April 24, 2013

memorial for those in the bombing

Hello!

It seems like forever ago that I wrote but it was actually a shorter time than normal.

Wednesday we went back downtown. There was an eary feeling knowing that the last time I had been down there something terrible had happened. They had cleaned it up really nicely and the people had set up a little memorial on the sidewalk. We ended up signing one of the signs with some words of strength and comfort. 

memorial to those involved in the bombing. Many runners tied their shoes in remembrance.

Karee and her companion signed this along with many others to show that Boston is strong

 Then we went to H&M so Hna. Hileman could find a few things. I don't know if it is just that I am not in the mindset to go shopping or if the mission is really getting to me, but I didn't find anything at that store that was appealing to me. It seemed totally different than any other H&M I had ever been to. We went in the middle of the day to go teach a lesson because sister Hileman had accidentally scheduled it for our p day. The woman "wasn't home" so we went to a nearby park and wrote letters. It was really nice outside and I tried to get some sun. It is really interesting how people can just tell that there is something different about us by looking at us. It might be taht we are dressed up and sitting in a not so nice part of town, but still, it's like we are lights showing in the world of darkness. We later went to a dinner at the Aneu family. They are an older couple from Guatamala. Hno has some kind of cancer so he doesn't come to church as offten but they are a super solid family. I love going over there because they uplift us. The wouldn't let us leave the house without two bags full of fruit to take home. I love how willing these people are to share all that they have even when they don't have a lot for themselves.

Thursday was to transfer meeting. I have been every time since getting here. Not very usual I guess. But it is neat to be able to go. I have sat in the same seat each time. It was nice to hear the testimonies of the missionaries who are going home and hear from the president and his wife. We were also blessed to hear from Sister Packard's parents who have been visiting. Then we went to walk around the temple. I took some pictures. Lunch at Chipotle and then off to teach. We taught at the Henriquez family about the commandments (from lesson 4) to the littlest girl who got baptized on Sunday.

Friday we had district meeting as a group of spanish missionaries... that is weird. Our district was reorganized as a hatian companionship left and we got a new set of spanish sisters. After we went to a lesson with Eridania where we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shared a really cool insight about how she has noticed a difference when she reads the scriptures. She told us that she has a condition that she has to take medicine for, but when she reads the scriptures her condition isn't as bad and she doesn't have to take as much of the perscription. How neat! The Book of Mormon blesses lives in so many different ways, but it blesses the lives of all who read it! We also got a mini missionary Friday night. We weren't expecting to, but sister wagner was still trying to get things all settled with her new companion and they didn't have as many appointments set up. So we adopted an english speaking mini missionary named Sister Porter.

pics of district meeting

Saturday we looked for baptismal suits at the church while the english sisters took our mini to do a community service. we had good intentions to do a visit with a member Sister Tome, but the trains were not running as they usually are so there was a bit of miscommunication and we ended up missing the less active we were going to go teach. Sad. But the day got so much better. We had a dinner with sister Allen! She is so amazing! She spent all morning preping for this wonderful dinner called Pupusas (sp?) Then she spent the rest of the day cleaning her house before we came. I love her because she is reaches out to all who are in need. Even when she doesn't know that they have any needs. She devotes her friday evenings to go around with the missionaries and is so good at teaching. So papusas are SO GOOD!!! you take some corn flour and make a dough like you are going to make corn tortillas, then you make them into a ball and then pat them around till they are flat, then you put in a little meat and veggie mix and then a little cheese mix (she used like 3 different kinds and then grated them together) then you close it back into a ball and then pat it back out. Then you put it on the grittle to cook like a tortilla. You eat them hot and put a pickled cabbage on top. That sounds weird but its SO DELICIOUS!!  I ate four!  She was so nice to let us learn how to make them. I love how she calls me Mami (it's a term of endearment between mother and child, it's like she has adopted me) Then we went and taught a lesson to Nora... who by the way has been coming to church. She told us that she has been reading in the Gospel Principles book. She also was at the church earlier that day to take an english class to see where she would be if she wanted to start with the BYU-I pathway classes. Which would be so great because she would be taking Book of Mormon classes!

Sunday was a wonderful, but slightly stressful day. We had a double baptism which was wonderful, but It was last minute so it was stressful trying to get everything ready. Eli is the 11 year old who comes from a part member family. We actually didn't know that she wasn't baptized until she told us one day taht she wanted to be baptized. The other is Andrea who is 8. She was waiting until her grandma could come from Venezuela. She ended up giving a talk and telling that it meant a whole lot because she was born under the covenant and she was the third generation. After the baptism there was a feast! Like really! Everyone got a plate full of food and later a huge slice of cake. There were a lot of people there from the english and spanish groups. It was way cool. Oh I spoke! All six missionaries spoke actually. We found out about it friday and I didn't really have any time to prepare. Which is always slightly frightening. I talked about how there are people in the ward who are not active, but who Heavenly Father has not forgotten about. How it was up to us to find them and help them come back. The goal for this month is 100% for both visiting and home teaching. We are going to be helping with that! After church and the baptism we went over to Caroline's house (a 10 year old who is the only member in her family. She is so funny.) we let the mini missionary take lead on that lesson. Later we went to the southern most part of boston, at the end of hyde park we took the bus to the end and then kept walking. We were looking for a less active, guess what... she doesn't live there. thats ok. It is part of leaving the 99 to go after the one!

Andrea and her grandma and friend

Andrea , her grandma and dad

Ellie, an eleven yr old, and her family, Karee, and Hrma Hileman

Tomorrow Sister Wagner and I might get to go to the temple with Christine (yea the one who was running in the marathon. who got baptized last weekend) I get to go because i taught her so we are going to try to go on splits in the morning. We have a very full schedule for the week so it should be really fun!

I love you all!

Writing letters in the park

pictures at the park while writing letters

Sweet smiles in the park