31 August 2015

Did you all enjoy all my exclamation marks in my last email? I hope so. I thought it was pretty funny :) JORGE got confirmed!!!!! and do you want to know something super cool about that??? Claro que si!!!!!! and I'm going to tell y'all no matter what:) hahaha but he called the night before and he said, the hermanos just told me that they always wear a white shirt and tie, so I'm supposed to wear one right? I want to make sure I'm wearing what I'm supposed to. Ummm, can you say prepared????? He is so cool!!!!! but so we got him a shirt and a tie and he dressed up in it!!!! How awesome!! He's already ahead of a lot of people!!! and he's going to get the priesthood soon and then go to the temple!!!! I can't wait :) Hopefully if I leave, I can get some pictures. If not, well, that's okay! As long as he goes I am super excited!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmm not much happened this week. It was a good week. We are working on finding lots of people. That's nice! I'm definitely getting over my fear of talking to people haha:) 

One super fun thing! So on p-days we normally go to the church all of the missionaries because there are lots and play games. Super fun! and last week we played scatterball. Oh my goodness. I loved it!!!! I love doing active things on P-days. I'm not the person that wants to just sit around and sleep. BORING!!!! I want to be out all the time and doing things. SO FUN :)

anyway...... I seriously don't know what to say. Lots of stuff happened, but you know. Just normal mission stuff. It's getting pretty nice right now :) It's kind of cool actually. So now that it's getting to be like 90 degrees it feels SO nice. It wasn't too bad before, but now it feels amazing. Heavenly Father really has been helping me out. The heat doesn't really bother me!! sweet!!!!

Really quick before I head out, here is a quote that I love!!! I'm sure lots of people have heard it because it's pretty popular, but it's one of my favorites :) "Missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation was never easy...How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?" It's so true. Sometimes we think life is hard and it is, but if we rely on the Savior, everything will be all right. God is with us and will help us through all of our trials :) That's something I'm learning. Still probably will be learning for the rest of my life, but it's pretty amazing.

Love you all so much!!!!!!!!! You're the best :) Pretty sure I've got the greatest family on this planet :) or ever. lo que sea :) hahaha LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

24 August 2015

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! JORGE SE BAUTIZO!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) I am a little more than happy :):):):):):) It was so amazing and the Spirit was sooooooooo strong!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. anyway, I am okay. I am calm. but still super happy :) hahahaha

okay so I will tell you everything that happened this week. it has been insane!!!!!!!!! first the baptism!! So lo que pasa. I was super annoying every day this week and reminding Jorge about coffee. He thought it was so funny that I was so annoying about it. so I guess that's good. He wasn't mad or anything, but he's not that kind of person. He's so happy in the first place. But fue tan especial because I was with him from the start. We (Hna Huntsman and I) found him (or rather he found us) by coming to church with a less active. and then he went to an investigator devotional and then he would listen to us sometimes. and so we started teaching him and then Hna Hall and I continued teaching him. Every lesson that I had with him the Spirit was so strong. It's really amazing. I never really had experiences like I had with him. Wow. It took a little bit of time (like 5 months, which is amazing that I'm still here because I've been here for just about 7 months and that's a while. hahaha) anyway, it was even more special to me because I was with him teaching him all the time and we are super good friends :) (at least I think so) but Jorge has told me that we are definitely going to be friends forever. sweeeeeet!!!!!

okay, so Jorge was ready for baptism and then Sunday morning came. and we got a call. Hno. Favio told us he had to talk to us. He then told us that Jorge drank coffee. He forgot that morning and he drank it and he was so sad and he didn't want to talk to us because he felt horrible and he didn't want to go to church or anything. My heart dropped. i swear it didn't work for a minute. I couldn't even speak and I may have cried a little bit. and the whole time Favio is just asking How is Hna McMullin. Is she okay? What is she doing? and I couldn't say anything. and then after a minute of that. he said.. JUST KIDDING! Fue una bromas! Jorge and Favio decided to freak me out because they knew how I am and so they played that joke. Ah. I seriously died. Not gonna lie, it was pretty hilarious, but I almost, man. I don't even know. but todo bien :) 

then church!! and Jorge totally dressed up for it!!!!!!! I was so impressed!!!! church was super good. then because we had a couple hours in between church and the baptism he went back and we got the programs and everything and set up. then it was time. FOR THE BAUTISMO!!!!!! :) when he got dressed all in the white suit, ah, I was so happy. He was a little nervous, but you could tell he was excited too. 

We had the program and Jorge asked me to give the talk on bautismo which I did. Hopefully that went well. I was a little nervous and full of energy. :) then the BAUTISMO!!!!! It was tan bonito and wow, the Spirit was so strong. I can picture it right now in my head and I know without a doubt that he truly was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ and that he is clean from sins. I can't express the feeling I had at that moment or the one I am having right now imagining it. I can only testify that this truly is the true church and through the priesthood that we have people can be clean and they can change their lives. 

Then the missionaries sang a song for Jorge. I got to choose it. I felt like conmigo quedate senor would be good (Abide with me Tis Eventide) and oh my goodness. the spirit only got stronger. We didn't practice it or anything, but wow. I don't think it was us singing. I think we had some extra help :) Jorge totally felt the Spirit during that.  (I'm pretty sure Jorge just brings the Spirit. It's amazing) and then Hno. Malacara (who was conducting) said after that he knows that missionaries are just normal people, but in that moment while we were singing, we seemed and sounded celestial. Wow. So special. and then after My friend Omar (the cutest 5 year old kid ever) told me that we looked different while we were singing. Don't know what that means, but wow. I wish I could be there in that moment again. 

The bautismo was amazing and incredible. I can't fully describe it. but I have never been more full of joy in my life. truly, this is the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. :) 

Now for just normal stuff. We played soccer again on Friday and it was so fun!!!!! I'm starting to learn a lot. whooooo :) and Favio gave me tacos!!!! (cleats) they're sweet!!!! IT's so much more fun to play now and I feel official :) 

oh and I gave Jorge a HLJ bracelet and he is so funny about it. He said it's his good luck charm now and so he wears it for special occasions. but he was playing soccer and he was doing super well and he told me it's because he was wearing the HLJ bracelet. hahaha (don't worry it's a manly bracelet. not a girly one. I got it in Mexico) but i hope it reminds him to always Haz lo justo (choose the right)

La vida es bonita. I am so happy. It's been a little crazy here with some stuff going on, but it's definitely making life more exciting. whooooo :) I'll let ya know what happens. 

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):)::) HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK!!! DISFRUTE LA ESCUELA!!!!! BUENA SUERTE!!!!!!!! LOS AMO MUCHISIMO!!!!!!!!

17 August 2015

Hellooooooooo! I hope you all are doing well and you know how much I love you :):)

 Jorge accidentally drank coffee last week, so we couldn't have the baptism :( but he felt really really bad and now he is even more excited to be baptized this week and it's GOING to happen!!!!! He's even stronger now, and he has been dreaming about being baptized like every night!!!!! He is so ready!!!! Please pray for him!!!!!!!!! :) I'm being super annoying and helping him remember he can't drink it, but he tells me it's not suuuuper annoying, so I am going to keep doing it. but he's remember on his own now, so that's good!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!! IT's going to help him soooooo much :):):)

but now for the good part!!! I was doing my studies and before I was just praying that it would be okay and that I would just feel that Heavenly Father was there, and that I would know that Heavenly Father knows exactly what was happening. Exactly. And wow, I was studying the Atonement and the most incredible feeling came over me. I have never felt the Atonement so close in my life before. But after that I knew what I needed to do and that I could be happy. I don't know if it will be any different with my comp this week, but I know it will all be okay :)

but just so you know she really is awesome and I adore her. I just know the mission is really hard for her, and it's not exactly her cup of milk (I would say tea, but I'm a missionary hhahaahaha so funny :) She has a lot of great qualities and although we are very different, I get to learn a lot from her and become a better person. BLESSING :) I really love her lots. :)

So yes. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm did I tell you we went to Hermanito Henry's fiesta por su cumpleanos??? It was so cute!! His mom and dad bought a cake with his name on it. Luz really love him :) I will send pictures next week!!!!!

There really wasn't too much that happened this week..... sorry not to be more exciting, but I have had some pretty amazing studying experiences and I have seen the Lord's hand in my life a lot :) He truly knows us and just wants us to be happy!!!!!!!

Life is so good!!!!! I really feel rejuvenated and fresh and happy!!! Don't know why, but I'm okay with it!!!!

One thing that did happen was we had zone conference!!!!!! I learned SO much and I am so ready to try out the new ways to talk to people and teaching.   I have been practicing the lessons a lot. I pretend to be the investigator and the missionary. It's pretty fun. I am trying to be a better teacher, so I can help more people come unto Christ. :) sweeeeeeeeeet :)

Man, I am sorry I am so boring. One more cool thing though!!!! So for some reason I have had some kind of not the happiest moments, but the moment I go to teach Jorge after the Spirit is so strong, and I feel joy. I know he truly has desires to follow Jesus Christ and is working so hard for it! I love seeing the changes that people have made to become more like Him. my testimony is always strengthened.

Love you lots!!!! Sorry this week and today has been a little crazy. Whew. LOVE YOU :)

10 August 2015

So this week was the best week ever again!!!! yesss!!!!!! 

Probably should explain the photos. the first one is a picture of some cups that were in the car for a few hours and melted. hahahahah hot!!!!

the next is with some people from an Episcopal church that we do service with!! Love them!!!! 

Below pictures of Luis' Graduation!!!!

Also forgot we had a baby shower for Hermana Luz!!!! Super cute :) love her!! She is due in August!!!!! 

so first of all loooooooooooooooots of craziness happened even though we were inside for 3 days. Let's see if I can fully put all of it into words coherently.... a ver lo que pasa.

so funny thing: yesterday, I was just thinking a lot about some stuff and I guess I wasn't smiling like I usually do because Milton, Favio, and Jorge all came up to me and asked me why I was so sad. What was going on? Am I okay? Milton told me that he could just see something was wrong because I am always smiling and it just makes everyone happy. Favio came up to me and was super worried and asked if I needed to talk or something and then Jorge texted me after church asking why I was sad or if I needed help. How sweet are they? hahaha honestly, I was just thinking, but it's so nice that they really do worry about their missionaries and they think I'm always happy :) they've told me tons that they can't understand why I'm always happy and I just tell them it's because I'm a missionary and I get to spread the gospel!!! and life is just wonderful anyways even if you have trials because that means you get to learn and grow!!! Love this area sooooo much:)

Milagro!!!!! So while I was studying the scriptures, de repente a thought popped into my mind that we needed to see una hermana of our rama. We weren't planning on seeing her or anything like that, but after we exchanged, I went with Hermana Ries and we visited her. Thank goodness we did. She was having a really rough day and she told us everything that had been happening. She broke down and was crying for like an hour. It was so sad, but now we can help her and we are working with the ward to get the help she and her family needs. It was such a testimony builder to me that God really knows everything that is going on and will send people to answer our prayers. Also, it shows the power of God in missionary work. I know Heavenly Father gave me that thought, so we could get and help her feel of God's love. AMAZING!!!!!!! :) 

Another thing!!!!!! Jorge is super excited for his baptism!!! He keeps talking about it and how he needs to plan everything and he invited people and Hermana Ries is going to come down and others and his friends. AWESOME!!! He is going to be the best!!!!! He is already inviting all of his friends to listen to us and get involved in the church!!!! wow, super awesome, huh????? also, he is seriously a ninja. We were playing soccer Friday (como siempre) and he was like flying through the air. Super cool!!! He is in a tournament right now, and if he wins this Saturday we might be able to go to his final to support him!!! sweeeeeeeeet!!!!

Otra cosa!!!!!! Hermano Luis graduated!!!!! He was working so hard and it was so cool and sweet because he was doing the shy I'm graduating, I don't know if you want to go or anything, but if you did that would be awesome. so we got permission to support him and we went!!! Yes!!!!!! Loved it!! He is such a hard worker and is getting ready to go to the temple!!!! We are probably going to be teaching the temple classes (sweeeeeeeet) and then help him prepare to go to the temple :):):):) I hope I will still be here!!!!!!!!

We have the best member family in this branch. I probably have talked about them a lot, but it's la familia Malacara. and seriously I am so impressed with everything that they are doing and working on. They are incredible people and truly converted to the gospel. They're also pretty hilarious :) love them dearly!!!!

Well really I just love everyone in this area more than I can express!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you love the people, the work is better. Just so y'all know :) 

Speaking of love.......LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! Have an amazing week and let me know if I can do anything for you!!!!!

3 August 2015

Helloooooo!!! I hope you all are doing well!!!!!! This week has been awesome!!!!! Well, every week is awesome, but this one was especially good :) well, more interesting. We spent a lot of time in the car! We drove up to Houston 2 times this last week. I mean it's like a trip to Salt Lake, but still. It was nice to see more of Texas!!

So my district is now one missionary companionship smaller. and Elder Spjute came back!!! So Elder Evans,Elder Mota and Hermana Palmer are now in different areas, but Elder Spjute is here again! Super funny because he packed all of his stuff and then he went back to the same apartment and unpacked.... kind of sad but also pretty hilarious.

We went to Nasa for our last P-day as a district ( I went with Hermana Endicott who was with me for a day and the elders) it was really fun! Nasa is really cool. I think Grey would love it a lot!!!! One of the hermanos Favio bought me a nasa T-shirt! The only picture I have with it is with it over my dress because we have to be in proselyting clothes, pero lo que sea. It was really nice of him to get me one :) he got Elder mota one too!!!

This week we have been working a ton to find news!!! I love it because I get to go and talk to EVERYONE!!!!! I'm pretty sure I'm the crazy missionary who runs up and is super excited and talking to them about the gospel or english class. hahahah it's the best :) I get kind of nervous sometimes because, well, you're going up to random people, but it's what you do! sweeeeet! Here in this area though, it's all about when you find a Spanish speaker, you need to talk to them because they're so spread out. There are parts where they are all together, but a lot of it is just talking to everyone when you get a chance. Whooo! I'm getting over my fear of talking to random people that's for sure!!! :)

I also can't believe I'm going to be in this area again. I decided I'm never leaving. I think I will just stay here for the rest of my mission. I would miss it too much to leave :) but whenever and wherever God wants me, I'll go. The people here are really the best. 

We've been doing a lot of service with other churches actually!!! It's really cool to work with them. They are some pretty amazing people. I love them sooooo much :) 

The heat is actually pretty crazy now. We walk outside and then we are drenched. Insane. but thankfully right now we're in a car area, so we don't have to always be biking. It's been averaging about 100 degrees with almost 100% humidity. DAAAAAAAANG! but Heavenly Father has been helping me a lot and it hasn't affected me :) so I can still work like crazy!!!!

Cool thing!!! We have been teaching Jorge and for some reason he didn't want to decide on a date, but Presidente Velasco (one of the counselors of the Mission President) asked to come with us and he was sooooo good!!! He was bold and an amazing teacher and helped him accept a date for 2 weeks away!!!! and Jorge has already started planning who is going to do everything, so it's going to happen this time :) can't wait!!!!!!!! Tengo la fe que todo va a pasar. and Presidente Velasco invited Jorge to eat with him and his family! Wow! Member missionary right there!!! Awesome!!!! 

Another miracle!!! We have a less active here in this area who hasn't gone to church in about a year, but we visited him one time this last week and he was at church yesterday!!!!!! I could not stop smiling!!!!! :) loooooooove it!!!!!! The gospel is real and it's the best when people come back!!!!

One thing I've definitely seen is the people who don't do the basics, are going to lose their testimonies. and it is the saddest thing ever because we can't have all of the blessings of God or an eternal family if we aren't going to church, reading the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) and praying. So if you aren't doing that right now.... DO IT! :) I have definitely been called to repentance here on my mish. I should've done it wayyyyyy better before, but I'm not going to stop after my mish. and God cares more about who you are becoming and where you are going than who you were before :) there is always time to change and if we do, that's what is important to God. 

Love you all tons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have an amazing week!!!! Let me know if I can do anything for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS YOU!!!!! :)