Hola!‏

Hola...

This past week was fantastic. Hermana Wetzel and I are working hard, having too much fun, working with incredible people, and trying to be better every day. Yesterday, Ingrid got baptized (our ROCKSTAR investigator) and it was beautiful. I just can´t express how amazing she is. We are so excited for her and know that she is going to do great things and receive muchas bendiciones. We are working with some pretty fantastic families who we are really hopeful for. We have some pretty high, hopeful goals for February, so we would love if all of you could pray for the hearts of the people of La Mariposa to be opened and to feel the promptings and love from Heavenly Father.

Hermana Wetzel thinks that at least one of us will be leaving La Mariposa this next change (Feb 23), so we are ready to work our tails of these next few weeks. We are way too blessed to be in this country. The people are so humble and have a love and fear of God. I´ve been able to take part in 4 baptisms already, when other missionaries are lucky to see that in their whole mission. At the same time, that gives us A LOT of work to do, because there are so many people ready and willing to hear and accept the Gospel. The best part is that we are just the instruments. We only see changes when the Spirit is present. It´s incredible to see just how powerful and essential the Spirit is.

I want to remember so much from each day, becuase I learn way tooooo much each day, but there is no time to write in my journal. The past week, I have probably written 2 pages (in the MTC and CCM, I was writing 2 pages a day on average), so that´s tough, because I know I am going to forget so many amazing things.

The members here rely soooo much on the missionaries, so much more than in the States. I can´t even begin to tell all of the ways we are involved in everything and with everyone. It´s awesome though and it is a blast. We have some amazing leaders and members.

I´m learning sooo much from Hermana Wetzel constantly. I have been told so many times by leaders and other missionaries that she is the best sister missionary in the mission. I know that I´m taking a lot for granted, not on purpose. The way she teaches and talks with people is just so smooth and she makes it seem so simple, I know that I won´t realize all the awesome things she does until I am not with her anymore. She has so much love for the people, is so selfless, knows how to make everyone feel comfortable, always strives to listen and be sensitive to the Spirit, and so much more. Plus, she´s a blast and everyone adores her.

Rest assured, we are being taken care of here. We get fed constantly... both of us have for sure gained weight... even with all the walking and heat ;)

The family that I mentioned last week, fam Xicay are amazing. It´s hard to get all of them in one place at one time (all 6), especially now that two of the boyfriends are interested, but it is always an incredible experience to be with them.

I am definitely going to learn patience here. It´s hard being with and teaching someone, having soooooooo much hope and excitement for them, and at times, being let down or them just not progressing as fast as you know they could. I know, without a single doubt, how much this Gospel will bless them and their families and truly how much they need it, but sometimes they are aprehensive. I learn so much everyday. I love feeling just a smidgeon of how much love God has for each and every one of His hijos. There is soooo much joy in this work.

The Spanish is coming. Some days, I feel like I have learned a ton... others, I feel completely in the dark. I have found that I can keep a decent, simple conversation up... even without Hna Wetzel right by my side, but we have a good system of me grabbing her backpack and swinging her around subtely when I don´t know what´s going on ;) She would say that my Spanish is better than what it really is... she´s too nice of a person. I usually always get the generals of a conversation. When it has to do with the Gospel, I usually know excatly what is being said. Plus, I can understand a lot better than I can speak. It´s fun though, and people are usually pretty patient.

Mom, Hna Wetzel says that her family sent all her packages normal.. flat rate she thinks, but she´s not positive. But she says that she has received every package that they have sent... she gets packages constantly, so that´s saying a lot, including a package that had a pair of shoes in them... And I got your other Cmas card this past week. Thank you! You are too funny... with hardly any writing. Did you get my letter... I sent it at least 2 weeks ago, I think.

Is there anything that anyone wants from here? I´m going to try to send out a package either tomorrow or in the coming weeks.

Everything is FANTASTIC here... so don´t worry about me, but everyone else needs to keep me updated! Thanks for all of the love, support, emails, and prayers!

Con muchisimo amor,
Hermana Marin