I'm Staying in Tepalcapa!!

Monday – after emailing everyone we went to teach a lesson and my companion said he was sick so I would be teaching. I hadn’t planned anything but luckily I had the spirit with me and I thought about charity. So we talked about that and then about Ilumina el Mundo and the lesson turned out great! When we got home we opened the few presents that were for both of us from my family (because transfers are coming up). We got nerf guns, marvel mugs and tim tam cookies. We had a nerf war for like 30 minutes in our casa. It was super fun. My family is the best!

On Tuesday I went to the Colinas with Elder Bernaby for intercambios. He doesn’t speak much English but luckily I have learned enough Spanish to mostly understand him. We went to a lunch appointment and I learned that I don’t like Mate that much at all. I really don’t understand how people like it… We had a few other appointments as well.

Wednesday we switched back to our companions and I had an interview with Elder Coltrin. After I answered a few of his questions he told me that I’ve changed and progressed so much since I have been out here. Then he told me that during his interview with Elder Martinez they both said they wished they could be here during my last few months of my mission because of how awesome of a missionary they know I’m going to become. That meant and will mean a lot to me for a long time. I know I have the potential to be great, but only with the help of my Father in Heaven!

On Thursday all the missionaries who have been out for 6 weeks had a reunion with President and Hermana Urrea and their assistants to see how we are doing, talk to us about the things we need to improve, and about our responsibilities as missionaries. It was good to see the missionaries I arrived with! We had a lesson with Anaid later that afternoon into the evening. I feel like we helped answer any questions or doubts she has, to the best of our ability. Since we have cambios next week and don’t know what’s going to happen, we took photos with her and her family. She is super awesome and I hope to stay in contact with her and follow-up and make sure she gets baptized February 27, 2018!

Friday I was pretty sick. I seriously thought something ruptured inside my body from how much pain I had. After drinking Gatorade, some pepto and eating some crackers I felt a lot better. Oh and Elder Martinez told me we are giving talks on Sunday. He gave me a talk last Sunday and I thought he said we would be teaching a class. Turns out I was wrong and only barely read the story he gave me. This is going to be rough. I know that Heavenly Father and the spirit will help me though. Also, there was a 9-year old girl we had scheduled to be baptized tomorrow but her baptismal interview didn’t go so well because they have some family issues they have to work out first. So Alisson needs to wait to be baptized now. I know God will help them overcome their trials so she can be baptized though.

Saturday started out a bit rough with me trying to teach Elder Martinez about prayer. I was getting frustrated because I didn’t know what to say to all the things he was saying to me. I felt like an awful missionary after that. I said a prayer in my head as we were leaving the casa apologizing for my lack of faith and letting myself get frustrated. Then I thanked God for the knowledge I have and all he has helped me with, and also asked for help with my struggles. To answer my prayer and help me feel better we taught an awesome lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When my companion looked to me to say or read or bare my testimony, I was able to do so and I know that what we taught really helped the elderly couple. We invited them to be baptized January 6 and they accepted! We have a few problems to figure out with the husband working on Sundays but I know we will be able to.

Sunday were our talks and I think it went really well. While I was giving my talk I would look up every once in a while and I would see this Hermana who has fed us a few times. Her and her husband and son are just super awesome. Anywho, I would see her looking at me with a smile on her face and seeing that made me feel so much better and calmer during my talk. I had a bunch of people come up to me after and tell me I did a great job! It made me feel so much better. Later that night we had a lesson with a less active member and then we got a call from Elder Coltrin telling us that Elder Martinez is getting transferred to Prados and I’m staying here in Tepalcapa! My new companion is from Peru, his name is Elder Anastacio. Transfers happen on Tuesday.

I love you Mama! Talk to you on Sunday!

PS are you studying Spanish?????? If you don't practice this week, then we won't talk on Sunday hahaha jkjkjk

Presents from CJ and Jess (they opened them because
they have transfers this week)

Other than the 2nd to last picture, the rest are with 

investigators they are currently teaching.

With a family from our ward!