Hola!
I can't believe how time flies! I'm a week into my 3rd transfer already...crazy. I'm nervous for the next transfer because there is a 50/50 chance I'll be training! I don't feel ready to train at all, but there is a shortage of trainers and I think the president likes the Americans to train. The girls that came in the transfer before me are all training already and some came into the mission knowing less than me. Talk about faith, haha.
Well, I forgot my little notes of things I wanted to tell you guys so, this will probably be short! It has been a pretty average week. Sadly, we had no investigators in church. There are about 4 that would have come, but all happened to have other important things to tend to. We have been sinking A LOT of time into this one family lately. I've written about them before. Its like 2 families in one. Except sometimes more because they always have family over that the mom is like, oh teach them too! The 10 yr old (Christian) is on track finally for baptism. Sometimes he doesn't want to listen or is showering for forever or isn't even there when we have the appt, but he finally is past the first 3 lessons which are the most important. The other couple that lives with Christian and his parents (Maria and Denis) are struggling. They're stuck on their religion, but we keep getting our hopes up because they'll keep commitments and start having faith in what we're teaching, but then they hit another roadblock. Super frustrating. Last last we were there from 5:45pm until 9pm. The first half hour was just waiting on Christian and his mom...we talked to Christian's step dad during that time so it wasn't a waste. The dad (Beto) isn't baptized, but has less interest than all of them. I don't think he sees what a difference the church makes in his wife’s life, so he doesn't think it's "the true church." We'll see. That whole family is a roller coaster!
This week it seems like we've lost a lot of really good investigators. We've taught a lot of really awesome people, but have found out we can't keep teaching because they don't technically live in our area. Some we've taught where they work, and some are always at their parents house so we teach them there. We've lost like 4 or 5 with that.
Hmm, not much else I can't think of that's very exciting! Things are good though. It's been getting hotter, so that's going to be interesting. Hopefully not too miserable :)
Ok, spiritual thought: One thing I thought was interesting from my studies in the Book of Mormon, are the words Nephi uses to describe his brothers. I've wanted to understand his brothers better because I feel like a lot of us are probably more like them than we want to admit. They have bad moments and good moments, and I think that's super normal. Obviously it's better to be like Nephi, but we can definitely learn a lot from the brothers. So what I took note of is every time the brothers complain or "murmur," it says along with it that it's because they didn't believe, or have faith. To apply that to us, every time we want to complain about how something is in the church it's because we are lacking faith. I feel like I sometimes have a problem with that. I'll want to complain about how one of investigators is or a rule or something, but really you just have to have faith that the person is really called of God or that annoying person is really special to God. Just something to look for I guess!
Ok, until next week! :)
Love, Hermana Harper
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Merida - Week 6
Today is the first day of transfers! We found out last night that we staying together and staying in the same area. I'm really excited because I'm starting to really love the ward here and the investigators. I'm realizing how nice I have it too! It's funny to think back on those first days/weeks I was here. Everything seemed so dirty and old, but it's really not so bad. I think we just so happened to visit all the people with some of the older/grosser houses those first few days, which didn't help me get the best picture in my head of Merida!
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| English Classes |
Yesterday at church we had lots of investigators again! One was Alvaro and he brought his girlfriend (50ish yrs). Both are SUPER promising. Maria (23 yrs) and Jesus (60) are both searching, and I think they really like what they're finding. Maria has some health/family problems and just wants to be happy. Jesus is looking for truth. Before we started teaching he was really into the "holy ghost." We also had part of the Balbina family again- Hermana Lili (less active), her son Christian (10 yrs- not baptized), other Maria (45ish yrs- works in the house of Hermana Lili) and Hermana Lili's sister and 3 kids who are less active, but great. Every time we visit their family it feels like a huge class because there are so many of them. We're are really working on Maria and her husband because they are so close to a baptism. They just have some weird ideas...for example, they believe the "forbidden fruit" that Adam and Eve ate is a symbol for sex. We had to explain that Adam and Eve were innocent and made the decision to eat the fruit to keep God's other commandment to have kids. That was really fun to explain!!! (feel free to edit this mom haha)
Valentines Day: Dia de Amor/Amistad. So it looks like people celebrate the holiday pretty much the same here. The kids do chocolate exchanges and cards at school. The parents don't really do much. The teenagers are all over it though. I saw more of THEM with flowers and balloons. I saw a guy with a HUGE bouquet of Valentines Day balloons which was fun. When we were walking home I saw some teens slow dancing in the dark street to some phone music, romantic right?
We also happened to visit Luis Enrique that day. He's the investigator that when he texts about appointments, he adds "ojitos azules" and "besos." He was super sad to not have anyone to celebrate that day with, and was all poetic to us about it. We left him a candy, but also told him he can't be all flirty with us. Poor thing.
Oh, something kinda fun. We ran into a guy from the UK. He doesn't speak much Spanish, but he speaks English. We are going to go teach him hopefully this week. He and his wife are just living here for fun, and don't really have a religion. He is super laid back and nice, probably around 45ish years old? I'm super excited to teach him.
Yesterday we went to another part of Merida, it’s about 45 minutes away called Izamal. We went to teach Pascual's family. We didn't get much time to stay because waiting for the bus took forever, but it felt like a mini vacation. There are way more trees there, so that was pretty. More of the houses were like huts, with the grass cone roofs. There are also tons of vultures here I've realized. Ah, and in the pueblos SPIDERS. Like, super huge tarantulas!!! At the service activity a few days ago, one of the sisters was telling me how there are SO many spiders and bugs and snakes in the pueblos. And also, the spiders jump. I really hope I stay in the city for awhile! All I see here are lizards and HUUUGE Iguanas that are super fast- I think I sent a picture of one a few weeks ago.
The lesson with Pascual's wife went ok. We had the elders in that area with us, so the 4 of us taught. She doesn't really understand preisthood or apostasy, so we took forever with that, then rushed through the rest because we had to catch the bus back. I think we will go back again, and we will be better prepared.
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| A little piece of home!!! Looks JUST like her Cat Muddy Buddy! |
Well, things are really good! I'm really happy! It really does feel like we get showered with blessings even though it's sometimes hard. I'm learning that everything depends on your perspective. Some missionaries are having a hard time, but it because they're choosing to not be happy. There is always something to be happy about- even if it's as simple as remembering, "Wow, I'm a child of God. And he loves me and cares about me." I hope you are all doing good. You're all in my prayers :)
Love Hermana Harper
Monday, February 10, 2014
Merida - Week 5
Another week that has flown by!
Wednesday we had the baptism for Pascual! It didn't go how we thought it would AT ALL. The Saturday before I think, we were on divisions, so I had the last lesson with him and went over the baptismal interview questions. There were some problems, but my companion was a fresh RM and said since it was more than 30 years ago, it was fine. Turned out that when the elders interviewed him Tuesday, it WAS a problem after all and we were worried we would have to delay the baptism because the President was pretty busy that day. As we were leaving the church, the elders called us because the President was able to squeeze Pascual in. It worked out better because the President paid for Pascual to go pick up his family in Samal so that they could come to the baptism too- none of them are members. Pascual was really happy and so were we!
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| Pascual's Baptism!!! |
The day of his baptism, Sis. Ludlam got to the chapel to find that the font overflowed...all over the whole building! As people started coming, we all took about an hour to clean it all up. Pascual's family weren’t able to make it because his wife had her surgery sooner than planned. That was sad, BUT we got permission to go to Samal to teach his family because they really want us to be the ones to teach them. Even though they don't know us yet! Everyone says Samal is really pretty, so we're excited! It's an hour and a half trip though, so we are going to use the whole day this coming Sunday.
After the baptism, we did splits again and I went with a girl in the ward, Paulina, and Abel who just got back from his mission. Paulina technically couldn't teach because she isn't a ward mission leader, so me and Abel taught which was pretty fun!
We taught the 10 year old, Christian. Everytime we teach his family, it's like a big family thing. His mom, Hermana Lili, and also the couple that lives with them Denis and Maria and their 2 year old Abby, are all there. They're whole family is quite the project. Denis always has tons of doctrinal questions, Maria has some odd religious habits, like whispering during prayers and Hermana Lili is less active, but she has started coming since we've been visiting. I think she just likes church for the social aspect right now, but we're working on getting some depth into her!
Her husband is ALSO a project. He isn't Christian´s dad, so I think he is Hermana Lili's 2nd husband. He can't walk very well and he has a lot of internal pain and is so dependent on others. When we talked about Jesus Christ with him and how Jesus knows how he feels because he suffered for him he started crying...it's a tough situtation. I don't think he believes the Mormon church is really the way to follow Christ. He just believes in Christ.
Other things... We had English classes! Half way through we had like 7 members show up and it was really fun. We taught how to bear your testimony and at the end we had a little testimony meeting. Hopefully we get more investigators to come, so it's more worth doing!
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| Mamey - The fruit I love! |
On Sunday we had Hermana Lili at church with Maria. They brought some family, Hermana Lili's sister and 17 year old son and 2 babies. Another investigator Jesus also came! He is super interested in how the church works and was asking all kinds of questions like what the bishop does, who are the gentiles in the Book of Mormon, etc. He has a baptismal date, so hopefully everything continues to go well with him.
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| Awesome Iguana! |
I'm not really sure what else to add, hopefully it's not too boring! I guess I'll just end with my testimony that I know we are ALL children of a loving Heavenly Father. I know we are all on this earth to be become like our Father. We all have divine potential and because Jesus Christ suffered for all our inadequacies and imperfections, we can become better people and be worthy to enter back into the presence of our Father.
I love you guys! Enjoy your week!
Hermana Harper
Monday, February 3, 2014
Merida - Week 4
Miracles In Mexico
Wow! I must have people praying for me here because I'm seeing SO many incredible things! One of the hardest things I've seen with missionaries is trying to get investigators com to church. Yesterday we had FOUR! Maybe that doesn´t sound like a ton, but our most hopeful investigators all came through and came to church, and that's really what made it cool. It makes me so happy that we are getting through to people, despite all of our imperfections.
Hermana Lili (or Balbina- everyone has 50 last names here!) is divorced and lives in this big house with Maria and Denis who work in her house for her, I think. Maria and Denis have an older child and a little 2 year old. Hermana Lili is less active but she loves the church and the missionaries. She just needed a push, which is why it is awesome that we're working on teaching Maria. Wednesday we're actually going to teach her 10 year old and baptize him soon! I feel like me and him are buds, so I'm looking forward to that visit. Hermana Lili and Maria were at church with us, and also Juanita.
Juanita is awesome. She wants to learn and be a better person she says, but I worried laziness would be a problem with her at first. I think she has sleeping problems, so she's like always drinking caffeine and taking sleeping pills. She came to church ALL BY HERSELF with her 5 year old daughter, Shirley. For a missionary, that's like the best thing ever.
We also had Pascual come! He is really good about coming and has his baptism in 2 days! Yay! The other person was Daniel who we think is a little bit "special" but we aren't positive. He asked us if we would teach him haha. He showed up to church halfway to let us know he wasn't feeling well- super sweet of him. So he didn't stay, but he at least remembered and wanted to be there.
Gospel Principles class was THE BEST. Our ward mission leader taught (he is suuuper enthusiastic about the work and is awesome at teaching, which I'm so thankful for. He also is learning English which I love, because he is always asking us about words) the class and then it was Maria, Hermana Lili, Juanita, Pascal, the two kids (Shirley and Maria's 2 year old Abby) and me and Hermana Ludlam. It melted my heart how imperfect it was, yet so perfect. I say imperfect because they were all in normal clothes for the most part and they were like little kids because they didn't understand everything that to us is so simple. They all kinda have their "querks"... like for example Maria always whispers during prayers. She mostly just says "gracias" and "asi es" which is like "yeah that's right" in English. Kinda funny, haha. It was so perfect though, because I could see how much they care and are trying to follow Christ, the best they know how. It makes me SO grateful that God trusts me with his children to teach them all about who they are and God's plan for them.
Sunday evening we went to follow up with a family we found last Sunday as we were walking. This family was just sitting outside their house (which is the sidewalk) talking, and we were just bold and told them about what we do as missionaries and if we could come back and teach them. I honestly thought it was a waste of time because even though they were super friendly and willing to listen, they were catholic and I figured they didn´t want to be mean and shoot us down. When we went back, their daughter Maria (23 yrs) answered and she seemed like something was on her mind and she was busy, but let us in anyway. I felt so bad because I felt like we were being too pushy, but I was totally wrong. She had read the restoration pamphlet we left and liked what parts she read. She got emotional from the beginning because she had family problems and its been really bothering her. Her needs were screaming out at us which NEVER happens. The lesson went really well and she wants to be baptized! The Lord honestly works through the weak because I know it wasn't us that touched her, it was 100% the Spirit.
Some other random things of the week... Saturday was rough. 1) No one showed up to English classes. 2) Our golden investigator brothers Ivan and Daniel aren't allowed to listen to us anymore because their mom doesn't want them to change religions. Saturday night was just full of rejection, plus I'm always extra exhausted by the end of the week. I think that's why Sunday was so cloud 9 for me.
We met 2 other really awesome guys Friday. A Dad and his son. The dad was a reference and he just wants a stronger relationship with God. We taught Restoration and its funny because Hermana Ludlam always rushes through the apostasy/priesthood thing and I've tried to tell her that, but she hasn't gotten it. The thing is she's really clear, but she doesn't check to see if the investigator was really following. Anyway, we were teaching that lesson and after she talked about apostasy, she turned to me to do Joseph Smith but I turned to the Dad and son first and was like "So do you understand exactly what an apostasy is?" and they both in unison were like "No!" I was glad that I'm actually adding to the companionship by seeing things like that because a lot of times I feel so inferior to Hermana Ludlam. I'm kinda finding my place in the companionship which is really helping us to teach better.
Other random things. I found out when I was on an exchange with Hermana Janco for a day, that a random guy we ran into went to church because we invited him. He originally stopped us because I'm American and he wanted to know if there were English classes...he didn't seem interested in the religion aspect but he ended up going to the ward with the Elders in our district, and has a baptismal date. Right time, right place.
Other crazy thing. From day one I've tried to say “hi” to everyone in the streets as a way to hopefully talk to more people and let them know missionaries are friendly people and all that. The other day, a girl stopped us in her car because we had greeted her in the street a few minutes before. She said she had been praying to God for help and then there we were! We had to pass along her info because she's not in our area, but we gave her a Book of Mormon and she was super grateful. You seriously never know what little things do for other people.
If you read all the way to this point- wow, sorry. This is like 45 minutes of writing! I just want to extend the invitation I guess to talk to more people about the church. Take the chance because you seriously never know who needs it. I'm surprised everyday at the people who listen and also those that don't. The people who really need the gospel often are so disguised- you just have to take the chance! Don't get caught up in excuses because we are in the LAST dispensation. Last night a member related it to a football game and I love the analogy, even though I'm not a sports person haha. We're in the last minutes of the the game, so taking the chance to share about the church with someone is really what is most important. It's so easy to be like, "Ah but I need to do this, or go here..." Take chances, don't wait. I really think there's less time than we know to be prepared for the second coming of our Savior.
I love you all! I hope you are all trying to be missionaries! Its seriously so amazing. Hard and frustrating sometimes...maybe even often, but amazing!
Hermana Harper
Wow! I must have people praying for me here because I'm seeing SO many incredible things! One of the hardest things I've seen with missionaries is trying to get investigators com to church. Yesterday we had FOUR! Maybe that doesn´t sound like a ton, but our most hopeful investigators all came through and came to church, and that's really what made it cool. It makes me so happy that we are getting through to people, despite all of our imperfections.
Hermana Lili (or Balbina- everyone has 50 last names here!) is divorced and lives in this big house with Maria and Denis who work in her house for her, I think. Maria and Denis have an older child and a little 2 year old. Hermana Lili is less active but she loves the church and the missionaries. She just needed a push, which is why it is awesome that we're working on teaching Maria. Wednesday we're actually going to teach her 10 year old and baptize him soon! I feel like me and him are buds, so I'm looking forward to that visit. Hermana Lili and Maria were at church with us, and also Juanita.
Juanita is awesome. She wants to learn and be a better person she says, but I worried laziness would be a problem with her at first. I think she has sleeping problems, so she's like always drinking caffeine and taking sleeping pills. She came to church ALL BY HERSELF with her 5 year old daughter, Shirley. For a missionary, that's like the best thing ever.
We also had Pascual come! He is really good about coming and has his baptism in 2 days! Yay! The other person was Daniel who we think is a little bit "special" but we aren't positive. He asked us if we would teach him haha. He showed up to church halfway to let us know he wasn't feeling well- super sweet of him. So he didn't stay, but he at least remembered and wanted to be there.
Gospel Principles class was THE BEST. Our ward mission leader taught (he is suuuper enthusiastic about the work and is awesome at teaching, which I'm so thankful for. He also is learning English which I love, because he is always asking us about words) the class and then it was Maria, Hermana Lili, Juanita, Pascal, the two kids (Shirley and Maria's 2 year old Abby) and me and Hermana Ludlam. It melted my heart how imperfect it was, yet so perfect. I say imperfect because they were all in normal clothes for the most part and they were like little kids because they didn't understand everything that to us is so simple. They all kinda have their "querks"... like for example Maria always whispers during prayers. She mostly just says "gracias" and "asi es" which is like "yeah that's right" in English. Kinda funny, haha. It was so perfect though, because I could see how much they care and are trying to follow Christ, the best they know how. It makes me SO grateful that God trusts me with his children to teach them all about who they are and God's plan for them.
Sunday evening we went to follow up with a family we found last Sunday as we were walking. This family was just sitting outside their house (which is the sidewalk) talking, and we were just bold and told them about what we do as missionaries and if we could come back and teach them. I honestly thought it was a waste of time because even though they were super friendly and willing to listen, they were catholic and I figured they didn´t want to be mean and shoot us down. When we went back, their daughter Maria (23 yrs) answered and she seemed like something was on her mind and she was busy, but let us in anyway. I felt so bad because I felt like we were being too pushy, but I was totally wrong. She had read the restoration pamphlet we left and liked what parts she read. She got emotional from the beginning because she had family problems and its been really bothering her. Her needs were screaming out at us which NEVER happens. The lesson went really well and she wants to be baptized! The Lord honestly works through the weak because I know it wasn't us that touched her, it was 100% the Spirit.
Some other random things of the week... Saturday was rough. 1) No one showed up to English classes. 2) Our golden investigator brothers Ivan and Daniel aren't allowed to listen to us anymore because their mom doesn't want them to change religions. Saturday night was just full of rejection, plus I'm always extra exhausted by the end of the week. I think that's why Sunday was so cloud 9 for me.
We met 2 other really awesome guys Friday. A Dad and his son. The dad was a reference and he just wants a stronger relationship with God. We taught Restoration and its funny because Hermana Ludlam always rushes through the apostasy/priesthood thing and I've tried to tell her that, but she hasn't gotten it. The thing is she's really clear, but she doesn't check to see if the investigator was really following. Anyway, we were teaching that lesson and after she talked about apostasy, she turned to me to do Joseph Smith but I turned to the Dad and son first and was like "So do you understand exactly what an apostasy is?" and they both in unison were like "No!" I was glad that I'm actually adding to the companionship by seeing things like that because a lot of times I feel so inferior to Hermana Ludlam. I'm kinda finding my place in the companionship which is really helping us to teach better.
Other random things. I found out when I was on an exchange with Hermana Janco for a day, that a random guy we ran into went to church because we invited him. He originally stopped us because I'm American and he wanted to know if there were English classes...he didn't seem interested in the religion aspect but he ended up going to the ward with the Elders in our district, and has a baptismal date. Right time, right place.
Other crazy thing. From day one I've tried to say “hi” to everyone in the streets as a way to hopefully talk to more people and let them know missionaries are friendly people and all that. The other day, a girl stopped us in her car because we had greeted her in the street a few minutes before. She said she had been praying to God for help and then there we were! We had to pass along her info because she's not in our area, but we gave her a Book of Mormon and she was super grateful. You seriously never know what little things do for other people.
If you read all the way to this point- wow, sorry. This is like 45 minutes of writing! I just want to extend the invitation I guess to talk to more people about the church. Take the chance because you seriously never know who needs it. I'm surprised everyday at the people who listen and also those that don't. The people who really need the gospel often are so disguised- you just have to take the chance! Don't get caught up in excuses because we are in the LAST dispensation. Last night a member related it to a football game and I love the analogy, even though I'm not a sports person haha. We're in the last minutes of the the game, so taking the chance to share about the church with someone is really what is most important. It's so easy to be like, "Ah but I need to do this, or go here..." Take chances, don't wait. I really think there's less time than we know to be prepared for the second coming of our Savior.
I love you all! I hope you are all trying to be missionaries! Its seriously so amazing. Hard and frustrating sometimes...maybe even often, but amazing!
Hermana Harper
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