One more week!

Hermana Limachi (another missionary here) very happy to have a hat made by my mom. Said to tell her that her hat will eventually go with her to Bolivia.

Hola todos!!

I only have one more week of training! In a week I'll officially be a real missionary, and will have to learn to trust myself (as it's very likely that my companion is going to leave the area and I'll be put in charge of teaching the area to another missionary). 

I'm definitely scared, but learning how to trust that the Lord will help me be enough, even if I'm not. 

The Garcia family, an awesome and helpful family in our ward

Miracle of the week: Since my first week on the mission we have been teaching a family. The daughter was baptized (Karen) but the mom, who we were also teaching, has not been and had not progressed much. This week we finally had the opportunity to teach her alone (and she actually opened the door, which has also been a problem). 

We finally got to talk with her and teach her and figure out what she is really worried about and what has been holding her back. At the end of the lesson she (for the first time) agreed to offer the prayer. In the prayer she began to cry, and at the end of the lesson agreed to begin reading and praying on her own. She has committed before, but this time felt different. 

Two days later we had a lesson with her daughter, and for the first time in a few weeks she was happy. I wasn't sure what had changed until after the lesson she told us that her mom had asked her to help her find a chapter (which we had left for her) in the Book of Mormon and that she was praying every night. Karen was glowing with joy.

Hermana Hernandez, sadly holding her warm cuddly (bag of rice made by my mom) which she burnt. She decided to microwave it for 3 minutes though I had told her it only needed one.

If you don't know yet, the Church has put out the Christmas initiative for the year for Light the World. Please watch the video, and share it. Through small acts of service like sharing this video you can change lives. Last year a man in our area shared the video from the last year on Facebook, and one of his friends (who he didn't know very well) responded and asked where it was from. He invited her to come to church the following week and she agreed, and was baptized 3 weeks later, and is an active member to this day. 

Through our small acts of service the Lord can work miracles. Look outside yourself this Christmas, and help those around you. You never know the difference that a few minutes of service can make.

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes

Went bowling! (featuring the weight I have sadly but surely gained) (It's not actually as bad as it looks in this pic I promise...hope)