Rebekah has Mono, sad. (April 25)

This last change has gone by really fast. This week are changes, they are flying by.

So the bummer news is that I have Mono. I pretty much have to sleep all the time, and it's boring...but that's okay, I'm learning patience. I had a blood test two weeks ago that came back positive. I spent the last two weeks in the house in Momos. On Friday we had a multi-zone conference and I talk to President afterward. I told him I couldn't stand another day in the house, but that I didn't know what to do. He said he'd been worried about me and he wanted me to go home and pack and that he's come pick me up the next morning to stay in the mission home for a bit. I came with another Hermana, Hermana Phillips. She's been having bad migraines for two months.


On Saturday night President had all of the Assistance over to eat crepes and play fusbal. President has been talking for months about how good I am at fusbal and they were all really excited to play against me. But I was super tired. President called me over to play against Elder Martinez. I told President I was really tired and he's have to pray that I actually had strength to play. He just laughed and said, "Don't worry. You'll have strength" I don't think he realized how tired I really am, because I've learned well how to be happy and sick at the same time. It was an interesting game. From the start I could barely hit the ball. Elder Martinez was really happy...because he was winning. President kept saying I wasn't even trying and I just wanted Elder Martinez to feel good and then I was going to cream him. I was just trying to stay awake and Elder Piñeda kept saying, "Guys, she's sick...no really, she's sick." But they weren't listening. The score was 4 to 1, and Elder Martinez made another goal and I was overcome with exhaustion. I tried to get the ball out of the catch, but all of a sudden got really light headed and my vision went black. Elder Piñeda said it again, "Guys, she's sick." And this time they believed. They quickly sat me down, and I was really grateful for that, because I was about fifteen seconds away from passing out. Elder Piñeda grabbed a glass of water and a spoonful of sugar for me and President finished the game. (Thankfully he won,or he would have sent me to Africa for loosing!) President then looked at me and said, "Hermana, you're pretty sick." And I said, "I know President, that's why I'm here." We then joked that Elder Martinez put some sort of sleeping pill in my water. That joke is going to stick...now every time I feel particularly exhausted, it's Elder Martinez's fault. :)



I was pretty much out for the night. President asked if I wanted to go to church the next day, Easter. I told him I did and he said only to Sacrament Meeting then. But in the morning he said it was better if I didn't go.



I don't know what's happening now. In the morning President's daughter, Andrea, told us that the Assistance had found an area for us and that they'd be there in an hour to get us. So we started to pack, but not ten minutes in Hermana Lorenzana told us the Elders were there and waiting for us. They told us to just bring enough things for two days and that we'd come back to get out suitcases. Then they just took us to a hotel about two blocks from the mission home. I'm pretty confused. But that's okay. We asked them what area we were going to and they said they didn't know yet. I don't know what's going on, but that's okay. I'm pretty much sleep-living anyway. I'm secretly worried they're thinking about sending us home.



I'm ready to be healthy and get back to work. It's hard to be indoors all of the time. If I rest, I'm fine, but as soon as I try to do something, I feel awful.



Easter was nice. I read Luke 24 and thought of the miracle and many blessings of the resurrection.



I love you all lots and I'll keep you informed on everything.

Have a wonderful week!

-Love,

Rebekah

Daniel Teaches Ana April 25

Hey everyone. I am really enjoying being back in Greenville. All the members are excited to see me back. Right now we are teaching someone named Ana. She is a referral from a member I helped to reactivate when I was here a little over a year ago. Ana is really cool. We tough her in the house of Ericka (the member) a couple times now. Ana is one of the most excited people I've seen about receiving the gospel. She told her husband about it and let him read in her Book of Mormon, which he has been doing almost daily. It seems like whenever you get sent to a new area, or get a new companion, you find a lot of people that need to, and have been waiting to hear from you. There are also a couple cool families that Elder Gooch and his last companion were teaching, that were still teaching. I love being in Greenville. There are so many more Hispanics here. I don't have to talk to the same people every week.


Last week I made three loaves of bread. They didn't last three days. I love homemade bread. Mine still is not as good as Mom's, but I like it. I'm going to buy more flour today so I can make more. It's funny, the West is so different than the south. The biggest flour and sugar bags you can find here are the 5 pound bags. That’s enough for about five loaves of bread. In Utah, you can buy 25 pound bags at regular grocery stores, and I'm sure even bigger at specialized shops.

They have South Carolina’s only mountain in my area. It is about 1500 feet above sea level. It looks like a foot hill. One of the young men in our ward is convinced that the only difference between the mountain here and the ones in the west is that trees go all the way of the ones here. He didn't want to believe me that the reason trees don't go all the way up the mountains in Utah is because the altitude is too high to support big trees. I find it funny. Sometimes people have trouble comprehending things they can't see.

I love you all.

Elder Finch

Reading the Book of Mormon in 1 day (Rebekah April 19)

Hey everyone!


I'm so glad hermana Hunt came to visit you. I hope you like the erasers! I'd been collecting them for a couple of months. They’re just kind of fun. Did she also give you some picture CDs?

Sorry we didn't e-mail yesterday. We read the Book of Mormon in one day as a mission. We started at four in the morning and ended at eleven at night. The Spirit testifies so strongly to the truth of the Book of Mormon and I want to have a family tradition of reading the Book of Mormon in a day each year. It is hard, but also a lot of fun, and we can give a day to our spiritual development.

Hey, everyone, you need to go on a hike! And enjoy it! I know everyone is really busy, and that is exactly why you need it. After finals are over, a couple hours in the mountains will help the rest of your time to be more productive and you've got to enjoy all this time preparing things for Amber's reception and everything. Go hiking! And don't even bring your mental to-do list. Just take a couple of hours to work on your relationship with Heavenly Father and with each other. And then you can get back to work. Everything is going to turn out wonderfully.

I love my area so much. It is so beautiful. This morning Hermana Phillips and I were talking about how lucky we are to be serving missions here. It was one of those moments when it just seems to sink in that I am actually here, actually on a mission. The mission is one of the most beautiful things in the world and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father invited me to serve, and that I am here in Guatemala and in Momostenango. I know that this is the Lord's work and that there are angels working alongside us. God is a God of miracles and will not cease to be a God of miracles if we do not cease to exercise faith in Him.

My companion Hermana Hernandez is going home next week. She's here in my Zone and so I got to talk to her a little bit today. She went to visit the Morales family in Los Arcos (Ismar, Alida, Lloyda, Clarissa and Christain) that we taught and baptized in September. She said they are active and doing very well. It's strange how many people you meet on the mission. It seems like an almost impossibly large number. It has been such a blessing to be able to get to know all of them and bless their lives as they've blessed mine.

Hermana Hunt said she loved visiting you all and that she didn't want to leave. She said she feels like you are her family. That's exactly how the mission is. Our companions and the members and investigators somehow become part of our families. “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:29).

I love you all so much! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Good luck preparing for finals and working and enjoying life.

Love,

Rebekah

Back To Greenville (Daniel April 18)

We had transfers this last week. I got transferred back to Greenville. I am in my first area right now. I am in the same library I was in a year and a few months ago when I would send emails. My companion is Elder Gooch again. I was with him in Spartanburg. The last week has felt like a really good dream. I still feel like I'm going to wake up back in West Columbia. I decided to start making bread by hand again, so I can make more loaves at a time. I am in a car area, but elder Gooch and I decided to bike everywhere any way, and save our mission a little gas money. Biking is nice, because you can talk to people on your way to places. We are the only two in our apartment, so we each have our own bathroom. Before I came here there were four missionaries in this apartment, so we each have two box springs and two mattresses, so we have really tall beds. I love hearing how the family is doing. I am really happy out here on my mission right now. I feel a strong comforting spirit all the time that helps me be happy away from you guys. I am sure you have that same comforting spirit in your house. I can't believe that it is still winter there. It feels like a hot humid summer here day after day. I haven’t felt cold during the day since February.


Thanks for all the support, and love which you have given me.

Elder Finch.

Transferring out of West Columbia (Daniel, April 11)

We just got transfer calls. I am leaving West Columbia. I am going to miss this ward. I honestly know this ward better than any ward I’ve been in my whole life. I am especially going to miss the Caretos. I might be going to my last area of my mission. Mother’s day is in less than one month. I am way excited to talk to you guys.


We are still teaching Luis. But he is about to move to another city. It has been cool to watch his life change. Teaching him has reminded me of the story in Alma 32 where there is a group of people that due to the wicked choices of others, have been made humble, and came to Alma to receive relief from their burden, and because of their humble hearts, accepted the gospel, and turned their lives around, and were made happy. We found Luis on probably the saddest day of his life. His wife, who is an American, decided she didn't want to be with him anymore, so she accused him of beating her, and left with their children, and now, he has been going through several court cases, his last trial is on the 30th of this month. When we first started teaching him, he was very sad, and always talking about his poor circumstance, but he was made humble. Now he is happy all the time, and can look past the pains of life. He is still learning, and has been to church a couple times. He is moving because he lives close were his wife works, and she has a restraining order on him, and he doesn’t want to make it look like he is being rebellious to the restraining order. He is moving, and doing it happily pointing out every blessing that is coming from this, like now he will live in a nicer place, and he'll be closer to work. He is moving out of our area, so I hope he doesn’t fall away in the moving process, and that the new missionaries can find him.

Today we are thinking of doing something fun, like bowling since both Elder Benson and I are leaving the area. I don't really care too much what we do as long as we get out of the apartment. Also this transfer my second Companion in the mission, Elder Macbeth is going home. It's weird to think that, because last time I was around him he had only been out a year. Time as a missionary flies by fast. I can't believe I have been away for almost two school years now.

I love you all a lot, I would like it if someone would give me Jonathans address so I can write him. Thanks

Elder Finch

Better Late than Never (Daniel, Apr 4)

Editor's Note:  Sorry, I haven't been keeping up the blog very well lately so this e-mail is quite late in coming as will the next few.  Rebekah is home now.  Honorably released with direction to quickly get over Mono and go to school and get married. . . (She was quite sick, but you will hear more of that later. . .)  For now, here is Daniel's e-mail from way a long time ago.

General conference was great. We watched it at church for all five sessions. We get transfer calls this Saturday, so I will know then if I will be leaving this area. If I don't I will set a record for the longest time any missionary has stayed in one area since before President McConkie came to the mission almost 3 years ago. I’ve been here since before the beginning of the school year. I love my companion right now. He is a hard worker and knows how to treat people well.


I love the ward I am in right now. They feed us almost every day except for Sunday and Saturday. (Because one of our rules is members can only feed us on Sunday and Saturday if they bring a non-member to eat with us.) All in all it is a good rule, but most members don't like it.

Running in the morning is still going good. We are running two miles a day right now. It normally takes us 14 minutes, so it's not slow, but not fast either. I want to go fast, and push myself every morning, but the other missionaries living in our apartment don't want to go that fast.

I love you all very much.

Elder Finch

P.S. oh, could someone get Jonathon Bean's address for me, I want to write him, and encourage him to go on a mission. Thanks.

Pictures From Guatemala

Hermana Rejholec, Hermana Olsen, Hermana Otto and I ate our last zone meeting together. We worked in the same ward for two weeks. Then I came to Momos and now Hermana Rejholec and Hermana Olsen are companions.

The scary geese in our area that chase us. I'm not afraid of the big, mean dogs that sometimes chase us...but the geese, YES. I'm not sure why. But here's a picture of them, I just had to share.

My companion Hermana Davila. She's adjusting well to the mission. We get along great and I imagine we'll be best of friends

Momos, Mountains, Beautiful Scenery, Beautiful People and Bucket Showers (Rebekah March 28)

Thanks mom for writing me! It's so good to hear from you. It's weird that there is only one month left in the semester. To me it feels like it just started. But that's probably because I'm not there studying. I haven't used my card yet but I probably will soon.


I'm enjoying my new area. The work is hard here in Los Riscos. The "active" members don't come to church unless we visit them. There are 450 members in the directory and we had an assistance of 60. Basic commandments aren't kept. There are so many problems here that it makes the Jackson ward seem ideal. I am not sure where to begin or what to do. I feel helpless facing the tallest cliff I have ever seen with nothing but a small thread to aide me in the climb. But my confidence is in the Lord and I humbly depend on His guidance. I may have to bid farewell to my wish of 25 more baptisms - but that is okay. I did not come on a mission for glory or fame ot to seek my own will, I am here solely to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord my God. I trust him. While I do not understand His plan here in Los Riscos - I know that my God will never abandon me nor His saints, while perhaps few and far between, here in Momos. He is closer now than before.

I remember in Michigan feeling so close to alone in a ward and world so different from what it could have and should have been - and what an answer to many of my prayers, and to the prayers of our family, were Elders Selfison, Hall, Guaze, Van, and others, They may never know what an impact their missionary service has had on our lives. In ward council yesterday the Bishop expressed that he was concerned that no one would come to the meeting. He said he thought, "and what if I have to do all of this alone? What if not one of the leaders come?" He said that sometimes he expresses his concerns to his wife and the feeling that sometimes he is alone in the work of the ward that needs some desperate revolution. He told us that he tells his wife that she must never cease to support him or he will be alone in an incredibly large task. The he looked and my companion and I in the meeting and said, "But you came and I know I am not alone in this work." The difference we will make in this ward may be hard to see - but I know a difference will be made. I am grateful to serve where the Lord would have me and trust humbly in Him. With Heavenly Father's help I am prepared to see miracles here in Los Riscos. I am so grateful for a Bishop who has the hardest calling in the world and the most pure heart and sincerest desire to serve God. I know that while are times we may so feel, we are never really alone in the work of the Lord. It is, after all, His work and He will take us by the hand and guide us in every word through the voice of His still, small voice.



Momos is so beautiful. We are surrounded by mountains and trees. The typical, indigenous clothing is colorful and cheerful. Quiche is a joy to learn. It sounds somewhat like an African Tribal language and I'm excited to learn a little bit. We shower with cold water and buckets which is a one in a lifetime adventure and the culture is so rich here. It is a blessing to work in this area and the Lord has great plans for us here. I am learning many new things that could only be learned here and will bless my entire life and the lives of those I serve in all future callings.



I love you all and pray that all is well at home! Hooray for General Conference! I'm excited to know that for those 8 hours, all the members everywhere, including my family, will be watching and listening to the Prophet's voice. What a treat!!!

Keep up all the good work Lisa with your teaching. You are going to do great things!

Thank you Dad for your wonderful example.

Have fun Amber planning your wedding, and don't think just because you're engaged it's an excuse to stop writing me. :)

Hooray Samuel and Michelle!!!!!! You two are so talented!

Love,

Rebekah

Running From Dogs and For Fun (Daniel March 28)

Hey family, How is it going today.


Mom asked me if I had started running. I actually have started. The weather has been pretty warm in the mornings. Two weeks ago the high was in the 90's all week long. I can't wait for next week when we don't have to wear our suit coats any more. This morning, We woke up to the sound of a lot of rain outside. I looked at Elder Bensen and asked him if he still wanted to run, and he said yes. We run 1.5 miles every day. Today, it was so cold. I think the air was in the 50's, but the rain was in the 30's. The air felt good, but the rain was cold. We were as wet as wet can be except for our backs. We ran fast enough that our backs stayed dry the whole time. Elder Bensen is one of the English Elders. He is cool. About three years ago, he ran a marathon. I don't remember which one, but it was one of the downhill ones. Elder Benson is 22, and has been in the mission for about a year.

Rebekah asked me to tell a funny story I had recently. I couldn’t really think of one, but I want to tell you about my most recent epic dog chase. It was your classic missionary dog chase story. I actually have a scar on my wrist left from it. We came up to knock a trailer with a fence going all the way around it. After we knock the door a couple times, a pit bull came around the corner of their trailer, who upon seeing us, started barking at us, and chasing after us. We started running, and realized we had closed the gate. The dog was getting close, so we didn't have time to open the gate, so we decided to jump the fence instead. It was a chain link fence, and the wires on the top of it had not been bent over. On my way past the fence, I caught my wrist on one of the thick metal wires. I got a deep three inch cut on my wrist. The dog was confused by the fact we jumped the fence, and ran head first into it. That happened about 4 months ago, and I still have a very visible scar to remind me of the story.

I love you all. Thanks for all the e-mails you have sent me.

Elder Finch.

Back to Beautiful Momos (Rebekah March 21)

Everything sounds like it's going so well with the wedding plans. You all sound really busy. But it's fun to be busy. I've noticed that people here have a hard time being happy. I think a lot of it comes from a lack of having meaningful things to do with their time. They just live to live. President Lorenzana has a little dog, a lap poodle that was left here by the previous mission president. Chatsi is the little dog’s name. She goes with President everywhere, even to the conferences. She just sits there, very well behaved. and does nothing all day. Presidente one time said something that I often remember: Chatsi has no purpose. She eats, she breaths, she sleeps and that's it. He taught us that we do have a purpose. That our lives have so much meaning to them and it would do good to recognize and appreciate that meaning. We are so lucky that we can learn and progress and grow. We are so lucky that we can create beautiful things out of nothing, that we can brighten someone's day with a smile, that we can study and develop talents that help to improve the world around us. Although sometime we feel exhausted, or lazy, or pressured...it would do us good to ponder a minute and be grateful for the purpose we have. When I'm feeling unmotivated, I think about Chatsi and it helps me feel grateful and motivated to work. I have another goal right now to, I'm trying to smile ALL of the time. It's been really enjoyable...and it's not so hard as you'd think. Just smile...it's made everything enjoyable, even the hard things, not the "hard things" are just awesome opportunities to learn something new. I am so grateful that we are not dogs. :)


So...transfers. I'm in Momostanango. It's the most indigenous area where hermanas work. I'm also training. So were opening area and training at the same time, or "white-washing" as Daniel called it. I feel really at home out here in Momos even though we've already not had electricity three time and water once in the five days I've been here. My companion is named Hermana Davila. She's from Nicaragua and really cute. I like here a lot and she is adjusting well to the mission. She is going to be one of my best friends I'm sure.

My area is called Los Riscos. It's a hard area. In the last three years, there have only been five baptisms. But I am determined to work hard. I haven't passed a month without baptizing and don't want to start now. There are a lot of other things we will be working on here. The members need a lot of help. The "active" members come every other week. Many of the members speak Quiche (one of the indigenous languages of Guatemala) and we are going to start learning that. The bishop is going to teach us an hour a day during language study, and so I'll be getting up extra early to study Spanish and Quiche. The nursery manual you sent in October is going to be useful here. I will use a lot of the ideas in there to teach the members.

We are teaching one family right now, and they actually came to church on Sunday! That's usually the hardest part. We have a few other investigators here and there and are still getting to know our area. I really like it here in Momos. It's really pretty. We work in the mountains and there are trees everywhere. The majority of the people use the typical, native clothing. I'm actually in the same Zone as San Francisco (where I was with Hermana McGoughy.) They will all be coming here next Sunday for General Conference which will be really fun. I don't know why, but I keep feeling like I'll only be here for one change, but whatever the case may be, we are going to work hard and enjoy every minute of it.



As far as my stomach, it's doing just fine. It hasn't given me a bit of a problem. Other missionaries have eaten pretty gross things, but they all say as well that we win the gross food game. Yuck....okay, I'm going to have to talk about something else now, Yuck...yeah, meat is kind of out the plan for a while. But my stomach hasn't hurt for a couple weeks now.

:D

Hey, I love you all lots! I'm really looking forward to hearing how every one's adventures go with the Science Fair and Teaching and trip to Houston and making Vases and everything. There are a lot of Guatemalans in Houston. It all sounds so fun. ...I'm really excited to get the necklace in the mail too, that'll be a lot of fun.

I love you all!!!

Love,

Rebekah

A Good Week and a Family to Teach (Daniel March 21)

Last week was a very good week for me. President McConie surprised us and showed up to our District Meeting on Tuesday along with the Zone Leaders. It was a really amazing meeting. We talked about doing Everything we could to Invite others to come unto Christ. As is expected, after a great meeting, we had a great week. We found three families last week. We are still teaching Luis. he has a court trial on Wednesday. We are praying that will go well.


One of the families we found is the Portio Family. The family consists of the Dad Jordan, Mom Biatrice, Diago (9), Carla (10), and Jamie the baby boy. They are a sweet family with high standards for a non-member. The have faith in our message. I love working with families like this. They are planning on being Baptized the 16 of April.

I love you all very much.

Daniel Attends a Great conference with President and Sister McConkie (March 14)

Hello family. This last week has been good. I really enjoy working with Elder Allen. We are continuing to teach Luis. He is continuing to learn a lot. It is a great testimony builder to watch over and over again, that as people start accepting and living the gospel, they become happier, and they recognize and receive more blessings.


Last night we had a really cool fireside for our stake. Our mission president decided to start doing these firesides were members are asked to bring their nonmember friends, and missionaries bring their investigators. The fireside starts with a recent convert shares their conversion story. Then one of the missionaries who taught them, shares their side of the story, along with their testimony. Then sister McConkie speaks, followed by President McConkie. It lasts about an Hour and a half, and usually has a musical number in the middle. It is always a very spiritual meeting. Yesterday sister McConkie talked a lot about the Joy and blessings one receives when following the Gospel. Whenever sister McConkie speaks, you can feel Love radiating in the room. It's always very spiritual.

President McConkie is a very powerful teacher. He is also very bold and blunt in his teaching. The whole time he was talking, the spirit was in the chapel very strongly. He talked about the three greatest Doctrines of the church, and then talked about the three greatest Heresies. It was a talk that if not accompanied by the spirit would have offended every non-Mormon who heard, but because the spirit was so strong the things he taught were undeniable. He first talked about the greatest doctrine was that God is our Heavenly Father, and that we are his children. People in the South, and most of the catholic world don't believe that. He said that the greatest heresy was that God is just our Creator, and he is an un comprehensible spirit. He then with scripture and the spirit disproved that. The second greatest doctrine is that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that he suffered, died, and resurrected for us. Specifically that his spirit and body were restored to each other. Other churches teach that Christ is the same as The Father, and the Holy Ghost, and that they are one inseparable spirit, who is uncomprehensible, and does not have a body, or resemble us in anyway. If that were true, that would mean that Christ's spirit was not restored to his body, and that he was not really resurrected, which would mean, that we could not be either. The third greatest Doctrine is that the Holy Ghost is the revelator, and that through him, we can receive answers to our prayers. The Heresy is that there is no such thing as revelation any more, or that we cannot trust his feelings. President McConkie then told a story of when he was fourteen going to general conference, One of the Anti church people outside the conference center gave him a little pamphlet. In the Pamphlet there were three bullet points saying."

Don't read the Book of Mormon. (fallowed by sever reasons why you shouldn't)

If you already made the mistake of reading the Book of Mormon, don't pray about it.

If you made the mistake of praying about it, Don't trust your feelings."

President then Showed, using the bible, that through our feeling we receive witnesses by the Holy Ghost, And talked about how obviously that what the pamphlet was saying was wrong. But that we should keep our Eyes open because the world will try to tell you these things as well. It was an amazing and powerful talk, and I wish you all could hear it.

I love you all Very much, And I am Excited for Amber and Brandon.

Elder Finch

Rebekah wins the "What's the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?" Contest March 14

Things are great here. This week we have transfers. We won't know until Tuesday night what's going to happen, but for some reason I feel like I'll probably have changes. I love this area a lot, it's really beautiful and I love the people we've met in the last week, but it doesn't feel like my area. But. either way, we'll just keep working as hard as we can.
We're teaching a family of 8 right now. They're so cute. Every time it's time to go they ask, "But you're coming back tomorrow, right?" And we always say that of course we're coming back! They're the cutest little family. ...But oh man, on Saturday we stopped by to teach the Plan of Salvation...but unfortunately for us, Saturday is their meat day. They have a tienda, or a little neighborhood store about the size of our kitchen. It's actually one of the bigger tiendas in this area. On Saturdays they prepare and sell a bunch of meet and the father was so happy to see us and excited to let us try some of their meat. Guess what they fed us....fried pig skin. It´s hard and crunchy and, really...pig skin? But they love it here! It's a Guatemalan favorite. They also fed us something else....the pig gentiles. Really. I have never prayed so hard during a meal before. We successfully are it with smiles and gratitude and the family was so happy to give us food. We first ate the pig skin, and then when I realized that it really wasn't avoidable I ate the...other stuff. When I took the first piece me companion said "Really?" and then when I ate it she said "wow! You're brave!" But I really didn't know what else to do. They were so happy to feed us and we just met them on Friday so we didn't want to offend them. I kept trying to think of ideas, what if we "accidently" drop the plate on the ground...stuff like that. But they would have just given us more. Lucky they gave us a lime. We squeezed ever drop of juice out of that lime! We just kept smiling really big and saying "We LOVE lime!!!" as we drenched our meat in it My companion didn't know what we were eating...luckily. When we finished she asked, "What did we just eat?" I told her I'd tell her later. When we left and I told her she said. "What do we do know?" I said, "Take a laxative." I wasn't sure what else to do, but I didn't want my body to digest any of that! It has stomach problems written all over it. So...we took a laxative and now it's all out of us...but oh man, it was so gross!!! Mission Skill #37 - eat really weird stuff with a smile and a grateful heart. I don't think I'll eat anything pig for the rest of my life. We still don't have an appetite. Don't be surprised if I'm a vegetarian when I get home..
The picture is of our baptism a couple weeks ago. Her name is Patricia. She is doing so well! She's already half way through the Book of Mormon. She's so fun! It was really neat to watch her make major life changes. (Don't look to closely at my name tag...it's not mine.) The hermana on the other side is Hermana Forsyth. She was in my MTC group and we were in a trio for a week or so.
Things are going super well! I love you all tons!
Good luck with the wedding plans. Wish I could help put sleaves on....actually, I would take the dress to Rena Adair's mom. She is a skilled seamstress.

Love, Rebekah

Two Great Contacts (Daniel, March 7)

I got my new companion. His name is Elder Allen. He has been out just a little over a year. He seems really cool, and like a good missionary. I am excited for this companionship.
This week we found someone really cool named Arther. He is American. We were out proselyting in one of our areas that we don't go to often in the morning, and we kind of wandered away from the section we normally knock, ( the section where all the Hispanics live), when we saw him sitting at a park picnic table, with his pocket bible in front of him. We came over to him and started talking. He said that earlier that morning he prayed for a sign of where he could find peace, and were he could find the right way. He said he feels like he has lived a bad life, and wants to be a better example for his children. He had stopped drinking about two years ago. He still smokes and drinks coffee. He has been having some stomach problems. We told him his stomach problems were caused by the tannic acid in the coffee. Apparently Coffee and Tea slowly turn your stomach lining into leather. Coffee is also bad for the marrow in your bones. When we told him about this, he promised never to drink coffee again.
We are also teaching someone named Luis. He is going through a hard time right now, and is really humble. He met some of the members in our ward when they use to live in Mexico. Apparently they know each other pretty well. The members invited him to go to their house for dinner after church. I think it is really cool. We have been seeing a lot of miracles lately.
I am way excited to hear about Ambers engagement, and I want to let Amber know that it is the right decision not to wait for me to get home to get married. I knew you were going to get engaged for about a month now, and felt prompted that I should let you know you don't need to wait for me to come home to get married. After I get home, I will still be able t meet him, and I'm sure we will become friends.
I love you all.
Elder finch

Rebekah in a New Area

Hey Family!! This week has been a great week, but also very hard.
We had emergency changes on Monday. We are sad to have left Calvario and all of our converts there, but they are in very good hands. The members have welcomed them all in so warmly and I will never worry about them. They are all going to blosoom so much in the Gospel.
We had changes to Las Flores. You'll have to ask me to tell you the story about the changes after the mission....we'll all just have to go through my journal together. There are so many wonderful things I'd like to tell you.
On Monday night we had an FHE with a member family and an investigator. We read and acted out the tree of life. They loved it and we all learned a lot. I love being a missionary. I love teaching the gospel. The family knew that we'd both have changes. After the FHE the mother, Hna Norma, started to cry and said before you go, I just need to thank you two. Each person went around the circle and said goodbye to us-everyone was crying. It was the first time I was able to say goodbye to people when I was leaving an area, and it was an experience like no other. They all talked about all the miracles they'd seen through our service. They talked about each baptism - Francisco, Luis, Milton, Herlinda, Jessica, Katherine, Blanca, and José - that we had in the two months that we were there. They said we'd never comprehend the difference we've made in Calvario. When the dad was talking, he cried too. He said it's the first time they've cried for missionaries, Elders and Sisters alike. I am amazed at what the Lord can do when we put our lives in His hands. Hermana Rejholec and I have passed many evenings talking about how we feel so humbled, that we know by ourselves we can do nothings, but that someone the Lord recognizes that we are doing our very best and He takes that and makes miracles. I love sacrificing for this work. I know God lives and I know He is here working with us. We have witnessed the work of angels.
The assistants dropped us off in the Las Flores house and two minutes later Hermana Rosa got a call from President. Her dad had been shot and killed. I will never forget her words of comfort to her mom. She just kept saying over and over that the Lord knows what He does, the Lord knows what He does, It was the hand of the Lord that we were there. He is always aware. It was very difficult to get ahold of Hermana Rosa's family. She is from Honduras. We all prayed and cried and fasted. We laughed a little too. Hermana Rejholec is very good and finding joy amidst trial. I am so glad we were there.
Hermana Rosa decided to go home, she only had three weeks left. Tuesday morning we were sitting on her bed talking. I was wearing the pearl necklace you sent me for Christmas. I told her I wore it to remind me of the people most important to me and asked her to have it to always have her Dad with her. It looks very good on her. I hope she is doing well. A lot of her family members have passed away during her mission.
We are in a trio now. Hermana Rejholec and I are still together - which we're very happy about. She's wonderful! We are also with Hermana Forsyth. She was in the MTC and CCM with me, It's fun to be together. Trios have their hard things, but we all get along really well and teach well together.

My new area is completely different from my old one.
You would love it. I wish you could see the things I see here.
We are forming a branch here in Xecaracoj. Right now it's just a division of the ward, but the papers have been sent in. We are going to see many miracles here. I love this little group of saints. This week we will be on a search for a house to rent where we can meet on Sundays. When we have an assistance of 75 and 13 full tither payers the church will begin constructing a chapel here. I have lots more I want to tell you about our little Branch to be, but it'll have to wait. I want to send a couple of pictures of my new area.
I love you all! Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I really love hearing from you all!
Talk to you soon!
-Love, Rebekah

Three Baptisms (Daniel, Feb 28)

The Baptism on Saturday went great. Satan was defiantly trying hard to stop Cesar. Cesar didn't get to sleep till 5:00am the night before the baptism, and 7:00am the night before his confirmation. We have church at 9:00 in the morning with sacrament meeting first. I got a strong prompting to call Cesar at around 8:40. He answered on the fifth ring, and mumbled an untranslatable grown. I think he was sleeping the first 5 minutes I was talking to him. Finally he woke up and started making sense. He showed up a little late for church. He walked in the doors seconds before they called his name to be confirmed.
On Saturday Enriqueta and Dana were baptized by Bro. Careto. And then I baptized Cesar, which was really cool. That was the first time I personally had performed the ordinance. Dana had a waterside confirmation, then Enriqueta and Cesar were confirmed on Sunday. None of Cesars family were at his baptism. His Mom is against the church, and wouldn't let his sister go. His sister is a member, but hasn't been in about 2 years because the Mom was against it. She is only 16 so she has to listen to her mom. I guess the mom let her get baptized, and then changed her mind about the church. We are praying that She will realize how much Cesar has changed, and that her heart will be softened and let Kenya go to Church.
We got transfer calls on Saturday. To my surprise, my companion is leaving, and I am staying. I have been in this area for 7 months, and at the end of the new transfer, it will be 8 1/2 months. That is a long time for one area. Then I will have been in this area as long as all my other areas put together.
I love you all very much.
Elder Finch

Feb 21, 2011 24 Years

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
MOM AND DAD
Today is a very special day. It celebrates more than just the beginning of a marriage.
It celebrates the beginning of something without end.
It celebrates our family.
I love you
Daniel

Enriquita and Ceasar Are Both Getting Baptized

This Saturday Ceasar, and Enriqueta are both getting baptized. I am supper excited. Sergio, Enriquetas son, was interviewed so he could baptize Enriqueta, and his eight year old daughter Dana. He will baptize both of them on Saturday, we are having the service at 11:00. Ceasar will be baptized at the same service. We don't know who is going to baptize him yet. It will probably be one of us, or it might be his fellowshipper Bro Prack. Last time we saw him, we let him know what his options are, and so now he is thinking them over. So there will be three Baptisms on Saturday, two under the mission, and one under the ward. They have all progressed a lot.
Transfers are next week, so I probably have just one more Sunday. It will be sad leaving the area, especially right after baptizing some people, but that is ok, I can't stay here forever. If for some reason I do stay, I will be so excited.
For breakfast this morning, I had some homemade fudge. I got the valentine’s package, and I started making the fudge last night. I just barely put it in the refrigerator before going to bed. Between the four of us, we already ate half of it. It's in a 8" by 8" pan and about an inch thick. I have a little bit of a tummy ach now. That’s ok, it tastes really good.
It is really nice out today, so we are thinking of playing soccer or tennis. We might invite Ceasar to play with us too. On Saturday, it was so hot I was dying to take off my suit coat. I never thought I could feel that way in the middle of February. Is it warming up their yet? Do you still have snow on the ground?
I am grateful for all the love all of you have shared with me.
Elder Finch.

Happy Valentines Day from Daniel

Happy Valentine’s Day.
I am really enjoying working here a lot. We had a miracle lesson with Enriqueta yesterday. We got to go on exchanges with the AP's, specifically so we could teach Enriqueta. Elder Stoneman and I got to teach her. (Elder Stoneman was my companion in the MTC. It was so much fun being able to tech a real lesson with him. The lesson was really guided by the spirit. It was actually a good thing that we were able to teach her with out my companion. He is an amazingly good teacher, but he is afraid of silence in lessons. Silence is important because the spirit speaks the loudest in times of silence. Up to this point she hadn’t been baptized because she didn't feel ready. In the lesson, the spirit helped her understand that we don’t need to understand everything before we are baptized, and that most of the "perfecting" we do in our life is supposed to be after baptism. We extended the date of the 26th for her, and committed her to pray every day that she will feel that she is ready. She is going to have her son baptize her. and she invited Elder Stoneman to the baptism.
Ceaser is also planning on being baptized on the 26th. He has been to church twice now, and he is living all of the commandments he needs to be living to be baptized. He still wants to wait till the 26th, just because he still feels tempted and wants to make sure that he is strong enough to withstand that temptation.
I have seen such great miracles in my mission. Ceasar has made a complete 180 in his life. I love missionary work, and I know that this church is the one and only true church. Watching the conversion stories of people has helped that understanding of mine increase a lot.
I love you all very much,

Rebekah's Week In Video

Two Investigators Getting Married and Baptized on the Same Day!

Hey! This week has been great! I love this work so much! Heavenly Father is working right along with us...or better said that He is working so much in our area and we are doing our best to keep up as much as we can.

We had a baptism on Saturday for Milton. It was wonderful. He was confirmed and given the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday. His mother came. She got baptized when she was 14 and hasn't been to church in 25 years. Moments like that mean the world to me.

We had two family home evenings last night that went so well. The first was with Herlinda, Katherine, and Jessica. It was so beautiful. We watched the Restoration movie. As we were watching it, my testimony was touched and strengthened once again. There is no doubt that this church is true. I have no doubt. Herlinda, Katherine and Jessica will be getting baptized tomorrow. I am filled with so much joy to know that they are going to join the eternal truth of the gospel. There was a picture of Christ on the wall. I looked at it for a moment and felt the Savior's presence so near. He lives. I know that He does. His atonement was successful. He took upon Him our sins and invites us to be born anew in Him, it is an invitation that He extends to all of God's children all of the time. Each week as we partake of the Sacrament, each time we pray, we can be born anew in Christ. I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that tomorrow Herlinda, Katherine and Jessica can take upon themselves the name of Christ and follow in His footsteps, a path that leads to everlasting happiness.

The other Family Home Evening was with Blanca and José. They decided to get married and baptized! They are so excited. We are so excited! I am so so happy for them. We are having their wedding and baptism on the 19th of this month. I am so grateful for the members. We had two member families in the Family Home Evening last night and they helped so much. I am so grateful for my missionary calling. I love my name tag. I love doing my best to honor the name of Christ through my actions. I love being able to teach with power and authority.

The mission is so wonderful.

I love you all! I hope you have wonderful a wonderful week! You are in my prayers.

Love,
Rebekah

Sweet Enriqueta

Enriqueta came to church again. It makes me happy to see someone Investigating the church come so consistently. We are hoping and praying that she will make the right decision to be baptize soon.
This week our district is going on an exchange with the district in Newberry. Elder Dunn and Fulmer are both in that district so I am supper excited. They are two of my favorite mission friends. Elder Fulmer is the one that likes outdoor stuff especially mountain biking, and snow boarding.
Today we are planning on playing tennis. I am excited for that. The weather has been pretty hot lately. The other day it was up in the 70's.
I don't really have anything else to write about, so if there is anything you’re interested in hearing about, you can write me ask.
I am very grateful for all the Dear Elders you all have sent me. I love you, les amo.
Elder Finch

Six Upcoming Baptisms (Rebekah)

Things are going so well. We are trying to sacrifice what we can for the work of the Lord and I am so grateful to be able to dedicate all of my time to building up the kingdom of God here on the earth. I feel Heavenly Father’s presence so near to us.
As far as the work goes, Heavenly Father is helping us so much. We have 6 baptism dates right now! Herlinda, Jessica and Katherine are going to get baptized on the 11th. We found a new investigator yesterday named Milton who will also be getting baptize on the 11th. He is wonderful. He is very well prepared.
Herlinda didn’t come to church yesterday and we were really disappointed. She was supposed to get baptized tomorrow (after already having postponed her baptism a week for lack of assistance.) We taught her very clearly the baptismal covenants she is making and that she is promising to God that she will attend church every Sunday for the rest of her life. She promised to come…but there always seems to be an excuse. She is wonderful, she reads the Book of Mormon every day without fail, she prayers constantly, she knows the church is true, she knows everything. She’s already prepared her first tithing, stopped drinking coffee and tea and is ready in every other aspect apart from assistance. We aren’t what to do. We asked one of the assistances for advice and he suggested sharing the story of Mosiah 5 and Mosiah 27 with her. The first generation had wonderful desires to follow Christ, their hearts were wonderful and their faith was strong…but then the second generation fell away and became a wicked people for lack of assistance. Herlinda has a wonderful heart…but that is here excuse. When something comes up and makes it difficult to come to church she says “The Lord knows my heart.” We are going to share with here that while she loves the Lord and is a very righteous woman, her children will not be pure of heart and will not love the Lord if they do not attend church together. A dedicated and pure heart is a wonderful thing, but if it is not accompanied by diligent and faithful action, it will not be passed on the our children and there is little hope of them loving the Lord the way we do. Hopefully that will help her.
We were in the third hour of Church and still feeling bothered that Herlinda didn’t come when one of the members came and pulled us out of the meeting. He told us that there was a young man downstairs asking to talk to the missionaries. We are grateful that he grabbed us, because there are 7 missionaries in out ward right now. Heavenly Father has a way of making things work out and allowing us to feel His love and gratitude for our sacrifices in whatever form that may be. It turns out that the young man, Milton, has already attended church for the months of December and January in another ward, but that he lives in our area. He wants to get baptized and we set the date for the 11th. We are so excited and I am so very grateful that Heavenly Father is aware of us and has given us the opportunity to help in this conversion process. He could have fallen into any missionaries hands and been wonderful. I know Heavenly Father is aware of our desires and sacrifices and when He knows He can trust us, He blesses us more then we can understand. Alex and Francisco helped us teach Milton. It was amazing to watch these recent converts of a month bare powerful testimony filled with understanding to an investigator. The Lord works in mysterious ways and this work really is great and marvelous.
Do you remember Jose and Blanca? I mentioned them a little bit the last couple weeks. They came to church yesterday with their son. In the evening we had a wonderful lesson with them and two member families and a less active member that has passed years without attending church. The lesson was perfect. It couldn’t have gone better. The members here in this ward and incredible. Jose and Blanca decided they want to get married and baptized on the 19th. We are so excited to have a baptism date for a family. They are wonderful. It is a miracle that they decided to get married. The next couple roads might be a bumpy journey and they could certainly use your prayers. There have been a lot of miracles already associated with their investigation of the church, but they are going to need the Lord’s constant help in the process of preparation for their baptism. All of these investigators mean so much to me.
This Tuesday we have changes. I doubt I’ll have changes. That would be hard to leave these investigators, but my companion may. She has been in the area for just over four months. She is wonderful. I love Hermana Rejholec so much. We have been through a lot together and it’s wonderful to watch her progression. She is a great missionary and companion.
Today we are moving houses. That’ll be fun. The mission is such great preparation for life. I’m excited to move into a new apartment, but I’m going to miss this one a little bit…since it was my first apartment in the mission. I’ll send you pictures.
Well, times about up, but I love you all very much. Things are going so well here. The mission is wonderful. There is no other place I’d rather be, nor any other thing I’d rather be doing. There is no sweeter joy then the joy in watching others come unto Christ and leading them by the hand as they take important and often scary steps.
I know Christ lives. I know the atonement is real and more powerful then we can understand.
I love you all!
Love,
-Rebekah

Growth On A Mission and Training Wheels

I love being a missionary. For a long time before my mission, I was afraid I'd change on my mission. I would always hear people say, you change on your mission, and become a better person. I was afraid of this because I liked me the way I was. At the time I didn't understand the way that missions change people. I imagined it would just make me really churchy, and that It would make my personality go away. After being on my mission I have realized that the changes I’ve gone through are better in all ways. First and most important, my faith has increased a lot, and I understand the way the church works a lot better. I have also become a better thinker, and I have more control over/ have an even bigger imagination. I understand who I am more, and am more confident with myself. I am able to study better, and for a longer time. I have also obtained many small talents and skills, such as baking bread and deserts, cooking Mexican food, walking on my hands a little, solving rubix cubes, and other stuff like that. Choosing to go on a mission was definitely the best decision I have made in my life. The Lord gives special blessings to his missionaries, and the families of missionaries.
Enriqueta came to church again yesterday. She is at one of the big forks in the pathways of life. She knows which way is the right, but she is just waiting right now to make sure she is ready. I feel it is just a sort matter of time before she is baptized. Our ward just formed a Spanish Relief society. I am so excited for that. They don't have a Spanish Priesthood yet, but most of the male Hispanics in our ward speak English, at least a little.
On Saturday we were at the Caretos, helping Bro. Careto with some problems with his van, when I learned an important lesson about our Heavenly father that I want to share with you. We were outside working on their van so they could come to church, and their 4 year old daughter came outside to try to ride her bike she got for Christmas. It has training wheels on it. At first she couldn’t move, so I gave her a boost to get her started. She struggled a lot at first to keep moving, and if she hit a small hill, or patch of dirt while the peddles were in the position were one was up, and one was down, she would get stuck, and no matter how hard she pushed, se could not get the peddles to move. Upon realizing that she was stuck, she would call my name and ask for help. I went over and helped her many times. Each time, it was not hard at all for me to get her moving. It would just take the smallest little shove with my feet, and the peddles would no longer be in the difficult up and down position, and she would be moving. By the end of our visit, she was able to keep herself moving all by herself, and unless she got in a really hard spot, she could start herself again if she stopped. We in a sense are like this 4 year old girl trying to learn how to ride her bike. She needed a good push to get started. We also need a good push. That is a big reason of why our Heavenly Father gives us families. Then at times, if we hit a small dirt patch, or hill, we might not have the strength to keep moving. At these times we need to call upon our heavenly father, and ask for help. Even though for us, things may be impossible, for Our heavenly father, they can be as easy as a little shove with his feet, and were moving again. Now If I wanted, I could have grabbed hold of the handle bars of the little girls bike, and easily pulled her around everywhere, and she would have easily gotten past any hill or dirt patch, but at the end of the day she would not have been any better at riding her bike then when she started. But with her having to struggle past the dirt and hills, and only receiving help when she needed it, she learned a lot. She will keep learning and eventually not need her training wheels any more, and will be able to bike up large dirt hills without struggling too much. We were put here in this life by our heavenly father, and he is teaching us many things. It will be hard at times, and during those times he will help us, and eventually we will all became very capable beings, and eventually gods. We won’t need training wheels for ever.
I love you all.
Elder Finch

From Rebekah January 24 2011

Oh wow! I'm so excited for everyone! For Megan, for Rachel, and for Aubrey. Wow. Heavenly Father just has such incredible plans for everyone.
I'm glad that Hermana McGaughy came to visit! :) That's really nice too, to hear that she looks so great! I love the mission so so much, and I'm really glad I'll have a couple of months to recover before school starts. It's hard on the body, but it's supposed to be. Bishop Burton (the presiding Bishop) came to talk with us as well as President Clark (the area president.) That was a really neat experience. One of the things President Clark said is that we’ve got to wear out the missionaries. That was comforting for my companion and I to hear. We are SO exhausted by the time we come home at night. Every night I pray that Heavenly Father will bless my body to recover from the day and be able to have the strength for another productive day. He does. Someone we keep managing waking up at five, running from appointment to appointment and doing everything we can to progress the work of the Lord here in Calvario.
I like this area a lot. The members are amazing and do lots to help us. We have wonderful investigators, we are teaching families (but I feel like there are a lot more we should be teaching,) and we are really enjoying the mission.
I can’t believe today is my ten month mark. I feel like I just got here yesterday. Wow. At the same time, life at home seems like it never really existed. I can’t even think about it clearly. But the other day I did have a dream that you picked me up from the airport. We were driving home and feeling a little crowded in the van, so I decided to put my suitcase on the roof. We were going down the freeway, and Guatemalan style, I opened the back door, climbed up onto the roof and secured my suitcase just in time for a police officer to see us and pull us over. When I got back in the van Mom said, Honey, “You’re not in Guatemala anymore.” I just said oh and was sad, and we got a ticket. When I woke up, I realized I think I’m going to have a hard time adjusting back to the States, but it’ll be nice to eat healthy food. Yum!
Oh! Good news on that note!!! I found 100% whole wheat crackers!!! Wow, I was so exited. They way good! Just like we’d make at home…and soy, and bran, and whole wheat cookies too. I wished Hermana McGaughy was here to be excited with me! My companion just looked at me like I was a foreigner…but she liked the soy ones. Someone the member here found out the I really just like fruits and veggies and I don’t really like meat. I don’t know how they found out…but it’s been a real blessing! My stomach has been behaving completely normal for 3 weeks. It’s so strange to not have a stomach ache. But I really have learned now how to find the foods I want here. It was hard at first…but now I can find everything I want. I still think I’m going to cry the first time I make whole multi-grain bread.
So Blanca and Joseph (that I mentioned last week) aren’t married. That’s a big block in the road…because he doesn’t want to get married. They love the message and want to keep learning, but that puts them a lot lower on our priority list. They can’t get baptized until they’re married. Blanca really wants to get married. She was crying when we talked about it. They both want to get baptized…but Joseph-not enough.
Whoa! Time’s up!
Love You!
Rebekah

From Daniel January 1st 2011

Last week, I ended up not getting transferred, so I'll probably be here for six more weeks. I like this area a lot, so I'm happy. Yesterday the whole ward was surprised to see me. It was really funny. The work right now is going really well. We found quit a few new investigators last week. Among those, we met two very smart Guatemalans. They're from Guatemala city. I always get excited when I meet Guatemalans. It makes me feel closer to Rebekah. I always dream of finding someone who Rebekah was teaching, but moved her. That would make a really cool story. Enrequeta, and the Careto Family are progressing a lot. You can tell they have changed just by looking at their house. They have pictures of Christ, the first presidency, "The living Christ", and "The Family" on their walls. We use stop by and catch them watching bad movies, but now when we find them watching a movie, they are clean good movies. Enriqueta knows she needs to be baptized, she is just waiting for a confirmation from God, that that’s what she needs to do. I love missionary work so much.
Thank you for all of the great letter's that everyone has been sending me. I love you all so much.
Elder Finch.

A Prayer Answered (Daniel, Jan 17)

Transfers are this wednesday. I am going to my 5th area. I am going to mis this area more than any of my other areas. I love the members here, especially the Careto, and Bushman family. Life is interesting a a missionary, you are put in an area and expected to get to know it, and help it. Then with a three day notice, You leave that area, never expecting to see any street or person from there again untill maby after your mission. Then you go to a place were you have never seen before in your life, working with people you have never met before. The lord works in interesting ways. As much as It may sound hard to go from area to area, I have actually learned to enjoy it, other than saing goodbye.
Yesterday was Stake Conference. Cesar came to the saterday night session, and brought his Athiest friend Scott. They seemed to enjoy it. Elder Zwick of the Seventy was there, and spoke half the time. President and Sister Mckonkie also spoke along with the Tempel President, and the second Councler in the Stake Presidency, President Shirtlift. After the meating, President Mckonkie and President Shirtlift introduced themselves to Cesar, and Scott. It was really cool.
The Careto family came to the Sunday session including Enriqueta. She has not been Baptized yet. She wants to make sure she is not rushing into it. She says she eill be baptized one day, and she knows its something she wants. I jocking told her that by the time my mission was over, I was going to go ovr and make sure she got Baptized. I am going to miss working with the Careto Family so much. They want to move to Utah, so maby they will live close to our hom so I can visit them often.
I had an experience last week that increased my faith in prayer, and that our Hevenly Father really dose give unto us the things whish we need if we ask. Saterday morning, I was sitting dow polishing one pair of my shoos before Breakfest, and I noticed just how beet up they were. The sole has peeled half way off of the right shoe, and the left shoe has a small hole warn all the way through it. The stiching was coming loos on both shoos. Then I decided to look at my other pair of shoes. They were in better condition, but still pritty warn down. I thought it over in my mind and relized that the first pair of shoos would only last to the end of this month, befor the didn't really hold my foot in any more, then the otherone would probably make it to april. I relized that this was a problem. I decided to pray and ask our Hevenly Father to make my shoos last untill the end of my Mission.
Later that night, we went to Stake conference. I sat with Scott on my left side, and a member from a different ward on my right he and his wife both were in their fifties. After the session, they asked me how long I had left. I told them I had a little less than a year, then He said, "I have something for you." He then grabbed my hand, and forced something into my hands, and he said, "go by yourself another pari of shoes to ware out." I thanked him in the kindest way I could, Huged him, shook his wifes hand, and then cought back up to my investigators and companion. (They already started to leave.)
When I check wat he gave me, it was a hundred daller bill. I couldn't believe it. The Lord ALWAYS answers are prayers, not always in the way we expect, but ALWAYS in the way that is best for us. I'm sure that this was also thanks to the prayers of all of you, my family. Today I am going to belk, and mabey Ill try some other stores too, and bying the nicest pair of shoos I can for under 100$.
I know that the Lord watches over his missionarys, and his children. I love you all
Elder Finch.

Faith in Guatemala

Hey family!

I can't believe it's already Monday again. The time is flying by so fast.

Things are going so well. Francisco's baptism went very well. The transformation that the gospel has made in him is amazing. After his confirmation he had so much light in his countance that I almost didn't recognize him. When I first met Fransico he seemed so lost...and now he has such an undertanding of the purpose of like and he looks so much more complete. I am so grateful to have been able to help him come unto Christ.

He brought almost his entire family to his baptism. They aren't members. I am hoping through him, they too will come to know the truth. I am sure they will. I don't know how you could see the miracles this message has working in his like and not want it too. His mom and sister don't live in our area, but where ever they live, I know Heavenly Father has a path prepared for them too.

Fransico's confirmation talked a lot about the temple. I know he is going to love the temple. I am so excited for him to be able to recieve his endowments. The Temple here in Quetzaltenango will be finished before his year mark, so he will take out his endowments here. I feel so blessed to be here during such an exciting time, to be here while a Temple is being constructed. The dedicaction should take place right before I leave, if everything goes as scheduled. They are also preparing to divide the stake this March. The church is just blossiming here in Guatemala. It's an amazing thing to watch.

Do you remember the mold at home that I'm alergic too? We have the same mold in out house. I recognized it as soon as I walked in. It started to make me feel sick and I was a little discouraged because I really like my area and don't want to leave it...and I don't want to be at all sick. I love this work so much and the time is going so fast. I want to be able to focus 100% and dedicate every minute of my time to this marvoulous work. It's such a blessing to be here and the clock is ticking. This morning my throut hurt a lot and my body just felt exhausted. My companion and I decided that it was time to get a preisthood blessing. Dad, the blessing was incredible. I know the priesthood power is real. Through studying the Book of Mormon and finding Christ in the scriptures, my faith has grown so much. I pondered the many miracles Christ preformed and continues to perform and knew that He could heel me. I was praying that the Lord would bless me to now longer be alergic to the mold. In my blessing, I was blessed that my body was purified. The blessing said I would pass through these pains (all of them, the stomach aches, the mold, everything) and that they would never bother me again. The Lord said my body was blessed with stength, more then I've ever had, with a lasting strenght that no illness could weaken me. He then blessed me that my body would be cleansed from every infermity that I have and that they would never bother me again, for the rest of my life. It was an incredbile blessing. I wish I could explain to you how I feel. I can feel the real purifying power of the atonement. I feel and inner calm that I cannot explain. My body feels so relaxed and I know that these problems will pass very quickley and that they will never bother me again. I thought of the woman who touched the Savior's hem and was healed for her faith. I thought of the lepers, the blind, the lame and know that Christ can ad will bless me with a perfect body. I can feel it taking place right now. There is so much power in faith, and our faith grows through studying the Book of Mormon and coming to know Christ and God.

I love this church. I feel so blessed to be here.

I love you all,
Rebekah

Pictures From Guatemala

The Volcano. I love this volcano. You can see it from almost all of the mission. Or at least from all of Xela and San Fransisco El Alto.


The Typical Christmas and New Years dinner. It's mushed potatoes with red pepper, meat, a sauce etc. You wrap it in leaves and boil it. People love them here! I don't really like them much...and we're not supposed to eat them at Christmas time because it makes us all sick...but thought you might like to see the typical meal.
Making cookies and cards for the members for Christmas
It's amazing what you can do with construction papers, scissors, glue and a marker. I'm so grateful to be here on the mission, and among the many things I am learning is how to simplify.

Jan 10, Snow and Investigators in South Carolina

To my surprise, I woke up this morning with 4 inches of snow on the ground. It's all over the roads and everything. We are emailing at the Computer lab at our apartment complex. President sent a message to all the missionary’s telling them not to drive till the snow is melted off the road. It's funny. Pretty much all of South Carolina is shut down.
In our apartment complex, there is a really steep hill you have to drive up to leave. This morning, car after car came to challenge the great hill. The only vehicles that have made it up are those with 4 wheel drive. We have tried to help a few people up, or rather helped them try and give up safely. If we had snow shovels, or rock salt, it would be easy to get cars up, but that doesn’t exist here.
I love the snow, it is so cool. It's surprisingly powdery for South Carolina. It just started to sleet a little, so the snow will probably start getting really heavy and mushy, and then freeze later on.
I wish we had sleds. I miss sledding. Maybe we will look for a cardboard box we can sled down on.
Yesterday, we had 4 investigators at church. (I am in West Columbia SC, West Columbia Ward.) We had Enriqueta and Christina. Then we also had a 19 year old named Cesar, and a Young Guatemalan family we are teaching. The dad was not able to come, and all of their children are under baptismal age. I felt really happy at church. Transfers are coming up, and I kind of have a feeling I'm leaving this area. I'll find out for sure Saturday night, I probably only have one more Sunday here.
A little more about Cesar, He speaks both English and Spanish. His younger sister was baptized about 3 years ago. She has been going to a different church lately. Cesar seams to really have a desire to become a better person. Last week we introduced him to one of the members, who ended up giving Cesar a ride to church. I will probably be out of the area before he gets baptized, but I have seen him progress a lot. The Careto family invited him to go to their house tonight for FHE. We just made a FHE chart for them last week.
The Careto family is getting stronger every day. They are reading their scriptures and praying as a family very night now. Enriqueta might be getting baptized this Saturday. She is completely ready to be baptized, but she doesn’t feel she is ready. We will be working with her a lot this week. I love watching people improve spiritually. It's probably my favorite thing about missionary work.
I got a lot of letters from you guys last week. It made me so happy. I love you all so much, and feel close to you guys, as I am bringing others closer to their Heavenly Father. My companion says hi.
Elder Finch.