21 September 2015

I started this week's email subject line with yo yo. I don't know why, but ya know. When in Houston right? I may be a little bit out of it today. I'm actually kind of tired. WEIRD! So guess what. We moved apartments and now we have some super cool friends. One of them told us flat out he wants to steal out bikes. I thought he first meant he would get the bikes back for us if they were stolen, but then he told us he wants them and he will steal them if we leave them somewhere. He is the best hahahahaha I actually think he's super awesome and really funny. 

Que mas? It's a little harder to visit as many people because we're biking a lot, but it's the best!!!! I like to bike really fast though and it's a problem. 

Why can I never remember stuff that happens??? hahaha I'm really bad. Time just flies by!!!!!

We did have the coolest fiesta ever!!! I may just join a Spanish branch after my mission just to go to the party that we did!!!! It's called fiestas patrias and it's when you celebrate the indepdence day of all the countries. I ATE SO MUCH FOOD!!!! AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!! The cool thing about being here is that there are so many different cultures because they come from all over central and south america, so I tried so much food and it was so good!!!! I've learned how to make some of it too :):):) the best!!!!!! 

I'm the worst sorry. I really don't have much to say again. I will try to write some basics in my planner, so I can remember. Awk. sorry family!!!!!!!!! 

Life is the best. So is the Gospel. God loves you and so do I :):):):):):)

photos of me and my comp :) she's the cutest girl ever and sooooo Christlike!! I'm so blessed to be able to learn from her and everything!! She's an amazing missionary!!!! and then their flag demonstration if you'd call it that hahaha!!

Love you!!!!! ::):):):):):):):):):) enjoy school and life!!!!!!!!!

14 September 2015

Guess what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in the city. SWEEEEEEEEET :):) Me encanta muchisimo!!!!!! It's a lot more sketchy and exciting. Super funny stuff actually!!! also i'm in a BIKE AREA~!!!!!!! What up!!!!! I love it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just want to bike all day forever and always :( It's my favorite thing!!!!!!! And it will be good because I like to exercise!!!!!!!

The people here are amazing. I adore them so much!!!!!!!!! I love this area just as much as I did Kemah!!!! It's different because it's a ward and there actually are a lot of people! Sweet!!! we also have tons of people!! IT's nice because there are hispanics EVERYONE!!!! you don't have to search to find people All you have to do is go outside. The best!!! Since I've been here, we've extended 5 dates to people on the first lesson and they all accepted!!!! Sweet!!! The people here are so prepared :)::):) 

My new comp is Hermana Ihrke. pronounced erkey. She is so cute!!!!!!! I am learning so much from her. She loves being a missionary and she's so happy. It definitely helps me and it's just what I needed!!! God is definitely looking out for me and I am so ready and excited to work my tail off! That's all I want to do :) I just want to help people come unto Christ. and when you see that and you see the change that the restored gospel makes in your life, you are fill with so much joy. I can't even describe it, but i know that the church is true and that's why we feel this joy in this work!!!!!!!!!

We found this amazing person the other day with a cute family and she came to church! and she wanted to!!!! it was awesome!!! She is so interested and she has so much potential!!!! We are working with her and her family so they can be baptized. Love them!!!!!

We also have a super cool investigator family and I just adore them. We see them all the time!!!! One of them, Iris, and I are super close already. She has told me all about her family and she always tells me that tienes algo especial. Una tranquilidad y paz en tu cara. y puedo sentir algo cuando estas hablando. She is the cutest!!! and it's cool because a lot of times, I say something and for some reason, it really touches her. I love her! :) and her son Antonio is the best!!!! He's 16 and a total gentleman. Iris taught him really well. Then Manuel and his kids who are so funny and adorable. and the Iris's brother Alexis, who is insanely generous. They always want us to eat with them. 

(apparently we get fed a lot in this area by our investigators...) 

We're going to have a super fun noche de patrias! everyone is going to bring food and decorations de su pais y vamos a divertirnos!!! Super excited!!!!!!!

Lots of cool stuff and miracles happened this week, but I don't have time to write them all. i've gotta do this email first before anything! hahahahahaha

but one cool thing that i've been studying about is the Santa Cena and I never understand it really until now. We seriously can't be clean unless we're taking the Santa Cena. We have to take it every week, so we can have the Spirit with us all the time. I always want the Spirit with me because every good feeling vienen del Espiritu Santo. What we always do before we take the sacrament is take 30 minutes on saturday, to pray and study and think of something we want to sacrifice or something we want to work on and then we focus on that while  we are praying during the sacrament. My testimony has grown so much from studying that. So this week, y'all should definitely try to focus on the Santa Cena when you are at church and really think of all the blessings that you get!!!!! study scriptures Isaiah 58: 13 (that chapter also has really good scriptures about fasting too!!!! I love it) DyC 59 and Exodus 31:12 o 13 (that one talks about blessing families!!!!! Keep going strong and go to church. I know the Apostoles and the Prophet is really worried about the dia de reposo and they know we need to do all we can to keep that day sacred. 

Love you so much!!!!! Hasta luego!!!!!!!!!! I will write way more next week!!! LOVE YOU!!!!! :):):):):):):):):):

8 September 2015

I am getting transferred. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I'm going to miss the people SO MUCH!!!! but I know it's what God wants, so everything is good :) I've been here for over 7 months!!! Can you believe it??? I've loved all of it! The hard times and the good times (especially the good times :) ) and the people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've definitely blessed to meet with some people who have helped me to change and become more converted unto Christ. Que increible. ( I put some pictures of the people I saw yesterday, but next week I'll have the rest. I'm seeing them all today! or at least most)

Luz had her baby!!!! Did I tell you that one of our investigators was pregnant? Well, if not, awkward.... but she did!!! We are going to visit her today and see her new baby boy :) I don't know his name though.... I think they decided on it like yesterday because I would ask them all the time, but they didn't know!

Que mas paso??? my memory is dying. hahahaha and I'm only 19! I seriously can't remember anything that happens!!!!! All the days just blur together. It's a good thing I keep a journal otherwise I would never remember my mission.

I really could just spend all this time talking about the amazing people here.

One of them is la familia Malacara. They are so strong in the gospel!!!! They are super service and family oriented and wow, I have learned so much from them. I love them lots and I will miss them a ton!! (I'm saying bye to them tonight.) so pictures to come!!!!!

Pictures below Hno. Chavez (who is 85 years old and suuuuper awesome!) Luis! super strong in the church always willing to help out. just completed his year mark of his baptism!!!! super cool!!!!! and Ramiro!!! He is super awesome. He was baptized like 6 weeks before I got here. Whoa. soon enough he'll hit his year mark too! That's crazy!!!!!!!!

Then there's Milton, he is super talented at writing and drawing and he loves music. Also really good at futbol. He's been in the church for over a year now, so he'll be going to the temple soon!!!!!!

I've spent a ton of time with Favio. He is a super energetic, out-going Chapin! (person from Guatemala) he is awesome!!!!! he keeps me laughing. He likes to joke a lot. He's the one who joked about Jorge drinking coffee. pretty funny. I'll send more photos with him next week!!!

and then of course Jorge!!!! I don't have to say too much about him because I think I talked about him in every email y por fin! Se bautizo!!! Y el es bien fuerte en la iglesia!!! va a ayudar a muchas personas! me alegre :)

Well. maybe next week I'll have some exciting stories! Hopefully I'll go to a craaaazy place!!!! LOVE YOU ALL :):):):):):)

let me know if I can do anything!! you are the beeeest :) BYE!!!!!

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!!!!!