Baptisms on Saturday

Fried chicken & the last of the Chick Fil A sauce.  A little bit of home. . .Thanks, Beck!

 

                                                                                            

My first time eating a Mango pina.

Bautismo por los elderes! la famila Ballinas son muy buenas!!!!!! (elder cavasos y elder caldwell)

I miss high heels!

I tied my hair in a knot but it works!

Guess what is in the Nesquik bag?

A DEAD quija !

We found an Office Max

Tire swings!

On the way to meet with the Mission Pres. today, we found this tire swing.  Of course, we had to stop and try it out!

By the Tuxtla Temple with Hma Rodriguez

I got my nails done!

 Literally NO ONE was in the streets on Friday. No stores were open. It's the Catholic holiday (Viernes Santo, I think is the name). But yeah no one was in the streets and the people who were out were all drunk... yup fun times.

Hermanas Oliphant and Favia on Companion Splits

This would be how we washed our clothes today. It's our broom handle and the top of a soda bottle. It's like a hand made washing machine! hahahahahaha Hey it's better than washing by hand!

Hola,

Hermanas in my area

 I got the Easter package but sadly I don't know when Easter is... was is yesterday? haha oops

I am so thankful for my trials. I have a lot. I have been studyng about trials and how to overcome them in the scriptures. I love how  each person deals with their trials in different ways. I am currently reading in Ether about the brother of Jared and how he had to come up with a way to light the barges. It is interesting to read the stories I have always known again but this time in Spanish! I don't  understand 100% but I see the stories in a different way. I love the book of Mormon. Its soooooooooo wonderful! It was definitely written just for us in this time!!! I have also studied a lot about patience, again. I love the scripture in Alma 17 where it talks about how if we are patient in our afflictions the Lord will make us an instrument in his hands. I love it because 1. I love instruments (harp, piano, hahaha) and 2. because I am a missionary now and trying to do the work of the Lord and do all that the Lord is asking of me. But if we are patient and accept the Lord's timing, anything can happen! I am working on accepting the Lords timing. We had a lot of really good investigators. They were reading and praying and kept saying they would get work off to make it to church. I really felt like we were finally going to see success in this area! But one by one, we have had to stop visiting most of them. One, had a really scary problem and then left her house and we don't know where she went, Last Sunday we visited her with Obispo Ruiz and his family and everything seemed fine! We had an appointment to go back Tuesday but Monday night felt like we should go see her. A hermana in our ward and her son were with this investigator and she was SOOO drunk. She said she could see Devils, people in her house, in her trees, their eyes, that they had stolen her keys. All kinds of weird things. So a few members of the ward came and the Elders and they blessed her house and we said a prayer and sang her a song and then left because she had calmed down a little. But we went to eat lunch with our ward member friend the next day and she said that the hermana had left in the middle of the night, It's a weird situation because she doesn't have any close friends or family and doesn't have any money. We pray for her, but don't know what happened. It's really sad because her problem with alcohol has taken over her life. :( Another 2 investigators we had to stop visiting because after visiting them for 2 weeks they both asked me out on a date.... soooooo  We think it's best that we don't go back because they weren't interested in the Gospel... we gave their number and address to the elders so they can maybe go and visit them though!

Well that's all for today! We are headed to downtown to get some shopping done and then hopefully will have time to just relax today! Oh, and we don't have lunch with anyone today so we are going to buy some fried chicken and use up the Chick Fil A sauce that Becky sent me!

I love you all remember, Decisions determine DESTINY (Thomas S Monson)

Hermana Oliphant

p.s. I have been out for 6 months this Wednesday! and yesterday, the 13th, marks ONE year until I go home. This is seriously going soooo fast!!!!

Letters from home!

Hola Familia y amigos!

Wow! We really had a good week! We taught many lessons everyday (in total 33 for the week!!) and ended the week with people progressing and keeping their commitments! One investigator has now gone one whole week with no alcohol which is AWESOME! She received a blessing on Friday from the Elders to help her stay strong and not relapse. So far so good. She is also reading el Libro de Mormón everyday and studies her pamphlets of the lessons thoroughly. We have only been visiting her for 2 weeks but, oh my gosh, her life has turned around! She is so much happier now and has even gone to a Relief Society meeting and made some friends in the ward. We went on Tuesday and helped her clean her house, her bathroom kitchen, walls, floor. Everything! It's really a big change for the better!

We have 3 investigators that we teach at their work in a tortillaria. Well 2 of them work there, and the other one, across the street in a construction site.  One has a baptism date and has been reading el Libro de Mormón. It's exciting to teach them because the tortillaria is next to a Christian church. It always makes Hermana Rodriguez and I giggle when the members of that church give us funny looks, or glare at us.

We have been receiving so much help and support from the members of the ward! One hermana helps us with her neighbor, visits her neighbor daily to check up on her, and is just such a great help! Another hermano drove all of us to conference on Saturday morning and is always willing to come with us or the elders to our appointments. Hermana Mauricio just got home from his mission to Costa Rica about 2 months ago!

That's our fun bishop in the background!

I was a little upset on Sunday because we had 6 people committed to come to conference with us, and not one single person could go. I really didn't understand why people always make excuses as to why they can't go and it really made me sad! But we are still working hard! We have a quote on our wall that says : Faith + obedience + diligence = Miracles! We are really putting that to work by being obedient with every part of our missions; the time we get up, the times that we are studying, leaving the house on time to go to work, and making sure we are always home on time. We are starting to see those miracles in our investigators and the people we are finding to teach! I am excited for this week because we have a lot of new people to start teaching. I love this work. I love the excitement it brings to us when we find new people who are just searching for the truth, searching for God in their lives, and then here we are all ´hey look! We have what you want!!´ I love love LOVE this work!

I had a really good week with my health too. I had a good week with my Spanish! Yeah, I am not perfect in my language skills but I am starting to see the improvement! And Our new district leader, Elder Beardsley said that it has improved a lot! (He was in my zone when I was in San Cristobal!!!). I love how much support we receive from the members, our leaders and especially from you all at home! I love reading your updates!

I am so happy to be here! Even when the days are long, even when my feet hurt, even when I am just so tired! I love it! I love it because I know that it's true. I know that Jesus is my Savior. I know that God is my Father in Heaven and that he loves ME! I know that he loves YOU! I know that Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God and I am so glad that we had the opportunity to listen to him and his apostles!

Thank you all for your prayers. Know that I pray for all of you!! ç

Con MUCHO Amor,
Hermana Oliphant

Recent converts in our ward.

Hermana Oliphant

¿como están? Espero que ustedes hayan tenido una buena semana! Yo aprendí muchas coses. una de esos es la importancia de ser exactamente obediente. Siempre estuve enfermo, mi estomago, mi piernas, mi cabeza, mi cuerpo, todo! Siempre culpe el sol, el agua, la comida, etc. Pero me di cuenta que los días que ira obediente con exactitud no me enfermaba. Entonces, es muy importante ser obediente! Si, es difícil levantarme temprano o dormir a tiempo, pero es posible. Y es necesario ser obediente en nuestras propias vidas. Disfruto esta obra. Recibe sus cartas de las fechas de 12 y 19 de Febrero y también 3 de marzo. También una de Della (12 de Febrero)  y Hannah Avery! OH la dirección do la oficinas de mi misión es Fracc. Los laureles. not Pracc... te hehehe just FYI!

Estoy muy agradecida por la apoyo de mis amigos y mi familia. Muchas gracias! 

The missionaries in our Ward!

 

This transfer has been rough to find and teach people. We do a ton of walking and lots of our appointments fall through, but we keep going. Hermana Rodriguez and I were the first Sister Missionaries to work in this ward in over 12 years and we opened the area. Well, the elders had the whole ward and then they split it with us. So, it's a new area, but other missionaries had been working here. We have been working a ton with the members, active in the church and not active. We have taught many lessons to them and also to their friends. We have a few noches de hogar (FHE) each week in the homes of different members. 

 

Usually they have a non member friend with them, which is awesome! It's fun to watch the members having fun sharing the gospel with their loved ones and friends.  A member of the Relief Society presidency introduced us to her vecina (neighbour) last week. She is progressing so well! Each time we go to visit her she has read what we asked her to and is ready with her questions and wanting to learn more. She lives alone and has a lot of family problems (with her 2 children especially). She also is an alcoholic. But she wants to stop and knows that we can help her by helping her live the gospel. Christ can help her accomplish anything! 

 

 

I am so grateful that I get to be in this area for at least 6 more weeks! Hermana Rodriguez and I get to stay together! Yay!! I am so thankful for her. I am thankful for the members in this ward. I am thankful for my leaders. I am thankful for all of you! 

Mike Wisouski Breakfast my hermana made for me!

Thank you for your emails. I printed them and they really helped me. I am doing well. My body is finally getting better. I drink electrolites everyday, they are so SOOOO nasty. They are flat and make me gag, but the doctor said they will help. I also exercise each morning and night now. So its helping with the stress and everything.

Hermana Kelsi Wilson took violin with Ammon!

I wasn't able to go to the Women's Conference, and we can only go to the sessions this weekend if we have investigators to come with us. I really hope people keep their promises and are able to come! I am excited to watch it and see how much I can really understand from the Spanish. I will at least feel the messages through the spirit. 

Thank you all for everything. I love you.

Fellow missionary from South Jordan!

Justyce is getting better at braiding her own hair!

Pizza!!?? in Mexico!???

I can't believe how fast the time is flying by! Each day brings new adventures, new challenges, new trials and new experiences. Today we went to the mercado (downtown area... lots of people and shops and it's kinda crazy!!). Hermana Rodriguez and I wanted to find new clothes. I bought a cute dress and a new skirt! I will take pictures when I wear them and send them next week!
Speaking of next week, its already transfers again! Next Monday we will find out if we stay here together, or if one of us is leaving. I have really gotten so close to my cute companion and will be so sad to leave her! And this ward. I absolutely LOVE working with the members here in our ward Jardines!! They are always so willing to come with us to appointments and if our appointments fall through, they bring us to their friends and family so we can teach them. Just yesterday, Domingo, we taught 4 new investigators because the members asked us to come teach their friends. It was such a good day! And tonight we have 3 lessons lined up with new investigators also. It should be a good evening!

A few scriptures I loved from my study this week.

3 Nefi 22:14 (live rightously and don't worry!!)

3 Nefi 27(KEEP A JOURNAL!!!)

Also--I went on companion exchanges this week with Hermana Guzman. She is so awesome! I have a surprise friend that I saw too... but at this internet place we don't have a way to upload pictures... so you're gonna have to wait to know who my surprise is! Lo ciento!!! jajajaja

I really love you all so much! I have learned so much about being OBEDIENT and DILIGENT while I have been here. I have so much more to learn also.

I invite you to study and learn with me! I am working on studying 3 Nefi right now, about how Christ taught when He came to the Americas! (ps I think its sooo cool reading the Book of Mormon because it was sorta written where I am at!!!! kind of...)

te amo mi familia!

Con MUCHO amor

Hermana Oliphant
ps.  Do you have a picture of me and Daddy on or around my baptism?  I am hoping, maybe, one in the church.  It's to show the investigators what it's like a little . . .  I sure am happy to be here!

Hermana Oliphant and her Daddy.

This week was good. We have been working with the less active members and were soooooo happy when we had some of them come to church this week. One whole family came and other--just some of them--but little by little we are finally seeing people change.

My Companerita sang to me to celebrate 5 months!

I love working in this ward because the bishop is SO active in the obra misional. He texts us and calls us to check on how our lessons are and to make sure we have people to feed us and to make sure everything is good. Part of it is because there haven't been sister missionaries in this ward for 12 years!!! Yes, years not months!!!

What a neat experience it is to be here in this work. It's hard--but I love it. It's hot but we get to go home and have air conditioning and a cold shower!!

I know it's true. I know this is where I need to be. 

Please share my love. 

 

PS I have a surprise!!!!!  I got my hair done today!! The mission leader's sister colored it for me.  My roots are so blonde that my hair was looking green!  It's good to be back!!!!!

 

Getting my hair colored!

RUBIO!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We eat a lot of fruit. Bananas and oranges and tangerines and others that I don't know the names... papaya, and yes mangoes. Sadly, I think I am allergic... so I don't eat them as much. My companion loves that I don't eat them 'cause she eats mine!

This sister colored my hair today!

Playing with fire in our house!

For breakfasts I eat yogurt and granola and an apple or banana; sometimes oatmeal and sometimes eggs--nothing special. My companion has cereal, usually, but I stay away from the milk here if I can because it makes me sick.. :( 

How goes The Living Christ? Memorizing is so hard for me. haha I am still working on D&C 4... he aqui una obra maravillosa esta a punto....ya da dada da

Singing always makes me think of Dad.  We copied some music from our zone leaders to listen to in the mornings and at night. One of the singers sounds like Dad and it made me cry the first time I heard that song. I love it. He sings "Come Thou Fount"!!

I am so happy to hear that Dad was able to practice his Spanish with those guys at work.

Thank you for being the best Daddy I could ask for. I miss you so much. I am truly grateful to have a Papa like you!!!!!
te amo para siempre!

Justicia

aka 

Hermana Oliphant

aka

tu princesa

 

 

About you letters....YES!!!! I got a whole bunch of them this last Wednesday!!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!! It was sooooo nice to read you hand written letters!! Also, I received a letter from Mom Mom for Christmas!!!! And a Christmas card from Shannon,and from sweet Della!!!!!!!!!! And a package from Becky Pickle! Please tell them all thank you so much as I can't do it personally for all of them! OH and Ashley from CFA too!!!! It was so nice to hear from them all! and I now have CFA sauce in Mexico!!!! te hehehe I am going to cook my companion chicken this week!!! yummy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now to answer a few questions from Dad:  We drink aguas of all different kinds. YES I have tried Polzol in blanco y caco. I will be honest, I like blanco mejor!!! YUM! It was so weird the first few times I drank it because it was caco and I thought that it was dirt--you literally chew your drink. It was kinda hard to get used to but then when my companion explained that it was not dirt, I actually kinda like it now. There's another one, I don't remember the name.... tascalate I think. But that one really  tastes like dirt to me; but people serve it, so I drink it! Other aguas are really delicioso!!! Como Piña y mango y otros fruitas!!! que rico!!!! 

 

Our bishop has a washing machine and he lets us  come and use it each week. So I haven't had to wash by hand! Seriously, it is such a blessing to just let electricity do all the work!!! And I feel like the clothes get cleaner too..... He is our neighbor and so we are always at his house; for food or meetings or whatever. I LOVE the leaders in our bario, Jardines. They are all so willing to work right along side us. Last night after our meeting with the mission leader, he came with Hna Rodriguez and I to our appointment. It is SOOO nice when we can have a member come with us.  Their added testimonies help so much and bring a different spirit and also provide the friendship needed for the investigators! 

Look, Mom!  It's Clean!

I sure miss the temple, it is our wards turn to clean the Tuxtla temple this week and they signed people up on Sunday. I was jumping out of my seat because I wanted to go, but my work is in other areas for now. How amazing that my momma gets to work in and be in the House of the Lord EVERY single night!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Well I have to go. This week has been really good, other than the fact that I went to the Dr friday night... but that's a story for another day. I am fine:  just having problems with the heat--we think. Thank you for everything you do! :)

Hermana Rodriguez

I love you all!!!

Hermana Oliphant

 

PS 5 months in the mission this Sunday!!!!!!

Being silly!!!!