Week 37 - Chiantla es lo mejor!

 

 

 

Hola familia! Les amo!

This zone is really different from my last zone. I love this zone.. but, I was in love with my last one. We were all homies in my last zone.. best friends. In this zone we dont do anything! It is sad! There are some ruins here in huehue that I want to go see... but, they dont want to go because they have been there a lot! jaja so we will see what happens! There are 14 elders and only 4 sisters and the elders tend to leave us out... oh well. This morning we had to go to the center of huehue to get flu shots. My arm hurts so bad!

On Tuesday we went to our zone meeting.. It was Elder Mus´s birthday and they had a pinata that looked like a missionary! It was so fun! Hermana Fabian had to give a role play in front of everyone on the spot. It was SO much fun! After everyone was like WOW! The hermanas in Chiantla are bien pilas! We were supposed to go meet with the Familia Bran at 4 but we got a message that said Hey hermanas, we wont be home because we are in huehue.. We didnt have the number saved... but, we assumed it was them because they had told us that he had an interview for a job in huehue.. so we responded Good luck in your interview.. you will be great! and The relief society wanted to go meet with them too.. so we called the president and told her that they werent going to be home. Then we went in the night and came to find out that the message wasnt from them! I guess bad things had been happening to them all day! They didnt have the money to go to his interview.. so they didnt go. Then his brother called him and told him that they were theifs and a bunch of other stuff... then he was really really sick! I thought he was going to die in front of our eyes! And we could not find out who sent us this message! Satan was working really hard! But, I told them to read one chapter in the Book of Mormon and that God would take away the pain for the night.. They did! And it worked! I love the spirit!

On Wednesday night we were walking to an appointment with a member.. and he was in the street with my comp and I was just up on the side walk walking.. and I was looking at them.. and I ran into a pole! It hurt so bad. Luckily just us three were there. But, my comp could not stop laughing haha I hit that pole so hard! Then we went with Hermano Rene.. and it was really spiritual with this hermano that we brought. Working with members is the best! Try to go out with the missionaries.. at least one day per week! It helps SO much! We have been working with the members a lot lately! We had 15 lessons with member this week and only 4 others! Then we went to go buy a cake and we entered this cake store and the woman started crying! She said that she was praying for us to find her. She said that she is a member of the church.. she showed us her CTR ring and said that she is sad because right now she cant go to church because her job makes her work sundays.. So, we have been visiting her a lot this week and looking for a new job for her. The member that was with us gave her a blessing and we werew accidently an hour late getting home! My first time that late in my mission!

Then on Thursday The Bran familia had their entrevistas for baptism. They all passed! It was so good! Our district leader Elder Herrera gave the intervierws. He is so cool. Then at night we were talking about the Christmas inciativa that the church is doing to the members.. and A return missionary told my companion that I am bien pilas. It made me feel really good! haha

Guatemala's newest Members

Then on Friday in the night we were waiting to catch a bus to go home.. and none of them were stopping.. but, finally one stopped without us even signaling to it! But, when we entered we realized we were the ONLY people in the bus with these 4 men in charge of the bus. I was scared.. but, then they started blasting Party Rock Anthem haha They were all dancing and they were so funny. Then when we asked how much it was.. He said 1 quet.. and we thought it was super weird because the smaller buses usually cost more.. then my comp said sorry but I dont have change. She only had a 10 and then they said well then it is nothing and we got off haha it was so funny! and weird! Then we got off the bus and all of the light in Chiantla went out! I could hardly even seee my hand in front of my face! So, we went to a members house close by and had a mini family home evening with them. They made me sing in english for them haha it was fun.

On Saturday I taught my first english class! Only 2 people came... but, we still had a good time! Then we had to go to huehue to give some stuff to our Zone leaders. It was a fun adventure! Then we went to the Chapel to set up the stuff for the baptism! It was so beautiful! My comp and I sang and Elder Chavez played the piano for us. It was great! But, during the baptism.. People were fighting out side in the street! One person was SCREAMING ¨MATARLO! MATARLO!¨Which means Kill him! Kill him! and they were saying a bunch opf really bad words! It was scary.. but, luckilky in the baptism there was an offduty cop and he went outside to take care of it. Then we had a lesson with Rene and he told us that he had a dream about the Book of Mormon! He said he knows that it is true and that the church is true.. but, that he is afraid to get baptized because he is afraid of making mistakes after his baptism. I am pretty sure he will be baptized.. We told him that this is the reason we have the Atonement and the Sacrament. We are hoping this Saturday he will be baptized. 

Hermana Bullough's area is very hilly!!

Then Yesterday the familia Bran was confirmed. Rene came to church! Then we went with Nebia.. We were all bearing our testimonies... and I started to cry and told her that I feel so Stupid every single day because spanish is really hard and people look at me like I dont know anything. But, that I am here because I know this is true and that this is the only way to our salvation. She was crying and told us she wants to be baptized but nmot without her husband.. and he doesnt want anything to do with us.. Then we went to visit with Jose.. He has 16 years. He told us he wants to be baptized on the 22nd of this month! His birthday! Then we went to the Christmas devotional and I was so BAGGY. I miss you guys so much! The Taburnacle choir was perfect.

I am so excited to talk to you guys in a few weeks!

I know that this Church is the true church. I know that Jesus Christ lives. and that He loves us so much that He was willing to die for us.. and He did. Remember that this Christmas.. He is the gift.

I love you guys!
Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough






2 Attachments

Week 36 - Amando Chiantla!

Hola mi familia! Que tal como estan? Les extrano, Y Les amo!

Well, This week was CRAZY!

On Tuesday we left our house at 6 in the morning with all of my suitcases! Hermana Caren was so nice! She gave us a ride! I love her! We both cried! All of the missionaries that had changes met up at the terminal! It was so much fun to see a bunch of the missionaries that I know and love! Hermana Mcgill was there with all of her suitcases getting ready to go home. She wrote me a really nice letter to tell me bye! She also wrote me today! I hope you guys get to meet her someday, she is the best, I miss her. I waited FOREVER in the terminal! I was the last missionary in the terminal. I was alone waiting with my zone leaders.. jaja. But then finally my companion got there! Her name is Hermana Fabian and she is from Guate. Our bus ride was 2 and a half hours! Then an additional 30 mintues in another bus! I had so much anxiety with my suitcases! I am definitely going to de junk before my next change! haha It was a big struggle! My area is called Chiantla (Chantla) and it is in Huehuetenango (waywaytenango). I love it SO much here! It is so beautiful! Everything is Mountain. I am literally climbing mountains every single day. Up down up down... But, I LOVE IT! We will be baptizing a family of three this Saturday. I guess this family had been coming to church every Sunday but they lived outside of the area so the sisters couldn't teach them. So, I have been teaching them all of the lessons with my companion Hermana Fabian. I am so excited for them. They are the Familia Bran.

Wednesday morning we had our Zone meeting. There are 18 of us! 14 elders and 4 sisters. 9 companionships. They are CRAZY. I miss La Zona Esperanza so much. I was there for almost half of my mission and we were all homies. When I got there they were all talking slang and in Tu and being obnoxious. But, then we started and an Elder Stood up to give the Mission Manual thought. His name is Elder Amaya. He is SO cool haha He said We are going to read in this page, The Language.. It talks about how as representatives of Jesus Christ we are held to a higher standard with our language. He called on every single one of the people talking in this manner to read haha He macheted all of them.

Thursday I felt really good! I feel like I am finally starting to figure out how to be a missionary. jaja I had heard of an idea before called Plan Mand Ms or Missionaries and Members. So, we made a sheet of paper to give to all of the members to help us in this obra misional. They need to fast and pray about one of their friends to fellowship and introduce to the church.. I will explain more about this later on in my letter. We have been meeting with the Familia Bran everyday and we filled out their baptism registros already! This is the most smooth baptism I have had! They are truly SO prepared by the Lord. Then we had a Noche de Hermanamiento and we had talked to a family earlier in the day and had invited them.. and Hermana Fabian said that the Dad never listened to them before... but, for some reason this day he listened to us and they came to the Noche de hermanamiento! Then after we talked to the Bishop and I asked him for a list of all of the members and we talked about our plans for the ward and everything! I feel like I am really starting off on the right foot here!

On Friday I decided that I am going to start teaching classes of English on Saturdays! Everyone is so excited! Then we went and taught a Jehovah Witness. He just wanted to fight with us. The spirit was not their and I was so frustrated! Did you know that The Johovahs witnesses were started by a mormon? Then we taught Rene! He has been meeting with missionaries for almost 5 years! His wife is a member.. but, this lesson was SO good! My companion shared scriptures and I shared experiences and then I asked him if he knows that the church is true.. and he said he doesnt.. So I asked him if he thinks it is good and he said yes.. SO, I said we have a baptism on the 13th of December. I know that you can know this is true by this date. If you know it is true will you be baptized? and he said yes. So, we put plans.. we told him that he needs to pray, read, and do everything that he can to know in these weeks. I said if by this date you still dont know and you feel like you did everything possible.. then he can live his life buit, if he doesnt know and he didnt do everything possible to know then he will be sad and he will know that he didnt do his best. We went there last night and they have been reading in the scriptures everyday since that day! Wow!

Saturday morning we contacted a family with 10 kids! There dad died a few years ago! We taught them a tiny bit about the Plan of Salvation, and then played UNO. We are going to return on Tuesday with a bunch of the youth from the ward because out of these ten kids 7 of them are the age of YM YW! I had an idea to teach the Plan of Salvation! We are going to play that game where we attatch balloons to the ankles of all of them and they need to stop on the other peoples balloons and the last man standing wins! But, we are going to put pieces of the Plan of Salvation in every balloon and then we will teach it that way. Pray for us.. I am really nervous and I want this family to realize the importance of this!

Sunday was great! I love our ward! We share an area with Elders..but, they live really far away and only come once a month! SO, they came yesterday. I directed the hymns and gave a talk. I talked about the Obra Misional and how the members and the missionaries need to work together! I presented Plan MandMs I told them that every time they bring someone to church that we will give them a packet of MandMs. They all seemed excited! We also put a calendar on the ward bullitin board for them to sign up to teach with us. I also talked about how the clases of English would be a good idea to bring there friends. I read in James a scripture that talks about how it is a sin when we know what to do and dont do it. I told them that they know they need to help us so they need to do it. We had 5 investigators in Sacrament meeting! Then we had a lesson with Nibia and her family. We brought a long Wilmer. He is a young man in our ward... He is SO cool. He will be a great missionary! His testimony is so strong and he is good at intereacting with people.

Today was boring. haha I miss my home zone! I feel homesick from them. We just went to lunch with our Hermana zone leaders! I am reunited with Hermana Call, so that is great!!!

Anyway, everything is so great. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is so true. I know that God has a plan for us and that this is His plan. He loves us, He walks beside us. I love you guys!

Con Amor,


Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

 

Week 35 - Gripe y Cambios! (A Cold and Transfers)

Hola mi querida familia!

Que tal? Como estan? Les quiero mucho!

Well, This week was great! I forgot my journal with all of my notes though.. but, I will do my best to remember what happened this week!

So, I have had a cold this whole entire week! I couldnt sleep every day! It is so terrible! But, the Elders gave me a blessing because I had a really bad fever on Thursday. I slept a lot better that night! There are some things that I am gaining a conviction of thanks to my mission, one of those things is the Priesthood. I know that the Priesthood authority was restored to Joseph Smith and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only church that holds this authority. I have seen so many miracles happen in my mission and almost all of them have to do with the priesthood.

On Thurday morning the assistants called us. They called to tell my companion that she will be training! I am going to have a granddaughter! I am so excited for Hermana Garcia! She will be such a great trainer! She is a really good teacher. Then Last night at 1030 the zone leaders called me to tell me that I will be getting transferred this change! I am so nervous! I have no idea what to think! I have been here my whole entire mission so far! I love these people so much! On Friday morning the companion of Hermana Marcheschi and my companion had a meeting for trainers, so hermana Marcheschi and I were on divisions in San Mateo. It was so much fun! But, we went to Carens house, she was my first baptism. When we got there I said Hermana... and before I could say anything else.. she said dont leave.. and we both just started balling! I am going to miss her so much. I seriously dont want to leave San Mateo. But, I do know that Heavenly Father needs me some where else!

Hermana Marcheschi got called to be an Hermana Leader. I am so proud of her! She is going to be so good at that! They are only so many hermana leaders! So, it must mean that President Smith trusts her a whole lot.

So, I have 8 months in my mission! I think that is so crazy! Time is going by way to fast! There is still so much to learn and so much to do!

We had an activity this week in the rama here in San Mateo. It was the best assited activity that we have had since I got here! There were almost 40 people! A lot of Menos activos came too! I remember we played human fusball once in an mutual once.. so we did that here! They all loved it SO much! They didnt want to quit!

Oh! On Thursday one of our menos activas asked us to help her with a baby shower.. So, we helped her plan some games.. but, in one of the games we had all of the women tie balloons to their feet and their goal was to get to the pregnant woman to give her a hug before their balloon got popped! One woman thought it would be a good idea to play while her baby was strapped to her back and she was wearing high heels too! Well, she tripped and fell on her face! and ran into me on her way down! Luckly her baby was okay! Her arm was scraped up pretty bad.. and my knee is bruised.. I felt bad because I feel like it was my fault! I started to cry. I felt like such a big baby! haha

We had a lesson with Eddie yesterday.. He is a menos activo and has problems drinking. it was so spiritual yesterday! He is animated to do better! We committed him to reading in the Book of Mormon everyday and we are going to pick him up to take him to interviews with Presidente Velasquez on Wednesday. He will be going in the right direction!

Man, Well, this is all I have to say for now! Next week I will be writing you guys from a new place!

I wish I knew all that I know now before my mission. Remember that Heavenly Father loves us! I know that He loves us.

Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough






2 Attachments

Week 34 - Siempre hay bendicione​s!

Hola mi familia tan chula!


This week was hard. But, I am learning so much! I am learning patience and love!


I will start off with two funny stories that happened this week. The first one happened Monday night. We needed to call the zone leaders for something, so my companion was calling them and when they picked up she decided she wanted to play a joke on them. So, she said Hey! I am a little worried because I can't find Hermana Bullough and I am with an Hermana of our Rama right now... but, then suddenly the cell phone turned off! It wasnt charged! jaja So, then we started to freak out! We needed to go find a charger so that we could tell them we were just kidding! Luckly we found one like 10 minutes later and called them. My companion was almost in tears! and the San Mateo Elders showed up and said hey, the Zone leaders are looking for you! I guess the Zone leaders were freaking out and were calling other leaders to try to find us! haha The Zone leaders were really mad at my companion LOL


The second story happened a few days ago. I was in bed... and Hermana Garcia was getting ready for bed. She walked into our study room and turned off the light and then walked back into our room and then into the bathroom. So, while she was in the bathroom I quickly got out of my bed and ran to the other room and turned on the light and then went back to my bed and pretended to be asleep. I just remember listening to Hermana Garcia leave the bathroom, she took a few steps and then did a huge sigh of shock! haha Then it was silent for like 10 seconds.. Then she said Hermana Bullough? Hermana Bullough? HERMANA BULLOUGH! haha and I said Huh? What? acting all sleepy and tired and she was like did you turn on the light? and I said what are you talking about? haha then I started to laugh.. but, my poor companion was almost in tears.. I guess that stuff really scares her a lot. But, I thought it was hilarious! LOL


I keep getting the impression Let it Change You. I know that this experience can change my life.. but, only if I let it. I think that means that I just need to work so hard.


On Thursday we were walking to a Cita in the morning and all of the sudden we heard something EXPLODE and then a bunch of people just started running at us! It turns out that the police were throwing bombs at the people because they have been protesting and blocking the streets a lot! We just saw policemen holding big shields walking in a line throwing bombs! I looked at my comp when the people started to run towards us.. I said Hermana Run!!!!! so we started running and then went a different way to our cita. haha We probably should have gone home after that.. but, I was really excited for this lesson! And it was SO good! We got two new investigators! Abigail and her husband, Mario! They are great! We taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ and they had SO many questions! They said they were going to come to church on Sunday, but, then we called them the night before and the morning of and they said they couldnt.. aw man! Then we were locked in our house all afternoon.. but, had a noche de hermanamiento at 7 so we left for that! It was good! I played a game where I taught them 3 words in english... Then I would call out the word and they would touch that part of their body and we had judges that would see if any one was wrong and then they would be out of the game! It was fun!


On friday we had our Zone meeting and played Mafia to start out again! It was so much fun! Then Hermana McGill gave a talk and she said We belong to Eternity! I loved that so much! We DO! We belong to eternity! We just need to pass this small exam!


Saturday we had divisions with our leaders! I was with Hermana McGill in La Esperana! It was so much fun! I love her! she goes home in just one week! I am going to miss her so much! She has been such a great example to me!


On Sunday I gave a talk on the importance of a temple recommend. I was told 5 minutes before it started.. I vageuly remember mom telling me a story about one of our ancestors.. so, I dont know if this is true or not.. but, I said it in my talk haha I talked about how one of my great grandpas was in Utah and his brother was still in Missouri and a lot of bad things were happening to the Saints.. and The guy in Utah was sitting at his table one night when his brother appeared to him and he said Brother! I thought you were in Missouri?? and his brother said No! I already died.. but, I am only here to tell you that you need to do my temple work.. So, I dont know if that is true.. but, I used it in my talk haha We had an investigator named Irma in church! That was great!


Anyways!
I love you guys so much!


Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

Week 32.5

Hola mi familia!

This week has been so humbling for me. I dont even completely know how to write out everything that I am feeling.

I am so imperfect. I have so many weaknesses. I am sitting here at this computer thinking about what I can say to you guys. This transfer has been so hard. But, I am learning so much. I want to share a story with you guys that a sister missionary told me. It is about her dad. She said that her dad grew up on Virginia Beach and was this really cool surfer dude that had curly blonde hair and blue eyes. He had all of the girls and all of the friends in the world! Everyone knew who he was and everyone wanted to be his friend. Then he went on his mission and was serving in Nevada. He said that one day he was riding his bike trying to be all cool and a corvet pulled up next to him with the top off and a bunch of really cute girls were inside and they were all shouting to him and he felt so cool! But, then before he knew it, his bike hit a puddle and he went flying off of his bike and landed in a puddle of muddy water. He said that all of the girls started to laugh and made fun of the mormons and drove off. He said that he stood up and remembers thinking in his head, You guys have NO idea how cool I am! You guys have NO idea how many friends I have or how many people like me!! But, then a thought popped into his head that said You really arent that cool. But, I can make you all that you want and more if you will just follow me.

I have many, many weaknesses. I have always been aware of them. In Ether 12:27 it says:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Satan and Heavenly Father have a pretty similar plan. The only difference is that Satan only likes to point out our weaknesses and makes us feel stupid. There are so many missionaries and members here and they are all so great! I feel so lame sometimes! But, this time, this mission, has the ability to change me if I will let it. I take one step forward 3 steps back.. but, Heavenly Father is so proud of that one step forward! He is so grateful when we make even the smallest step towards Him. There are people here that have baptisms every single month, investigators in church every single sunday, they know the scriptures like the back of their hand, or they really have it figured out how to follow the spirit. Sometimes I feel so worthless to be serving here. There are better people to be doing this work.. but, then I remember that Heavenly Father called me here because he knows that I can do it.

On Tuesday we went to teach Shirly. She is a Menos Activo. Her baby just miscarried and she is really depressed. But, she wants to come back to church. We have started to teach her the missionary lessons again.

On Wednesday we had Zone meeting. I gave a spiritual thought about Saving the Starfish and gave everyone a braclet that says Salvar Las Estrellas Del Mar.

On Thursday we went to San Juan in the morning to contactar. Our zone is trying something new. We are contacting in every area of our zone and giving the missionaries of that area the referencias. It is working out pretty well. Then we had lunch with Jacky. There were ants in the food and I did not feel really well after eating it. Then we had a Noche de Hermanamiento in the house of Reina Sanchez. After we played a game where a person is blind folded and they walk around trying to touch a persons head and when they touch the head, they say Talk Pig! and the person has to make pig noises and the blind folded person has to guess who it is. It was fun!

Friday HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN! I was thinking about you all day long! I was throwing up and not feeling well all night long. oh well! The zone came to San Mateo this day to contact and I went on divisions with Hermana Mcgill. This was my last division with her! She goes home in 2 weeks. That is so crazy! When I came she had 10 months! Life is so quick. But, I love her. She always gives me the best advice! She is an example of the fourth missionary. You should read that talk. It is called The Fourth Missionary.

Then Saturday in the afternoon we had a night of games in the church! Only youth came. It was suppose to be for the whole ward and there friends. But, it ended up being good. They had fun. Then after we went and met with Gissela. She said that every single time with out fail when she is angry or wondering if God really exists we knock on her door. She said that she talked to her pastor about the authority. haha She said she told him he needs to pray to know if he really has the permission to baptize and if he feels good about it, he can keep going. I thought that was funny. The spirit is always so strong when we visit her. She told us that if she goes to church with us, she will stay with us.

Then Sunday we didnt have any investigadores in church, but two complete less active families that we have been working with came! I was so happy for them! Then we went to Shirlys house and played UNO with her and all of her siblings and then shared a spiritual thought it was so good! Then we went to Kimberlys house to pray with her and her family. Her brother Andres went into surgery this morning because has a cyst in his spinal chord and it is really dangerous. I love them! They always laugh and say Este Hermana Bullough! haha

Today we played kick ball with water balloons. It was so much fun.

I want this experience to change my life. I am so grateful to be here. I love being in Guatemala and I love being a missionary. I am nothing, but, with Jesus Christ I can become someone.

I love you guys so much! Everyday is a new day to start out more strong than yesterday!

I love how in The Book of Mormon when the prophets are about to die they always say Now I am going to return to my Father in Heaven and He will recieve me with open arms. I want that. I want Him to recieve me with open arms.

I love you guys.
Love,


Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

Letter 33- Buscando El Mejor (looking for the best)

Hola mi familia fabulosa! Les quiero mucho! Espero que ustedes tenian una buena descansa de trabajo y escuela!

This week was so good! Time is passing by so fast now. I feel like my mission is slipping through my fingers! This month I have 8 months. That is so weird! I remember when I got here and I met Hermana Call for the first time. She had the time I have now and she is going home in Febuary. I wish I could be a missionary forever.



El Lunes in the night we were walking and we saw one of our investigators, Osman. He was drunk. He was pointing at us with his hand.. but, like a gun! He grabbed my companions arm and I was screaming ¨Hermana! No! Corre!¨I ran to the nearest house, which happened to be the house of a member and I started pounding on the door. And I said Can we please come in! This drunk man is grabbing my companion! It was so scary! I was practically crying! jaja


El Martes we had our reunion de Zona. We played Mafia to start it off. It reminded me so much of the Flanders ward. jaja I miss them. We heard that the church came out with a new rule that sisters now have the option to serve 2 years if they want. This really hit me.. I am learning and growing so much here and never want this progression to stop. When we first heard this I thought to myself.. Yes! I am going to extend for two years! But, then I thought that I should probably pray about it. So, I was sitting at my desk, and I started to pray. I said ¨Heavenly Father, If you want me to serve 2 years. I will do it. But, I need to know that you are listening to my prayers!¨Then right after I just opened up my scriptures to a random page.. I opened up to Doctrina y Convenios 35:3 ¨Behold, verily, verily I say unto my servant Hermana Bullough, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayer, and prepared thee for a greater work.¨ I took this as my answer. That God doesnt want me to serve 2 years and that He has something greater for me to do when I get home. I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and answers them. He is the best. Then in the night I had the oportunity to hold baby rats!


El Miercoles nothing really big happened.. but, in the night time we were walking and one guy turned to his friend and said Ëste canchita es tan hermosa. He said this white girl is so beautiful. Usually people say groserias.. So, that made me feel good haha I just kept walking!


El Viernes HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We had interviews with Presidente Smith in Xela. He told me that there are no hard areas in a mission and that EVERYTHING just depends on our faith. He said ¨Do you have the faith to baptize every month?¨ That really got me thinking! I think I have the faith. He told me a story about two families that wanted to move into a town. The first family went and talked to the mayor and said we are thinking about moving into your town. What are the people like? and the mayor said Well, what were the people like in your last house? and this family said oh we hated them! They were terrible people. and the mayor said I think you will find the same thing here. Then the second family came and said to the mayor We are thinking about moving into your town. What are the people like? and the mayor said Well, what were the people like where you lived before? and they said we absolutely loved them and we hate to leave them. I think it is the same with missionary work. There are good and bad people every where. But, they are ALL children of God and He loves them. It really is weird to be a missionary. I am a represenative of Jesus Christ and I love all of these people and I dont even really know them! That is a miracle. He told me to forget everything that I think I know about being a missionary and then really try to figure out what being a missionary is. Then in the afternoon we were walking and a bunch of teenagers were in this tienda and they were all whistling and saying Canchita! We were pretty far a way from them... so as a joke, I flipped my hair and they all went wild jaja like animals. Seriously. Hermana Garcia taught me a song that goes like this "Que bonita soy, que bonita soy, como me quiero ahhh, sin mi me muero ahhh y nunca me olvidare" haha I will let you use google translate for that. It is hilarious. I was singing it all day! Then at night we were with a member and we passed by the house of Otelia and Odaniel and he was drunk and told us that he doesnt ever want us to come back. It made me so sad. I thought for sure he was prepared by the Lord for baptism.


El Sabado we went to the house of a street contact and we have started doing this thing to contact.. we say that we just want to play UNO with them. When we asked her.. she seemed a little bit unsure.. but, let us into her house. So, we played UNO with her and by the end we were laughing and talking! She said that she has mormon friends. She told us to come back this next saturday.. So, we will see what happens! Then at night we went and met with Gissela. She is Bien calidad! She asked us why Jesus Christ had to die for our sins.. and we shared some scriptures and chatted about it for a bit and she said Whoa. I asked my pastor that question and he didnt know! She said that she has had a pretty rough past.. but, for about a year now has been going to the church evangelical. But she said that she has never felt the way she feels when she is with us in her church. Whoa! She said she is going to read in the Book of Mormon and come to church next week! I am so excited!


El Domingo after church we were walking in the street and I said hey to some teeneagers walking and one of them said to the other "Me saludo!" jaja I thought that was so funny! Then a recent convert of different missionaries told us that she and her husband hadnt been paying their tithing because she didnt want to. Her husband did though and she said they always argued about it. But, she said recently she decided to start paying her tithing.. and she said they are now making double what they were making before. I know that when we pay our tithing we are blessed. Sometimes we put our umbrella up and block blessing that Heavenly Father wants to give to us.

Being a missionary is definitely hard.. but, I just thinkn to myself "God helps me" and then I have peace. Mitzi Tolman told me that It is our job to try to be who God knows we are! I love that so much! We are ALL children of God. Our worth is great!


Dios nos ama a todos! Se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es en la tierra hoy. Tenemos la plenitud del evangelio aca!


Con amor,

Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter 32 - Barriletes!

Hola mi familia linda! Les amo mucho! Les extraño y espero que todo esta bien alla en los estados. Escuche que Obama esta haciendo cosas tan dificil. Estoy correcto? Pues, ya sabia jaja

Hoy tuvimos la oportunidad a jugar con Barriletes! Today we got to fly kites! jaja I bought a cheap one from a tienda in San Juan. My battery in my camera was dead... so I didnt get to take any pictures. It was fun! Hermana Marcheschi and I were laughing SO hard! haha I love having her here in the Zone. Today we were talking about how weird it is that in December we will be half way through our missions. Missions are SO fast! I feel like I am just getting started! We were talking and laughing about the CCM. That feels like just yesterday! Hermana Marcheschi has had 3 areas and 6 companions! Wow! I have only had 3 companions and 1 area! jaja I was a little bit surprised when I found out that I was staying in San Mateo.. but, I am so grateful for this opportunity. I love San Mateo and this week was filled with Success!

Martes we had our Reunion de Zona. It was so much fun to be with everyone! After we went to the restaurant of one of the investigators of the hermanas in Esperenza. She made us pupusas. They were SO yummy! I am going to make them for you guys when I get home! It is like a tortilla wrapped around meet and other yummy stuff! In the night we had a lesson planned with a Menos Activo family. We did this thing called Cristo la Razon. We start out with a really spiritual hymn and a prayer and then read a scripture about Jesucristo and then we have them shut their eyes and read this really spiritual thing that goes through the life of Jesus Christ. Then we tell them to imagine that they are standing in front of Jesus and He says to them everything that He did was for them. They were all WEEPING. Then I shared my experience about All State Choir and how I didnt take the time to learn the music and how this is our time to ¨learn the music¨here on the earth by going to church, reading the scriptures, and praying. They were all Crying so hard! It was really a miracle.. because the WHOLE entire family was there. It is usually so hard to encontrar all of them at once. and they came to church yesterday! I was so excited! We were in another lesson with them this week and she told us that the lesson we had with them about Christ really got them thinking about how they need to be better. That really touched my heart!

Miercoles in the morning our Zone leaders came to our house to fix our shower. We have been having FREEZING cold showers for like 3 weeks now. So, when they came we had to wait outside in the cold! But, we found out that we had been taking cold showers for nothing! I guess that when the shower gets too hot the switch for the heater automatically shuts off. So, we bought the new shower head for nothing! ah oh well! jaja We were fasting this day so that we could find new people who were ready for baptism to teach.. and when we finished our fast.. the very next door we knocked was Otelia and Odaniel. They are super positivos! The only problem is that he asked us if he needs to be married to get baptized and we explained that the family is sacred to God and that He wants the best for us and that it is necessary. But, he told us that he doesnt want to marry Otelia because she has 55 years and he only has 38 and he wants to start a familia. It was super weird. And she was totally okay with it! jaja but, we told him that he needs to pray about it. We explained that he can have kids with Otelia in the eternities if he is faithful to her and marries her. He told us that he loves her. So, we will see what happens! They came to church yesterday for the full three hours! So, that was a blessing! I think they enjoyed it too!!

Jueves we had Planamient Semenal. Sometimes it is so hard to stay concentrated during this three hour process. But, I know that we need to because the salvacion of our investigators is depending on how much we plan and how much we pray. After we had lunch with Caren. I love her so much! She said that she wrote you an email, dad. I think she did it through my facebook though.. I am not sure. I also learned this day that if I want to be a better missionary and a better person.. I need to make my prayer more meaningful. I have been really trying to work on that. I have also learned that if I want to learn and grow it is something that I need to do.. Nobody else can change me but, me! So, it is a work and process! But, I am getting there!

Viernes Bryan Escobar, Our ward mission leader went to a store in xela for me and bought UNO. jaja everyone plays uno here and I love it so much. So, I had him by it for me so that Hermana Garcia and I could play together and with investigators too! We also had lunch with Hermana Flory. I love her so much! We have lunch with her every single Friday. She is the best!

Sabado we taught a woman named Hermana Flory! She is super calidad! She knows a lot about the Bible. But, she did tell us that she isnt satisfied with the church that she is going to and that she only goes because her husband makes her go. She is super cute. She is reading in the Book of Mormon! It is a promise that if people read in the Book of Mormon everyday and pray about it.. they wont be able to help gaining a testimony of it! Then we met with Rolando at night and he said that he has been reading in the Book of Mormon and that he knows the church is true and wants to be baptized! So, we will see what happens! He isnt really sabio.. so we will see if he actually ends up getting baptized. then Maricela made us empeñadas in the night. They made me think of you dad! Yours are better.

Then Domingo we had Otelia y Odaniel in the church! It was so good! The elders brought a drunk man to church and he made me feel so uncomfortable! He told Elder Yatacko that he was in love with me... oh boy. But, I think that Otelia and Odaniel felt the spirit.. so that is good! I was sitting in church yesterday.. and realized that I can understand everything. It was the weirdest thing. I was just listening and it clicked in my mind! haha Then we went out with a girl named Kimberly Vasquez. She got back from her mission in Nicaragua one year ago. She is awesome! She told me that she wants me to come back after my mission and stay with her. That would be cool! Then we met a new investigator named Berna. She is SUPER positive. She is pretty active in her church.. but, I know that she felt the spirit! and sometimes it is better that they are active in a church because it means that they are more likely to be active in this church!

Anyway! Les amo con todo mi corazon! Gracias por sus ejemplos y por su amor! Mi testimonio esta creciendo cada dia! Se que la iglesia es verdadera y que Nuestro Padre Celestial nos ama a todos!

Se cuidan!
Con Amor,


Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

Letter 31 - El Evangelio bendice a las familias!

Hola familia!

Mom! I am so glad that your talk went well! I knew that you would do a great job! I had been praying for you! Heavenly Father loves you so much!

So, yes. I will be in San Mateo for at least 6 more weeks. I will be honest. I was super surprised when they told me I was going to stay. I just feel like I am running out of ideas and people to teach here in San Mateo... but, I know that Heavenly Father wants me here... So, I am determined to find out why! Oh! and Hermana Marcheschi is in our zone! I am so HAPPY!!! I love her! She is the best!

with Hermana Marcheschi

This week was SUPER hard! haha Literally the hardest week in my whole mission! Just everything was falling apart. Satan knows me really well! He knows the best way to get at me is by discouraging me. But, no worries... because Heavenly Father also knows me so well. He is literally the only way I made it through this week!

I dont feel like anything really exciting happened this week... A drunk man on drugs proposed to me. That was fun. haha and yesterday when we were leaving the capilla, he said here comes my wife! and my companion started yelling at him haha she said why didnt you come to church! We are so mad at you! and a bunch of other stuff... He is not a member.. and the only reason she yelled at him is because he was on drugs haha he started to cry.. It was kind of sad... but kind of funny too.

Sorry this letter is so short.. I just dont have a lot to say! But, I can tell you guys that The Church is SO true! Because even when we are at our lowest and think no one cares... He does and the knowledge of the gospel gives us hope and peace!

I love you guys!

Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

 

 

 

Letter - 30 Cachetes de Manzana y Pulgas!

Hola mi familia!

I first want to start off by saying FELIZ CUMPLIANOS Dad!!! I felt so bad last week! Literally Monday night I remembered that I hadnt said anything.. so, check my facebook... because I had a member said you a little message from me!


I found out this morning that I do not have changes! I will be in San Mateo another 6 weeks with Hermana Garcia. Whoa. I have been there forever!!! Haha But, that is alright... I love it!


Let me explain the title of this email, Cachetes is cheeks and Manzana is apples... Cheeks of apples.. haha Some guy in the street yelled this at me the other day haha and Pulgas are fleas... That is right.. I have fleas in my bed and bug bites all over my body. I itch everywhere! haha

On Wednesday we had Zone Meeting! Elder Reinhold, one of our Zone Leaders will be ending his mission tomorrow.. He gave his last testimony and had everyone in tears! Then in the night we met with a family of five and they were freaking out that a gringa was in their house! They were taking pictures and going crazy... I dont think we will be meeting with them again haha

Then on Friday we met with one of our investigators Anibal and he told us that he wants to be baptized! It is just hard... because he only works in San Mateo and lives in San Juan. He has a family of 9! He said they are reading in the Book of Mormon together everyday! So, we will see what happens!

On Saturday, the Elders went with us to give Jackys mother in law a blessing. Her husband died like 5 months ago and she said that she just doesnt have the desire to do anything and that it is ruining her health. So, they gave her a blessing and she was crying and said that she felt such a peace! It was really spiritul. I really believe in the Priesthood more than anything else. Then we taught Wendy the Word of Wisdom and she said that she would live it! Jacky has pictures of my on the front of her scriptures... and Wendy was looking at them and said Hermana Bullough? When I get baptized.. I want pictures like this on my scriptures! awe! I love her so much!

Then Sunday we were saying our goodbyes to everyone because I thought for sure that I would be transferred! I will have 5 changes here! Whoa! That is alot! Elder Toleafoa is getting transferred though.. and that will be weird because he has been in San Mateo for my whole mission with me!

Today we just made breakfast with our Zone and said goodbyes!

I love you guys! and miss you so much!

Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough










Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

Letter 29 - El Señor nos ama!

Familia mia!


I love you guys so much! You guys make me so proud! Thanks for being the people you are!

Monday I opened the package from Sarah and cried so hard when I saw that all of you guys had written to me! How creative this box that she put together! Thanks Sarah!

Tuesday we met with Wendy. She is the girlfriend of the brother in law of Jacky. We taught her the plan of Salvation and she told us that she wants to be baptized! But, it is so hard because Armondo and her arent married and he WILL NOT get married! He doesnt want her to be baptized in the church! It is so sad! But, we are working with her!!!

Wednesday! What the heck! October already! This month I have been in Guatemala for 8 different months... and I will have 7 months in my mission! How crazy!!! Today was Kids day. I hate kids day haha it is likes mothers day and fathers day except for kids. They dont have school.. and every one spoils them. We met with Wendy again and she wants to be baptized but Armondo is so difficult!! This is the only stumbling block! When there is a will... there is always a way.. I am just hoping shell do what she knows is right. Then we were walking in the street in the night and some nice guy said Adios Hermanitas and he was so nice! But, then I looked back when he was a little bit further down the street and some man punched him in the face! He was so bloody! I felt so bad! Some people make me so sad! I had so much anxiety after this... I cant imagine how our Father in Heaven feels everyday! Then we had a lesson with Jilmar and his wife at night and we invited Elder Reinhold and Elder Corbett with us. They are our Zone leaders. Elder Reinhold knows the scriptures SO well!!! He goes home on Tuesday. I think I will have changes this change. I am so nervous! San Mateo is all I have known for 7 months!

Thursday was tough. Being a missionary is SO hard! People reject us every single day! Sometimes I wonder if I am smart enough for the job... but, I know I am.. because Heavenly Father sent me here. We had an activity for just Less actives and recent converts... Jacky gave a talk about the Temple. It was SO good! She is so pilas! Sometimes I wonder if she was the reason that I needed to come here.

Friday we met with Wendy in the morning and talked about the will of God and how we just need to follow the will of God. and how this baptism is part of that will. She is so scared. Because all of her family lives in Guate. She just came here to live with her boyfriend. In the night we went to the house of the familia vasquez. They are a bien pilas family. 4 of there five kids have served missions! They fed us dinner. Then we taught Denise. She is so prepared by the Lord too. She lives with a member family. She said that she really wants to know which church is true. So, I am sure she will be baptized.

Saturday was conference! I watched it in Spanish. How weird. for the majority of the world.. it was just another day. But, they didnt even know that the Prophet was speaking! How crazy! It was super good! I thought conference was perfect! Maybe they used some words that I didnt understand... but, the Savior helped me understand through the Spirit. Then we watched the Joseph Smith movie with Denise in the night. It was so good! I love that movie!

Then Sunday was also General Conference. They broadcasted it to our rama. It was fun! The missionaries from San Juan came to our Rama. That is the picture attatched.

I love you guys so much! I miss you guys so much! Serving a mission is so hard.... SO hard. Sometimes I think what it would be like to be home with the family.. but, I can do that when I get home! That is why I titled this email The Lord loves us.. because that it the reason I am here. Because He loves us so much and wants all of us back! I may not be the best missionary in the world.. but, I know that God has a plan and that people are ready to hear it!

I love you guys!

Until next week!

Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

 

 

 

Letter - 28 Quiero ser como Jesucristo

Mi familia! Las amo con todo mi corazon! Feliz Cumplianos SARAH!!!! I love you!


This weeks numbers were really low because we had conferences or something every single day.


Tuesday we had a multi zone conference with President Smith and his wife, and the surrounding zones of Xela. It was super good! They just talked a lot about how we can be better missionaries and they gave us tips to improve. I am always really inspired to do better after meetings like that! And then President Smith always feeds us a huge lunch after meetings! It was super yummy! I realized during this meeting that I have great potential to be a great missionary. I have many advantages that those around me dont have! I need to live up to my potential! I know it is super hard.. but, I also know that I can do it. Then we went and visted less active members in the night. It is siper annoying here in San Mateo because all of the less active members have the same thing in common and it is that they dont like the presidency in the rama. and our whole ward is pretty much related.. Ugh! Oh barbara!

Wednesday we had Zone meeting in the morning. I love Zone meeting SO much! It is so much fun to see everyone.. plus, I think I will probably have changes this change because I have been here for 6 months. But, after, we were walking to our lunch appointment, and out of no where... THE HUGEST RAINSTORM OF MY LIFE HAPPENED!!! It was like someone was just dumping a bucket of water on our heads! We arent really in a drought anymore. It has been raining everyday.. But, we were SOAKED for our lunch appointment, haha Hermana Garcia and I kept taking off our boots to let all of the water out of them haha Then we went to go teach our investigators Ebeline and Junie.. if you could pray for them by name would be great. This is a super cool story... a few weeks ago, I was walking past their house and had a feeling I needed to knock on the door.,.. but, we were in a hurry so I didnt. But, I kept thinking about their house! So, we went and we met Junie first and taught her the plan of salvacion. She was bien pilas and pretty much taught us the plan after! Then we went back a few days later and met her sister Ebeline and we taught them the Resoration. They are sisters they both of a daughters and they live with their husbands.. but when we asked them to be baptized... Ebeline said that she isnt baptized and would like to be. That was a super cool experience. The Spirit was so strong!


Then Thursday we had weekly planning! It is a good time to get organized with our investigators and their needs! Then we went to Hermana Lourdes house to make the cookies that mom sent! They were SO yummy! And our lunch appointment fell through.. so Hermana Lourdes fed us spaghetti! I havent had spaghetti FOREVER! It was so good! The elders didnt know that we had gotten lunch... so they bought us foot long buffalo sandwhiches! The elders are so nice! I feel like Elder Toleafoa is like my brother. We have been sharing this area for my whole mission! So, needless to say.. we were pretty full.. Hermano Rene gave us chuchitos in the night. They were so yummy! His wife told us that she has something to give us and asked what are favorite colors are... well, what hermana garcias is haha every one knows my favorite color... I am SO excited because she is SO stylish!!!! Then my companion said the f word. haha she said she heard it in a song... I was super surprised and said no diga eso! haha

 

Friday we were walking around in the morning inviting people to the stake relief society activity. We went to Jackys house and found out that her Cuinada was sick! She wanted to go to the activity! So, we called the Elders and they came to give her a blessing. First we explained what the Priesthood was and how blessings work through our faith. Elder Shoemaker gave the blessing. It was all in broken spanish.. but, after she said that she felt something that she had never felt before and that it was something really beautiful in side of her! It was so cool! I love the Priesthood! Then we went to the Stake Relief Society meeting. Every ward had a subject to talk about. They put us missionarys in charge. We talked about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End.


Saturday we were walking around telling people about the general womans conference. Then we had lunch with Samuel. He is a menos activo. He just got back from the states. He had a six month VISA. After lunch we had a LONG conversation about the gospel.. he told us he believes in the Johovahs witnessess... Sad day. My highlight of the day was when we went to the general womans broadcast. It made me miss mom. But, all of the talkes were SO good! I liked when they were talking about the woman that lost all of her kids.. and she found peace through the Temple. Cant wait to watch womans conference with you MOM!!! We also had 3 investigators come with us! So, that was great!!!


Sunday was great! As we were passing for investigators... a drunk man asked what time church starts and we told him nine... His face was really beat up.. it looked like someone punch him in the eye. After we told him what time.. he said OKAY I am going to go prepare myself haha then we passed by a tienda and he was buying stuff to remove paint to get high... hahaha I thought it was funny that he was preparing himself that way.. but, also really sad. The Primary Program happened too! It was SO different from the states. They didnt have music going with the kids as they sang and the power was out.. so they didnt have sound for the microphone. This also made me miss you, mom! We brought 4 girls. They are all 11 years old and younger. 3 of them were mad at the other girl. They were being so mean to her. It made me think of times when my friends would do stuff like that to me. Girls can be so catty. Then in the afternoon we went to Xela because my companion needed to go to Guate to sign her VISA. So, I was on divisions with Hermana Cadwell. I love her so much! She is a good missionary! We taught a family of four and they said they want to be baptized! So, we will see!


Then today we went to Hermana McGills house and played UNO and ate pizza. It was SO much fun! Can you send me uno in my next package please? I would love that so much!


I am super sad because I realized that I already have almost 7 months in my mission. I will never be a missionary in the same way again. I really need to work so hard now!


I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. I know Jesus Christ lives. I love that I know these things!


Con Amor,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter - 27 Puchica

 

Hola mi familia!

This week was interesting!

On Tuesday morning I was great! I was studying in Doctrina y Convenios during my study personal and I came across section 58 verses 27 and 28. It talks about diligence and how we need to do these things according to our own free will. I love that a lot! Because sometimes I wait for people to tell me what to do. Then we had Zone meeting.. and I GOT YOUR PACKAGE! I loved it so much! I definitely hug the bear a lot! haha Then in the night time, Jacky made us and the elders dinner. Jacky is bien pilas! She has already read the Book of Mormon twice and she went and did baptisms for the dead last week. I love her so much!


A gift

On Wednesday we were suppose to have a multi Zone conference.. but, we woke up to tons of voice messages from our Zone Leader Elder Corbit. haha he is hilarious. The meeting was cancelled because there have been tons of protests because the government here wants to change the seed they use to grow their corn. A lot of the protests were happening in front of our house! I have pictures! haha They set off these really loud bombs that I hate. Then we were walking in the night time and passed by Pedro Lopez, he is a young man in our rama... he was walking and a drunk man had his arm around him and they were talking haha my companion and I passed him and realized what we had just seen, and turned around and said Pedro! Are you okay? haha and he said I am! It was funny.

Politics in San Mateo
 

Thursday we were in our house for the morning because we had weekly planning.. but also because the protestors were right outside our house! Then we met a new investigator named Emilio. He wants to get baptized.. but, he made a REALLY big mistake in Mexico like 4 months ago.. He is going to have to get permission from the first presidency and then wait for ever!


Friday was great! I completed 6 months in my mission! That means I am starting to hit days that I will be in our house this time next year! I burned my first bag. We had lunch with Hermana Flory. Her kids were watching Frozen in the other room.. I miss that movie SO much. We are going to have a family night with pizza and frozen when I get back!

Natalie with Miss San Mateo

Sabado There was a HUGE parade in San Mateo. So, basically everyone and there mom was at this parade. So, all of the citas that we had fell through.. but, we got to see a bit of the parade.. and it was fun! We had lunch with the familia Lopez and they fed us pollo campero! It was so good! Then Jairo velasquez came with us in the night to citas.. but, no one was home! It was super frustrating!


Sunday there was no one at church! Because the biggest parade was happening... so frustrating! People dont understand the importance of church of the sacrament. I am pretty much the branch music leader in our rama. It is fun! I also learned that when we have a hard time doing something that is good... we need to do that thing until we learn to love it. After church one of the young men gave me a white rose haha I thought it was funny. Then we met with Alan and his little brother. There parents werent home.. They are less actives. We shared the scripture in d and c 58 and told them that they need to use their agency to go to church... and then they were really motivated. Then we had correlation with Bryan in the night. He gave us some good tips and advice. I just want to do what the Savior wants.




I love you guys so much! You guys make me so happy! I miss you, but, I know that I am where I am suppose to be doing what the Lord wants me to do!


Love,
Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough