September 26, 2016

Weelll....

This week has been really great. We had our focus this week again and always on being obedient with exactness and especially making our study time sacred. We have seen the hand of the Lord throughout this week. 

- the craziest Family Home Evening I have ever been to. 

The picture pretty much says it all here

First, we had a baptism! It was the daughter of the family that we married a couple months ago and it was great! The whole branch helped out and even though it rained really hard that day we had a great turn out. But the funniest part was the baptism itself. I really will just have to tell that story when I see you all but I think Emily is the only person in the world who would not like to get baptized twice. The best part was that her dad prepared himself and was able to baptize his daughter! Full circle!

Well my favorite experience this week has been with the Familia Celis. We had a reference for this family from the branch that there were a less active family for 7 or 8 years. Their son now has 15 years and is not a member but he started going to seminary. The first time I went to the house, I am not joking, the mom opened the door and slammed it in my face! She was so scary and did not want anything. We visited to visit her son but she did not want anything! It was like that for a couple months and we were about to give up but then we were able to go to where she sells food, buy some juanes (so yummy) and talk for a little bit. We started to have a little more trust with her and her husband until one day they accompanied us in a lesson! And then another lesson! And then the husband started reading the Book of Mormon with his son! And this Sunday, after four months from the day when that sister slammed the door in my face, they went to church! I can not even explain the joy that I felt to see them there. It was probably one of the most beautiful experiences that I have had. But what even more filled me with joy is when the husband in the church told me ¨I´m not going anywhere. From here I´m not going to lose myself again¨ It was incredible. The sister said she and her husband had to go to church before I left because of all the time that we have spent together. It was the most beautiful parting gift! The whole branch went and hugged them and sat with them. They were like celebrities and their son Carlos was so happy to be at church with his family. It was great. Just a great day.

We also found a family that are deaf and mute. Interesting teaching techniques but I am learning that the true teacher is the spirit. 

We have a fun P day with sisters today in our house! And we went to the waterfalls again last week with the zone. Good times. We always go in a car and sometimes I forget what it is like to be in a car. 

- Ahuashiayacu (in quechua yacu is water. Fun fact! quechua is a native dialect here) 

Have faith and be kind!

Hermana Fitzpatrick

September 12, 2016

Well family it´s that time of week again. It´s been an interesting week this week. 

First of all, weather. We had some heat with some cold snaps in the night. In Iquitos I just slept with a fan, no blankets or anything. Here, I have to actually use blankets at night! And during planning it is cold! 

In other news we had an earthquake this week! I woke up because I don´t remember why and was laying there wondering when the alarm was going to go off and then the room started shaking. I thought ¨Is this an earthquake? Or am I still dreaming?¨ Then I saw the light go on in the hallway of other people in the building that woke up so I knew it was for real. It was super small but we still got messages from some people asking if we were ok or not. In the talks on Sunday, one Hermano said that the earthquake was really cool and he thought it might be the beginning of the second coming. Not sure on that one haha

Learned a lot about humility this week. I think the hardest thing to fight within each one of us is pride. I really liked the article in the back of the Liahona this month about pride and how we don´t even realize how many things are pride in our lives and sin in ignorance. Pride really is the underlying sin in a lot of other sins that we commit. My companion and I are really trying to be more humble. 

We had a great lesson this week with Alan and Dayana. We went to their house at the beginning of the week and we had planned to teach something but as we started talking we felt impressed to share a little about our lives as missionaries and how we have learned to have successful companionships. I think having a companion is what humbles you more than anything! It was one of the most frustrating things at the beginning of my mission - to always have to check things by the other person, to not just be able to do what you want! i.e. Pride! But, I have really grown to love having a companion. When you want to make them happy and you are more focused on that than yourself then you both are happy. It´s such an easy trick. I love having someone to protect me, to highlight the good in me and help me carve out the bad. Someone to comfort me when I am sad and help me to reach my potential. It really is divine. We were able to share all of that with Alan and Dayana and we felt the Spirit so strongly and we weren´t really sure why we shared that with them. But then during our following visit they told us they had been having some difficulties in their relationship and our lesson had really helped them. I know the Spirit guides us through small and simple means and that every person is a beloved child of God and that he really is in the details of our lives. 

We also had a little cold this week but nothing serious so the work continues!

Also, as I mentioned before our branch council always has refreshments. At first it was just little sandwiches and some soda here or there. But lately they have really stepped up their game and are giving us full plates of food! They bring pots and everything. I think every week they are trying to outdo the others. 

- cooking up a storm

- Hermana Fitzpatrick-parrillada!! we had a whole slew of meat on that guy. Mine was the enormous chicken leg (shout out to Hna. Erika for being the best pensionista) 

 - eating a granadilla, my favorite fruit

Love you all lots! 

September 5, 2016

Well,

-walking in the middle of the street as usual 

 - double rainbow and the first full arch rainbow I have seen!

I´m honestly pretty much out of things to say about Tarapoto. It´s beautiful, it´s hot and my companion is awesome. We are striving to be completely obedient always and it is so true that miracles come from that. As far as studies go Mom we have a schedule that we try to follow for our companionship study:

1.start with a prayer

2.read 3 pages of the mission manual

3.repeat the mission culture and the 8 fundamental principles

4.watch a video from the District

5.share what we learned in personal study

6.make lesson plans for the day

7.do some practices

8.get ready to leave and head out 10 min before the hour

Sometimes it´s a race to fit it all in but I really enjoy companionship study because when we prepare beforehand the lessons go so much smoother and we are able to really get to the bottom of people´s questions and doubts. In my personal study I read the Book of Mormon, and I am trying to read the Bible too, study Preach my Gospel and then study other topics of interest. When we have some downtime here or there I like to read the Liahonas. I have really grown to love the words of the living prophets.

- my branch president and the elders in the branch

-some of my latin loves here

- our mission leader jajaja Roldan 

We have been on the search for paneton because I miss it and it is really yummy but it won´t be here until October for Christmas season :( we will just have to wait.

- a jungle hot dog! It´s a grilled banana and they fill it with peanuts, cheese, or fried pork. Yum yum! I like it with peanuts and it only costs one sol! A bargain. Literally sold on ever corner

- our ward council always has refreshments and they brought ají de gallina! my favorite! 

 I also tried cow intestine this week. Not bad but not my favorite. It´s called cau cau.

- meeting a turkey! 

- little turkey

 Still super hot and miserable but we asked for hats so we will see :)

Love the gospel. Love the Lord. Know this is His work. He heals us when we are sick and lifts us when weak. I know it.

Hermana Fitzpatrick