Christmas

Hermana Bracha is taking this week off from her email for me to blog. We had a great skype visit with her and she is doing well. She was thrilled to report 2 upcoming baptisms. She looks and sounds fabulous and continues to love the people of Guatemala.

She did send along a few pictures and a note that for Preparation Day yesterday they played volleyball and basketball for 2 hours so she was in heaven.

Afterwards they had a water fight because it is a least "10,000 degrees"! (her words:)

Is it Christmas yet?

At our Multi-zone Conference

Tuesday: We found two amazing investigators that are progressing a ton! I think I already mentioned Adan, HE ACCEPTED FECHA! he's going to get baptized the 7th of January!!! Both he and Karina came to church yesterday! Such an amazing blessing! Long story short, we had really good lessons with them this past week and then they came to church and we have scheduled lessons for the upcoming week. So YAYYY!

I must learn Spanish!

Wednesday: I went on exchanges with the Hermana leaders and was with Hermana Moore which was super fun and we played basketball at the church with one of her investigators and I totally creamed them! It was hilarious, they were so confused because I was in a dress and everything! so fun!

Friday: we had the Christmas multi-Zone get together which was SO FUN, and so spiritual! President made me go up and bear my testimony, well really share my thoughts on the video that we had just watched and I was seriously so nervous because my Spanish is .... well you know. But I guess it turned out okay, but man was I nervous!! We had a fancy lunch and did skits within our zones, and all was fun! And then President gave a really amazing spiritual thought and we watched Christmas videos about the church. After the zona we had a Noche de Hogar which is where 20 members from the ward pack in a bus and drive to a family's house to do a FHE! and this family seriously lives soooo far away, like 20 minutes in car, and then another 15 minutes of walking through pure mud. The amazing thing about this family is that they are converts of about maybe three months. Yet they have always, since the first Sunday that they came to church, have never been late. Church starts at 10:00 this year, and then in the new year it's going to start at 8. Still this family is always, ALWAYS on time and sitting on the front row. There's 10 of them and they're so amazing. When we got to their house, it was seriously four pieces of lamina bolted together, with a single flashlight hanging in the middle of the ceiling. That's the only light they have after about 6:30 everyday. Can we just take a moment to think about this family? They have really, not very much, yet they are some of the happiest people I have ever met and they love the church so much. They are such an inspiration to me. Being there made me rethink a lot of things in my life, and just how blessed we are as Americans, and all the little simple everyday things that we take for granted.

Early Christmas Presents!!

THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE, I LOVE everything and sorry but I already opened it because I wanted the music. Thanks Bron!!! 

Lately I have been studying a lot about the atonement and studying how everything is intertwined. We have to fully understand that every concept works together in order to have the full atonement. God is so loving he created this whole plan for us and it has been organized since before we can even remember. We already chose to follow him once, we must choose again! Now is the time to follow Christ, which is also following God and preparing ourselves to live with them again!

ILUMINAelMUNDO! is literally the easiest and most amazing way to do it! God knows all, and if we trust in him He will help us. There's a song my comp always listens to and there's a phrase that I love so much that says, you know better than I, to the one that sees all the pieces put together. It's true because He literally knows all. I don't know why but that hit me so hard this week. I need to have complete trust in Him in order to do the work, find the people, and learn the language.  A scripture that I have come to love so much is in Moroni 10:32 and its says, "come unto Christ and be perfected in him" so simple, so clear, and so direct. Come unto Christ, believe in Him, and trust Him. Remember Christ in all times of our lives, not only Christmas! We need to not have fear with the gospel and the amazing gift that we have! The gospel is a gift! I love this work.

I am so grateful to be here. I love Guatemala, but above all I love my Savior and the scriptures! I know that this is the true gospel, and church, and way of life. If we follow Christ, read, pray, and try our very best we can do all things. I know this to be true. I love everything about this. I LOVE TO BE A MISSIONARY! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Enjoy the snow, I sure do miss that!

Love,

Hermana Bracha

OKAY FAM!!!

My new area is called Malacatan and we are in the centralish area so it's really nice and there's a bunch of markets and stores nearby. We have the stake center as our church and it's two stories! It's so beautiful!!! I like it a lot here; however, there is a ton of hills. I'm always so tired and IT'S SO HOTTT!! Like straight up dripping sweat always and the bugs are eating me alive!

BUT IT'S SO FUN! My new companion is awesome!!! Her name is Hermana Zamudio and she is from the Mexican colonies and SPEAKS PERFECT ENGLISH!! Blesssss my soul:) Presidente even told me that he felt really good about that because he knew that I needed an outlet haha. But so everything with her and the area is great, other than the fact that we are opening the area... so hahah we're always lost, and don't know anything! But it's fun starting everything together!

Me and Hermana Zamudio

The other day we were walking and I said hey should we contact him? So we went up to this man and starting talking and he was saying that he has been looking for Jesus in his life and a church! So we gave him a Book of Mormon and committed him to read and taught the first lesson. We have a follow up appointment with him tomorrow! So pray for Adan please!!! I feel really good about him and hope that everything works out with him. And the other lady we met named Anna, has a son of three years and he is adorable and we hope that things are going to continue on with her!

I came across a scripture today that said ... Choose ye this day whom ye will serve..... SO for all of you, in this amazing wonderful time of Christmas when we're all focused on presents and fun, choose. Choose who are you going to serve, today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life. Who do you want to be like and who are you going to love. Christ! I hope everyday that I will be able to continue to be like my savior Jesus Christ, and follow His example. I am so grateful for the sacrifice that He made for me and everything that I am able to do in this life because of Him. To have the knowledge that my faults and mistakes, I can overcome. I don't have to always carry the burden of the hardness, or sins. I can be forgiven. I will be forgiven. and I will live with Father in Heaven again. So for me, I loved that scripture so much.

The new area is awesome, the comp is awesome, and we're trying to work really hard and I hope that this week we will we have a lot of people in church and progressing! Everyday spanish is a little bit better and life is so fun. I LOVE TO BE A MISSIONARY! And I love to be in this work.

Lunch with my new District

I love you all and love this church and my savior with all my heart.
Merry almost Christmas!!!!

HERMANA BRACHA

HOLA... Brillando

Thanksgiving Dinner last week!

Meeting with President and Sister Goodman

Tuesday: we had our last practice with the Primary for the program and they surprised us with a pinata and some gifts because it was Hermana Barnum's last day! So cute, it's adorable how much the children love us. They always are hugging us and yelling Hermanas! It's so precious!

Wednesday: we were contacting and this guy came up to talk to us and started speaking in English, so we were kind of thrown-off and were like what in the world? AND THEN, I was thinking why is your English so weird? and he says, ya, I lived in South Carolina for 25 years! He had the thickest accent and called us mam and everything. It was so funny and oh my goodness, made my whole day!

Thursday: we went to another area near by us and did service for the ILUMINAelMUNDO which EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING! And picked up trash. That explains these pictures of me and Barnum in hats with gloves.... beautiful I know:) But it was so fun and we contacted so much for them in the area. Oh my goodness it was so hot, I don't think I have ever sweated so much in my life!

Nothing like chopping wood in a dress!

Friday: we found a really cool family that vendes tortillas, so we'll see what happens with them!

Sunday: We had Stake Conference practice for the coro and despues and we had the Christmas devotional!!! Which was sooooo good, I really hope you all listened to that! It was seriously so good, and it was so cool to see all the missionaries there with their investigators! 

Monday: we had our last pday with the missionaries that are leaving! We have three missionaries in our zone leaving so it was kind of sad, but it was also cool because we did a big activity and it was fun.

AND! I'm being transferred! I still don't know where, but somewhere way far away from my area bc they're bringing someone else to play the piano for the Stake Conference which means I wont be in Mazate anymore. President called me and said that he felt really good about my new companion and area, so we'll see what happens and how things go! Wednesday we'll have transfers, so well see where I am next week! sooo... pray that my companion is nice, and my area isn't toooooo hot! jokes on the heat.

Honestly I love to be a missionary. Often I catch myself thinking about what an amazing opportunity I have been given. I literally get to say everyday that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. Wow, I get to represent him in my actions, words, and everything that I do. Everyday I have the chance, privilege, and duty to invite people to follow him. I could not imagine doing anything better with my time than what I am doing. We found out that the two little girls who we baptized, their mom who had been inactive for quite sometime, is now going to church every week and is being more involved with the church. What a blessing!

I love everything about this gospel and know that its true. I know that it is the only thing in this world that will bring us true true happiness. I love you all and hope everyone is safe and well!!!!

I pray for everyone and keep up the service!!!!

Love you,

Hermana Bracha

For Nicki

IluminaelMundo!!!

I don't know what it's called in English, but for December the Church is doing a service push. Every day of December there is a short video on Mormon.org to give ideas and inspiration on how we can serve other people around us! How cool is that!! EVERYONE GO CHECK IT OUT, I LOVE THE VIDEOS SO MUCH!

We've been doing a lot of member work with the Primary and the Stake choir, so that's been fun, but also makes it really hard because we haven't had a lot of time to work in our area. So pray for us to find people that want to progress!!! Most everyone commits and then they are never home, or don't come to church!! But things are going to get better! 

Something I came across this week in my study was this phrase in the talk from Brad Wilcox  ... "Grace is our constant energy source. It isn't the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is the light that carries and guides us through the tunnel. It is not a finishing touch, but the finisher's touch" ...... WOW. Can we just! When I read that I was blown away. Christ's grace is what gets us through the tunnel and makes us want to be better. Everyone should read that talk too, its amazing.

Thursday we had Thanksgiving as a zone which was so fun. I'll try and send pics next week! A woman in our ward prepared a turkey for us with salsa, it was yummy but super weird too haha! Then I made an apple pie, creamed corn, pasta salad, and green beans. SO that was fun because I haven't gotten to cook in a long time and I missed it. It was super fun to all be together as a zone!

Lots of choir practices this coming week! I LOVE TO BE A MISSIONARY! We as missionaries are really focusing on the IluminaelMundo once December hits! We're going to do service everyday to any person, religion, anything!! This invitation is for everyone.. SO DO IT!

Sorry this week I'm lame, my brain is broken I think, who knows? I LOVE YOU ALL! I know this church is true, and if you read the book of Mormon you will too. There is so much proof in that book that we have a Savior who loves us and knows us. Just read it, but actually pay attention when you read it, but read it! I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and receives revelation for us, and for him I am so grateful. I love this church and pray that every single one of you are safe and happy. But if you want to be even more happy... DO THE SERVICE! When we are in the service of our fellowmen we are in the service of our GOD! Who is everything!

Love your fave missionary,

Hermana Bracha 

¿Estoy en Guatemala?

This road reminds me of the backroad from Tualatin to Sherwood

Sometimes I honestly forget that I am in Guatemala until we start walking to our investigators' houses and we're walking through LITERALLY KNEE HIGH WATER!!! Tuesday it rained SO hard and when we left we walked through a street that went to our KNEES! It was crazy haha, but so cool! 

This week was really awesome, but also a bummer. We had 7 people committed to come to church, but then none of them came. BUT, a recent convert came. and she probably lives a good 4ish miles from the church building and there are many hills. Long story short, she walked ALL the way to the church with her two month old baby on her back and her two other children -- talk about dedication! It was such a milagro that she made it there and we were so happy to see her! Also it was amazing that we found a family of 7!! 7 people! The mom's name is Marta and she was super positive, so we're going to see what happens. She was super interested when we were talking about eternal families! That's a big thing for a lot of people here! 

This week we had the meeting with all the new missionaries and I got to see my Hermana Ralph!!!!!! I missed her so so much! and also my Hermanas Tree and Taylor! it was such a fun reunion! And Presidente Goodman is so awesome and always says such amazing things. I love him and Sister Goodman. 

Me and Hermana Ralph -- back together again:)

We also almost had 170 members at church which was so awesome! It's so fun playing the piano for the Primary, they are so adorable. Sorry this week I'm kind of boring. I honestly can't think of what happened. The days feel like years and the weeks feel like days. :)

I love everyone so much and always miss and have a prayer for you in my heart! These past couple of weeks i have been reading the Book of Mormon so much and honestly it is my favorite book that i have ever read. I love it so much. If you're feeling sad, happy, or anything really, READ THE BOOK OF MORMON! it is so amazing, and the message is wonderful. I love the promises and the blessings that the book brings and the testimonies of our Savior as well. 

I Love my nametag showing that I am a missionary!!

I'm so grateful to be a missionary AND I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Something that President said at our meeting was that, its a privilege to be a missionary, not an obligation. And I was thinking wow, seriously though, it IS a privilege! What an amazing privilege to say that I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and get to share my testimony and love for my Savior the best that I can in another language. (Which is also hard....Spanish is hard!) 

Today we ate at Wendy's which is always so weird, and I also think of you Dad! funny funny!
I love you all so much!!!!! Have a good week!

Love your fave misionera!

Hermana Bracha

Beautiful Sunset

Baptisms!

The baptism of Danissa and Daniela was a wreck! haha. We got there at 1:45 to be ready to greet everyone and no one came. It was 2:30 and the baptism was supposed to start at 2:00 and nobody was there, not even Bishop! We called the Bishop and were like uhhh you coming? The little girls were so sad because no one was there, and it was just sad haha. So long story short, 50 phone calls later and an hour and a half later, that's right, the baptism started at 3:30! But we had 20 people there to see it and enough priesthood holders to get it on the road! It was so amazing, and spiritual. and aaaah, it was just the best! Such a good feeling and they are so adorable! 

Baptism of Danissa and Daniela

So it turns out I'm like the only person in Guatemala that knows how to play the piano. So I'm playing for the primary presentation and stake conference. They didn't even ask me either haha, the stake president just came and told me that I was going to play for the choir. So cool! Actually though, it will be awesome and good for me to gain a little bit of the members' trust because it's not like I'm really able to talk to them or anything, hahah! My Spanish is improving everyday, but normally its just me smiling and laughing because I either don't know what they are saying or don't know how to say what I want to say, but OH WELL, with time, eh?

Hermana Barnum and I have so much fun, she's the best, and my zone is really awesome too! I really love it here so much and I don't know why because it's only been like three weeks, but I just have such a love for it! I am constantly sweating though, like insane amounts of sweat. But it's so funny because Hermana Barnum always has a sweat stache. Who knew Americans got those! I always sweat like under my eyes, yuck, but its great! It still rains every day around three until the evening.

They tell me this is a grapefruit

These are our pets living outside our door.

Sooooo this week is going to be awesome because we have 5 new people we're starting to teach! Unfortunately none of them came to church... but that's okay, next week I have faith that they will! It's just so frustrating because they commit to coming and then don't show! But we met this lady on the street that works at a tortille vende and she was telling us that her mom had just passed away a couple days ago. Hermana Barnum whips out a plan of salvation pamphlet and we started to teach her the plan of salvation. The woman and her daughter were crying when we told her that she would be able to see her mom again. It was so spiritual and probably one of the most amazing moments I have ever had in my life. I love this gospel and the peace and spirit we feel when we testify of it to others.
Hopefully I'll have an update on her next week!

The path we take to teach one of our investigators!

I love you all so much and have such a strong testimony of prayer. God hears us and answers when we have the faith. I have felt my prayers answered so many times while being here. We are God's children and he loves us and is always helping us. Jesus is our savior and with faith in Him we can do all. But we need to constantly be trying our best everyday!! I love everyone so much! I love being a missionary!!!!!!

Love the coolest missionary ever,
Hermana Bracha 

P.S. Guatemalans listen to country music, who knew? And American rap, so weird, haha. 

Week 2...

Beautiful Sunset

Hermana Ralph and Hermana Bracha at the Temple

Wendys!!

First Companion -- Hermana Ralph

Wow, let's just say that this week was a rollercoaster of emotions! Butttttt, we have a baptism this Saturday! and then hopefully another one in two weeks! We were at a member's house that I LOVE, she is the coolest, Hermana Candy! and she says, "there's a less active who lives around the corner, you should go and talk to her." It turns out she has two little girls, 9 and 8, and neither of them have been baptized and the mom hadn't gone to church in awhile. Long story short, we've been teaching the girls the lessons and they are both getting baptized this week. 

The other woman we have been teaching is named Gaby, and she is the daughter of a man that my companion taught about a year ago. We asked her, "what do you think are the ways in which we show our faith?" and she says, "well going to church, keeping the commandments, and um, well I should probably get baptized right?" Hermana Barnum just looks at me and goes, "ya! how does the 26th sound?" and she said great. haha. It was the coolest thing! It's amazing how the Lord helps us find the people that are prepared and ready to receive the gospel. but anyways, she's the coolest. 

So apparently I ate cow tongue and stomach this week. On November first they eat this dish called fiambre. Nobody knows why, but it's just tradition and they eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's kind of good, it's literally just a ton of like lunch meats and vegetables. But after she asked us if we liked it, and of course we say, oh ya, we loved it.. right? And then my comp holds up this weird thing and asks what it was and the woman says, estomago. EWWW! I can only imagine the face I pulled because everybody started laughing at me, but haha, ew ew ew. I was trying so hard not to gag. And then the woman continued to tell us everything that was in there and there was tongue, and other weird junk. I will spare the details. So yay, my first weird experience. Other than that, it's just a lot of rice and chicken which is yummy, and then beans and eggs, and TORTILLAS! Tortillas with literally everything, even spaghetti. Like huuuuuh? who eats tortillas with spaghetti? Weird. It's like they worship tortillas here, it's hilarious. They think they are so healthy. Oh well, I love it here. The language is hard, but I am understanding a lot more than the first day so that's a bonus! Talking is just super hard. Sometimes I forget I'm in Guatemala because today we ate at Pizza Hut and we were going to make cookies as a zone but then there wasn't any electricity so that was unfortunate. Other than that it's good here. OH YA! So it's been raining, so around 3:00 it just started pouring, like nothing compared to Oregon rain because here when you are in the rain for three seconds you are soaked head to toe. 

One more amazing experience that happened this week was that we were visiting this recent convert Dulio. He was sad because his son had just moved to the states, and we were just talking and stuff and then I asked him if we could sing a hymn for him. So Hermana Barnum and I sang Secret Prayer. In the middle of the first verse I noticed his eyes were kind of teary, and then by the end of the second verse he had tears just streaming down his face. When we were done he thanked us like 10 times and said that it was so beautiful and he was so grateful for us. Then both of us bore our testimonies on prayer and it was amazing, definitely the highlight of the week!

There's a ton of english music here, so weird. Like Drake playing loudly so we also turn our church hymns up to drown out the music. I love it and I love singing with Barnum.

I LOVE TO BE A MISSIONARY. I love waking up everyday and telling people who I represent and who I put my trust in and right now my happiness. I'm so grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to learn more everyday!!!

I love everyone so much!!!
Much love,

My Trainer -- Hermana Barnum

Hermana Bracha 

HELLO FROM MEZALTENANGO!!

As you can tell my area is called Mezaltenango. Oh my goodness it's crazy here but I love it! We have lunch and dinner everyday with someone in the ward and it's so hard because they want to know who I am and where I'm from, but turns out I AM HORRIBLE at Spanish! I sometimes avoid eye contact so people won't talk to me hahahah, but oh well, I know with time that will get better.

It's crazy here, like crazy! It's a lot more modern than I expected, there's a lot of little kids with phones and Taco Bell, Burger King, and McDonalds! So weird, but then there's also people who literally live in metal shacks with dirt floors, so it's the best of both worlds I guess. I forgot my camera cord so I will send a ton of pics next week!

My trainer is an American!!! I feel so blessed, I try to talk in Spanish, but its hard when I don't know how to and it really helps to have her, plus she is amazing and I love her death. The only down side is that this is her last transfer so after this transfer I'm going to get a new companion, so I will have two trainers.

It's so fun. Sometimes we take transportation which is literally just a van that they pack people in like crazy and it's so hot and stinky, but it beats walking! Did I mention IT IS SO HOT HERE? I don't think I have stopped sweating in the past week, but oddly enough I don't mind it anymore because everyone is sweaty ya know?

But oh man, I just can't wait until I am able to be crazy and talk to everyone! so on my first day we got to Retalhuleu and did all the interviewing stuff and left and got to our area, dropped our bags and went to dinner at a members house. SO SCARY! and then right after we went tracting and taught a lesson. That was terrifying, but the next day, we found 9 new investigators!!! 9!!! It was awesome, we just started talking to everyone and got a ton of people, so right now we are teaching 7 of them. But sadly only one of the ladies came to church yesterday, so that's why I'm excited for this week to teach more and hopefully get them to church!

But anyways. augh I know I'm missing a ton of stuff but I cant remember anything that has happened other than I love it herrrrreeee! This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I know with time it will get a little easier.... I am so grateful for the blessing of prayer, to be able to pore my heart out to my Father in heaven and know that someone is listening to what I am saying. And to have a Savior that knows what I am feeling, and knows how to help me. Hopefully next week I will have a little more to report. I am so blessed to be a part of this work, and I love waking up and putting on my name tag everyday to say that I AM a representative of Jesus Christ on the earth, to teach and testify of his ministry on this Earth. WHAT a blessing I have been given . I love you all so much!!! 

Much, much love, from the coolest missionary ever...

Hermana Bracha 

I'm Here!

We just got to Reu and holy moly it's as hot as can be and my arms are like burned already. I can't even believe I'm here already! We left the ccm at 4:30 in the morning and then just got here 5 hours later!

We are doing interviews and lunch at the church with President and Sister Goodman. They are the sweetest, I love them so much! They are so so nice! I don't know for sure who my companion is or anything, I'm assuming she will be a Latina.

Okay, love you all so much! Here we gooooo!! Pray for me, its so hot here! I love being a missionary!!!!

Love,

Hermana Bracha

Guatemala City Temple

VOLLEYBALL AND CHURROS!

When we play sports basically all we ever play is volleyball and it is literally like a prison yard as Hermana Ralph and I call it. We are like the only nortes who play so its funny because they always want us on their team. But anyways, all the missionaries gather around and watch while people are playing and it gets so fun and crazy. There is this one latino elder who is amazing, and so I always set him and vice versa and we kill everyone. It's awesome!

On Wednesday they made real, real traditional guatemalan food and it was the best thing I have probably ever had in my entire life. I kid you not, we probably each ate 40 churros. They weren't like the Costco ones mom, they were amazing. So yummy! There were enchiladas and tacos and so much food. I have never eaten so much! 

Nothing too exciting happened this week other than I LEAVE FOR THE FIELD A WEEK FROM YESTERDAY! That is so crazy to me, so I'm not quite sure if I will get to write next week or not, so if you don't hear from me don't freak out because I'll probably write when I get to the mission home? 

It's so fun here, and our new investigator has already commited to baptism so that's awesome! We teach him tonight so who knows what's going to happen. He has a ton of questions and answering in Spanish is always the hardest part after we've already had to decifer what he was saying! haha.

Yikes this email is lame. Temple today and language study everyday! I love Hermana Ralph and leaving her is going to be so sad! We always pray at dinner that we will get to be companions in the future, so here's hoping! I hope everyone is doing well! I love the mission, and I love being a missionary! 

CONGRATS ZACK AND KATE ON THE BABY BOY!!! so happy for you two!!! keeping the nephew tradition a little while longer, I love it!

I HATE KETCHUP! so so much, obviously. Latinos put it on everything! PIZZA, SOUP, DOESN'T MATTER. I legit want to gag at least once a day because of the smell and watching what they put it on. it's really yucky hah

I found this scripture this week in my personal study and it was so profound to me in the moment, it says: behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life... 3 Nephi 5:13. I was just thinking THAT'S ME. That's literally what my purpose of my life right now is. In one week I will be in Reu, preaching the word of God among the people as a disciple of Christ. I am a representative of Him and hope that everyday my actions are fulfilling my purpose. So with that said, I love being a missionary and can't wait until I am teaching and helping REAL people and helping to change peoples lives! 

Love and miss you all sooooo so much!

Con amor,

Hermana Bracha 

We are very fortunate to have Hermana Taylor's mom send along some happy pictures!

Arrival day.

First temple trip.

Apparently Hermana Bracha is still super strong!

Happy Hermanas!!