Road Trip!

I live is the most amazing place!

This has been another crazy week as the nurses sidekick.  I’m thinking I’ll have to do a segment in my emails every week where I just sum up the craziness in a few sentences.  So here it goes… Visited 8 of the 10 zones in 1 day (NEW RECORD).  She only went to the hospital once (but stayed there for 2 nights) and I worked with another companion.  I had to do a quick pharmacy run while Hna N was in the hospital.  The assistants had to come to our house twice this week.  And today there's someone else in the hospital  Woohoo!!  But everyone's fine.   

I have no idea why this email is centered.  Guatemala computers always keep things interesting.

It's been an awesome, but crazy, week.  I have tons of pictures.  But this computer is really slow (surprise surprise) so we'll see how many I get sent off.

So Christmas was awesome.  I seriously love Christmas here.  I'll just start off with this.  In English the song Silent Night pretty much explains Christmas Eve in the states.  Its all quiet and peaceful.  But In Spanish that song is called Noche de Luz, or Night of Light.  Which perfectly explains Navidad in Guate.  It is not a silent night for anything!  Right at midnight there were soooo many fireworks that you couldn't hear anything else.  And we had an awesome view.  A family invited us over and they have a patio on their roof to see all the fireworks in the whole valley.  It was amazing!  We all ate dinner together (at midnight, which is what you do in Guatemala) and they had little presents with candy for us.  Then we went home and opened presents (also something you do on Christmas Eve here) and fell asleep at like 1:30.  We are SO not used to going ot bed that late.  Then Christmas day we talked to our families.  YAY!!  That was fun!  But it always feels so weird.  Like mixing two worlds that are so separate to me.  Then we went to go grocery shopping.  A family invited us over for lunch.  We got there kind of early and we were so tired!  We fell asleep for an hour on their couches.  Now they keep making fun of us and saying that when we come over we're just coming to go to sleep.  But it was worth it.  Then we ate the biggest lunch ever!  They just kept bringing out more and more food!  It was insane!  So between being SO FULL and staying up SO late we were just dead all Christmas Day.  It was really great though.  I'm sad it's my last Christmas here.  Christmas here is like 4th of July and Thanksgiving and a giant birthday party all mixed together.  Put it on your bucket list.

Yesterday was really awesome too.  Since my companion is the nurse she doesn't get a lot of p-days.  So yesterday we made up for it by having the greatest p-day ever.  The same family that gave us lunch on Christmas took us on a really cool mini road trip., We left at 5 am and we went all over the mission.  We went through the coast, Saw like 4 volcanoes, went on some sketchy bridges, ate really good breakfast, and did all kinds of stuff.  We also went to this place that is just mind boggling to me.  It's called the paso misterioso.  It's a tiny hill where if you put your car in neutral it goes up hill instead of downhill.  It's so weird.  And I don't understand it.  All I know is that we were going up on a downward slope.  Please Google it and explain how that works.  But anyway... we did a lot of driving through cool places to get to Lake Atitilan, which I've been to a few times.  But this time we took a super scenic route and went to another pueblo on the other side of the lake.  It was just really pretty and the family we went with is really fun.  It was kinda crazy trying to get back by 5 to start working but it was so worth it.

It's almost 2015.  That's so weird!  My goals for last year were all missionary related, But now I'm trying to think of goals for real life.  I hate thinking about it, but I've learned so much on the mission and I need to set New Years goals to keep applying those things in my life.  This has hands down been the best year of my life.  I'm sure there are many more awesome years to come, but this year has changed my life. And I'm sure it's changed my eternity too.

I love you so much!

Christmas Eve at like 11 pm.  This is us and the other companionship of sisters that came and the mom and her daughter

The family whose home it was

COMPANIONS!

All my Christmas stuff. 
THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SENT ME STUFF!!!!

Presents!

Christmas lunch!

 Pictures from our awesome Road Trip!!!!!  I love Guatemala!!!!

Feliz Navidad!

This week was crazy.  Being the nurse’s companion never ceases to be an adventure.  Long story short we went to the hospital twice this week, went to two of the zone Christmas parties, had two days where we were not even in our area and had zero lessons, and drove through almost every zone in the mission (and through a few other missions).  But we survived!  Woo!

I really like this area, even though it feels way different.  I noticed I’m more tired in lessons because I’m not used to teaching on a couch.  It’s just too comfy for me.  It's also way hotter too so that feels nice.  But it's not as hot as other areas.  We had our Christmas activity on the coast this week and it was the first time I've gone to the coast.  It was SO hot.  This area I'm in has a good climate.

The Christmas party was fun.  We did all kinds of games and ate a lot and got to see lots of missionaries.  President and Hna Markham had some of us do the nativity as they read the story.  Hna N and I got volunteered to be angels.  So there we were in the nativity, wrapped in white sheet in the burning weather of the coast.  It was a good memory to make.

It’s been fun getting to know the members and converts.  We had a really exciting visit with a convert last week.  He’s a little old man who’s a natural doctor and lives in his karate studio.  He wanted to show us how he gets rid of head aches.  He got out some chop sticks and asked me to give him my left thumb.  Then he proceeded to shove the chop stick into the tip of my thumb as hard as he could.  So that felt awesome.  And he explained that he usually does that for about 2 minutes.  Then he took the chop stick out of my thumb and my arm fell asleep! The members we were with were dying laughing.  My arm was totally limp.  So that was interesting.  

Hna N and I are doing good.  We have a lot of fun together.  We found out that we both have scars on our left elbow because we both had the exact same surgery.  So that's cute.

I hope you all have a great Christmas!  Thanks for always supporting me and praying for me.  We need it.  I'm so thankful to be a missionary this time of year.  It just feels right.  I love the Savior and I'm so thankful for all that He did and does for me.  I'm trying so hard to feel closer to Him and really remember Him more.  

I love you!!!

The nurse is going to kill me!

That's right!  I'm companions with the nurse for my last change. It's been an adventure already.  We get along really well and we're having a lot of fun.  I've always really liked her!  It's kinda hard getting used to being the nurses companion because sometimes we have to stop what we're doing so she can take a call.  But it's really exciting.  I feel like I'm always on one of those exciting hospital shows.  Like The Untold Stories of the Mission Nurse.  And I like to think that I help out (but in reality one semester of anatomy doesn't qualify me for any of this.)  The other day I helped her figure out that some one  had a headache and diarrhea because they were dehydrated.  Maybe I'll get promoted to assistant to the nurse soon.

My area is way different.  I feel like I'm in the United States.  This area is so rich.  It's really small too.  It's like if Skyline Estates (our subdivision at home) was in an area.  Everyone has cars and couches and cell phones.  Everyone has Christmas lights and Christmas trees and DVD players.  And there isn't trash on the street. It's seriously so weird.  A week ago I was teaching lessons sitting on a cinder block on a dirt road with chickens and pigs.  And now I'm teaching on couches in a big house with fancy paintings to people who have nice clothes.  Its weird. But I really do love this area! I feel like it will take an edge off the culture shock when I get home though.  So that's good.

Just a heads up.  I will be getting fat this change.  There is a member whose a really good baker.  She's always giving us pastries.  I have eaten cake, cheese cake, pie, brownies, and or cinnamon rolls at least once a day since I've gotten here.  Start making your guesses now for how much I'll weigh when I leave.

We had a baptism on Sunday!!!!!! It was such a miracle.  It's a jovencito that has been going to church with his grandma for years.  On Friday we went and challenged him to be baptized and he said yes.  He was so happy!!  He got baptized before church early on Sunday and got confirmed an hour later.  It was just so good to see him happy! I know that we're going to see miracles this change.  This was just the first of many.

I am just so happy.  Things are going really good.  We are working hard.  There is no time to waste.

Love you all!!

Hna Haymond

Signing the wall in the house of the familia Pablo.  My last night in E.
They always do this and sing God Be With You Til' We Meet Again. Its so sad.

So the grandma of the kid who got baptized is a really good baker.  I'm getting fat this change.  But it works good because that way I won;t get married right when I get home.

This is our district

We had a baptism!! I decided Sadie is going to marry this kid.  His name is C.  Hes 13.  Hes gone to church for a really long time with his grandma.  But on Friday we showed up and challenged him to be baptized and he said YES!  In the closing  prayer he was so happy that he started crying.  I feel like I didn't do anything to help him.  I just showed up.  But its so good to see him happy!

Oh Hermanos Adios pues Adios

El tiempo de ir vino ya.  I have changes.  I'll find out where I'm going tomorrow.  Ah.  It's crazy to think that this will be my last area.  Of course I'll be happy to go where ever Heavenly Father wants me to go, But I hope I go to the Coast. I've been to the mountains and the capital but the coast is the only region I haven't been to.  Next Tuesday you'll know.  It's always so hard saying goodbye.  The Monday and Tuesday before changes are always the worst days of the mission.  I thought it wouldn't be so hard here because I don't have as many converts.  But I was so wrong.  I love everyone in this area so much!  The street vendors, the contacts, the members, the investigators.  Ah.  Its so hard to leave.

I always ask myself why did the Lord send me here, When changes come around.  Even though I didn't reach my baptism goals in this area like I had in other areas, the lessons Heavenly Father wanted me to learn are really obvious.  First I learned what kind of member I want to be when I get home.  The members here are so willing to support us, Even when its cold, or the last minute or when no one receives us.  I also learned about humility.  Heavenly Father has given me SO much success as a missionary.  But these last few months I have learned that He will not let me go home prideful.

I hope you've all looked up He is the Gift.  If not, that's your homework.

It's still freezing.  Hne E and I had to stop by a members house the other day to ask for a blanket to walk around in.  

I love December.  In the area I was in last year there weren't any lights or Christmas trees but here the town has gone all out!  Its so exciting.  I also loved the Christmas devotional on Sunday night!  I hope you got to watch it. I think (i'm not totally sure) I saw Brother Wise (Hna Wises dad) in the choir.  So that was cool.

While we were in the Stake center watching a peaceful Christmas broadcast things outside were very much the opposite.  I don't know if I told you about this last year, but the 7th of Diciembre is a holiday here, called the day of the Devil.  Everyone buys pinatas of devils to burn right at 6 pm.  It's a really crazy night because everyone is lighting fireworks and burning anything they can find...trash, stuffed animals and sometimes firewood.  It's to get rid of the Devil and all the bad feelings and spirits before Christmas.  I've definitely added it to my list of traditions I'm going to keep up after the mission. 

One of our investigators passed out and started going into shock in my arms on Sunday.  That was a first.  But shes okay!  It was just hectic because all the members were freaking out and wanted to help and were giving us lots of suggestions of things to do (some more medically sound than others). The ambulance came in the end.  But it all turn out okay.

AND:::: here's a miracle!  We're having a baptism on Sunday!!!!!!!!  I thought I'd be sad that I have changes and I won't be here.  But I'm just so glad that we're seeing fruits of our labors.  The area deserves it.

It's been a good week.  We've had lots of adventures.  Four companionships from the mission got invited to go speak at SOY.  It's like EFY here.  And hna E and I got picked!  It was seriously one of the best days of my mission.  We got there really early and they treated us like we were famous.  Which is so funny to me because before my mission, missionaries were like super human.  It's weird that people think of us like that now because I am so normal. Anyway, we waited in this secret room and workers brought us snacks and water. (afterwards we got to go to the front of the line for lunch too.) Then the EFY director came and explained what he wanted us to do.  He explained that we were the surprise of EFY, That no one knew that we were coming and that he was so excited.  Its just so funny that we were the surprise.  Again, I just feel so normal.  But then the time came to enter the devotional.  They were singing the opening hymn, called to serve and they had us walk up to the stand.  The Spirit hit us so fast in the moment.  It was so cool to sing with them and look at all these really excited faces.  I could just feel that they're trying so hard to do whats right.  But it made me think of when I went to EFY and how awesome of an experience that was.  It totally changed my life.  The kids asked such good questions, like how to know if we're passing through trials from Heavenly Father or obstacles from Satan, or how we can be consecrated people.  It was cool to be able to think about all that.  And at the end of our question and answer part, the dirctetor surprised one of the EFY counselers and had his mission call ready to open.  So he opened it in front of everyone.  We were all just bawling.  I remember when I got that big white envelop.  I remember going grocery shopping in the hours before opening it to disatract myself.  I remember skyping everyone and inviting people to my apartment.  I remember choking up when I read the words Guatemala City Central mission.  In that moment I knew it was where I needed to go.  But what I didn't know was how much that letter would change my life. I didn't know what kind of person it would turn me into. I didn't know how much I would love these people or how much I would love obedience or missionary work.  I had no clue.  But Heavenly Father knew.  And I'm so thankful He told me to come to this mission.  I will forever be changed for it.

Love you all!

Every time I see a cow I just feel like reading the Book of Mormon to it.  So I did.

Familia P.  My family away from home.  They takes so much care of us.

The elders made us this delicious lunch last week

Panajachel

Zona Hoy

Zona Hoy

Us and all the stuff they gave us at EFY.

Badges, backpacks, bracelets, shirts (XXXL)

WE FOUND ROOTBEER!

My first rootbeer in 16 months

p.s.  she's from Springville.

Zona Hoy

Zona Photo

El es la dadiva

Ah!! I really have no time left today!  I'm so sorry.  But yesterday we went to Panajatchel again.  It was way cool.  But I feel like I've been in the zone forever because we're already starting to repeat p-day activities.

I just want to say that I'm so thankful for the emails and experiences you've all shared with me.  Its been a really hard few months.  I haven't ever lied saying I'm  happy.  But I have to look harder to be happy.  But knowing your praying for me helps so much.  I know I'm not perfect but I know Heavenly Father knows I'm trying.

And everyone needs to go to christmas.mormon.org  and watch the video He is the Gift.  Think about the invitations at the end.  How will you accept them?  We've been using the video and its been really powerful.

I love you!  SO SORRY FOR THE LAME EMAIL!

11-25-14

So it turns out that it's not time for me to get over my fear of shots yet.  I freaked out waiting in line and when the mission presidents wife saw that I was about to pass out she said I didn't have to get it.  I love her so much for so many reasons but lately because she saved me from my worst fear.  So that was good.  But it was so horrible just to have to be there knowing that a million missionaries had to get the shot.  I really am so determined to get over this dumb phobia.  The next day in companionship inventory (Where hna E and I talk about what we're doing good and what we can work on)  the only thing she told me to work on was not being afraid any more.  It was the best suggestion I've received in a long time.  ha ha

Three of the missionaries in my district, including Hna E, completed another year of being members of the church this month.  They all got baptized in November.  One has 2 years, the others 1 year and 4.  Its so exciting!  So yesterday we kinda celebrated.  The Elders planned a bunch of activities and we made pupusas (they're like fried stuffed tortillas...SO GOOD!)  We invited some of the youth and it turned out to be a really good non-birthday party.  We played that game where you tie a balloon to your ankle and everyone has to run around popping each others balloons.  It was actually super intense because they used their soccer skills and it was to hard to track down their balloon.  Let me just point out that this game used to terrify me.  I hate popping balloons.  BUT NOT ANY MORE!  I may not have gotten over my fear of shots but I am no longer afraid of popping balloons!! I even won! That's my big feat this week.

Miracles are weird.  Sometimes we get miracles and then they seem to go away. For example, NONE of the 6 people who came to church on the 16th came on the 23rd and we cant find them.  So that's sad.  But I've learned that it helps us have just enough faith to be able to see more miracles that are even bigger.  Yesterday we called a lady who can be baptized this weekend.  We were by her house but when we called she said she was going to have to work until 9:30.  So we went and looked for new investigators close by.  When we came out of our lesson there she was!  She was outside her door.  She told us that she was just about to call us and she had just quit her job.  We had a really powerful lesson with her and she accepted to be baptized on Sunday!  It was amazing.  There were so many tiny miracles in the timing that helped us find her.  We are so excited!

I hope everyone has an amazing thanksgiving this week!  Today I got to choose the hymn in district meeting so I picked Because I have Been Given Much and Count you Blessings.  I think that's the extent of my Thanksgiving celebration.  But here are some things that I'm thankful for.  Its so interesting how my list changes being a missionary.  I'm thankful for....

Tortillas

Companions

my planner

blankets

members of the church

prayers

being healthy

my family

my friends

being able to email once a week

the mission rules

the commandments

the Church

the Scriptures

food

tiendas...where you buy food.

my converts

dogs that don't touch me

bridges to cross the highway

really good bread that they have here

sleeping really good and being able to wake up early

hot showers

every person that I get to meet and talk to every day.

The list could go on forever.  But more than anything I'm so thankful for the Savior.  I am so so so not worthy to be a representative of Him.  But I'm so thankful that He gives me the opportunity.  I'm thankful that He created the earth and for all He taught to ancient prophets.  Im thankful for His teachings and His example when He was here.  Im thankful He got baptized.  Im thankful that He loved me enough to die for me and my sins and sorrows and difficulties.  Im thankful that He overcame death and continues to love me and help me.  What better way to start off Christmas seasn than thinking about Him.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Me trying to pop this kids balloon.

Me after winning the balloon game.

pupusas!

Hna E got cut out of the picture.
But just pretend like shes on the right hand side.

Wooo hoo!! Feliz cumpleanos for being born again through baptism.

Milagros!

Please bear with me if this email is really not exciting or doesn't make sense.  I cannot focus at all because tomorrow we have to get flu shots.  And anyone that knows me knows how I feel about shots.  I'll have to let you now next week if I make it without passing out.

Its still cold. I wake up shivering at night sometimes.  I feel like such a wimp!  Its a good adventure.  And it poured rain last night.  So I take back my good news from last week.  But the good news this week is that yesterday I accidentally broke the only mirror we have in our house, so I won't be able to put mascara on anyway!  So it all works out in the end.

Hna E and I are doing good.  We are always making each other laugh.  The other day she said something that was just so funny to me.  She gave me a hug after our companionship prayer at night and I freaked out because she accidentally tickled me.  Then she looked at me super surprised and asked me 'Can gringos be tickled?  I didn't think you guys could be tickled.'  It was so funny!  Of course we're ticklish.  Its funny to hear all these myths and weird ideas people have about the United States.

I feel like this sounds like such a downer email.  But I really am happy!  We have seen so many miracles this weekend! We are finally seeing more and more fruits of our labors. The zone leaders had told us to commit every contact to come to church. So we did and we found some positive people and took down their numbers to remind them of church. Saturday we couldn't find any of our positive investigators who had told us they'd come to church and that was rough. But that night we sent out messages to all our contacts to remind them of church. Sunday we had 6 investigators in church, 4 of which were street contacts from Saturday. We hadn't even taught them before and we didn't pass for them or anything! It was such a miracle. They all had a really good experience and are very pilas. I know we are going to be able to reach our goals this month. Heavenly Father is blessing us for being patient in our trials.

I love you all!
Hna Haymond

p.s.
and also with the funny things people think about Americans...there are beehives (12 year old girls) that leave with us (go visiting) and they are obsessed with my arm hair.  They always tell me that my blonde arm hairs are so cool.  Its just hilarious to me.  I went a whole lesson with one of them touching my little blonde arm hairs.  When you're feeling down just think about blonde arm hairs and that will cheer ya up.

This is the only picture I took this week. A member gave us toe socks for the cold.  My new latest look... cheetah Crocs with toe socks. (don't worry I don't wear them outside.)

Tanner, Fatter, Blonder

Just a warning.  The punctuation marks on this key board are all messed up.  So if I sound bored for using so many periods I'm sorry.  Just pretend like I'm excited.

We've had lots of adventures these last two weeks that I haven't had time to write about. We'll see if I can get it all in today.

Last week we had some funny faith building experiences.  There's a Beehive (12 year old girl)  that loves to leave with us.  She got baptized in August and shes already an awesome missionary.  She reminds me of Sadie.  She's just funny like that.  But last week we were walking and we saw a jocote tree.  Jocotes are fruits that are really good.  I don't really know what to compare it to.  But they're good. So the Beehive girl wanted to get some down to eat.  This tree was huge.  So we started chucking rocks to knock some down but we just couldn't.  I didn't want to waste time and be late for our visit so I told her okay five more minutes.  This is a trial of your faith.  We can get them down.   So we kept throwing rocks as hard as we can and she was getting kinda down because we weren't having any luck.  Then along comes this guy who stops and see what were trying to do.  He picks up a stick and on the first throw he knocked a ton down.  We were shocked. We had been trying so hard.  And the Beehive girl was so happy to get her jocotes.  She just kept saying I had faith I had faith.  It was a funny way to see that when we have faith everything is possible.  Even when other people need to help us.

Now for a segment of good news, bad news.   Good news...IT STOPPED RAINING:  Rainy season is officially over.  Which means I can wear mascara again.  What a blessing.  Bad News.  ITS STILL COLD.  I have to cover my head and use hoodies to sleep like camping.  Last Monday we went to the pacas to find clothes for the cold and I had to explain how to dress in the cold to Hna E.  She pulled something off the rack and said this would be so good to sleep in.  They were a pair of snow pants.  Its been an adventure for the both of us.  Anyway... Good news...We found Samuel the Lamanite and he went to church and hes going to get baptized(!/(¡  Bad news...turns out he lives in the Elders area. So they're going to be teaching him. But the important thing is that he gets baptized.  But that's all for now with good news bad news.

Hey.  Is anyone is still doing the Book of Mormon challenge?  If so let me know.   But its not too late to start.  I think you have to read like 6 pages a day to finish by the time I get home.  Its doable.  That's probably easier to say as a missionary who has an hour to study the scriptures everyday. haha but I know you can do it.  That's probably 20 or 30 minutes every day.  And you'll be blessed for it forever.  

The other day I had to show my ID to some one in the store to buy something.  They just laughed and said That's not you.  They didn't believe it was me until I pulled out like 3 more documents showing that it was me.  Yes, the picture on my id is from when i was 16.  But even when I pulled out a more recent one from 2 years ago the lady was still suspicious.  How many tall white girls are there in this country that I could have stolen an ID from.  It just made me laugh.  Apparently I look nothing like I used to.  Hna E has told me that too when we sees old pictures of me.  I'm thinking I can nail the changes down to three things...I'm tanner, blonder, and fatter.  That about sums it up.

Hna E was never part of the Young Women's program because she got baptized when she had 20 years.  So she started her personal progress on the mission.  Its really fun to help her with all the goals and read scriptures with her.  Shes so excited about it.  I wish I would have made my personal progress a more meaningful experience.  I did it.  And I can remember a few of my projects.  But its just not the same.  Helping her with personal progress is probably better for me than it is for her. haha

This week we realize that people are so eager to believe in the Book of Mormon.  In Spanish there aren't scriptures that come with the bible and the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price all stuck together in a giant book.  We have the bible and the triple separate.  And I always get out my triple and have it on my lap during lessons ready to look up scriptures.  So this week we were in a lesson with a really nice lady who was really passionate about what she believes in in her church.  She was starting to argue with us a little.  She pointed to my triple, clearly thinking it was the Bible, and said all we need to know is in that book.  Every single thing that God wants us to know it right here.  We don't need anything more or anything less just THAT book.   It was so hard not to laugh so we just agreed with her and finished with a prayer.  Afterwards I told Hna E that I have never seen anyone receive such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon that fast.  It gave us a good laugh.  But later that week it happened again.  We were dying trying not to laugh.  But Hna E just was honest and said Hermano, wow what a miracle.  You have already testified of this book and you didn't even know what it is.  The Spirit made you know its true.!  Ah.  Good ol Libro de Mormon.

Were teaching this cute little sick grandma.  She listened to the Elders before and she has a strong testimony but shes really sick and can't really come to church.  One day when we visited her she was feeling worse than normal, so we explained blessings and that the Priesthood holders have the authority from Christ to heal people.  She quickly accepted to receive a blessing.  So we ended the lesson and went out looking for some sacerdocio.  We ran across the high way to a members house (that's just how you get from point A to point B.  There's no other way to cross.) and within 5 minutes we had 2 priesthood holders at her house to give her a blessing.  The next day she felt good enough to go out walking with her friends.  She has a lot of faith.  It was a good reminder of the power of the priesthood.  That's really the only difference in this church when it come down to it.  This church has the authority of Christ.  It works miracles.  I'm so thankful for it and for the priesthood holders I know back home.  Its really good to know that even in Guatemala a priesthood blessing is only a jay walk across the highway away.

Love you.

Hermana Haymond

some sisters in our zone

So. Cold.

Its been so cold.  Someone please send me what the temperature is because I can't tell if I'm not used to the cold or if it really is cold.  But we're dying.

Ah!  And I'm almost out of time.  But if I don't write a lot today I'll do a recap of this week in the next email.  I won't forget anything I promise!

This week I thought of dad because I split an apple in half with my bare hands..TWICE!  Looks like jogging around the house half asleep for 30 minutes every day is really paying off.

So last month our district had the best retention.  Which means almost all of our recent converts came to church!  But today we get our prize.  We got 200 to spend how ever we wanted.  And we decided (and by we I mean the elders) to buy 2 ducks and have our cook cook them.  But we decided (and by we I mean hna E and I) that we need to use the money more wisely and buy 2 pizzas (since its 2 for 1 martes) and 1 duck.  So right now I'm waiting to go eat pizza and pato for lunch.  What a prize!  I'm actually way pumped.

Things aren't getting easier  but we are still happy!  I'm thankful for my companion and other missionaries that help me stay positive.

Well.  I have to go eat duck.  I'll send something better next week

Love you!!!

Me. Cold this morning. In my bed.  Whats the temp in el tjar chilmaltenange in ferinhit

Theres a less active family that has a lemon tree that has HUGE lemons.
They always give us like 10!

We were trying to take pictures of how wet we were after a really rainy day.
But I was too tall and she was too short.
This is my favorite.  I feel like Mike Wazowski and Sully.

Adventures of Alma and Amulek...Change #3!

First things first.  Yesterday we found out the Hna E and I don't have changes!  This will be my 4th change here and our 3rd change together!  Woo!  We're super pumped and we are so determined to baptize and help the ward.

I've been reading in Alma lately and I've decided that Hna E and I are like Alma and Amulek.  She's a cute little pilas convert and I trained her and now we're ready to go out and work miracles!  Just like Alma and Amulek (mas o menos).

Last Thursday we got up on the wrong side of the bed.  Actually, We woke up LATE!  It was horrible.  I opened my eyes and Hna E had just popped up to tell me 'It's really late!'  It was 6:57!!!  And we have to be out of bed by 6:30.  We always wake up at 5:30 but neither one of us heard the alarm or saw the light come in the window or anything!  It was awful. So we called president and repented really fast and forgave ourselves so we could go on with our day without feeling like losers.  Waking up late is basically one of the worst missionary sins to me.  That morning I opened my eyes and I had already sinned!!!! I hadn't even gotten out of bed and I had messed up!  What a great start to your day.  But it's funny to think about.  I'm pretty sure that only as a missionary you could wake up and already have sinned.  

So the reason Hna E woke up´was because she felt a super sharp pain in her neck.  We joked and said that Heavenly Father punched her in the neck just so we would finally get out of bed.  But the greatest part was...karma.  She made fun of me SO much 2 weeks ago when I couldn't look left because my neck hurt so bad.  And this time she couldn't look right.  She kept saying 'This is all for laughing at you, I just know it.'  She's fine now. But she learned her lesson.  Don't make fun of your trainers!  :)

Things aren't getting easier in the area but we're not losing the faith!  I really feel that we get this one more change together to work lots of miracles!  We have lots of ideas to work better with the members and to get people to church.  We have lots of really positive investigators.  Now is the time!  We just know it!  As a mission we have the goal of 400 baptisms again in November.  And I just know its going to happen!

Thanks for all your prayers!  We sure need them.

Love you!

Hna Haymond

This family is way cool.  the younger ladies in this picture are less active.  but the old grandma is so PILAS!!!  Her whole family got baptized but her and her husband.  Her husband said he was going to kill her if she got baptized.  But she kept going to church.  She told me she was SO HAPPY when he died because she could finally get baptized.  She is so shakey and fragile.  But she is always the first one in church on sundays.  she walks like 40 minutes to get to church and never misses.  so next time you think you should stay home in your jammies and not go to church, think of this little abuelita pilisimas.

So one of the Sisters who does divisions with us got addicted to this candy that comes with these little soccer player figures.  So she started giving them to us with little quotes to motivate us during our studies.  we've made a few more too.  

these ones say... 

i love how you recieve inpriation during your personal study.

 You look good when you make lesson plans.

and....

I will wait for you!!

Chicote quita el Bigote

It was another week with miracles and lots of chances to learn.  Last Wednesday we thought we had 0 candidates for baptism for this month.  But on Thursday we were knocking doors.  It was like 20 minutes before lunch and I wanted to leave to eat.  But I felt like we needed to keep knocking.  We found a girl who has lived in our area for 2 months.  But before she was going to church and listening to Elders in the capital! She has like a million assistances at church!  It was crazy!  It got us so pumped.  Then later that night Hna E contacted this guy on the bus  Who had just moved here from the States.  He also has gone to church forever!  When I called him that night he said 'me quede con ganas de bautizarme.' Which basically means when the Elders stopped coming he felt like getting baptized!  His name is Samuel. We call him Samuel el Lamanita.  By the end of the day we had 2 new candidates to be baptized!  There's still lots of work to do with them.  But it was awesome.

Saturday the stake did a mini MTC with the young men and young women.  They had training Saturday morning.  Then each companionship in the stake received a group of jovenes (umm...the only word that comes to mind to explain that word is youngsters.).  We received 9 girls!!!  We were like holy cow no one is going to want to receive 12 of us.  So we did divisions.  Hna E had 3 of them and I had 6.  It was so crazy!  And so fun!  I felt like all of a sudden I had 6 daughters.  They were so brave and contacted and taught and did awesome.  We didn't teach anything I had planned, but that's okay.  It was fun to see them get to teach. At the end of the day they slept at a members house and couldn't use their cell phones or anything so it was just a real mission experience (kinda.).  How cool is that activity!  They all bore their testimonies in church and want to go one missions.  But I wish someone would have taken a picture of me and 6 little jovencitas trotting through the rain filled streets.  I'm sure it was a great sight.

I'm feeling a lot better.  But Monday Tuesday and Wednesday I pretty much didn't have a voice.  I think it was good because Hna E had to take the initiative.  I feel like I'm leaving with changes next week, so it was good for her to take the lead.

Thanks so much for all the love and support!

Hna Haymond

My group of girls from the mini CCM.

Imagine me all alone with these girls in a line behind me running around Guatemala.

Other cute girls.  They were with hna E.

This is an inactive guy.  He's a member of a really pilas family.  We thought he was older than he was because he had a mustache.  So we told him to shave it off and he did.  If only people would accept other commitments like he got rid of his mustache.

This is a recent converts daughter.  SHE IS SO CUTE!

Look where we went yeterday! woo!

After eating crepes.  I still eat a lot.  I finished the elders crepes.  One time my district leader say 'wow you eat like an Elder.  And work like one too.'  I quickly corrected him and told him I work like a SISTER! way harder than the elders.

We went to colinas again last week.