17: Santidad Al Señor. La Casa Del Señor

Hello after a long week! We didnt know until after P Day last week that our P Day this week would be moved because we went to the TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!

It was perfect :) We have to leave at about 2 in the morning to get to Tegucigalpa, but the temple is gorgeous, and of course inside is even better. We took our time in the the session, as we only get to go twice a year, and I was just so grateful the whole time. Lots of answers, lots of guidance. We are so blessed to have such sacred places here on the earth. Heaven really is not that far away in the temple.

This week I was SICK! This is the first time I have actually had to stay in the house for being sick. And what does a missionary do when theyre stuck inside the house? They start reading the bible from the beginning. In two days I almost finished all 5 books of Moses. But glad to be back out of the house and eating normal food again!

Because of that we havent been able to see a lot of people, but we have a new investigator who is progressing so fast! His name is Ramon, and he really wants to feel more peace in his life. And he gives us free fresh popped popcorn every time we go to his house :) I really have a lot of faith in him, because of his desire to come unto his Savior.

And the majority of you probably know, but I am an AUNT!!!!!! My sister Emily had her baby, Hugh Foley. I cant wait to meet him in 14 months! If you would, keep him and Emily and Brock in your prayers this week!

1. President and Hernana Bowler leave SATURDAY! They have worked so hard and love this mission so much. We are sad to see them go but excited to meet President and Hermana Chase!

2. The first time I have worn a sweatshirt here in Honduras. I thought it was just cold from the rain, but I didnt realize I actually had a fever too, ha!

3. El Templo

4. Me and Hermana Fifita from Los Angeles

5. All of the hermanas from our Zone

Hasta el Fin.

16: Soy Un Cipote De Dios

We are having a blast here in Zona Choluteca, including the other day when we remixed Soy Un Hijo De Dios (I Am A Child Of God) to have Honduran slang (cipote = kid / youg person). Coming to you in el hinmario español 2018.

This week was changes! I really miss Hna Ordoñez :( I am really grateful for her. Her and I not only got along so well, but she is an incredible missionary and a great teacher. She is now in Tegucigalpa, and my new companion is Hermana Cabañas from Mexico who has a year in the mission.

This week I think I worked harder than I ever have in my life. We are meeting new people left and right, and just praying that we´ll find people that are ready to listen :)

Familia Mejìa: We are trying to work with them on ideas of how we can help them get married. Their son has just a lot of health problems and they are saving for his sugeries right now and dont have enough to save for their marriage papers and all :( we visited them yesterday and I teared up telling them how much I love them and will be here to support them. This gospel is so beautiful, and with the change I have seen in them I just hope they can stay strong and make these covenants with the Lord.

Belki: Has been so sick, we havent talked about dates or goals much with her just because it has been hard for her to leave the house and really do much. Praying a lot for her.

Rafael: Is leaving Yusguare! Nooooo!!!!!!! Im just glad we could plant a seed in him, we met with him and he was just so grateful we could help him get over his problems with alcohol. He is really kind, and really specail.

One thing that I have been focusing on more is being consecrated. President Bowler gave us all a talk by Tad Callister called "becoming a consecrated missionary" and this talk really has changed my mission. I want to be the missionary that is exactly obedient, that is patient, that is humble, that has Christ-like love. I am not perfect, but I am so grateful that through repentance and through the Atonement, I can become the consecrated missionary I want to be, and that the Lord wants me to be.

1. Goodbyes with Hna Ordoñez :( with Delma and Ari from the ward

2. We spend a few nights in divisions and to say goodbye to Hna Clark and Hna Ordoñez a member smashed an egg on their heads! Shampooing in the church.

3. My family sent me my first PACKAGE! Complete with letters, a new outfit, and sour gummy worms :) thanks to everyone that helped send that.

4. Thumps up for the sacrament!

5. The funniest girl in Yusguare, Marielle.

6. Pday with Zona Choluteca - making no bakes!

7. And just now in Burger King, my new companion Hna Cabañas is on the far left.

Hasta El Fin.

15: Elder Renlund

Hola mis amigos que tal?

This week we got to meet.....Elder Renlund! We left at 1:30 in the morning Wednesday for the city, and didnt return until 8:30 at night, but its all fun because everyone in the south gets in one big school bus and we have a blast sleeping, not sleeping, watching church movies, playing games. 

Elder Renlund talked about a lot of things, but what stood out to me was that we need to trust in Christ like he is our friend, and if we are faithful to him he will be our friend also. I know this is true, and I´m so glad that I can testify to our investigators that there is always someone who understands and cries and rejoices along with us.

And our investigators! No baptism this week :( we are working really hard with Belki, she wants to be baptized but really wants more time to be certain. So we´re giving it to her. I think in this change well see her baptism....hope!

We have another investigator who is pretty interesting, her name is Heidi. She is very intelligent and well read, but has a hard time accepting certain things. She was really hesitant in taking the Book of Mormon we gave to her, and she only accepted it on the condition that she compare a specific chapter to a chapter in the Bible. We tried to explain that thats not how it works, but we left some chapters for her to read that we hope help her feel the Spirit. We really think she can progress if she starts to search and feel the Spirit.

And this week, I got sick and lost my voice :( At the end of the worst day with my voice, Hna Ordoñez said "your Spanish was nearly perfect today, its a shame nobody could hear you!" :)

This week is CHANGES! Hna Ordoñez is going to Tegucigalpa and Ill get a new companion this Wednesday. Sad but excited for everyone!

1. Bad picture but Elder Rowe from my group! He has lost something like 20 pounds in these last two changes. Little delgadito.

2. It has rained and rained and rained every day here! This week was the first time I have said "Im cold" in 3 months. Our salvation from the heat.

3. Mi nueva camiseta, macizo o no??? Creo que si.

4. Los Elderes estan locos.

5. Last P-day with these Hermanas before changes!

14: There Are More Mangos Than People Here

Buenos dìas! Each week flies by faster and faster here. Every week feels like Pday, Sunday #1-6, and then Pday again!  I thought I would take some time to talk about some of our investigators now that weve got a few really progressing:

La Familia Mejìa: Seriously our favorites, I sent a picture of them the other week. They were one of my first lessons here and they have been our good friends ever since. They did not want to get married the first time we taught them, but just the other day they said they would start saving money to get married which is HUGE because they do not have a lot of money. The fathers name is Gustavo, and he LOVES reading in the scriptures, and he already has a powerful testimony of them. Just the other day, he had a question about the gospel, and he told us he went straight to the Book of Mormon to look for his answer. We sat there as he testified to us that Christ lives, and we were so happy :) I hope I get to see thier marriage and baptisms in my time here.

Belki: We have been postponing her baptism for a few weeks now because she has been pretty sick, and she still doesnt feel ready. This is really hard for us, because we think she really understands and wants to do whats right. We have her baptism scheduled for this sunday, so extra prayers this week that we get to see that happen.

Rafael: We found him walking through the street after a funeral, and drunk drunk drunk. He has used alcohol to get away from his problems for a while now, but just the other day we taught him and he has been sober for about 2 weeks now :) Right now hes the only other investigator with a baptismal date, so were hoping his desire to change really motivates him these next few weeks.

Here's a fun story. We were walking to church yesterday and we passed by a house where someone was standing in the doorway and she said "Buenas, llevo panqueques" which is to say "good morning I brought pancakes" and I said to Hna Ordoñez "man what beautiful words those are". And then we worked and worked all day in the hot sun and barely had appointment but we kept walking. Then we went to a members house for dinner and guess what, she made us pancakes! This made me laugh because honestly I could see the Lords hand right there, something unimportant but a reminder that hes watching me and that when I do His will I am blessed.

Just you wait one day when I bring you guys to Choluteca we are going to the Mexican Restaurant here and your perception of hispanic food will never be the same.

GUESS WHAT Elder Renlund is coming to Tegucigalpa wednesday!!!!!!!!!! We are hyped! This means we have to stay the "night" in the house of the Hnas in the city and leave at 2 in the morning to get there but we are so excited