June 16, 2014

To my awesome sister Cortney -- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS CORTNEY AND CLINT!!!!!!!!  :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D PARTY! PARTY!  :D Man, I was so excited that I was bouncing in my seat and made my companion look! :P That's fantastic! Oh! I'm so excited for you two! Especially cause I'll be there at the wedding right? ;) Right? o.o I can't wait to hear all the details! Oh my goodness, I'm just so excited!! XD

For all ya'll non-looped personas out there my sister Cortney is ENGAGED! Yup engaged! :D I hope you're all feeling as excited as I am because we've been waiting for what feels like forever for this proposal! Way to be Clint! ;D

All I can say is "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" (translation: "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!") :D:D:D:D:D 

Okay, breathe breathe. Okay, this week. :D

So on Monday we had our last zone activity of volleyball and expensive meat that we all pitched in to buy. =) It was our last because Cambios (transfers) were on Tuesday and because the Area 70 for Mexico has officially declared no more missionary activities of more than 4 missionaries and no activities of elders and sisters. Sad, I know. =/ We all had to come to terms with it too but it's for our safety so we'll all do our best to follow it. =)

Tuesday was cambios and they're held in a Chapel in Capu. There were so many missionaries! However, it was awesome to see just about all of my Hermanas again, even if it was totally a surprise. =)

Mom, we actually have a lot of really tall Elders in my mission. My old district leader included. Oh, and yeah, I totally did my best to photo bomb the pictures of the new companionships. ;)

Speaking of Elders going home, there were about 7 or 8 that left this transfer including the nephew of Elder Bednar. Apparently he tried to jump over a puddle and something happened that made him rupture two discs in his back. I know, everyone's saying it was quite the freak accident.

There was an elder named Elder Stone that gave us a surprise call on Wednesday night. He finished his mission and was touring his mission with his family who had come to pick them up. He asked us to take his two little sisters out with us for the evening on Thursday. Of course we said yes. I was super excited and my companion was really kinda nervous. She told me, "We're going to get kidnapped." Why? you may ask. I asked the same thing. "Because Elder Stone is guerro and so his sisters are probably guerras and I'm going to be walking around Mexico with 3 guerras....we're going to get kidnapped." (Guerro/Guerra means white person...basically, usually with light or blonde hair...so...me ;) It's actually my second name here...I'll tell you more about that later. =P ) For all who are wondering, we didn't get kidnapped. Actually, we was a really great evening. We had a wonderful lesson with our newest investigator Nellie, her LDS friend Leilani, and our less active member Joseph who we convinced to come along and who shared a wonderful testimony. =) 

Then...we got DRENCHED. The poor girls. We got hit but a really strong rainstorm that soaked us in minutes. The roads were so flooded that the water was overflowing onto the sidewalks. We made sure to take a picture of all of us when we got back to the house.  The sister on the left is Sophie, she's 12 and her sister is on the right, her name is Caroline, she's 18. They were both super sweet and fun. They seemed to love every minute of being soaked and seemed to really enjoy the evening. We did too. We sang "Sweet Caroline" aaaaallll night. It was so stuck in our heads. =) 

On Tuesday I learned a very valuable lesson about how the people here in Mexico are so giving that you have to be careful what you say and how you ask questions.

Example numero 1: We ate dinner really late after Cambios with Hermana Georgina. She's a wonderfully sweet member who's just a little crazy. The first time we ate with her, she googled a Columbian dish to make for my companion's sake. This time she made homemade Mac & Cheese, Hamburgers, and french fries. It was super delicious even though my companion and I got sick from the hamburgers. That's okay, it was the thought that counts. I made sure to praise her cooking everytime I tried one of the foods and did my best too look like I felt right at home....Italics? What just happened? o.O Anyway, I asked her where I could buy Bolis. They're homemade icecream of all flavors in little baggies. They're addictive and positively delicious and only 5 pesos. What? I know! :D She then asked me if I wanted one and before I could respond and without waiting for a reply, she sent her son to buy us some. Oops. I was very careful the next time I asked where to buy bolis

Example numero 2: We visited one of our less active families that I absolutely love. We walked into their house, happy to be out of the rain, and talked for a little while. I saw a blanket hanging up and was reminded that I needed to buy one. So I pointed to the blanket, asked the Sister what you call it in Spanish, and said, "Ah, do you know where I could buy one and how much they are?"  Mistake numero 1. She asked why and I explained that I wanted to buy one to take with me throughout my mission because it gets cold at night. Mistake numero 2. She then gave me one of her warm blankets. I tried to refuse but after two tries I just gave in. She asked why I was so shy about it and I explained that I'm just not used to all the kindness here. I didn't say it but honestly, had I been in America, they probably would have told me where I could buy one and how much it was. Maybe they would have asked if I needed one that they could give but I could have easily said that it's alright, I can just buy one. All and all, it's a super warm blanket. I asked my companion when I should return it to the member and she said that it was a gift. Uh-oh. I actually almost cried. It just melts your heart how much everyone wants to help you. The people do that here. They're all just so amazing. =) 

On Friday, I got to witness a tender mercy, well one of many. We had a lesson that was being held by our mission president that we can bring our investigators to. We had invited Nellie but she didn't seem keen on going. We were hoping her friend Leilani would drag her into it but when we showed up to pick them up Leilani was visiting her family on the otherside of the state of Puebla. I was a little bummed as things started turning out that she wouldn't be able to make it. Not to mention she had a friend over...I'm pretty sure he's her boyfriend but considering they're not as touchy-feely as everyone else here it was hard to tell...o.O...and I just knew she wouldn't be coming. We were let into her house and introduced ourselves to her friend, Julio I believe. My companion explained that we had a thing that night that we wanted to take Nellie to and invited him to come. He totally accepted! They both came with us and seemed to really like the lesson. It was perfect that it was the Restoration too. Then there were Cosco Cookies. COSCO COOKIES!!! Aw man, it was like heaven. Our investigator and her boyfriend were with us and we had Cosco Cookies. Yup...it was awesome. =)

I was officially given a new name on Saturday. We were in the hospital most of the day because my companion was having surgery on her nose so that she could breathe and so I hung out with Hermana Georgina most of the day in the hospital room. The entire time, I was being referred to as "The Guerra".  By the end of the day I was ready to say, "The Guerra has a name! It's Hermana Parslow."...Okay well, Hermana Parrsshlow. =) Instead I just said that I'm Hermana Guerra and that's what she calls me now. Apparently I'm The Guerra when the members talk about us with each other. Hermana Manjarres and the Guerra. Goodness. 

Oh, Mom, yeah they celebrate Father's Day here. Speaking of which, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!!!! :D:D:D

Don't worry mom, we have food. =) I probably look like that because I've been trying to do Insanity. That killer work out that Candace and Andrew were doing. Man, I was sore for days! But hey, if it's working! ;)

Thank you so much for taking care of my blessing and for sending it to me. =)

Oh and just so everyone knows...Lexi killed my fish...well one of them. ;)

I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week!

June 10, 2014

Wow, I can't believe it's already been one transfer since I came to Mexico. It seems like the moment we walk out the door, the day just flies by. 

My first cambio was okay. It wasn't perfect but I wouldn't have learned anything if it had been. I look back at when I first came here and I'm amazed at how much I've learned even in just the language! I can speak just fine. It's not perfect but since I have my companion to help me when I goof up on something I don't worry about it too much. It's really just understanding people that I have trouble with, but the language ability is getting to the point where now I can focus more on improving my teaching skills so that I can help people instead of just trying to understand what they say when they look at me. =) 

So! That awesome story I was going to tell you about. Okay...here it goes.

Once upon a time, there was an American sister missionary who was out in the street with her companion in San Andres Cholula, Mexico. There was a lady in a car who was fair and blonde and definitely not from Mexico. She knew this because the lady kept staring at the sister missionary and only those from outside of Mexico, who are white and fair, stare at other white people in the street. (True Story) Now, this sister missionary had been trying very hard to learn Spanish so that she could teach the message she had about Jesus Christ and how through him all had the chance to be happy forever with one's family. She was feeling a little down because it was very difficult to share this message in Spanish and she just didn't feel like she was fulfilling her purpose as a missionary because she had such a hard time communicating in the language. As she saw the other fair woman staring at her, she thought to herself, "Oh! If only I could meet another American here that I could teach this message to in English! How then I would feel like a true missionary!" She later mentioned this to her companion about just how cool it would be to meet another English speaker here in Mexico.

They went about their day, visiting investigators and less actives. Talking with people in the street and trying to share their special message that they had.

That evening they visited the house of two of their investigators. They had only expected to see the girlfriend but what a surprise to see the boyfriend there as well. To top it off they had their friend visiting! This was both exciting and a little nerve racking for this sister missionary but she was determined to teach that day. They talked to the investigators about whether they had kept their commitments and explained a little about baptism as the investigators had questions. They introduced their friend and explained that he was visiting from Texas. The missionary assumed that he grew up in Mexico and had only been living in Texas for a little bit of time. Her companion and the friend talked for a moment in Spanish and her companion tried to ask a question, however the friend just couldn't seem to understand. After the 3 time of being asked the same question, the friend looked at the American sister missionary and in the thickest Tennesseean accent asks, "What is she trying to say?" The shock for this sister missionary was overwhelming. As she and the friend continued to talk she ended up teaching the whole Plan of Salvation...in english! How was it that the unspoken desire of her heart had been answered in the last place she expected? She was over joyed to be reminded of why she was here and the ability she had to teach her message even if she couldn't speak Spanish.

So yeah, I totally met another American in the middle of Mexico in one of our investigators' houses. It was really cool. I'm Miss Parslow to him and we don't know how long he's going to be here but I'm really hoping we get to teach him more. Not because he speaks English but because he really REALLY needs the gospel in his life. He's been told all of the lies in the book about heaven and life after death and the purpose of this life. He's only 19! However, it was really cool to talk to him and to see the little ways that he's been prepared. I'm beginning to see that with our other investigators too, how they're just perfectly ready for the gospel and they don't even know it!

Today we say goodbye to just about half of our zone. =/ Our zone leader and district leader included. It's pretty sad but we're excited to see the others that come in. =) Here is a picture of the Angelopolis Crew, it's my companion and I, Elder Araya, he's from Costa Rica and was our zone leader, and Elder Reidhead from Arizona. He'll be staying here until he goes home in July. =)

I love you all! Thank you so much for your support and love! Until next week!

June 9, 2014

I'm sorry to say that I don't have time to write today. We've been asked to help out with the transfers that are happening tomorrow and there's a lot of preparation we have to do today. However, we've planned to write tomorrow morning. I have such an awesome story to tell you all about but it'll have to wait. Until then, we've been rained on all day every day for the last 4 or 5 days. I'm going to try to attach some videos tomorrow and pictures today of the storm that hit us on Saturday. It was super crazy! With hail and so much rain that the roads turned to rivers! It was super cool! :) Except for the fact that the sewers overflowed too. That was kinda gross. ;) We even had to wade through a river of water that was so high it got the bottom two inches of my skirt wet, just to cross the street! Alright until tomorrow morning! I love you all!

 Yup, these yard pictures are showing hail. Really really big hail. :)

6 Weeks in Mexico!!!

Hola!

 

This week was good but this weekend was my favorite part because we got to participate in the baptism of one of the young investigators of my Zone.

His name is Pacho...well that's his nickname and he's only 14 years old. Everything ran really late...by like an hour but that's pretty much the normal around here. =) It felt like half the ward showed up to support him, we ran out of seats! They had two young members of the ward bear their testimonies and one of the Hermana's in our ward gave a spiritual thought. I had no idea what they said but the Spirit entered the room with such a wonderful peace. Then Pacho was baptized. It was a wonderful moment to watch him step in the water for the first time. The poor kid had to be baptized twice, which was a shame mostly because the first time he got a nose full of water. It was the first time baptizing someone for the member and he didn't help Pacho hold his nose when he went under the water. Despite this, when Pacho later shared his testimony there was such a wonderful Spirit there and it actually made me tear up a little. 

 

So, my companion and I have really been having a hard time with contacting in the street, especially this last week. The sad thing is once you stop talking to people, it feels almost impossible to start. Anyway, I got a pep-talk from my district leader when he called to hear our sad numbers and I was determined on Sunday to contact every person I saw. When I walked out of the house I started pumping myself up with, "I can do this. I can contact. They're my brothers and sisters, I can do this." "Like Elder Guinn said last night, they're probably more afraid of you than you are of them. They're like spiders. I can take on spiders any day. I can do this." Amazingly enough....there was just about no one in the street on our way to the Metro, which we take to church. Seriously?

Then we got on the Metro which is a bus system here in the city a lot like the Trax back at home. I gave a big smile to a lady I didn't know and said, "Buenas Tardes." She moved over so that I could take a seat and I thanked her. After sitting down I kept thinking, " I need to talk to this woman. I need to talk to this woman. How? What should I say? I like her purse. I could compliment her on her purse. Great idea! Now, how do I say that in Spanish? Hmm, okay, got it. Now just say it. Now just say it. Go on, say it!" That's about when I started praying, "Heavenly Father, please help me tell this woman I like her purse." He gave me the help I needed to open my mouth and say my thoughts. I had to repeat it a couple of times and point a little before she understood what I was trying to say. We talked a little bit about it and I asked where she was going. After a little bit of small talk that I kinda understood, we just sat and enjoyed the ride. After a few minutes, she started talking to me! :D She asked where I was from and I told her and then worked my way into why I was in Mexico and my purpose as a missionary. 

 

By the time we got to church I was so excited that I had made a contact and was jumping up and down and just grinning from ear to ear. A few of the members were concerned but my companion explained that I was just happy to be a missionary. =) We didn't get a mountain of contacts that day but we continued to see little miracles, like a less active member who doesn't want anything to do with the church talking to us for over 45 minutes! =D We were pretty excited. =)

 

We ate lunch with a member couple that have a reeeally nice house. It was so nice that my companion and I didn't want to leave...but we did...eventually. =) It's funny how you forget the comfort you were raised in until you go there again. They had grass...like really nice grass that you just want to lay on and sleep. I almost cried. I actually took off my shoes, just for a moment so that I could feel it. The members were super amazing too. The wife is from Mexico and the husband is from Arizona. You can definitely tell too because he's about 6' 4" and whiter than I am. He's hilarious. Oh and they fed us the Mexican version of sweet potatoes!!! This was momentous because every time someone asks me what my favorite American food is, I spend the next 10 minutes trying to help them understand what and just how delicious sweet potato fries are.

 

Oh! Mom! you asked me a couple of weeks ago if I've eaten any weird fruit like the fruit Tim Turley's son showed us and yes! I have! It's called Pitahaya.

 

It's super delicious and is like a watermelon and a strawberry had a baby.  I've eaten at least 5 in the last week. :)

 

 

 

 

 

I got to see Hermana Ibarra on Friday..it was awesome. I miss her sometimes and she misses me sometimes too but she's doing great in her area and with her companion. I'm so proud and excited for her. =)

 

 

 

This is the place we go to write on the computer every Monday.

 

The is just something that makes me smile..everyday when I pass it on the street. =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love you all!!! Have a wonderful week!!