Hola! Another week has past!

We are getting used to having both areas now so this week wasn't quite as overwhelming. We are just trying to plan out our days and appointments more efficiently.

Trying on dresses in the mercado :)

The picture of us we gave to Presidente Galicia for his birthday on Saturday! He turned 46. Just a year younger than dad.

There are over 25 recent converts from over the last year and we have lots of work trying to strengthen them. We are trying to work more with the ward so they can help us keep them strong. We have heard rumors that they might be taking us out and putting Elders here in a couple weeks when we have cambios so we are trying to make sure everyone is good taken care of just in case. We don't know for sure though.

Family Galicia

 

We ate with them yesterday and Hermana Galicia made zuchinni bread for his pastel. They were also taught that by American missionaries and just love it! Only real zuchinni doesn't actually exist here. They use calabaza. It's really similar.

My companion is going home and leaves the 8th to President's house so for Mother's Day weekend I will be in a trio with my trainer and another Hermana that are in my old ward in Balbuena :) It's right next to my ward right now so we will just be covering both for a few days until transfers but that means I will be there when we skype. I need to check with the other Hermanas to see what time they are thinking but anytime in the afternoon should be fine. We have one ward from 8:30 to 11:30 and another from 12 to 3 and then will probably eat and I'm guessing I will be able to skype around 5 or 6 my time which I think is two hours later than you.

Some fun pictures of the mercado we went to today. I didn't buy anything because I want to go when you are here with me and you can pick out your own stuff.. but its pretty cool. My companion got a sweet bag and some clothes.

Yeah I took a lot of pictures.. it just gets boring when you aren't buying anything so I needed something to do :)

We have two couples who are progressing well. In both of them the wife was less active and the husband not a member. It has been cool to work with them because both of their husbands have had several years knowing about the church and having missionaries in their homes but had never been interested before. Luis Antonio tells us how he used to run and hide whenever they came but now he is interested for himself and wants to grow closer to Christ. The Lord really does prepare his children and they all have their moment.

Hermana Galicia made us choco crispy treats with strawberry marshmallows! Mexicans don't ever make rice crispy treats but she said a missionary had taught her years ago and she knew we would like them.

The other couple, Nacho and Alma have 15 years living together and still aren't married so we are working on that step with them. We saw Meet the Mormons with them this week and they came to a baptism with us and to church on Sunday. On the way home from the Visitor's Center Nacho asks us if they have to get married for him to get baptized and we had a good law of chastity lesson there in the car. They both have already been married and divorced and don't want to get married again but we invited them to pray sincerely to know if they should.

With Nacho and Alma at the CV

A couple days later Nacho says he needs to talk to us in English so no one else in the house understood (he used to live in the states and speaks fairly well) and explains that he prayed and asked about getting married but then later that night he had a dream of his ex girlfriend from when he was way younger and felt like that was his answer. He wanted to know what we thought it meant. We told him to keep praying that it wasn't his answer haha. It was pretty hilarious the way he told us though.

Hermana Pachita! Shes a sweet old lady who loves to sew :) She was excited to show us some of her creations :)

She made the cutest temple pouch ever. I want to figure out how to make one.

Well hope everyone is doing well and has a good week! That's so exciting that Sydney and Joseph are engaged! Happy for them. Happy birthday to Dad today!! 47... wow getting pretty old. Hope its been a good day! The work keeps going on. I am learning more and more each day. I know that this is the work of the Lord, the work of salvation and I am so grateful to be a part of it. Everyday is a good day in the mission. There's no other place I'd rather be. We see miracles daily that make it impossible to doubt that God lives and loves us. Have a good week! 

Con amor, 

Hermana Rhoten :)

 

 

Hola! We had a crazy week :)

It was busy with lots of changes and adjusting. Hermana Medwin left to the mission home Tuesday and flew home Wednesday. The other companionship in our ward were taken out so we now have double area to cover. My new companion is Hermana Campbell. She is 23 and is from New Hampshire. Studied at BYU Idaho before the mission. I already knew her really well because she was in this ward with me before but we weren't companions then. It helps because she knows the half of the area and I know the other half. We have lots and lot of work to do and people to see its been a little overwhelming especially because she also is going home soon, the Friday before Mother's day to be exact.

We went to the Visitor's Center again on Saturday and watched Meet the Mormons again with another group of investigators. Such a good movie. Great missionary opportunity. We actually both fell asleep this time though... the room was so dark and cozy chairs and it was such an exhausting week. It was pretty funny. I don't think our investigators noticed. I looked over and saw Hna Campbell with her head nodded down and eyes shut and kinda chuckled and then found myself doing the same thing just a few minutes later :)

I got asked to speak in sacrament meeting on Sunday and chose to talk about the importance of covenants. On my mission my understanding of making and keeping covenants has really increased. As we make and keep sacred covenants with the Lord and renew them often we allow the cleansing power of the Atonement to work in our lives and purify our souls. I really enjoyed studying these topics this past week.

I read an article in the Liahona that I liked that referred to the suffering of the Savior in the garden of Gethsemane and how he asked his apostles to wait with him. When he returned they were sleeping. I often have thought of this event like why couldn't they wait with him? The article then relates this moment that they had to wait with him to the moment that we have to wait with the Savior and remember him as we partake of the sacrament each Sunday. I'm so grateful for the sacred time we have each week to think of our Redeemer and renew our promise to follow him. I have felt the power of His Atonement work in my life through the small and simple act of partaking of the bread and water. I invite you all to truly pay attention to the sacrament prayers and use the sacred minutes of the sacrament to remember our Savior and all that he has done for us. 

The work goes on and the church is true :) Hope everyone has a great week :) 

Also we got so unlucky with food this week... I'm not gonna complain about it....but we ate octopus drowned in ketchup and it was the nastiest thing ever. It was so hard to get down with the texture and taste. We bought ice cream afterward to reward ourselves haha :)

Hola! Another week has gone by!

My companion is leaving tomorrow for the mission home and flying home on Wednesday!

At bautismo en Balbuena

With our ward mission leader.

We had interviews with President on Friday and he told me they are taking the other companionship out of our ward and leaving the whole area for me and my new companion. I've never been the only companionship of missionaries in any of my wards before so that should be fun.

It was all three of their birthdays this past week! Super fun for me to plan surprises :)

Surprise for Hermana Fowler :)

We planned Saturday with the other companionship so they could tell me about all their investigators and everyone in their area. It's gonna be a super busy next few weeks adjusting to having so much more area. We are going to be so busy! I found out Hermana Campbell is coming back to be my companion and she is also leaving in just a few weeks so it sounds like I will just be staying here for a while and getting new companions. The mission is going to have lots of changes with 11 hermanas leaving and only 1 coming in May. They are closing a lot of areas and it will be interesting to see what happens.

After divisions with Hermana Cole and Hermana Paskett

Saturday night we took a car full of investigators and converts to go see Meet the Mormons in the Visitor's Center. So fun. I love that movie. Eduardo and his kids came in the group. Really love that family, It's been so fun to see how much they have changed in the past few months. Little Dulce Maria is the cutest and smartest almost 7 year old ever. Love her.

On the way to the Visitor's Center!

All is well and I'm loving every day and every moment of being a missionary. I don't think I've ever experienced so much joy and satisfaction. I really love this ward and all the people here. We have lots to get done today before my comp leaves so this is going to be short today. I will get on quick later to send pictures because we forget our cameras... Love you all lots!

Coro misional ( missionary choir)

Have a good week! Share the gospel with everyone. We are so incredibly blessed to have it in our lives. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Rhoten