Its official, I no longer go around telling everyone I like myself. Big strides forward! (week 14)

Hello Family,

 

We had another good week here in Graneros, and it was actually week 6 which means cambios. I am....drum roll please......staying in Graneros! Hermana Villanueva is also staying and the other Hermanas too. My comp is finishign her misión in two weeks and then she will be going back home to her family. We found out that Hermana Wilson will be coming to take her place, but we will be in a trio for two weeks. Hermana Wilson will be the coordinadora for our zone this cambio, and then she too will be going home to her family. Let me just say it is challenging to be around people that are all thinking about how they are leaving the misión.....really hard. They talk about going home and their family and such.....and it is the time of holidays also, so lets just say this week has been kind of slow. Anyway, it was still a good week. I completed three months on Thanksgiving! Did you all remember? Cause I almost forgot haha. I only remembered because I looked at a calendar.

 

Hermana Noakes and Hermana Parker are going home this week :( I know you probably don't know who they are haha, but they are wonderful. Anyway you only here about 7 percent of what actually happens during the week....

 

So we had some cool and funny experiences this week that I will share with you all.

 

1. Carlos, remember the weeping willow man? He is awesome. When we teach him he always asks questions. It is awesome, because you never have to wonder what he is thinking or if he is understanding. We were teaching about the Book of Mormon and my comp shared her testimony and then kept going on with the lesson, but he stopped her and asked if I and Hmna. Fanny could share ours too. We are going to invtie him to baptism this week. Pray for him.

 

2. Conni and Alexis- A pareja we found. (Pareja is like a couple that live together). Anyway when we saw Alexis outside I didnt think too much about it, but my comp started talking to him and then they let us come in and teach a bit. She said when she saw him the spirit told her that both his paretns had died, and well, yeah we found out that was true. So that was a couple of weeks ago and then yesterday we went to teach them again. (They spend a lot of time in Codegua with work.) They told us that there was a special feeling after we left the last time. It was kind of awesome! We invited them to be baptised too. Pray for them too. It is especially hard because time between the appointments leaves a lot of room for the adversary to work on them. During the lesson I was major struggling with the language, like more than usual. It was really really frustrating.

 

3. So after Connie and Alexis yesterday we went to find a reference, who wasn't there, so we knocked on their neighbors door. A woman answered. She told us they didnt believe in God, and Hna. Villanueva was all podemos pasar? Which is like can we come in. Well I was all ready to leave and such, because I just dont even know how to respond to that. We went in and started talking to them, and they were talking and we were suppossed to respond (duh cuz thats what you do in a conversation) and well IDK kind of an awkward situation right? Two definite beliver in God missionaries and two who dont and they are sharing their opinions and you have to think of something to say and say it in another language and not offend someone, and respect their beliefs. Lets just say I was very aware of my inadecuacies in that moment, very aware. In moments like that all you have is your faith and a prayer. Yep pretty much it. It ended up being a good experience, though I didnt do much of the talking. The spirit was there and you could tell they could feel it.

 

4. The RS dinner was a beautiful experience. I cried haha. We had an investigator come to the dinner which was awesome, because we hadnt even taught her a real lesson yet and we didn{t call to remind her. We are inviting her to be baptised this week too. She is a single parent to a cute little girl named Esperanza who has down syndrome.

 

Well I love you all very much. I miss you too! Give Grandma a big hug and kiss for me.

 

Read and Pray Everyday!

 

Hermana Makin

I shout at houses now, did I tell you that? Doorbells are not very common here.... (week 13)

¡¡¡¡HOLA!!!!

PS that is not my favorite word anymore, probably because I say it about ten trillion times a day haha, but good news, my hola TOTALLY SOUNDS LIKE A CHILEAN HOLA. Like if I wasn´t a giant and blonde people wouldn't think I was Chilean. There is a hope that I won´t sound like a total gringa by the end of my misión haha

 

We had another awesome week this week. Not sure what else to say....it was awesome......I really like working, I probably learned that from mom. (Let me just add, working not in the home aka cleaning.) Someone told me that the misión was going to be so hard, harder tan my first year of teaching, and I got really worried, because my first year of teaching....well I haven´t ever done anything quite so hard in my whole life. While misión work is challenging, I wouldn´t call it hard. Maybe because it´s all you have to think about.

 

I feel really bad about the returned package, that is so weird! You all don´t have to send me anything.....except the boots haha. I won´t be offended or sad if you don´t send things. You are all so sweet to think of me though.

 

Okay so I will share one really funny thing that happened over the past few weeks. It was the day after the stomach bug and we were walking back to our house along this alleyish type thing (there just aren´t words to describe it....but not an alley, but slightly sketchy at night....so alley) It is a dirt path wide enough for a car and a half to drive down. Anyway this alley is lined with weeping willows which provides amazing shade. Hna. Villanueva told me I should try and swing from the branches. I told her I was going to break it because...well I mean you know they aren´t that thick. She was all no it won´t break. So I told her to do it. Well she started to try and then said it hurt her stomach.....yeah. Anyway so last Sunday, the Sunday before last we were walking back from church and I was all, okay are you going to try now and so she started to try.....it was pretty funny. Anyway this man starts up the path on his bike (don´t worry its a good ending). He stops and asks if we are trying to break it off and Hna. Villanueva explained the funny situation, then we talked to him for like 30 min haha and now we are teaching him. He has like a thirst. It is kind of cool. We taught him in the plaza the other day and a man (who may have been very drunk) interrupted our lesson to tell me that I needed to be a model. So that was super awkward haha Then the man (Carlos) after he left said that he had to agree with him.....even more awkward. And then I bore my testimony about the plan of salvation...it was great. 

 

Anyway I love you all, and I hope you are having a lovely time there in Utah. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving this week! Eat some banana cream pie for me. We are going to a relief society dinner that night, and it is based on Thanksgiving haha so that should be fun. Probably not traditional though. PS did I tell you that the bishop in the Ward in from Alaska. He served his misión here and married a Chilean haha. Kind of funny.

 

Read and pray everyday

 

LOTS OF LOVE!

 

Hermana Makin

 

PS This week is my Em J´s birthday. Love her and squeeze her until she gets embarrassed or annoyed, just for me!  LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE EM!

November 2014 pictures

Daniela's Baptism

Hermana Cano

Leaf



Landscape

Hermana Dana who is from Argentina. Almost as tall as our Clucky.

Hermana Noaks. (She completed her mission about a week after Ciara sent these pics.)

Someone tried to rob me today......slightly traumatized (week 12)

Hello my dear ones,

 

Someone tried to pick pocket me today! I feel slightly violated. Well at least someone we know said that they saw someone trying to. Flashbacks to Spain......twitch....twitch Anyway, I'm good so don't worry. I have like an inner ninja remember?

We had another great week here in Graneros! We met awesome people taught, awesome lessons, saw miracles, and felt the spirit. So I realized I haven't been talking much about the people that I meet here, and it is because of this:

1. There isn't anything to tell until there is, and by that time there is just too much to tell.

 

......I thought there would be more reasons, hence the numbering, but there really isn't haha But, I am now repenting, because I want to share about the amazing people I have met. It is the reason why I am here after all :)

First I will tell you about Gloria. She is one of our investigators preparing for baptism! She has such a strong testimony of the gospel, it is amazing. Her daughter was baptized a few years back and the changes she saw her make helped start a testimony of the gospel. She is working on quitting smoking. She was smoking 20+ a day, but just by her self without even knowing us has gotten down to 6. Isn't that amazing? She made a goal this week to cut back to 3. Please pray for her. I can't tell you just how hard Satan is working against us out here. He so desires for everyone to be miserable like himself, so please pray for her!

We also have another investigator preparing for baptism. She is also amazing! Her story is incredible! So strong! Her name is Maria. She is 26 years old. She has the cutest two year old son name Jorge. Her Dad died, not sure how or when, but before her Mom. Her Mom died in a terrible car accident. She (Maria) was driving and her Mom was in the back seta with Jorge. He was like 8 months old. She flew through the windshield, but managed to put Jorge on the ground before. Tragic right? So sad! If you could pray for her that would be splendid!

The next person I want to tell you about is very dear to my heart. Her name is Angelica. I don't know why (well I have a pretty good idea actually) but I feel like I knew her before. She is so strong. She was baptized and all that years and years ago, like 30 probably with her husband. They were sealed in the temple and everything. Then they had some problems, which I wo'nt go into detail about, because it is a very sensitive topic. Then there were some decisions that she made that took her away from the church. We have been meeting with her and teaching her and all I can say is that the change I have seen is a real live and true miracle. I so look up to her. I don't know if I could ever be as strong as her. She has a long road ahead, and it is going to be so difficult. Please PLEASE pray for her. I think once you feel the love God feels for a person you just can't help but love them forever. Some said she was a lost cause, but that is definitely not the case. No one is ever a lost cause to God. Can you imagine someone saying that about your child? Anyway pray for her, pray hard!

So we found out last night that we have another mission conference this Friday with another person from the 70! Isn't that crazy?!?! This never happens.....or rarely, and so close together! Its awesome haha

Here is my spiritual thought for the week. Elder Zamora was sharing a spiritual thought after lunch and I am robing his idea to share with you. 

The Holy Ghost is like a dove. It is easily scared away. Think about the things you do during the day that could scare away a dove. How loudly would you speak, how quickly would you be moving around? Anyway, food for thought.

 

Anyway I love you all, and hope you are doing well!

Read and Pray Everyday!

 

Hermana Makin

 

Yogurt here comes in bags did I mention that? It is also more like thick milk haha Great for smoothies! (Week 11)

Hello Dear Ones,

I had another good week in Chile! We worked really hard as usual! Numbers don´t always mean something, but this week we had 25 lessons and 52 contact, which may not mean anything to you, but that is a lot! We also had an awesome mision conference yesterday. All of the missionaries gathered in Rancagua and Elder Christensen and his wife spoke. He is in the presidency of the seventy. The whole mission gasthering has never happened.....well I'm guessing at one point, but in no ¨living¨ missionary memory.

This week we had lunch at Hna. Fanny House. Her sister Soraya made us an American meal, it was awesome. Potatoes and gravy, rolls, and meat. Just like home! It was tasty! We had our Thanksgiving a little early haha Someone had better eat some banana cream pie for me. 

Last Monday, the cookies were a hit! Thanks for the recipe Mom! It was kind of an experiment though, because they don´t measure the same here. So we had to kind of eyeball it, and that has never been my forte. They still turned out though! PS They don´t exactly do baking powder, or baking soda. Well they do one of the two, I just don´t know which it was that we put in. Also they don´t do real like measuring cups and spoons, they use actual cups and spoons, so it was really fun, lets just say that. 

On Saturday was a baptism of an adorable girl in the ward, Daniela. I helped with the musical number. She sang and I played. Her Mom cried. I am also like the designated piano player in the ward too. I play every Sunday, so if I haven´t said it before, thank you mom for making me practice :) 

I did a number on my back this week. It hurt so bad! It is mostly better now, but just to give you an idea, I took my pills and they didn´t do much. We kept working though, because that is what I am here for. Also I got sick again yesterday. Hna Villanueva too. It is some kind of flu thing. We feel much better today. We still went out to teach yesterday though, but after our first lesson (which was really more like taking turns running to the bathroom) we decided we had better go home. Apparently my throwing up is going to be an occurance every transfer haha (I know you all wanted to hear about that haha) The mission President actually called this morning and asked how we were, and Hna. Villanueva who usually says ¨super bien¨said something else, which I think surprised him. We asked him why he had called and he said it was just because he thought he should call. We kind of think it was for something else, but he is a very inspiried President. We love him and Hna Warne too. 

Did I forget ot remind you all about Brooke and Bri Bri and their birthday last week? I remembered, but I think I forgot to remind you all. It looks like you all had fun at their party though! 

Well I love you all very much! I hope you are all doing well! Love you!!!!!!!

Read and Pray everyday! (EVERYDAY!)

Hermana Makin

Dog Attacks, the plague, and alcohol.....this is the craziest week yet! (Week 10)

Hello Everyone!

Before I forget, my pday next week is Tuesday, just so you don´t run wild with yoru imaginations or get unnecessarily angry or sad.

First the plague. I sent you the picture and it is actually a lot worse now, that was last Monday. It is also on my legs and feet. Not like all over, but everyday some spots come to join the family. It looks like some of them are starting to shrink so that´s good. Anyway I told the nurse and she checked it out and told me it was fleas. Laugh it up people laugh it up. I know Jill is possibly dying right now, and maybe Dad too. And no I have not been carrying around my flea collars, but yes now I have one in my bag, but it doesn´t matter because it didn´t end up being fleas. The Elders came and fumigated our house like 10 min before going to bed....so that was fun. Hermana Villanueva almost died haha. Then the bed was sprayed and all of  my bedding was washed. Flea collars were added to my pack. Anyway it wasn´t fleas because none of that worked. I have no idea what it was. My compy kept saying tiene un peste....and I thought I knew what it meant but just to be sure I looked it up, and yep....plague. Anyway we will see....the nurse said she would look up Little red bumps on the internet. I told her she might find some interesting stuff lol

 

So a dog tried to attack me this week. It just so happened to be diablito. I told you that dog is of the devil. I am now less fond of dogs if that is even possible. It was the day after Halloween and we were walking to the church to clean the egg off the chapel. I was talking to Hmna Sheean and then I looked down and there was the dog and it had it´s head all cocked forward and angry looking and I was a tad bit nervous, so I just kept walking trying my best to give it some room, and next thing I knew it had jumped at me. It tried to bite me and all that, but Hmna Villanueca is like my body guard or something, and scared it away. It was traumatizing to say the least. I HATE THAT DOG!

 

So I may or may not have had alcohol this week......I am not sure. We were at a members house for lunch. She served us desert and it happened to be ice cream, so I was happily eating it, because hello, ice cream. Anyway after a minute or to my comp asked her what it was and she started to explain and well it sounded like the sauce on the ice cream may have contained alcohol, also the ice cream. It was kind of fuzzy for the both of us, but we stopped eating it. Now in my recommend interviews I will have to respond I think so haha Kind of funny though, since it was a member......

 

We had this crazy lesson this week with a less active member and it started off with her telling us that she didn´t want us to come to her house inviting her to go to church . She said lots of stuff, but basically she was mad. I was all um.....I have no idea what to say, I want to run and hide, but well that wasn´t an option. She thought I didn´t understand her, so she pretty much said all of the stuff to my comp which was fine with me, I was all for playing dumb. I was glad I had a comp at that moment. It was like a make it or break it moment. Then we ended up teaching her anyway (I was surprised) and she bore her testimony and felt the spirit and we have another appointment this week. I guess you had to be there, but it was crazy! I was freaking out mostly because I was thinking how am I going to manage this when my trainer is gone? What is I am the senior companion or trainer? Mostly because EVERYONE keeps telling me that I am going to be training next cambio. Like half of the hermanas are leaving in december and january (the initial rush after the announcement) and there are a lot of new hermanas and everyone says I speak really well, and so I guess that means I am going to train. There are like 30 hermanas arriving in December. Lots of pressure being a trainer.....

 

Oh there was another funny drunk man experience. Well, really just sad to see someone so out of sorts, but funny because it was beyond awkward. This man is walking his bike up the road and he stops (we were waiting outside a house with another member) and says you are very pretty. I was all thanks. Then he goes I like pretty women. You are really pretty. I was baptised by a pretty woman. There was other stuff in between, but that was pretty much it. Anyway it was awkward.

 

Oh and another non drunk moment from a man. We were walking down the road and this man on his bike was all excuse me, excuse me I have a question. Where are you from. I told him the US and he was all are all the women from your country beautiful? I didn´t respond, because I had no idea what to say to that either. The Chileans really like Gringos. Better than being hated right? Glad I don´t look as ugly as I feel haha.

Anyway I love you all to pieces! I hope you have a good week this week! Kiss my babies a trillion times!

Read and Pray everyday!

Hermana Makin

PS Question of the week, since I don´t have time for a soap box:

What are you doing everyday to help my children come closer to Christ? Since I love them more tan anything on the planet and recognize this as the most important thing for them to do, I have to ask. :)

PPS Hope you had an awesome Halloween! Kudos to Jo for sending photos....the rest of you however........

 

tiene un peste aka the plague

This is what she does on P Day....not very relaxing.... Nuestra Selva aka the backyard

 

Blast O Pictures

Hermana Makin's First Chile Mission Companion. Here they were participating in an activity held at the church.

The other set of Sister missionaries in Graneros. (I think one of them has left now)

District



Zone. Don't worry folks her hand is just on her hip. :)

Zone

Last pic before Hermana Mota (I think) left the mission/area.

Tan lines ;)

Picture of Hermana Makin with the other sisters in her mission including the new missionary from Kaysville that arrived last week.