Letter 56 - Culebra Suelta!

Hola mi querida familia.

The title of my email is Cobra on the loose.. because some guy here in Chiantla thought it would be a good idea to buy a cobra and then let it loose.. it is also pregnant! Whoo hoo! I can just imagine the headlines on the news "White girl gets bit by a snake and dies in Guatemala!" jaja But, everyone here really is freaked out a little bit. It has already killed a cow, a dog, and a sheep! They said that if it bites a human.. the human would die in just 15 mintues! So, we will need to be a little bit careful until they find it.. but, the worse part is that snakes just leave their eggs around and dont stay to help them grow up.. so that means there will be a bunch of baby cobras here too! Ahh!

On Wednesday we had our interview with President Smith. It went well. One thing that he told me was that when we got baptized we made a covenant with God that we would read the Book of Mormon every single day until we die. and that we would also share the gospel with every one that we know. Every family should have there own family mission plan. You guys should sit down as a family and write down on a piece of paper all of the people that you know and figure out a plan for every single one of them. Some will reject it.. but, others are prepared, and if we dont share the gospel with all of the people we know, we will never know if they are prepared or not. Presidente Smith also said that to put our will with Gods will we just need to start trusting in Him. As we put our faith in Him and trust in Him, our love will grow for Him and we will wants to keep His commanments and we will have a desire to return back to Him.

On Saturday, Jhonatan was baptized. When he rised up from the water he gave Hermano Werner a huge hug. It made me cry. The gospel truly does change lives and change hearts. It was a really beautiful baptism.

I loved Dallins last letter. It made me cry. He is a good guy and I can tell that his mission really has changed him. I hope I will be able to say the same thing in 4 months when it is my turn to come home. I love you guys so much and really dont want to disappoint you guys. Sometimes I feel like I am really hard on myself. I know that I am trying my best.. but sometimes I feel like "my best" Just isnt enough. And it isnt. But, with Jesus Christ walking beside me, He can help me make up the rest. That is all I hope for. I am so weak and have a long way to go in this journey, but I knowk that if we endure to the end and hold on tight and dont give up, that this journey will be worth it. All of the tears, all of the heart breaks, all of the disappointments.. everything will be worth it in the end if we endured will and trusted in Jesus Christ and His infinite and everlasting Atonement. I know this to be true.

Les amo.
Hermana Bullough

Letter 55 - Montañas para subir!

Hola mi querida familia!


This week went by super fast! The days are getting faster and faster.


On Tuesday the light went out! It was pitch black! All of our recent converts had interviews with the bishop this night starting at 630.. but, when the light went out we had to cancel all of them! Then a half an hour later it came back on.. so we called all of them to tell them that they would have their interviews! But, when we were all at the church waiting.. the light went out again! So, every one went back to their houses! The Bishop bought us dinner and brought it to our house... the light came back on shortly after... but, we didnt leave because we thought it was going to go out again! So, we just ate our dinner and talked and cleaned the house a little bit. It was fun.


Yesterday in church I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about fellowshipping everyone. It was short and sweet.. but, then after.. We did a special musical number... I played the piano to the primary song about When I am baptized. I sand and played at the same time. We practiced mil veces and in the practices it was perfect! But... I dont know what happened to me! I messed up on the second verse and stopped singing and then I messed up the piano and just stopped. jaja it was really embarrassing.. but, dont worry about it.. I will get over it.

Today Elder Toleafoa from Hawaii made our whole zone hawaiian food. It was delicious. Then we had a talent show as a zone.. I sang. It was fun!

Wow, In 5 months I will be at home. It is such a weird thought. I am in the world and yet so far away from the world. I have no idea what is going on out there! It kind of scares me honestly. I am trying to work my best until the end! I am not walking.. I am running! I really love this work. I just know that it will not be the same when I get home.


Yo se que nuestro Padre Celestial nos ama. No se por que, pero hoy me siento muy cerca a El. Todo mi misión he estado cerca, pero cada día aprendo mas acerca de El y de que tan grande es el amor que El tiene por nosotros y estoy asombrada. El ama a Jesucristo tambien, pero por que tenia que sufrir si nuestro Padre Celestial le ama? En las escrituras Nefi mato a Laban. Dice que "Es preferible que muera un hombre a dejar que una nacion degenere y perezca en la incredulidad." Yo pienso que es casi lo mismo... Es mejor que un hombre sufre a dejar que todas las personas sufren.. Nosotros no tenemos que sufrir. Jesucristo ya lo hizo. Solo tenemos que esforzarnos y arrepentirnos de nuestros pecados cada dia. No quiero derramar una gota mas del sangre de Jesucristo!


Yo les amo demasiado! Estoy muy emocionada para hablar con ustedes en 2 semanas! ¡Que emoción!


Feliz semana!


Con mucho amor,

Hermana Natalie Paige Bullough

Letter 54 - Creo en Cristo

 Hola familia!


Claudia Sanchez was baptized this week! She was so prepared. One day we were just walking in the street and we said "Buenas Tardes" and she kind of stopped and looked at us like she thought we wanted to talk to her.. so we took advantage of the moment and found out that the next day was going to be her birthday! So, we went and bought her a cake and took it to her the house the next day. She told us that she had just stopped attending her Iglesia Evangelica. We taught her a little bit about the Restoration and invited her to be baptized this night.. she said no at first.. but, that was just three weeks ago! Her baptism was so great! She asked me to sing in English! So, we coordinated it with Elder Gutierrez. He played the piano and I sang "Come thou fount" It was fun! I havent sung with a piano in forever.

I just want you guys to know that I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only church on this earth with the permission and authority to perform the sacred ordinances of salvation. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He lives and He is always with us. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that He really restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. I dont worship Joseph, but I sure do love him. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and that He speaks with Jesus Christ face to face. I know that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and He will always answer our prayers in ways that are more suitable to our growth. I love you guys so much and am so grateful to know that if we are faithful, we will be together forever.


Love,
Hermana Bullough

Letter 52 - Agradecida por un Profeta de Dios

Hola mi querida familia!

This week was perfect. It was a little bit hard because here in Guatemala Easter isnt just one day.. it is the whole semana! They call it Holy Week or La semana Santa! The majority of people go on vacations to the beach and what not.

On Tuesday in the morning we were doing our personal Study when someone knocked on our door. I went to the window to see who it was, when all of the sudden I saw Mario! Mario is the guy that has Schizophrenia. The guy that asked me to marry him a couple of weeks ago. He saw me!! He started to throw rocks at our door. He found out where we lived because on Sunday he followed us to our house. We let our Bishop know and a few other members know.. so hopefully this wont be a problem. Then in the evening we met with Claudia. She is the best. She told us that she will be baptized this Saturday. The 11th. I am so happy for her. She is making the best decision of her life. She is more active than some members. She goes to all of the activities and conferences and she is the best!

On Thursday a weird bee type animal bit hermana Arellano on her arm! She was practically crying! We went to a members house and the member was sucking out the venim. ew. jaja

On Friday here in Chiantla they did this huge production of the death of Christ. It was so sad. They had some actor guy carrying his cross through the streets of Chiantla. It made me sad. This is not a time to think about the death of Him, rather the Resurrection! He lives! And thanks to this, He can help us with whatever we need! 

I loved General Conference so much. Next general conference I will be home! I want to go see it live. Seriously. The majority of talks were centered around the family. I thought it was wonderful. When President Monson talked about Temples, it made me sad. Because as missionaries we only go every 6 months. The next time I go to the temple will be when I am coming home. But, when I get home, I want to go to the Temple so much. Seriously. The Temple is the reason we do everything. When we baptize someone, we are baptizing them with the Temple as their goal.

Dad, will you send me a CD with the version of I believe in Christ that they sang in conference? I loved it so much.

I am so grateful for a Prophet and Apostles. I know that they have been called of God in these the latter days. I know that Our Father in Heaven loves us. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is not dead. He will be with us in every moment even when we think He is not. Everyday is a new day. We can change. The gopsel of Jesus Christ changes the hearts and the minds of people. I have seen this numerous times in my mission. Jesus Christ changes lives. I love Him and I know He loves me and I know He loves you. Look for that love!


Love,
Hermana Bullough

Letter 51 - Echando Fuego!

Hola mi querida familia!

Guatemala es mejor y mejor cada día. Estoy aprendiendo tantas cosas! Solo falto menos que 6 meses! El tiempo es bien rápido. No se preocupen! Ahora es el tiempo para echar todo mi fuego!

This week was so LOCA! Encerio, It was the ultima week of this change!

On Tuesday Hermana Farr and Hermana Peña called us and asked if we could go on divisiones with them. I went to Las victorias en cambote and Hermana Arellano stayed en Chiantla. I was super worried because we had 4 bautismos planned for the week and we were just finishing up the lessons they needed to prepare them for baptism.. It stressed me out to be so far away from Chiantla even if it was only for one day! But, Hermana Arellano did an excelente job. But, While I was with Hermana Farr we had to climb this really high mountain. I got SO sunburned. enseriously. Ouch! But, I love Hermana Farr. She is a really great misionera.

On Thursday we had four baptisimal interviews. We held them in the chapel because there were so many and our leader didnt want to go from house to house to house. It POURED rain... We were worried that they werent going to come for their interviews... but, they ALL came! What faith! Seriously! They all passed their interviews too!

On Friday Rosario got baptized! It was so great! I always want to get baptized again after seeing someone else get baptized. It is such a great experience!

On Saturday Marlon, Maria Fernanda, and Mari were all baptized! It was so much fun! And so many members came to support the baptisms! It was so much fun!

Then on Sunday we were so excited because they were all going to recibir the spirit! Maria Fernando didnt show up! I guess her family kicked her out of her house on saturday night because she got baptized. She is 20 and has a baby! She was scared and took a job to work on Sundays! Ugh! But, we are trying to find her a different work.

Quiero que sepan que se que La Iglesia de Jesucristo do los Santos de los ultimos dias es la iglesia verdadera y la unica iglesia sobre la faz de la tierra que tiene la autoridad para realizar las ordenanzas necesarias para la salvacion. Se que Jesucristo vive! Y gracias a que El vive, nunca nos va a dejar solos. El nos ama. El nos cuide. Y El nos conoce.

I love you guys! I dont have changes. I will be here for 6 more weeks with Hermana Arellano! Sorry, the computer I am on doesnt have a way to enviar fotos.. but, next week I will send you guys so many! Lo prometo!

Descuiden!

Hermana Bullough