QUICK LETTER THIS WEEK

Better than nothing right?

We taught a family this week- Familia S. We have had a hard time trying to keep an appointment with them but when we finally got to enter their house and teach them, the Spirit hit us sooo strong! I didn't understand every word, but I understood the Spirit. They were having family issues and were visiting the Catholic Church's family help programs. They felt like the catholic church didn't have the relief they were looking for and that it wasn't personal. L. S. said that we were angels and answers to her prayers- we shared the message of the gospel and we taught the gospel to her needs! They have a desire to be baptized and learn more!! Hna M and I were overwhelmed with joy and almost started crying on the bus ride home (after the lesson). Missionary work has it's ups and downs but the ups override all the downs because of their spiritual impact on the heart.

I loved conference this weekend and was BLESSED to watch it in ENGLISH!! We had many pauses but I watched all of it in english! One of my favorite talks was M. Russell Ballard's talk about following up and Preach My Gospel. Before my mission I didn't really understand the power of PMG but now that I read it every day I can't believe I didn't read it more before the mission. I challenge you to read PMG and get to know it REALLY well. PMG is for every member because every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a missionary!! 

I saw Brynn and Dani in the choir!!! Ahh that made my day because I did not expect to see familiar faces that I love so dearly!! 

I am teaching Elder Vicente English and he is teaching me Spanish- our conversations are benificial and BEYOND hilarious!  I can see a major difference in my confidence in speaking and also my vocabulary. I am starting to enjoy the language more!!

I love all of you and miss you much!

GREENIE PACKAGE

  

RANDOM Q&A

Anything funny happened in your apartment?
Nothing quite as funny as flies, but...
We finally got a fridge this week! I bought some tortillas and queso (among other things) and it felt soo good to finally have all of our supplies for our house- now we need to set everything up!

When is your next zone conference?
I have no idea when our next zone conference is... might be something good to know:) haha it is on a Martes but I don't know how often we have them.

Sadly, we aren't teaching S. J. anymore because she told us that God didn't give her the answer to be baptized. She read the scriptures we gave her and prayed but it didn't work out. Bummer. I still pray for her even though I don't see her anymore.

Spanish is still hard but I definitely can say that my understanding has definitely improved! Thank you for your prayers!

How does the peanut butter taste?  I've heard that it's not as good as American PB.
I don't notice a difference. I love peanut butter regardless.

Did you get your "greenie" package? Your Easter one is on it's way.
Ok. so please know your package has made it, but my zone leader keeps forgetting to bring it!! AHH I bug him like crazy and I hope to get it next week! Keep your fingers crossed!

When do you have Zone Conference?  Is that when you get your packages?
I don't know. Yes.

How long do you get on the computer?
1hr30min

Are you writing to a lot of people?
YES!! I get about 20 letters a week!

Do you shop at a fresh market? I heard that that's where missionaries get sick.
No. We shop at a store called something difficult to remember. My comp calls it the missionary store.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK!!!

San Miguel de Allende: the heart of Mexico

Dear Family,

AHH thank you for your video and your letters! I loved it soooo much! I would have watched it twice (or maybe more than that) but I went to Querétaro for an interview with the Presidente and didn't get back in time to have my full writing time.

In the past week, I have been to Querétaro 3 times:  for my visa, divisions, and for my interview. As much as I love Querétaro, I feel more at home in San Miguel de Allende! I guess you could say my heart is in the Heart of Mexico (that's what all of the maps say here in San Miguel de Allende)!

We are finally starting to see the fruits of our labor here in San Miguel! It has been pretty rough for me to adjust to the missionary life, the spanish, etc. BUT finally! We are seeing some progress! 

S. J.  listens to us and asks good questions but has a hard time keeping her commitments that we are giving her. We will see how it goes this week!

While I was in Querétaro on divisions, I was with an American, Hna Davis, who has been in Mexico for one change- new but can understand spanish and can carry on a conversation. We taught a woman named R. with her two kids. They were the cutest family ever! We taught them the importance of family prayer and also read scriptures with the nine year-old son (I for some reason can't remember Mexican names even though most of them are named Maria or José or something like that). I committed him to read his scriptures every day before he turned on the TV. It felt soo good! It was the first lesson where I understood mas and then issued a commitment. I loved it!

These past weeks have been hard, but when I look back on my first day in Mexico and where I am now, I can see that I have been blessed to get this far and to have the strength that I have now.

I eat pbj sandwiches and my companion thinks I am weird. She has never had a pbj sandwich before and I think that is weird! Ha! Although our cultures are different and we have different traditions and daily routines, we get along pretty well! One thing that made us laugh this week was on our way home from Querétaro and on the bus they have movies. I fell asleep because I was exhausted, but I woke for a second to see where we were and my companion turned to me and said, "THIS MOVIE IS ALL ABOUT SPAGHETTI!" I about died! I was laughing so hard! It's true, there was a Japanese spaghetti movie (with spanish subtitles). 

I feel like I am spelling a lot of words wrong in my letters because this computer is set for spell check in spanish. This whole letter is in English, therefore every word is underlined in red.

Well, I am off to work now! I will write y'all next week!

With Love,

Hermana Beardall

p.s. sorry no pics this week...

p.p.s. KAYLONI!! I can´t wait to hear more about your mission call! PAHLEEZ email me and keep me updated!

p.p.p.s. I love y'all. A lot.

PICTURAS

Elders, Hermana Miguez, and Hermana Beardall

The floors are tile and the walls are cement.

The streets are lined with bright colored buildings and each door is unique.

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME!!!!

But here are some highlights:

First Investigator-- S. Juana

She was nervous to pray but we gave her the confidence she needed and she prayed the most beautiful words I had ever heard-- so sincere and simple! The spirit was definitely there and I was definitely excited to be a missionary!!

We are finally figuring out what works and doesn't work in our area-- there's not much to do in el Centro, but on the outskirts there is plenty-- we just can't be out passed 7:30pm.

The food is good-- soo good! I have no worries to eat Mexican food (lies- I am worried that I might get sick-- so far only once and it wasn't that bad)!

A favorite scripture I read this week was Heleman 3:35-- humility makes you wax stronger (something I have been working on:) )

Out of time! I hope the pictures sent! The computer was being difficult!

Better luck next week! I love Y'all and I am IMMENSELY GRATEFUL for ALL of the prayers!! They are a blessing to me!

I'll manage my time better next week and maybe I can say more. Hopefully we have more people to teach so I can tell you more stories, too.

LOVE YA!!

Love,

Hermana Beardall

GREETINGS FROM MEXICO

¡Hola!

I AM IN MEXICO!!!

I am sorry there are no pictures this letter because I forgot my memory card reader :( grr. I made a special effor to take pictures today and I can't send them. BUT I PROMISE NEXT WEEK!!!!

When I landed in Mexico City Airport, my stomach was feeling all sorts of things. Nervous. Excited. Upset stomach from the rough landing (that never happens to me...). Excited. For the most part, it still felt like a dream to be in Mexico!

My mission president, President Mejorada, is FANTASTIC! He speaks a little english which made it less intimidating to talk to him. The Mejorada family is so kind and reached out with open arms to all of the new missionaries.

My companion is Hermana Miguez! I love her already! She is from Uruguay but thank heavens she knows english, too! (Her last companion, Hna Kitchen, is from Salt Lake so she knows how to work with an American companion :) ) She said that before the mission, she learned most of her English from the movies-- that made me laugh so hard!! Sometimes she quotes lines from movies (in English, of course) and it makes me laugh :)

My first area in the land of Mexico is San Miguel de Allende!! Oh my is it GORGEOUS!! This is where I really regret not bringing my memory card reader! The streets are lined with bright colored buildings and each door is unique. If you find the time, and if it is possible, go to Google Earth and walk down the streets because they take my breath away EVERY DAY.  It keeps me from getting bored walking up street after street. Oh yeah, did you catch that I said walking UP streets? Yeah, the streets are quite the hike. My main concern is my weak ankles on the rock road. It's like hiking, but times one hundred (if you have ever been hiking with me you would know that I trip on just about every rock placed in my path. I am pretty weak in the ankles).

Anywho, San Miguel de Allende-- Hna Miguez and I were assigned to open this area-- how cool is that? I think we may be the first Hnas in San Miguel, at least as far as I am concerned. This means we do a lot of contacting in the streets, searching for people to teach. Our teaching pool is pretty small, but I can't wait to see it improve!

The weather is nice and warm-- like a good May in Utah, maybe even June, but really it is March. It is absolutely my favorite kind of weather.

I am struggling to learn how to use pasos but I think I am starting to get a hang of it. 

Spanish... haha, that's funny. Everyday I am drained of all my energy because I am using every ounce to focus on what people are saying. AHH THEY SPEAK SO FAST! I have learned a little bit and can understand just about every other word. If they are talking about the gospel I understand a lot more-- ha :)  I have learned to not focus on every word but the general idea, general words they are saying-- whatever that means!

We live... I am not sure how to describe it but we live in a house extention next to some members in our ward and also the Elders. The floors are tile and the walls are cement. I will send you pictures next week. (grr)

The food-- so far not too spicy and it is bareable. All the members say that the more spicy/Mexican food I eat, the better my spanish will become. Ha. I sure hope so because my tongue is on fire!

Well, I hope I answered all of your questions and I will write more next week!

Con mucho amor,

HNA BEARDALL