Nurse Loo...jajaja!

Olintepeque

So, this is the name of my new area. And I am still here in Xela although this area is nothing like my last! But I already love it!

It isnt in the city, its a lot more suburb, but I dont know if you could even say that. Here there are both rich and poor. Its like city and aldeas. Nice houses, not so nice houses, and houses with dirt floors. So it is a little bit of everything which I love! It is HUGE!!!!! I mean there are a ton of fields, where they are growing corn. So we do a lot of walking! But I love it and it is just a gorgeous area. A lot of the time I forget that I am in Xela because it is nothing like my last area!

So I only got to enjoy having lunch everyday for only 6 weeks, cause here I am back to the same ol´ same ol´. Only lunch like twice a week. But I guess that will just make sure that I am skinny for when I come home jajajja :)

I am in a ward here, although it is a little smaller then my last one. But the members here i think are a lot more interested in working with us. So that should be good. 

I am still getting used to my area here. I am usually a little lost all the time jajajaa but it will come little by little. 

The zone that I am in doesnt get to go to walmart anymore.. bummer. But we do go to this other store, that I guess you could say is kind of like a safeway or albertsons? So I mean, i guess that is better then nothing, right?

Well, that is all that I can think of to tell you guys about my area, let me know if there is anything else you want to know!

Compañeras

So, as many of you know, I am now in a trio and have 2 new companions!

My first companion is Hermana Tolman, she is the current nurse right now, and is training me for when she leaves home, which is at the end of this next change! ahhh! But she is from Arizona. The oldest of her family and goes to BYU Idaho.

My second companion is Hermana Feliz, she is from the Dominican Republic but lives in Utah so she speaks english. And she is just so funny! She goes home the change before me!

so I am going to be killing both of my companions... puchica!

With both of my companions we just laugh a lot. Unfortunately, i am still taller then both of my companions jajaja I dont think that I will ever have a companion taller then me jajaja 

Nurse

So, right now I am just learning from Hermana Tolman, on how to be a nurse. i will just have a special cellphone that all of the latino missionaries will call me on whenever they have problems.. yipee! jajaja

and then every week we have to go into the office and write out a report to send to the MPW telling her about all of the problems the missionaries had, like who called us with what problem. But it should be interesting. As I was listening to Hna Tolman on the phone with one of the elders I was just dying laughing, cause this elder like had so many problems and questions that he couldnt figure out that were just so simple, and I was just thinking oh dear, what am I going to do. I dont know if I am going to have a lot of patience with these elders. Or if when they call me with problems I am just going to tell them to , "be a man" and "rub some dirt in it" jajajaja I guess part of this calling was for me to learn to be a little more patient and compassionate jajaja

Dog!

So, this week i had quite the scare. 

We were walking through the milpa (corn field) and walk past this house with this family outside, of course we talk with them for a bit, and as we are walking away, out of nowhere I feel something wrap itself around my leg, and realized that it is a freaking dog! I shake it off my leg and it starts barking at us! But the miracle was that even though it had its teeth around my leg it didnt bite me! I was so grateful for that and know that it was the protection of the Lord.

I know that the Lord protects His missionaries and servants. And that He also protects there families! I am so thankful for each of you and for the prayers that you always have for me and my safety! 

I love you all so much! Have a great week! Know that I am praying for you all!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

and saying goodbye to Hna. peña! .. shes home now! 

my area! olinte!

going to a gravesite.. jajaja 

The crazy lady with her hand in the air jajaja we went to go visit the gravesite of her son who passed away and while we were singing and praying this crazy lady was like dancing with her hands in the air jajaja crazy people!  

celebrating my companions birthday! with a real breakfast! eggs, bacon and pancakes!!! we all just got out of bed so we look hideous.. but dont hate!

My companions and celebrating my companions birthday!

Entering in to the Gate...

Titi

So, as you all know Titi got baptized on Saturday and it was just such a great experience to be apart of. I feel so humbled and blessed that I was able to be there to support, help and serve her. I know that the Lord is so happy with the decision that she made to become a member of the church and will continue to rain blessings upon her. I am also so thankful that I was able to be apart of her life and to be strengthend by her example and testimony. 

So, I dont know why, but the water here in the baptismal font is always freezing cold! It has a heater to warm up the water and either no one knows how to work it or the thing itself doesnt work, either way the water was freezing. But Titi didnt care at all about that, she had a smile on her face the entire day, and when she got out of the water, the light in her eyes just radiated! She couldnt stop thanking us for teaching her and helping her come to the knowledge of the truth. But honestly, my companion and I didnt do much, she was prepared and chosen and the was able to recognize the spirit so quickly and accept her answer.

When she received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member she told me that she just felt a warmth come over her, like someone was giving her a big hug, I just loved hearing that!

Her family didnt want to attned and are still not to happy with her, this week she told us that she wants to be a missionary! But she has a lot of obstacles in her way, but we will see what the Lord has in store for her. 

Earlier in the week, before her baptism, we also had a late lunch with her and another recent convert, Estelita, whose family is also not very supportive of her. But she was able to share her testimony with Titi, and the spirit was just so strong! Everyone was in tears! These two have really come to be so special to me and have been such a light for me! I hope that one day you can all know them and feel of their spirit. 

I am so sad that I have changes and will be leaving this area, leaving Titi, but I know that the Lord will continue to bless her life and that through her example the Lord will be able to soften the hearts of her family and they will also have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

Sara

So we also had a baptism on Sunday jajaja suprise! Sara is the daughter of recent converts, who were baptized on the 6th of June. But it was so special to be apart of as well, especially because her dad was able to baptize her! They were all so happy and it was so cool to be able to see a family progress and grow in the gospel. We found out that she was turning 8 on Sunday and wanted to be baptized that same day, so we had to teach her all of the lessons in just 4 days! It was a little hectic but I loved being apart of it!

Randoms of the week

1. So I dont know if you remember the movie, 50 first dates, but I am pretty sure that there is a guy in the movie called 10 second Tom or something. Who can only remember things for 10 seconds and then he forgets... well this week, I meet 1 minute Maria jajaja litterally every minute she repeated the same thing to us, talking about how she cant read, how her dad was poor and that she worked to be able to buy her own land. but she told us the same story every 1 to 2 minutes jajaja

2. Saturday night, as we were walking out of an appointment getting ready to head home, we pass by these two guys who yelled at us, " I am going to rob you.." umm, okay, creepy and scary jajaja needless to say my companion and I were a little freaked out and we started walking/running away from them. 

3. Lastly, probably the most random of all is that tomorrow we have changes and yesterday night President Smith called me to tell me that he is calling me to be the new mission nurse.... umm what! I dont know anything about that! So I will be getting a new area and two new companions as I will be in a trio! woohoo.. should be interesting to see what happens with this especially because I have no idea how to be a nurse jajaja wish me luck!

I hope that you all have a good week! That you keep Christ in the center of your lives and that you make sure that you are always founded firmly in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a foundation that will neve trembl or fall!

Las quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

Lunches with Titi this week and one with Estelita!

Lightning!!!

Lightning!

So like I said in my last email, the rainy season has officially begun here. It is so hot here during the day and then in the late afternoon it just starts pouring! 

Tuesday night while we were walking to an appointment, i swear that a lightning bolt flashed right in front of us! It was crazy! And so bright! It was also kind of scary. I dont know how close it really was to us but it blinded both my companion and I for a second or two.

Alicia

So President Smith called us this week to tell us that Friday afternoon his grandaughter would be leaving to go on visits with us. Both my companion and I were so scared thinking that she was going to be like his spy or something jajajaja but everything of course turned out just fine.

Alicia is 14 years old and a short little thing. I couldnt help but think as we were walking with her that it was like I was with MomiLei going out to teach lessons and tract. We were able to do a little bit of everything with her, get rained on, get rejected and teach a lesson. You know, missionary work jajaja

in fact, during one lesson we had a crazy dude try to convince us that prophets dont exist and that they are no longer needed, but then he went on to say that God doesnt change. So he was a bit lost and confused. He accepeted a Book of Mormon so hopefully he will read and learn from it.

Titi

So, everyone always wants to know how Titi is doing jajaja and of course she is doing just great! Her baptism is set for this Saturday and she is both excited and nervous.

Of course, as her baptism date approaches she is being faced with more and more adversity. For example,her mom is not happy at all that she is attending church and being baptized. HEr mom even called some catholic people to come over and visit her this week, asking her why she wasnt coming to church and why she was attending a church that isnt true. But she continues to hold true to what she knows and to continue to strengthen her testimony. But please continue to pray for her! Her mom has totally taken her car away so she is starting to use the busses even though she has never used the before. But she doesnt even care, she is just so happy that she has the gospel in her life! such a great example to me!

It was funny though, on Tuesday we had a FME (NDH) with her and another family. We planned on talking about tithing and fasting and as we started talking about fasting Titi just gave a little chuckle, and when we asked her what happened, she told us, "I already fasted" jajaja what! She is amazing! And on Sunday she even paid her tithing! Even though she isnt even a member yet!

But, I am so excited for Titi and know that this gospel is just going to bless her life so much! She already has such a strong testimony and i know that she will continue to bless the lives of all those around her! I am so excited for her baptism this Saturday!

I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your support, prayers and love! They are felt, even though I am miles away!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

Ups and Downs

Titi (Maria Isabel)

So Titi, our golden investigator, is still progressing and rapdily. Honestly I feel like my companion and I arent doing anything at all, we are just teaching the lessons but she already knows them and understands. She has had a lot of friends who are members and has been able to learn from them. So this just goes to show how important our examples are to all those around us! We honestly, never know who is watching!

So this week we got things a little more planned out for her baptism, she was eager to know everything! The time, place and what she needed to bring and wear! She is so sweet and just has a amazing spirit! The Lord really has prepared her to receive the gospel! She told us this week that her family, her mom especially is starting to soften up a bit, although she still doesnt want anything to do with the church. Titi invited her to the baptism but her mom told her that she would not be attending anything that had to do with the church, her baptism or wedding. Nothing! Her dad, who lives in the states, is supporting her and even has the desire to read the Book of Mormon as well!

But Titi is just great! She is basically a member! Inviting everyone to her baptism yesterday, and for her to attend church we dont have to call her and remind her or anything like that. She just comes! I know that the Lord is pushing forth His work and that He is preparing people all around us! Titi was a reference from a member, so I encourge all of you to look at the people that surround you and pray to know who is ready and waiting to receive the gospel!

Ya me enferme...

So this week, i unfortunately got sick. I think that this new change of being in an area where we get fed everyday is doing some weird things to my stomach. I mean for a year i was basically used to eating eggs and beans everyday and being on a forced diet. But it was just awful! I had chills, wanted to throw up, body aches and a major headache. 

So Tuesday and Wednesday in the afternoon we went to the house so that i could sleep it off. I am feeling way better now and dont feel sick at all! my companion told me that i was like a bear in hibernation because I just slept all afternoon and didnt get up or out of bed until the next morning, that is how awful i felt.

its raining, its pouring

Okay, so the rainy season now has offically start. Everyday around 2 or 3 it starts pouring down rain! and I mean pouring! Huge drops of rain and lately is has also been hailing! Just another lovely part of being in the mission, is being used to being soaking wet all day and just going with it!

It was funny though, because one day we ran into the elders, who were on divisions with the zone leaders, and the zone leader that was with the elder from my area goes home in December with me. Well, about the time that we start walking, it starts pouring, and like typical elders they are not prepared, without jackets or umbrellas, so they just get soaked. This elder only looks at me, smiles and says only four more months jajajaja crazy!

So this week i learnt that there are a lot of ups and downs in the mission as well as in life. Ups and downs that we may not understand but that are all a part of our personal and spiritual progress. A lot of times we may not understand why we are going through all that we are going through, but we do have to just trust in the Lord. Keep our eye on Him and push through, knowing that the Lord knows us better then we know ourselves and that we are to learn and to grow from everything that we experience. Know that Christ himself is right along side us, carrying us in those times of difficulty. And when we push through and perservere we will be able to look back, smile and thank the Lord for everything that He has done to help us reach our divine potential! We should not let a day go by when we are not progressing spiritually!

I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and support! It means the world to me!

have a great week, know that I am thinking and praying for you all always!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

sorry... no photos, need to get better at taking them! 

Golden!

Familia Saenz (or signs)

This is the giant family of 10 kids, who moved here from the states like 3 years ago...

Last Monday we had a FHE with them all, and it was in English jajaja so that was a lot different then anything that I have been used to for a year or so jajaja but it was a very interesting lesson. Mostly because the dad was giving the lesson and basically to us, my companion and I.

And the topic was marriage and family, he basicallyt ended up telling us that we need to go home after the mission, get married and have a lot of kids jajajaja umm ok.. it was interesting to say the least.

But the family came to church again this Sunday, everyone except the dad so we still have a lot of work to do with him. Slowly but surely! We will get him back to church!

Rejections

This week, as is usual on the mission, we also had a lot of investigators reject us. Telling us that they are fine in their churches and dont want to change or even pray to find out of the message we share or the church is true. So that was sad, but just means that we got to find more people who the Lord has prepared, which requires a lot of work. But work that I am ready and willing to do!

Maria Isabel (Titi)

So, I dont know if you guys remember but at the end of my blog letter last week I talked about a chick who had called us while we were writing, telling us taht she wanted to meet with us. Well, this week we had two lessons with her and she came to church and honestly she is just pilas!

She is 20 years old and a medical student, but she is just soaking everything in! She is one of those golden or dream investigators! SO far, we have taught her The Restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and she understood it all perfectly! At the end of the lesson she was asking what she had to do in order to be baptized and at the end said, "oh okay, then the 1st of August I am going to get baptized" (in Spanish of course jajaja) WHAT! She set her own baptismal date!

In our second lesson, when asking her if she was reading the Book of Mormon she just laughed and said yes, and then we asked her if she was praying to know if it was true and she talked about the feelings that she gets when she reads and prays and that she knows it is true! ahhh! well, that was fast! The Lord has definitely prepared her!

We have talked about the temple a lot with her and everytime we do her eyes litteraly just light up! I swear, sometimes I think that she is going to cry! She loves the fact that one day she will be able to enter into the temple and that she can have an eternal family!

She also asked us about music and if she could have a copy of the church music that we listen to as missionaries and if she could take us out to lunch jajajaja she is so sweet and has such a special and tender spirit!

Her family isnt very happy with her that she is listening to us and coming to church. And so they have taken away her car, and wont allow her to use it if she is coming to meet with us! But you know what! She came to our second lesson walking! And she lives far away! and came to church too, walking! Chose coming to church over a birthday party in her family! She is amazing, did i say that already??

We also ended up talking a lot about the mission with her and she was asking us when we would probably be leaving the area, and when my companion told her the 4th of August all she said was "well then that is good that I am getting baptzied the first of August!" jajajaja

I was so sad to leave Chichi and all the work that I did there behind, but the Lord sent me here for a reason and because we were able to find Titi it has all been worth it!

I just want to let you all know how much I love you! How grateful I am for each of you and for what a blessing it is to have you in my life. Thank your for you support and prayers! THey are felt!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

Xela

So, this week was a lot better. We had interviews with President Smith on Wednesday, which always make me so nervous. But it was good, and I left the interview with a lot more energy to go out and teach. We contacted a lot of people this week and as a result we have a lot of return appointments for this week. So we are progressing and the work is picking up! 

...And that is a crazy lady

So we contacted this one lady on the street who is probably in her mid 50´s and she told us to come and visit her so we did Thursday afternoon. We had planned to teach lesson 1, the Restoration, but as we met with her and started getting to know her she talked about her brother who passed away earlier this year. So we decided to change the subject and talk about the Plan of Salvation.

Well, as we start talking about the Plan of Salvation we talk about the premortal life, and my companion asks her if she remebers it and she says that she does... umm what! Actually no one remembers it. and so I then ask her what it is like. and she just starts to close her eyes and lift up her hands and talk about how it is beautiful and no one wants to come to the earth once they have lived there.. umm, yeah exactly the reason as to why we go through a veil and dont remember the premortal life.. crazy lady

Then as we are talking with her about Adam and Eve she talks about how it was good that they ate of the fruit because if not we would all be walking around here naked and there would be a lot more babies in the world jajaja she was litteraly so crazy! The people you meet in Guatemala...

Fam. Poroj

So as you know, I am finally in an area where i have lunches. But there is this one family here who always wants to have us over for lunch. Even though they dont have very much money at all. Like they are poor, like sometimes they dont have any food in there house, not a single egg!

But, they always love to have us over for lunch. And the Hermana was explaining to us that it is because whenever we come over for lunch there house is always filled with food, and then next day, there is nothing. But when they feed the missionaries there is always plenty of food. It was a cool thing to hear!

Also, they have this daughter who is like 15 years old, half my size, but thinks that she could beat me up jajajaja and just because she has grown up with brothers. It made me laugh and all I could think was.. umm you dont even know! jajaja

Fam. Signs

So this famly is actually from the states, they moved here to Guatemala 3 years ago, so they all speak perfect english. Anyways, are a family of 12 but inactive. Apparently they dont like the way that the bishop directs the ward so they dont come to church. And whenever anyone goes over to visit them or try to talk with them they dont let anyone in! Elders, the missionaries that were here before me, members of the bishopric, no one!

My companion and I were the first ones ever! So we had a small lesson with them, and when we went back to visit them the hermana told us that she would like to have us over for lunch! What! Miracle! I was in shock, and they even invited us to have a FHE with them tonight! It was just so crazy! And you know what, on Sunday... they ALL came to church! For the first time in years! It was a miracle! 

So, I am slowly but surely getting used to being here in Xela. It is a big change but I am getting to know the area and members better. But I am excited for this week, excited to see what we can get going here. In fact, just a few minutes ago a friend of a member who came to church last week called us and told us that she wants to visit with us! So that was super exciting!

Thank you all so much for you support and prayers! It means the world to me that I have such a strong support system of people who have such strong testimonies of this gospel. I love being a missionary and love the things that I have learnt!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo

p.s. sorry, there are no photos this week because i left the cord for my camera in the house.. until the next! lo siento.

New Area and New Adventures

So, everyone has just been asking about where I am and who i am with that this weeks blog post is going to be basically dedicated to just that. Also because I feel like not to many eventuful things happened this week besides getting a new companion and area. Anyways...

Las Americas

So this is the name of my new area, I am in Xela, so I am in the city and it is 100% different then the last two areas that I have been in.

For on, we get fed lunch everyday. And this is just totally new and different for me. Now I am just hoping that I dont get fat jajajaja because we just cant have any of that! Also, I will now be able to go to Walmart once a month jajaja sorry dad...

The temple is in my area. And before the Hnas in Xela were assigned a day to go and work in the temple every week. Which I was super excited for, since we only get to go to the temple every 6 months, i was excited to just be able to be on temple grounds. But of course, as my luck would have it, as soon as I get to an area in Xela Pte. Smith changes the rule and now Hnas will no longer be allowed to work in the temple... puchica!

But the people here in my area are just made of money! Like I think that I am in one of the richest areas here in Xela! The houses here are giant and so nice. Definitely different from Chichi or San Cris where a lot of the house that we entered in were dirt floor. Here in Las Americas it is totally different! In fact, most houses here have intercoms as doorbells, which makes contacting nearly impossible. Because the people ALWAYS just hang up on us or tell us that they are busy and dont want or need us to come and visit them. Puchica!

I feel like here I am starting from scratch. Especially because we dont have any investigators progressing or with baptismal dates. So we have a lot of work ahead of us.

I am also in a Ward, with a sacrament meeting attendance of around 210 people. So not Chichi at all with only 70. Bu the attendence at church neither goes up or down. But just stays the same, what I could see yesterday is that the members are pretty set in their ways. The bishop doesnt really work with the missionaries and doesnt want us wokring with less actives or recent converts. Which I am sorry, i will just not be doing. ALso, the members here dont really have much motivation to go and do visits with us or give us references. But I think that this also has to do with the fact that a lot of them dont know their neighbors... which is weird. Anyway, there is a lot of work to do here!

If there is anything else you want to something that I missed let me know!

Mi Compañera

My companion is Hermana Garcia. She is from Mexico D.F. and has 11 months here on the mission, she is about to complete a year. But we actually came in the same group but because I was in the CCM for 6 weeks and she was only there for 2 I have a month more then here. She is a convert to the church, her mom was a less active member when she was baptized and her dad isnt a member.

SHe has been in this area since January so she knows the members and the area pretty well. She wants to work and I feel like she has the desire to. She is great. But definitely not as crazy or as fun as Hna. Aguilar, but we are getting used to eachother and I am excited to see what we can accomplish here!

Xela Oeste

So I am always in a new zone, and on Wednesday we had our distrcit meeting but it was just to funny because all of the Hnas that are in my district were just saying things like, "no way you are hna Loo, I have heard so much about you" and " everyone loves you" and "so you are the famous Hna. Loo" jajaja it was just to funny. and then when i got up to bear my testimony everyone was just shocked at my spanish and one Hna even asked her companion if I was a Gringa or Latina jajaja woohooo 100% chapina! jajaja

Well, that pretty much sums up everything. If there is anything that I missed or anything that I missed or any additional information that you want le me know! 

I love you all! I wouldnt be able to do any of this without you guys!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Loo