Monday, May 26, 2014

Brisas - Week 2

¡Buenas Tardes!

Well, my companion and I have completed 2 weeks here in Brisas! It's been a tough week because hardly anyone wants to listen to us. We've been talking to lots and lots of people and so many are stuck on their own religion and unwilling to consider what we've got to say.

The beginning of this week I had a tough time with that. Not just the rejection, but I felt like I didn't have my companion backing me up. I love my companion, but she is sometimes hard to work with! I really struggled with the street contacting with her because I kept feeling like everytime she talked she was super bored and unhappy. I felt super alone, like I was the only one who thought what we had to share was important. I got really frustrated with her because it's hard enough trying to win people over, and if you come across like you hate what you're doing, no one is going to listen. I kind of  assumed that she assumed that no one would listen and that our street contacting was pointless. One of the days there was a point where I almost broke down, but luckily I held myself  together!
Me, My old companion, and our 2 new companions in Brisas
We'd been talking and talking to all kinds of people and finally one sweet grandma let us teach her.  She told us how we were such angels and how she never says no to people like us. I had felt so alone all day because it had seemed like contacting was pointless, but I was trying to teach my companion that it's just something you do to show Heavenly Father you're doing all you can. I was just glad for a little bit of success and it made me happy to see that not everyone here is so hard.

I'm learning a lot about working well with a companion this week ... I finally asked her what her deal is with contacting and talking to people, and she admitted that talking to the people always scares her.  Slowly things have been getting better, and I think we're equally as happy and bubbly with the people now. I think this whole transfer I'll learn a lot about working well with my companion because we tend to argue a lot. Luckily we argue and get over things fast. I thought Sis. Pinguelo didn't like me at first, but she's told me several times she's glad we're companions. The learning never ceases!
This is how they keep people from jumping over their fences!!!
Apart from my companionship drama, something kinda funny happened yesterday. After we ate with some members we went to an end of our area that  we haven't been to yet to meet a less active/part member family. As we started getting closer to the address we had, we heard that one of the houses had a huge party going on. Me and my companion were both like, please don't let it be that house. And what do you know, that was the house to the address we had. We stalled in front of the house for a minute, but the family saw us outside and they all yelled for us to join the party!  Everyone was drinking and dancing and they came out to bring us into the party with them. Neither of us knew what to do because we didn't want to offend them! They got us to go in to the house for a min and all the people we're cheering and saying "las hermanas! las hermanas!" and they all wanted to take pictures with us.  A kid offered us a bottle of alcohol and this old guy tried to get me to slow dance with him. At that point I was like, ok that's it...time to go. This all only lasted less that 5 min, and fortunately they were understanding when we told them we would just visit another time. It was all super hilarious though.

Ok, agggain, all I have time for! :(
Love you all! Hermana Harper





Monday, May 19, 2014

Brisas - Week 1

This is Hermana Betty Vasquez.  She is in my Stake.  She introduced herself to me on Sunday at Stake Conference.  She is a childhood friend of my next door neighbor Sister Aracely Hallam.  Sister Hallam contacted Hermana Vasquez and asked her to be on the look out for me.  Sister Hallam was one of my Young Women leaders, and I think it is awesome that I have been able to meet one of her friends in Mexico!  Thank you Sister Hallam!!!




¡Hola!

This week has been NUTS. It was my first week in my new area with my new daughter- Hermana Pinguelo! I "gave birth" last Tuesday around noon. It was so fun to be in that little meeting because I remembered being in my first meeting when I got here with all the newbies on the front row in the chapel and all the trainers behind and looking back wondering, "who's going to be my mom?!" Most of the sisters training this transfer I know pretty well, and about half are new trainers like me, so it was fun to watch everyone get paired up. All the trainers are all so great and each has different gifts that I think will help all the new missionaries adjust as smooth as possible.

My companion is from Texas, but her mom is from Mexico.  She speaks English and Spanish perfectly which is kinda fun!  I have had 5 transfers, and I have only had one with a true Latina. Not exactly what I expected when I came here, but hey, guess I won't lose my English right?
My new companion, in the solid gray shirt, Hermana Pinguelo!
My new area is called Brisas. We're the second set of missionaries in the ward and I think we got the tougher half of the ward as our area. There are lots of less actives and only one investigator. Its been hard navigating our way around because the streets don't make a lot of sense, but we're taking advantage of being lost by talking to lots of people. That's my favorite way to start taking to people actually!
Hanging with the Hermanas!
Our new house is pretty nice.  The only thing is,  it doesn't have a kitchen. We have a make shift kitchen in the first room you walk into with a fridge and everything, but we have to wash dishes in the bathroom.  Kinda gross! That's just how it is sometimes though. Other than that it's nice because we have hot water to shower  with and air conditioning when we want it.

Another reason why this week was a little crazy is because the first two days we were living with the other sisters in the ward until we could officially move into our house. We also didn't have a phone (still don't actually). Those first few days we got to know the members with the other sisters and had lots of lessons with part member families.
Staying with other Hermanas after transfers, until we moved into our new house
Even with all this craziness, we managed to find a family that was happy to listen and we got everyone who was there to say yes to the baptism invitation! From them we have 3 solid baptism dates and when we go back, we're hoping to get the dad and the other sister because they weren't there for the lesson.

Wellllll....that's all I have time for because I still have lots to do today! Love you all!

Hermana Harper
Inside A Little Shop In Town








Monday, May 12, 2014

Merida - Week 18


At the Zoo on Cinco de Mayo

Hello!

First off, I'm really, really, really sad right now because I'm leaving my first area! I've had 18 weeks there, so I got pretty attached. The members, the investigators, my companion! I feel like they're all my family. Last night when we were waiting for the call to find out what would happen me and Hermana Tozcano, we were positive we would have one more transfer together before we'd get switched up. Usually they call us at 8:30 or 9 so we have time to pack, and when 10:30 rolled around they still hadn't called, so I thought for suuure we'd stay. But, At like 10:40 our district leader called to tell us we're both going to have babies and I'm leaving to open a brand new area! I'm excited, but SO sad.

I couldn't fall asleep for hours because I was thinking about all the people I would miss and baptisms and just everything...annnd my eyes may have been a little teary! They told us we would have a normal Monday together and Tuesday morning we'd have our babies, so I was thinking about what me and my companion would do our last day together. At MIDNIGHT, the assistants called to tell us we had to be at the stake center at 8am to trade companions for a day. I was a little annoyed at the late notice...buuut i guess that's just how it is in the mission. We woke up at 5ish so I could pack and get all ready to leave :( The morning was a little nuts because I wanted to leave a couple notes for people. Everything I wanted to get done I was able to luckily.

As we were leaving, miraculously there was a taxi. We haven't been able to buy credit to call, so I was a little worried about getting a taxi without being able to call one, but it all worked out! In the morning, I didn't get teary or anything, but a member stopped by to pick something up and surprised us...I gotl sad all over again. It's been two hours since then, and I can't seem to pull myself together very well. Luckily I'm with a new companion right now, so she can distract me with new conversations!
Baptism!

This week we had a baptism! We baptized the 9 year old of the family of investigators we're teaching. They are amazing. I feel so lucky to have known them and taught them. We ate with their family yesterday after church and I'm glad now I had that little extra time with them. At church we had their family there and 3 others. For two of those 3 it was their first time. I LOVE seeing investigators in the chapel. It always confirms that we're not just wasting our time with them and that they honestly do want to learn and do their part.

Hmmm...besides transfers I feel like there isn't a lot of new stuff to report. Next week I'll write all about my new daughter and area and finding investigators. Yikes! I'll be working super hard the next transfer. I love you all! Talk to you next week!

Hermana Harper




Monday, May 5, 2014

Merida - Week 17


Happy Birthday Hermana Harper!!!  21 Years Old!
¡Hola!

This next Monday is transfers, so I'll either be changing areas, getting a new companion, training, or nothing will change. I'm secretly hoping nothing changes because I really love my companion!

It's been a little crazy this week because we've been looking at houses...again. I have 3 transfers in the same area and this will be my third house I've lived in. Moving isn't too bad, it just takes up a lot of P-day :(

On a happier note, we managed to finish all the lessons with Monica (9 year old) so she can get baptized this Tuesday! I'm really excited because I think it will strengthen their little family so much.  We are still trying to get the parents married, so they can get baptized too, but more than likely that's a couple months off. Their entire family came to church on Sunday for the first time. Usually the son doesn't want to come, but I guess he finally decided it’s not so bad. I think we're going to have to work with him more because he has the typical "church is boring" attitude. It's all new too, so hopefully, once he has friends it will be better.
A Catholic Lady told me I look like her Virgin Mary.
She gave me this little card with a prayer on the back.
There are so many little things like that you have to worry about as a missionary! Who can be friends with who, what lessons people need, what things people aren't understanding. Sometimes I think I overwhelm myself, but when I just rely on the Lord things usually work out. One other thing was SO special on Sunday: for the first time one of our investigators, now a recent convert, got up to bear his testimony! Jesus had his baptism last Friday and is a really, really cool person. I think a lot of the members look up to him honestly. His dad has been sick since we met him, and he passed away on Saturday, may 3. Jesus told us Sunday in the chapel before sacrament meeting. It completely melted my heart because when he told us, he was holding back tears, but said to us he was really happy and knows where is dad is and how us missionaries are the reason he's at church and is able to be happy about something like that. Wow! And when he bore his testimony he talked about Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon just like a member. I loved hearing his testimony because I know he didn't just say all that to say it. He's really been reading and praying and fasting to have a testimony and had the desire to share it in Sacrament.
Hermana Harper's Birthday Party! In a member's home
Oh, my birthday was this week! I had thought my birthday wouldn't be much different than any other day, but it actually turned out to be a really fun day. In the morning my companion surprised me with a poster she made (no idea when or how she did it with our schedule) and balloons which was SO nice. After studies I opened the presents Mom and the family sent (thanks guys!! :)).  And later, the president's wife, my district leaders, and the other sisters in our district called to sing to me,  and one of our investigators (Jesus) sent a text message. For lunch we ate with a member that knew it was my birthday, so she asked in advance what I wanted to eat.  She was all dressed up when we got there and had the table set up really pretty and had a cake for afterwards.
Hermana Harper's Birthday, May 3!
Well, that's all I have time for. The time is always so short. Love you all!
Hermana Harper