.: A week of firsts...

Well, this week was insane.

Let's start with Saturday...The office decided to cook 250 cookies to give away to our members to gain confianza. We had no pans, bowls, measuring cups and a ghetto oven. All of the Elders looked at me like, "Your a girl, how are we going to do this?" Then I just laughed because the only thing I can make is gourmet toast. Basically set up to fail right? But, we totally made the best oatmeal cookies with white chocolate chips. The members will love us now. Cookies are the secret missionaries! Make the members cookies!!! After that we had Estuardo's baptismal interview! He is all ready to go!! His baptism is tomorrow! I am so excited for him!

We made A LOT of cookies!

Sunday...The phone rang at 5:00 am and I woke up to my companion yelling at me, "Vos Minnick!! We have to go to the hospital right now!!" Five minutes later we were in a hospital with a sick missionary (the missionary is perfectly fine now). I was worried because I had to speak in sacrament meeting that day, but luckily we made it right in time and everything went great.

Monday...On this day I ate the BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER EATEN IN GUATEMALA. President took us to this way nice hotel and I had A CHICKEN BREAST with steamed VEGETABLES. Guys, I think I shed tears. Sometimes its a little stressful to be the nurse, but grilled chicken make it worth it.

Tuesday...I drove a car in Guatemala. Have you ever driven in Guatemala? Well, it is literally INSANE. I always say that Guatemala is a country without laws...I think they have them, but I sure don't know what they are and neither does anybody else. I drove to Malacatan which is a six hour round trip. I clenched my jaw for the first ten minutes but after that my driving skills kicked back in. Tip: if you are going to drive in Guatemala you have got to be BOLD (Brother Zack Bradley -- thank you for passing on this tip)!!!

Also, I think I hate speed bumps more than chocolate. There are literally a million of them. Its like running over an obese anaconda. I passed through Coatepeque, Pajapita, Tecun Uman and Malacatan. I thought it was hot in Reu until I experienced the heat there! Weston, I was right on the border of Mexico.. for lunch we ate tacos Mexicanos and I am so jealous that you will be eating like that for the next two years! SO GOOD!! P.S. Start eating spicy things...

Wednesday...It is the season of interviews! So this month we will be traveling the mission with President and Hermana Ruiz and the assistants. On Wednesday we went to San Pedro...THE MOUNTAINS! It is so beautifully freezing up there! All of the people have big chubby red cheeks and everyone is modest! I was freezing the entire time but I loved every second of it! While President did the interviews, Hermana Garcia checked the health of every missionary. Hermana Ruiz, the assistants and I left to check on all of the houses of the missionaries. I basically sat in a car this entire week but its okay because my jaw was dropped the entire time looking out the window. We went to Rio Blanco, it is in the middle of no where on this gorgeous mountain. To get there you have to drive an hour and a half on this horrible dirt road with death curves, but the view is seriously incredible! The whole time I was thinking about how the gospel really is being preached to every corner of the earth! The houses, they were realllllyyyy dirty. Now we know why the missionaries get sick!

It was fun to get to know Hermana Ruiz, she was my companion for like two days. She is the sweetest person I have ever met! Anyway, that night we stayed in a hotel. The first thing I did when I walked through the door was run to the shower. Steaming hot water came out! Pretty sure I heard a choir of angels singing hallelujah. My first hot water shower in a year!!!!! It was the first time in a year I didn't scream when the water hit my head...

Thursday...Checked houses, sat in a car, was freezing, and loved every second of it. That night we drove back to Reu and it is nice to be back in my 95 degree weather. My lips got way chapped up there and my fingers were purple! I could see my breath! It was 60 degrees, but to me it felt like 30 degrees...

Friday...Today I woke up and put on my missionary plaque. I love doing that. I am grateful for every day that I have to be a missionary set apart to represent Jesus Christ! This week I had a lot of meditating time driving in a car and I couldn't stop thinking about how extremely blessed I am. Seriously, we are truly blessed to have the gospel in our lives! At the end of the day, the material things of the world just don't have any significance! Family, spend more time with each other! Sit around the dinner table and eat more grilled chicken for me! I love and pray for you guys!

Con amor,

Hermana Minnick