Well, Hello There

So this week was crazy just like every week. I have the crazy story. Don’t judge me for what happen in this story my companion and I didn’t have much time to think and so this is what happened. So drinking is a huge problem here. Drinking has destroyed so many people’s life and brains. Seriously some people are nearly impossible to talk to because the alcohol has ruined their brain. Anyways one reference is from one of our members and is basically the town drunk. She is always drunk and we always try to give a spiritual filled lesson and then ask her not to drink for 24 hours. But she is usually a little bit drunk when we teach her so it’s a little hard, but when she isn’t drunk she won’t talk to us. So on Tuesday we told her not to drink for 24 hours and we will return the next day to see how it she is doing. And she agreed to it. Later that day we were talking to a member who lives down the street from her. And we saw her and knew exactly what she was up to. Yup go buy some alcohol. We tried to get her to go back to her house but she wouldn’t, so we walked all the way with her to the liquor store. Thinking she wouldn’t buy it with us there. We asked her, “what about your husband?” (He died and she just wants to be with him again, but she has four children that aren’t super young) anyways so we told her, “do you want to live with your husband again?” You are better than this. You are better than a liquid. But she bought it anyways. So we walked back with her. And she had it in a bag and filled a water bottle with the alcohol. She bought some bread for her family and she was carrying her shopping bags. My companion said can I help you with your bags. And so she gave my companion all the bags including the one with alcohol. We couldn’t believe it. And the whole way back we were praying for the opportunity to get the alcohol away from her. Anyways we entered the house and my companion was like…I need air and left the house with the alcohol. I followed and then we ran for it. The lady was in another room so she didn’t see us leave. We booked it to the church building because I had classes de English. We dumped out the alcohol. The church has a giant gate and the front of it was locked, but the back of the building wasn’t. So we turned to go to the front gate and she was there. Man…did she book it. We put my water in place of the alcohol. My companion and I walked towards her and acted like normal. Then my companion said, “Here is your bottle, I forgot to leave it”. She took it and left, but at the last moment decided to smell what was in it and found it was water. Man…she was mad. At first I was a little stressed about what happened with her, but it was really hilarious the next day. My companion asked, did we break a mission rule? And I said, not that I know of. But then I asked, did we break a law? and she said nope in Guatemala its fine. (hahaha) Anyways we do crazy things to try to better the life of people. Don’t judge. Just laugh. Laugh with me. (We did give her the money it cost for her to buy the alcohol) 

So Halloween here is nothing like Halloween in the U.S. but they have the serenata. And it’s in our area so we passed by SUPER fast and it’s so awesome. There was marimba, singing and dancing and everyone who lived in HueHue was there. It was awesome. And then throughout the whole night bands walked around serenating girlfriends and wives. I didn’t hear anything during the night but it’s for the whole night. But it was cool and the first of November is dia de muertos or day of the dead. Nobody was out this day. Everyone is at the cemetery. Everything was closed. It was crazy and definitely not the best day for teaching but it turned out to be a pretty good day. 

Oh yeah, Halloween we ran into Atonia and Jesus, the awesome investigators from heaven. We talked to them for quite some time. They aren’t originally from HueHue and Spanish isn’t their original language. They learned Spanish when they were little but it’s not their first language. And they spoke it for us. It’s some Mayan dialect I think. I don’t remember what it was called. The spirit was so strong, just talking to them about regular stuff. I felt like I was talking to the descendants of Nephi. It was so awesome. 

You also know you are in an interesting country when during the middle of the lesson your companion tells you lift your foot to find you find a small cockroach underneath your foot. Your companion smashes, it but not hard enough and later its running in the middle of the room towards your pictures of the plan of salvation and then the little boy of the family smashes it and everyone is happy, then the little boys does a little laugh of victory. 

I also learned that lice are black here. Don’t worry I don’t have lice but I learned that because I caught a bug on me and drowned it before lunch at a members house. And we all were discussing what it was. Catching fleas and collecting them is kind of a hobby for me and my companion. I haven’t been eaten alive like usual and haven’t had too many flea bites recently. I think my blood is more chapina (Guatemalan) than American. 

Yesterday we had a reunion with all of the Hermana’s and the sister missionaries that are the leaders of the zone of sisters. It was really good and really spiritually uplifting and we learned a lot. I felt the spirit so strongly. Some of the sisters shared this awesome story about Jesus and the spirit was so so so strong. Also we had a meeting with all the leadership of the different groups in the church. Don’t remember what it called in English. And the stake president was there. He is an awesome dude. I’m kind of scared of him but I always learn so much. And he said this shouldn’t be about the activities we have. This is about the people we have. How we can get the inactive active? Who needs our help? Who needs a calling? How can we help the converts and the people investigating the church? It was so awesome. 

Also on the 1st and 2nd of the month of November everyone eats fiambre. It’s like a bunch of vegetables and random meat and cheese and beans it’s really good it’s a huge tradition here. 

Changes are next week. I don’t know what is going to happen but Heavenly Father knows how I feel and what I need. Also the changes are going to be weird so we will see what happens. Because they are on the 12th of Nov and again on the 10th of December so for four weeks. And then for 8 weeks in December. But I just am putting my total faith in the lord that he will put me and who we will put me with and when. Thanks for all of your prayers. I don’t know what I would do without all your help. You all are the best. Have a wonderful week. Pictures soon to follow some more from last week and from today. 
con amor, 
Hermana Anderson