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