That one gringa with purple hair...

You guys, my hair is purple!!! I have learned many life lessons on my mission. I will share one with you now because it is urgent! Never ever ever dye your hair out of a box from the store! No matter how desperate you may be. Everyone is like, "Oh Hermana Minnick...your hair..." and I’m just like, "Yeah, the sun's UV rays dyed it purple. Aren’t you jealous?"  Let's just hope that my head and shoulders shampoo doesn’t turn it green or something. So yeah, starting a new sister missionary fad! PURPLE is the new black.

There’s so much to say today. 

Starting with last Monday...After I wrote you wonderful people, my zone hopped on a bus and went to Reu to have a Noche de Hogar with President Ruiz for winning a challenge of how many investigators we brought to church. It was fun! We ate real food and watched Avengers. But back to the part about how we rode a bus there...and not just any bus!! It was one of those huge Puma buses with AC and comfy seats...for the first time in a while I didn’t have to share my seat with a random Guatemalan. I like those buses... But that’s beside the point. My whole zone was sitting in the back of the bus minding our own business (staring out the window, snoring, or reading the scriptures) when an evangelical pastor stood up and started preaching his beliefs.  I started to think, here we are, 10 missionaries set apart to preach the gospel with power and authority and well I looked over at my DL Elder Amundsen and I knew he felt the same as me.  I told him to get up and preach. We waited until the pastor finished to be respectful. Then, Elder Amundsen stood up, walked to the front of the bus, and started sharing his testimony. I got up and followed him. Our zone looked at us like we were crazy. After he shared his testimony, I shared the story in John about Nicodemo and Jesus. I shared the scripture John 3:5 and challenged about 40 people to be baptized. It was fun. If I am going to reach my goal of 1000, I need to become bus preacher Minnick.

Tuesday was a blur. Saying goodbye with Hermana Lopez was sad. I miss her!!  She is such an incredible person!

Wednesday. You guys, I was so nervous for this day!! You have no idea!! But, now the nerves are all gone and it is just time to WORK WORK WORK!!  My trainee is Hermana Jimenez!!!  She is from Costa Rica!! The first time I saw her I thought she was a gringa because she is whiter than me!!!  Needless to say, we have gotten a lot of attention in Pajapita.  She is AWESOME!  She is so polite and picking up everything so fast!  President had all of the trainers stand up in the meeting, he challenged us to find 16 new investigators before Sunday with our new greenies.  I don’t know what special power my hija has, but in 4 days we found 23 new investigators with four families!!  Also, I am the new sister training leader in Pajapita...we will see how that goes...

Thursday we saw a huge miracle! I guess all of you must have prayed for Maria Jose? Well, THANK YOU!! On Thursday morning I got down on my knees and prayed for a good thirty minutes for Majo.  I feel like she is my little sister.  I have never had an investigator with a stronger desire to be baptized and it started to make me sick how long this process was taking. Thursday night we went to her house and her Dad was home...RESTING! (That never happens).  Maria Jose basically jumped on top of me so excited because we were going to get permission TONIGHT!  I called Jorge, her cousin, and he came and helped us. After about an hour and a half, the registro was SIGNED!!  Best day ever!!

Friday... the baptism was beautiful! Her Mom AND Dad came. I looked over at her dad's face when Maria Jose descended into the font and he had tears in his eyes. I know that his heart is softening! We are going to see miracles with this family! It was the best baptismal service I’ve been to in my mission! 

The rest of the days were a blur. Hermana Jimenez and I worked SO HARD. I think I finally understand what it feels like to entirely lose myself in the work. My poor hija has shin splints from walking so much! We are happy and working hard!! This Friday we have a wedding and baptism of a partial family! Please pray for Maylin and Luis! I know that Satan is going to work hard this week. I also know that we are going to work harder!!

I love you all dearly. Keep your hands on the rod! Hold on tight and don’t let go!

Hermana Minnick

P.S. Weston, YOU HAVE A COSTCO IN YOUR MISSION!!!!!!! I don’t want to hear any complaints from you!! THANK YOU for the advice. I will make sure that my hija is trained to the best of my abilities! Keep baptizing!!!!!!!!!

SHOUT OUT:

ZANER! Happy Birthdayyy!!!!!! I can’t believe you are 13!! When I left you were 11!!!! You are so grown up!! I can’t wait to play volleyball with you!! Have the best day ever!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!! 

Tam Note:  Whit didn't send any pics.  She said she was on a ghetto computer.. wouldn't work.  I am hoping it doesn't have anything to do with the purple hair...but I stole a pic from my dear friend Sue Outsen.  Her daughter serves with Whit.  Love Hermana Outsen!!!!  

Hermana Maren Outsen!