The Fun Square with Rounded Edges

Dearest Family!!

Last week I felt like I had absolutely nothing to write and now I feel like have at least a trilogies worth of stories. But last Monday I promised that I would spend some of the next Monday repenting and writing hand written letters so I will try to make it shorter.

First off, have fun in Peru Dad, Cam, Seth, and Mads. Happy Birthday Emily!!! I am still upset that you decided to come visit the family when I wasn't home. But I love you lots... Cam I cannot believe you turn 14 today!! You are so old!! And Aaron your birthday is in just 4 days!! Do you have 4 kids yet or still 3 and 8/9ths.

This week was one miracle after another. Our ward has this program called the 5,5,5. And supposedly it will get the point where we are teaching 15 less active families. Oh and I actually I did the math this week. 60.8% of the ward is inactive and 73% of the Hispanic people are inactive. Anywho, we are teaching the A. family. Her husband is a non-member, and she has two children are non-members and the other 3 children are just inactive. The lesson we had on Tuesday was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had on my mission. Toward the end I shared the experience of reading the Book of Mormon in two weeks my freshman year of college and testified of the power of change it had in my life and truthfulness of the Book. Hermana A. took the precious Book of Mormon in her hand and look me in the eye and said. "I want that change." After realizing that the Libro De Mormon was about 100 pages longer than the Book of Mormon we came to the conclusion that she would read 30 pages a day to finish the Book in 3 weeks. This indeed was a miracle but even more my Companion that doesn't really like to speak in lessons spoke up and promised that if she would read 30 pages a day we would too. I then committed both Hermana A. and Sister Seaborn the Libro De Mormon in 3 weeks.

Oh man where do I even begin.... So for my hour of personal study I read the Book of Mormon out loud. The 2nd half of Companionship study I read it out loud and then the hour of language study I read out loud. And though it has only been a couple 5 days it has made the world of difference particularly in my companion. At first she told me that Hna. A wouldn't follow through with her commitment and so she wasn't as dedicated to reading.  We have visited Hna. A. a lot and our first visit back I told her excitedly that I was on page 82 and asked her how it was going. She then smiled at me and said 3 pages. I then tried to follow prez. Hollands Counsel and she cleared up my "devastation" by saying. "No hna. Estoy en pajina 85. 3 mas de tu." It was beautiful! She then started explaining dreams she was having and started shooting off questions.

My companion then realized she needed to catch up. And how she has changed.... My first day with her she informed me that we would never go tracting. Guess who went tracting on Saturday!!  Instead of previous questions and comments she started to ask me how and why I was so motivated, and yesterday we had a solid heart to heart and she let it slip that she was starting to love her mission! She is starting to say stuff in lessons and it is beautiful how tangible the change is in our companionship. The Book of Mormon is true and there is a power within the pages of that Book that cannot be found anywhere else! Oh goodness!!

Man... Quickly.... So we have a giant list of less actives. We have been stopping by people on that list all week. On Friday we stopped by the C. and when a woman answered the door we explained we were the new missionaries in the ward and we were just introducing ourselves to members on the ward list. She asked us if we wanted to come in side. We accepted and began to talk to her. We did pleasantries for a while and ever since a couple weeks ago I have tried to set the stage by focusing really hard on different "how to begin teaching" points. I asked a question about Christ and him being the center of our lives and she responded and wide eyed I found out that this was not the less active we had thought but now a new investigator that is ready to listen. When I asked her why she let us in so quickly she responded, "My husband died two years ago and today I was so sad and prayed to God to send me someone to talk to. When you knocked at my door I saw God in your eyes and let you in." After going back to the car I realized that the C. that used to live there were actually active and we should have never really stopped at her house. I love this work. I love the Book of Mormon. And the best part is that it is just going to get better cause we have hundreds of pages to still read!!

Love you lots! Thanks for the prayers they mean the world to me! Thanks for the emails!

The gospel is true.

Life is wonderful!

Hna Hill

The Adventures of Seabiscuit and Small Mountain

Dear Family,

I have already been on the computer for 23 minutes and I still have no idea what to write. This would obviously make y'all assume that nothing exciting happened this week, but you would completely be wrong. 

Sister Seaborn is my companion and is from Canada. Last week she asked what I had written home about her and when I explained that I really hadn't said much she got mad at me. And I have a feeling Canada won't suffice. So.... Sister Seaborn..... (she is laughing pretty hard) She is super independent and played Rugby in high school. The End.  We get along really well except for the fact that I can barely keep my eyes open after planning, when she is SUPER awake, and she wants to punch me when I wake her up to go exercise. The family we are staying with is so AMAZING! I walked in the front door and there sat a Grand Piano, surrounded by every kind of instrument. When the family saw our reaction they told us to take some up to our room. So yes, we have 1 guitar and 2 ukuleles in our room. Maybe I can send some videos home of our awesome missionary songs.  That is if I can stay awake past 10. Satisfied  Sister Seaborn? She said I should also add in that she did kick boxing. But don't fear her kick boxing is no match for my Krav Maga. And don't worry family, she is teaching me how to be cool like a Canadian. I am teaching her how to love her mission. Both are coming along quite swimmingly.

This ward is amazing! First off. They love Sister Missionaries. Everyone wants us over for dinner. When I told you there was a Spanish group, I lied. There is enough Spanish to have one, but that it is a tender subject. There used to be an amazing branch here. But it was discontinued due to harsh feelings between members. The group was also discontinued fairly recently to continual disunity between different Hispanic members. It is really sad. But on the positive side, there will always be loads of work to do. I would say 40% if not more of the ward is inactive. 

The work is slowish but to that is to be expected in the first week of being swept in or so I have been assured by Sister Seaborn. I feel like there is so much to do and change, but apparently we are doing alright based on the reaction of ward leaders during PEC. 

I found the cutest, oldest, little lady from MENDOZA this week. We hit it off, obviously. And she basically has no choice about coming to church each week.  I love her!! 

Pictures-

1. The N. grandkids are staying a couple days and they must have heard us walking around super early this morning. So after we got back from running they came up and we made Micky Mouse Missionary pancakes. Yes, I know I have a talent.

2. I miss the temple so bad. I was spoiled rotten being able to go to the temple once a week while living in Utah. As I was going through pictures I found a picture I took of the Provo temple back when I was at the MTC. I am so excited to go to the temple at the end of this transfer. 

3. I love this sister so much. Her and her husband are incredible. I can't wait until they are able to go to the temple. 

Love you all, so very much!!

-Duh

Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite! (Cause it is the worst!!)

Dearest Family!!

Where to begin!! Well this week has been an adventure. So I thought I was being destroyed and attacked by mosquitoes these last couple weeks but after talking to an investigators neighbor we were warned about bed bugs that they informed us that their neighbors had. Long story short (cut out for the sake of Emily) we found the nasty blood suckers where I sleep ( I can't really call it a bed). We are living in a members house and I felt awful and if you also remember last week was exchanges... Yes I thought it was hilarious too. Needless to say everyone in the mission office knows me very well. My house got treated and mission was adamant about clearing the problem before transfers, which I was not sure why because I am still being trained and fully expected to be staying in Greeley for the next transfer.

Well if you couldn't read into my foreshadowing of the previous paragraph, I received the news on Saturday night that early Monday morning I would be leaving Hna Jarvis and heading to Longmont. It broke my little heart. It is amazing how attached I had gotten to this branch and my investigators this transfer. I couldn't believe that they would make me leave. We are thriving right now. I was hoping to see 9 investigators enter the waters of baptism, there is a wedding next weekend. The branch has opened their hearts and homes to me and we have been getting GOOD referrals from everyone in the ward. It was hard to sleep Saturday night and my long Sunday morning prayer was interrupted by Hna. Jarvis throwing the phone at me and telling me Hno. B was on the phone. He told me he found out I was leaving and asked me to speak one last time. This means I have spoke every other week in church.... It is funny how even in the last 6 weeks my perspective of missionary work has changed. First week I was terrified. This past week I prayed hard during the sacrament and stood only with my scriptures. Hno. B told the whole branch I was leaving and as I stood and looked at the 50ish people in the room.... Ah man.. Words cannot even describe. I love these people so much!

I am so touched by how open their hearts are. I walk into a home and the children without any direction from father or mother ask if their is anything they can get for me, water, soda, or jugo? They talk so openly and freely share all that is theirs.  We had a branch BBQ on Saturday and I had a long talk with Pato and I was showing him how great this culture was. He is from Bolivia and he told me that he left Bolivia so he could come here to build Zion. He wanted to come to Prophet Josephs country where he had heard stories of dedicated pioneers. He said that his first week in church in Utah not a single person welcomed him. He then motioned to these people all laughing and said. This is the culture of God. He is right and we I never plan on forgetting it.

I will always love that branch but I am so excited to be in Longmont. We were swept in and it is weird starting out with no investigators well and actually not knowing any ward members either. But I am excited. My companion reminds me of Jordan, needless to say, we will have a blast!

Oh Jordan... I have a story for you. We meet with this very friendly older man. He saw us walking to his house and came outside to greet us. We brought a member and he greeted him exuberantly. He then met my companion with much a hug and kiss on the cheek. I firmly stuck out my hand leaving plenty of space between us. He then joyfully exclaimed "Saludame!!" and instead taking my hand as I fully expected he welcomed me with a long kiss. My reaction must have scared him away because he now just gives me a handshake...

I got a letter today telling me they are still working on my VISA. I am officially in the Fort Collins mission. I am going to serve 3 different missions!! How cool am I!! The ward I am currently in is both English and Spanish. I was told I will be translating on Sunday. Looks like I will be speaking every Sunday!! JK.

Love you lots! Can't believe you guys are leaving for Peru in a couple weeks. I fully expect you to come visit me in Argentina if you plan on visiting RYAN!!! JK.

Love you lots!

Hna. Hill

Go... catch a chicken

Dear Family!

This week has been a week of firsts/ adventures. Jordan, remember how you gave me a letter the day I went into the MTC on the back of your Physics homework? Well I found it last week and read it and most definitely followed your advice along with the advice of Prez. McGinn and possibly even Bishop Misbach about being myself. And I have found the more I make my companion laugh the more we get done. And there is great power from the stark difference from being light and funny and then bearing a powerful testimony with all my heart and soul. People tend to listen and really feel what I am saying.

We built a part of a house this week. It was fun it took me back to Aunt Jenises house and hours of putting up siding. Turns out I still rock at using a hammer but barely lost to Elder Harvey in a serious hammering competition. I ended getting burned bad and looked like a raccoon for the rest of the week due to my safety glasses and hard hats. (Also reason for no pictures... That and the fact that I left the camera at home).

We taught English at a refugee center this week and it was hilarious. Our zone leaders told us they were not going to make it so we showed up they handed us a text book and showed us our class of 20. There were from 9 different countries and spoke 13 different languages. Needless to say by the end of the lesson I had my charades skill tuned to perfection.

I had my first zone conference and exchanges. I slept in a bed for the first time on my mission and it felt so nice! I love white people but I am so glad I am working with the Hispanic population. Exchanges were amazing though. I learned so much. And thank goodness to the willingness of my companion but we have completely changed how we plan and I have loved the results so far. On exchanges I taught in English and used my English scriptures. I was able to use all kinds of words but have also realized how strong of a testimony I have of the Libro De Mormon. I mean the Book of Mormon is true and is evident while reading it, but the Libro de Mormon is just so beautiful and perhaps it is the fact of how slow I must read it and the effort I need to put into each study but I have found much inspiration in that book during my mission.

Oh! Mom, Aaron and Jenny, and Grandma and Grandpa! Thank you so much for the packages. I got them at zone conference! And Maddy.... after zone conference I was sending the packages back to my home as I went on exchanges and my companion opened your present for me and read it aloud. Everyone laughed and I turned bright red and was completely embarrassed. I hope you are happy! Don't worry... I laughed too...

One of the highlights of my mission has been teaching Do. and his family. I think I told you that we dropped him a while ago because he wasn't progressing but about 2 weeks ago he called us and asked us to come back promising that he would change. Ever since then he has mostly followed through with commitments. Every time we go over his whole family and neighbors listen. Two nights ago we stopped by and Do. wasn't there but his family welcomed us in and De. made all the children sit down to listen. I haven't had that much fun teaching a lesson  in a long time. By the end we had 8 children ages 3-6, 4 children 8-13, and about 8 adults all crowded into the living room of an apartment. We talked about commandments and described the relationship between us and God as we keep them by interlocking two books of Mormon. The children laughed as parents red faced tried to tear the books apart. (thank goodness for the phone book episode on mythbusters.....)

We taught S. J. y C. the Plan of Salvation again but this timed focused on their ultimate goal of being sealed as a family in the temple. I have taught this lesson a couple times but it had never been as powerful as this one. They are so ready to be baptized. I cannot wait. I am so blessed!!

Church was alright. I always get frustrated when we invite people to church and high counsel people come to speak and they speak in English and don't have anyone to translate. I really shouldn't get frustrated. I am far to judgmental. Upon talking to one of the investigators he told me not to worry, he could feel it in his heart. If only I could be as pure as my investigators. It is a work in progress. High light of church was seeing S. face as his friend that he refered to us came to church. I didn't realize the power that comes as investigators teach other investigators. I understand that testimonies increase when shared. I guess from the beginning I should have had investigators come with us to teach other investigators the whole time.

So much happened this week but I don't have time to write all. I am so happy! Thank you for your prayers! And next week I find out if I am in the Fort Collins mission or Denver North. Hahaha!! I might get to serve three missions. HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE!!

The Gospel is true.

Life is wonderful.

Yours Truly!

Short Family Letter

It was great to talk to everyone!! Sorry I couldn't talk for longer!

This letter will be short because I think I told you everything yesterday.

I still can't help but mention how wonderful church was yesterday! And the thing I love about this culture is that everytime an investigator walked through the door they were welcomed with open arms. (quite literally) and it didn't matter if it is during a talk. I found it hilarious! We left sacrament meeting because we got a text from an investigator telling us she couldn't find the room. When we brought her in the talk stopped and the person closest to the door gave her a hug. Why don't we do this in America!! Oh wait, I mean why don't we do this in English wards!!!

I also forgot to mention S. J. and S. are keeping the word of wisdom!! Turns out blurting out the commandment last week wasn't such a bad idea! Then again listening to the spirit never is.

I also learned lots of other lessons this week. One of them is  to always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell it the name will carry.  (I now know why you named me Amandaaaaaaaaaaa) J.K.  Explains why every person in the world is names Maria! J.K.! 

Oh there was also this awesome hale storm this week! See pics. It completely flooded all the streets.

Jeff you are the best for building Maddy that Rabbit cage! I remember opening my rat cage at age 10ish and thinking I had the best older brother in the whole world! Not much has changed. I still think it is funny that Little Jeffrey knows how to use a chop saw better than I can.

Seth I saw the picture of you without braces!! Remember your promise yesterday!!

And I think I covered everything else in my phone call home!

Les quiero con todo mi corazon. Tengan un buen dia! (Yes, I did you the subjuctive tense correctly!! Turns out our study sessions in Oregon did pay off!)

OH and Emily CONGRATULATIONS!! I thought the piano was a big deal last week, and it doesn't even compare to the baby that is on the way. Not even three weeks go by and I can continue to say that I have 5 sisters that are pregnant!

Sunset

Hailstorm/Flood

My Host Mom

Attitude determines altitude

This week should have been really rough. And to be completely honest, one day was fairly rough. But the rest of the week everything went wrong but it has been one of my favorite weeks so far. I had a meeting this week with all the trainees and decided that we needed to drop lots of investigators. We chose those who were truly progressing and cut down on who we were teaching and focused on finding people ready to listen to this gospel. Therefore this week we did lots of tracting. The problem with this whole tracting thing is that I am serving in Greeley currently and many areas we are not allowed to tract in after 4 pm because they are supposedly dangerous. It is frustrating because we cannot even leave our house to tract until 12 and that is after we have skipped out on lunch. This only leaves four hours of tracting in prime areas. But they had us talk to the ward on Sunday and the spirit was strong. After we honestly described our desire to invite others to come to Christ we had many families come up to us and give us contacts. I think the work will pick up rapidly. Oh, the spirit is just so amazing.

So as a missionary I have no idea what the weather is going to be like. This week went from 75 degrees to 25 degrees and we got loads of snow. Sadly I had no idea it was supposed to snow and left that morning for 75 degree weather. We worked really hard and came home shivering but full of energy. Though I managed to leave the MTC without getting sick the snow must have gotten to me. But I am practically better today. Supposedly it was some virus and I got a little nervous when it hurt to breathe. But after a priesthood blessing two days ago I just dandy. I have never had a problem getting up to exercise in the morning. It is one of my favorite parts of the day. But this week was the first time where getting up and running in the snow did not sound appealing. But I don't regret going anyways.

This week while tracting we ran into a man who was butchering a pig. His niece was getting married and after talking to us he explained he would love to talk but needed to work. So I volunteered to help. It is way better then dissecting in school! JK. But I had a blast and was amazed at the giant pot he used to cook the pig. He is great and thinks I am crazy. I feel like food is the best way to connect with the people. And I am proud to say that I didn't cry once during dinner this week, only hiccups. I believe it is a Mexico thing to enjoy the fire in your mouth. I have never eaten such screaming hot chili's in my life! It is great! I think I am getting use to it, but I also think the families felt bad for me and noticed that on average I drink about 6 cups of water at every meal. Haha! I love my life! Perhaps I should have joined in during all those times we cheered Cam into eating 15 chili's in a row... Oh and no one is ever on time to anything. Therefore, when we get invited over to dinners we always end up cooking the food with them. I am getting pro at cooking Mexican rice, beans, and my new favorite enchilada's.

I just leaned over to my companion to ask what else I should talk about in my letter and she jokingly glared at me and told me I should share about the time I brought up the Word of Wisdom in our lesson this week....  Oops.... I promised her I wasn't even thinking about the Word of Wisdom, in fact as a companionship we specifically said that we would wait until last week but it just slipped out... In all reality though it was an amazing lesson that will build their faith. Oh this family is prime!! So great!

Life is good, the gospel is true.

Dad, I have focused my studies this week on the importance of families and remember seeing a Book of Mormon that had a reference to every time a family was strengthened in the Book of Mormon. Can you send some awesome references from within the BOM along with some of your thoughts? This goes out to the whole family as well! I need to ask some more couples to get married this week and was hoping you could send some references and thoughts I hadn't thought of yet.

Speaking of marriages... I got Jason and Julia's announcement this week congrats on the marriage. I also believe Satsha and Lance, and Colton and Mara got married on May 4th!! CONGRATULATIONS! May the 4th be with you!

“Not being heard is no reason for silence.” -Victor Hugo

Dear Family,

I will be brief, my host mom (Mom, you would love her! Pray for her, she has been in the adoption pool for 4 years and been trying to have children for 8. She is one of three families and they find out in two weeks.) invited me and my companion out to lunch and I still want to put in my three hours of  basketball.... But I love you all!!

This week I was humbled over and over again. People sacrifice so much to be apart of this church. Families ask us to come and eat with them and we do and I know they are blessed for their sacrifice. Where the husband works three jobs and gets up at 2 to walk to work and be there by 3:30. When we arrive the wife apologizes for mess as she babysits children during the day. Going to church was never a sacrifice for me growing up. But I watch at ward counsel as 4 of the 5 men take their only day off for sunday and leave early for meetings. This sunday I was asked to speak about the trial of your faith. I was lucky that my companion was called to give the talk first so I had a solid 8 minutes to prepare. (Also I think it is hilarious because we tried all week to get people to church and we finally had a fair amount of investigators and it turns out they just had to listen to us.) But as I looked over our small congregation (small but this week we had to leave and set up extra chairs for people who kept coming [Oh the joy when an investigator walks through the door]) I saw the sacrifices of every person in the building. I was so touched.

I think I was born to be a missionary. Never before in my life have I felt so fulfilled. There is always so much to do and I don't think I can adequately express what it feels like when you see the spirit in their eyes. Yesterday we stopped by D. house and he is rather sick when we walked in he opened his eyes and asked if the missionaries were there. Surprised we said "yes". He then said, "I knew it, I could feel it when you walked it in." It is amazing!!

Quickly before I leave I want to share one more amazing experience. The Sisters a couple transfers ago were teaching a man but lost contact with him when he moved. He called us (how cool is that) and asked us to come back to teach him in his new house. So the last twoish weeks we have been visiting him and whoever else is in his house. There was this moment when S. walked in with his giant whisky bottle which assured us was filled with Ice tea (apparently I am a horrible teacher) and sat down and pulled out his book of Mormon from his back pocket. I then sat back and recognized this miracle of a situation. Here I am, a 20 year old white girl sitting on the ground in a circle of 5. One is the half blind, mostly deaf mother of one of them who sprinkles us with holy water as we walk in the house. Another got out of prison last month, 2 are covered in tattoos, and  1 has an ankle bracelet because he is on house arrest. Here I am reading Alma 32 helping these men sound out words from the book of Mormon. The spirit is so strong and one is crying as he tells us he knows this book is true. He is right. It is amazing to watch the change that accompanies a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  And on the plus side we have lots of referrals from within the prison.

Love you all! 

Hermana Cerro

P.S. Abby, Mary is beautiful. I wouldn't mind if you started whispering "Amanda is your favorite Aunt" for periods of 20 minutes about 4 times a day. Miss Maddy Mulford don't go getting any ideas! I am still the favorite aunt!! No brainwashing, remember? (Hannah, I am sorry for stealing the hearts of the nieces and nephews while you were away!! Oh And Congrats! I Can say that out loud now right?! If  he/she is born on November 11th you will name the child after me, alright?!