Exchanges

the Halloween/hat package arrived

Hola todos!

This week was good! I'm starting to feel more at home here in Juarez, though I still can't effectively communicate and rarely know where I'm going. But eh, step by step right!

This week we had exchanges (teaching with a different companion) twice. I was terrified at first, but I survived! Both hermanas were very nice and helpful. One was from D.F. (Mexico City) and one from Bolivia. With the one from D.F. I was pretty comfortable because she spoke English as well (though less than my companion) so I could ask her words and things. 

The one from Bolivia (Hermana Limachi) did not speak a lick of English. She had to learn Spanish here on the mission because she spoke Quechua before, so Spanish was relatively new to her as well (she has 11 months on the mission), but we had an awesome time! She was SUPER sweet and helpful, and we were actually able to talk and teach together well. Turns out she's a k-pop fan, so we were able to talk about that a bit because Nicole served in Korea and Kylie loves it, and she also loves soccer. We got along quite well and she told me she hoped we would be companions some day, which was probably just to make me feel better, but I definitely agree. 

The result of rain?  Broken water pipe?  

We also went on splits this week to teach with some of the members because we had too many appointments to make it to them all alone. Man was I terrified. But we made it to all the appointments (miraculously, because I don't know where I'm going--definitely had some heavenly help there) and though we only ended up teaching one (the rest were not home) I made it through the lesson. I definitely had a lot of help from the member. Luckily she was a recently returned missionary, so when I couldn't understand what the man was saying, or vice versa (I guess my Spanish isn't always understandable), she was able to respond and explain and fill in the gaps. 

Get that corn out of my face

Two weeks ago we found this little family walking along the road. The mom seemed a bit serious so we were unsure of how the lessons and teaching would go, but they have become so dear to me. The two little girls (Dani and Sofi) are precious. They are 11 and 8 and are so smart and so receptive to the gospel, looking to learn and understand more. In one of our last lessons, we invited Dani to say the closing prayer, and she agreed only when Sofi (her little sister) said she would help. It was so precious as we got to listen as Dani prayed, being led through it by Sofi. I was very close to tears. 

morning exercise? (notice Hermana Hernandez on the floor and Bailey's awesome hair binder tan line on her wrist)

Every week out here I have more experiences that bring me both more joy and more pain than I had commonly experienced at home. There is nothing more joyous than watching a life change through the gospel, and nothing more painful than watching those you have grown to love fall. But the pains make the joy so much sweeter, and make you truly see and appreciate things in this life.

Thing to remember: This gospel is a message of joy. It is one that can bless each and every life. There is no life that can not be made sweeter through the truths of God. And this work of sharing is not only the missionaries' work. As much as we wish, we cannot do this alone. Open your mouths and share it. And when people have received it, help them. I have seen so many recent converts fall. They need the love and support that should come from joining. Help them.

Don't have time to explain this weeks pics but here they are! 

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes