What to write, what to write.

We are working with some awesome people right now.  I cannot believe I am so privileged to be here, helping people along the path to Christ.

This week, we had interviews with Presidente Dester.  How grateful I am for a mission president who is so Christlike.  His interviews are always the highlight of my week.  I learned a lot about compassion and selfless service.  Here in the mission, I have realized that at times I am a very selfish person.  What's in it for me?  What will I gain from this??  But the secret to happiness is to just forget all about yourself.  Slowly, but surely, I am trying to learn that.

I love this quote from the October Liahona: "It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want.  It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result.  The Savior taught, 'Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.' [D&C 88:64; emphasis added.] At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good." - Richard G. Scott

Things that have happened in my life and my mission many times have not been as I've hoped and prayed.  But they have taught me so much.  They have helped me to become a better person, the person God knows I can be.  I still have a loooooooooong way to go, but I feel as though I understand better how to get there.

This week, we tried to have a cake activity in the park in front of our house.  It worked out alright.  The cake was pretty stinkin' delicious, hahahaha.

We got to see a baptism of one of the ward member's son on Friday, and we brought some investigators as well.  They enjoyed it so much, that we are now planning for their baptisms.  How grateful I am for the hand of the Lord in this work. :)

Saturday, we had divisions, and I got to go with Hermana Marley again to work in their area.   I learned a lot about how to teach things simply, in such a manner that a child could understand them.  We also had the chance to see the General Women's meeting.  How lovely!!  I think one of my favorite hymns is "Let Zion in her Beauty Rise".

Yesterday, as we arrived home, we suspected something was up because the lights were turned off, but the door was open and one light in the other hermana's room was on.  As we were exploring, Hermana Robles was suddenly SOAKED.  Which caused us to defend ourselves...until we were all soaked and the floor as well.  It was great fun. :)

Well, this morning, as I went to open our bedroom door, I heard the strangest noise, like television static.  I tried to open the door, and it was a bit stuck.  I also noticed that the tiles on the floor were beginning to rise...and rise...and crack...and basically, our floor exploded. But just in our doorway, which makes it an adventure to enter and leave our room.  We have to be very careful where we step, hahaha.

Other than that, it's just wonderful missionary life!

I love you all so much!!

LOVE;
Hermana Grondel :)

Wow, this week has been one of the craziest weeks of my entire life.

I know I say that a lot...but I think this week surpasses them all.

We had to attend to several medical things this week that all seemed to come at once, hahaha.  But the Lord has been constantly blessing us and helping the work to progress in this area.

Wednesday, we had the chance to go to un Día de Hermanas, which was a meeting in President's house with all the sisters of the mission.  WOW that was so great!  I loved being able to see everyone again and be spiritually fed.  It was like a Zone Conference de puras hermanas.  The Sister Training Leaders, Sister Dester, President Dester, and elder King (the financial secretary) all gave trainings.  We learned much about our Savior's love and the worth of each of God's children.  Plus, it was in President's house, which is one of my favorite places here, haha.  In fact, President's house is in our area, so we have been talking about passing by to ask for references, hahaha.

Lately, we have been working with an investigator named Eva.  She is my adopted grandmother here in Honduras. :)  I just love going to visit her.  It has been incredible to watch the Spirit of the Lord work within her. Every time we visit her, I feel humbled and in awe of the Lord's mighty power.  Honestly, we do not do much.  We invite her and teach, but her conversion has been between her and the Lord - exactly as it should be. I love the front row seat we are given to some of the greatest miracles of this life.

Funny Story: Thursday we spent almost the whole day in the hospital.  We ran an errand to the mission office, and as we were leaving the hospital, a random man decided he wanted to communicate in english...so he began to sing what I imagine is one of the only songs he knows in english..."Eeeeeeverybody loves bananas!" Oh man, I was dying!

Yesterday was a great day.  I love Sundays! 

Today we went to a Peruvian restaurant, and oh my goodness, it was so delicious!!  I love Peruvian food!!  Maybe I'll just make peruvian food for the rest of my life. :)

I love you all so much!!

Love,
hermana Grondel :)

P.S., I'll send photos next week (I hope) :)

Hey Howdy hey!!

It has been a pretty good week...though I don't remember most of it. :)

Right now we are working with some really incredible people who are SO ready for this gospel!  I love hearing our investigators say that they are reading, or that they are pondering, or when we see them at church.  Equally, it hurts when they reject us, or when they decide to stop investigating.  But I know this gospel is true, and I know the Lord is preparing His children to receive His gospel.  We've just gotta find them!!

Yesterday, hermana Robles and I had the chance to talk in church...and then we taught Gospel Principles...and then the other sisters taught Relief Society...so it was just missionary day, hahahaha.  But I enjoyed it a lot.  I love to talk! 

Today just happens to be Independence day here in Honduras!!  They are celebrating 193 years of freedom.  That means that today, the streets were EMPTY.  And almost everything is closed.  I have never seen Honduras so deserted!  We spent part of the afternoon at the stake center, enjoying the day with the ward and stake and celebrating Honduras.  We also had the chance to see parts of some parades, which consist of marching bands...the majority of which are just drumlines.  Though there were a couple of groups with other band instruments. :)

Anyhoo, I love you all lots and hope you have a great week. :)

LOVE,
Hermana Grondel :)

                                          Celebrating Independence day in Honduras!

Hoooooooooola!

This week was the week of Cambios, but Hermana Robles and I are staying together!!!  That means 3 transfers together!!  We are both very excited.  We also feel as though this is a wake-up call to go and do EVERYTHING we can with this last transfer together, because who knows what will happen in the next transfer!  I am so grateful for Hermana Robles.  We have so many adventures together, and she has grown to be one of my greatest friends and exampes.

As you may have noticed from my recent letters, these past couple of weeks have been a bit rough.  Honestly, I did not feel like myself.  This weekend, I couldn't take it anymore.  I don't want to go into much detail, but it was a really low point, both in my mission and my life.  The point of sharing this with you all is for the testimony I have gained of the power of the sacrament.  As we sat, waiting for the sacrament to be passed, I began pleading.  I wanted to feel like myself again.  I wanted to feel the desire and drive this work deserves.  I took the sacrament and continued pondering, hoping.  As the young men returned to their seats and I sat by my companion, I felt it.  I felt the difference.  I finally felt like myself again.  And yesterday was a day full of work and people and love.  And I am so happy. 

I missed that. Feeling happy.

I know that God lives. I know my Savior lives.  I know He loves me, that He knows me personally.  I know He never left my side as I have struggled in this life.  Every trial has been accompanied by a shower of tender mercies.  Por ejemplo, Saturday, we thought we weren't going to have lunch (the family wasn't home when we passed), but the guard of the neighborhood gave us a ton of corn and avocados out of the blue.  And then the family passed by and invited us to lunch.  But I knew that corn and those avocados were a message directly from Heaven, telling me that I am loved.  That I am not forgotten.  That it matters very much to my father above that I make it through this life.

Today, we went to the cathedral here in SPS.  It was lovely.  We also ate at McDonalds.  That was the first time in over a year that I've eaten there!  Funny Moment: We were all really full, and Hermana Marley didn't want to finish her fries, so she said (jokingly) "*gasp* what in the world is that?!" And Hermana Robles fell for it.  She looked behind her and started talking about how the cathedral was behind us while Hermana Marley dumped all her fries on her plate.  We were DYING! :)

I love you all so much.  Thank you for your love and prayers. :)

LOVE,
Hermana Grondel :)

Howdy Hey!

This week has flown by.  I cannot believe it is already September.

Wednesday we had a Multi-Zone Conference with half the mission and Elder José L. Alonso, de los setenta.  He is in the Area Presidency of Central America.  Wow, it was an inspiring day.  Remember that choir I had mentioned two weeks ago?  Well, it was for this conference.  We sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" to the tune of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and in part of the song, no one sang; an elder shared the First Vision.  And it was so powerful.  Though the elders only had a chance to practice for about 40 minutes the day before and we only had one run-through the day of with all of the elders and hermanas (since half the choir was from Copan), I felt calm and at peace.  I cannot describe how beautiful it was.  I was awed at the power of the Lord.  I feel so blessed to have been a part of it.  Elder Alonso even mentioned that it had brought the spirit to him in a powerful and very personal way.

The conference was full of pure revelation that will help us SO much here as we begin to incorporate it.  I especially loved a thought from Sister Dester, the mission president's wife.  She spoke of the impact her Stake President had on her as a teenager, but she never mentioned it to him.  She spoke of her curiousity when he spoke.  As he spoke, he would always cry.  She began thinking, "He knows something about this gospel that I don't understand". When she was older, they happened to live near each other again, so she planned to visit him, only to discover that he had Alzheimer's, so he would not remember her.  Soon, he passed away, and she went to his funeral.  She mentioned a thought that one of the speakers shared.  He said that this man was a "High Yield, Low Maintenance" member of the church.  Think about that.  I began asking myself, "What kind of missionary am I? What kind of member am I?"  Do I requiere much of everything and do little?  Or do I truly give all I have?  Do I move on and grow from my experiences?  It is a phrase I never want to forget.

Today we went and hiked the Coca-Cola!  Think Hollywood sign, but a bit smaller.  It was a blast. :)

Other than that, it's just been normal missionary life.  Transfers are this week, but I've got no clue if we have changes or not.  I'll let you know next week!  I love you all!

LOVE,
Hermana Grondel :)