Para mis cuates...

This week was so long. I wish I could just record myself telling you about it because I am not in the mood to type, but after Weston's 2 sentence "letter" (I will get back to that) I feel obligated to write a good long letter for mom. 

Actually, I will just start with you Elder Weston...I know that you probably have like 24 girls writing you and telling you how great you are but let me give you a reality check. Give it a year, no more like 6 months...half of them will be engaged, and the other half will be leaving on a mission. Now, Weston, if you use your precious email time to write someone else's wife one more time, Mom is going to be really mad. Y yo tambien. So, WRITE US A GOOD LETTER, full of detail! Gracias.

This week I feel like I was in the Quetzaltenango mission more than I was in mine... We were in Xela almost every single day with sick missionaries, or up in the mountains (I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS -- I want to go there so bad). I was in a car so much that at night when I tried to go to bed, I felt like I was still moving. I have never experienced nausea until this week. Its the worst, I sympathize with all of you pregnant ladies out there... 

Teaching my companion to drive has been very interesting and very scary. Haha. She struggles going down hill, is afraid of speed, and the steering wheel is not her friend when the road curves. So, my jaw has been a little bit sore from clenching. I've learned to just close my eyes and pray. But, hey I'm still alive so its all good! She has improved a ton so don't worry! 

Also, I got to go to Walmart in Xela. I almost kissed the floor but I thought that would be taking it too far. But, you get the point. I bought goldfish y pretzels to last me a while, and just to be buena onda, I bought Dr. Pepper and Rootbeer for my friends. 

Now on to the good stuff...

Do you guys remember Byron from San Francisco? Well, he is getting baptized TODAY! President gave Hermana Ostler and I special permission to go! I am beyond excited! I can't wait to tell you all of these stories. I don't have time to write them all!

Also Paulino, an investigator I had in Samala will be baptised today!! I can't describe in words how happy I am! 

Missions are the best. I know that that Jesus Christ lives and that he LOVES us. I know that the power of prayer is real. The Book of Mormon is true! Read it!

Love,

Hermana Minnick

Hermana Minnick at a leader's conference.  Because she is one of the nurses... she attends most of these.    BONUS! Besides President and Sister Ruiz, also in pic is Hermana Merrill who came out with Whit.   She is a Sister Training Leader.  She was missing her comp and grabbed Whit!!  

When Whitney plays volleyball...

she doesn't let the ball drop!

A brown river running through the middle of the mercado...

Rain is a good thang!

Never say never...snow in Guatemala!

  

Guatemala is beautiful!

This is Leah and I in Tejutla. It is up in the far away mountains...I was cold.  

She always yells at me, "VEN CA!"...Ca is short for carino. It means "come here sweetheart" haha!

This is where I want my next area to be! (Tejutla)

One of the guys...

So, right now my mind is pulling a Dory. I can´t remember anything that happened this week. I just asked my companion if she could remember anything and she can´t either. So, you're out of luck. This letter isn't going to change your lives. 

It was just your average week in the office. Sick missionary calls.... we go to a pharmacy...drop off the medicine... I fill out insurance stuff. Exciting right? 

In the office I´m starting to feel like "one of the guys". Sometimes I forget that the Elders are 18 and 19 year old boys until they announce to the entire office that they need to go and "take a dump". I won´t go any further than that but if you have a brother, you know what I am going through. At first they were careful with what they said around me, and now? Not so much. 

Buenas noticias! We are working with Paulino to push his baptismal date to the 19th. On Wednesday he told us that he feels ready! I love it when investigators tell me that. Music to my ears!!! Right now we are working hard to find new investigators, by working with menos activos and recien conversos.

I love Guatemala and I am so grateful to be here! Being a missionary is the best! I promise you all a better letter next week!

The church is true! Read your scriptures!

Love,

Hermana Minnick

Shout out to Elder Minnick!!! Represent!! Te quiero hermano mio!

This is my favorite member of the ward. His name is Christopher.
A chubby pirate eating corn on the cob...that's the life!

Missionaries of Pedregral with Hno Cesar the ward mission leader!

Feliz Dia de Independencia!!!

Only in Guatemala can you run a red light with the mission president's wife in the back seat of the car. Don't picture an intersection in the United States... those don't exist here. In fact I think it is the only light in Retalhuleu and you can hardly even see it. Hermana Ruiz thinks I'm a great driver so it's okay. I honestly don't think the people know what a red, yellow or green light means... Here, all colors mean put your petal to the metal and swerve if there is an obstacle in your way.

Some news:

1. I finally had my interview with President. This time it was longer than 2 minutes. He always talks about how Mom likes all of the videos he posts on facebook and he always asks about "Elder Minnick". I have an awesome mission president!   During the interview he asked how I felt with the year I have had on my mission. I want you to know that I have given my very best effort with my time. I feel confident that the Lord is pleased with my work. In my last five months I want to give even more. President also asked me how I wanted to finish my mission. He asked, "La oficina o el campo?" El Campo came out of my mouth a little bit too fast and President laughed. I have loved my time in the office working as the nurse, however there truly is nothing better than working in the field preaching the gospel to my guatemalan hermanos. There are a lot of missionaries who would love to be in my position so I am not worried about that. In August I will be leaving the office.

2. President asked me to teach Hermana Garcia how to drive. That has been....interesting!   I always have my seat belt tightly secured.

Our investigators:

Paulino: Accepted his date to be baptized for the 26th of July! Pray for Paulino!! 

Maria Jose: Last night we watched The Restoration with her. She has always had doubts about Joseph Smith. After watching the video she was able to understand clearly what happened. The spirit was tangible! We committed her to read the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for the power of The Book of Mormon, it is key to conversion!

Gracie y Vilma: One day we were searching for people to teach and we saw a woman attempting to make a gate out of barbed wire and rusty metal. After a little bit of conversation we started to help her build her sketchy rusty barbed wire gate. I have scratches to prove it. It was actually really fun. The next day we went back and taught them a lesson. They are really positive and I hope that we can help them progress!

The Fourth of July:

It's probably my favorite holiday. To my companions dismay I sang (gut belted) the national anthem about 6 times. It was our P-day, we went mini golfing in this incredible resort called Irta. I felt like I was in America. I truly am so grateful for my country! 

I spent my 4th of July mini golfing... I kicked all of the Elder's butts!
I found my new talent.

I know that this is the true church. Jesus Christ is the head. I know that The Book of Mormon is true and that Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet. God lives, we are his children. I know that if we trust in his plan and repent daily we will be truly happy in this life and in the eternities!

Con Amor,

Hermana Minnick

This is Presidents granddaughter, Leah!  Isn't she beautfiul!

Note from Tami:  Love this video!!  A day in the life of our Guatemalan Missionaries!!  There is a quick glimpse of Hermana Whitney Minnick with her comp Barbara Garcia!