miss[ionary] in mexico : May 2014

Sunday, May 25, 2014

POWER ISSUES=SHORT LETTER

I am sorry I can't write this week but the power keeps going out and I don't have any time left. Hope your week is great and I will tell you about this beautiful baptism next week!

Love y'all!

Hermana Beardall

This week's BEAUTIFUL baptism.

Us cleaning/destroying an old couch.

My desk (pic for you Mum)

Monday, May 12, 2014

Wow. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to talk with y'all yesterday! Honestly, I was so nervous when you didn't answer my skype calls, but the minute I heard your voice (dad) over the phone I was so excited to talk to you guys! Not gonna lie, it was hard at times to speak in English even though my Spanish isn't exactly fluent or perfect. Jaja I felt a little ridiculous when I couldn't explain things in English (and Spanish when you wanted me to talk a lot of Spanish). My companions make fun of me for saying "Aye aye aye" when I answered the phone. The weird thing is, I never say that and in that moment I was so excited and the tears were flowing and that was the only thing that came to mind. Jaja it was great to see all of your lovely faces and hear your voices!

So, like I was saying, I have three companions. In the middle of the week we got a phonecall from the oficinas saying that the sisters from Irapuato were coming to work with us in Colinas. Hermana Davis and I were so excited to have them join us! We think that they are going to be with us in this area for the rest of this change. Hermana Davis works with Hermana Orduño and I am SO BLESSED to work with Hermana Noh!!! Seriously, everyday I am learning more words and learning how to be a better missionary. She doesn't speak a stitch of English (except for the few phrases I am teaching her like "very good!") and so I am REALLY forced to learn the language. Let's just say there are many laughs and confusions but all in the name of learning and having fun!

Hermana Noh and I have been working a lot this week with an investigator named Aarón. Before we were struggling to teach him the importance of the day of rest and the importance of going to church but wow! Hermana Noh and I are starting with the Restauración and going through every principal and answering his questions the best we can! He is anxious to be baptized and is gaining a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. I love watching things starting to click with our investigators, especially A because it took us a long time to help him understand. In the MTC I was told that your mission is a privilege that God has given you to have the front row seat at the conversion and miracles of his children- for me His children here in Mexico. I am starting to see why I was called to serve in Querétaro Mexico and serve specific people.

I had my first baptism this Saturday- J. M. It was a beautiful sight to see the family all so happy for their son (14 yrs old) to be baptized. The mom and D. (hijo, 9yrs) are members and the papa is working towards baptism (after he quits smoking). J. had a BIG smile on his face and you could see his testimony shining through him! Wow, he has a strong testimony of the gospel and I can tell he is ready to live the gospel as a member of this church. The Hermana brought her parents who aren't members to the baptism. They both felt the spirit so strongly that they were both in tears and were more than willing to have the missionaries visit them. It was a beautiful experience all around. (I will send pictures soon)

You mentioned that you wanted to know what we do on a daily basis. Well, here you go:

6:30 wake up and exercise

7:00 shower, get ready, eat breakfast

8:00 Personal Study

9:00 Companion Study

10:00 Idioma- STUDY ESPAÑOL!!! WaHOo!

11:00 Since I am in Training still, I am doining 12 Semanas (training program) with Hermana Noh

12:00 We go to work!!!

2:00 Comida or the main meal of the day (Dinner basically) with MEMBERS! Don't worry. There is almost always tortillas

3:00 Back to work!!! we visit investigators Less Actives and Recent Converts

8:50 Back in the house to plan for the next day

10:30 BEDTIME!!

Have a beautiful week!!

Love y'all,

Hermana Beardall

The four of us: Orduño, Noh, Davis, y Yo

WOW! What fun!

The four of us (otra vez)

Monday, May 5, 2014

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WEEK IN MEXICO

Dear family,

This week was another wonderful, beautiful week in Mexico!

First things first: DÍA DE LAS MADRES- (Mother's Day) We have church at one, meetings til five thirty, and Comida till six thirtyish sooo sometime around six-thirty we will be skyping y'all. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Okay. This week. This week I have really valued my time to study personally. I studied Alma 5 this week (read it. it's good) has helped me think about where I am currently standing and where I want to be when I stand before God and tell him about my life here on Earth. It is a good chapter full of power! I was physically drained of my energy because the chapter was so spiritually powerful.

With our investigators this week we have learned the importance of being simple so that everyone can understand the gospel. We have an investigator who we don't really know how old she is because everytime we ask her she gives us a different age, but she is about 90 years old. We teach her everyday and review everything everyday and she finally remembers how to pray! That first prayer was the sweetest prayer I have ever heard! I am forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have a front row seat to the miracles of his children here in Colinas. Not only is my testimony growing but those of the people here in Mexico!

My spanish is... wow. I can't believe how much I have learned in the past three or so months. Wow. that's another thing. How did I complete three months? Time flies!

I love you all and for those that have a big week this week- you are in my prayers!!!!

I love all of you!!

Talk to you in six days!

HERMANA BEARDALL