Week #7 Tengo Mas Peso en mi Tobillo (I have a Fat Ankle)

Hola Buenas!

Wow I love the field! So much! It's so different and it's so good for me.
Hardcore culture shock the first day out here. Freezing shower, bugs everywhere, and dogs everywhere and hungry all the time. But the mountains!!!! I have a balcony and every morning I get to see the view. Words can't describe it. Honestly! Hopefully in pictures throughout my mission you will be able to see it.

So many investigators! So much work, so much walking, but so so so much joy!!! The Gospel is crazy and it's even better that it is the same everywhere you go!

What's not the same is the language. Ay karumba. I want to understand what people are saying so bad. In church, it is easy to understand and sometimes in lessons. I don't feel like I am progressing at all but my Companera says that i am progressing a little bit every day! Line upon line precept upon precept.

We already have had a zone meeting. I did not understand all of what was said but the main message I did understand. Presidente Shumway wants to make this zone a stake! That is exciting news!

So we have a bat living in our house. I should probably learn not to scream every time it comes swooping out of nowhere butttt that might take some time. 😃

Now for my title of my email. In English, I gained weight in my ankle. And not because the food is plentiful. I got a bug bite which lead to a NASTY infection. I couldn't walk without my skin being pulled and lots of lots of pain and I couldn't move my ankle hardly any but I kept walking and kept going which lead to a bigger ankle. This was probably more painful than the ten blisters I had on trek. Maybe even up there with the most pain I have ever had in my body ever. It killed. I probably had constant pain in half of my leg. Luckily, it was only swelling and tons of pain. I only had one pair of shoes that i could wear because my foot was huge. I got a blessing and antibiotics. (Here you can buy antibiotics without a prescription, like over the counter) and then just when I thought I couldn't have any more pain, I got another bug bite! Hopefully, this one doesn't get infected. It was a little bit hard because i could have fixed my ankle sooner if my Companera had listened to me, but it's ok. It is slowly getting better now. I told the mission President's wife and she helped me. Puedo hacerlo! I can do it!


Just when i was at my lowest, with my ankle and joy, Heavenly Father blessed me with two miracles! We were contacting and my companion started to walk down an alley so I followed. (tons and tons and tons of alleys here) and the first house we came across was a member of the church who had not been active for years. She had been looking for the missionaries and couldn't find them for some time. Then she was sitting outside her house and we walked up!

Then also in the morning a woman came up and began to speak Spanish exclaiming that she had been looking for us! Because her brother lives in the United States and speaks English and she called him but they couldn't understand each other so she wants to call him and have me translate. That scares me a little bit but with the Lord's help and the gift of tongues I will be able to do it!

All in all life is wonderful. The church is true and the book is blue. 😃

Love Hermana Larimer

Week #6 Mission President Letter

From: Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission <2016400@ldschurch.org>
Date: July 26, 2017 at 3:48:30 PM PDT
To: "crglarimer@yahoo.com" <crglarimer@yahoo.com>
Subject: New Missionary

Dear Larimer Family,

Sister Shumway and I were honored and grateful to welcome your daughter to the Guatemala City South Mission yesterday.  The new missionaries arrived early in the morning, after a short trip from the CCM, and we had a remarkable experience together at the Montufar Chapel in training, interviews, and assignments to new companions.  My quiet interview with each one filled me with gratitude for the faith, righteous desires, and testimony they have developed over months and years of preparation.  For the next two years, we will feel a special connection to your daughter and this group, as this is the first district of Elders and Sisters that we have received since our arrival here nearly four weeks ago.

Sister Larimer´s first companion is Sister Paniagua, one of our trainer missionaries, who has been very successful in missionary work and exemplifies many of the attributes of Christ found in the sixth chapter of Preach my Gospel, including the attributes of charity, patience, diligence and obedience.  I have witnessed the Lord’s guiding hand in both the selection of the trainers, and the assignment to serve alongside your daughter.  Sister Paniagua, will help your daughter adjust to the mission life and set a worthy and foundational example.  Surely the Lord will bless them both abundantly as they labor with their might, and they will experience great joy in witnessing many come to Christ through the restored gospel.

The most productive missionaries are oftentimes those who receive active support from their families, priesthood leaders, and associates through frequent letters or emails, which are positive and inspirational.  We invite you to have them join you in contributing to your daughter’s success by corresponding regularly with motivational and uplifting thoughts.

We will do all that we can to lift and strengthen your daughter while we serve together in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, Guatemala - the Land of the Eternal Spring.  Thank you for sending her to labor with us.

Most warmly,

Lee M. & Rebecca Shumway

Mission President & Companion

Week #5: Life begins where your comfort zone ends and leaving the MTC

I have been very fortified this week by the people around me and by the spirit.  

ALSO pay attention because what I am about to tell you is important. Especially for my mother and father.

I will not be able to email next week. I did not die, I did not get kidnapped, I am not in the hospital and I am not lost in the jungle somewhere. We just have transfers so we will be to busy to email. =)

Some interesting things I heard in devotionals this week consist of about 5 sentences that I have been pondering:

1. When I stopped praying to change and become better, things started going bad. When you stop praying to change and become better, things will probably stop going well. I was on fire, then I got cocky and I started having the worst time, because I stopped praying to change and become better. I know that we are on this earth to gain experience and learn right from wrong. I know Heavenly Father wants us to return to live with Him. And through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can live with Him again!

2. "Life begins where your comfort zone ends" I heard this in one of the devotionals we watched this week. As I go out into the field my life will only just barely begin. My comfort zone will definitely be stretched and I could definitely probably stay in the mtc the rest of my life because I am comfortable. We do not learn effectively when we are comfortable. My life will begin next week. I know that I am supposed to be here. I am nervous but I am excited. I am going to do one thing every day that scares me and I invite you all to do the same this week, then tell me your experience.

3. “Work first then ask for blessings.” When we stop working, we aren't progressing and like I said earlier we are on earth to learn and grow. we can't just expect our father in heaven to give us blessings. He works through us and if we aren't working he has nothing to work with! We have to give him something to work with if we want to be blessed. I know that he wants to bless us but we have to our part as well.

4. “We sacrifice for the things we love, and we love the things we sacrifice." I have been thinking about this a ton because my district here has become my family. They aren't quite as good as my real family but I know that my district is a blessing and we have grown so close like a family through blessings from the lord.  We will all be leaving each other next week and that will be hard but we have learned all we can from each other so it is time to move on.

5. “Companionships are divine and they are inspired of the Lord. Every companionship in every mission in the world is a threesome because the Holy Ghost is here for us to use as a guide and a resource.” I know that He has influenced me for the better and I am grateful that I was reminded of that. Every companionship is a threesome.

I will conclude with my testimony, I know that I received revelation and I am grateful that I followed the revelation I received through acting on it. I am here in Guatemala serving the Lord and this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Love,
Hermana Larimer

Week #4 Angels

Hola todos!

I hope everyone is doing well! 2 more weeks until I am in the field!!! Not a lot to report this week.

We got a new round of Latinas. They are very different than our old ones. But its ok. They are here for a reason and there is probably something I can learn  from this batch like I did the other batch. There is also around 140 missionaries in the MTC now! Before there was 70 or 80. maybe around 30 or 40 of them are Latina the rest are all North Americans. Mostly Elders. Also, it's me and one other girl from Oregon are the only two sisters going to our mission in two weeks. There's a ton of Elders, but it will just be me and her as far as Hermanas go. Between activities we have started playing the game paranoia. its super fun and the elders are surprisingly good at keeping it missionary appropriate. We have been continuing to sing the efy medley every night. It is such a good way to end my night and I LOVE when the elders sing their verse. I close my eyes and listen and ponder all the blessings in my life while they sing.

We did teach a real investigator on Saturday so that was super cool. It was way different than teaching our Investigators who are our teachers. It was our day teacher's brother. And he now wants to learn more and then be baptized. There is a possibility we will teach him again but that's not for sure. I don't even know how to describe it. IT WAS AMAZING. That's all. I wrote about it in my journals and have been writing every night.

Oh apparently it’s a thing to have a post mission bucket list of things you want to do and see so I'm thinking about starting one.

As I get closer and closer to going into the field my levels of anticipation are rising. I become more and more of every emotion I could possibly feel for what lies ahead. However, I will not use the word scared. Because I am not. Lately I have been extremely aware of the angels around me and in the MTC. Helping to lift me up and inspire me in the form of people, thoughts, feelings, and words. I eagerly anticipate when I will be able to go into the field and have the influence of angels in my life even more. Moroni 7:37 reads: "Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief,  and all is vain"

I know that through Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer all things are made possible. If you look for miracles, you will be able to see them. I know Christ died for us so that we can live with our Father in Heaven again someday.

Love,

Hermana Larimer

Week #3 Better Every Day

Week #3 Better Every Day and Happy 4th of July

Hola Todos! ALSO HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!

So many exciting things this week! I wrote out my email on Sunday so hopefully its a little less scatterbrained than last weeks...we will see.

The subject is better every day because its true! My experience here is getting better and better every day! Saturday was so beautiful. we spent a lot of the morning outside so that was super cool. We get to study outside more often now which offers a much needed break. I am very grateful for my night teacher. He's been a huge help this week for me. I learn so much during the day that i consistently get a headache at around 4 or 5 pm. I usually drink water and then it goes away. I have been sleeping better because I bought ear plugs so thats been pretty helpful. This week I also got a minister certificate. I was unaware we need one for Guatemala so that was kind of a cool surprise.

Quick experience: P day last week my wonderful companion Hermana Longson wanted to play sports in the gym but I did not want to. (I wanted to study Spanish in my room in my pajamas.) However she wanted me to come with her to the gym because she didn't feel good about being separated. So i changed into my Sunday dress and brought my Spanish Book of Mormon and my English Book of Mormon to read while I sat in the loud hot gross gym while Hermana Longson played and worked out. I didn't study a whole ton because it was super loud. Anyways, a teacher I don't really like came up and started speaking Spanish to me wanting to help me study. I told her it would be most helpful if she could just talk to me in Spanish so I could practice using words I already know. So we began to have a slow labored full of effort conversation on my part and it lasted around two hours. When the gym began to close she began to speak to me in perfect English. #facepalm (usually its safe to assume people don't understand any English, so of course that's what I did.) She said lots of things to me, but the biggest message that I had already heard maybe like 4 or 5 times during the week was be confident with your Spanish. I was like ok...I have been trying. But I do need to be more confident. I was like so many people told me my Spanish was good this week but I'm pretty sure they only say that because they have to. Anyway, we ended our conversation and she said "I don't just say your Spanish is good because I am a teacher. (Which is what i had been feeling was happening all week.) I say it because I mean it. Your Spanish is good. I don't tell people they have good Spanish often." Her saying that was a direct answer to my prayers and was a huge blessing because I had been so discouraged earlier in the week.

That experience lead me to ponder why I was/am scared to use the Spanish  I know and I decided it was kinda like having the gospel in my life. I know it and I am extremely confident on the inside that I know it but outside the world is a daunting place. It's scary and hard but I want other people to be happy like I am. D&C 4. Being a representative of Christ (who was perfect) is a heavy weight sometimes but I know that the Lord qualifies those whom he calls.

Another cool experience was with an Elder in my district. Elder Jensen. I was bearing testimony to my district, like I do often and and I had just finished testifying of Joseph Smith and the restoration and he raised his hand and asked, "why is that so important to you" I answered in front of everyone a shallow short answer but one that came from my heart. Anyway, during the movie on Sunday I decided to write him a note. I was not satisfied with the answer I gave him and to be completely truthful it did not help him enough and I knew it. I intended to write a note and bear a deeper more powerful testimony to him but instead I ended up telling him how I gained my testimony and the very core of my testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration. The next day my teacher put us together to do an exercise together and before we even started the exercise he said to me "thank you for the note. It really helped a ton" I told him how i had kinda struggled with the finished product because it wasn't what I intended to tell him. He said it helped so much that he shared it with another Elder! I was so amazed. It was really cool to see the spirit be able to work through me.

I also fasted for 24 hours and did not struggle with it really at all. I never thought I would be able to do it. But I did! When we try to do what's right and to do our best with what we have the Lord makes up the rest...like a lot of things in life.

One of the Elders called me honey earlier in the week. On accident but it was still kinda funny.

I also got four huge bug bites. I went to the nurse and she said they were probably flea bites.

Last night lots and lots of tears were shed because the Latinas that came to the MTC with us left because they are only here for three weeks. We had grown very close. I got a note from two of them. Anyway, we went room to room singing "God be with you til we meet again" and it was amazing. The spirit was there and I really realized...I think maybe even for the first time...that we are called by a prophet and that this work is a good work. Its necessary and helps so many people.

We are going to the zoo later today. That should be fun. Then Wendy's which is like gourmet food here. Then a a farmers market like thing.

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I have felt it and that is the most important thing to me. I don't know a lot of things and I don't have all the answers but i do know that. If Joseph is a prophet (which I know he is) then the church is true and really was restored along with the Book of Mormon. I am here on a mission because, like Joseph, I received revelation that this is what I needed to do. Joseph went to God and asked a question as a 14 yr old boy. I asked my Father in Heaven--the same God Joseph Smith asked--whether or not i should go on a mission. I got the answer: yes. And now I am here and I love it.

Thanks for all the emails. An hour is so short but I do my best to be guided in how to use my time on the computer wisely.

Love

Hermana Larimer

Week #2 It's Different Here

Hola everyone!!

It’s already been two weeks...wow! I apologize in advance for this email because it may be a little scatterbrained. Also the keyboard is way different here so that makes it worse. I didn't write out my email beforehand this week like I did last week. I don't know if I will ever have time.

We watched a live devotional last night where Elder Bednar spoke and I saw two people I know in the MTC choir in Provo! That was fun!

Not a ton of #facepalms this week... sorry. I will try to include more next week.

However, during one of our fake investigator lessons (which are fake because we are teaching our teacher.) My dear sweet companion began to say the closing prayer in English then laughed which made the investigator laugh. Then she jabbed me in the stomach and so I said the closing prayer in Spanish while she got a hold of herself.

Also Hermana Vega replied "a knife" to one of her investigators questions when he actually asked why did Nephi have to kill Laban. she thought the investigator said with what instead. The joys of learning Spanish.

Also, is it sad that the highlight of the week was probably the 30 second earthquake that happened on Thursday? That's sad. It was far away from me and where I am. But I felt the 30 second tremor. It was a 6.7 ish on the Richter scale. It was far east. Also one night there were bombs going off like every ten minutes because it was some sort of catholic festival. Then I asked my Latina roommate and she said: first that it was for the festival, and second that any normal people could buy bombs at Christmas time.... I'm thinking they are different than our definition of bomb in the US.

My teacher for the day is super cool. I really like her. Also she told us her story of her mission and let me say me waiting for four weeks for my call to come in the mail is nothing. She waited two years to go on her mission because there was lots of issues with paperwork. She was in Columbia for a while then she ended up in England. Her call originally was England.  Anyway, point being #blessed.

And Hermana Russoj at breakfast one day set off the fire alarm because she was trying to toast a piece of bread but then it was to tall for the toaster...so that was exciting.

OK I think those were the biggest highlights of the week.

Also the first week we got here there was a high speed chase during the night. It woke me up and I asked the Elders about it the next day. Sirens are very common here. The first one usually is heard about 8 or 9 in the morning. Also cars don't care about pedestrians. Like at all.

Spiritual thought for the week: Alma 34. the entire chapter. God hears us and wants us to talk to him and even ask for blessings. I have read Alma 34 many times while I've been here and always pray at the conclusion of reading it.

Adios chicos!

Love

Hermana Larimer

Week #1: Everything I have is my Faith

Hermana Jessica Larimer

*If you would like to send an email back you can use: jessica.larimer@myldsmail.net or just reply to me and I will forward. She would love to hear even a short hello! Thanks, Jessica's Mom*

June 21, 2017

Hola!

I have been excited all week to write home and I finally get to. Out of all the weeks I have ever lived I think I am most grateful for this week. I apologize if this email is long, I am going to give some background. 

Just to go over the facts: 

-I waited 4 weeks for my call. 

-I started papers\the process of submitting papers in January. 

-I got my call to serve after lots of prayer and pondering about what would be best for me. General conference also played a role. Email me for more detail. 

-I had my call about two months before I actually left.

First, I would like to offer a list of the most common Spanish words I have used and the translation.

 -lo siento\perdon-- i`m sorry (generally when I bump into someone)

-Que?--what?

-Si--yes

-Gracias--thank you

-CCM-- Missionary Training center or Centro de capitacion mision

-Como--How?

-Hablar despacio-- Speak slower

-Por favor--please

-afuera--outside

Que hora es?-- what time is it?

The CCM is small. Nothing like Provo. There was about 100 people in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. Sacrament meeting is the first hour meeting we go to when we attend church. However, the number of people I study with and am getting to know on a daily basis is 11. In my district there are 6 elders and 5 sisters. A district is a group of people we do things with for example they are all in the computer lab with me now. My first companion is Hermana Longson. She is also blonde so we laugh a ton. We work like two peas in a pod. And have already been a blessing to each other. We both have things we struggle with and we can talk about them easily with one another. Three other sisters are with me. Hermana Peterson is in charge of music and is very good at Spanish. Hermana Vega is quiet but pretty witty and asks good questions. She is also pretty good at Spanish. Hermana Russon laughs often and loves food. I don´t think she has any shame. The Elders are Elders. There is Elder Mower. He is pretty good at Spanish and is the leader of a few  different groups of missionaries. He humbles me often. Elder Southwick is going to be a basketball player at Dixie State after his mission. He is tall. Elder Jensen is smart and quiet but strong. Elder Robinson is humble and went to BYU-I the same semester as me so thats pretty fun. We only knew of each other. Elder Heywood is super quiet and I've only heard him speak a few times but I have heard him pray a handful of times. Elder Ray is super funny to me but sometimes gets off task. 

We go to three meals a day and sit with the Latinas. They really like me and my companion. 1 or 2 meals a day we are surrounded by them like as in we are the only white people at the table. They like to help us learn Spanish. Lots of body parts (and common words that I mentioned earlier) get used during meal time. 

One funny thing that happened was I asked Como se dice how en Espanol? Translated I asked, how do you say how in Spanish? #facepalm

My MTC is in my boundaries of my mission along with the temple and the distribution center. Don't worry mom, I will be fine because of this blessing. :) 

On Sunday I shook hands with the Presiding Bishop of the Church. Super cool. However I also said in Spanish, where is your name tag? #facepalm In my defense I couldn't hear him introduce himself because it was loud in the cafeteria. I went to the temple this morning. That was beautiful. In the third week I get to go to the zoo here in Guatemala! Last night We had a devotional from the area seventy, Elder Duncan. It was good. Lots about missionary work. I also got a priesthood blessing a few days ago. The traffic is loud next to my head and out the window at night so I've been having some trouble adjusting but I have been sleeping better after my blessing. 

Thought of the week: 

The week in  the MTC starts and ends on p-day. Consequently this means that Church is in the middle of the week. That means my life for the next 6 weeks will quite literally be centered around Christ and church. We have already taught a few lessons in Spanish as well. I eat breathe and talk Spanish and church 24\7 and I so grateful that I have this opportunity. For me the last 5 months have been pretty difficult because of the influence of the adversary but I am here now and I am humbled. I am grateful to God for making his intentions for me known. The church is true in all languages and in all places. Trials and hard times are real but the church is more real. The spirit es fuerte (is strong) here and life is wonderful. I have a testimony that it brings peace and happiness.

Yo se que la iglesia y el evangelio es verdad. Tambien que oracion es real y dios escuchar a oracion. En el nombre de jesucristo amen.

I know that the church and gospel is true. Also know that prayer is real and God listens to prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love, 

Hermana Larimer

Jessica Mission Talk in Sacrament Meeting

Hermana Larimer