Sept 19

The phases of Hermana Baird and Hermana Compton:
(This is what happens when being with someone for almost 4 months, 24/7.
I promise we love each other haha.)
We start annoying each other..
Then talk about how we can stop annoying each other..
Then we love each other again and are once again best friends.

Today we had such an awesome Zone Activity! We went to a soccer court and we rented these huge balloon ball things. You run full speed into each other and then fall over and just bounce. Its was a ton of fun, and don't worry, no one got hurt! 

This week Hermana Compton and I both completed 1 year on the mission. It was a great day. We bought a piñata from one of our investigators and we burnt our shirts. We also had divisions that day so it was super fun being with the Hermanas from Chiyax!

As I think back on this year, I am so grateful for all that has happened. I have had experiences that are indescribable, companions that are some of the most loving people I have ever met, and above all I have strengthened my testimony and my love for my Savior. I have strengthened my relationship with him and know with out a doubt he is guiding me and protecting me here in Guatemala. I am so grateful for the 6 more months I have to serve the Lord with all of my might, mind, and heart, and help his children come unto him.

August 29

Ofelia and I before church. This litte girl is so special to me! We have been teaching her and her sister for awhile now, but they havent been able to get permission from their parents to get baptized. This week we were able to teach her parents too and it was truly a miracle! We are hoping soon that the whole family will be able to be in church with us. :)

 Ofelia and Salome (one of the kids of the Familia Herrera) being us for a few minutes after church! 

Juanita! This is Ofelia's sister. She ALWAYS uses corte, but I gave her a dress that was too small for me and she wore it to church! It was such a miracle haha. That was the first time I had every seen her wear anything that wasnt typical clothing from Guatemala. 

The rainy season is beginning! Yesterday after church we went out to work and after our first lesson it started down pouring. Sadly, every single lesson that we had planned didnt work out. The people werent home or they were busy. So, we were out knocking on doors for 4 hours in the rain! We actually had so much fun. But we were SOAKED! Everything in my backpack was soaked as well. My scriptures, everything! We had dinner with a family that night and when we showed up, they were all in shock about how soaked we were. They made us change into their clothes because they thought we were going to get sick. Well, lets just say our outfits were very interesting. And that it was a good thing that was our last appointment before we went home! It was a good, fun, wet day! 

August 22

The zone Totonicapán.

Hermana Compton and I's new addiction.. Making s'mores over the stove with nutella.
And we have another whole change (6 weeks) to make them together! 

Saturday we went to an appointment and when we arrived there were a ton of people at the house! We thought ahhh dang it we arent going to have a lesson cuz there is some sort of party. Well, when we put the appointment, they appearently knew, and the told us, "Come in! We have been waiting for you guys!" Well, lets just say, that we are not in a touristic area, so many people are used to seeing white people. We walked in and everyone was just looking at us haha. They were preparing their Tamales for the party (thats what they are doing in the pic), and then all of a sudden they all wanted pictures with us! We became the entertainment very quickly. The family still said that we could share something with them, but we decided it would be better to come back a different day when there wasnt a birthday party. It was a funny experience. The types of clothes that they are using is called corte. In Toto, almost everyone uses it! Its not as common in other places, but here its almost strange if someone doesnt use it! I love it when little kids are using it, sooo cute. So after we took pics with everyone we asked them if we could take pics of them haha.

This week was my comps birthday. With my district leader, we planned a surpise lunch with our district. Well, lets just say that latinos know how to have fun on birthdays! Three of the missionarys in our district are from Honduras, and they have a tradition where the smash eggs on the person´s head whose bday it is. So we blind folded her and smashed eggs on her head haha. Then I felt a little bad so I washed her hair for her haha.