Monday, October 28, 2013

Journal Excerpts (sp??)

Hola! 

I'm going to switch this writing thing up a little bit because I don't remember what I have written and y'all are probably getting super bored of me...

Ready?

Experiences I had in the kitchen this week:

1. I cut my very first pineapple. It was a disaster. It was the best pineapple I've ever had.

2. I boiled 2 dozen eggs (unsuccessfully) before I held a solid egg in my hand...I'm going to be such a great wife.

SUCCESSSSSSS!

3. I found out that I am allergic to kiwi...

4. For the first time since I have lived in my Casa, water came out of the spout of our kitchen sink...
I REPEAT: H2O came FLOWING out of THE SPOUT!!! I washed each dish 3 times.

5. My mission is teaching me how to cook eggs, cut pineapple, treat allergies, and wash dishes until you can see your upside down reflection.


Excerpts from my journal this week:

22 Octubre 2013
"Today lighting struck the cable above us as we were walking in the calle and now I understand the meaning of "I've seen the light". 


23 Octubre 2013
"Today it rained sideways, I fell, my rain boots filled to the brim with water, every single cita fell through and our member didn't show up. SO, we contacted for three hours without success. Then we had a duh light bulb moment...we stopped and we prayed on a dark street corner in the pouring rain. Within 4 minutes we were sitting with a beautiful family. This is a work of humility, love, patience, diligence, and faith. It will be a life-long pursuit, but I will develop these attributes of Christ. I love this work. Its worth it."


24 Octubre 2013
"I am thankful for:
The Book of Mormon
Goldfish
My companion, Hermana Ostler y Hermana Arevalo
Umbrellas
My mission
My family
Rain
Templos
Buckets"


26 Octubre 2013
"It is beautiful to be a missionary."

27 Octubre 2013
"I HEATED UP MY BROWN WATER TO SHOWER ON THE STOVE AND I THINK I KNOW WHAT PARADISE IS! Also, I love singing hymns with the Guatemalans."

I am still trying to decide if I prefer the brown water or black water?
I am leaning towards the brown because it leaves me with a slight tan!


What I studied in the Book of Mormon this week:
1. Read Mosiah 2 if you want a happier and more united family.
2. Read 3 Nephi 11...it's one of my favorites.
3. 2 Nephi 33..this is for all of you missionaries out there! 
4. Read Ether 12, it will strengthen your faith!


What I listened to:
"Beware of Pride" by President Ezra Taft Benson April 1989 GC
LISTEN TO THIS!!
I've listened to this talk almost every other week of my mission and I will continue to listen to it until the pride is sucked right out of me!


I love you guys! I definitely feel your prayers and support! I want you to know that I love and pray for you too!  Please please please don't forget that you are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father!  You are important!  I have a quote on my desk that says, "Every day look up to the heavens in faith and say, Oh what a BEAUTIFUL morning!"  Every day counts!  This life is short!  Spend your time on things that matter!  Go to the temple often, read the scriptures, and pray. 

Do you want to be happy? Keep the commandments!

Con Amor,
Hermana Minnick

P.S. 
I still feel like I'm celebrating the fourth of July.  Winter is coming to an end here!  
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



I serve my companion by carrying her across street rivers!

Blurry!  But this is Guatemala in a nutshell!

Holding a baby Cordero!
  
Las Hermanas de Mazate!

Aunt Kim sent this package to Whit today for Thanksgiving Dinner!  Saaaaweeeeet!  Thanks Kim!!  She will love it.
Turkey Spam!  NUM NUM! 

My favorite:  David and a Lamb
Whit to mom:  "Don't worry about me!"
Trish Allen this is for you!!!  :)

Monday, October 21, 2013

"Insert Creative Title Here..."

Hi pues. Como estan? I hope this letter written with love finds you in a happy state.  If not. I would encourage you to go find a trampoline, jump on it for a while, eat an ice cream cone (I prefer vanilla with caramel) and then read the Book of Mormon.  Or you can just eat a spoon full of sugar like Mary Poppins says.  But, the jumping on the trampoline route is much healthier minus the ice cream part.  I promise I'm mostly normal.  Moving on then...

First...I've been meaning to write this for like a month and a half, but please excuse my horrible grammar, sentence structure, spelling etc. etc.  I'm in the weird phase where I can't speak English or Spanish very well.  Soon, I wont be able to speak English at all!  So forgive me!!!   Gracias.

I'm doing wonderful here in Guate just in case you were wondering!  I don't know if I've mentioned how much I love being a missionary?  Well, if you were doubting it, I will now undoubt your mind,  

"I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!" 

It is the best you guys. It is a privilege to be here!!!

I thought I would make a list of all of the names I have been called walking through the streets...I won't list all of them because that would be bad...

1.   Elderes..haha
2.   Cancha
3.   Gringita
4.   Hija mia
5.   Barbie
6.   Babe
7.   Hermanita
8.   Alta
9.   Gorda...I don't like that one.
10. Muñeca
11. Preciosa
12. Angel..my favorite
13. Also they make this hideous snake noise sound to get your attention...everyone does it.  I am still getting used to it.

I've been called a lot of names here, the one that I love the most is angel.  I don't get called that often, but when I do it makes it all worth it!  I know who I am and I know who I represent! 

This last week was awesome!  On Saturday Hna. Chana and Lucia were baptized.  I believe that Satan works hard everyday, but on baptism days he works REALLY hard!!!  It rained harder than I have ever seen in my life. There weren't rain drops... there were thick streams of water falling from the heavens!  Chana and Lucia live deep in the jungle. The hike to their house is hard to conquer even in the day time. I've rolled my ankle twice...haha.  The baptism was at 7pm... in Guatemala everyday at 6 the sun sets... SO, it was pitch black, POURING and we had to go and pick them up. Here are some words to describe what we went through because I don't have time to write the story: 

drunk man, river, rocks, rain, sprinting, falling, pitch black, baptism. 

It was an experience I will never forget. I walked into the church doors sopping wet from head to toe covered in mud but it doesn't matter because Chana and Lucia were baptized and it was beautiful!!  One thing I have learned here, if we are obedient, if we strive to be like our Savior and stand on the Lord's side of the line we will ALWAYS win. The Lord's team always wins. 

Yesterday I finished reading the Book of Mormon again. After, I had the sweet opportunity to go up on my roof and pray vocally. I can say with full conviction of heart that I know that The Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. It testifies of Jesus Christ and His plan, His atonement, and what we need to do on this earth to qualify for celestial glory. Read this book everyday of your life and I promise you, you will be protected. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet!  Families can be together forever!  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE!!  I know these things through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I cannot deny it. This is why I am happy, this is what drives me. We are children of our Heavenly Father!!  I love this gospel! 

Keep working hard! Smile! Have fun! Be an example! Read your scriptures! Use the atonement!

Love you!!!
Hermana Minnick

Shoutouts..

MOM! You rock! Thanks for the packages!!!
I received letters from Sara, Suzanne, Grandma Linda, and Zane!
All of you dear elder writers!! THANKS!!
Keep writing! I'll write back!!!!!

Happy late birthday Grandma Linda! I love you!! 
From Tami: Jake Nilson in our ward made these cute Halloween Pillowcases and Toni Nilson made the banner!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN WHIT and roomies!

I have fallen asleep on my knees more than once.


Zone Mazatenango Lincoln

RAINNNNNN!

Hna. Chana and her ninos!



My desk!


Baptism of Hna. Chana y Lucia Walip!  They are incredible!!!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Buenas Tardes Americanos!


Buenas Tardes Americanos,

All is well here in Guatemala. October here is the RAINIEST month.  I find it ironic that in my house we haven't had water for three weeks, yet I swear the heavens dump an ocean and a half on us everyday!

Umbrellas Schumbrellas. Literally I look like a wet dog everyday, but it's cool.  The rain makes it possible for the gnarly fruits to grow so I'm cool with looking like a wet dog.

This past week has been great!  We are starting to see the fruits of our labor.  I don't like to write about my investigators because the experiences I have with them are sacred and special to my heart.  They are doing well though, please pray for them too!!  This week we worked a lot with Menos Activos.  There are SO MANY.  It truly breaks my heart.  But, I have hope that they will come back.  We visited many of them this past week.  Some of them were baptized and never came to church again.  We taught Dia de Reposo a lot this week. 

Yesterday in church we had 13 menos activos and 15 recent conversos!   It was the BEST! There truly is no greater joy!   This work is hard, but every ounce of effort is 1000 percent worth it. 

I can't imagine my life without a mission.  I think I have learned more in the past four months than I have in my entire life!  All of you future missionaries...BE EXCITED!!  Prepare now!! Go out and work with the missionaries!!  Behind a successful missionary, there are ALWAYS members!  Be the member that is always willing to help the missionaries. You'll receive countless blessing and a good looking spouse... jk jk.  No but really, missionaries come and go but the members are there to stay. Please help strengthen everyone around you!  Lift where you stand!!! 

I love all of you! Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and go on a nice long run. 

Love,
Hermana Minnick





The National Tree in Guatemala....Ceibon




The Grandma Mary wall in my Area!


Obispo Gonsales


 Guatemala Latter-day Saints ride in style!


Guatemalan Latter-day Saints!





Monday, October 7, 2013

Greetings from Guate...

I just don't understand how another week has passed!!  But here I am!!!

Every week is crazy here in Guatemala but this week was extra crazy.

I started my week out with food poisoning. No, it wasn't from eating on the street or with a member... You'll never guess... it was SUBWAY. The only place where I can have a piece of spinach to put in my mouth and now I will never enter Subway ever ever again!!!  I hadn't thrown up for 10 years.... thanks Subway.

Also, this week we all had interviews with President Ruiz. He is incredible. I am learning so much from my leaders. He gave us a lot of good counsel and after he gave us this delicious banana bread (which I didn't eat) because in my interview he said and I quote (he said in Spanish):   

"Hermana Minnick, are you exercising? You are looking a little more llena (full)." 

I'm fat guys. My worst nightmare of being a fat missionary is not a nightmare anymore, its real life. So, I did not eat that banana bread. The dulce pan, tortillas, and chip days are over for me. 

General Conference:

Wow!!!  I loved every second I was able to hear! Saturday rocked because all of the nortes got to go in a room and watch in English. However, Sunday was a different story. So many people came that our English TV was converted into Spanish and the 10 nortes were smashed into the secretaries office to the buffering computer. So, on Sunday I didn't really get to watch conference. 

This picture describes General Conference in Guatemala. It took me 20 minutes to get this kid out. Im not kidding! Pobrecito.
(Note from Tami: I say he looks pretty comfy and she should have left him there!)


Just right in time for the afternoon session to start a huge rain storm came and all of the signal for Retalhuleu went out. We missed about 3 talks, I think.  During this time President Ruiz stood up and gave us a beautiful message. Also my companion leaned over to me and said something that really made me think:

"Hermana Minnick, you should be really grateful to listen to the literal voice of the prophet. I can't wait to learn English so that I can hear his voice and understand what he asks of us." 

How grateful am I to be able to hear the prophet's voice!  Later the signal came back on and we got to hear Elder Nelson and President Monson.  At first I was discouraged that I had to watch in Spanish but I got over it fast and realized that I could understand almost every word. It was so weird! I loved listening to our prophet speak in the language of my investigator sitting right next to me. I looked over and her eyes were so big, I knew that she was feeling the spirit!  I know that President Monson is a prophet called of God. Read the talks of the prophets and apostles over and over again! Put their words into practice!! 

I love love love you guys!  Thanks for all of the letters, emails, and prayers!  Stay happy, work hard and read The Book of Mormon!

Con Mucho Amor,
Hermana Minnick

Mi Volcan



7 months for Hna. Betancourth!

This is abuelita Flora. I will never forget her baptism. (She has a fear of water)
 

Today my Zone had lunch with Presidente y Hermana Ruiz!