SHORTY January 26, 2015 Saltillo

I don't really have time to write but I just wanted to send a few words and a couple of pictures. We had two baptisms!! Goodness these people are amazing. Practically their whole family didn't support them in their baptisms but they stood up for themselves and went through with it anyway. I love them to death. 

I realized the other day that I'm halfway fluent in Spanish. After almost four months? That's a long time in missionary time. But I'm grateful for what I know.

I'm a tortilla snob. I never knew that existed, but it does. If they're too thick I can't pick up food with them and if they're not hot I'm annoyed. I'm going to be one of THHOOSSSEEE missionaries. 

We're pretty certain that my companion is going to be transfered in Feb. The president practically told us, so yeah. But I'm not worried anymore, I can make it on my own without her! Hopefully my next companion will cook as well as her. :D And hopefully I won't blow our area up if I stay here............

It's cold and wet here, but I know have the art of dressing warmly down, so I'm all good. It's all about the layering, ya know?

I hope all of you are well and warm! 

The first picture is of Hna. Martha and her daughter, Yudith. The second picture is of her husband and her son (who loves me). She has another daughter but she is pro at avoiding pictures. 

Have a great week!

--

Hermana Murset

One and All (January 19, 2015)

On the way to the internet cafe we were stopped by the police. They asked if we had a Bible. We didn't and they went on their way. We counted them as contacts so it's all good. 

Hey guess what we have this week..... BAPTISMS. Yeah. You heard it. Hermana Martha and her two daughters, Dariela and Yudith. Actually we don't know if Dariela is going to be baptized because she is being flaky about it, but we'll see. Hermana Martha is the one who prayed that her husband would be taken away if he prevented her from living the gospel. Well we went to go teach her and we just KNEW that she couldn't wait for her husband to want to be baptized because let's face it, he wasn't progressing. So we asked her if she had been thinking about baptism and she started crying and said that she was going to take the step without her husband because she knows that she needs the gospel in her life and in her home. She is amazing. Goodness I love that family. So yeah, be ready for PICTAS. 

I'm trying to think of awesome things that happened this past week................................... Yeah, this week has been pretty normal. Oh just kidding, I thought of something. The guy that was playing the guitar on the bus? We're teaching him now. Heh. Miracles really do happen.

Hna. Peñaranda is amazed at how fast I'm getting the language down. Well that's great except I still can't understand what people are saying. Odd, right? You'd think it would be the other way around. I guess that's my trial. She's most likely going to be transfered in Febrero (I can't remember how to spell it in English...) because she's been in this area for 6 months. NO. She tells me jokingly that I'm going to train someone right after she leaves and I say yeah right because I would probably somehow blow our area up or something. 

I realized today that I haven't danced in 9 months. And here I am wondering why I'm wheezing as I exercise in the morning. Sigh... the trials.

I had to break out my classical music today because we've already got the 257 hymns on my ipod memorized. We felt very prim and proper as we cleaned our house today.

I don't feel like I'm going to die if Hna. Peñaranda leaves me anymore, so that's a step in the right direction. And yesterday someone told me that my Spanish is "muy bonita" which means that it's really nice. I tried to reply back with a simple "Thank you, I'm glad to hear it" and my words came out all garbled and my companion gave me a horrified look and there was dramatic music and something exploded in the background. I think the person took back their sentiment right away. 

And that's all for now, folks! I hope you all have a great Martin Luther King Jr. day. Love you much. Eat some healthy food for me. 

This weeks picture is a dorky one of us being dorky. I can't take any other kind of picture.

--

Hermana Murset

I Have to Do This Quick January 12, 2015 AND Letter to Grandma Murset Saltillo

Highlights of the week:

On the way to write emails there was a college age man singing and playing his guitar on the bus. He was really good and I was so happy to hear a good singing voice because everyone here is tone deaf. I say that in a loving and endearing way. 

We got a new heater. Our other one broke and we have been dying of the cold. But we got a new one yesterday!

Our bishop gave us donuts after our ward counsel meeting. Oh, and chocolate milk. 

Our investigator Martha, the one who prayed about her husband, came to church on her own yesterday! Before we would always have to go for her or have someone pick her up because she never had the money. But she saved up and was able to come on her own with her daughter and son! Her daughter, Yudith, has a desire to be baptized and wanted to see the font. I love them so much. 

I don't have any time at all but I promise that I read all of your emails! I love you all very much. I'm keeping warm and I'm keeping fed. My shoes are still holding up and we have hot water in our house. The fog is crazy but we are still safe. The language is hard but the gospel is true!

Les amo mucho. 

Until next week!

This letter to Grandma I wrote  on paper and then typed it super fast so it's going to be really awful with grammar. You can fix it if you want!

Hi Grandma! 

I wrote a letter to you awhile ago but who knows when or if it will get to you!

Mexico is great! I still can't believe that I'm here. The Lord truly le me by the hand to get me here. Missionary work is tiriing, but I'm getting the hang of it. If it wasn't for the language I would have it down in  no time! 

Spanish is hard, but I'm getting better and better everyday. Maybe by the end of my mission I'll finally be able to understand what people are saying. Ha! 

We are teaching a family right now and boy, the mother is amazing. She's definitely the head of the house. At first she was hesitant about us, but now she's got her own testimony. She studies for Relief Society, she reads her scriptures, she does everything! She wants to get baptized so bad but she wants to do it with her whole family. Who knows what that will happen! They are in really poor circumstances and have a hard time getting to church. But this Sunday the mother came with her daughter  and son! She's been saving up her money to come. The gospel really does change lives!

My companion is from Columbia and loves to cook rice. She also thinks that it is essential that we buy hotdogs every week. I love her. She's a good trainer and puts up with me when I get frustrated with the language. She goes home in May. What will I do without her? The mission loves to put you out of our comfort zone. But that's alright. That is essential for life. 

The members feed us lunch everyday and if we don't have another heaping plate of food they get deeply offended. The food is always really good, but when I get home I'm going to be 30 pounds heavier! What hepls is that we walk everywhere, rain or shine. I am vey grateful that they feed us though. 

Thank you for all that you do, grandma I love you very much! Your last grandchild on a mission, that's crazy! Considering that I wasn't going to go in the first place. I am definitely grateful to be here and I know that the Lord has prepared a way for me to preach to these people. 

Le amo mucho, mi abuela!!

--

Hermana Murset

Our front door.

Finally Some Pictures. Happy New Year! Saltillo

Hi hi hi hi hi hi. 

     I still don't fully understand what everyone is saying when they speak to me and that makes for some really awkward situations. But this is the year that I become fluent, or somewhat fluent, in Spanish. a;dlkfjal;dkjflajf YAY. I'm looking forward to it. 

     Remember the Hermana that prayed about her husband? Well her husband came to church yesterday. Yesssss.... I pretty much had a three hour long prayer praying that he would have a change of heart. They're an awesome family. 

     Also our church time changed to 1 o clock and I love it. Except on fast Sundays, then I hate it. 

IT IS SO COLD HERE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND. It's a wet cold and it makes me want to scream at the heavens. I use five large, thick blankets at night so I'm pretty cozy. 

     Happy New Year! This transfer I'm staying with my wonderful companion. I told her that if she left me I would die. If that doesn't show my devotion to her I don't know what will. 

     I had a Best Two Years moment the other day. Meaning I met someone who speaks English! Bah! We are going to teach her on Tuesday and I am scared out of my mind because I've never taught in English before... Wish me luck!

     I still can't believe I'm here. I still can't believe I'm going to be in Mexico the entire year of 2015. I can't believe that my Spanish is getting better every day. I can't believe that I finally understand reflexives (me, te, se, nos...). It's a miracle. The food is great, the people are great, and being a missionary is great. Great but hard. I think I might love it. Not sure yet. I'll get back to you on that one. 

     I love you all and I hope you had a very happy new year! Good luck with school, work, and family. My new year's resolutions are to do missionary work during this year. Possibly everyday. That sounds like a good goal, one that I will be able to keep.

Bye!

Pictures:

My companion being a dork. I think I'm rubbing off on her.

Graffiti near our house and me being artistic.

--

Hermana Murset

La Navidad December 29, 2014 Saltillo

     Hello hello hello! How was everyone's Christmas? My Christmas Eve was quite a trip. First we were fed tamales by a member. Then we were fed mole and pasta (weird combination) by a recent convert. Then 20 minutes after that we were fed, once again, tamales. AND spagetti, meatloaf, and beans. And they kept feeding us... and feeding us... and I almost threw up. And every day since then, we have been fed tamales. No dessert. Just tamales. I am grateful, but I never want to see tamales again. 

     Christmas Eve was such an odd day because there was NOBODY in the streets. So my companion and I are walking down the road alone, I'm singing Jingle Bells, and my voice is echoing in the air. I felt like I was in a movie and that some light Christmas music should be playing and snow should be falling.... But in reality I was in a light sweater and kids were setting off fireworks somewhere. I realized how set apart from the world missionaries are! Especially as we went house to house telling everyone Merry Christmas. It was good, but it was odd. 

     Anyway, I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and had a wonderful time with their families!! Only one more Christmas left and then I'll be home and I'll be an awkward returned missionary who doesn't know what to do with her life. Yay!

     The other day it randomly started pouring rain as we were walking home. That was another movie moment. You always see people in movies walk out into the rain and within 10 seconds they're drenched. I always thought that was so dramatic couldn't possibly happen. Well now I can testify that yes, you can get drenched within 10 seconds. So we're walking in the rain and it's silent because it's night time and it felt like Victorian times and I expected a man on horseback to come galloping up and cry out "Damsels! Art thou in distress?" I have a pretty good imagination...  

     My Spanish is coming along well! I didn't realize how much I have learned until my companion made me call a bunch of people. Yeesh. But don't you worry about me, I'm communicating great!

    Our investigators are well. One Hermana wants to be baptized so badly but she wants her whole family to be baptized with her and her husband isn't keeping his commitments. So she's talking to us and she tells us that she is nothing without her husband and whatnot. But then 5 seconds after she told us that she prayed to Heavenly Father that if her husband was going to keep her from the gospel, to please take him out of her life.  We were sitting there listening going WWWWHHHAAATTT... Yeah. She's a strong one. 

I love you all! Gotta go buy food and water so we can live.

OH YEAH HAPPY NEW YEAR!

--

Hermana Murset

My zone Christmas party.  December 20, 2014.  Here I am, in Saltillo, Mexico!

Christmas Eve.

A Bird Flew Into Our House December 22, 2014 Saltillo

Hi hi hi hi hi.

     Today while we were cleaning a bird flew into our house. All sorts of things ran through my mind. Such as: WOW A PET BIRD. and OH NO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PET BIRD BECAUSE BOTH OF US ARE AFRAID TO TOUCH IT. But don't worry. It flew out. It was almost a traumatic experience. We lived. That's all that matters. 

     Nothing much happened this week except awesomeness. Awesomeness meaning that a family that we've been teaching is going to be baptized! They've been drinking up the lessons like they've been without water for years. They are awesome. And they always feed us. And it's somehow always the best meal that I've ever had in my life. I don't know if they're baptism is this week or next week... I guess we should find out.

     On Saturday was our mission Christmas get together! I call it a get together because Hna. Peñaranda insists that it's not a party unless there's dancing. We did all sorts of fun things. Such as caroling on buses. Caroling at bus stops. Caroling in stores. Caroling in the streets. Oh, and caroling. Our district, in 1 1/2 hours contacted 94 people! And so many people were so grateful for our songs. Even though we were practically screaming over the bus. But that's okay. It was still fun. 

     Then we went back to the church and exchanged presents! The Hermana that had me gave me makeup. Which means that I have to wear it. I think she was trying to send me a message... not sure. But I was grateful anyway. Hna. Peñaranda ate four pieces of cake and afterwards was wondering why she felt like throwing up.... I love her dearly.

   

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas! By Christmas time I will have been in Mexico for a month. And I'm already on my third month away from home. That's weird. I think of you all often. Mostly when I'm washing dishes because that's the only time I have to myself to think of other things except the mission. I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with peace, joy, and family. And food. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Some of my MTC district being reunited at the mission Christmas party.  December 20, 2014

Hola Las Personas December 15, 2014 Saltillo

     Another week has come and gone and spell check still thinks I´m spelling words wrong. That rhymed. I feel very accomplished right now.

     Numero uno de mis experiencias: So for the past week my upper back has been hurting because I haven´t had anyone around to crack it. I never thought having people who could crack backs would be a privilege, but it is. So we were visiting an older couple and teaching them a lesson and what not. When we were about to leave Hna. Peñaranda mentioned my back pain and they started talking about how so and so is really good at cracking backs. Then they turned to me and asked if I wanted my back cracked. HALLELUJAH YES. Well this is were the problem of only knowing HALF of what people are saying comes in. I nodded yes and all of the sudden this little old man is trying to crack my back! I was very bewildered and was flailing around trying to figure out what was going on. Then he patted my back, rubbed my shoulders for a second, and said 'Your ears are red!' Oh dear. Anyway. That happened.

     Numero dos: I taught a drunk man how to pray. A very, very, very drunk man. Interestingly enough, it was a very spiritual experience. I can now put that on my list of accomplishments. 

It was a weird week. 

     Missionary work is difficult. Often times it´s difficult to know if I´m doing enough or if I´m slacking. There are so many aspects to the work that every single day is different. And while we´re teaching our investigators I´m realizing how important it is that they gain a testimony for themselves. They can´t lean on the testimonies of us Hermanas for forever, eventually they´re going to have to be independent.

      I think that´s the hardest part of the work, getting people to keep their commitments. But it is so exciting to watch people when we teach because you can see that they are recognizing what we are teaching and that things that they had always had questions about are now starting to be answered. Even though a mission is hard, I know that it´s worth it. Everyday as we´re walking, and walking, and walking we sing hymns. I do a very rousing version of ´WE MUST ALL PRESS ON IN THE WORK OF THE LORD!´ If you ever feel down, sing a hymn. Very loudly. It helps. 

I love you all soooo much. You better believe it. 

Adiós! (Which means ´to God´)

Hermana Murset

PostScript to My Parents:

     I am going to try to call on Christmas day but we still haven´t been able to get ahold of a family who will let us use their computer. I want to be able to see at least a little bit of the family! We have a family in mind and when we set a time and date I will ask them to tell you on Facebook or something so that you can know faster than next Monday.

     Those geese! That would annoy me. If dogs annoy me here I can´t imagine having geese everywhere. 

I promise I´m dressing warm enough! I do layer. But yeah, there are a couple of members that always fuss over me. I think it´s because my nose gets red really easily when it´s cold and then they think I´m dying of frostbite. But yeah, it gets cold here. I need to buy a smaller coat. I don´t like wearing my huge one. Makes me look like I´m journeying to the Antarctic. 

     Don´t overwork yourself, ma! I´m glad that you´re so busy with music stuff, that´s exciting! I promise that when I get home I´ll listen to all of your songs.

How´s the yard coming?  How is Minnie? 

     I will admit, this week has been hard. My companion probably thinks I have water for a brain because I keep crying. It´s like ´Pass the bread´ and I start tearing up because in this one lesson with this one person I didn´t follow a prompting because I couldn´t say it in Spanish and they just happened to have a loaf of bread on their table. Sigh. I have never been so emotionally drained. But we must all press on in the work of the Lord, right? Right. 

     I hope it feels Christmasy up in Utah! It doesn´t feel that way here. But that´s okay. I play Christmas music almost everyday. 

I love you I love you.

My arrival at the mission November 24, 2014.  With Mission President Rodriguez and his wife Sister Rodriguez.