When to use the umbrella as a light saber?!?

 Dear Family,                                                                            Monday, July 14, 2014

This week...well. I'll be honest, I can't believe how long it's taken me to figure out to "keep my eye single to the glory of God." Everybody says "forget yourself" but how do I do that? Usually, I have to make a fool of myself first. Put myself out there and really try to share with people what I know. Not just let my companion talk all the time. Randomly contact people on the street - which is awkward most of the time. And service. We always say, "Can we help with that?" but nobody EVER says yes. Always, "no, ya termine!" Even when they just started! So we have to sometimes just pick up piles of leaves with our hands or something to show we actually mean it! I have enjoyed all of my time here in Mexico, but now I feel like I can actually contribute more. 

And this week we taught 2 wonderful young women! Jassive, the cousin of a member, is 16 years old. She practically lives with her cousin, because her parents drink all of the time. She already has a testimony of the gospel and wants to be baptized! She just needs permission from her parents. So, that is the challenge for her. We're praying a lot that her parents can accept her decision and even follow her example. 

Daniela, the friend of Jassive is already 18, so she can be baptized on the 9th of August. Hopefully all goes well and she continues to progress. She really is a good young woman and older sister. 

Erika, an investigator that we already had, wasn't able to attend church yesterday. She is a single adult, 39 years old and cares for her Mom. She has a "tienda" and knows how to do a LOT of things! She is reading the Book of Mormon and progressing. She is really awesome, even if she lives at the VERY END of our area!! Good thing I have good legs :) 

By the way, a tienda is a little shop with drinks, cookies, chips, bread, and sometimes vegetables, depending. There's usually one every couple streets.

Well, so much for rain! It didn't really rain this week. But lots and lots of sun! A really nice sister gave us an awesome umbrella. Mine is tiny and can't really fit two people! But it's pretty good for the sun. And when it's folded up it's a perfect sword! Or lightsaber, however you want. 

And so! One day we went to someone's house for an appointment we had, and as we approached the garage/door a huge dog with a beautiful huge bark came running out at my companion!!  So, I more or less used the umbrella to block the dog from attacking my companion!  You know, I'm not really scared of dogs, but she is terrified of large dogs!! But it just ran past her. Wouldn't even bite. It was hilarious... afterwards :D

 

And today we made pizza with the relief society! And now I also know how to make flour tortillas from scratch. It was good pizza...just that they only use tomato sauce, without spices. Kinda killed it, but I'm in Mexico, eating Italian food. What do you expect? 

Anyway! Life's awesome. Always read the scriptures and pray. Always! 

Have an awesome week!

Love your favorite, 

Hermana Daniels

Ah! Tell Grandma Owen happy birthday for me!!! 

And Alan tomorrow!!!

Bring on the Rain!

Hola Todos :)                                                                                    Monday July 7, 2014

Transfers went well!  Because I'm in the same area with the same companion, Hermana Bobadilla. 

And no, nobody knows about American Independence day in Mexico. But that's okay, because nobody knows about Mexican's Independence Day in September! Or...at least, I didn't. 

I think I already talked about this, but I'm just going to remind you how much I love rain. When it gets it hot it usually rains during the night. I think when I get back to Utah I'm going to shrivel up because it's so humid here. Buuut, It's good! I'm just always wet. If not with sweat, than with rain ;D That's a joke. Mostly. :) 

Not very much happened this week. Lots of work. We have an awesome investigator named Erika who has accepted a baptismal date for August 14th. She came to church for the second time, felt the spirit super strong and is doing really well. 

Oh Yeah, piano lessons! Hahahaha I can only teach so much piano without knowing the vocabulary in Spanish! Very. Frustrating. Also we have 1 piano everybody wants to play and practice. It's a little bit awkward with 5 kids playing at the same time. BUT! All of my pupils know the C-scale with at least their right hand. Now I just have to figure out how to teach timing without know the vocab. Wish me luck :D

This morning we played soccer with as a zone. Just so you know, EVERYBODY here plays soccer. Basketball and volleyball, are nice, but "futbol" is the sport. Also, turns out I'm not that good at it :D 

That's all I can think to write about right now. Attached is a photo of Hermana Bobadilla, yo, y Los Tessainers - the only senior couple in our mission. They were in my old area until I got transferred. But they're really awesome and working really hard. Also, they always buy us food. That's always a plus ;)

 

This other picture is of our Zone - Hna. Leon, Hna. Castillo, Elder Wilde and Elder Gates. 

Gracias por sus cartas y espero que todos tengan una semana maravillosa!!  (Thank you for your letters and I hope everyone has a wonderful week)

Lots and lots and lots and lots of Love, 

Hermana Daniels

Mucha Llueve, aqui!‏ (Much rain, here)

Hola, todos!                                                                                   Monday, June 30, 2014

Well. This week was awesome!!! Actually, not a whole lot happened up until Saturday. But you know what happened Saturday? I'm gonna tell you. Later. 

Friday, the activity (Minute to Win It) went...well. Nothing ever goes perfect, but it went alright. We had enough games, but we didn't really have sufficient stop watches. It was a bit weird, but from what I gather, people had fun. Each game represented a principle of the gospel (faith, baptism, repentance..... and endure to the end) And at the end mi companera and I were waiting in the chapel in white. And I was playing "beautiful" piano music as they walked in. And the point was that if they endured, they could get into the celestial glory. And we talked about the temple and why we were in white, etc. Anyway, there's that. I just never want to do that activity again.... :) hahaha

Anyway, Saturday. At first we climbed this beautiful hill that I love so much to help a less-active, named Yessenia. She's really an awesome woman. Trying to be the best Mom she can and provide for her kids. She makes and sells delicious Corn Tamales. But she wasn't there!! ugh. 

So! On to plan B! Look for a contact that we had, but the streets are weird and we asked a family on the side of the road the name of the street, and of course introduce ourselves and they actually asked us if we had time!!! So we had a first lesson with Carmen, Sumela, and Angeles. And they accepted to be baptized!! And that was actually a really big miracle, because we had a goal of 4 new investigators, but nothing had happened all week!! Until Saturday. 

And then, we received a referral from a member after lunch. That never happens either. Everybody says, "oh, everybody!" or "oh, nobody wants to hear." And we contacted her. And she came to church! Hopefully we can progress a lot with her. 

Then we made a contact in the street with someone named Erika. Turns out her brother had been baptized already. And not sure when, but he passed away. So, Erika knew about the church a LONG time ago, but for some reason or another never had the chance to be baptized. But after a lesson with her, she said she wants to prepare to be baptized. Another Investigator. And she came to church, and it was all awesome! 

Next Monday is transfers...AGH I'm so nervous! I don't know what I'm going to do if they send Hermana Bobadilla away!! wwhhaaaaahaaaaa Pero, esta bien.

It looks like I might actually get to teach piano this week!! I'll...let you know if it ACTUALLY happens...and...well...yeah, we'll see. 

Random fact: It rains a lot here in July and August. It's still hot and humid during the day, but at night, there are some crazy awesome lightning and thunderstorms!! The other night it rained so much it looked like a river was in the road. 

Another random fact: Just because you ask for "agua" doesn't mean you get water. "Agua Natural" is definitly water. But a lot of times "agua" can be "agua con limon" or "agua de piña" or something. 

Here are some photos to prove that I'm alive.

 

 

That tree is really big and I expect one like it in the backyard when I get home ;)

 

 

  

  
 

 

And that hill. Maybe you can't see it but it's really big.

 Good Times!

Have a good week, and thank-you so much for your letters :) 

Keep 'em coming. *cough* please :)

Love your favorite Missionary,

Hermana Daniels