Hola :) Otra Vez! (Hello, again!)

Hola :) Otra Vez!    (Hello, again!)                                  Monday, May 26, 2014

Quiero (I want) to start off by apologizing because this computadora tonto(dumb) doesn't recognize my memory card and won't let me upload pictures D; Pero, esta bien. Hopefully next week I'll send you some kinda funny pictures. 

Well! They transferred me! How rude! I already miss Juarez - my old area. They sent Hermana Navarrete back to Culiacan, and Hermana Bobadilla (my trainer) and I to another district in Mazatlán called Flores Magon. We know nothing about anything here, so this will be fun :D And hahahahaha you should see our new apartment...it was inhabited by muchas elderes antes nosotras, y...let's just say we're buying a lot of cleaning supplies today. 

Let's see...this week. T'was a good week. Most of our appointments fell through, so I felt like we didn't teach a ton. But! On Sunday we went to pick up an investigador named Rosa, for church and she wasn't there! And we had made plans and stuff. We were really sad about that, but stopped by another house for Hector, who accepted baptism, but really isn't progressing. And he didn't want to come to church. He said he was busy. Triste.(sad). Pero, we go to church and Rosa is there!! Whaaat? With her son! Yeeessss!!! Ella es muy buena y tiene muchas pruebas, pero creo que ella va progresar en el evangelio. Really, she needs the gospel in her life so much. 

Anyway, when we get to church the Bishop tells us that we have to give talks because we're leaving - by then we knew what was happening with transfers. I'll have you know, it was not the easiest thing to write a talk off the top of my head en español, pero I'm told it made sense and it was good. Espero que pròximo vez puedo tener màs cosas listas decir. 

I learned this week that really I'm just a wimp sometimes. This gift of tongues thing... I've felt it on my mission. I'm so grateful for the Lord and his help. But, it usually doesn't work unless I start talking, even (or especially) when I don't know what to say!! Or what I AM saying! hahahaha Oh Spanish. Ether 12:27. You will become a strength and I'm going to conquer you. Con fe, y confianza. Y mucho mucho trabajo. Y practica. 

Family and friends of mine :) This is the missionary in me talking, but please be really good members and volunteer to go to lessons with the missionaries. I guess it's not such a huge deal in Utah, but man, here it can be difficult to have a member come with us. Apoyo de los miembros es muy importante! 

Okay...yeah I think that's all. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Gracias por su apoyo, oraciones y cartas. Me gusta mucho cartas...just sayin`.... 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Daniels

Gracias for the pictures :) 

Congrats on the wedding!!! I'm glad it went well :) You're going to edit me into all the photos, right? Hahahaha not necessary. 

AAAAND

CONGRATULATIONS Jason and Kristine!!! 8TH!!! WHOOT! I think you should set a goal to have more than 10. Sí, se pueden!! (You can do it!)

Where to Start....

 Hola,                                                                                Monday, May 19, 2014

Well...this week was interesting! hahahaha Like every other week. Last week was my 5TH WEEK!! Which means this is the last week before my first transfers!!! Ah!! Come back, time! I'm not done with you yet!! I'm pretty sure Hna. Bobadilla and I will stay here, because she's my trainer, but I don't know about Hna Navarrete. D:

Bagh. Anyway. Lemme start with Lunes - Monday. We had P-day of course. Probably the most boring p-day ever. But at 7:00 we taught for the first time a man named Victor...at the Capilla!!(chapel - you're all gonna learn vocabulary whether you like it or not :D) He came TO the chapel! I actually think he walked. I don't know if you understand the significance of that statement. Okay, maybe you do, but here it's difficult to get people to keep commitments, but Victor is definitely one of a kind. He talks REALLY fast!! He says what's in his head, which is a nice change. He asks sincere questions and keeps his commitments, except he didn't go to church yesterday. That's everybody's problem in Mexico. They have to work on Sunday. It's really very annoying. We're going to teach him tonight and see what happens. 

Miercoles - Wednesday, we had a multi-zone conference with Elder Johnson (an area seventy, I believe). It was REALLY good. He even knew how to speak Spanish...hahaha so I probably missed some stuff. But he started out with chastising the Hispanic missionaries, reminding them that they made a commitment in the MTC to learn English while on their mission - I had NO idea of that, so that's good to know :D. And made them promise to have language study from then on. 

Anyway, we talked a lot about working with members. And efficiency. And if we don't have baptisms each week, we're doing something wrong. Mostly it was about finding people that are ready to hear the gospel and CHANGE.  For example, we found a really cool family - la familia Padilla. They accepted what we taught and said they wanted to hear more. But they never kept commitments or went to church. It's frustrating, but if we can't progress with them we have to make others the priority. 

Victor, hopefully, is ready. We'll see today and tomorrow. 

And so, Elder Johnson asked how we find the chosen people that are ready for the gospel right now. 

- Talk with EVERYBODY

- ALWAYS ask for referrals - Less actives, miembros, investigators and even those who say they aren't interested right now in the gospel. 

Anyway, I learned a lot, and it was awesome. 

Sábado (Saturday) we had an interesting change. Our whole zone - 18 of us, I believe, went to one district where they're having a hard time. So we all went, put us with different companions and had us go out into this district and contact for 1 1/2 hours. I think they ended up with 80 references in total. Elder Rock and Elder Millerberg have their work cut for them!! 

También (also), we had a Baptism on Saturday!! The missionaries have been teaching Lixys Sarahi for a while and a few weeks ago she chose the day. It was a really good program. And you know how there's that time gap after the baptism because they have to change back into dry clothes?  Usually they put on a video, but Hermana Bobadilla (my companion) told me I should play the "Restoration Medley" by Paul Cardall. I had been playing it for a few days for them. And I really needed more practice, but I guess it turned out okay. It was awkward because I really didn't think anybody was listening, but I got a couple of really nice compliments after. And the bishop told me that we should have an activity and I could teach piano. Ha! That would be good...except that I can't really teach more than one person at a time. And I highly doubt anything will actually happen with that. But I guess my point is, I'm really glad I play the piano :)

I had to teach Relief  Society yesterday!! I was so stressed about it all week! But they talked forever about other things, so it turned out I only had to teach for 15 minutes!! It was almost harder, because I kind of had a lot planned, But it's okay, because I learned a lot while preparing it. 

Like, did you know learning is a commandment and responsibility? Especially about gospel knowledge. I'm safe in that department right now, but we'll see if I can keep it up after I get back. Pero no importa ahorita. 

Hoy (today), we went to el faro (the lighthouse). And whoever came up with the idea is nuts, because we walk every single day. The last thing I want to do is hike in the really hot sun. But it was still good. Even though we got up at 4:00AM!!! My companion is crazy!! But we had to clean the house, but especially do laundry. But it's a good thing we did it because it was done for the day and had time to shop and stuff. And I FINALLY got a Spanish-English diccionario. Yeah...I accidentally left mine at the MTC. Who does that!?!?!?! AGH!! Me :) 

Okay. I think that's all that's in my brain right now. Have a good week :) Stay awesome. Write me more letters. And, learn something new every day! I was also reminded this week that we're on this earth to learn poco a poco. Little by little so that we can become like Heavenly Father. And the more knowledge we gain on this earth, the greater our advantage will be in the next.. 

I think that scripture is from D&C...no sé...don't quote me on that. 

Love, 

Your favorite Hermana Daniels

 

Hola todas personas (all people) :)

                                                           

Hola todas personas :)                                           Monday, May 5, 2014

Sí, it's 5 de mayo, but as far as celebrations go, there's not much going on. 

Also, I meant to say Happy Birthday to Mom last week. AND the week before. So, Happy Late Birthday, Mom!! I promise I was thinking of you. 

Anyway... So, you decided to change the family reunion, eh? hahahaha too bad I'm not there...hahaha, no really, I'll miss you. :D take pictures and stuff and send 'em to me. 

You still haven't won a game? Matthew, if you win a game, I'll send you something awesome :3 haha Also, have fun with Spanish! Feel free to ask questions about it - although I can't guarantee I'll be able to answer it. Make sure you take fun classes and stuff, too. And uh, don't have too much fun in the back without me. :D 

Congrats to everybody that graduated!! I hope you all have a wonderful life and make lots of money. 

Wedding plans!! yay! And yeah, just send the wedding invitation to the mission home address that you have. Or you could...scan it and send me the picture through email. I want to see it!! 

Anyway, this week, was pretty good. I can't complain too much. I had "my" first baptism on Saturday!! It's actually a funny situation, because José lives in our area, entonces the baptism will go towards us, pero he was taught mainly by the elders in another area because that's where he works and where he was taught. We taught him maybe twice. Pero! It doesn't really matter. I'm so amazed at his testimony because his aunt came out once while we were teaching and talked  really down on the church and Joseph Smith and it was really, really awkward and bad. But he knows what he's doing. 

También we have the baptism of Lixys this next Saturday! Which is also funny, because she picked her date for the 17 de mayo, pero when we asked her yesterday about when it was she said the 10th. "wait, what? okay, cool!!"

And Spanish. Hahahah well. I am understanding more. But it's kinda hard to speak! And people here talk pretty fast(at least to me) and so now that I'm finally starting to pick out phrases and words of everybody and not just companions, I still don't know how to reply. uh...d'uh...yeah! "si! yo se!" It also depends on the person, a lot. 

Also, this week we had splits. That was weird. I...I am glad I have the companions that I do. Although, I learned a lot from the Sister that came traded with Hermana Bobadilla. She was a really good example of street contacting. 

And today we went bowling with our district. It was pretty good. I'm not going to tell you my score, because that's how bad it was. I got good in the end, but I was the lowest. In my defense, it's been a long time.  And we went shopping. I hate shopping!!  Because the stores are far away from our house and we don't have a car,  it's bus or taxi.  A bus would be a disaster and taxi's are expensive. So, taxi it is!! whoopi :D 

Oh, also the picture attached is of an apple covered in...I honestly don't know what! It's kind of spicy. Mexicans make everything spicy!! Even orange juice! Anyway, I made the mistake of asking Elder Camacho what it was and he's like, "here, eat it!!" and I almost didn't. It took them a long time to convince me to eat it. But it was good. Caramel is still better, though. 

Anyway, that's all I can think to say this week. Have a great week, everybody!! 

Love, your favorite Hermana Daniels

P.S. Mother's Day - We also have church at 11:00 (did you know we're on the same time zone?) And after church we're going to the Senior missionaries' house for dinner and use their computers and phone. So, I'm GUESSING It will be between 4:30 and 7:00...I hope you have nothing big going on that day... I'll try to make it at 5:30ish. I don't know about calling me back or anything. We'll see! 

Also, I love pictures...send me pictures of whatever's happening :)