Baptismos, servicio, y calor

Familia,

Busy week. But good. 

Wednesday we had the baptism of Victor and Moises. Although they look like they are about 6 years old for how small they are, they are actually 10 and 12 years old. They have been attending church for almost over a year with a member family and LOVE it. And I just got lucky and got the chance to teach them and be a part of their baptism. 

Saturday we had a service project for the national service day. In El Salvador, we have pilas, kinda like large sinks filled with water to use for washing dishes, bathing, etc. Well the rainy season is about to start any day now. (I´ve heard rumors that it´s quite the adventure). As a result, the mosquitos are about to be flourishing and as a result dengue is much more present. So with the unidad de salud, we basically walked around houses and put these little bags of pesticide type stuff in all the pilas, checked for larva of mosquitos, and helped to keep the mosquitos away. 

 Then Saturday night the Familia Pimentel was baptized. It was absolutely beautiful. I have basically 6 months in the mission. The rule in the mision is that you can go to the temple with familias if you are part of their baptism. This means that in one year, hopefully my going away gift will be able to go to the temple with the Familia Pimentel, that they can be sealed. I´m praying for them and for this. But I know it will happen. This familia is amazing. They have felt the truth of this Gospel and they are really, truly converted. After their baptism they gave each other a huge hug and had the biggest smile on their face. They both told us that they are very grateful to their Padre Celestial por nosotros. But the truth is, I´m super grateful to be a part of their lives. If I only come back to El Salvador for one reason, it it for this family. 

Wish I had time to write more, but I have to go to a meeting with President with the Hermanas. 

Excerpt from the journal

I am just grateful to be a part of this amazing work moving forward. As I was sitting there in the end of the baptism I just paused and looked around and I was touched with the Spirit and I knew that yes, this is the Lord´s work. It´s not mine, nor yours, nor anyone else´s. It´s definitely the Lord´s work. And it´s amazing to watch it move forward and I´m ever so grateful to be a member, to be a part of this work, and to be able to serve a mission and really work and learn and grow. I know this will make me a better member of the church, a better mom, a better wife, and a better child of God. God truly is amazing. He lives and He loves and knows each of us. He has a plan and it´s in process. And I am grateful that I can participate in that plan. 

  

Thanks for your love! 

Love you lots!

Danika

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!! I hope you all had a glorious feast with delicious turkey or ham, maybe some sweet potatoes, a nice spinach salad, and some sort of delicious dessert to finish it off. I ate a grilled cheese and a tomato. Epic, I know. 

Friday was our excursion to the temple with investigadors. It was super neat. We had different stations in the chapel to have a little tour type thing where they got to learn about the auxiliary organizations, the plan of salvacion, baptism, the temple, and the angel moroni. Then they all got to walk around the temple and learn about it and feel the spirit. My comp and I got chosen to teach about the auxiliary organizations of the church...so that was an adventure. 

 Overall, it was a beautiful day. The familia Pimentel came and they loved it. They are getting baptized this saturday, and they couldn´t be more ready or excited. 

 Quote from the week is from an old lady that we´ve taught a couple times named Ana. 

Ana: "De donde vinieron?" "Where did you guys come from?" (referring to our previous appointments)

Us: "Vinimos de arriba", "We came from up there"

Ana: "Del cielo?", "From heaven?" 

And then she immediately busted up laughing at her own joke...which in turn made us bust up laughing. 

Overall it was a good week. 

I love Easter. Even though we didn´t do anything special for Easter...besides eat some more chocolate...it was a great time for me to think more about the Savior, His sacrifice for me and what that means and what I can do to show my gratitude to Him. Nothing profound to share, just a little reflection from the week. This whole week here in El Salvador is la semana santa and everyone is on vacation and celebrating and the catholic church has a lot of stuff going on with processions everynight and such in the street, so it was eventful. 

Oh...and did yáll read Elder Ballard´s talk from the Conference? Are you reading Preach my gospel? Do it. That´s all. 

Love yáll lots and lots. Thanks for your love and support.

Love,

Me

This picture is for you mom!

5 Companeras en una Semana...Go... Fight...Win!

Familia,

Biggest...hamburgers and fries...expensive...but delicious

 This week was craziness. Tuesday morning the assistants to President called us and told us that they were worried about the hermanas (sisters) that we're over and that our sisters needed help and so that this week we needed to do intercambios cada dia (exchanges every day) and that we couldn't be together. Adventures! 

Interchanges in another area...bridge?

So Tuesday I went to Orquideas to work with Hermana Lopez (my old area!!). Wednesday I was in my area with Hermana Mayorga. Thursday I went to Juayua otra vez (once again) to work with Hermana Murray. And Friday Hermana DeLeon came to my area to work with me. Saturday we got to work together because we had a baptism. 5 companions in one week...that's pretty good. 

So it was pretty nuts. We would meet up in the mornings to change comps and go meet another companionship to change with. We would plan about 30 min. in the morning when we met up again so that I knew what Hermana Dominguez did in my area the day before so we could still help our area grow and improve. It consisted of a lot of traveling by bus. Consisted of a lot less sleep. But as always, consisted of adventures. 

Aide and Hermana Mayorga, mi companera por un dia

Baptism!

Saturday Jorge and Johanna were baptized. It was super sweet. They are adorable. See pics.

That's about it fam. My body feels tired this week. But I´m good. Love you. Thanks for your love and support. Praying for you always. 

Love,

Hermana Wright

La familia pimentel, love this family...they are getting baptized 26 abril

Angel's Diligence

Familia!

I forgot to tell y'all thanks for the pictures. I loved them. That was a great part of the package!

Hermanas en my zone

I love General Conference. It was a great weekend to be able to listen to the voice of the prophet and apostles. It just strengthens my testimonio every time and helps me to be better and stronger spiritually. What parts did y'all like the best? Favorite talks? Quotes? I would love to hear your thoughts.

There is a member in our ward who's name is Angel. He's 82 years old. He's almost completely blind, can see a little bit, but very limited. He lives about 15 min drive away from the church in a humble home and by himself. He was baptized 7 years ago. Before that he attended 4 or so iglesias (churches) and always wondered which was true. Walking it probably takes him about an hour to walk from his house to the church. But without fail, every sunday he walks from his humble home along the dirt and rocky roads with his cane in hand, to the church to attend. And then this Saturday was General Conference and so it was in the stake center. He walked from his house to the stake center...which took at least 2 hours I would imagine, so that he could sit and listen to the Prophet and Apostles of the Lord. Why does he do this? Because he´s converted. He knows that this church is true. He knows that by obeying commandments he will receive blessings. He knows that he´s a son of God and that God will bless him. He understands. And his example touches my heart. I wish I could describe it all perfectly so y'all could understand, really understand...but it's just hard to put into words. But his example of faithfulness and devotion will be in my mind forever.

Classic cliche jumping pic. 

Today we went on a hike to a Laguna (lake). Super pretty and super fun! Loved it. Pics attached. 

Comps..yep...we're matching

Short message today (didn´t have time to type my email before...sorry) But just know I love you all lots. I´m praying for you constantly and grateful for your love and support. It helps me every day. 

The church is true. Just remember that. 

Love,

Me

Our whole zone on a hike.

General Conference is coming!

Familia!

I´m stoked for general conference!! Woohoo!

Life as an Hermana de Capacitacion is busy. It basically consists of more work and a whole lot less sleep, but it´s good. I all of a sudden have so much more love for the other hermanas in the mission and especially the ones that are in my area. Afterall, they are just little babies. :) 

When my name tag fell off in the bus and 

I had to use Hermana Judd´s extra

I love my comp. She´s great! She works hard, has a huge desire to be what the Lord wants her to be, and we have enjoyed our time together so far. It´s great! We also did interchanges this week with other hermanas...we do that about 2 every week is our goal...kinda weird. 

We have a good potential for this month of April and we´re working on finding new investigators for Mayo and excited about the new opportunities and adventures ahead. April is going to be busy as we have different activities this month - General Conference, service activity day, and a trip to the temple for all investigators. So it will probably go by pretty quick. 

Interchanges with Hermana Toí from Hawaii...
she taught me how to hulu

Ahuachapan is great, but super hot and super rocky and dusty and my shoes aren´t ideal. So it´s an adventure. My favorite things this week: 

-When I found myself walking in the middle of a herd of cows. Literally. And more than once.

-The beautiful scenary

-the old man who drove us in his mototaxi and was listening to Whitney Houston...and then started telling me how much he loves Whitney Houston. I mean...don´t we all?

We are teaching an incredible family right now, la familia Pimentel. They are going to be baptized this month, I know it, and I love them so much. More about them to come...

My area! (or a smidgen of this giant area)

Story for the week from Wednesday:

Tonight we went to teach Joanna and Jorge. Johanna is 13 and Jorge is 16 and they are siblings. Their parents have been inactive for a few years and the kids aren´t members. So we´re helping their parents remember their convenios and testimonios and teaching Jorge and Johanna in the process. Jorge and Johanna are increible. They have the sweetest and most tender spirits. They simply have a burning desire to learn more and follow the example of Jesus Christ. They have a baptism date set for April 12th. They ask questions and are super willing to learn and just so accepting. It´s really something beautiful to teach them. 

Well they live a little far away and a decent ways down this long street that´s super dark at night. We sometimes visit in the nights because that is when they are there. We usually take priesthood members with us, but the other night we felt fine about it and went alone. Then Wed. we had another date with them and went solo again because we hadn´t found a member to go with us. Well as we were leaving their house and we said our good'byes, I didn´t feel very good about us walking back alone. I felt completely fine the other night, but this night was different. It wasn´t an overpowering or a loud voice or anything extreme, but it was real...I didn´t feel good about us walking back alone. And I knew that was the Spirit and I needed to listen. (And I thought of you Dad, with your advice of "Never walk down any dark streets haha") I said something to my companion and she told me she felt the same. 

So we then went and asked the Familia Lino if they could accompany us down the dark path. The dad had the flu and a fever but was still super willing and happy to accompany us. We walked down until we arrived at the other side of this colonia and felt good and said our goodbyes. Nothing happened. We were safe. We didn´t see the results of what would have happened if we didn´t listen. And we still walked the rest of the way home (about 25 more minutes) in the dark and all was well. But it just caused me to reflect and think about the influence of the spirit in our lives. The fact that I have the gift of the Holy Ghost, to be my guide and constant companion. And that is what He was tonight and that is what He is if I will listen. It´s subtle...and oftentimes I ignore the little whisperings of the Spirit. But I want to be better. I want to follow His guidance and council and act on those promptings. Because only then will I be able to be what the Lord wants me to be. And that is what I´m going to work on. Being better at listening and acting on those subtle susurros of the Spirit. Listen to those little whisperings...and then act on them. Just do it. 

The Church is true. I love you lots.

Love,

Me

Yep...there´s at least 5 more people you can´t see in this picture. And the size of this car is actually quite tiny. 

El Salvadorenas just know how to use the space more efficiently I think.

Pronunciation Guide: A wha cha pan.

Familia,

Quick update: Changes are crazy. I got put as an Hermana de Capacitacion (Sister Training Leader). This is kinda like zone leader but for hermanas. There are 4 companionships of sister training leaders in the mission. So what does that mean? It means we have 8 companionships of hermanas to watch over and help them. We do interchanges with the hermanas to help them with their area and their investigators and also to help them with any other issues or problems or whatever. I feel like I still have SO much to learn and I lack so much, and I only have 3 changes in the mission...so kinda weird...but I'm excited for the opportunity to grow and learn and be better. 

So, I'm in an area called Ahuachapan. It's HUGE! Super big, probs takes about 10-15 min to drive from one side to the other...let alone walk. We take buses and mototaxis and sometimes are walking 30 minutes inbetween citas, or more like running sometimes...literally. I'll definitely spend more money in this area with the buses and everything we'll take, but it won't be much, we'll see. And almost all the streets are straight dirt and rocks...which means I need to look for some better shoes. So it's an adventure. It's also much hotter here. My companion se llama Hermana Dominguez and she has almost 1 year in the mission. She's also from Honduras (like the rest of my comps so far ha) and she's excellent! She works her tail off and wants so much to do her best and I'm learning a lot from her and excited to be her companion this change. She likes to run and workout, so that's awesome. And she's an incredible missionary. I think we're going to be a great team, and I'm stoked for this change. 

Me & Hermana Dominguez

Right now I'm learning the area, praying for direction guidance to remember where to go (as this week we start interchanges and I'll be left alone to remember where to go in the area), and getting to know the investigators and members as well as looking for new people to teach. 

It's crazy to look back at the first 3 changes of my mission and the experiences I've had so far and how those have prepared me for this change and for this time right now. In only 4 and a half months I've learned a lot, and I've grown a lot, and my experiences were definitely preparing me for now. And I can see that very clearly. 

One thing in particular is depending on the Lord. I learned to really rely on the Lord this last change with all the craziness that happened. I learned to really turn to Him in literally every second of my day. And I'm still learning that and still have a long way to go. I also learned more about the Atonement of Christ and how to apply it to my life. I still lack a lot of knowledge in regards to this subject, and how to make it a regular part of my life, but I have learned to rely on the Lord through the Atonement of Christ. Because I am not perfect. I often try to be. But I fail always and I lack so much. However, I don't have to be perfect. In my first few months of the mission this was hard for me. I wanted to do everything perfect, and I was constantly beating myself up, and putting unnecessary pressure and fault on myself. And that burden was a little heavy. Then I took some good advice from my parents, some good advice from the scriptures, and I worked to apply it. And I learned that I don't have to be perfect. Yes, I need to work hard, I need to look for ways to improve and better myself, and I need to do my absolute best in every way. But I'm going to fail. God knows that. And I learned that although I'm not perfect, God is perfect. And He has a plan that is perfect for us, which centers on Christ and His Atonement. So while I'm not perfect, it's okay, because Christ will make up the difference through his sacrifice. And since God is perfect, He will make miracles happen and He will complete His voluntad (will) through my grand imperfections. And that is truly remarkable. 

I know my Savior lives. I know Jesus suffered for our sins so that we can repent and change and return to live with God again. I know his sacrifice, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, is everything. And I'm trying each and everyday to really make that sacrifice a part of my everyday life. 

Love you lots family. You're da bomb.com. Literally.

Love,

Hermana Wright

Transition Phase...

Monday afternoon President decided I should just go to Progreso to work with the sisters there before changes (transfers) next week instead of staying in Juayua working by myself (actually with members). So I´ve been in the area of Progreso working with Hermana Bermudez and Hermana Kersten this week. The bishops family in Juayua was so sweet, he said that his family wrote me letters, he wrote one, and Gustavo and his wife and such, and he said he was waiting to give it to me because he felt like I was going to stay in Juayua after transfers. The Bishop’s family really didn´t want me to leave the area. And that almost made me cry, but also meant so much to me. I love him and his sweet family. They are seriously the best. And I´m bummed I didn´t have more time with Gustavo for piano and all that. That was legit my favorite part of the week. No joke. And he has so much talent. Ahh. God works in mysterious ways I guess. 

Bishop's family minus a married daughter.

The funny part about all this, is that we realized around Wednesday that Sunday was stake conference...aka all of the wards are going to be together. It was nice to be able to see my ward members from Juayua again and say goodbye once more and everything, although kinda rough at the same time. Love these people. 

Reina & Rosita...Love them!

So...I´ve been in this weird middle phase this whole week...not transferred, knowing or thinking I´m going to leave Juayua, but still here...super close to my area but not going to work over there...a little frustrating. But it´s alright. On top of that Hermana Kersten was sick this week so we ended up staying in the house almost the entire week...left a few days and for a few hours here or there when we could find another hermana to stay here with her. 

My  new comps for this past week. Boredom from being inside all day...

So, not much else to say, changes are this week so who knows where I´ll end up or who my new comp will be. But prayers are appreciated. :) Stay tuned until next week. 

Love you all lots and lots!

Hermana Wright