La hermanita speaks!

La hermanita calls home just two days out of the year: Christmas and Mother's Day. So you can probably imagine our excitement as we anticipated Christmas morning. We each took turns talking to her, and it was so wonderful to hear her voice!

I apologize for the above photo; la hermanita has been having trouble sending me photos. This one was mailed to my mother, scanned, and then emailed to me.

So why just twice a year? Well, as you can imagine, it's pretty easy to get home sick when you're on a mission, thousands of miles away, etc. So it's pretty standard that missionaries only call home twice a year, to keep them focused. When I was in Argentina I was most homesick during Christmas time anyway, so I thought it was the perfect time to call home (plus it's obviously Christmas day).

So my sis is doing well, and struggling at the same time. She's been working hard, which she says really helps her to be focused. She gets discouraged at times because she feels the responsibility she has to share the gospel of Jesus Christ very strongly, and is afraid she may not be able to measure up. She often feels as though she's not doing enough. She's very hard on herself at times. Each of the letters I write to her include a you can do it part, because she needs it. However, she's always very positive, as well, because she has faith and knows the Lord is with her.

Here's an excerpt from her last letter:

"We found people to teach on Christmas. It was a good, nice day. Christmas was nothing what I thought it would be. I was ready to be sad and stuff, but it didn't really happen.

Changes happened today. I have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Knight. She is from Utah. She seems great. We are in my sector, so I get to show her around, which I am a little nervous about. My (last) companion, Hermana Alegre, and Hermana Talbot, my companion from the MTC, are companions now. Small world! I am excited for a change, but I am scared to have a new companion, a new way of doing things. I know that I just need to trust in the Lord and what he wants."

On a side note, I've been reading a book about Christ and His atonement. I read it years ago before my mission, and it is amazing! It's been a very special thing for me to read during Christmastime especially, and it's addressed so many of la hermanita's concerns in her letters. I know the Lord is helping me to help her at this time in her life, and I'm so grateful for that.

She's engaged...in a good cause, that is!

I haven't gotten a photo from La Hermanita for a couple weeks now. I can't write a post without a photo, however; it just feels wrong! So here's one of La Hermanita before she left for Chile. Hopefully I'll get some new pictures soon! Here's some news from the sis:

"Well, I have to tell you about my exciting week. First, I got proposed to. He didn't get down on one knee, but it was still pretty good for a drunk, or druggy, I am not sure which. He said to me, 'Marry me and I will convert to your religion.' My companion reminded me that we need to bring at least one soul unto Christ. She tried to convince me that I should go ahead with the marriage, then I would have my one soul. I told her I would think about it :)

"A cool thing. I was talking to an Elder the other day who is from California. I was speaking to him in Spanish and didn't realize it, because we almost always talk in English. I thought I was talking in English. I didn't realize it was Spanish! Cool!

"So my companion and I split up for a while on Saturday. I went with a young woman and my companion went with another missionary (to teach). I had to lead, and direct the lessons we taught...I DID IT! It was such a confidence booster for me. I didn't understand everthing that people said to me, but wow. I sure was able to grow in those 2 hours. Usually my companion leads and directs the lessons. But the young woman didn't say anything, so clearly I had to do it. They were just scriptures, not a real lesson, but I did it. I know I can do this. I was so happy afterwards, knowing that I can do it. I still need someone to speak spanish though, companion wise because there still is a lot that I don't understand."

Just a couple notes, here. First of all, Elders are what male missionaries are called.

Secondly, sometimes missionaries separate for the day and spend the day with two other individuals so they can get more work done. It's nice to spend some time with someone other than your companion as well. La Hermanita has had the same companion now for almost 4 months. Imagine! Having to spend 24/7 with someone you previously never knew, for an extended period of time. La Hermanita and her companion have had some trying times, especially since they come from such different backgrounds, speaking different first languages! But they have been open with each other and have worked things out. Go sis!

Always a trooper

La hermanita has always been a superstar to me. She's had some rocky roads in her life, but has always kept a bright, positive vibe. I knew when she left on her mission that it wouldn't be easy (I've been on a mission, too, and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done), but her letters are always upbeat and usually have some kind of silly story attached.

Case in point:

"So, we are teaching this lady. She is 84 and her name is Orlanda. She is growing on me and is progressing. First, she thinks that the soap operas that she watches are really happening in Santiago. She thinks it is the news. Second, yesterday we had Stake Conference (a regional conference of LDS saints). She came with us. She thought it was long after the two hours. During the final prayer, she tapped my companion and said something along the lines of, ¨when is this going to be over, look! All the people are beginning to fall asleep!¨ Everyone's heads were bowed for the prayer and she thought they were sleeping! It was funny. She is progressing and I hope to see her into the waters of baptism this week or the next."
My sis is having some success in her teaching; she has had another baptism. Go sis!

I'd also like to make a little note here: You may have noticed that La hermanita is growing a little in size. I don't know how it's possible, but even when you're walking around all day every day it just happens (at least it does in South America!). Actually, I do know how it's possible: the people down there are super giving, and when they feed you (which they do), it's yummy food cooked with lard and lots of oil, and usually they give you several large servings, even if you only want one! They did the same thing in Argentina (where I went), and I remember thinking that as soon as I got home from my mission I was never going to eat past the point of fullness ever again! But you know, they're so sweet, and they think they are doing you a favor, so you just can't say no! :)

La Hermanita's got bathroom humor

Eating lunch at a missionary zone conference.
Santiago
"Ok, I've been dying to tell this story. Yesterday we ate at a member's house (of the LDS church). I used the bathroom. The toilet would not flush. I was embarrassed and didn't know what to do. So I just left it. Then my companion had to use the restroom. I thought, "oh, how embarrassing". After, when we left, I asked her if she had problems with the toilet. She said she didn't use it, that she just did stuff in the mirror. HAHA. Do you know what that means? The member is going to think that she left it! Not me! Oh, I had a good laugh about that one. I needed that. I wasn't embarassed any more, but I think she might have been a little!

"We had another baptism this week! And what a pleasure it was. It was the little girl of the Cordova Family. We have been working with her for about 9 weeks. It was so great to be apart of! After the service, all of the ward members that were present came up and congratulated her and her grandparents. They can't get baptised because they aren't married, but the grandma started crying and I know that they just felt so welcomed and fellowshipped. I know that her baptism will help her family out."

Adios!

In her own words...

"These photos are not very good, but I will have better ones in the coming weeks. One, we got caught in the rain without umbrellas, yea. We were soaked. In the other, a bunch of us missionaries go to an area to sing and talk to people (about Christ). There were more missionaries there than what you see here; they are out talking to people while we are singing. It is scary, but I feel like I have had some good success talking to some people in these presentations."

"So we were at a member's house. She and her children are learning English. They asked me to give the prayer in English. Oh my gosh…some words were really hard. I really had to think about it in English, about what I was saying and I had to search for the English word in my head..haha. It was…a surprise. I have only been here, not even 2 months…what is 14 more going to hold for me?

Also, our two baptisms were confirmed! (In the Church of Jesus Christ, once you are baptized you receive a blessing by the laying on of hands from men with proper authority from God. This blessing gives you the presence of the Holy Spirit at all times, as long as you are living righteously. It is called a confirmation.) It made me reflect on the time I got the spirit. One of our investigators is 75 and she is just getting it now! I had it at 8! 8! What a blessing it has been in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to have it in my life. I have realized what a blessing and companion it has been. I encourage you to do the same!"

No more meat, please!

So I decided that instead of starting at the beginning, I'd make it a little easier on myself and back up to about a week ago. La hermanita sent me some photos of her and her companion, a peruvian, who has been a big blessing to her! La hermanita says she is very patient with her lack of spanish, and is helping her to learn. La hermanita took some spanish classes before her mission, and spent some time in Paraguay, so I don't think it'll take too long before she picks things up. The Lord works miracles when you are doing His work, and missionaries usually become pretty fluent after 4 months. I think my sis is counting on this!
Here she is with her companion and a Chilean family at the church. The girl in white was about to be baptized. LDS missionaries spend every day, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. studying the gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it with others. La hermanita will study for about 3 hours in the morning, then leave for the day to knock on doors or talk to people in the street. She will also talk to members of the LDS church to see if they have friends that are looking for the gospel. If she and her companion find someone who is interested, they will teach them until the person feels that they are ready to be baptized into the LDS church. On an average day la hermanita will arrive back at her apartment at 9:30, and then retire.

Here's an excerpt from a letter I received last week:

"We found an investigator through a Cosecha (harvest). What we do is at night we knock on people's doors and ask them if we can bless their house with a prayer. So, we found a family through doing this. The other night we read from the Book of Mormon with the mom. My companion explained the history and we read from different parts. It was very cool. I just felt the spirit and I am pretty sure it touched the heart of the investigator. She is interested in it. After that experience my companion said to me that her testimony in The Book of Mormon had just increased. I felt the same way. There is so much power in The Book of Mormon! So, this week was the independence of Chile. Which means we ate meat, and a whole ton of it. I probably ate the equivalent of my leg in meat this week. Yea, not a meat fan at the moment. Moderation!"

She cracks me up!

The Beginning

This is my little sister, Demri. Always spunky and full of shocking humor, she embarked on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints about three months ago to Chile. She'll be gone for a total of 18 months, teaching the latin people about Jesus Christ in another language. This blog is about her mission, with quotes from her letters, and maybe a little of my own insights!

The first leg of her mission began in the missionary training center in Provo, Utah. She was there for about 8 weeks, really delving into the scriptures and learning how to best teach the gospel, all in spanish. The MTC can be quite regimentary, and one only leaves to visit the Provo LDS temple, located just across the street.

Here is Demri with her first companion, Hermana Talbot. Demri and Hermana Talbot will be together their entire time in the MTC, and then when Demri is transferred to Chile she'll be given a new companion. The second photo is of Demri with her Hermana Cornelius name tag, which she was so excited and eager to get, the name she'll be known by for the next year and a half.

Demri has now been out 3 months, so I've got some catching up to do, which I'll try to do soon!

!Chau!