MY FIRST BAPTISM

OH MY GOODNESSSSSSSSSS.  I feel so complete as a missionary.  I had the privilege of seeing one of our investigators get baptized this past Saturday!  To be honest, I didn't want to tell you guys about the possibility earlier because I was afraid it would somehow disappear as with many of our other possibilities.  But it happened, it happened!  If I were to break my femur tomorrow, I would be happy!  Well, no, that's not true.  I would really like to finish my mission without interruptions, but life happens.  Anyway, let's start at the beginning of the week and work our way forward.

Tuesday, we had divisiones again!  This time, I went to Fesitranh, which is in our zone, to be companions with sister Bahr, and Hermana Whittle was in El Bosque con mi compañera, Hna. Porter.  Oh. My. Goodness.  It was the best division everrrr!  We were laughing so hard the entire time, had some awesome lessons, and we learned a lot from each other.  I reallllyyyy hope we are companions one day.

Wednesday, we started teaching a new investigator who is super pilas!  His name is Daniel, and he is currently dating the daughter of one of the families in the ward.  BUT he is truly interested for himself, not just for her :)  We also had the chance to teach an investigator named Brenda, who as well is progressing very well.  

Thursday was CRAZY!  We had a lesson with Julisa, Elizabeth, and Jaline.  Elizabeth and Jaline are sisters, and Julisa is their aunt.  Julisa was a reference from her sister, who is the stake relief society president.  In our first lesson (about 2 weeks ago), they were all super prepared.  We invited Elizabeth and Julisa to get baptized on the 25th of January, and they accepted.  Jaline did not feel so sure.  She said she wanted to be sure because if she gets baptized, she wants to continue progressing, not just get baptized and drop it.  Well, we were working like crazy people with them to be ready for this date.  Thursday, Julisa and Elizabeth said they want to get baptized, but not the 25th. End of story.  But Jaline said she finally received her answer!  And what an answer it was.  She was praying for an answer about the baptismal date, and then was flipping through the BoM with her eyes closed, opened it to a random page, and read the first verse she saw, 3 Nefi 11:27 And after this manner shall ye ^abaptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are ^bone; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.   She then offered a prayer of thanks and asked if the Book of Mormon is true.  She then read verse 28, And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no ^adisputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. She felt so impressed.  She said "I knew I wanted an answer, but I didn't think I'd get such a great one!  She is seriously incredible, and more than ready for this. She even said she wants to serve a mission!!!! YAY! :)  After that super awesome experience and lesson, we had to go to get some lunch.  Well, we were running late, and I felt like a chicken with its head cut off.  We were trying to get lunch and then I had to run and get my tag (I forgot it that morning) and then we were trying to get a bus or taxi to get to a meeting, and Hna. Porter completely biffed it.  It looked so painful, I thought she was unconscious for a second.  But she is completely fine.  It was quite an adventure.  We were rushing to a meeting of our mission and the east mission.  Elder Soares, from the presidency of the seventy, came and spoke to us, along with Elder Ochoa and their wives.  It was incredible.  And definitely a "I need to be better" conference.  I love Presidente Dester so much.  Just a side note. 

Saturday was another crazy day.  We had a lesson with our investigator who we thought we had lost, Gabriel.  We made cookies, had another INCREDIBLE lesson with Daniel, who agreed to be baptized on the 15th of January, and we had A BAPTISM!!!  Jaline looked beautiful, and all of her sisters, her aunt, and her grandmother came to support her.  She even dressed in all white.  After one of the lessons, she said we are like cousins to her, and that she will never forget us.  I will never forget her.

Sunday was lovely :)  We had a FHE with one family that then fed us Banana Pancakes!  Shout out to Nicholas and Jack Johnson!  While we were eating, my companion started singing the song, haha!

This morning, we went and helped paint a house.  It was awesome. :)  Well, I love you all so very, very, very, much!!!!  May you always remember how much our Savior and our Heavenly Father love you.  They will never fail you.  They will never stop loving you, no matter what.  

LOVE,

Hermana Grondel

We ate some really small bananas

Michael (who performed the baptism), Me, Hna. porter, Paola (her husband is on the left), Jaline, her grandmother, Elizabeth, and Julisa

We took a lot of photos

I am the king of the Rock! (Mulan)

Turtle crossing sign :)

Us with the elders and their bautismo

Elder Wing and I at the Conference

This picture is better :)

It's a Monday...

Howdy.  How are you all doing?  I'm doing pretty well here. :)

Tuesday, we had interviews with President Dester.  I love my mission president so stinkin' much!  He said some things that really lifted my spirits.  Hermana Porter and I were the last two to have interviews, and then we were walking back to our area.  Well, we were laden down with a box full of copies of El Libro de Mormón and a supeeeerrrrr awesome package from my supppeeerrrr awesome family!  As we were walking, President passed by and asked if we wanted a ride to our neighborhood.  As we climbed in, the other elders realized we were carrying these boxes.  One of them said, "whoa, you were carrying this box of LdMs? Dang Hermana Grondel, you're....strong..."  No one believes me when I tell them I am strong!  Elder John, other elders, investigators, pucha, I just want to help carry stuff and they say "oh no, it's heavy"  And then I carry it and I'm like, this isn't that bad...  Okay, enough pride for one letter, perdonen me :)

THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY much for the package!  The week before, I was thinking all I really want is some of Grandma Del's fudge and Sour Patch Watermelons.  And I got both!  When I opened the package, I screamed when I saw the Watermelons, I was so excited.  As I was exploring the package más, I encountered the fudge and screamed even louder because I was even more excited!!  Well, I scared the neighbors.  The daughter of our Landlady stopped by to see if everything was alright because they heard my screams and thought something had happend.  So funny.  The shirt is beautiful.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I love it a ton.  Hermana Porter and I have enjoyed the candy (I think most of it is already gone) and I love using the earrings and headbands!  My two favorite accessories!!!

Well, we had exchanges this week with the sister training leaders.  I got to go to Castaños and work with Hermana Morales.  It was something absolutely incredible.  We also had a super funny experience.  We stopped by a menos activo, and Hna. Morales y yo needed to use the bathroom.  They led us outside (it was dark at this point) to a couple of ropes with some blankets hanging down from them.  We were both a bit scared to enter.  When I entered, I found just a toilet bowl, without a seat, with a giant pipe leading away from it to I don't know where.  As I was relieving myself, I also discovered I was sharing this space with a hen and her chicks.  Quite the experience!  The following morning in companionship study, she was talking about the resurrection from Alma 40 y 41, how wicked won't be changed to righteous, and she was talking about our thoughts.  I always thought about wicked people won't suddenly become good, but I never thought about how we will still have the same thoughts, good or bad in the resurrection.  It made me want to be better, starting with how I show love to my companion.  We have had an awesome week.  

Saturday, we went out and tore it up!  We are being so blessed in our area.  Sunday, we saw 7 investigators in our rama in Sacrament Meeting. WHAT A BLESSINGGGGGG!!!!!!  

Today, we went to the Cascadas again, where we went my first P-day!  It was awesome!!  But also a bit strange.  

Well, I am out of time, but I love you all so very, very much!

LOVE,

Hermana Grondel :)

Opening the package

Yay!

 

Everything got here safe and sound.

SO HAPPY!

Not the best picture, I will take a better one this week :)

Hermana Porter reached 6 months, so we tried to burn some socks.  It didn't work so well.

Still beautiful :)

Just enjoying my caffeine free diet coke

Hna Porter found a heart in her chicken nuggets!

We had a little too much fun with the rocks.  This is Ariel, from the Little Mermaid.

And Simba (Lion King) :)

Puchika

Alright, all you english speakers, it is time for this week's spanish lesson.  The word of the week is "Puchika" (POO-chee-kuh)  It means "dang it", "oh no", "shoot", "argh", and so on.  Basically, it describes my week.

Walter, our super awesome investigator, decided to move back to Santa Barbara until June to study at the university there.  Sooo, he is not going to be baptized on the 25th. To be honest, it is one of the most devestating things this week.  Hermana Porter got sick this week, so one day we were in the house almost the entire day.  We had a cita with an investigator that day, and we both really wanted to go, so Hermana Porter slept all day to have the strength to go to the cita annnnnd....He wasn't home.  In fact, we haven't seen him for almost a week and he isn't answering his phone.  Most of our citas fell through.  One of our investigators is also studying with Jehovah's witnesses right now.  We have both felt mentally attacked this week, soooo, puchika was probably one of my most used words this week.

But to be honest, it wasn't all bad.  In fact, some things were really, really good!  For example, we met one muchacha in the street that had a mountain of questions for us.  We later also contacted her cousin and brother in the street, and it wasn't until they gave us their address that we realized they were from the same family.  When we visited their house, unfortunately they were not available, but an other brother was there and also wanted to hear what we had to say.  Woo!  When Hermana Porter was sick, the elders went and bought things to make soup for her and brought me some real lunch.  We had a chance to watch "The District" again.  I really do love the District.  We got to make little handouts for the members to ask for references, and the Irías family came back from New Jersey and brought us chocolate from America!  YAY! :)

Also, we finally had a lesson with a reference who said in the lesson, "I already know that I'm going to be a member of the church". :) So, we just need to help her be prepared.  Another investigator is slowly coming, step by step, to know the truth of these things for herself.  We had the chance to learn how to street contact better with an RM member of our branch.  We finally have a new branch president.  

Funny Story:  Monday was El Día de los Reyes, so the elders had eggs filled with confetti that they continually broke on other people's heads.  Also, we have run into 3 almost 4 people bathing this week, whom we saw in just their towels... awkward...  

Yesterday was Up and Down, like most days here :)  I was so grateful to go to church!!!  We had a training session in how to use family search.  I understand it so much better now!  Today, we didn't do much, and it was awesome. :)  We got up and washed clothes, then we went to breakfast, yum!  After buying our groceries ( the grocery store is nearly deserted at 8:45 in the morning) we returned to washing!  I am so happy to have clean clothes again. :)  We are trying to make our own ice cream and had a chance to watch a movie.  Yay!  

I love you all more than I can say.  

LOVE,

Hermana Grondel :)

I love being a missionary!

Wow, I haven't written you since last year!  Hahaha :)

Well, this week has been great, and I feel like so much happened in only one week!

New Year's Eve, we had a Zone meeting, and it was lovely.  We had trainings and found màs ànimo for the work! I was a bit worried about walking around, I didn't know if we would have much to do, but we ended up meeting a man who just asked us a bunch of questions and at the end, asked, well, what message do you share?  It was wonderful.  Also, one of the members made a cake and dropped it off at our house.  Oh my yum!  It was delicious!  We ate it in about 3 days.  wooo :)

Funny Story:  We were visiting a convert who is older and at times has a hard time understanding everything. To start off the lesson, he wanted to sing a hymn I have never sung before, nor Hermana Porter, but we decided to try it.  It was not right, and Hermana Porter could not stop laughing!  I just kept singing, hoping she could join in, but she lost it.  so funny.  Well, the member, Norman, started talking about how marriage is essential to enter the kingdom of God.  He was very worried about the importance of marriage and had many questions about marriage. (He is not currently married) He then proceeded to ask us if we have boyfriends and if we would live in Honduras after we got married.  He kept going on and on, it was so funny! To top it off, this week, Hermana Porter has been studying all about forever families and eternal marriage, just by happenstance... I think hna Porter is going to get married....mmm...no more than 6 months after the mission. :)

Oh, and last Sunday ( not yesterday, the one before) we were eating lunch with a member.  Well, her mother is pretty old and is not a member, she is catholic. At the end, she started asking me if I eat a lot of mantequilla (technically, that word means butter, but here, it refers to the cream form of manteca, which is lard or shortening).  I said more or less, and she said that I must be eating a lot because I have so many pimples.  Ouch.  But hilarious :)

I recently purchased an HLJ ring (CTR, but in spanish.  It stands for Haz Lo Justo).  I love it!  It has my name and mission engraved inside of it.  Merry Christmas to me!  Thank you for the opportunity to buy that :)

This week, I have been trying to develop diligence in the work.  In PMG, it says that to be diligent is to keep working, even when you are tired.  So, whenever I feel tired, I start thinking of one more thing that I can do.  I am seeing so many miracles already.

We have been using Sister Crompton's Deee-licious recipe to make Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars for the members here to say thank you for all they do for us.  They love them!  It is so funny because we have no idea how to explain them in spanish, and usually, they have never seen something like them before.  It's awesome!

We went to visit another family and found the mom making tortillas, so we started helping her make tortillas.  Afterwards, we were rewarded with fresh tortillas topped with AVOCADO!  I was in heaven.  To follow, she said today was her mother's birthday and invited us to join in and eat cake.  We felt so out of place, but it was a blast. :)

Other funny story: We were visiting one lady who, I believe, thinks we are Jehovah's Witnesses.  Well, Hermana Porter has a ton of mosquito bites on her legs.  This sister saw them and was very, very worried for her.  She said, "I'll be right back", and went to grab something.  She returned with a bottle of sunscreen and proceeded to apply the sunscreen on the legs of Hna Porter.  We think she thought it was repellent. She didn't rub it in, so her legs were even whiter than is normal for us.  It was very sweet of her.

This week, we have been teaching a young man named Walter.  Hna Porter met him in Santa Barbara and was really excited to teach him here.  Well, I can now see why.  Saturday, we invited him to baptism, and he said YES!  To make it even better, he came to church on Sunday!  As we were sitting in the testimony meeting, he leaned over to Hna Porter and said that he wanted to go up to bear his testimony too!  He said not this Sunday, because he wasn't ready, but he asked if we could prepare him to be ready for the next time.  Ummmm, yes.  I think maybe we can do that!  I am over the moon!

Sunday, Hermana Porter and I taught the Principles of the Gospel class for investigators and new members.  We got to teach about Exaltation.  Wow, it was a wonderful, wonderful experience.  The Spirit was SO strong.  If you have a chance, read that chapter in the manual.  It is beautiful.

So, pretty much a stellar week overall.

I love you all so much!

LOVE,

Hermana Grondel :)

Oh, we also spent an hour helping one lady sell corn on the cob.  it was delicious!

We have a guard dog.  He started following us in our neighborhood and followed us all the way to our other neighborhoods!  I named him Sparky.  We later found out that Sparky is the dog of one of our contacts, and his real name is Mordo.  I like Sparky. :)

Turns out extensive nativities are pretty popular here

We went shopping in Choloma today, and I found these shoes.  I love them!