Semana 52.

So this week was crazy. Can someone please give me some more synonyms for crazy? You are probably getting bored of hearing me say that. We finished interviews with President and I probably spent more time in a car than I ever have in my life. I never got bored though because it is like riding on a roller coaster. Guatemala is one big speed bump with pot holes. I need a massage. Also, Guatemala is gorgeous and the car window has a permanent mark from my forehead...too bad they don't have Windex here. I miss Windex. I had to inspect all the missionaries homes with Hermana Ruiz.  Anyway, I could tell you about all of the dirty, clean, pretty, smelly houses I saw but that would bore you and probably scare you. We finally finished ALL of the interviews. It was fun and tiring and I am ready to be on a semi-normal schedule now! 

We did manage to have a couple of lessons in our area this week. One was with Hno Polo. He is the coolest little Guatemalan guy. Estuardo is his grandson- Hno Polo brought him to church.  BTW... Estuardo blessed the sacrament on Sunday. I was just sitting on my little bench beaming the whole time. Back to Hno. Polo and how he is the best. First, he is the best because he brought Estuardo to church and then he got baptised and now he is blessing the sacrament. Second, he is so Christlike. He has literally nothing. But in our lesson he said, "The Lord has blessed me with more than I deserve. I am thankful for everything I have." I just looked around and thought, "What does he have? " This lesson hit me hard. I respect Hno Polo so much and I know that the Lord has a mansion waiting for him in heaven. When we found him he was studying his Liahona and scriptures. He has what is truly important. 

This is Hermano Polo.
He is the most humble person I have ever met.

This is where Hermano Polo studies.
I want to build him a house.

So, I am just loving and taking in every second I have here in Guatemala. Missions are the best. You should go on one.

Also, Dad, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! I love you! You are the best dad. Hands down. Practice your Spanish. Are we on the same page?

Love,

Hermana Minnick 

Shoutout to Westy! I am so proud of you! 

Across that river is Mexico.  They are waiting for you Weston! 

This is my two year old boyfriend! His name is Emilio.
Every time I walk past his house he yells, "MINNIIIIII VENGA!"

Pick up your trash!

Hey Fam!

I'm writing today because this week we have interviews every single day!  Change of P-DAY!

My heart is a little bit heavy this week. On Wednesday I will have completed a year on my mission. That means that I only have 6 precious months left! I had a freak out attack yesterday! I LOVE my mission! There is no place I would rather be. I pray that when I come home, I can continue to apply all of the  truths I have learned here! I don't ever want to forget my mission!! I have truly felt pure joy here- I think we can only feel this kind of joy as we share the gospel! Yesterday we had a lesson with Estuardo, he received the priesthood and this Sunday he will bless the Sacrament. That's pure joy! He shared with us a scripture that he really likes in the Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 13:21-24

 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

 24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

We cannot serve two masters. We have been given the gift of free agency, we can decide for ourselves our eternity. Liberty and eternal life through the great mediator of all men, or captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil!

We cannot pick and choose which commandments we will keep. We cannot serve two masters!!! Mom, Dad, Weston and Zane, don’t ever take your sights away from the temple, the scriptures, or our Prophet. And promise me that if I ever start drifting that you’ll shake me until I wake up! These are the LAST days! Satan is bringing out the big guns! That means that we need to be firmer, stronger, and more steadfast! Don’t forget the simple things.  Many are falling away for ignoring the every day essentials. I repeat: daily scripture study, personal/family prayer, sustaining the living prophet, paying a full tithe, fasting, and sharing the gospel! Satan is bringing out the big guns, but I testify and promise that if we as a family constantly apply the important actions listed above, Satan's guns will have ZERO ammunition!

I know that you are striving with all of your hearts to do the right thing. Keep going! Use the atonement everyday to put off the natural man. We aren’t perfect, sometimes we are straight up dummies, but ya know what, pick up the trash, take it out and DO NOT DELAY! Some day you might miss the trash can a lot -- you raised your voice, said an ugly word, maybe you want to do worse than toilet paper your neighbor. I don’t know. The point is, we all have our bad days, but lets not blow them out of proportion. The atonement is real. Its all good! Eye on the prize (eternal life, and vanilla ice cream with caramel).

Also, sorry this letter is kind of random, but I'm just saying what I feel I should say. I'll let you on in a little secret of mine. I have a lot of weaknesses (that’s not the secret). I have found even more on my mission. In some occasions on my mission I have found myself saying, “What is this 18 year old district leader saying to me, he has no idea what he is doing!?” or... “If I could be Zone Leader for a day..” Well, that’s bad.  Luckily, over time and through fervent prayer, I have learned to sustain my leaders and I now understand the importance of upholding them. Whether it be an 18 year old DL, a deacons quorum advisor, a Bishop or even our Prophet. They need our help, love, and support. Our leaders are human and therefore, imperfect, but I do know that they get down on their knees at night with heavy eyes and sometimes heavy hearts and they pray for us. We must sustain our leaders. Even when we don’t understand. We don’t need to ask “why”? They are called of God. Sustain means to support, love, uphold, and to pray for them. I know from the little experience that I have that when we sustain our leaders and especially our Prophet, life is happier, easier and fluffier. Is that a word?

Next point of business: The Book of Mormon. FYI, its my favorite book. I put a goal to finish reading it in Spanish by June 12^th- my year mark. I’m almost done! I will never tire of reading the Book of Mormon. I always learn something new. Always. My favorite part of the Book of Mormon is Christ's ministry in the Americas in 3 Nephi. Sometimes I find myself speed reading through Helaman and the beginning of 3^rd Nephi just to get to my favorite part.  But this time, I slowed down. I noticed that as I got closer to 3 Nephi 11 (Christ's ministry) I could clearly see two distinct groups: The wicked and the faithful.

The Faithful  

3 Nephi 6:  14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.

The Wicked

3 Nephi 6:  18 Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God.  29 Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them.

We can decide on which side we will stand. We cannot serve two masters!  As I read these chapters, I realized that history is repeating itself. As the second coming approaches it will be clear and easy to see who is a true disciple of Christ and who is not. I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it is TRUE.

Jeffrey R. Holland says, “Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but DEFEND them.”

I love you family! Write me about your lives.

Now go and kick some Satan trash. Onward and upward!

Hermana Minnick

People sweep here too!  

compañeras enfermeras

Pinch me...its a pretty FRIDGE!!

Its CHRISTMAAAAAAAS!

Ventajas y Desventajas

Pros and cons. Its a good and bad thing to be in the office. 

Ventajas: I'm eating like the Queen of England. (I don't know what she eats like, but its probably really good). I have traveled the entire mission now. I have met all of the missionaries in my mission. I can now say that I know my mission president and his wife well. 

Desventajas: I'm eating like the Queen of England. (AKA I'm starting to get fat again.) For example, yesterday we had to do interviews in Mazatenango. We left early in the morning and went to Burger King for breakfast, ate Subway for lunch and Taco Bell for dinner. Now can you see why I have heartburn? I'm in the car A LOT (car sick). We don't get to work as "real" missionaries like I would like to. 

Being the nurse is fun. Stressful too. What I learned this week is that with everything in life, there are pros and cons. I learned that there are many things we have to do in life that we don't want to do, but we do them anyways because its the right thing to do (my writing skills are diminishing rapidly). For example, do I like to wake up at 6:30? No. Do I do it? Yes. Do I do it with a happy attitude? Most days...  

Another...Do I like telling a missionary that they have to go and take a parasite test for the third time? Obviously not. But, I tell them with a happy voice. Sometimes I just wish that I could magically take away every sickness from every missionary. I wish that they didn't have to suffer. I can testify that the worst thing in the entire world is being a sick missionary. Hand downs. Its even worse when you can't help them. 

One thing I have learned here is that the atonement covers ALL. The Lord not only suffered for our sins, He suffered for every pain, infirmity, and sickness. He felt it all. I think in order to understand what He went through, sometimes we have to suffer a tiny smidgen of what He did. I've also learned that the priesthood is real. With faith, obedience, and a priesthood blessing, we can be healthy. 

"Your body is a temple"... How many times have you heard that in your life? If your me, then a lot. How can we feel the spirit if we are couch potatoes fast food junkies? All I know is that my days of Burger King, McDonald's, and Taco Bell in Guatemala are over!! God gave us our bodies that house our precious spirits! Let's take care of them!!

Anyway, I wasn't planning on that rant. Sorry. 

ESTUARDO!! He got baptised!! He showed up to church with his Grandpa wearing a white shirt and tie (I have no idea where he found a white shirt and tie) and I was so happy! We are now setting mission goals!! There is nothing more incredible than missionary work! 

Continuing:

WESTON!! You graduated high school!!!!! CONGRATS!! I am so proud of you! I almost cried when I saw the pictures...Don't waste this last month! Its precious time! Here's my last advice: GO TO THE TEMPLE as many times as you can!! LOVE YOU! Write me.

ZANE: Write me pleeeeaaasssee! You too dad!!

I really love you guys.

Hermana Minnick

Shoutouts:

ALL OF YOU GET A SHOUTOUT! Write me pleaseeee! I promise blessings!

In the office all day long!

Tami:  I sent Whit an email (by accident)  that was meant for our entire family & friends  -- inviting them to Weston's Endowment at the Draper Temple.  Minutes later I got this pic back!!  

This is what happens when you travel the mission! (She's not dead...yet)

I love Hermana Ruiz!!!

President's car in the middle of the jungle!

Estuardo got baptized!