Justyce decided that they needed more space to put clothing away.  She was getting tired of keeping everything in her suitcase because there are no dressers.  So, she bought some put it together yourself furniture.  She said she sure was glad for all those times we bought furniture at IKEA and had to put it together.  Then she signed the back for those who come after her to enjoy!

 

 Hermana Perez sent this batch of photos for us to enjoy.  This sweet sister is so amazing.  She has been a constant teacher and friend to Justyce.  When transfers came, they got to stay together and Justyce was so relieved.  Mom is so grateful for this good sister for Justyce.  She has always wanted sisters:)

 Now we have a picture of Hermana Oliphant enjoying American Food in Mexico.  They found hamburgers and fries.

 Mom is not sure who these people are or where they are.  I only recognize Hemana Perez and Hermana Oliphant.  This story will have to come later.

Here are my cute missionary sisters on a street in San Cristobal.  Photos like this make it seem not so far away and not so foreign.

If letting our children travel all over the world to testify of Christ is what we do, than we must believe in a loving Heavenly Father who will watch out for them and protect them because we have sent those children to serve Him.  It's a good thing that is what Justyce's Mom knows.  She is on the Lord's side and has sent her best daughter to work among those that are ready to hear the gospel in Mexico.  Go Girl!

Dear All,

Well we had a small adventure last night when we returned to our house and realized we didn't have keys!!! Our land lady was gone so we didn't even have the option of her spare key! I climbed along the wall a ways to try to check the window (remember we are on the 2nd floor so it's up high!) But the window was locked ( we are good and safe and keep everything locked up haha). I used one of my bobby pins from my hair to try and pick the lock, which failed. Then Hna Pèrez tried. and failed. And then Hermana`s real criminal skills came out and she used a laminated card to open the door (sliding it in the crack!) I was just glad we didn't have to sleep on the stairs or anything... not that we would have! 

 

 

 

 

 Another small adventure this morning happened when I was showering. I went to dry off my face after my shower and a HUGE GIGANTIC SPIDER was looking me right in the eyes! on my towel!! I HATE SPIDERS!!!!!!!!! I did not have my contacts in and when I shook it onto the floor I could not see it and a few seconds later I felt it crawling on my legs. Guys, I seriously thought I was going to die! I really don`t like bugs or creepy crawly things. But I kicked it onto the ground and smashed it with my flip flop. I am glad we have to wear shoes in the shower, because who knows how many bugs I have stepped on in there!! 

 

 

This week I went on a companion exchange with Hermana Euceda. We visited a family who speak Tzolzan ( not sure how to spell it... its a dialect but not Tzolzil). After our lesson, the Hermana Helped me learn a few phrases. I am not sure how to spell them, but I know how to say "good day", "I am hungry", and "I love you" in that language! and she said my Tzolzan is better than my Español! It is because the way the words are said are closer to English, or German maybe, than Español! It is fun to try new things!

 

 

Speaking of new things, I was asked to speak in sacrament meeting last Sunday!!! All 4 of us hermanas in our ward spoke. I was so scared! but I used google to translate my talk and then Hermana Pèrez helped me make it correct Spanish. I felt so ready, I was speaking on missionary work which is easy! I went up to speak and was asked to only bear testimony. WHAT!!! I floundered at first but finished strong! hahaha The good news is I now have a talk ready for when I am asked to speak in church again ;) 

 

 

An interesting fact that the boys might like, garbage truck day! On Mondays a garbage truck drives down every street. A man runs ahead of the truck and knocks on all the doors. People bring their garbage out to the street and then when the truck passes you throw the garbage in the back. Two hombres (men) stand on the back of the truck to help sort it all out and squish it into the truck. Interesting right?

 

 

 

 

Well that's about all for this week. We eat lunch each Monday with the family Lowe who lived in West Valley, Utah for 10 years. Brother Lowe is from Utah!! So he speaks English!! And they always make more American food. Today we had mashed potatoes and gravy and grilled chicken! and !!!! there is no peanut butter here, so Brother Lowe made me homemade peanut butter!!! Oh my goodness; it was so yummy!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love you all! 

Remember to pray together and read the Book of Mormon together! I am just finishing Alma! 

Hermana Oli

Hermanas Oliphant, Park, and Troxell

Hermanas Perez and Oliphant with Pres. and Sis. Cardeneas

Sometimes the easy choice is to give up, but we are all instructed to never give up and endure through our trials until then end.  I  have been studying the November Ensign from October 2013 General Conference and I liked these quotes from President Uchtdorf's talk, Come, join with us!

  "One of the purposes of the church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith,  even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty."  

"The church is filled with people who DESIRE with all their heart to keep the commandments even if they haven't MASTERED them yet."

"None of us is quite as Christlike as we know we should be."

 

Also, in Elder Bednar's talk The Windows of Heaven, 'he explains how sometimes we ask for certain blessings, and when we don't get exactly what we want and when we wanted it, we get upset or discouraged. But, like it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, our ways are not the Lord's way; when we ask for help the Lord always gives it; we might just need to sometimes take a step back and look for it, but his help is always there.  

I also love the scripture in Alma 26:12 where it says that without the Lord we are nothing, but with Him we can accomplish anything. I love love love that because I know that without the Lord, I would not be able to accomplish anything on this mission. I rely on Him for everything; comfort, peace, help in deciding what to study, help in our companionship in planning who to visit and when and where to go. We are constantly praying and relying fully on the Lord. I wish that I would have realized how much he can help us before my mission! It truly is amazing how much He does for us.  

 In Preach My Gospel, I love the quote from Pres. Monson on pg 120.  Also, I would suggest studying humility and patience. I have been studying those this week and found a lot of help! Also, in the November Ensign from October 2013 General Conference, I am studying this week The Key to Spiritual Protection by President Packer. Join with me in my study? :) 

This week was pretty normal. I didn`t get transferred last Monday which is good! I like my companion and I like our area. We are working hard at contacting lots of people because we need new people to teach. We have a few people who are wanting to be baptized but need to get married first and their 'other' half doesn`t want to get married which causes problems! but we are working with them! One is doing awesome; her testimony is so strong. We are praying for her to find a way to be baptized... meaning softening his heart so they can get married. 

I have been having allergic reactions to something, some of the ward members think it's bugs... I think it might be the milk here so I have stopped drinking milk. Looks like it's water and juice for the next 16 ish months! Our doctor did say that the red bumps on my legs and arms are bugs (I am not sure what) but we have sprayed this stuff in our house and have a lavender candle thing that will supposedly kill them all.. so hopefully the itching will soon stop! 

I love you all! 

I pray for you by name every day.

Until next week!!

Hermana Oliphant

 It is a tradition here that a New Year's doll is created and then burned to celebrate the New Year.  hehe, but before he died we thought we might preach the gospel so he is acceptable in the world of spirits ... hehe

 Justyce was happy to have visitors from the US in church last Sunday.  This sister has a son serving in Peru while she and her family are living in Mexico for her husband's work.  They enjoyed speaking English together.  This sweet sister also emailed Mom and let her know that Justyce looks great and is very happy.  It is nice to have someone else's mother check in on her:)

 Here is Hermana Perez with a package. Yes they do get through. 

 Hermana Perez and Hermana Oliphant with one of their favorite investigators.

I am so amazed at how fast the time has been flying by! Hermana Pérez and I were talking this morning while washing our laundry about how it feels like it was yesterday that was Pday! When we stay busy with trying to find people to teach, we don´t have anytime to worry about other things, only who we will be teaching next! 

I am loving it here. It has been really cold, and the members have said that Enero (January) is one of the coldest months of the year!! wahoo... hahaha It's a good thing I like the cold.

We have been struggling to help our investigators progress. When we think we have people moving forward, we find out something that they are struggling with that sets them back and basically makes us have to start over.

Transfers are today and so far so good! I don´t think Hna Pérez or I will be transferred because she is training me and it's a 12 week training. I hope we don´t change because I love being with her and I am learning so much from her and her example. Ultimately, it's up to the Lord and what he wants and needs from us! That's one thing I have been learning, everything we do here on the mission should only follow what the Lord wants. Sometimes its difficult, but I know the Lord is always right! 

I am loving all the people that we meet. Everyone has different stories,  each only one of MANY that I have. I have been truly humbled to meet and talk with all the people in the various situations here in San Cristobal!!

Well, week 6 is finished here in Mexico! I hope everyone is doing well at home. I am doing well! 

Always remember to pray together and personally and the Lord will bless you!! I have definitely seen the blessings that come from prayer in my life!

Le amo mucho!!!

Hermana Oliphant

Hermana Park and Hermana Oliphant

Happy new year family and friends! I hope that Christmas was as good for you as it was for me! I am loving this work. We have been noticing changes in our investigators and it is awesome! 

 

This is the group of Hermanas on the day Justyce arrived in Tuxtla Gutierrez (Nov 26th).  Her friend, Hermana Park sent it on to her so she could see all the sisters that came together.

Justyce is given many opportunities to sing.  She has been blessed to use music to reach others.  Sometimes, she sings in English.  It's a good thing we sent the hymn book and the children's songbook in Spanish with her.  She also gets to play the piano for many meetings.

Last P-Day Hermana Perez and Hermana Oliphant found a restaurant that serves hamburgers and fries.  Justyce was soooo excited to eat familiar food.  Look at the size of the burgers!

"This mission has been the best choice I have ever made. I will say that over and over again because it is true. I learn so much daily. And I have realized how blessed I am and how wonderful it is that I was able to grow up in the gospel. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for raising us children with the gospel and for helping us know the truth and develop our testimonies. Yo se  que la iglesia es verdadera. se que Josè Smith fue un profeta de Dios y que el restura el evangelio de Jesucristo otra vez. se que gracias a Jesucristo nosotros podemos vivir eternamente con neustro padre celestial y jesucristo y neustros familias. Estoy agradacida por mi salvador, jesucristo y su expiaciòn. Estoy agradecida por mi familia. en el nombre de Jesucristo amen.

Hermana Perez and Hermana Oliphant enjoying a rainy Dec. day.

This is the furniture in Justyce's living room.  

What a clean bedroom!

 That's my girl. . .snapping pictures in the bathroom at the church before a fireside with an area seventy:)

 Mom asked for photos of the streets and the people.

This cow was randomly standing in the street.  This is common to see animals everywhere.  After Justyce took the picture, it turned and started to run at her!

This is one of Justyce's favorite places.

The zone Christmas party.  Justyce is the cute Hermana in the hot pink blouse front and center!

We had our Area Christmas banquet on Thursday with our mission president and his wife. I was at a table with two elders from Arizona and Idaho! They both are over a year into their missions and both of them said that my Spanish is way better than theirs was! They said it took them 2 or 3 months in the field to understand as well as I do! Talk about a confidence booster! And they also said it took them about 5 or 6 months to be comfortable speaking it.. and I am already starting to be comfortable! Hopefully it will keep clicking! We practice grammar every morning as well as reading out loud to help my pronunciation... It really helps to have Hna Perez correct me so I say it right! We also practice lessons together so that I will know how to extend commitments and ask questions! I have also been teaching English to a few people. It's really cool how we can teach English and slip in gospel principles! I have also realized how bad my English is... I don´t even know some of the English grammar principles! hahah

Hermana Perez, the two training Hermanas, and Hermana Oliphant

Hermana Oliphant with her trainer before becoming sick.

Where  are you all at in the Book of Mormon? I was studyng Alma chapter 5 this morning. I love this chapter. read it together for me okay?

Have a very merry Christmas. I will admit, I miss the snow!!! It's more fun when it is cold and there is snow!

Justyce permed her hair today!

Yep, this week has been a fun one! 

So last Monday night a nice member of our bishopric gave me a blessing and even though I did not understand anything, I could feel the power of the priesthood helping me. It was a beautiful blessing and my companion told me that he promised me that as long as I am faithful and obedient, I will have an amazing experience out here on my mission and will find happiness and success. I really felt so wonderful after, and this week was so much smoother and went by so fast!! 

 

We were a little discouraged because none of our investigators were progressing or keeping their commitments. Hna Pérez and I prayed Saturday night and Sunday morning that we would be able to help our investigators and also be able to find new people to teach. Sunday morning one investigator was going to come to church with us, but when we got to her house she said she didn't want to go. We walked away really discouraged and sad. We got to the end of the street and were waiting for the bus when she came running up to us and told us to wait for her!!! The Spirit definitely heard our cry for help and touched her heart! Then when we got to church, another investigator was there with her children!! And when we were singing the sacrament hymn, the family (we are working with) walked in!!!! Miracles do happen!!! I can testify that I have already seen so many!! 

 

Then, at our missionary work training meeting last night with our mission president and Elder Reyes of the 70, I was able to understand most of what was said!! It made me so incredibly happy!! Another miracle! 

 

Afterwards, we took a taxi and I thought that we were going to our apartment to teach ´mama´ (she treats us like her children!! she really is our apartment land lady) who lives down stairs, but we got out of the taxi in a different neighborhood. I was confused but then a lady started calling to us asking if we were Christians! She was really freaking out and saying something about her son. We went with her to her house and inside was her son and her friend (a lady). Her son was bleeding and there was bloody tissues on the floor from trying to stop the bleeding. (her son is 25). He was completely drunk and had been hurting himself. We sang a hymn.  Finally we got him to sit in a chair across from us and Hna Perez started talking to him about how much he is loved and really trying to get the mother to stop freaking out. Then he went crazy.. not violent, but like shaking and I am not sure what happened. But he had drunk way too much and who knows if he had drugs in him or not... but it was really scary. He passed out and we got him to the couch. Long story short, we had to find someone who had a phone we could use (we asked an investigator who lived close by) and we called the ambulance. They came and we left the house and stood in the rain with his mother because she was making the situation worse with her freaking out. We helped her calm down and the end of the story is that the police ended up needing to be called, but we had curfew and had to leave before the police came. It was definitely something that I will always remember, though, because of how intense it was! 

 

The smell of alcohol is everywhere here. I am used to it. That and the other... bad... smells that I smell every day! It took me forever to get used to it but I am finally over how ... hmm... different, it smells here. 

On the 12th was some holiday, I think it was about  mother Mary? but there was so many parades and fireworks and partying and dancing. We just worked as normal! There are fireworks that go off like every day. At first it scared me because I always thought that it was gunshots!! But no, it's just fireworks! They aren't the pretty ones though, just the big booming ones, ya know the ones that are small bursts of light and really loud? yep, those ones!

 

And the food! I can´t be picky, so when people asked what I like, I just say anything because everything is so different here. But I do love tamales and tortillas.. I eat way too much bread too.. probably gonna come  home a marshmallow! hahaha, oh, marshmallows are called bon bons! 

Well I don´t have anymore time.

I love you all!!

Hermana Oliphant