Emily 7.11.12

Sometimes Sunday night after we have written in our journals and said

our prayers i lay in my bed thinking about what i`m gonna tell you all

about in my letter. I spend my time trying to think of an ingenious

subject line... but sometimes i just fall asleep without my ingenuity

kicking in. I can`t remember if those are real english words or if i

spelled them right... but  hopefully you understand anyways. I`m

sending some pictures. First our zone and the hermanas in our zone.

Its a challenge to get all the elders together to take a picture, but

hermana ramirez and i enjoy it,. We found the awesome plant and let

our crazy cheesy creative talent to take over. We even assigned seats

and standing places. haha it was funny. On the front row are the

lideres de zona y distrito. And on the back.. the rest of the elders.

we got the seats of honor... because we`re special ;) haha The last

picture is of last monday. We went to the market to buy me some boots

for winter and out of nowhere it began to pour rain. We were not

prepared. But we headed out and just ran and screamed through the

streets and jumped on the first bus we could find. We got off in the

vera family´s house, and they rescued us from the rain, gave us lunch,

hermana Leyla borrowed us her dry clothes, and she put our wet ones in

the dryer. What a sweetheart. The last picture is of us in her

clothes. They are so great.

Mom, the mosquitos aren`t biting, its to cold for  them. I keep taking

my garlic anyway, but i have TONZ still. I was looking at all the

pills you`ve sent me, and I don`t think i  am gonna finish them all

before i come home. So no se precupe - don`t worry! I`m great! It was

super cold this week. But i got out my thermals and put them on with

tights, super warm leggings, boots, sweaters, long sleeve turtle neck

shirts, scarves, ear muffs, gloves and rain coat, and stayed pretty

warm ;) I feel a lot more prepared this winter. We also found some to

wash our super heavy duty blankets and we are doing good. Even the

shower has hot water, mostly. Its a blessing! I have enjoyed hot

oatmeal all week, and im doing good. We prayed that the sun would come

out this week, and today it is shining so we should be able to wash

the mountains of laundry that we have. We couldn`t wash anything last

week because of the rain. haha I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures

and videos. The serenading musicians was the mariachi - they come for

birthdays, and they follow the birthday boy/girl around whereever they

go. ITs funny. that was in our hous in san pedro/braniff. The exercise

dance was in Guaracal. Hna Ramirez and i always make goals totake

pictures, but we forget a lot. Hopefully this week. This week is

transfers again, it is going by so fast! i can`t believe it. I hope

and pray to just stay here for my last transfer. I am loving the ward,

the people, the investigators, my companion, everything. But i am also

praying to behumble and except God`s will.

I really liked the quote you sent, yesterday we talked with a sister

who asked us if God is loving or if he punishes us. We told her He is

so full of love! We explained basically what that quote says. That

when we obey Him he blesses us, and when we don`t, He can`t bless us.

But he doesn`t punish us. She asked us if we had ever suffered, if we

had gone hungry because there wasn`t food, or if we didn`t have water

or electricty because there just wasn`t money for it. I think she has

sfufered a lot She has to raise her three little brothers when she was

16. She now has a little 2 year old girl, nad one on the way. She

wants the best for them. She asked why there is so much suffering. She

is only 23. BUt it was neat because we got tell her that the gospel

helps with EVERYTHING. God says that if we obey the commandments we

will prosper in teh land. We won`t have to go without the essential.

Her "husband" is a alcohol addict and she wants to help him. We told

her the gospel can help with that too. All of her worries, the gospel

can cure if she`ll just accept and lvie it in her life. She said she

was gonna pray, lots. She says she needs it. We`re headin back

Tuesday, and hoping to find her husband too.

Yesterday at church i think everything was about repentance. It was

awesome. Perfect for our investgators.

Arturo and Sara Vera are doing amazing. We taught them law of chastity

wit the temple and baptism, and it was awesome. They understood really

well and they want to get married as soon as possible. We also taught

them thsi week about the plan of salvation. They loved it. I asked

them when they wanted to receive the blessings of living the law of

chastity, and arturo said "yesterday". haha it was great. They also

told us they have a friend that needs a lot of help, he is addicted to

alchol and has kids. They said they think we can help them. They

thought, maybe we can invite him over and you guys can come and teach

him. Sara said ya, because now we are on the "next level" and she said

it English and it was so funny. But its true. THey are progressing so

much, they are happier, and they are more in love everyday. Today we

are gona have a FHE with them, and hopefully give them a baptismal

date!! Pray for them! I love them like crazy! Yesterday they went to

church and in he Sunday school class for all the investigators they

both participated a lot. There was a brother who had lots fo

questions, and arturo asked if he could respond. He then explained a

very short beautiful version of the plan of salvation and shaerd his

testimony. It was so special. Another sister asked about the word of

wisdom, and sara explaind that are bodies are special, and we need to

take care of htem. We haven`t even taught the word of wisdom yet. It

was great! I want to stay here, becaus ethey told us they would invite

us to their wedding. haha ojala!

THe Rodriguez family didn`t go to church yesterday - but it was

David`s birthday saturday and i am sure they stayed up late partying.

We went by twice yesterday but they weren`t ghome. Paola says she

wants to change her life, quit smoking, everything.She reads

everything we give her. They are gonna progress. I love them too.

Paula Vilavicencio that was baptized in March is doing family history

work and received her temple recomend yesterday to do baptisms for the

day. She is so excited!

Times up i love you all! The church is true! Take care!

Hermana Olsen