Week 64 - Estoy feliz.

Hola mis amados!


I would like to start my email off by telling James Feliz Cumpleanos! Also Feliz Dia del Padre to dad! I love you two so much and am so unbelievably grateful to call you guys part of my family. I really am truly blessed. I hope with all of my heart that you guys had wonderful days.

Well, this week was a little bit crazy. So pretty much this whole transfer I have felt pretty sick, but about two weeks ago I started feeling really sick. I didnt say anything, I just kept working and thought that it would go away with time like it always does. 2 weeks into the change I weighed myself and it said that I weighed ten pounds less. I was excited and just thought that it was because the members dont give us food in this area and we literally climb mountains every single day! But, then I looked in the mirror on week 3 and there were big white blisters on my tonsils! So, I called the nurses and they told me that I had a pretty serious infection in my throat. So, I had to start taking medicine for that 3 times a day for just one week. When I went to go get my medicine, I weighed myself again and it said that I weighed 25 pounds less! So, then I had to start going to this doctor to have some "tests" done. I will not give you details about these tests jaja. Then the doctor called me on wednesday and told me that I have a neighborhood of parasites inside of me! That explains all of the problems that I was having and the extreme weight loss. Honestly I wanted to keep the parasites in there for just a few more weeks to lose a little bit more jaja. But, I went and got the medicine and now I feel A LOT better. Seriously.. like a whole new person! I have more energy. The pills do make me feel a little weird, but, I feel better taking them.

On Wednesday night the assistants called us to tell Hermana Lopez that she will be training for her last two changes! She is SO excited. This is her first time that she will train! She wont be an hermana leader anymore. We went to her training meeting in Xela on Friday and President told us that she will be going to CHIANTLA!!!!!! I am so jealous! I miss that place so much! If I ever come back to Guatemala I will spend like a whole week there! Hermana Arellano has changes! Hermana Lopez will be in a trio with her hija for two weeks in Chiantla because la hermana Korea goes home in two weeks.

Hermana Lopez is the only hermana training because only one hermana comes this change. So, I got to go into the meeting with her. I love President Smith. He is such an inspired man. He told us that we shouldn't tell non members that they can take the sacrament. I thought that was interesting. He said that they haven't made those sacred covenants with God so they should not take the sacrament. I felt bad, I always tell my investigators that they should take it. He also says that whenever he calls someone to be a trainer or a leader in the mission that it is not his decision. He says he prays and fasts to know who God wants. That made me feel grateful. Some times I feel so unconfident. But, it makes me feel so much better to know that God is confident in me.

Below is a picture of Macoxes... that is honestly probably why I have parasites. People eat those here like candy. They are giant ants that have been cooked with salt. Surprisingly they are really good.

Also.. there is your market mom! Is that what you wanted? jaja

Saturday we had a leaders meeting. It was really cool. We talked about ministering of Angels and how we are all able to have angels minister to us.

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I willgo before your face. I will be on your right hand and onyour left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mineangels round about you, to bear you up.

I love this scripture so much. I know angels are working with me. Maybe even some of my ancestors. One time I was in Chiantla in the church with my companion and I felt like someone was with me while I was filling up the baptismal font.. but, usually I would have been scared.. but, in this moment I wasn't. I know that an angel of God was there with me.

I am so happy. I am a member of the only true church on earth! The church of Jesus Christ. I know He loves me. His love is pure and infinite. We love Him because He loved us first. He gave His life for us with that love He has for us. Let us all try to be more like Him. leading by example, sharing the gospel at all times and in all things and in all places, and trying to be perfect even as He is perfect.


I love you guys.


Con amor,
Hermana Bullough

Week 63 - La Vida es Dulce!

Carrying things the way the locals do.

 Hola Familia!

I hope you guys are well!

On Tuesday we had a multizone conference! It was so much fun! President Smith said that if we have watched the super bowl on a sunday that we need to repent... I guess I wont be watching the super bowl anymore jaja He talked about keeping the sabbath day holy and taking the sacrament. He said that every time he takes the sacrament he starts to think about the life of Jesus Christ starting with the birth of Jesus until His death. I thought that was a great idea. I was really excited to take the sacrament yesterday because I thought it would make the experience better! But then one of our investigators made us late and we didnt take the sacrament! That was only the second time in my mission that I have missed taking the sacrament and it is a terrible feeling.

Natalie's companion

On Wednesday I went on divisions with Hermana Soto. It was so much fun! We went to McDonalds at night! She just finished her training. So, it was fun to be with someone so new.



Volleyball

Then on Thursday I went to a doctors appointment thing in the morning. Then again on Saturday and today.



A family from Lakewood, CO was in town.

Today we played volleyball with our zone. It was so much fun! I have missed the zone so much! We dont get to do many zone activities anymore.. but, President Smith said that our zone is leading the mission in numbers that we are the only ones meeting the standard for the mission! He is really pleased with us!


Natalie loves the people of Guatemala

I love you guys! I will be sure to write a better letter next week!


Love,
Hermana Bullough

Week 62 - Afferate a la barra de hierro

Hola mi querida familia!

This week was super good!

On Tuesday I got to go on divisions with Hermana Nield in Prado. Ot was super fun! She came in my group with me! We will be going home together! It was fun to see how we have grown here.

On Wednesday we had a zone meeting. It was SO good. Elder Zelaya and Elder Perry gave talks. They are our zone leaders. Every friday we have a meeting with them and we have been trying to get our meetings more spiritual and more focused around the Atonement. Usually when we get to the chapel we stand around talking and laughing until everyone gets there. This time we walked in and a video by Elder Holland was already playing. Everyone was sitting down watching it reverently. Then Elder Zelaya gave his talk about how Christ is the reason for everything. He did an activity with us where we close our eyes and he reads us events from the life of Christ. At the end we all shared our testimonies about what we felt. It was beautiful. After Elder Perry talked about putting our trust in Christ and using His Atonement. It was beautiful. We all left from that meeting wanting to be better.


Right after the meeting we did another division because President wants us to do 2 divisions with every companionship 2 times a change. So, I stayed in Cerrito and Hermana Martin came with me. She seriously is HILARIOUS. We always just laugh the whole time.

On Thursday we had a big day planned! In the night we had an iron rod activity. It is something that I would LOVE to do as a stake activity when I get home. We went to the chapel at 2 to set up everything. It took us FOREVER. We put up obstacles and chairs all around the church! Then we tied a rope all around the church until it got to the sacrament room. The people had to pass through 4 rooms of temptations and they are blindfolded and can only listen to the spirit (The elders). In the first temptation room we had a pizza. The other sister missionaries would put the pizza up to their faces and a lot of people ate it and fell off of the rope. The second room was a halloween roon. It was just meant to be really scary. Then we had a dance party room and a video game room. It was fun! We had like 150 people there and only 10 made it to the sacrament room! When they entered they were in darkness and there was a white tree with white light and it was beautiful.

On Friday Jesse and Kelsy had their baptismal interviews! We were looking all day for baptisimal clothes for them and even went to my old zone in Calvario to get some from the zone leaders there... Well, when we got to the interview with the district leaders, we found out that she had already bought baptism clothes! It was funny! After the interview we ate crepes with them! It was so yummy! I know how to make them now, so we will have to eat some when I get home!


On Saturday, Jessy and Kelsy were baptized! It was wonderful! They were so prepared! I love them a lot. I know that this was the best decision that they could ever make in their lives.

On Sunday we almost put a fecha fija with Dani. She is so close. She should be getting baptized on the 20th of this month. We always have really spiritual lessons with her, I just think she is scared.

Today we havent done much! We are going to eat lunch with Claudia! I miss her so much! It will be good to see her again. She actually came to the iron rod activiy.. so that was cool.

I love you guys so much. A few nights ago after I had prayed and was already in my bed, I cried. I miss Chiantla so much and I know I am going to miss Cerrito just as much when it is my time to go home. I never thought I would understand this feeling. Where you leave your heart in two places. I will definitely be leaving a huge part of my heart here. I know God loves these people. I love these people. I love this gospel!

I love you guys so much!

Have a great week!

Con Amor,
Hermana Bullough

Week 61 - Odio Perros

Hola mi querida familia!

There are so many dogs here in Cerrito and they all hate us. I think I have almost been bitten like 10 times at least! We always have to put are backpacks in front of us so they can bite the back pack and not us. It is so scary when they are going crazy. I will never have a dog in my life. I promise.


I got to go on divisions with Hermana Gibson this week in Las Flores. It was so mch fun! She is a really good missionary. We got to put some baptisimal dates with some of their investigators. We also went to McDonalds. It was so good. I miss that place.


So, I really NEVER write in my journal. So, sometimes I have no idea what to write to you guys. So this is just from memory. We went to visit a Menos Activa named Carmen. When we walked in she just bore her testimony to us that she knows the church is true. She said that she even wen through the Temple, but, then after her husband died, she got married to a Catholic guy and that he doesnt let her go to church. She old us not to come back aain because she doesnt want him to offend us. Then we prayed with her. I could tell that everything she said was so sincere. I know God loves her and that he will be merciful.


I got to cut Glorias toe nails this week. sick. haha I will send a picture. She is the one that is blind and deaf.


Also, Amparo go baptized! She was my investigator in Chiantla. I asked President if I could go and he said no.. I was so sad. But, I am grateful that she made this covenant with God.


I love being a missionary so much! It is so much fun to be such good friends with the spirit. I love the gospel. I am grateful for the Savior and for the sacrifice that He made for all of us.


Sorry this is so short. I will try to write in my journal this week so I can have more to say.




Con Amor,
Hermana Bullough