Ya me voy!

After 7 months in my first area, I will finally be leaving as I am getting transfered. I have no idea where I am going or who my companion will be, which makes me a little nervous.Well until tomorrow when I will find out early in the morning!

This week I feel like just flew by! I really have no idea where the time went! And for some reason I really cant remember what happened. It was all just a blur. But maybe thats because I was just so excited for Sunday to find out whether or not I would be leaving San Cris!

So some random things that happened this week as well as some of the things that I came to realize that are normal here in Guatemala that are just not normal in the states:

1. Someone this week thought that I was from Columbia hahaha

2. The lights here ALWAYS go out. On Tuesday they went out at 7 in the morning and didnt come back until 6 at night! Which meant a cold shower and nothing to eat for lunch since our kitchen is electric. The lights ALWAYS go out! Which can be quite annoying at times.

3. Dead dogs on the side of the roads. Guatemala is kind of like Samoa in this aspect. That there are a ton of street dogs! And I think like everyday Hermana Canales and I find a dead one on the side of the road, where other animals are eating the dead body.... eww!

4. There are so many flies here everywhere! and maybe that has something to do with the fact that there are also a ton of cows here in San Cristobal. 

5. It is a normal thing for the people here to go days or even weeks without showering. SO almost always the kids here, especially if they dont have money, to be just visible dirty all of the time. I feel for them a lot, but it is what they are used to and really dont know anything else.

Moving on...

I had to give a last minute talk in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. I must say that I am suprising myself in the fact that I can actually give a talk in Spanish without having everything written out! 

But I was thinking about Ohi Sunday morning, and during my talk. How she was having to give a talk on Sunday to and in Spanish for her first time! But I know that she killed it! jajaja

Mario

Thought that I would share a little bit about our new investigator that we have. HIs name is Mario, and his wife is a less active member. ANd he is actually the brother-in-law of our ward mission leader. He was catholic but then one day afer reading in the bible he decided that the sabbath day is actually Saturday. And we sat with him one day in a lesson for a think more then an hour trying to explain to him using scriptures that the sabbath is in fact on Sunday. At the end of the lesson he still didnt really believe the sabbath to be on Sunday, so we just ended up inviting hjim to come to church with his family Sunday and to feel of the spirit that is in the building. And to sincerily pray and ask the Lord what day is His day. So please pray for him as well that you can come to church and understand!

Well I am excited for what is going to happen this next week, with a new area and everything! Who knows what will happen. But i am confident that wherever I get sent is the place where the Lord wants and needs me to be! I am so excited for what is to come!

Los quiero mucho! 

Hermana Loo

MY zone... try to see if you can find me, i didnt want to take pictures hahaha 

Try to find the bolo (passed out drunk guy)! jajaja 

goodbye San Cris! 

THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE!

Random thing that I just wanted to share with you guys because it just made me laugh. But this week as we were eating lunch with a member he asks me if i am half mexican.. uh no! Like what how long have I been here in San Cristobal and this entire time he has been thinking that I am part Mexican jajajaja yeah... that would be a no :)

Divisions

So we had divisions this week I for the first time in like 4 months I acutally stayed in my area! But I did have divisions with Hermana Busk who is from Utah. Which means that we spoke a ton in English, especially because we both have Latina companions.

But it was so much fun! And I think that we were laughing the entire time! I actually was so sad when we had to return to our actualy companions. Really made me realize that the time I spend with Hermana Canles is not all that fun and I really am never laughing. Something that I realized that I need to change, that we need to have more fun together! And it also helps make the days pass by so fast!

But it was good and I learned a lot from Hermana Busk. I think that we also spent like 2 hours talking about grace, mercy, justice and what all of that means. Like the scriptures say that we are saved by grace after all we can do. But what is all that we can do? hahahaha I think that we ended up confusing ourselves more and being more worried then we were before if we were doing enough out here on the mission! hahahaha it was really fun to talk with her though.. even though she kept making fun of me for still being in my first area! Puchica! maybe this change this next week will be the one where i finally leave!

Saturday

Saturday was for whatever reason just such a great day! We met with Juan Andres again and talked more about the Book of Mormon, and why it is so special to us. We were also able to answer all of his questions that he had about the church and what we believe! He is so receptive to the message we have and just wants to learn more and more! Although he is really catholic.. but hey that can change :)

Anyways, when we met to meet with him we asked him if he had the chance to read part of the Book of Mormon, he said that he was in the 10th chapter of the Book of Mormon and had even read the introduction, the testimonies of the 3 and 8 witnesses and the testimony of Jospeh Smith! It was so amazing! And I know that as he continues to pray to know the truth that the spirit will touch his heart. He wasnt able to come to church with us on Sunday but he did promise us that he would come this week! So we shall see!

There was also a baptism this Saturday! It was the elders from San Andres, who are in our branch! But the baptism was so special as it was 3 siblings getting baptized, and their other brother had been baptized 2 or 3 weeks before! And so he was able to baptize his little sister! The Spirit was so strong and it was so awesome to see Jose (the recent convert) baptize his little sister!

As we were leaving the lesson we had with Juan Andres to go to the baptize of these three siblings I just realized how true this church is! The Spirit just hit me so strong and I knew that without a doubt that this church and its doctrine are the truth! That being out here in the mission is exactly where I am supposed to be!

D&C 6: 33 - 34

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

I read this during my scripture study and it just hit me so hard! because I know that it is so true! There is a consequence to everything that we do! Whether that be good or bad! Eventually we will always reap a reward for that which we do, and it may be immediate or it may come after some time, but it always comes! And can be a blessing or a curse! But i love what it says in verse 34, we really have no need to fear if we are living in righteousness. Nothing that Satan can throw at us will cause us to tremble or fear. Because we will know the foundation that we are built upon. We know who we are, and whose we are! 

I love you all so much! i love this gospel! I love my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, my savior and redeemer! I know that they are always right by our side. I know that they are always pushing us, cheering us on, rooting for us to overcome the powers and temptations of the adversary. And that when we are steadfast, immovable, and firmly planted in this gospel nothing will ever have the power to destroy us! And that doesnt meet that we wont have trials and problems, it just means that we will have the strength sufficient enough to ALWAYS overcome them. Because we know where we stand!

Have a great week! know that my thoughts and prayers are always with you!

Los quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

Celestina who was baptized on Saturday!

Long, Hard, Exhausting but Rewarding week

It seems like the more time that I have out here in on the mission the faster the days, weeks, and months pass by! And the more and more exhausted I am! jajaja 

Food!

Okay this week, food wise was amazing! For the first time in what seems like forever I had really good food! And not just eggs, beans, and tortillas hahahaha! Like this week I had something that was so similar to cocoa rice! I thought that I might die and then I also had steak! Oh! It was so good! And now I find myself thinking about how much I would love to eat one of dad hamburgers and some cinnamon rolls jajajaja!

Also we have a new mission rule, we are no longer allowed to go to Walmart the first pday of every month! Which means that the amount of food that I can cook and eat just got a whole lot smaller! Oh well! Looks like that means more "forced dieting" jajaja President Smith has really changed a lot of the rules on Pday, to where really now we cant do much with our days! Which kind of sucks, but it is revelation he received as the mission president and something that I have to and will follow!

New burst of energy!

This week I found myself with a new burst of energy! A newfound dedication to this work! I just have this new burning desire to share this gospel with everyone that we come and contact with! And as a result this week we found new investigators! New families! ... side note, our ward mission leader has decided that we will no longer call investigators, investigators but visitors. Apparently an apostle gave a talk on this in one of the conferences where he pointed out that on the sign that is on the wall of the enterance in every church it says "Visitors welcome" and not " Investigators welcome". My ward mission leader is hoping that this will help in having less of a seperation between the members and the "visitors".

Anyway... this week we found two new families! The first family we found is the familia Chuc! We found them knocking on doors and had the spirit really guide us in leading us to knock on this families door! Anyway, the mom of the family, Thelma, is the one who answers the door and begins to tell us that she had meet with the missionaries before and that her kids really remember them and how kind they were. She then goes on to tell us that she knows a lot of members and really admires them and how they live their lives. How they actually live what they preach! Just another example of the importance of examples and how we as members, always have people watching us, whether we know it or not! The funny thing about this family as well is that one day I was looking through our area book and found her and her families name, and felt inspired that we should visit them. Although the address that was given was phony so we never got the chance! But this week we found them! And it was amazing!

We also found another family... the familia Torres! We also found them knocking on doors! And we actually contacted the kids of the family. We knocked on their door and after some time no one answered, so we left but as we were walking away we turn around and find these two little kids chasing after us asking if we were the ones who knocked on their door! We reply yes, and since they were so little i didnt think much about it and just handed them a pamphlet about The Plan of Salvation and we went our seperate ways. Then one day when we were planning Hermana Canales and I both had the impression that we should go back and visit them. When we went back we were able to talk with the dad, Juan Andres, who had read the pamphlet we left, had a ton of questions about it, and even asked about the Book of Mormon and if he could read it! What! Of course we said that we could and left him a copy with a return visit set up to talk with him a little more about it!

I really felt the Lord´s hand in my life this week! As i have realized how much he has blessed and given me! In fact I even started keeping a seperate journal/notebook with all of the tender mercies and miracles that I see throughout the day! And it is amazing what i can find! And has really helped me to increase my testimony and faith! I know that we are all children of God, and that He is our Heavenly Father! I know that He wants, is willing, and is always blessing our lives! 

Los quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

It was Emma´s birthday Monday!

We went and celebrated with him and his family!

He is so excited that next year he will turn 12,

be able to receive the priesthood and enter into the temple!

Playing Hide and seek with Sandra and Sebastian!

I think Sebas ran into the fridge like 3 times jajaja

Corte... this is the typical shirts that the people here wear,

and to make them they have to sit and stitch the entire pattern!

Takes so long! But looks amazing when all is said and done! 

The name of this bar just made me laugh

"Cantina donde lloran los valientes" or "bar where the brave cry" jajaja

Puchica

Bombas!

Okay so like everyday on the Spanish Calendar is some sort of holiday to celebrate some saint. And this week was no exception.

I think for like three days during this week from 4:30 to like 7 in the morning they launch off what sounds like cannonballs every half hour. Really just makes it really hard to sleep! With them launching off what sounds like bombs in the morning. And once they launch off one after awhile I start to fall back asleep and at that exact moment they launch off another one! 

I have a really hard time sleeping and doesn't help much at when i am exhausted! But the Lord always gives me the strength and energy I need to somehow make it through the day!

Pizza! Pizza!

So we had a meeting and interviews with President Smith this week and had a lunch with him, and of course we had pizza!

Anyways, while we were sitting there eating Heramana Canales shares with some of the Hermanas that when we go to eat Pizza that i can eat and entire one by myself hahaha. And seriously none of the Hermana believed me! Asking me where i put it all hahaha! Woohooo! Guess that i am actually getting skinny!

Focused on others

During our weekly planning session, as usual, we start off with a prayer. Where we pray for each of our investigators, less actives, and recent converts specifically and by name. 

I don't know why this time was different, but for whatever reason as I gave the prayer to start i planning i felt the spirit so strongly! I was just overcome with some much love for each of these people that we are teaching and realized how much i just want and hope that they will accept this gospel, continue faithful and receive the gift of eternal life!

I have come to realize that when I am focused on others needs before my own there comes a spirit of love into my heart that I have never experience before! That when we truly are in the service of others we are serving the Lord. And i think for this reason we always have such a greater capacity to love all those around us!

Who are you?

So like I said before we had a zone meeting and interviews with President Smith this week. During our zone meeting he wrote on the whiteboard the question

"Who are you?"

As i sat there looking at the board and thinking about the question i realized that there are a ton of different ways that i could answer this question... who am i? I am Hermana Loo, I am from Oregon, I am dedicated, Disciplined, obedient. But then i could also answer I am a daughter of God, I am a missionary, I am an instrument in the hands on the Lord. There are so many ways to answer this question. How would you answer it?

After some thinking and sharing President Smith then had us turn to a scripture that can be found in 3 Nephi 5:13,

"13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

So who am I? Well I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! 

I hope that we can all take this scripture and apply it into our lives! That we can remember that whether we are full time missionaries or not we are all disciples of Christ, the Son of God! That we all have been called and commanded to declare His word so that all may have eternal life! This gospel is a grand blessing in all of our lives! I would even go as far as to say that everything that I have ever been blessed with comes because I have the gospel in my life. Which makes it all the more important to share this knowledge with everyone! So that "they might have everlasting life"

I love you all so much! I couldn't be more thankful to have such a great and strong support group and family! You never cease to amaze me!

Les Quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

Mayco! and his siblings, Maria and Luis!

Starting from scratch...

So after this past week we definately have a lot of work to do this week. Combined with this week that i had and the week before i think that Hermana Canales and I have dropped like 7 investigators. Who quite simply were just not progressing our keeping with their commitments or promises. (compromisios in English? I cant remember how you say that jajaja)

I always hate dropping people, just because i so badly want them to accept the gospel and message of the restoration. But maybe it is just not their time, and i dont and cant waste my time on people that really arent progressing when there are other people here in San Cris who are prepared and waiting to receive the gospel!

Guisela Sapon

Monday night we had a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with Guisela and her family. We did a scripture chase game with all of the scriptures references talking about the importance of the scriptures. It was a lot of fun but we were also able to learn a lot and help them understand more clearly why they need to study and read from the Book of Mormon DAILY!

After we had finished with the scripture chase i felt inspired to ask them the baptismal interview questions. And i relly wanted to do it so that we could see what was Guisela challenge and why she wasnt committing to getting baptized. What was her doubt? But to my shock and great suprise she could answer ¨yes¨ to every single one of the questions! 

But after all was said and done she said that she still couldnt be baptized! That it was still out of fear of her dad, that she still has to attend church with him, and that if she does so he wont say anything about Adonai, Brizna, and Emmanuel going to church with us. Which is just really sad, to see what a stumbling block one person can be in the progression of another. Guisela even went as far to say that if her dad wasnt in the picture or the problem, that she knows that both her and her mom would be baptized! UGH!

Mission Goal

So in 2014 the Quetzaltenango mission had 800 baptisms.. the sad thing is that only 110 of these 800 are active! Wow! Every ward or branch here has so many less actives its crazy! This is something that I have really come to realize and decided is so important! In helping to rescue these less actives and bring them back to the church! In my rama here in San Cris there are maybe like 300 to 350 members, but every Sunday there is only like 60 people in the Sacrement meetin!

As a mission this year for 2015 we have the goal to have 2000 baptisms! Yeah! Thats a lot of people! But President Smith has the plan for every single one of the us to visit the members in the ward, ask them to make a list of all the families they know that arent members, and then pray to know which of these families they can share the gospel with!

Charesmatic?

So while contacting this week Hermana Canales and I knocked on a door. And the lady that came to answer told us that she wanted nothing to do with us because she is ¨Charesmatica¨. Which sounds like the word Charesmatic in english.. so i was super confused. Like isnt charesmatic a characteristic? hahahaha

anyway we later found out that ¨Charesmatica¨ means Catholic but they dont believe in the images and all of that stuff. Made a whole lot more sense afterwards jajajaja

Super Noche de Hermanamiento!

Friday night we had an activity that we had planned with our ward mission leader and all of the elders in the branch. We had planned to have a game night, but all of the games we played had a purpose and a lesson behind them all.

It was a lot of fun! But a little bit of a disappointment because we had invited a ton of members to come and a ton of them said that they could and would. But in the end, there was maybe like 2 or 3 member families. And not one of the members of the branch presidency came, which was a big disappointment and let down! Cant really expect this branch to grow into a ward if we dont have a lot of support from the members!

But all in all it was a lot of fun! The game that Hermana Canales and I planned was a relay race. But those who participated each were given a certain animal that they had to run or walk as. It was really funny!

Maria Jose

This is the mom of Mayco, who i wrote a little bit about in my last blog. Anyway, yesterday we had a lesson with her our zone leaders. Where we taught the restoration and at the end of the lesson we challenged her to be baptized and to pray to know if the things which we taught here are true. But to the challenge to be baptized and to pray all she kept saying was no...no...no!

Ugh! So frustrating! We then proceeded to ask her if she would be baptized if Christ were in the room and told her that she needed to be baptized in this church, if she would be baptized then? To which she still replied no!

EN SERIO! I just couldnt believe that!

So please pray for her, that her heart will be softened and she will accept the message of the gospel!

This week was a little slow and challenging, with so many of the people that we had been visiting just not progressing. But i have a lot of faith that this week will be better! And we have a lot of work to do! Which is totally fine with me!

I am so thankful for the gospel in my life, it is such a blessing!

A quote that i read this week that i really liked, and i cant remember if i shared it already with you guys...

¨our past does not determine our eternal progression¨

Love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Loo!

Getting my hair cut in a Guatemalan hair salon jajajaja ...

7 months! Time flies!

So i cannot believe that i have completed 7 months here on the mision! and that i only have one area and two companions jajajaja! Also really.... Ohi only has one transfer left! Time really flies! 

Guatemalteca Abuela

So the abuela of the Sapon family is seriously just the cutest thing! We were visiting with the Sapon family on Thursday and she comes in to visit with us as well. And begins to tell me that she is always worried about me and my safety. Especially during the days when there were diablos out on the street! She is so sweet, and also said that she was really worried when i was sick and throwing up! That she was praying for me to get better! 

Also she told us that she loves having us in her home because she always feels strengthened. She then proceeded to tell us that we reflect and represent Christ really well. Which I thought was a really nice compliment! And made me feel good and like I was doing what i was called to do. She is so nice and always wants to feed us and give us something to eat and drink because she feels like we are a part of her family! 

Noche de Hogar

So we had a Noche de Hogar or family home evening with both the Sapon family and Juarez mejia families, which was really nice and fun. We wanted to have an activity before they started school again this week. We had a lesson the keeping the sabbath day holy. And it was really effective because they all came to church on Sunday! Without us having to call them to wake them up or remind them!

But seriously the Juarez Mejia family are just plain awesome! I mean they are only 11, 12, and 14 years old and there parents aren't members. But they still get up all by themselves for church, are ready with there church clothes on by the time we got by to pick them up and come to all of the activities as well without being reminded! They are such a great example to me! So young but still know exactly where they want to be and have such strong testimonies of the church and absolutely love reading the Book of Mormon!

Now the Sapon family is really struggling as lately they have had a ton of problems with their family. So please keep them in your prayers. I cant even imagine how hard it is for them, being threatened by their family and those who you would think would love them the most no matter the choices or decisions that they make... pray for them!

Mayco and his family 

So Mayco is a recent convert, who is 9 years old and is disabled. He is in a wheelchair as he cant control his limbs so he cant walk. He is the only member in his entire family so Hermana Canales and I have started to teach them.

His mom is an alcoholic and it is really sad to see. Saturday we went to visit them and found Mayco all alone in his home... His mom had apparently left to the bar to go and drink and after 2 months sober! It was so sad! That she is such an alcoholic that she really cannot control it at all! Leaving her disabled son with her young kids, the oldest being 12 and the others only 7 and 4!

So please pray for his mom, Maria Jose, that she can stop drinking. But more specifically have the faith that through Christ she can stop drinking and be forgiven! 

Every week we seem to get new investigators, but after two or three visits with them they either aren't keeping their commitments, not coming to church, or really just don't have the desire to change. But i am really working on building my faith in the fact that the Lord is preparing people here to receive the gospel, and that there are people here in San Cris! I seem to be learning a lot about patience over these last couple of weeks! Guess the Lord knows that it is something that i really need to acquire!

Funny story though, while we were out contacting on Sunday afternoon and the first door we knock on this old man comes to the door. And begins to yell at us and tell us that we are just spreading lies, and begins to curse at us in Spanish (lucky for me i have no idea what the curse words are in Spanish) and then slams the door in our face! oh the joy of the mission! I just had to laugh at how angry he was at us for just trying to talk and get to know him. Oh well, when the Lord closes a door, he opens up 10 more!

Have a great week! it is always such a blessing to be able to talk to you all! and to be able to share my experiences out here on the mission! There is nothing that can really ever compare to being on a mission, I don't even know if i can explain how awesome it is! Although tough and challenging I have learnt so much about myself and have grown so much closer to my Heavenly Father!

Have a great week! Love you all so much!

Hermana Loo

Guatemala

This is a photo of my zone when we had the mission conference with Elder Duncan.

He is the is the area President here for Central America!

Obedience brings blessings...but obedience with exactness brings miracles!

Happy New Year! Hope that this year is the best one ever! and I hope that this year we are all able to strengthen our testimonies and come to realize what really matters in this world!

New Year´s Eve

Okay so just like Christmas here in Guatemala, New Year´s eve and day is pretty similar as well! As soon as it hits midnight on New Year´s eve a ton of fireworks start to be shot off! In fact in comparison to Christmas, there are 10 times more fireworks on New Year´s Eve. If Christmas was a war zone, then New Years eve is like another world war.. supposedly.

The funny thing is that New Years eve at midnight i didnt hear a thing! And if you know me at all you know that i am a VERY light sleeper. So the fact that i didnt hear a thing just goes to show how exhausted i am! Walking everywhere in the sun really just makes me sleep like a baby! 

Rice

The people here think that it is so weird that i like to eat white rice plain... without any salt or anything! ... What can i say... its an asian thing i guess jajaja

Dont know why i thought to share this but i think that it is funny. 

Divisions

So we had divisions this week with the Hermana Leaders, and i went to Momos with Hna. Busk, who is from Utah. Anyways whenever i have divisions with her we always talk a ton in English! Which is really fun for me and really different since all of the companions i have had speak Spanish!

But a cool thing about Momos is that apparently the people in Momos have the purest Lamanite blood! Something that i thought was really cool to hear and think about as i was walking in the streets in Momos! But then again this fact came from an Elder, so who knows if it is actually true jajaja

Polynesians

So all of the Polynesians that are in this mission are in my zone. And Thursday morning Hermana Peña sent me a message asking me the names of the Polynesian elders. I was really confused and sent her the names of the Elders asking her why she wanted to know... to which she replied that she had heard something weird about me and one of them!

I was seriously so shocked and just wanted to know what she heard! Well.. apparently she heard a rumor that me and one of them are going to get married after the misison! jajaja oh brother! Yeah! Not going to happen jajaja

Juanito, ward mission leader

So Junito is our ward mission leader and is seriously just amazing! I am so grateful to have him here and for all of his help in this work!

He went on visits with us Wednesday to visit a recent convert who is also less active. And after he left he ended up giving us a ton of references, and offered to go and visit all of them with us! SO out of all of this we got 7 new investigators! He is such a good example of how all members can be missionaries!

In fact, this week i even read a talk given by a 70 at a BYU Idaho devotional. And if you get the chance i strongly encourage you to look up the talk to try and find it so you can read it! His talk is about 4 or 5 important decisions that he has made in his life, and that have all made a strong impact! And one of these important decisions was that he sets a goal every year, a certain date, to find someone to invite to learn about the Gospel, to invite to take the missionary lessons, and to be baptized! He has been doing this for like 20 years and every year he has accomplished this goal! and two or three times each year!

So my invitation is for you guys to do the same! To find this talk, read it and set the same goal! And i know that with prayer and faith you can all do the same! That we are all missionaries! It doesnt matter if you have a nametag or not!

I hope that this year we can all grow to be a little better, grow closer to our Heavenly Father and come to be the disciples and children that He wants and knows we can be!

Love you all!

Hermana Loo

photo from of my zone from our Pday last week!

last one... from our zone Christmas party!

Another party in the street for New Year´s day!

All of these freaky things, like they have at Disneyland

that I am still sacred of. well not scared just really dont like!

Everytime I see one of these I think of the picture from Disneyland

when Ohi, Nica and I were all little and i am crying my eyes out

because i didnt want to take a picture with them! jajaja to funny!