Baptism!!

Dear Family,

So I am lacking the motivation to write a lot. I apologize. It has been a really long week and I am tired. Not a bad week, but long. And we woke up early to make banana pancakes for Hna. I. because it is her birthday. I love her. 

First, the baptism was a flying success. Of course we were super nervous and everyone came late, but the spirit was so strong. SOOO STRONG!!! Roger gave his testimony in the end and it was so powerful. You could feel that he was truly converted. He bore a powerful testimony to his parents and family that he knew this is the true church and he is excited to have a fresh start. I think it helped his parents a lot. His sister now has officially decided that she wants to be baptized. PRONTO. What a blessing. The single adults are helping her out a ton. I love working with members. It just works so much better. So much better! 

Twenty family members came to his baptism. I think the ward gained respect for us for that one. They were kind of doubting us because we haven´t had any baptisms, but we´re working on it. His family is great. His gma is a member and she had tears in her eyes when she thanked us. This is what it is all about. Families coming together in the gospel. I love this work. I love that families can be forever!

We had zone conference this week. Our zone got slammed for our bad numbers. But we are progressing... But it was super good. Pdte. Fortuna is a boss. He is so powerful. We are all kinds of motivated.

There is a family that actually knows how to cook gourmet here. They love us. They made us pizza this week. And it had veggies. That never happens.

Everyone gives us references.  It is kind of weird, but I like it. We have a ton. Now we just need to harvest...

I had lunch yesterday with Elder and Sister Starkey. He was one of Gpa´s missionaries here in Honduras for about 2 months. in the end of Gpa´s mission. We also ate with the family Duarte and we  all had a ¨I love Grandpa Smith¨ moment. It was precious. God loves me.

Well, that is all! I love you! Have a great Week. 

You Only Serve Once!!

Well family, it has been a pretty good week.

Last monday we had the best experience ever. Here, let me tell you about it. First we practiced allllll day long on our p-day to challenge a family to be baptized. WE were SOOOOO prepared. But, as always, God knows best. Only 2 of the kids showed up to the lesson. We were a little distressed in the beginning. But then we started chatting with them and the STRONGEST feeling came over us that we need to baptize Roger the 17 year old first and then the rest of the family will follow. It has happened so many times in this ward. It was so strong! Therefore, we have a baptism this Saturday!   I am so happy! God answers prayers! It will be the first baptism in this area for 5 months! They were getting ready to close it. But I think they won´t now. The assistants have told us about the change they have seen in our area. The spirit was so powerful when we challenged him to be baptized. I started crying when I was doing it. He did to. And everyone else that was there. It was soooo powerful. And he has invited so many people to the baptism.

For Valentine's day we tried to make as many people happy as we could! It was wonderful! I love serving! WE made  tons of valentines and put them on people's doors. We almost had intercambios, but I was soooo glad that we didn´t so that I could spend it with my sweet companion.

We found a chicken in a house. They always have it outside, but this time they let it in and we all took a picture with it. I played outside with the dog and the chicken briefly. Basically I just ran back and forth and they both chased me. The family got quite the kick out of it. They could just see me run past a window and the chicken and dog would also run past. They thought it was pretty hilarious.

We did service for a less active famliy. We had to convince them to let us come. It was super fun. We washed their dog. It is more like a rat. But it was great. And then we convinced them to let us do other projects. I love this famiy. Too bad they don´t go to Church. 

We found a new family! Too bad they are CRAZY!!! The wife is the most eccentric person I have ever met. She tried giving us coffee and tea. And she gave us a tour of her house and spent the whole time professing love for her husband. They have been together for 38 years, so I guess that is kind of cute. Mostly uncomfortable...

We are teaching a kid named Jose Castillo. He is the black kid who showed up with the shirt that says Sea Feliz. Sea Mormon.  It was hilarious. He is quiting smoking and all kinds of other things, but he wants to be baptized March 19. He goes to seminary every day. The ward is adopting him. I love it. He really needs some parents.

So there is the phrase YOLO in english. You only live once. People use it as an excuse to do whatever they want. We changed it to YOSO. You only serve once. Therefore we might as well talk to every single person and just go crazy with missionary work because this is the only time we will serve like this. We have taught it to a few other missionaries.

Well, I love you all and I have no more time. Mom and dad, forgive me if my messages to you are short. 

Love,

Michelle

Here is a four generation family at the temple!! They wanted us to be in the picture with them. 

Our theme--You Only Serve Once!! 

Here is a picture of the chicken that was someone's pet.

 This is one of our investigators. One of the member's gave him this shirt. Hilarious!

 In a traditional skirt from Guatemala! (borrowed from one of the other sister missionaries)

Doing service. Here we are washing a rat, I mean a dog. 

All clean and fluffy!

 Watering plants (you have to be creative in your service sometimes)

 And putting up the alphabet . . .

We also surprised the sister we live with, with some hearts. 

We also surprised some investigators. 

Then we went home and changed our clothes. So of course he we had to take more pictures.

 Makes, sense, right?

I Am Staying!!

I  AM STAYING HERE IN ROBLE OESTE!! WITH HNA. CLARK! My trainer, the other Hna. Clarke came to the house and is with Hna. Ixcoy.  I think she will end her mission here because she has 2 transfers left. And I will be in the house for at least 2 transfers, creo yo. It should be good.

I read the beginning of your email mom. I really liked that exercise you gave me. I'll let you know how it goes. Sorry I didn't write about too many spiritual experiences last week. We don't teach very often. It kills me. But we're still living off of a spiritual high, so I guess I can share that better.

THIS WEEK WAS  WONDERFUL. Granted, we didn't have a lot of lessons because people like to work and go to school instead of listen to the missionaries, yet it was wonderful. And we had 10 investigators at Church. That isn't even a typo. 10. We are on cloud 9. It has been so interesting to see how working with the members excelerates the work. But seriously. They are starting to trust us so much. I think part of it is due to our power walk. They always tell us they see us flying when we are walking. I guess that is what happens when you put 2 tall girls together! The Zone Leaders called us last night to thank us for the example we are to the zone. That was definitely a first.

Although we had to do a lot of persuasion to get people to get there. We are working with a family called the Fam. M. I have mentioned them a few times. They are the family of 6 with 5 over the age of 8. I  love them so much. The dad has had a hard time getting to Church and our zone leaders are pressuring us like crazy to just baptize the kids, but we want to try the whole family first. Anyway, to make a super long story short, we ended up making breakfast for this family before Church. I woke up early and made pancakes and we brought PB and bananas and syrup so they could eat it American style. Halla! Anyway, we were finishing up breakfast when the dad disappeared. We were slightly concerned, but the 9 year old told us that he already headed up to the Church. We got there like 10 minutes later and he was sitting in the FIRST ROW just chatting away with the senior missionaries. I LOVE THIS WORK!  It is seriously so rewarding. And the night before he told us that he was only going to go for the first hour...but we convinced him to stay. I am so grateful for the members and fellowship.

Note to members; TALK TO EVERYONE. PLEASE.

This week members gave us crab soup. And I went outside to tell them thank you and the next thing I knew I was breaking open clams. It was crazy. And bloody. Here they eat clams in their own blood. But don't worry, they kill it with a lot of lime. But therre is no cooking involved. Yum.

We had an open house this last saturday. We could have put it together a little better. But we should have a few new investigators this week because of it. The members here are great! I have come to love this area so much!

We had kind of a depressing lesson last night. There is this guy who is dating a member and they want to get married, but she is putting a lot of pressure on him to get baptized. So he is listening to us, but he is just doing it for her. Last night he looked at us and said, so when can I get baptized? We were a little shocked. then we asked why and he said for personal reasons.... his girlfriend. Anyway, it was kind of depressing, but we are DETERMINED to have him truly converted before he makes that step. I will not be judged for that one. It is going to take some time, but something that I have loved from PMG is to really confide in the power of conversion. The Spirit is powerful and we have the TRUTH. If people fulfil their commitments, they are going to be converted. Poor guy. He wants to be baptized and we basically said no. But I feel better that way.

We made no bake cookies and gave them to some members and investigators. We are focusing on showing our love for them. In ways other than teaching them. Basically means we cook for them. But we are getting a ton of references from the members and the investigators are fulfilling their compromisos. I LOVE THIS WORK!

There are so many people who need this gospel! It is great. We have 2 investigators that are going to SEMINARY! IN THE MORNING!! The youth here are so powerful!

Challenge; not dancing. That is the hardest part of the mission. I just get so excited and want to dance... but we can't

Well, I love you all. Time ran out. Again. I hate how it goes by so fast. But Honduras is the best and I am so happy!

Love,

Michelle

Rough Week with Tender Mercies!

Greetings, loved ones. 

1. THANK YOU AUNT LISA AND UNCLE KEN AND GEHRIG AND KENYON FOR THE CHOCOLATES. IT WAS HEAVEN SENT AND WITH PERFECT TIMING. CHOCOLATE TRULY IS A GIRLS BEST FRIEND.  

2. MOM! THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SENDING ME LETTERS! I GOT SOME DEAR ELDERS AND THEY WERE SPLENDID. I LOVED HEARING ABOUT KAITLYN. OH HOW I MISS THAT GIRL!! I AM GLAD SHE IS CREEPING JUST AS HARD UP THERE IN WASH AS WE ARE HERE. 

3. CAN SOMEONE SEND ME A FEW PICTURES THAT ARE PRETTY OF THE SAN DIEGO TEMPLE. JUST THROUGH EMAIL. THERE IS A SWEET SISTER THAT LIVES WITH ME AND HER DREAM IS JUST TO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE SAN DIEGO TEMPLE. SHE HAS 13 SIBLINGS AND SHE HAS HAD A SUPER RESTRICTIVE CHILDHOOD. SHE IS SO SWEET. IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE HER DAY YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEND HER A REAL PHOTO IN THE MAIL. OUR ADRESS IS THE SAME AND HER NAME IS LESLI IXCOY. SHE IS FROM GUATEMALA AND IS WOOONNNNNDERRRRFULLLLLL!!!! AND SHE NEVER GETS MAIL. EVER. GRACIAS.

Well family, this week has helped me with my character. It was super hard. We had a total of 4 lessons. How wretched. We even had WONDERFUL plans and WONDERFUL backup plans... but its okay... One night we spent over an hour and a half planning and we had citas fijas for almost every hour of the day and they ALL fell through. It was a bit frustrating. A lot frustrating... but we are still happy.

But I did have a few tender mercies. Although we didn't have lessons this week, we visited some members to make sure we had some super scheduled lessons for this next week. We visited the familia D. They had served as misson presidents in Peru and he is now a member of the 70. We figured they would feel pressured to help in missionary work. We went over to their house, offered to serve them and then asked for references. He straight up called his brother and invited him over to his house. It was great! Then we talked a few more minutes with them and we discovered that they BOTH knew GRANDPA SMITH!!! It was so cool. I dont' really have stories from this week because we seriously just walked, but here are the stories they told me, which are waaaayyyy cooler!

1. Hna D. who's name is Gladys Z., told me that her mother, Guadalupe Z. was the president of the Relief Society here in Honduras in 1972 or something and she was the 5th member of the church here in Honduras and she got super sick and they told her she didn't have much time left. Then Grandpa Smith gave her a priesthood blessing and she miraculously lived 5 more years. The whole family remembers Grandpa for the blessing he gave to that woman. Hna. D. almost cried when she told me the story.

2. Hno. D. also knew Grandpa. His father, Gustavo Barahona, was a temple sealer in Guatemala when Grandpa was there. He had to commute to Guatemala every week from Honduras to fulfill his assignment. I didn't understand completely, but it sounded like Grandpa felt bad that he had to sacrifice so much, so he asked SLC if Gustavo could be removed as being an active sealer, but SLC said no and then Gpa asked him who he knew in SLC because  they wouldn't release him.

3. We always eat lunch with the Familia D. on Sunday. This Sunday they invited  a senior couple. Elder and Sister Amado. His brother is the Area President of Central America. Anyway, they told him that I was the granddaughter of Milton Smith and it turns out they know him too because they lived in Guatemala when Grandpa and Grandma Smith lived there. Joseph Fielding Smith called Elder Amado to be a missionary. But they told me that Grandpa taught a class about Joseph Fielding Smith and it was the best class they have ever had. They thought it was so unique that his son taught the class.

I thought that was super cool. Especially because it was a bright spot in a rough week. Thanks Grandpa for being so cool.

This week we had interviews. They were really good. I prayed a lot before this interview and my mission President said words straight from heaven. I started crying because I felt the spirit so strong. Today I apologized in my letter to  him. I told him that I have only cried 4 times in the mish and he has seen 2 of them. Poor guy. But he asked me a question that really touched me. He asked why I am obedient. I told him I am obedient because it makes sense, and it is habit. and I have seen the blessings in my life from obedience. He then explained that someone had asked him and he had said he is obedient because he loves God. So simply, but so powerful. There is a reason  the first commandment is to love God. It is the motiviation to keep the rest of the commandments. I am trying to show my love for God through all of my actions. It is super hard, but super rewarding.

We had 4 people at Church.

I am learning Kiche from Hna. Ixcoy. Kin Ki Kotic. That means I am happy. I am making progress.

I helped the sisters on their English books this week. It is helping my Spanish so much. I said, Make me sound like a Latina. And it is working. 

Well, I have officially spent all of my time writing this letter. Love you ALL

Michelle

Homemade Haircuts Are Never A Good Idea

Dear Family,

Well it has been a smashing week. It has been great, actually. The work is finally progressing!

First, I need to mention a few things! 

I got the Christmas card from the Cannons and it was the cutest thing ever! I showed it to my whole zone telling them a ton about every child. I am not sure if they appreciated it correctly, but it was great!

I also saw Elder Curtis Johnson and Elder Abbott at the temple. I was just walking down the temple hill and they came strolling down. It was a miracle that we collided, but  it was so great! It was so nice to see a familiar face! It was crazy! Elder Abbott took a picture and he promised he would send it to his mom. I didn't put on makeup, so don't judge too hard.

WE HAD 4 PEOPLE at Church! What?!? And we didn't even have to bribe them! 3 of them are siblings and I think they will be baptized soon. Their names are Aaron (9) Roger (17) and Fabiola (19). We are hoping to start teaching their parents this week. There is a family  that is friendshipping them like crazy! Roger has been to over 4 activities this week. And he is going to youth  conference. I am so grateful for members that fellowship! That is the great thing about this ward. The other girl that came is named Alisa and she is my age. Coincidence?  I think not. We contacted her on Saturday night and she came to Church Sunday  morning. She is going to be baptized. And hopefully with all of her family.

We served a family in our ward this week. They have a MASSIVE house! We cleaned out their office. He just let us loose and told us good luck. He owns all of the security systems in Honduras. It was super fun. I found a bullet proof vest and wore it.

Rememer the family I talked about last week?  The Familia Flores?  They had been visited by a ton of assistants and by the bishop  and my mission president. We had taught them a lesson with  their neighbors and it went really well. Then I called back to remind them that we were coming in the night time and the wife YELLED at me for 3 minutes straight. She basically said that she was tired of missionaries visiting her and she didn't want to be baptized right now and it didn't matter who came, she wasn't going to change her mind. She also mocked me because I was only  20, whereas she is 46 and therefore a lot wiser. And just went on and on... But I still remained calm. I calmly informed her that she was  right. It didn't matter who came to her house or what they said. As long as she was unwilling to do her part to pray or read she would never have the desire to be baptized. She said she would call me back when she got an answer.

It is rough when people don't want to do their part. They want an answer and we lay out the path to receive it and then because they are lazy they don't do it. Satan makes me so mad sometimes.

My MTC companion spent the night at our house. She had cut my current companions hair and had done a pretty good job. So I asked her to cut mine. She did it in 5 min. And the inch I wanted cut off somehow turned into 5. It looked like she had hacked it off with a machete. My current companion  then went to work trying to even it out and it got even  shorter. That was good. Luckily I have about a year before I will be home. I hope I look better by then. I am kind of just rocking the pony tail.

Well, I love you all! I hope you have a great week! Pray for me!

Love,

Michelle

Things are looking up!!

Well, this week was definitely better! It was wonderful! We found 15 new investigators and 5 families! That is a bit different from the 1 or 2 we have been finding. I am really grateful that people are now coming back from their trips. We had a district activity to help Hna. Clark and I find nuevos. We found 7 and 2 families in 2 hours. Thank you assistants. Actually Hna. Clarke and I found the 2 families, but the elders found 1 person who later turned into a family. It is so nice to see new faces. We still didn´t have anyone in church, but at least we saw some progress.

I divided our area. After a lot of time struggling with the sisters, I just took matters into my own hands. Thats what Wagners do. We are pushy. Kat told me so.:-) But it will make us a lot more efficient. I learned that principle when I read Jerry King´s biography. We need to focus on a small area and we will have a lot more success than working in a big area. The sisters took it well. I basically just did the division and then had them go over it, asked if they had questions and then sent a text to the assistant. He actually didn´t know that it wasn´t divided, so he was grateful.

WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!! It was a smashing time. I understood SO MUCH MORE. I have been a bit confused on a lot of the things in the temple, but the new video and the increased maturity and my new level of Spanish sure helped. I loved it. I want to go everyday. My companion and I were the last ones to leave the temple. We just sat for a long time.

We also had intercambios. It was good. Sometimes I feel like a new person after and sometimes I feel the same. This one was mas or menos, but my companion had a great experience so I was glad for that.

We have a great night set up. We are doing divisions because we had too many visits. Powerhouse. And they are both in houses of members which is ideal. I am stoked. And I am pretty sure they are going to feed us, so that makes me happy.

We finally were able to teach a guy that has gone to church 3 times. He is the boyfriend of a less active person and we hope to marry them. That is the missionary dream.

We also began teaching a family that has been taught by the assistants a ton. Then they gave up. Pdte. Fortuna has visisted them and invited them over for dinner. But it was like a year ago. I feel like they are more ready now. The guy read the book of mormon in 2 weeks. But he didn´t like how Nephi  cut off Laban´s head. He said it was grotesque. I told him to read 3 nephi 11 because it was prettier.

Have a great week! 

At least my Spanish is getting better . . .

Hello dear family. This keyboard is the oldest thing that has happened to this world, so this is going to be rough. First, I GOT LETTERS!!! Thank you Kris, Mom, Grandpa, Sis. Trimble, and Brother Howard.  I enjoyed the Christmas Ward info.

WE ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE this week! I am so excited. But it means that I only get to write today and then the rest of our pday will be on Friday. I am super excited to go there! And I am in the same ward as all of the women missionaries who work in the temple, so I will feel like I have an in. They are such sweet women! One of them is 80 years old and she and her husband are serving their 5th mission. He was a brick layer and she was his assistant. How cute is that? They are ADORABLE! There are a few other couples that are super cute too! Ahh! I want to serve 5 missions. Or 6.

We spent the 31 super well. The 30th I learned how to make tamales. That is a joy. It was super intense! I am impressed that people make them! All of the Latinas were impressed by how fast I caught on. Thank you, it is my Mexican blood. But they were delightful. They gave us a ton and we gave them to the bishop and another family.

We spent New Years getting to know the members. People don´t leave their houses and the only people nice enough to let us in are the members, so we bombarded them asking for references and getting to know them. They love us now. It is funny because they all like to practice their English. Sometimes I want the urim and thummim to translate. It is rough but super funny and it makes them have more patience with our Spanish.

Yesterday I was sitting in church, without investigators again, and I realized that I underestood EVERYTHING!!! Almost every word and every verb tense. IT HAS HAPPENED. I AM FLUENT.:-) It was a great day. I still need to practice and study a ton, but I feel so much better !

We did have a menos activo return to Church. Unfortunately it made the other sisters mad because they had been visiting them for months, which I didn´t know, and then they suddenly started hiding form the sisters. Then we passed by, they let us in, we shared about the Doctrine of Christ and the couple committed to coming to Church. We were surprised when we called on Sunday and they were getting ready. It was so great, but now we are coordinating better with the sisters.

WE GOT PIE AND BROWNIES!!! There is this guy in our ward who went to cooking school and he and his wife invited us over on new years and gave us apple pie. I haven´t had that in quite sometime. And we also got a lot of references. And we aren´t allowed to go into their neighborhood without someone that we know inside, so basically they opened the door to a lot of potential investigators.

There is a SUPER rich family in our ward. He owns all of the security personnel companies in Honduras. Their house is massive. Anyway, they had a friend call them offereing a baby and they adopted it. CRAZY!!! Their youngest child is 17 years old. They are so cool. That child is going to have such a different life, with the gospel, than he could have had. I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE!!!

Basically no one in our zone is finding new people. We have 22 referrals, but the members don´t want to help us talk to them. It is quite the struggle, but it should be way easier now that people are returning from vacation.

Well, I love you all! Happy New Year!

MIchelle