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
Thursday, October 27, 2011
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!!!
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