesses and challenges in order to improve. It´s the only way.
I´ve also been thinking a lot about our desires lately. Everything starts with our desires... our thoughts, actions, faith, etc. I´m trying to figure out how we can help people with their desires. If someone doesn´t have desires to change, they won´t. We can´t force anyone to change their desires...that´s the tough part I have been faced with lately.
Hope all is well and all are happy!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sick sick sick
Heavenly Father really doesn´t want you all to worry, because I JUST got all better from my sickness. It´s good when crazy things happen and pass within the email days, because then no one will be worried or anything in the meantime :) Just always assume that I´m happy and safe and healthy!
But this week was a rough one! From Monday until Sunday morning, I was SICK. With lots of good stuff. Mainly, sore throat and BU. The sore throat really didn´t affect my throat too much (so who knows if it was really sore throat), but my whole body was not feeling great. It was so sore constantly, and was playing ping-pong between fevers and chills, complete with headaches and other tiny details. A few nights, I wore two pairs of pajama pants, fleece socks, and a sweatshirt (in LA GOMERA!). I´m pretty sure that I took more drugs during this one week than I have in my whole mission put together, and I don´t think my body was used to it at all, so that was weird. I didn´t receive a Priesthood blessing until Friday night (not the smartest move, I know, but the Priesthood holders here aren´t very accessible, especially when it´s raining haha). Saturday night, we went home two hours early just so I could sleep and Hna Angel says that I was crazy (half asleep), she made me take more drugs and covered me up with her blanket. The next morning I felt so, so much better. I can´t even describe how crazy and funny and painful this week was. The BU still continues, but I feel great! Hna Angel is so sweet and patient. She took real good care of me.
Anyhow, for all of that, we really missed out on a lot of opportunities, but still had some great ones. We went on divisions with the hermanas from La Mariposa. Hna Winder (one of my comps from the CCM) came here with me! It was awesome. It was so good to see how much we both have improved in our Spanish, teaching, etc, and how we have changed personally. She´s an incredible missionary. It felt so natural and good to teach with her. She is so incredibly obedient and truly loves the people. Plus, she is pretty much fearless.
We, as missionaries, always hear LOTS of excuses. Hna Angel says she hardly believes any of them anymore. Yesterday, we were with a less active member and they were telling us why they haven´t been coming to church. I just started to think about standing in front of our Savior and giving excuses. It changed my perspective on lots of things. Excuses won´t fly. Not with Him.
Anny goes to the MTC on Wednesday!!! Holy cow. Tell her I love her to pieces and that she is going to be INCREDIBLE!
Thank you for all of your emails, love, prayers, support, and everything!!
All my love,
Hermana Marin
But this week was a rough one! From Monday until Sunday morning, I was SICK. With lots of good stuff. Mainly, sore throat and BU. The sore throat really didn´t affect my throat too much (so who knows if it was really sore throat), but my whole body was not feeling great. It was so sore constantly, and was playing ping-pong between fevers and chills, complete with headaches and other tiny details. A few nights, I wore two pairs of pajama pants, fleece socks, and a sweatshirt (in LA GOMERA!). I´m pretty sure that I took more drugs during this one week than I have in my whole mission put together, and I don´t think my body was used to it at all, so that was weird. I didn´t receive a Priesthood blessing until Friday night (not the smartest move, I know, but the Priesthood holders here aren´t very accessible, especially when it´s raining haha). Saturday night, we went home two hours early just so I could sleep and Hna Angel says that I was crazy (half asleep), she made me take more drugs and covered me up with her blanket. The next morning I felt so, so much better. I can´t even describe how crazy and funny and painful this week was. The BU still continues, but I feel great! Hna Angel is so sweet and patient. She took real good care of me.
Anyhow, for all of that, we really missed out on a lot of opportunities, but still had some great ones. We went on divisions with the hermanas from La Mariposa. Hna Winder (one of my comps from the CCM) came here with me! It was awesome. It was so good to see how much we both have improved in our Spanish, teaching, etc, and how we have changed personally. She´s an incredible missionary. It felt so natural and good to teach with her. She is so incredibly obedient and truly loves the people. Plus, she is pretty much fearless.
We, as missionaries, always hear LOTS of excuses. Hna Angel says she hardly believes any of them anymore. Yesterday, we were with a less active member and they were telling us why they haven´t been coming to church. I just started to think about standing in front of our Savior and giving excuses. It changed my perspective on lots of things. Excuses won´t fly. Not with Him.
Anny goes to the MTC on Wednesday!!! Holy cow. Tell her I love her to pieces and that she is going to be INCREDIBLE!
Thank you for all of your emails, love, prayers, support, and everything!!
All my love,
Hermana Marin
Booo... or BU?
There´s not even much time, but life is GREAT.
I´ve had BU and gripe for a couple of days, but we are happy and having a good time. Life is too funny on the mission. Last week, we got ATTACKED by mosquitos. Holy cow. It was unreal. You won´t even believe me, but they come in swarms in Sipacate and we were seriously screaming and jumping up and down when we were in the area late one day last week (we usually go back to La Gomera at 5 pm, but had an activity at 7). I´m getting real good at killing zancudos!
It hasn´t been raining much at all in La Gomera. We are able to see all the ugly, threatening rain clouds from La Gomera, but they are all in towns more inland. It´s pretty cool.
We are working with an older couple right now and they are doing great. It has been interesting to be with and teach them. The wife is very quiet and most of the time when we ask her a question, her husband always answers for her. He says that she is a bit of a rebel and not too intelligent. So we have had some fun talks about how each child of God has value and the ability to understand and learn :) Hna Angel is hilarious and awesome when she does not agree with something. We´re a fun duo. But, really, this couple is great. They truly both want to learn and we always have good lessons with them.
I wish I could share so much more with you all!!!! There isn´t any time to think and write about these amazing experiences how I would like :(
Hope everyone is happy and good!
Love,
Hermana Marin
I´ve had BU and gripe for a couple of days, but we are happy and having a good time. Life is too funny on the mission. Last week, we got ATTACKED by mosquitos. Holy cow. It was unreal. You won´t even believe me, but they come in swarms in Sipacate and we were seriously screaming and jumping up and down when we were in the area late one day last week (we usually go back to La Gomera at 5 pm, but had an activity at 7). I´m getting real good at killing zancudos!
It hasn´t been raining much at all in La Gomera. We are able to see all the ugly, threatening rain clouds from La Gomera, but they are all in towns more inland. It´s pretty cool.
We are working with an older couple right now and they are doing great. It has been interesting to be with and teach them. The wife is very quiet and most of the time when we ask her a question, her husband always answers for her. He says that she is a bit of a rebel and not too intelligent. So we have had some fun talks about how each child of God has value and the ability to understand and learn :) Hna Angel is hilarious and awesome when she does not agree with something. We´re a fun duo. But, really, this couple is great. They truly both want to learn and we always have good lessons with them.
I wish I could share so much more with you all!!!! There isn´t any time to think and write about these amazing experiences how I would like :(
Hope everyone is happy and good!
Love,
Hermana Marin
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Dry, scraped, red knees
Hola...
Okay. All is well. I´m still in La Gomera and my wonderful Angelita is still with me! One crazy change: one of my comps from the CCM, Hermana Winder, is in La Mariposa now! She´s going to rock that place. Plus, I´ll be able to see her lots more now.
We met President and Sister Brough and their daughter, Gansy (spelling?) on Thursday! They are incredible. He is going to be a great president. 3 of the 9 zones (us - "the coast") of missionaries met, and the rest were going to meet the following two days. They each took the time to meet each and every one of us. They´re very young (in their 40s), they hunt, he owns his own company, and it was great...
Happy Independence Day!
I need hair tips, please. My hair is all sorts of out of control. It is constantly up, because it´s basically impossible to have it down in this heat, so easy up-do ideas would be great :)
We met the most amazing woman on Saturday. We were looking for a house reference that we received, but the addresses are pretty hard to find here (if they even exist), so we knocked on a random door to ask them if they knew the person we were trying to find, but no one was home. We went back to where we thought the house was, knocked, and a lady walking down the street "ch-ch"ed us (basic Guatemalan way of getting someone´s attention - I love) and waved her finger (meaning: "no one lives there"). We asked her about the person, she said the house was abandoned, we asked if we could visit her, and right then and there she took us to her house... the house where we had knocked at! It was awesome. Her sister is a member of the Church that lives in Los Angeles and had told her that if she ever saw the missionaries, to "Invite them in and take care of them." We talked for a bit and she fed us lunch. Her name is Coni (Cone-y). Thought of Connie Soptich real quick. When we left, Hna Angel said that she had seen Coni and said "buenas tardes" to her before, as we were on our way to contact the reference. "Coincidence? I don´t think so" - Hna Angel.
Okay folks... half-way. Ya. That´s not okay. I can´t be half-way. I go slightly crazy when I think about it. There is still so much to do and change and improve!! But it´s okay... it´s okay.
That´s all for now :)
Love,
Hermana Marin
Monday, June 27, 2011
I ate Guatemalan duck
Hola hola...
Tonight, we find out if we have changes. We will see. We both want to stay together in this area, but anything is possible. We do want to go to the change meeting though, because President Brough (the new Pres) will be there and it will be the first time anyone gets to meet him. Lucky ducks. Also, Hermana Rizo (my second comp in the field) is going home!! It´s weird and very sad, especially because I have no idea if I will ever see her again.
I just need to express a bit about the awesomeness of my comp. Hna Angel. She is incredible. I have learned/am learning so much from her. She is an incredible missionary. She has the best mix of seriousness and sillyness that I have ever seen. We have a blast and laugh lots, but we also are so focused, work hard, and do what we know is right. She gives awesome chicote (I don´t know the word in English... it´s when someone tells someone else off), but always with the right words and not too harsh. I don´t know how she does it, but she always has something to say and just the right words. It would be easy to just let her talk the whole time and teach all the lessons, but I think we are a good team, she helps me out LOTS. She is scared of dogs, getting hit by cars, bridges, and lots more. She loves the people. She´s tough. And I just love her lots.
So, a few weeks ago, I wrote about some pretty heart-breaking news, but didn´t tell what happened. I won´t give too many details still (sorry), but here´s a bit: One of our investigators (we´ll call him Juan) is waiting for his response from the First Presidency of the Church of whether or not he can get baptized. We still have to wait at least another month. Well, a week and a half ago, he left for the States. Before, he would go to the States and he wouldn´t go for the greatest reasons. He would usually be gone for months at a time... leaving his wife and 3 young children. Well, he told us that he wouldn´t go back again, but he did. We were so disappointed for so many reasons. That Sunday and Monday we fasted specifically for him and his family. We knew that only Heavenly Father could do some good. Well, he came back Tuesday!! Not even a day went by after our fast that Juan came back. We went right away to their house and talked with him. It was so easy to see that he learned a lot of things in those few days and is back on track. This sounds so silly in writing, but it was an incredible experience, blessing, answer, miracle... Heavenly Father is just waiting to help and bless us... we just have to ask... with faith... and humble ourselves to accept His will.
I/we have been studying a lot about the Atonement in these past few days. Holy cow. I can´t even comprehend how much Jesus Christ loves us. He did everything. Our part is so small and yet we have such a hard time doing it. He is our Savior. Mosiah 3:5-8. Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19. And the Atonement and Pain talks from General Conference.
There´s just no time to write. I feel like my thoughts are so smushed and rushed during this time. Sorry family and friends.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Tonight, we find out if we have changes. We will see. We both want to stay together in this area, but anything is possible. We do want to go to the change meeting though, because President Brough (the new Pres) will be there and it will be the first time anyone gets to meet him. Lucky ducks. Also, Hermana Rizo (my second comp in the field) is going home!! It´s weird and very sad, especially because I have no idea if I will ever see her again.
I just need to express a bit about the awesomeness of my comp. Hna Angel. She is incredible. I have learned/am learning so much from her. She is an incredible missionary. She has the best mix of seriousness and sillyness that I have ever seen. We have a blast and laugh lots, but we also are so focused, work hard, and do what we know is right. She gives awesome chicote (I don´t know the word in English... it´s when someone tells someone else off), but always with the right words and not too harsh. I don´t know how she does it, but she always has something to say and just the right words. It would be easy to just let her talk the whole time and teach all the lessons, but I think we are a good team, she helps me out LOTS. She is scared of dogs, getting hit by cars, bridges, and lots more. She loves the people. She´s tough. And I just love her lots.
So, a few weeks ago, I wrote about some pretty heart-breaking news, but didn´t tell what happened. I won´t give too many details still (sorry), but here´s a bit: One of our investigators (we´ll call him Juan) is waiting for his response from the First Presidency of the Church of whether or not he can get baptized. We still have to wait at least another month. Well, a week and a half ago, he left for the States. Before, he would go to the States and he wouldn´t go for the greatest reasons. He would usually be gone for months at a time... leaving his wife and 3 young children. Well, he told us that he wouldn´t go back again, but he did. We were so disappointed for so many reasons. That Sunday and Monday we fasted specifically for him and his family. We knew that only Heavenly Father could do some good. Well, he came back Tuesday!! Not even a day went by after our fast that Juan came back. We went right away to their house and talked with him. It was so easy to see that he learned a lot of things in those few days and is back on track. This sounds so silly in writing, but it was an incredible experience, blessing, answer, miracle... Heavenly Father is just waiting to help and bless us... we just have to ask... with faith... and humble ourselves to accept His will.
I/we have been studying a lot about the Atonement in these past few days. Holy cow. I can´t even comprehend how much Jesus Christ loves us. He did everything. Our part is so small and yet we have such a hard time doing it. He is our Savior. Mosiah 3:5-8. Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-19. And the Atonement and Pain talks from General Conference.
There´s just no time to write. I feel like my thoughts are so smushed and rushed during this time. Sorry family and friends.
Love,
Hermana Marin
Monday, June 20, 2011
Fotos!
For the courtesy and love of my comp and her camera... PICTURES!
5416 - Our zone with Pres and Sister Baldwin... our last time seeing them!
5398 - Sunset in La Gomera from the "backyard" of Fam Merida
5375 - DON´T BE TOO SCARED... it´s just some results of the mish... tan lines and bug bites... my feet are actually doing surprisingly well ;)
5369 - Ana´s baptism! One of the most incredible humble and sweet people I have ever met. I think they are my favorites from La Gomera... don´t worry, part of my mission goal is to get the Latinos to smile for pictures ;)
5428 - After a downpour :)
5421 - With Hna Baldwin
I realize that there are LOTS of things that you are not seeing from life in La Gomera, but there are very few occasions when we are able to take pictures... Plus, it´ll be lots easier when I have my own camera ;)
More to come...
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