Week #11 Lights Flickering, Moving, Baptism

Hey everyone!

I’m sending my love as Cassie goes off to college this week!

This week was super busy! On Tuesday we had interviews with the mission president! Mine was good and in english, so that was nice. As I'm sure you all know I really want to use my mission as an opportunity to grow and change and in response to some of my questions, Presidente Shumway referred me to ch 6 of preach my gospel! Read it! :)

On Wednesday I had a huge meeting! It's the meeting of new missionaries. It's where all the missionaries come that came out into the field with me attend a meeting together. We practice teaching have a snack and it's a general check in. Super chill.

On Thursday I shared a scripture while the light flickered on and off. That was super humbling because in the United States that would never happen. When the lights turned off I paused to see what people were going to do and they just sat there.....so I kept talking and it was like nothing happened. Also I scaled the side of a mountain in order to get to the house of a menos activo. It’s interesting because here houses on the mountain are because people are poor where as in the States if you live on a mountain it’s because you are rich. Always be grateful for what you have because in the eternal scheme of things 90 years is a very, very, short time, and please don't take it for granted.

On Friday we had someone set a baptism date for the 23 of septiembre so that was exciting!

Saturday I taught english class like normal.

On Sunday was church and family home evening!

Today, the most exciting news is I moved houses! Our other house was a little tiny bit public so we moved to a house more private. Much smaller but lots better.

Love and Amor,

Hermana Larimer

Week #10 English Class, Starbursts, Send Comfort

Hola Todo!

This week was pretty hard with the work of the Lord, however trials are essential in order to learn and grow! On Wednesday of this week we went to Mcdonalds in the capital!!

I shared starbursts with my companera and she thought they were super weird so that was kinda funny. Also one day I had shrimp for lunch, like it had legs and a shell and eyes and I had to peel it off in order to get to the meat part of it.

Our baptism got moved to this week because the person being baptized drank coffee in the morning so we had to move the baptism. That was the hardest thing. And we don't have a ton of investigators anymore because we had to drop a family 4. and one of our other investigators started living with her mom and her mom is super super and i mean super anti mormona. when we say hi to the mom she doesn't even acknowledge us. it's like we don't exist. that was sad because I really liked that investigator but she misses us and still wants to be taught, so when her mom we are going to continue to teach her.

The way that I survived this week was by remembering that people have agency and we are only the messengers of the lord! called by a prophet of the lord.

Also it's a little early, but i am already getting excited for general conference!

The real purpose of this email is a question! I want to know favorite scriptures that speak directly to your heart and mind. For example, mine is moroni 8:3. I would love if everyone could read it. Whenever I read it I have a feeling of peace and comfort.

Also please send scriptures that give comfort. I want to find scriptures that I can read to people when they are having trials. The only 1 I have at the moment is moroni 8:3. Please send help! :)

Photos of after our second english class! The cutest little boy came and his english is exactly like a gringo! I really hope he continues to come. Granted, every week I have candy to give but either way I'm really happy he comes.

The book is blue and Heavenly Father loves you!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Larimer

Week #9 Two months!!! But who's counting? :)

Aug 14, 2017

Hola everyone!!!

Today was absolutely crazy. We literally hiked down the side of a mountain all day. Well...down and up. Four hours of hiking in all. It was so worth it because there was a natural spring and lots of waterfalls. Hopefully, I send the right pictures. there is no way to tell what pictures I am sending so I just click on them and hope they are right. Sometimes they don't work. Sometimes I can see what I am sending and sometimes no.

This week we taught English for the first time. That was good. It was a class of all girls and one adult woman. They are so cute when they try to speak English to me. A lot of times I can understand them. sometimes no. Like me with my spanish, I’m sure. My companion kinda basically taught the whole English class. And she doesn't speak English. But that's ok. Nobody is perfect.

It’s coming but coming slowly. My Spanish. I am picking up more and more every day.

Speaking of that, my companion was sick one day this week. We think it was a parasite but we don't know. Anyways. She couldn't walk or work because of pain so I went with a member of our branch and did the majority of the day. That was kind of a struggle. I was super nervous so I couldn't speak Spanish hardly at all, all day. Until my last appointment. It was with someone we hadn't ever visited before who was less active and words just rolled off my tongue and they were super amazed at how much I could speak. The gift of tongues is super real. I was skeptical before my mission and wasn't sure what I thought but I testify it is real and exists. Sometimes, because of my testimonies and teaching I leave even my companion speechless. I am still finding it. and learning how to apply and use it in everyday life. THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS REAL.

Also I was walking one day and a drunk guy came up and tried to talk to me. The thing was is it was 5 in the afternoon....wayyyyyy too early to be drunk but he was. I just ignored him then he went to my Compana. And she was super scared. And he touched her shoulder. He didn't touch me, thank goodness. She was frustrated after that. I just told her people can make decisions and everyone has their agency even when it bothers us we have agency with how we will respond.

ALSO THE MOST EXCITING NEWS IS WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS SATURDAY!!!!! MY FIRST ONE IN THE MISSION. I’m super pumped. More about that next week.

Love,

Hermana Larimer

Week #8 Walking and Speaking Spanish

Hi Everyone!!

My ankle is a ton better so thanks for the prayers. :)

Not a ton of exciting things happened this week. I had my first multi zone conference this week. That was crazy. Everyone knows me because of Elder Larimer. I feel bad because I have to learn so many names and it's harder to remember because I don't see them often.

Everything is good though! Lots of walking. Lately I have been thinking of how grateful I am for all the things I have. People here probably couldn't even imagine how good we have it in the states. We all have different challenges and some things that are hard for us would be easy for the people here and vice versa.

One of my friends from the mtc called his parents and went home...that was crazy. He just quit and decided he didn't want to be here. Another one of my friends from the mtc is having a little bit of a hard time. Im praying for lots of people. The power of prayer is real and works.

Also I fasted yesterday! that was different. I don't know why. it was good. I also got up in Sacrament meeting and bore my testimony. Short simple and to the point.  Spanish. It was hard. I have a testimony and I want people to know but Spanish is hard. But I decided because because I was super scared and my heart was beating as I would get up. A la gran!

“A la gran” is a saying they us here when they are surprised or excited. Solely an expression. I think I am going to try to begin to use it this week. Lots of Spanish I need to learn.

I am understanding more and more each day.

My companion has had a stomach ache for a few days. I am a little worried about her but she doesn't care and just keeps working. I don't want it to get worse. Oh well. She is a good example but we need to take care of ourselves as well.

Thank you for all the prayers!! Hug people while you can and hold babies and be affectionate because that is beginning to take a toll on me. So many cute cute cute babies here that I can't hold... ay karumba. It's ok though because I am doing the Lord's work. I can sacrifice holding babies for a year and a half because He sacrificed so much more for me.

Love,
Hermana Larimer