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

It was an awesome week! Conference was incredible!!!

So uplifting and inspiring. I can't wait to get the Liahona and be able to read them over and over again.

Pictures from the activity last week with all the Hermanas in the mission.

Another fun thing about watching conference is seeing how much my Spanish has progressed over the past year. The first conference was super hard to understand and just got the overall theme. Then in October I definitely understood all the doctrine but some of the stories were hard to follow but this time I felt like I could actually understand everything really well and even was able to laugh at the stories :) Such a good weekend. Too bad Elder Scott didn't speak though. I usually love his talks. President Monson didn't speak that much either.

I loved the talked about the family. Elder Packer was just adorable. There was so much about the importance of the family and defending marriage and the home. Learned lots about my potential as a daughter of God and the responsibilities I have as well. I love how it was mentioned in several talks the importance of having an eternal perspective.

Thanks for the Easter cookies! They were delicious. Still have lots. It's been so fun this week finally having a companion who works out with me and eats healthy with me. Gonna miss that when she leaves in a week! Today we had a zone activity and played capture the flag and dodge ball with little marshmallow guns and then soccer for quite a bit. That sport has actually been growing on me. I'm not that bad on defense :)

I think the best part of conference was being able to sit by our converts. They are doing so well! Sadly we didn't have many investigators show up because lots of people are out of town this past week and the next for vacations and Semana Santa. It's a big deal in Mexico. But we were so pleased to see so many of the recent converts just loving every minute of their first general conference. Definitely made me really happy.

All is well here! Hope you had an awesome Easter and were able to take some time to reflect on the miraculous resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. This event really changed the lives of each and every one of us. It gave us the hope that we live by today knowing that death isn't the end, that we can live again and eternally with our families in God's kingdom. I'm so grateful for this knowledge and for the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They have a perfect plan for each of us. Have a fantastic week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Rhoten

Hola!! Longer week and so many fun stories

I'm just not gonna be able to type it all out! 

new comp is Hermana Medwin from Canada!!

Not even sure where to start!

Rocio and Uriel got baptized!!! They are so stinkin adorable! Such a fun baptism. It was a miracle too. They had their interviews last Monday and they were even more prepared than we expected. They love primary and young women's. Friday night we took them to a ward family night and Uriel asked us what would happen if he accidentally went to the bathroom in the water. We were like uhhhh Uriel! He said sometimes he wets himself when he gets nervous. It was hilarious! And explains why one time he randomly got up in the middle of a lesson and peed in a bucket in the same room we were teaching. Their house is actually just one room and an outhouse outside. Not sure why he couldn't make it to the outhouse. But it was behind our backs at least :) Funny kid.

There was a really good turn out at the baptism and some investigators too. Uriel had to get baptized twice because his toe came out the first time. He had gotten water up his nose and didn't want to do it again. We went around back to cheer him on and then his uncle Abel came around back and started bribing him with chocolate kinder eggs. It was actually pretty funny. One kinder egg... then two kinder eggs.. then three kinder eggs. One of the Elders came around back and asked if it would help if everyone left the room and no one watched. Then he was able to do it :) We were laughing about it a little afterwards. Missionaries baptizing children for chocolate.

They were confirmed on Sunday and Abel got the Priesthood! So cool to see him and Santa back at church after being inactive for about 20 years. They are doing so well.

I haven't felt nearly as sick this week and the medicine didn't affect me as bad as everyone told me it would. Such a relief!!! But I still didn't want to eat lots of greasy food. One day I felt bad telling the Hermana so I snuck some of the tacos in napkins and hid them in my clothes until I made it to the bathroom to flush them down the toilet. It worked great! She didn't even notice :)

We had transfers yesterday and I'm staying in my area but Hermana Wilkinson left! My new comp is Hermana Medwin from Canada!! And Hermana Fowler is now with Hermana Amor in the same ward as me. Hnas Medwin and Amor are both going home in two weeks to start school and it sounds like after that Hna Fowler and I will be combining our areas to finish the last month of the transfer! So fun. Love them all. Hna Medwin loves to work out too!! First thing I said to her was hey you like to run right? Yep. Then she asked me if I liked to wake up at 6 to have more time to exercise. I was so overly excited! Finally someone who understands. Were gonna be best friends for sure. She is an awesome missionary and I am already learning lots from her! Sad it will be short!

Cool thing is it looks like Hna Fowler and I will be companions for a few weeks and it will include Mother's day when we skype with our families!

Today we had a get together with all the Hermanas from the mission. Well all 20 of us.
We took lots and lots of pictures this week! Still lots more. It was a fun activity with all the Hermanas! Love them all so much! It was so fun to see everyone and watch some videos and see pictures from all our time together. We have all gotten pretty close and it will be so weird this transfer when 11 of them go home!!! I took a picture with all my companions!

Even Hna Jones from the MTC so fun to have a chance to talk with her!

Another highlight of the week is being able to share the Because He Lives video with everyone. I'm so grateful for my Savior and know that He is always there for me. I feel that I am still beginning to understand the power and significance of His sacrifice. Each day I learn something new. He lived a perfect life, facing temptations but He never sinned. He is the light the life and the hope of the world. His path is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. I love teaching and testifying of Him each day. I hope that everyone can look up the Because He Lives video and share it this week especially!

Also the Women's Conference was awesome! Learned lots and received so many answers. So so so excited for General Conference this weekend! Hope Madison had a good birthday! I haven't had a chance to read your emails yet but I will print them and reply on Monday! Have a great week and a Happy Easter!! Love you lots!

Hermana Rhoten