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!)