Monday, August 26, 2013

FAM BAM


Hello my wonderful family!

The email this week is dedicated to YOU! So mom, you can decide whether to send it out or put it on the blog or whatever!
I love you. I miss you. I pray for you everyday. I want you to know how much each of you matter to me. You  don't understand. Here, the families are broken. The father is drunk, the mother is off with some other man, and the kids are starving. It is devastating. They need the gospel. I am so thankful that we have the gospel. Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching us true and correct principles. Thank you for protecting our family. I am so thankful for temples and for our eternal family.  The temple is so important! I hope that ALL of you during this new school year will take the time to attend the temple EVERY week. It's more important than anything else...football, apple, cowboy boots, volleyball!! Tonight for family night I want you guys to set a goal to attend the temple every week TOGETHER as a family! Pick a day, pick a time, and GO! I know you people are busy, but I want to you think for a moment why you're here and who sent you here. Give the Lord more of your time and I PROMISE you will be blessed. As you attend the temple as a family, I know that you will be protected. I know our family will be blessed. In my patriarchal blessing it says that as long as I attend the temple, my family would be protected. I can't go to the temple here, but you can go to the temple there! Get up and go!!! There are people up there waiting to receive the gospel! Waiting for you to do their temple work! PLEASE GO! Pick a Thursday night, or Friday morning. Just make time for the temple. I promise that it will make our family stronger! Zane, you turn 12 soon! So exciting!! Also, tonight I would like it if you guys could listen to a talk by Ezra Taft Benson. It's called The Book of Mormon Keystone of Our Religion. Please read the scriptures TOGETHER every day. Make time.
It's Back to School time! How exciting!

Mom: You first, because I miss you the most!!!! 
Hi Mom! How are ya?
I hope that this school year can be ALL about YOU! You should get massages, pedicures, your hair done, and do it all for me! (Because every night I look like I jumped in a mud pit 4 times and got bit by 32 bugs). I love you mom. I want you to remember that Apple is good but you are better. Also, when I get home we are going to run a half marathon together (a marathon sounds miserable) so start training now. I want you to have fun too. Don't get stressed. If it doesn't matter in 2 minutes then who careeeesss! I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!!!!

Dad: I think that you should slow down sometimes. Go sit under the pergola, go on a mountain hike, go throw a ball with Zane in the back yard. Have fun. I love you dad. Also, make Weston read Preach my Gospel. You should read it with him. I think we should be a preach my gospel family. Help them learn to be member missionaries. Preach my Gospel could also help the missionary work in our ward too! READ IT! Anyways, I LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!

Weston. Weston. Weston: You are in trouble. Write me. Now!! Or at least send a picture. I want to give you some advice for your senior year. Take it or leave it. Ready? HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!! You probably weren't expecting that right? I wish I would have had more fun senior year, I don't think you will have any problems with that. BUT... also you should try hard in school so that we can go to BYU together (that was for mom).  Also Weston, go easy on the girls. You have a mission to serve! Read your scriptures EVERYDAY. Be an example to those around you. Be an example to the football team, to your school. Do not tolerate any bad language, don't talk about others, don't do stupid things. Set the example. Be like the Savior. Be kind to everyone and pray for opportunities everyday to find someone that you can help or lift or serve. Don't ever be afraid or awkward about doing something nice for someone! I love you Weston.

ZANER:!!!! I LOVE YOU BUDDY! I can't believe you turn 12 in like a month. Are you excited? 12 is an important number! You're going to be able to receive the Priesthood, pass the Sacrament, go the Temple, young men's, and you will probably grow like 5 feet. Zane, strive to be a Priesthood man. If you don't know what that means then ask dad. I am so proud of you! I am so happy that you are playing football! How cool is that? Football will help you be a better volleyball player. I hope you don't beat me when I get back! To answer your question, here the kids play futbol (soccer) but I think football and volleyball are cooler. Also, remember to keep your locker clean. I cant believe you're in MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!! Crazzyyy! Make sure you choose your friends wisely Zane.  Also, have fun!!! I love you!
I love my family! I am so happy that I get to be with you forever! 

Now, I'm going to go work my hardest to help the families here.
Remember...
Set a goal for the temple!
Listen to that talk!
Love each other!!!
Con MUCHO amor,
Hna. Minnick

Beautiful!  

Monday, August 19, 2013

A day in the life of Hermana Minnick


Hello my wonderful, beautiful, smart, fun, athletic family and friends! (If you need a confidence boost just write me)
How are you? I hope your answer is HAPPY!
This week I'm going to give you.... A day in the life of Hermana Minnick...just in case you're wondering what it is like to be a missionary in Retalhuleu.
Ready?
3:29 am  An army of mutated dogs have a barking fest for 20 minutes.
5:00 am  They turn on the music. I cry inside.
6:15 am  I book it to the bathroom...you get the point.
6:30 am  The alarm goes off. We pray.
6:35 am  Laundry. This is where I take my detergent, fill up my bucket, and dump my already soaking wet clothes into the bucket filled with brown water. Then, I dump like half of the bag of detergent into the bucket. Probably too much but I don't care, I want my clothes to smell like flowers at least for five minutes. Then I make my trek down our moldy stairs to the pila. A pila is a big cement thing with three compartments...one to scrub your clothes, one with water to rinse, and I don't know what the other one is for...I actually really enjoy laundry time because I get to listen to general conference talks. I AM SO GRATEFUL I BROUGHT AN IPOD! I LOVE YOU MOTAB!! Also, I think I've already listened to all 98 general conference talks...Anyways, I have buff arms from doing my laundry. You should see me mom, you would be proud. All of my whites are still white!! Then after I wash, I hang my clothes up to dry. They dry rock hard and I'm pretty sure its because I use so much detergent.

7:30 am  I workout. I can do a real push up. #word

8:00 am  Personal Study. One of my favorite hours of the day. If I had to choose between food and personal study, I choose personal study hands down no questions asked.

9:00 am  Companionship Study. I love my companion because she is a scripture genius and teaches me a lot. Also, this is the hour where we practice teaching and I really feel dumb but I'm getting better! HAHA (that is for you Uncle Troy).

10:00 am  Training. This is where we watch videos of the missionaries in the states and laugh our heads off. It is SO MUCH DIFFERENT here! We definitely don't have the support here like you guys do. Also, we do more practices. This week the book says, "The new missionary takes the lead in teaching the Plan of Salvation and extending appropriate commitments and invitations" If you need a teacher...I'm your man.
11:00-1:00 Work
Do you want to know what it is like to teach a lesson here in Canton Peru? Well I'll tell you... Okay, close your eyes and have someone read this to you. Imagine you are in Zane's room, but smaller, and the floors are dirt and the walls and the ceilings are tin. Now, bring in a burning stove, 15 humidifiers, a blow dryer and put a wet damp washcloth over your face. Yep. Now, you sit down on a plastic decaying dollar store stool. You look up to see a slender woman breast feeding her child. The other children are jumping on top of you or trying to ride their pet pig through the house. A moldy duck rubs up against your leg, a mosquito bites you three times. Then all of the sudden it starts to rain. Or wait, is that a waterfall hitting the roof? The next door neighbors rap is blasting, and the tuk tuks are zooming by. The evangelico church next door has a soloist singing "I am saved" through a karaoke machine. Two words...tone deaf. But, then you sing "Soy un Hijo de Dios" you pray with the woman, you teach her the restored gospel, you tell her she is important, that she has purpose, that through the Savior she can be clean. Through all of the noise and outside commotion, the spirit still manages to touch her heart, to remind you that the work that you are doing is important, is life saving. That is why I love being a missionary. There is nothing better. I wouldnt have it any other way.
1:00 pm  Lunch. So here, lunch is a BIG deal! Like people go to school in the morning and at night so that they can be home for lunch. Also, I hate the excuse, "Oh I can't come to church, I have to cook lunch!" Don't you people know that your soul is more important than your lunch??? I just don't understand...Yesterday I had fun at lunch, I found a chicken organ in my soup. Also I think I'm going to be the Grinch who Stole Christmas but instead I'm going to Steal all the OIL in Guatemala!  I can feel my arteries clogging. Oil is MALO!  Shanoah Ulibarri you are in big trouble...I'm addicted to Chicky...
2:00 pm  Language Study. One day I'll be fluent.
3:00-8:00 pm  Work 
I love working. When I'm working I'm the happiest. I love teaching the people here about why I'm happy. I love sharing this message with everyone! It is something that everyone needs to hear. EVERYONE! Whether they accept it or not, there is a God above who loves them personally, who knows them, who rejoices when they choose to do good and weeps when they choose to do evil. His arms are always open. I love declaring that Jesus is the Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. That this is His gospel, restored through a boy that had a question. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and I know that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. I love sharing this truth. Always remember the purpose of this life. Have an eternal perspective. Be happy, press forward with faith, laugh, love and smile.
Moving on...
8:00-10:30 pm  Plan, eat Honey Nut "ant" Cherrios and gecco poo eggs, shower out of my buckets and hit the hay.
A day in the life...

Now I have homework for you guys...
There is a talk by Jospeh B. Wirthlin called "Come What May and Love It." Go listen! 

Now for shout outs!!!
Marta, Welsey, and Raquel!!!!! THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH! It was like Christmas when I got the pillows, food and crocs! You guys are seriously awesome!!! My neck can now rest in peace at night! I hope you had fun in GUAT!
Also, I got letters from Tay Campbell, Shanoah, Sara, Grandma Linda, and Zane!! Thank you guys! I am sending out letters for each of you today!!!! 
Grandpa Chuck...Happy Birthday!
Mom and Dad..Happy Anniversary!
Tanner Minnick...write me.
I love all of you!! Have a happy week! Don't forget who you are. 
Con mucho amor,
Hna. Minnick

My AMAZING Companion Hermana Petersen - very HOT day!

Hermana Petersen trekking through the jungle!

Hermana Merrill, Love HER!!!





Monday, August 12, 2013

The mEjor buckets en el mundo

Well Hello!

Another week of my mission is gone!! Wow! 

On Saturday I had my first baptism! Her name is Floridalma!  Dad...you were right, there truly is nothing better than bringing a soul to Christ!  I hope that I will see MANY more baptisms!  I love the people here...even when they laugh at my Spanish!  My Spanish is coming SLOWLY.  Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever learn this language!! I did not think it would be this hard!  But hey, it's definitely worth it!!!! 

Guatemala is crazy. I say that everyday. There isn't a day that passes where my jaw doesnt drop. There are really no laws here... it's a crazy adventure.  I am loving every second of it!

Culture...
Here, the kids start working at age 5. The grandparents usually take care of the kids because the parents are working.  Around 14 years old they start having families...we teach the Law of Chastity -- A LOT.  Also, if they don't go to work one day, they don't have the money to feed their family for that day.  I live in a really poor area. It breaks my heart to see the starving children. Their living conditions are horrible. I have really only seen dirt floors. They have hard, hard lives. I am so grateful for all that I have. I wish I could give it all away. But, I do have something to give. The gospel. I thinks that's the best gift I can give. It is a miracle to see how the gospel changes lives here. I love the people. I can't wait until I can speak spanish to help them even more.
We cross this river almost everyday!
My two best friends...
So I have good news and bad news. Good news first..we finally have light in our bathroom. Bad news..we finally have light in our bathroom. Now, I can see the water I am pouring all over myself with dead spiders and who else knows what. Usually the water is black but I don't have any weird diseases yet. I have decided that if I were stranded on an island and could only take three things I would take...  My two buckets and a Book of Mormon.

 
My two best friends, yes I shower with that black water!

I have two buckets that I literally do everything with. Shower. Wash my dishes. Wash my clothes. I sit on them. I flush the toilet with them. I love my buckets. I would be lost without them. I think everyone should have a bucket. 

Food...
I'm used to it now. There have been some weird meats but I have a good relationship with the dogs around lunch time!  Also, in mi casa there are ants EVERYWHERE...in my cheerios, activia yogurt, apples -- the ants are in every nook and cranny I swear. I just eat them. If I didn't I would starve. I'm just like, "Hey look, some protein." 

Anyways, I love all of you. Remember to be thankful for everything that you have...clean drinking water, a flushing toilet, air conditioning, a tootbrush without ants... Life is GOOD! Life is HAPPY! Remember who you are and why you are here! Don't waste time, go out and help somebody! Someone eat Cafe Rio for me too!

LIVE THE GOSPEL!  I WANT TO SEE ACTION!

Hola from Guatemala!

Shout outs..
Grandma Linda! I got your letter on August 6th!!! Thank you! I LOVE you!!
Stacey! I got your postcard!! LOVE AND MISS YOU!
Mom...I got the letter that you sent from Dad! 
Also, I got all of your dear elders too!!!!
THANKS!  KEEP WRITING!




Floridalma Baptism!
Con amor,
Hermana Minni (spanish accent)




Green, Green & Green!!

Where I wash my clothes each morning - Pila!

All the Hermana's in our Zone!

My kitchen!

Mi Casa!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Guatemala Stole Utah's Rain

Hola!
First, I need to apologize! I should probably talk about my companion who I am with 24/7 and how I'm going to be the next mission nurse and how I am one of the only North Americans who hasn't gotten sick and how I have my first baptism!!... I'm really sorry MOM! I left a lot of information out of my last email but my brain was going one hundred miles per hour!!!

1. My Companion
Hermana Peterson from Tremonton, Utah! She is the mission nurse! She is also a regular missionary too! Literally she gets a billion calls a day about the sicknesses... I'm learning a lot about the fun diseases here! She is awesome! She has 14 months on her mission, she goes home in November! She is so patient with me! I am her very first Norte companion! She is blond and we are both gringas so we get a lot of attention on the streets...haha! I love her! I will be with her for my 3 month training!

Mi Casa - note the purple towel... its from REI and it is supposed to dry super fast! 

 2. Mission Nurse
Apparently I am the next mission nurse. I don't know squat. I only know surgical instruments and where you use them in the body and I like blood and guts. I don't know symptoms and stuff like that!  BUT, I'm going to learn! There are 233 missionaries in this mission. Pray for me please! The weird sicknesses people get here are crazy.  Also, out of all the Nortes, I am the only one who hasn't gotten sick or had any health problems! I AM THE LAST ONE STANDING!

Whit may be the "last one standing" but this is what she is standing on!  I COULD BARELY POST this pic.  She looks like she is 9 mos pregnant... or 9 mos old!  JJ said the feet look like Capris (his 9 month old).  It is so hot there (record heat wave for REU) and then the constant walking, etc.   Whit's caption on this photo was "Cute huh?" 

3. Food 
I can eat the food here like a boss now. I literally pump myself up for lunch time. I pretend its like a drill in volleyball. I go in, then I pray before that what I eat doesn't kill me, and then I pound the food as fast as I can without looking. I'm alive and I'm not starving this week!!! There is a store here, WITH PEANUT BUTTER! I also bought bread, apples, Activa, and munchies. I'm content! They actually have really good bread here, so I think I'm gaining weight...whoops. I don't even care.

4. THE RAIN
holy cow! The streets turn into rivers. One time I was walking through the river street and I felt something heavy attached to my leg. I looked down and there was a giant dead bird caught on my dress. I was like, "Oh Hi dead bird..GET AWAY FROM MEEEE!" I was screaming because I couldn't shake it off. My companion was dying. I have experiences like that everyday I swear.

Singing in the rain and the street!  Whit requested more pairs of "cute" crocs.  She's over the fashion statement and she is only on week two!!

5. The People
I love them. I'm not going to lie, this has been the hardest thing I have ever done. But, the people here make it all worth it. They are so kind, warm and willing to listen!
I HAVE MY VERY FIRST BAPTISM ON SATURDAY!!! Her name is Floridalma! She is 17! I am so happy for her! I'm the most happy when I'm teaching the people. Last night I taught the restoration 3 times as the sun was setting over the jungle. I listened to the buzz of the bugs (I have like 50 mosquito bites on my legs) and watched the fireflies.

Whit's scriptures and her dad's mission tag!  love it

I love looking at the people I am teaching right in the eyes and bearing my testimony that I know that Joseph is a Prophet of God. That we have a living Prophet today, that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth again. It's my favorite thing to do. Bear testimony with conviction. For me, reading out of the scriptures everyday is just as important as food and water. It's a necessity! In this changing world of despair, sadness, and hurt, the gospel is constant. We have reason to be happy! We have purpose to move forward!

Thank you for praying for me, I really do feel your prayers! 
Keep your head held high and remember who you are!
Read your scriptures and eat your vegetables!
Stay classy!
Love, hna. Minnick