Week 49: Just a Long Week that Felt Short

Hey family! 

Well this week was pretty interesting, I will start off with answering dads questions from his email...

Well I haven't coughed off any blood in these past couple of months but I still have a dry cough always, but when that happens I just take my inhalor (I dont know how to spell that). My skin is pretty good. I have gotten a ton of bug bites and this past week they were starting to become infected and so I put my cream on them and they just itch like always. The doctor hasnt told me anything and I dont know whats going on with that. They havent talked about me going home for a while now so I dont think its an option because I am going home in 6 months. I think I can make it! I hope I answered your questions. 

Well this week was a long week. It was a week that I feel like it took forever but as the same time, it went by really fast. 

This week we had our multi zone meeting and it was really great. I learned a lot about my Savior and how we can use his atonement always. Something that I have been thinking about is how we can use the atonement in our own lives personally and it has made me apply it more each time. Also I got to see all of my friends from Coban and all of my old companions. It was pretty great to see my daughter and hna monroy. 

Also this week I became really sick.... With.... 

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease (genus Alphavirus) which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes – including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The name chikungunya originates from a verb in the Kimakonde language, meaning 'to become contorted'. This refers to the 'stooped' appearance of those suffering with joint pain.

Symptoms appear between 4 and 7 days after the patient has been bitten by the infected mosquito and these include:

• High fever (40°C/ 104°F)
• Joint pain (lower back, ankle, knees, wrists or phalanges)
• Joint swelling
• Rash
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Fatigue

(Family, enough details for you guys? ) 

And I had all of those symptoms just not the rash but that normally comes like 5 days after... so I will see if I get it. 

After the zone meeting I just had a lot of pain in my bones and joints that I couldnt even write or walk. It made it really hard to work but I told me compaion to keep me gooding. I sucked it up and we didnt loose a day at all. We might have only taught 3 or 4 lessons but we did the work that was needed. 

Also I had my first english class here in San Jeronimo and it was a huge success. There were 12 students there and all of them because new investigators because they invited us to go to their house to teach them personally. I am so happy to be teaching again. 

Also I have been dying of heat this week. With the fever and everything, it has made it hard to not sweat.... The presidents wife told me that I am loosing a lot of weight and then when I told her that I was sick, she told that its because I am just sweating off all of the weight that I have gained here. 

But that was my week. I cant send pictures because we are in a differnt computer lab and I dont know how this computer works, but I will send you guys a lot next week. 

I love you all and I am so glad that I am out here serving a mission. 

This week I am going to be completting a year here in the mission and I can not believe how fast the time has gone by.... I feel like I have just gotten here! 

I love this work and I love being a missionary! 

HNA. Fuller

Week 48: Week of Thanks

Okay family, 

Thank you for all of the emails with the encouraging messages. You guys are great and I love you all. :) 

This week was a lot better because I talked to my compaion and we came up with a word to help us when we arent getting along and it is pancake... it works pretty well! It was pretty great to have a good week full of walking and planning a baptism! I was so happy that Hermana Telma entered into the waters on Saturday and she was able to be ready to make a promise with the Lord to be baptized. It was great because she was really ready! Maybe thats why my compaion and I got a long so well.. hahaha, thats a joke! 

Also today I was able to play volleyball and it felt so nice!!! And the people were so shocked, they thought that I sucked at all sports, no that is just basketball and soccer, and they were betting for things, it was really funny. Im not that great, its just the the latinos dont know how to play so they were really shocked that I could actually hit the ball with my hands.... it was great. 

Today I was talking to the nurse and she told me that I should get therapy for my ankle after the mission and I dont really want to do it but I can even point my toes without having it hurt and it kills when I am running so maybe I should get therapy after the mission. 

I was so happy to hear that when I get back, that we are going to be taking a trip to go visit spencer and ashley anne. because when you, mom, were sharing the story about Clara and hating the bicking trip made me laugh so hard and made me what to see them. It will be great to be with family again. 

This week I sent a lot of pictures and I hope that you guys liked them! 

I love this gospel and I can feel it changing me for the better. I love my Savior and I love you all! 

Hermana Fuller

Week 47: Week Like Nephi

Okay well I just wanted to tell you guys that this week was really really really really hard for me. I think I cried every single day this week but I just wanted to have this email be about how our Heavenly Father is always there for us. 

This week there have been a lot of problems, the first is that my compaion and I did not get a long very great this week and it made it really hard to work together but some how the work went forward with having this week being the week with my most success that I have had in my mission. And also even in the small moments that my companion and I got along I could feel how much love she actually has for me and she told me that she felt the same. 

The other hard thing is that our baptism date that we had for this weekend fell through and it made me really think about why. And it made me realize that as a companionship we have had a lot of pride that everything was going to be fine and we didnt really do anything to protect the baptism date, like fasting or doing something special for her and so this week we are going to fast to see if our investigator will accept another baptism date. 

Also I got made fun of a lot this week because I am the only American in this zone... and it has been really hard for me. But something that I have learned that the Lord has a plan for me and that he wants me to learn and to grow from this moment. One thing that is really hard for me is that I still cant say my ¨r´s¨ and its hard for me because the latinos make fun of me still and they ask me how long I have been out in the mission and when I tell them they just laugh and they say, that I should have learned more spanish and that I should be able to speak it better but you know, I am still learning. 

But there were some miracles that happened in this week. My companion and I didnt kill each other. hahaha and also I was able to feel so much love today. Every email that I got, I could feel the love that you guys have for me and I am so very greatful for that. 

I testify that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us no matter how we look, what language we speak, if we are popular, smart, or if we are not a member of this church. I am so proud that I have this time to dedicate to my Savior and to be able to have the chance to teach His children here in Guatemala. One thing that I know is that God has a plan for us and that he wants us to keep going and to show our faith in all aspects. I love this church and I love this gospel. What peace it gives to me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that if we study from it each day we can develope a stronger testimony in this gospel. I love my Savior. I love this work. I love my family. I know that my Savior loves me. I say these things in the name of my loving Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Week 46: My New Companion

Well this week I dont have a lot of time to write so here we go! 

This week was pretty great. 

On monday we had out last pday as district and it was pretty great. But it was sad because everyone but me has changes and it was sad. But we enjoyed our time together. 

Tuesday we had changes and it was pretty great but like it was really sad to say goodbye to my companion because we got a long really great, it was sad but you know, we did have a great time together. I got my new companion, her name is Hermana Layva and she is from Peru. Shes 25 and talks realllllly fast. Sometimes I cant understand her but you know, little by little. She has 4 months in the mission and so she is learning a lot and knows a lot. Its great. Our first day we had some great dats and it made me really happy but you know, I am excited to see how we get a long. 

On Thursday I hit 11 months in the mission and it was so great but so weird to think that I am almost there. But I dont like thinking in that because I like the mission too much! We had a lot of sucess today and I hope that it keeps going this way! But I am really excited to see what happens.

This week we put 2 baptism dates and I am so exctied! One is for this saturday and the other is for next week and I am so excited to see what happens! I am just hoping and praying that everything works out. 

We cleaned the old house this week as well with the zone leaders and they were so scared that I laughed really hard but we had a fun time singing hymns and jamming out. It was pretty great. 

We did lots of service as well and it was great to get to know some new members that I never knew were in my area but its great. 

Well that was my week and today I played soccer for the first time after my accident and it felt so good to play again but I was really scared, so I kept it under control. 

I love this gospel and I love seeing miracles everyday! 

Love yyou all! 

Hermana Fuller. 

Week 45:Changes Changes Changes!

Family and Friends! 

Today I was talking to one of my good friends who is going to be going home this change and he told me that I need to enjoy my mission as long as I can so I was talking to him and he told me all of his tips on how to enjoy the mission. 

Tip #1 Every Pday, do something crazy. 

Tip #2 Dont forget to tell your companion that you love her. 

Tip #3 Dont be a flechona... that means someone who is super strick. 

Tip #4 Eat. Eat. And Eat. Enjoy the food while you can, because its not the same in our houses. 

Tip #5 Love your family but love the work more. 

So I thought that I would share that with you guys today. But here is my week. This time all in English hahaha. 

Monday- Today was a really good pday. We went and played some soccer, which is what we always do when we dont have anything else to do. We then ate some pollo or chicken like always. Adn it was great. I got to explain how Football works to someone who knows english but I forgot all of the words and it was really embarrassing... I miss the states now! We had FHE with Hna Hilda. 

Tuesday- We woke up this morning thinking that we were going to change house in the morning but no one came to help us so we did our studies normally and then we got a knock on the door downstairs and it was a member with his son and a sister and then were there to help us move houses. So we had to pack up really fast and we got everything changed to the new house and it was perfect. We started at 12:43 and ended at 4:24 and it was great. We didnt eat breakfast or lunch and so at 5 we went and ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was good but I ate so much! That after I felt really sick! 

Wednesday- Today was really cold. We went to Santa Barbara for district meeting and we all died together. I had 3 sweaters and a blanket and I was still dying. And the church is outside, and so with the wind, it was even worse. It was terrible. We then went to eat and the food is always good. We then had a great lesson with Yerisli and it was perfect. We are going to fast with her this week so that her dad will change his mind and she can be baptized. She is the one that has been reading her Book of Mormon and has a strong testimony in the church. I dont have any fear with the power of fast and I have a lot of faith that everything will work out! I woke up and I had like a small pink eye for half of the day and it was really painful but with the power of prayer, it went away! 

Thursday- Today we went to a members house and we were able to teach his sister and she is great. She has a testimony on the Book of Mormon and everything, she just needs to get her answer to be baptized and she said that she will do it in a heart beat. I hope that everything works out! Oh and today we got told what happened in the house that the ghost is at. this is what happened.... 

That a guy was working with drug lords and he was being followed by someone in the same gang that he was involved with. So the guy hid his family under a bed downstairs and he went and hid upstairs. He got shot in the head twice upstairs, and that is where I saw the shadow of the guy, and he got dragged by his leg down the stairs and so his head hit every single stair, that is why there was blood on the stairs one day. But when he hit the last step to the first floor his eyes were still open and he got dragged past the room where his family was hidden and his wife and daughter saw him and he saw them.... then 3 days later, they found his body about 5 blocks from the house missing a hand, and thats a sign that they were involved with drugs. Crazy right? 

Friday- Today was different because in the morning it was really cold but when we left to work, it was really hot. Today president told us that we dont have changes and I was so excited because I love my companion and she is just so cute, im happy.  :) I really just want to have a baptism! 

Saturday-  In the morning the Hermana Liders came to do studies and it was good but it was awkward. We had a a great lesson with Yerisli and we all cried and she told us that she has the faith sufficent to have the Lord change her dads mind. Then we started our fast and it was so great. She is so perfect and so cute. I love her. But we do have changes.... I am really sad. But I will find out everything tomorrow! 

Sunday- Happy Valentines Day! Today was a good day. We went to church and we had 6 investigators go to church and 2 of them are referals and they want to be baptized and I am so excited to be able to work with them! We finished our fast and we ate everything in the kitchen, and I really mean everything! it was crazy! My companion packed a little and then we worked at night. It was sad to work together for the last time but it was good to be companions.

Well that was my week and it was crazy! I dont like changes but its okay! 

I love you all, have a great week and work hard! 

LOVE YA!

Hermana Fuller

oh and I forgot my camera at home, so I will send you guys more photos next week! 

Week 44: Spanish and English: It's Language Study Time!

Wow, this week felt really long but here I am again, in internet, how crazy time goes by here but so much happens its crazy! Well I have decided that I am going to write some of this letter in spanish and other parts in english, but I will try to explain in it English too. :) 

Lunes- Bueno pues hoy fue un buen dia porque fuimos a la biotopo y eso es un lugar como un montaña pero alli vive quetzales que son bien bonitos. :) Pero iba mucho calor y no sè que paso pero morri alla. Okay well today we went to biotopo its a forrest with the quetzal which is a bird that is the captial bird here. They are really pretty. It was really hot and I dont know what happened but I died. 

Martes- Hoy tuvimos reunión de distrito y fue calidad. Estábamos en Santa Barbara y es muy lejos de San Jeronimo como 45 minutos... Pero hoy recibí un paquete de Hermana Kayla Jenkins y GRACIAS MI AMOR!!!!! Te amo con todo. :) Y pues hoy nuestros investigadores que están progresando no pueden aprender mas de la iglesia porque sus abuelos no quieren... Es muy chafa porque ellos son pilas y saben que la iglesia es verdad y todo pero solo voy a orar para ver que pasa. Okay well today we had district meeting and it was good. We were in Santa Barbara and its really far away like 45 minutes. BUT I got a package from Kayla and thank you love! I love you so much! And also today our investigators that are progressing cant learn any more about the church because their grandpas dont want them to learn more. And it sucks because they know that the church is true and all I can do is pray and see what happens. 

Miércoles- Hoy aprendí mucho de mi compañera. Puchica! y pues hoy fuimos a la nueva casa y era muy shuca pero la dueña va a limpia antes que cambiamos casas. Pero empacamos todo el día y encontré algunas coas de el CCM y fue muy calidad. Today I learned a lot about my companion. Wow! We went to the new house and it was really dirty but the landloard is going to clean it before we move in. But we packed up all day and I found some things from the CCM and it was great. 

Jueves- Hoy fue un día bueno. Tuvimos nuestros entrevistas con presidente Curtiss y fue muy especial porque el me ayudo a entender mas como puedo mejorar y ayudar mis investigadores a progresar. Después tuvimos Noche de Hermanamiento y fue awkward porque un Hermano me dijo que no hablo para nada.... Pero si. :) Today was a good day. We had interviews with president and it was really special because he helped me understand how I can improve and help my investigators progress. After we had a devotional and it was awkward because a brother told me that I dont talk at all..... but yea. :) 

Viernes- Hoy tuvimos reunión de zona y fue muy bonita. :) Presidente Curtiss estaba allá con su esposa y los APs. Y en la reunión y pude sentir el espíritu muy fuerte porque recibí mucho revelación y gracias a Dios que eso paso! Today we had zone meeting and it was very pretty. President Curits was there with is wife and the Assisents. And in the meeting I could feel the spirit strong because I recieved a lot of revelation and thank goodness that it happened! 

Sábado- Hoy fue diferente pero calidad. Fuimos a ducharnos en la nueva casa porque todavía no estamos allá y también porque tiene agua caliente, que rico pero después iba mucho frió. Pero después fuimos a una lección con una hermanita que quiere ser bautizada pero su padre no quiere entonces fuimos para ver que podemos hacer y vamos a ayunar esta semana con ella. Y ella esta estudiando su Libro de Mormon sola y esta en 2 Nefi 14. Que pilas ella. Y Terminamos hoy con tacos gratis. :) Today was different but really cool. We went and showered in the new house because we havent moved yet and the water is hot water, its nice but after it was really cold. But after we went to a lesson with a sister that wants to be baptized but her dad wont let her so we went to see what we could do about it and we are going to fast together with her this week. And she is studying her Book of Mormon by herself and she is in 2 Nephi 14. Shes great. And then we finished the day with free tacos. 

Domingo- Hoy fuimos a la iglesia y fue bueno porque el espíritu fue muy fuerte. Los miembros fueron al templo ayer y todos compartieron sus testimonios sobre el templo y tuvimos 3 investigadores en le iglesia y fue perfecta. :) Hoy iba mucho frió que casi morimos juntas en la calle. Fuimos con Hermana Hilda y ella tenia trabajo....y fue lavando su ropa... casi morí porque iba mucho mucho mucho frió! Pero fue un buen servicio. :) Today we went to church and it was great because the spirit was so strong. The members went the the temple yesterday and they shared their testimonies about the temple and we had 3 investigators at church so it was perfect. But today it was really cold and we almost died in the street because it was cold. We went to Sister Hilda and she had some work for us, we washed her clothes... I almost died because it was so cold. But it was great service. :) 

Well that was my week and I forgot to tell you guys something, this week my companion left the keys in the house so we were locked out... so being the ``bigger one`` I was picke to climb the house to open the upstairs door... so I had to climb the house that was next to us to open our house. Here is how it happened in the photos. :) 

Love you all! Have a great week! 

Hermana Fuller

Week 43: I wrote a lot today!

Familia! Wow, this week a lot has happened and I dont even know if I will be able to have enough time to tell yall everything!

Monday- Today we went to Salama and we watched Sons of Provo and I have fotten how funny that movie is and how much Will looks like Spencer! Its crazy! I also got a package from Aunt Gayle and I love that book that you sent me, it is so sweet. Thank you. thank you. GRACIAS. BANTIOX SHA´ QUE! It is really cute and I cried.. :) 

Tuesday- Today we went and paid that rent for the house and while we were eating we got some great news, WE ARE MOVING HOUSES!!! So the ghost that is in the house will not bother me any more, I am really excited about that! We then went and made some cards for a member because at night we had an activity for a couple that are going to be sealed in the temple and it was so great and the food was even better. It was chicken and jam with mash patatoes and a carrot salad. It was great and very filling. We then visited a member and we were able to teach his sister who isnt a member and she wants to know if this church is true so, we are going to go back next week to see if she got her answer! 

Wednesday- Well today was a very spiritual day for me and I love those days. Today I was very lucky to be able to to hear Elder Quentin L Cook in a conference that was just for our mission. I didnt get to meet him because he was in Peten but I was able to watch him from the tv and it was so great. I learned a lot about how I can improve as a missionary and how I can help my investigators, I loved it. Well something that I learned is that as missionaries is that we need to do 3 things and those 3 things are, 

1-We are the branch and Ward leaders. 

2-We are the message. 

3-We succed when we invite even if the people dont accept. 

That is something that I have put in practice these past couple of days and it has been great to see more progress here in San Jeronimo! Also I loved that he said that its a life long process to become more like Jesus Christ, that each day we need to improve and we need to become more like our Savior. It was great to be able to hear from him. After that we went and taught a lession to our investigators that are progressing; Shaily, Daily, y Olsvaldo and they told us that they know that this church is true and that they want to talk to their parents about being baptized and everything! Well I am just hoping that everything works out! Today I felt so loved from my Heavenly Father and I was able to show him how much I love Him today, it was perfect. 

Thursday- Today we had divisions with the Sister leaders and it was really great. I went to Carcha which was in my district when I was in Chamelco and it was so great but sooooo cold! But the night before I had a dream about the ghost in the house and it felt so real. I felt like he was there in our room and it was so creepy that I woke up crying and I was cold to the bones. I think that it might have actually happened. I am so glad that we are changing houses this week! But during divisions it was a lot of fun. We had a member with us and she was a cute little grandma that thinks its unfair that I was only there for one day. But then I got her to laugh really hard because I really like making songs with some of the town names here and there is a town that is called Chibujbu and I made a song while we were walking in the rain and she was laughing so hard that we had to stop for her to catch her breath. It was great. I am just very greatful to have my companion as my companion, she is perfect for me. 

Friday- We woke up at 4 to travel back to Salama and I was so tired and so sick on the bus that I couldnt sleep... it was sad. But then we had a great lesson with Shaily, Daily, and Olsvaldo and it was great because we invited them to baptism and they accepted!!! It was such a great moment and they want to go to church and everything but the problem is that their parents are really strick and I am just hoping and praying that they will be able to go! I felt the spirit really strong during the lesson and my companion and I taught it really well. It was perfect! 

Saturday- Today was an okay day. We got the keys to the new house so we are going to be making some plans to move houses! I just hope that we do it fast because I cant be in that house anymore! Today we did something was pretty weird. We have a recent convert and we thought that she was home so we walked in her house and we just sat down thinking that she was there but she was in the captial and so we were in her house without her... but the funny thing is that we didnt eat lunch because we had planed lessons during lunch time so we made food in her house and it was so funny! My companion can make some good eggs with hot dogs hahahahaha. I guess that it is funnier for me.... 

Sunday- Well today we went to church and it was great! I dont know what happened but during church I almost passed out so during RS I decided to take a quick little nap and my companion was my soft pillow. We then went to a members house and ate a really weird food that was really easy to make but it was wierd, I will make it when I get home.... You are welcome family! We then packed a little bit and it was good because then we taught lessons and the members and investigators are going to help us move this week and I love them all! 

Well that was my week! A lot of things happened and it was perfect! 

Well I love you all and I hope that you all have a great week and that you take some time to read your scriptures! 

Hermana Fuller