APOSTLE

Feb. 20
How cool is it that we have the same organization that existed in the primitive church of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:20 says that Christ built his church upon the foundation or apostles and prophets and in his restored church today - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have the privelege of listening and learning from those apostles and prophets that the Lord has called again to represent him and communicate His will to His people.

And one of them came to speak to us in GUATEMALA!!! It was literally the best day of my life! The entire mission got together, which never happens, and we were able to receive personal revelation for our lives. What was even cooler is that Elder Ronald A. Rasband changed his whole talk and what he was going to say to be able to answer our questions becuase he felt that we, as a mission, were prepared to be taught of the spirit. The main point that I got out:

When we KNOW Christ, we LOVE Him. When we LOVE Christ, we SERVE Him.

What an amazing promise. We need to learn of Christ to be able to know Him. We need to study his life and his teachings and learn how to become more like him so we can love and serve him with literally all we are - all our heart, might, mind and strength.

Also 3 Nephi 18:24 - Jesus is the light that we need to hold up so everyone can come unto Him through our examples and we always need to be worthy to hold up that light.

Okay I am so sorry, I finally bought a camera but i forgot the adapter! pictures next weeek, promise(:

Also little cool experience: My comp has been telling me that Ive been talkng in my sleep (LOL) and in spanish too (WOOHOO). but this morning she told me that I said something that really impacted me,. I said ''Yo se que es verdadero'' which means ''I know it is true''. I've been praying and fasting and studying to increase my faith. It's something that has really been on my mind lately. But that little phrase that I SAID, no one else, really helped me see that I already know all these things. The Lord has testifies of them to me so many times. I just need to learn to rely on those witnesses. D&C 6:22-23.

Don't deny the faith you do have. Rely on the Savior and His power to heal and to lift us in all of our trials. I know this is His true church and we are helping so many people come unto Him and learn of Him and understand their potential. I LOVE YOU ALL. BE HAPPPYY!!!!!

Hna. Townsend

FELIZ DIA DEL CARIÑO

Feb. 13

Or Happy Valentine's Day!

What a great time we have to be able to show love to all those around us, and especially the love of Christ. I have been studying a whole lot this pure love of Christ - Charity. As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 13 - if we dont have charity, we are nothing. As missionaries, if we dont love these people, we cant help them come unto christ. We have to sincerely love them and want the best for them. There is absolutely nothing we can do, no matter how many lessons we teach or how many times we tell them to pray or read the scriptures, if we dont love them, we can't help them progress and come unto Christ, who is waiting with arms outstretched.

As missionaries, our purpose is to help others come unto Christ, by helping them understand His restored Gospel and His doctrine. It is so simple. We need to help them understand the Love Christ has for each and every one of them. He loves us and that is why He is constantly waiting for all os us. it is never too late to come to him and let him heal you.

I love my new companion Hermana Rivera. We're gonna set Jalapa on fire!

Juan (or John) 14:15 - If you love me keep my commandments.

We all love Christ and need to develop that love for everyone else. LOVE YOU ALL! BE HAPPY!

Hermana Townsend

One Question

Feb. 6

ADOLFO Y JEFFERSON got baptized!!! AND I MADE BROWNIESSSS because i miss brownies and i wanted to share this amazing thing with everyone here who had never tried them. they loved them, to say the least(; im a great cook.. It took fiveever, partly because people here dont understand how to be on time to anythingggg, and partly becauase Satan was working really hard so that these two amazing young men wouldnt receive this saving ordinance by the right power and authority. But it happened! And they were confirmed and recieved the Holy Ghost yesterday and we are so excited for them.

This week the senor couple of our mission, the Oylers, visitied us and checked our apartment and gave us more candy because for some reason everyone here is determined to make us all fat, and then they asked if they could help with anything. We had an ''appointment'' with an eternal investigator who knows a lot about the church just cant get baptized because of her marriage situation. But we had planned to teach the Restoration again as a review and asked the Oylers if they wanted to come with us. Elder Oyler speaks a little spanish or is trying to remember from his mission and sister Oyler doesnt speak any, but they said yes and it was so cool!! It was the first lesson they had gone to with any missionaries although they visit all of them, and elder Oyler taught about prophets and shared his testimony of living day prophets and it was powerful, even though it was in very simple spanish.. makes me think of someone i know... haha me..
Later that day, the oylers took us out to Pizza cause they love the sisters the best and it was so fun!! And elder Oyler fell off his chair haha..

Im getting a new companion tomorrow!! Im so scared and need as many prayers as possible to be able to remember where all the memebers and investigators and everyone lives beacuse im still struggling with the streets.. LOL the struggle of my life. and I have to lead and direct this entire area and }plan where we're going to go and im way nervous. But this life is about change and being happy so of couse thats what we're gonna do!

the title: In our meeting last weeek with president, he asked us to ask ouir investigators one question:
IF the Savior was here with us tonight, and you could ask him one question, what would you ask him?

I still havent thought of my answer, but it really makes you wonder what you need to do or change in your life. In the mish we are focusing a ton on daily repentance. Everyone can agree that we all make mistakes every single day, a ton of times. When we realize that we are wholly dependent on our Savior and his atoning sacrifice, our love for Him motivates us to repent, or in other words, to change, to improve, to become better people, better family members, better friends. His atonement is not just for sinners (though we all are sinners and need it) it is also for good people trying hard to be better.

Mosiah 4:2-3
Keep changing and improving and becoming!!!
Hermana Townsend

Alma 30:44

Jan. 30

HOLA FAM y FRIEnDS!

Guatemala is amazing! I am still alive. We hiked a volcano last week and it was incredible. Alma 30:44 there is truly a God in heaven who loves each and every one of us and has created this beautiful earth for us to enjoy. So enjoy it! And be happy every single day!!

This week we have been reading a chapter of 3 nephi in the book of mormon. these chapters are when Christ visited the people of this continent and taught them, the same things, and more of what he taught in Jerusalem. We get to read every night with 2 little boys Adolfo and Jefferson who's mom can't get baptized for legal marriage issues but they have all attended the church faithfully for like 3 years. Our president said that the boys could get baptized if they read these chapters and wrote summaries of each one. It is literally my favorite part of the day and their testimonies are growing like crazy. Its amazing to watch, especially as we read about the savior and his plan for all of us. they are going to get baptized next Saturday and I seriously cant wait.

We also had another multizone conference this week!! We are sooo far from the capital that we always travel the night before and sleep in Jutiapa and then get up at like 3:30 to get to the capital by 7:15. MISSIOn life!! Gotta love it! But the conference was amazing. It was a worldwide training for missionaries and i learned so much about the need to apply the atonement in my life and truly teach repentance to these people so they can come unto the Savior and be free from all the burdens of sin. I know the Savior lives and loves each of us. His atonement is real. His power is real.
Keep being happy!! Choose repentance and be free from any tiny thing you have done. the Lord is always ready to receive us and he wants to bless us but will never obligate us to do anything.

Love you all!! 3 nehi 9:14
Hermana townsend

Volcano!

Jan. 23

WE HIKED A VOLCANO TODAYYYYYY. It was incredibly steep and I died but it was so much fun!! Here's a bunch of picures and you can check out the folder of Hna. Vazquez for more pics and for the pictures of our baptism of Lidia last weeek!! LOVe you ALLL​

Really cool thing we get to do - We have two little kids whose mom can't get baptized for legal marriage issues, but goes to church every week and has been attending for like 3 years. We got special permission to baptize them if they read 3 Nefi 11-28 and write summaries for every chapter. We have read with them every night this week and it is literally my favorite part of the day. 3 NEFI 17:21 has kind of been a theme in my mind this week. Jesus loves the little children (and the crazy teenagers) but we need to become like them so one day the smile of Christ will rest on us. And we need to love the children as well. Thanks for the ideas for ward activities! Hopefully we can work in some of them. Hopefully you can see all the pictures I shared becasue they are sweet.

LOVE YOU ALL with a love that seriously is hard to contain sometimes lol.

BE HAPPY GOD LIVES THE BOOK OF MORMON IS SO SO TRUE!

This is Waleska. She's gonna get baptized feb 18 and I feel like she is my best friend from the pre-earth life. The Lord really does prepare people for us to teach, specific people for specific companionships. (picture problems-none to attach :( )

January 16
No group email again, so here's some excerpts from family letters:

I sincerely can't pick just one favorite scripture, the Book of Mormon is lleno (full) of them and my testimony is built on that amazing book. I bought a tiny English one that I carry everywhere so when I don't understand exactly what a verse is saying I can quickly look it up in my English one lol. Honestly I feel so incredibly blessed to have grown up speaking the language of the Restoration. The book of Mormon is the truth in any language, I have no doubt about that, but to me, it is most powerful in English, todavia lol. I'm trying to read more in Spanish though, cause I know at some point (like when I finish the book of Mormon for the first time) I'm going to read it again in Spanish. Woooooo I'm so excited! I'm getting better every day, The Lord is blessing me so much.

Mum, I sincerely believe that the Lord is blessing you (and all our family) with trials during this time while you still have two missionaries out. (BTDUBS SO COOL THAT ABBY GETS TO TRAIN HER LAST TWO TRANSFERS. I need to email her lol)) Sometimes its hard to have such a positive outlook when people don't follow through on commitments or don't come to church, but then you have a baptism or read an amazing scripture and the Lord reminds us that He has always been there for us. I am so grateful for His loving guidance all throughout our lives. Angie shared this scripture in her email last week, 2 Nephi 2-6. This is the hope and light and everlasting happiness of the gospel. How incredibly blessed we are to know the truth and to know the plan!

Oh by the way, we had a baptism!!! LIDA PANTUJ is from the highlands of Guatemala and is moving to a city like 30 min away any day now, but she has grown so much in these two months. I emailed Dad about her last week, when she had her interview with President, and he cleared her for baptism. She is amazing. I know she is going to be so strong. And pretty much all the elders in our zone came and we bought a cake and it was so great!!!

Also, any ideas on how to ''spark' the ward members into missionary work? Or just into getting together more and feeling more closeknit? This ward is struggling right now because they are always thinking about how great the ward was in the past and they don't know how to get it back to that great glory days lol. WE NEED ideas for activities!! If you guys can think or tell me about some that you have done in your new ward, We would so appreciate it!!

Love you so so so much. Praying for you every day. And how powerful prayer is, when we do it in the right way.
Hermana Townsend

January 9
No group letter today, so here's some thoughts from her letters to family:

Oh how I miss brownies. The simple things in life. When I get home can we please make a whole bunch of brownies and naniamo bars? Or maybe not cause I'll be really fat...

I'm so glad you guys are still doing MTC hour. that helped me so much, just to have that time specifically set aside to study the scriptures, set goals, and review progress through journalling.. seriously is the mission. straight up. Mum, my testimony is so built on the book of mormon. I cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for that amazing book and the prophets who spent so much time writing it for us. Sometimes I feel like they were writing specifically to me. What an incredible privilege we have to read it every day.

Who knows, maybe my comp will push me off a mountain and I'll break a leg cause we were in the mountains a ton this week and it is so gorgeous. I might have to marry a Guatemalan and come back to live here in the mountains. My heart is so happy the whole time we are there and I always hate to leave.

We got new standards for how to count if our investigators are progressing and stuff like that and I honestly thing that it will help us so much to be able to have more strong converts that will be a blessing to the work. And it is so focused on the Book of Mormon and helping people gain a testimony of that amazing book and I am so EXCITED!!

Yikes!! So sad to hear about Kelsey and Breckon and wow, Satan is working hard..

I was reading this morning in Alma 51:31 which is now one of my fav escrituras - Each and every one of us needs to be STRONG and SKILLFUL in the ways of the Lord. There is no replacement and no one can study your scriptures for you. When we're at the battlefront (every single day) I want to be so strong and skillful that Satan and all his numerous hosts will be met with utmost disappointment.

Standard of truth, eh? Don't know if I've even heard that, I would love it if you could send it! And I'll find a way to print it out lol. We had a baptismal interview this week with LIDIA who we have both come to adore and love, but she had some issues with question 4. President is coming to give us our interviews on Friday and he's gonna interview her too. I was struck again at the power of the priesthood and the authority even the DLs have that people confide in them and trust them to be able to help them solve their problems and improve their lives. We are 18-21 yr olds and these people with so much more experience trust us because we are set apart as the Lord's personal representatives. SO COOL. Also Alma 51:31 is now one of my fav escrituras. LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR THE DOCTRINAL DISCUSSION I NEED IT AND LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!

LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH
Hna Townsend​

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2017
HOLA FAMILIA!! (Dad, check your FB messenger pls :D ) FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!

Guatemalans absolutely love fireworks and all things to do with fire so for Christmas and New years they set the world on fire and I was sincerely scared LOL. But don't worry, I'm still alive so we're all good. Hope you guys lit at least a few things on fire, cause what better way to celebrate the time we have than to set the world on fire, right? I love fire haha.

We had such a fantastic week!!!! Our goal that our president sent us was to get 10 new people with baptismal dates for this week or 2 new families. We only found 9, and 1 family, but man the Lord is seriously preparing people. In one of our lessons with Mildred, a mom of 3 whose husband is a hardcore catholic, we took the president of the RS with us and wow members are so key. We talked about the restoration (we had already explained the PofS in other lessons) and it was literally so cool. I can't express how important the testimony of that member was. She testified of the true church and how it helps us change our entire lives and our families and we can become better, I sincerely believe that without that testimony, Mildred would not have accepted our invitation to be baptized, after she reads and discovers this gospel for herself. I am so excited for her!!

We got to do SERVICE this week!! Instead of our Weekly Planning session (that we had another day, don't worry) we went and painted a school before they all go back from vacations, with our whole district, it was so sweettt!! Oh, and transfers were last week so we have an awesome new zone and they opened another area in our zone so we have another companionship - more elders...yay... haha nah, they're all so cool and fun and I love working with these people who all have so much faith. They strengthen me every time we get together and talk, even if it's only when we're playing basketball for p-day and I school them all(; that's a lie, I'm so bad.. but I haven't lost all my skills yet haha.

Okay, probably the best experience of my mission happened this week, get ready:

We were in the home of a die-hard Lutheran whose husband is a ''maso menos'' investigator so we stopped by. He wasn't home but we sang a song with his wife and I knew my comp didn't want to stay too long, but I felt impressed to share Alma 7:11-12, which has become a pretty popular scripture for missionaries, or so it seems. But Anyway, I read it in my broken Spanish (cause reading and writing are still really, really hard lol) and I just felt an overwhelming truth to what I was reading. I honestly don't know exactly what happened. She started to share her stories of healing and the miracles that God had done in her life, but all I could do was reflect over and over and feel that warmth wash over me over and over and over again. I know He lives, guys. I have a burning testimony of Him and His power to heal and to comfort us. He wants to rescue us from whatever we are going through and wants to hold our hand and experience the happy times with us too. I have that ''burning testimony'' we always hear about. It's a seriously incredible feeling and I feel so blessed to get to spend this ENTIRE YEAR being His personal representative and testifying of Him. He is my Savior and the Savior of the world. And He loves you personally!!

Happy new year!!! Keep serving others and remember that the Savior is the reason for every season of the year!
LOVE YOU ALL
Hermana Townsend

MORE CHRIST

December 26

Sucabano wichilal y quinchabejes!! (Hola fam and friends in quechì - a native Guatemalan language we're learning from one of our investigators!!)

Hope all y'all's Christmases were sweet and full of the true reason for the season!

This week was our Semana Navideña for our ward and we had an awesome activity every night. We ate way too many cookies and drank a ton of hot chocolate, but its all good cause we're in the mission! We had a bonfire and karaoke one night and the bishop made me sing in English in front of the whole ward.. Don't know if that was 100% within the rules, but we're trying to work more with the members and I think singing for them helped them to understand that we're fun people as well as missionaries lol. On Thursday we were in charge of the activity and we centered it on Gratitude, the theme of the day in the church's Christmas Initiative, LIGHTTHEWORLD. (If you haven't gotten a chance yet, go watch the video MORMON.ORG. it is so good!!)) We talked about all the things we can be grateful for, especially in this season of christmas! And then the kids killed some awesome pinatas shaped like Santa and Mrs. Claus. So FUN!!

Also, we literally ran home every night this week because of all the activities and the rule that we have to be in our casa by 9:00pm. Maybe that'll help me with all this bread Im eating haha.

Hna Vazquez and I had a really cool and very simple experience this week. We were singing Master the Tempest is raging and it started raining and pouring super loud (especially with our tin roof). We sang in Spanish first and then in English and by the end of the song, the rain completely stopped. I know it sounds really simple, but to me it was sincerely a testimony that Heavenly Father knows and understands all the ''storms'' that are going on in our lives. He wants to help us. I am working on making my prayers more sincere right now and sincerely telling Our Heavenly Father all the crazy things that are going on and my fears and worries. I know He loves each and every one of us and He wants to answer our prayers. He is so close when we pray, it's like talking to your dad. And He will answer your prayers.

Little funny thing I said wrong in Spanish (there's a ton more, don't worry):

There's a hymn titled ''Asomobro Dio a los Magos'' (in English, With Wondering Awe) and one time I said MANGOS instead of Magos (wise men) and now Hna Vazquez and I can't sing that song without busting up laughing.. It's only gotten us in trouble a couple times lol.

Christ is our example in everything. Our goal in this life is to become more and more like him. I know when we serve others we are fulfilling that mandate and we are developìng His attributes. Keep up the fantastic work you are doing and continually stretch yourselves in everything. 

GROW, CHANGE, BECOME!!
Matthew 25: 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
CON MUCHISIMAS AMOR,
Hna Townsend

                                               Baptism on Christmas Day! Sair Romero

 

Family Skyping :)

All those little things are dead cockroaches. We were helping an old lady clean her house and found a colony of them lol it was crazy scary and hilarious

Lidia is the little Guatemalan lady and shes leaving for COBAN tomorrow and we're super sad

Hna vazquez is super cute.

We were in the mountains!! 

 Elisa, a recent convert and she comes out with us to teach lessons sometimes and she's great.

 I made tortillas!!

December 19, 2016

Mosiah 18:21 pretty sure you wanted us to memorize that before I left, but that didn't happen. But I found it again and thought of you and how we really need unity and love in this work or it won't be able to go forward.

Also we had a zone conference and it was sweeeeett! We watched the Work and the Glory in English (thank goodness) and I learned a ton. The rules are so necessary. It's crazy how obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles. Also, we fast a lot in the mish, and I am seriously gaining a testimony of fasting. We are finding so many families its incredible!! And I wish I was more adept at technology cause I don't know anything and I've got to figure out some tech things for Christmas. Please pray that everything will work out. I'm gonna go set up my skype account right now. Pray really hard lol.
Just a couple of investigators that are my favs right now:
Valeska - she's like 20 and has a little boy and is actually reading the pamphlets (unlike most other investigators) and has a ton of questions. Her mom has been inactive for like 20 years and honestly she is so prepared. I love it when the Lord blesses our efforts with people like her.
Nanci - Also has a little boy and is 18, came to church for her first time yesterday and loved it. We found her in a Panaderia because of our addiction to bread!!! So I'm justifying this addiction because it is helping the work(;

LOVE YOU ALL
Hna Townsend

Reunion de Nuevos

December 12

This week flewww by!! We had a Reunion de Nuevos and we woke up at like 2:30am to take a bus and a taxi and arrive in the capital at 7:15 lol. That tells you just how far away we are from everything here in Jalapa!! But we love it! President Caffaro told us something in the reunion de nuevos that I loved, but its better in spanish, I promise

La Motivacion es la expiacion para la salvacion de los hijos de los hombres
English: The motivation is the atonement for the salvation of the children of men

It applies specifically to missionaries, but I think it can apply to all of us, no matter what walk of life we are in at the moment. Christ came to earth to do the will of the Father, whose will it is that we can all be HAPPY in this life and return to live with Him again! 2 Nefi 2:25, Moses 1:39

We are also studying John as a mission this month to be able to follow Christ´s example to do the will of the Father in all things. I love that and am so grateful for inspired leaders who can receive revelation for us to be able to progress and become more like the Savior. Our purpose in this life is to become more like Him. And ITS CHRISTMAS TIME!! We get to remember the Savior especially right now! I think one of the reasons we put up so many lights on trees and in the streets and in our houses is because Jesus is the light of the world. And each of us have a light that we can share when we are trying to be like Him.

President Thomas S. Monson said, (Oct 2015) "Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others. My brothers and sisters, our opportunities to shine surround us each day, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others, whether they be our own family members and friends, our co-workers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers."

Also, different topic, but I was studying Mosiah 9:17
17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.

There are crazy things going on in the world right now and we need to go forth in the strength of the Lord or we will not be able to handle it. I seriously have a testimony of that and I know that His strength and atonement is the only way we can do anything in this life.

Be a light!! Especially in this Christmas time, but all the time too!! Have a fantastic week!!

Hermana Townsend

VA PUES 2 MESES!!

December 5

Literally everyone says VA PUES, after like every sentence and its hilarious. But I've been a missionary for 2 Months today!! Doesn't feel real and I don't feel like I know enough spanish yet, but its all good!

Last week we had our first Reunion de las Hermanas with almost all the Sisters in my mission and it was fantastic! My mission president's wife has a saying that has become the theme of this mission: LOVE MORE, JUDGE LESS. I love it so much. We need to always try to see others how God sees them, becuase it really isnt our place to judge whether or not someone will accept the gospel or do something. We've been trying really hard to talk to everyone in the streets, even and maybe especially those who don't seem very likely to accept the gospel. Its super fun, there's so many crazy people here in Guate.

Another little quote has been going through my head almost every day for the past 3 weeks. Its a quote by a professional swimmer or something about how he got to be so good and why he's different





from all the average swimmers: I KICK WHEN I DONT WANNA KICK. This helps me so much when we're still walking at like 8pm and Im tired and we have tamales waiting for us at our house, I keep kicking, (or walking) because I know there's an awesome purpose, even if i cant see it in the moment.

We had our first classes de ENGLISH!! Didn't go quite as well as I'd planned, but it was fun to talk in English, even if not everyone understood lol. Also, Hna Vazquez and I have a new saying. There's literally a bakery (Panaderia) like every ten steps and we have so little self control so we buy a lot of bread lol. HOWEVER. Our new saying is COMPRANDO PAN PARA BAUTIZAR!! Buying bread to baptize!! Its great.

GUYS KEEP KICKING!! You can do it!!! There is an awesome work at hand and we get to be a part of it! Keep kicking, keep being awesome!!

Hna Townsend(:

Answers to questions: Yes, we pay the members, yes, Im eating fruits and veggies, at least 2-3 every day(= We also get the Liahona here (all the missionaries) and I read the first presidency message last night. I loved the idea of having PEACE throughout the year, just like the peace of christmas time, through the sacrament,and remembering our covenants. Thanks for your hug, its warming the cockles of my heart right now. The christmas devotional last night was in spanish and it was kinda rough.. but the english music was the best, i literally almost cried. Hna vazquez is learning english too and since she understands a lot, i speak in english more than I probably should lol. Nah, I speak a ton of spanish, but it was nice last night to hear other peopleee sing in english. LOve and miss you all so much!! The church is true and we're doing a whole lot about it down here in the mountains of GUATE!!

Hna TOwnsend

November 28

Sorry, I have misplaced my adapter to the SD card, and I need to buy a flashdrive thingy to transfer pics to the computer! I`ll try to buy one this week, or at least find the adapter and use my comp`s next week! Hna Vazquez is not quiet lol, we laugh all day long! But she also knows when not to talk too, which I so appreciate. We had divisiones this week with the Sister Leaders who live an hour and a half away. I got to travel while my comp stayed. But the Hermana I was with literally never stopped talking. I have no idea how she came up with so many things to say, and sometimes it wasn`t even real conversation, just filler words that are so unnecessary to me haha. But a whole other story with the divisiones - I ate something or maybe its just adjusting to the mission, but I got pretty sick.. Threw up a total of like 5 times that day, away from my mission mama and with members I didn´t know and everything was rough haha. I threw up the first time right outside this member`s house, and then another time in an investigator`s toliet right after teaching her a lesson haha. But I'm all better now! Just fat as a cow! Literally, Hnz Vazquez and I have goals to not eat as many tortillas, or even 0, if possible, to get ready for Christmas where they're gonna feed us a ton!!

ANSWERS:
Our place is nicer than other houses we`ve seen, but for some reason there`s ALWAYS dust, no idea why though. We have water, occasionally is hot haha. We have a clean water source in 5 gallon jugs, but not sure when we`re getting another one. But the church developed these water bottles that are their own filter, you can literally fill it up anywhere and you won`t get sick (they cost like $100!!) but they give one to every missionary serving in central america and I think south too.. So don`t worry, it`s not the water that`s gonna kill me.
We have made really good friends with this awesome family of cucarachas!! (Cockroaches) They are literally everywhere lol. I've pretty much gotten used to it and just accept it, although I still kill them when I can haha.
One of the members, Ingrid, cooks us lunch every day (so good and fattening) and I eat honey bunches of oats with bananas for breakfast most days. Also, our neighbors aren`t members, but they are this family that is so sweet and brings us tamales every Saturday and other things throughout the week. Also, peanut butter was such a great idea!! I eat it with everything!! or even just a spoonful if I'm feeling low. Usually I'm not hungry for dinner or we`ll buy some bread from one of the thousand panaderias in this place. The same member does our laundry every week too.


Mum I miss ya a ton. I love the custom of half-hugging everyone (or the women) and their little kisses things, but I miss your hugs. Thanks for the poem, I'm gonna try to put it into practice. Pls pray for my spanish cause its a struggle lol. Love you all, please share with everyone cause Imma have to get off. I`ve been sharing 1 nephi 4:6 with everyone. The spirit is so strong here. and the gift of tongues is stronger when the spirit is stronger lol. Sometimes you have to talk or open your mouth without knowing what you`re gonna say.


Be brave! Be bold! Happy Christmas!! MAS CHRIST!!
Hermana Townsend(:

Family letter

November 21
So much to tell! My mom (first comp) is Hermana Vazquez, from Mexico and she is absolutely amazing. She understands a ton of English and speaks some, so she understands when I speak in Spanglesh hallelujah! I`m literally in the farthest area from the mission home - JALAPA and its way up in the mountains!! We took a 3 hour bus ride out here with 2 other sets of elders. We`re the only hermanas in our zone of almost all gringos haha. Our house is crazy small and full of dust every single day and there's cute pictures of Jesus and gospel stuff other sisters have left. The people are amazing. They are almost always open to talk to us, even if they say they're catholic in the next sentence lol. We eat a huge lunch every day at a member`s house with our DL and his comp and they're so funny. The members here are so willing to help us with the work and to find people and I can`t understand everything that they're saying all the time, but I just smile and give all the hermanas hugs and add in my two Spanish words every 10 min or so. Last night.. oh my goodness we found a spider that was literally the size of my palm! I guess my temple worker friends were right!

I`ll tell more in my group email but that`s just some. I absolutely love it here. I seriously can`t think of a better place to be, or something better to be doing. Harry Potter Marathon sounds like so much fun!! Is thanksgiving this Thursday? I honestly can`t remember anything about timing or holidays haha. A few people here have tiny Christmas trees but people don't do huge gifts or anything. It's more like family time, which i love lol. Oh my goodness, Natalie`s getting married.. wow. Crazy. I'm so glad I get to be here and learning so much and growing. I still feel small and inadequate, but I'm learning. My companion only has had 4 months in the mission, but she`s so confident and adultish. One day, I'm gonna be like her(; Thanks for all the details! Let me know all the cool stuff y'all do this break!!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Townsend

EL CAMPOI!!! What do you take for granted?

November 21

TOLIET PAPER! My first night here in the crazy far out mountains of JALAPA and our casa doesn`t have toliet paper! What a fantastic way to start the mish!

My companion is Hermana Vazquez from Mexico and she understands more spanish than she cares to speak, but she understands my spanglesh lol. I am literally in the area farthest from the mission home way out in the mountains of >Guatemala and its actually cold here! Who knew! WE`re going to the market today to buy more warm clothes lol.

They call me "Canche" here cause Im a gringa and I have totally embraced it, while at the same time trying my very best to learn spanish and speak it all the time. Sometimes I forget to talk becasue Im just trying to process all the spanish going on around me. They people here are so incredibly open to talk to us and I love it.We eat huge lunches with a plentitud of tortillas every single day which is probably why Im getting fat lolz. But seriously, D&C 84:81 is so true, Ive never wondered what im gonna eat, it always somehow appears. What a blessing!

On Friday we met a woman whose 4 children are all members. Her name is Emma and I felt like I had an immeadiate connection with her. I sincerely can`t speak that well and its kind of hard for these people to understand me, but I try my best and leave the rest up to the Lord and His spirit to testify of the truth of what Im trying to say. She`s gonna get baptized, just give it a week or two.

The Lord will always provide, especially when you are serving Him with all your heart! Don`t take things for granted, whether its toilet paper or time, or your fam or anything else you love! Be grateful! Be happy! That`s why we`re here in this life - TO BE HAPPY!! I love Guatemala! I love being a missionary and sharing this amazing gospel in my broken Spanish!! HAVE a fantastic week yàll!! <<lol spanish keyboards

Hermana Townsend (finally a real missionary in el campo!)

November 14

hola fam!!! I leave for the field in approximately 15 hours and they let us write yáll super quick!!
im al better from my cold and honestly I am just so super duper excited that I get to go teach real people. I gave a talk yesterday in Sacrament mtg which is always super scary cause they tell you to prepare one and then they call people right after the sacrament. But I talked on repentence and how important it is and how grateful I am for this process of changing and being happier and becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

Really quick, a scripture I just found and loved:
Helaman 5:47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and literally the only name under heaven whereby we can be saved. Guys, this is seriously the Work of the Lord, I know it with everything that i am and I am praying for you all every single day so you can be strengthened and know it like I am learning to.

With whatever you are doing right now, or struggling with or have questions about, remember this: Whether you say you CAN, or you CAN´T, you´re right. Believe in God and that He literally has all power in the heavens and in the earth and in every tiny thing you are going through. I know he lives and is so concerned about our lives. He loves you so much. Have faith in him and in yourself that you can reach your goals and all your dreams.

Love you all so much
Next time we talk, I´ll be a real missionary!!
Hermana Townsend

November 9

Dang I´m really going to miss the CCM! There has been so much spirit here and heavenly help and teachers who love us and who want the absolute best for us, and will push us to do our best. The Lord puts the people in your path that he knows you need, but sometimes you´ve gotta grab an opportunity to talk to those people. I havent really had an experience like that yet, but I leave for the field in 6 dias and I can´t wait to talk to literally everyone, even with my very very mediocre spanish!

Had a first this week: Filling up an entire notebook? Who does that? But there are so many things so learn and experiences to write down, it was pretty incredible lol. I got strep throat last week and caught a cold after that, but its all good, sometimes I really need to be humbled and patient with myself. I love Spanish and grammer is so much easier than English, if you ever want to learn, which you all should.

We had a devotional last night from a member of the quorm of the 12 apostles, (the leaders of our church who are called of God) and he talked about the amazing passages of scriptures about the Savior´s doctrine and especially his atonement in the Book of Mormon. The scriptures have been coming alive to me here. Every page is like a treasure box that I get to find something new.

Alma 7:11-13 describes exactly how much the Savior loves us and how he knows exactly what we are feeling all the time. I have such a huge testimony of my Savior and I know that He lives and loves us and this is his work. I´ve got to do it his way.

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!
Hermana Townsend

Week 4

November 2

(editor note...I think Rach is typing on a Spanish keyboard, and/or trying to type quickly, so I've decided to stop editing and just enjoy the emotions behind the words :))

heyy mama!!! so many cool things happened and learned this week!! i taught my comp and a couple other sisters your Seek Ye First round and we sing it like every night and its the best and i love it and it makes me miss yall so much! Maybe ill teach em the food song too! Also, there´s been a big empahasis on ancestors this week and how they are our guardian angels and protecting us and cheering us on from the other side and its awesome. so thanks for sharing your stories about Grandma Olsen and how youve felt her cause it just makes it all seem so much more real to me. I love teaching the plan of salvation cause i know its true and i can feel their efforts from the other side. ALso, im not like 100% sure but its whatevs, i love this scrupitre.. if you still need one for my plague haha. Alma 32:41 (or42) its the second to last verse in the chapter and its kinda long but i love the diligence and faith required to bring to pass so much good.

Love you!! Ill say more in my groupo email!!

Group email

This week i totally increased my faith that God is still a God of miracles. I was made Sister District Leader this week.. which is a lot less exciting than it sounds lol. I get to carry around a box of medicine and hand out "drugs" when people are sick haha. But I also have to go to the leadership meetings which are totally and completely in Spanish. I went to the first one this sunday and barely understood the gist of the meeting. I went back upstaris and almost cried, but i turned to the scriptures instead. I opened the Book of Mormon to Mormon 9 which is talking about Miracles and how God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. It was literally the exact thing i needed to hear. Im seriously gonna need a miracle to be able to speak and understand this crazy language and i know that God will provide one if i put in my part and study nonstop lol. Honestly just in 4 weeks, ive had the hardest and best days in my life. Don´t really know how that makes sense but it does and i love it.

My comp is an opera singer too, btdubs and shes really good and it was so crazy and awesome to hear her finally break out in song!!!

Couple sweet quotes from the week from my amazing district and/or devotionals:

"See the wickedness of the world and decide to be different"
"We need to engraven the word of God and Christ´s name on our hearts and then share it with others"
"Every good prayer starts with repentence"
"Become and EPISTLE of the Lord"

Take those how you may, but to me, they mean that we all have an amazing opportunity to share the good news of the gospel with everyone and a responsibility too. I love being a missionary and I can´t wait to go find real people in less than two weeks!!

3 Nephi 13:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Love yáll, Go forth and be amazing!!

Hermana Townsend

October 25

I really want to start with cool spanish but i feel like i can barely even say hola right now..

Anyway, this week has been awesome but today was probably the best by far. We just got back from a tour of downtown Guatemala City which is crazy and idk exactly what i was expecting but, i was a little intimidated. We got to walk around this market place and go to Wendy´s which was glorious lol, but my favorite part was talking to real live people! We got to go into this central square sort of thing and hand out copies of the book of mormon. If you´ve never had a chance to read that book, i promise it will change your life. Ask my family or any Mormon for a copy if you´d like to read one. Anyway, my companion and I felt a tad awko taco just walking into the square and starting to talk to random people so we stopped by a lightpost and said a quick prayer to be able to speak and understand Spanish and to find people who were honestly searching for truth. A couple people were looking at us kinda funny and i kinda felt like they were the ones we needed to talk to. there were these three middle-aged ladies and a child feeding the pigeons (that were Everywhere lol) but we just shared the last two paragraphs of the introduction with them and it kinda hit me how even right there in two paragraphs, these people read words that they have probably never heard before and ive had the privilege of knowing all my life. These simple truths that God loves us indivially and wholly and that His church and the truth is on the earth are so readily avaliable. i feel so incredibly lucky to be able to share that with these humble people. Their faces got brighter as we were reading and they were so surprised that we wanted to give them the book for free. And I could understand casi toda (almost all) of what they were saying. YAY ESPAÑOL!!

We started learning español grammer this week and my brain has felt like exploding pretty much every day but its wonderful and i wouldnt rather be anywhere else. Our Latino friends who have been here for my first three weeks left this morning at like 3 am and i already miss them so much, and honestly we could communicate with them so minimally lol. But we get new ones and a bunch of new Nort-os (north americans) tomorrow too. Im so excited to help teach them and get them pumped for the MTC cause it is seriously like one of my fav buildings ive ever been in. The spirit is so incredibly strong all the time and I love it. Also, people are singing or playing the piano all the time which is how i feel the spirit the strongest so its awesome.

I love Guatemala, I love how happy this gospel makes me and I can´t say enough how happy I am to be un misionera for la iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias. I know this gospel is true. And i know that God loves you!

Keep being awesome people!!

Hermana Townsend

Week 2

October 19, 2016

Hola! I literally almost just got run over 4 times and almost got eaten by an enormous ant. Okay that's exaggerating a little, but not that much. Guatemalans are cray cray and I absolutely love them all.

This week has been exciting, interesting, and I have come to love the CCM so much! The spirit is so incredibly strong throughout this entire building it feels like I'm on cloud nine from the moment I wince my eyes open at 6:30 to the second I fall asleep. Cool little miracle that happened last night: I was crawling into bed right at 10:30 (cause being obedient is easy when you´re incredibly tired every single day:) when my chest started to feel like it was pretty much caving in. I honestly don´t know why but my companion (who is a nurse) told me this morning that it probably was something called Angina, which is just like a stress response but could get worse and lead to respiratory failure if the person gets scared and can't breathe and such lol. Anyway, I just tried to breathe normally and slowly and calm myself down for like 20 min cause I really didn't want to wake up my companion or try to wake up the president to go get some elders to give me a blessing.. So I basically poured my heart out to God in prayer and just plead with him to let me breathe and sleep for the 8 hours I needed, and at 6:30, if I was still dying, I´d ask for a blessing. I honestly can´t remember actually feeling relief and falling asleep, but I woke up this morning with no pain and just a testimony that God answers prayers. even and maybe especially simple fervent prayers where His children sincerely need his help. I know our heavenly Father hasn´t forgotten about me down here in the middle of nowhere in Guatemala, and I testify that he hasn´t forgotten about you. If there is something you need in your life or a question you need answered or you just need to feel love, I would urge you to pray, even a simple prayer, and I know Heavenly Father will answer your prayer.

We had a devotional from the area president down here in Central America. I think his name is Kevin Duncan? Anyway, he talked about the phrase for missionaries ´´Teach Repentance, Baptize Converts´´ which I really liked and honestly hadn´t heard before. I think sometimes in the church the word ´´repentance´´ has a bad rep and we don't talk about it in the right way. But he described it not as suffering or punishment or even just the feeling of remorse, but as a CHANGE. A turning around and back to the path of happiness. turning away from our sins and don´t ever turn back. I love that description and it makes repentance seem like such a happy process. If we teach and talk about repentance in that way, it will seem like such a better thing and we will all be able to be relieved of any guilt or pain from our sins. And the way to that happiness is through the Savior.

This is God´s mission, not mine and I know His hand is guiding my every step, so long as I trust in Him and remember him the whole time. I love you all and I know that this is where I need to be right now.

I don't have time to translate that - stick it into google translate lol cause its incredible and I know it's true and I'm trying to live by it every day.
LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! write me!!

Hermana Townsend<33

Mosiah 4:9 Creed en Dios; creed que él existe, y que creó todas las cosas, tanto en el cielo como en la tierra; creed que él tiene toda sabiduría y todo poder, tanto en el cielo como en la tierra; creed que el hombre no comprende todas las cosas que el Señor puede comprender.