Merry Christmas from San Juan - Dec 22

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Hey everyone,

I am in San juan with Hermana Dibble. I am back in the south. its really beautiful here. definitely different. It has city feel and country feel. They have a downtown and then... OUT of town ha. Its really pretty though and pretty cool... like temperture wise. Theres a lot of sun but the clouds roll in around 3 or 4 and it cools down really nice. 

Hermana Dibble is from idaho too. Shes from Hayden.. which is northern idaho.. closer to spokane. Shes about the same height as me... im just a hair taller than her. Shes 19. Shes the youngest of 8... woof ha. (4 are her step siblings.. but she grew up with them). Im her second companion so thats an adjustment period because im not like her trainer and thats all she knows. BUT... we're making it work. She has 4 months. Her spanish is pretty good and shes not afraid to speak which is awesome. :)

As for the rest of the house. Im the oldest.. as far as being in the mission goes. I have 11 months. Hna dibble has 4, hna kantoa (who i lived with in OCOA!!!! ) has 8 months, and hna angeles has 4 months. Shes from mexico. Our house is pretty fun. We live right by the church. WE live across from a bakery whos a member and he gives us free bread. he gave us a big bag this morning. :)

As for everything else, I am really excited for Christmas. It doesnt quite feel like December with all the heat but nonetheless... it feels like it because Im focusing my thoughts more on Christ. 

I am really thankful to be serving as a representive as Jesus Christ and sharing about Him. He really is our Savior. He really is the biggest gift we could have ever received. He lives. His Atonement is real. His Atonement, His great sacrifice, is for everyone. He understands exactly how we feel because He suffered all pains and afflictions, sicknesses and for our sins (Alma 7:11-12) so He could sucor us. He knows how to help us. We just have to turn to Him and use His atonement.

I know God lives. He is our Father in Heaven. Change is a hard thing but really when we trust God He will help us where we lack. Just this morning my companion shared what she read in the book of mormon andi really liked it. She read 2 Nephi 7. I like verses 7-9 (im gonna highlight the parts i like best about the verses)

7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confunded. ......

 8 And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contendwith me?.......

9 For the Lord God will help me.....

God helps us where we lack if we trust Him and are obedient. I am seeing that. I am not a perfect missionary, I can not speak spanish (nor english for tht matter ha) perfectly, im not a perfect teacher, or companion... but when we do what we can... Heavenly Father helps with the rest.

I love you all!

Merry Christmas! 

Transfers dun...dun...dun... Dec 15 2014

soooo transfers came.. as expected.

however the transfers that came were not expected.

 

My comp Hermana Molina is training as well as the other dominican in our house.

SO... that means Hermana Beukers and I are leaving.

Im leaving!
 

Last lunch together as house mates & companions

 

woof... packing was stressful but its all good now.

Beukers is heading to capital capital Piantini... where the temple is.

and Where am i going?

guesses...

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

the south!

wayyyy south....

Im going to San Juan.

Its the farthest hermanas go.

my new companion is Hermana Dibble. she just got done with training so she only has like 2 months... and today i hit 11 months.. so this is the first time ill be the older companion.

that'll be weird. but im excited. 

if i remember right i think she is from Idaho. Ill let you all know next week. 

I head off that way bright and early tomorrow.

 

This last week we had the Christmas conference as capital. It was on my birthday and we were there like all day. it was fun. very spiritual but also had a lot of fun too. our mission president and his wife talked about how they had gone to israel and seeing the sights there. talking all about Christ. having walked where He had walked.

 

then all the missionaries did a short skit with their zones. it was fun. some kinda went a little crazy... but it was fun.

ate food and visited with missionaries. i got to see one elder who started in ocoa right before i left there and it was fun to be able to talk to him.. especially since hes latin and i know a lot more spanish than i did.

Sister of the Capitol

 

we helped paint a house on saturday and that was fun..

 

my brain always blurs for transfers but it was a good week.

we as a house were kinda sicky but its all good. i think were all the better side now.

im excited for these transfers. im a little nervous. ive been with hermana molina for so long its going to be weird to be with an american again... well anyone but her. shes really become like my best friend. shes gonna be a great trainer. im excited for her. 



 

My companion and dear friend

The mission really is great. Its hard but there are a lot of great times.

im sad to leave this area but im grateful i have had the opportunity to be here and to know these wonderful people. 

 

The church is true wherever you go... even if the people arent. the church still is.

im thankful tohave the testimony that i have and to help others feel and have this great security i have from the gospel. I know God lives,. I know it. He loves us and when the going goes rough He never leaves... 

 

I love you all!

 

until next week!

 

con amor,

Hermana Hildman

Happy Birthday Dec 9th

Dearest McKenzie,

 Today is your 21st birthday!  Oh man where did the time go?  It seems like yesterday you were only 2 sitting at your little table reading books upside down.  Oh how I miss those days if only for a little while. :)  I am so proud of you and the beautiful soul you have become. Your first thought is always someone else. When you where home it was always your little brother Logan, grabbing extra cookies or cupcakes and bringing home for him.  I can almost here you two downstairs wrestling or giggling about something. It always made my heart swell when I could hear you. Now as I look at the pictures you send home I see you are always smiling.  Again it makes my heart swell as I know you are happy and enjoying serving the kind people of the Dominican!  I count myself very lucky to have a special daughter as you. You always make the people around you better by either making them happy through your sweet spirit, or your beautiful smile, and definitely through your kind heart!  My prayer for you this day is that you feel the love that all of your friends, family, and ward family have for you on your special day. We love you McKenzie and look forward to hearing about all the wonderful experiences Heavenly Father has bestowed upon you these past 10 1/2 months and the 71/2 to come!  Happy Birthday Love you Sis.

Mom



Always making faces she usually has everyone else doing it as well.

Beautiful spirits to go with beautiful smiles

 

 

Forever Best Friend

Always best buds

 

Abigail!!! Dec 8th

Abigail got baptized!!! It was a little hectic day. Last minute our baptism got combined with another one but it was good. Abigal was so happy. I was so happy. In a lot of the pictures i look asian from smiling so hard.

 

It was super neat, at the baptism Abigails best friend Wendy (who got baptized 4 months ago) shared her testimony. Wendy talked about how they had gone trhough a lot of things together and that when she had joined the church (wendy) her life change 100% better. She then inited her best friend to listen too. 

 

The Gospel really is the best gift ever to receive or give.

 

As missionaries we have been handing out these cards that have a link to a christmas video by the church. (christmas.mormon.org)

Its only 2 1/2 min long but its really neat. Ive seen it 3 or 4 times now. It really helps us remmeber Jesus Christ. "El es la Dádiva". I want you all to take the time to watch it. and then share it with at least 5 people. you can use facebook or email it. its really special and short.

 

Christ really is teh best gift we could ever have received. I know Christ lives . I know He gave His life for us. He loves us. God, our Heavenly Father, loves us. That is WHY He sent His only Begotten Son (John 3:16)

 

There are many things I still dont understand or know teh answers to, but this i do know:

 

     God loves us and if we turst Him... do what Hes asked (follow the commandments- be baptized, go to church, pray, etc).. He will bless us now but more importantly in the end.

 

 

love you all!

Have a great week!

 

love hermana Hildman

 

(ps this saturday is transfer calls.. so ill let you know next week what happens(

 

Hello Everyone!! Dec 1st

hey everyone!
hope you all had a good thanksgiving :)

i had two thanksgiving meals this last week... woah.

 

actually a lot of free food... dang. i feel like they want to fatten me up or something ha.. nah i love free food.. that isnt sketch.

 

we had a thanksgiving lunch as a district and then got invited to a thanksgiving (REAL THANKSGIVING) lunch from a american/dominican family. they had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, PIE... shoot... it was good. 

 

some other things that happened this week:

 

1. tripped over a speed bump in the dark... it hurt.

2. I had to pee really bad... and may have peed behind an apartment building in the dark... 

3. Abigail passed her baptism interview! shes getting baptized this saturday!! shes so great. last time we were with her she was like... can I go out with you guys one day? and we were like of course!!

 

so cool... shes not even a member yet and wants to go out with us to visit/teach others. I love her so much! shes so great! 

 

 

Anyway... im sorry my time is short today. Internet sucked at first.. and time kinda escapes me. but i love you all! have a great week!! 

 

love hermana hildman

 

Funny Experience to share Nov 24th

so learning a language... its an adventure. this last week or so i have mixed up my words and my sentances have had completly differernt meanings. I hope you guys can get a kick out of my mistakes:

 

1) our house got fumigated (or in spanish fumigar) so we couldnt be in the house so we were in the church studying/planning. We were on our way after an hour so after they fumigated and we ran into the bishops son and another member. they asked why we were in the church and were the other hermanas were. i said they were smoking in our house. and the bishops sons eyes just got really big.. and i knew right then i said it wrong. i said fumando (smoking) and i was like no no no i mean fumigando fumigando... (fumigating)

 

2)my comp and i were on our way home for lunch. i asked her if we would stop by the colmado because we had talked about buying an eggplant. so i asked her if we wanted to buy a "ballena" but i meant to say "berenjena" meaning eggplant.. i instead said whale... oh man. she just laughed at me ha.

 

3) the other day hermana beukers had gotten out of the shower and i asked her if she had shaved her "águilas" but i meant to say "axilas" which means armpits... but i instead said eagles.... lets just say it gives bald eagles a whole new meaning haha.

 

 

 

Anyway, i hope you enjoyed those. 

Update on my week:

Abigail is pro-pro-progressing. shes really excited for her baptism. we had to push it another week because she missed a sunday but shes reading, going to church and NOT drinking coffee. we made a calendar for here top put a sticker on each day she doesnt drink coffee. we also put sciprtures on certain days. yesterday iasked her how teh calendar was going and she said good, that the scriptures each day are just what she needs... ah so cool. i love that girl so much.

 

oh, i also got a little creative and made a gratitude jar in preps for thanksgiving and weve been writing in it this last week. this coming weekl were having a thanksgiving dinner (well lunch) as a district. itllbe interesting haha... ill let you all know how it ends up.

 

Lilian the mute lady we were teaching got baptized this saturday. She has her whole life in the church but hadnt been baptized so we went over the lessons the best we could with pictures and what not... its amazing of how fast you canteach when they know everything and cant talk... but shes sweet and she was super happy. her dad baptized her. :)

 

anyway, i love ya'll . have a happy thanksgiving this week!

 

and remember this week you do matter and God does love you. 

 

d&c 64:33-34

d&c 138:58... God uses the weak. 

 

I love you!

 

 

 

Hermana HIldman

Longer Email this week Nov 17th

I am sorry I've been kinda a slack-a-lacker with writing longer emails. However, I am alive and happy. 

 

Somtimes being a missionary is super hard but somtimes its actually kinda fun. i think opf how i would have never met some of these awesome people, learn spanish or done some of the crazy things ive done if i hadnt chosen (and accepted) to go on a mission. Its definitely been an adventure for sure. Since last week, we had a sweet family home evening with a recent convert family and neighbors. It was fun, but simple. Wendy shared a short message about loving our "projimo"... loving our breathern as ourselves. Then played a game called "pedro, santiago and juan". then ate empanadas. It was fun. Abigail was there and she ended up winning the game so that was even more cool.

 

The rest of the week:

1)helped a recent convert prepare her 1st talk in church

2) bought a small cake for Melisa (our haitian investigator) for her birthday

  

3)Roque (a less active) came to church... Por fin! it was really cool to see him there.

4)talk to strangers invite them to church... like usual ha

5)another less active family came to church too! I was a little speachless. I had told them if they came to church i would tell them my first name. Well, they came to church so in turn they know my first name ha.

6) speaking of speachless... iw as caught off guard on Saturday. I hit ten months on saturday and i honestly wasnt expecting thing. Beukers and my comp wrote cute notes and i was totally satisfied with that. however beukers began to sing "feliz cumplemes" and i was like thanks thanks... and then i turn around and she has a cake in her hands.. (i apoligize there is no pic... because we ate it ha) but yah they had planned the whole thing. when beukers and i went running that morning she pretended to be more tired so we walked a little so they could make the cake mix. then beukers comp played sick and beukers wanted to practice piano in the church before zone meeting so i went with her... and thats when they baked it. sneaky sneaky. 

7)we had a zones activity today and played sports. Bless Hermana Beukers heart she agreed to play basketball so i could. I didnt beat her up this last time... (and to my friends/family who have seen/played with me... you know how much of a miracle that is haha) i had fun. i love basketball... im now a little sore though. 

8)oh also my comp and i the last 3 days have been coordinating our outfits... not on purpose. Hermana beukers said Molina and I have been comps for too long haha.... 3 transfers baby. I imagine though thats what marriage is like. You begin to think alike and have similar ideas/desires. (like wanting icecream and what not). but really though I feel the mission is helping me prepare for marraiage (and the rest of my life). I am continuously learning and I wouldnt give up these expereinces for the world. Missionas are hard but my realationship with God has grown so much. My knowledge/understanding about Christ has grown too. I have much more gratitude and appreciation for Him and for our Heavenly Father. They really do love us. AS imperfect as we are... they love us. 

 

As holidays are getting closer I invite you all to think of Christmas... Christ más.. 

thinking in Christ more. I know its not quite december and the Christmas decorations arent up like they are here but the invitation is the same.

 

"Come unto Christ... Come unto Him" 

 

A another song comes to my mind I want to share. Its a sacrament hymn "God loved us so He sent His son"

 

1. God loved us, so he sent his son, Christ Jesus the atoning one.

to show us by the path he trod, the One and only way to God.

2. He came as man, though Son of God, and bowed himself beneath the rod.

 He died in holy innocence, a broken law to recompense.

3. Oh love efulgent, love devine! What debt of gratitude is mine. 

That in his off'ring I have part, and hold a place within His heart.

 

I testify God lives and loves each and every one of us. I know it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

 

con amor,

Hermana Hildman 

Emotional Week Nov 10th

this week has been a little more emotional for me than most... i guess just with holidays getting more and more closer and what not. 

 

however life is good. Abigail is really progressing.

 

Abigail hasnt had coffee since tuesday... almost a week!! When she told me that i almost cried! She used to drink it twice a day. She began drinking coffee when she was little...like every dominican. However she started to stop drinking it in the afternoon and just saturday she told me she hadnt had coffee since tuesday... i just love her. She is so much happier too from when i first met her. I am first hand seeing the Gospel change her life for the better. 

 

so when mission life gets hard i just try to focus on the the people were teaching and serving others... and its better. I feel like we can apply that to normal life too. when lifes hard.. try to help someone else. 

 

anyway. Im short on time but hope ya'll know i love yah and I know this Gospel truly is true and that God really does listen and answer our prayers.

 

Keep praying, keep praying... God's listening.

 

Hermana Hildman

Family and Friends Nov 3rd

family and friends

a longer week but a good one. we received transfer calls saturday. my comp and i are staying together and im actually glad, ha. i love my comp and this area. hna beukers is getting hna chalas who will end her mission with my comp and i in july. hna searing is going home on wednesday which is so weird to me. i met her when i was in the mtc and she had 9 months.. and now I have 9 months. its weird to think that the mission actually ends... like, ill go home eventually ha.  the mission though never truly ends because every members a missionary. just the plaque on the outside comes off... the one in our heart stays.

9 months (silly Sis missionary jokes)

9 months on the mission (baby pineapple)

 

 

This is Gods work. It is true. the church is true even though its members are far from perfect. im trying my best. my spanish is far from perfect, my scirpture knowledge can use some improvement, im not always patient with myself or otehrs... but im trying my best and truly thats all we can do. to do what we can and rely on God for the rest. He is what makes us stronger. I love my Heavenly Father and I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve Him and help bring others to Him through His gospel. 

Last week i mentioned a couple of women who are investigating the church. Today i want to tell you about another one. we know her by Melisa but her real name is Cassanta. She is 24 and is from Haiti. 

just a 5 second lesson about haiti. Its where the big earthquake was i believe in 2010. its connected to the DR (like the other side of the island). im told its poorer. they speak creol and french. Theyre usually very darkskinned (african descent). A lot of haitians live here in the DR. 

Anyway, so spanish is not melisas first language but her 3rd. so theres a little bit of language barrier but not a ton... just a little. we gave her pamplets in french and we are going over them with her with our spanish ones. i would love to say im picking up some french but im not really lol... only a few words. we have a member in our ward whos haitian and we want to visit melisa with her but shes about to have her baby so i dont know. melisa came to church yesterday and got to know the member a little. 

we walked to church with melisa. she was already and we actually got to church early... and especially early for Dominican standard time. Church was a little crazy especially since Oribelis (the choir director) wanted to practice our song before church and after the 1st hour before class. Sacrament meeting is the last hour for us. So we sang... I sang a solo. that was scary but cool. Melisa said she really liked church and we said she would like to be baptized! we told her were here to help with that. shes super cute. her birthday is in 2 weeks so were gonna try to do something for her. :) 

Also just yesterday we picked up another investigator. Her name is Lilian and her parents are long time members. They want us to teach her so she can be baptized. the thing is.. is she is deaf and mute. So its going to be interesting. she does know a lot though. we prayed and she folded her arms and closed her eyes. and she cant hear.. so she opened her eyes a little after we ended. were going to try to use pictures and teach her. the biggest help is gonna be her mom and.. The Spirit.  

Anyway, I love you guys! have a GREAT week! and keep smiling
 

How I actually wear it because it is so hot and humid here.



How I would like to wear my hair.

 

 



Hola!!! Oct 27th

Hey everyone! This week was good again and fast like usual. I love working in this area. I cant believe this transfer is almost over. Im curious to how its going to be this coming transfer. My companion and I are trying to do "the pulse" (a bunch of goals the mission has set) and really try to achieve the goals. this last week we were a little lower in some numbers but we got 10 lessons with a member this last week! that was our biggest focus. I know that the harder we work the more miracles we'll see. I love the Gospel and i love seeing it change peoples lives for good. Its hard, and it hurts when people dont accept it, but I still know its true.

Lifes good. Missions good. working hard like usual. We have two investigators with baptism dates. the one, Mariela, is like a profesional investigator and we in the beginning felt like dropping her because she didnt seem interested. Then, something switched. She really felt interested and started to keep her commitments. Reading, praying and came to church with her 3 little kids! we were like woah! shes wants to be baptized and were working with her to get baptized the 22nd of November. 

We also have another investigator named Abigail. We set the 29th of November for her. She is a reference of this family that was recently baptized. Shes super awesome. she already feels like a member but shes only been to church once. she said she loved it. she wasnt able to go this last sunday because her little boy was sick but shes been reading in the pamphlets weve given her and she wants to know if the church is true. 

im sorry i didnt have anything written to type up this week so thats why this email is a little different. 

Church is true. I know it. I know that lifes not easy but with the Gospel its better. God loves us. We are His children. And that we are never alone. I pray that you all know these truths and if you dont that you pray to know. 

I love you all!

 Have a great week!

Hna Hildman

 

Christmas Fever Oct 20th

So i feel like October has flown by. I already have Chrismas fever! however i think its because Christmas starts early here. two weeks ago decorations were on sale at La Sirena and about every night i feel im seeing more and more lights up. Christmas in the DR is their next BIG holiday so they start getting ready for it i guess in october ha. So i feel like its super close! i will hit my bday, christmas conference around that time, christmas and ill call home and then ill hit a year.. and i can only imagine those last 6 months will just fly. 

 

I mean... shoot. Im in week 5 of 6 in this transfer here in my new area. I love my new area. On sunday we had 4 investigators at church! and the best thing is we didnt sit next to them at church BECAUSE they sat next to members and the ward just welcomed them in. it was so awesome! Im seeing "success"i guess you could say but i also see is not me doing it. im just a middle man.. like a iniciator.. no a support/push. a witness. a witness that God loves His children. Im a witness that He calls and sends missionaries to strength and uplift them.

 

This last week we a conference with about 60 other missionaries (us 4 being the only hermanas). Elder cornish who is the president in the 70 of the caribbean and the mission president and their wives were there. 

 

Anyway, reeling back to the conference. President Nuckles shared my fav scripture (alma 26:12) and asked how it applied to missionary work. I replied saying that its not our work and really we cant do anything without His help. He was like its not your smile? or your charm? I said no. and its true... were only along in the process.. its the Spirit that testifies the truth of the words we say into their hearts. were only instruments.

 

 

 

Alright quickly, things that happened this week;

1. I hit 9 months (halfway mark)

2. Conference

3. a 5 year old told my comp (whos dominican) she looked like she was from hawaii and that i looked like i was from San Cristobal (aka the DR haha)

4. I got told i speak too fast... what? never thought that'd happen, especially from a Dominican.

5. I got asked, scratch that, i was announced as the first speaker yesterday in church. SURPRISE! always me... ha. however, the promise in doctrine and covenants is ture. In the moment most needed words will come. They came. a scripture popped in my head. a little nervous but calming at the same time. Nervous because i hadny prepared anything but calm because i felt the Spirit right beside me.

6. we went to the ruins today

 

okay sorry this email was scattered.. welcome to my brain ha. but im happy. im tired and i love you guys! i know God lives and loves you.

 

Have a great week!

 

Hermana Hildman

 

 

Columbus day Oct 13th

Happy Columbus day! (i only know that because of my calendar)

 

this week was good. i really like our area and i love my comp. I cant remember when i mentioned it but i am seeing obedience really is a key factor in mission life and really, life in general. 

 

my comp and i have been working hard and trying to be more obedient and relying more heavily on Heavenly Father. this last week it literally felt like we were being led from house to house, meeting people God led us to. Theres no such thing as coincidences.. (sorry i cant spell that word ha)

 

for example we can upon an apartment building with three doors and i ask my companion which one to knock? shes like i dont care. I look at them and feel like we should knock on the first one to the left. We knock, no one answers so we slide a card underneath with our names and number and the direction.. umm address of the church. we begin filling out another card to have ready when the door opens. a middle aged woman picks up the card and we start talking to her. it wasnt long and she opened up like COMPLETELY to us. about her life. about how hard it is, how her family is screwed up and shes been praying and praying for help...

 we share words of encouragement and comfort and just help in the best way we could. mainly listening to her. She shed tears but she felt very thankful we had stopped by. she asked us to come back and asked us when church was. we have an appointment with her tomorrow. 

Another experience that happened this week was when my companion and i were on our way home and stopped at a colmado (store) so she could have food for breakfast the next day. on our way home from the colmado a car pulls up next to us and holds a bag of eggs (yah they bag eggs here ha) and tells us we forgot them. my companion hadnt even realized the eggs werent in her bag. we thanked him and felt blessed of how nice people are here. well just yesterday we passed by the same colmado and the same car pulled up next to us. this time we hadnt forgotten anything lol. we began talking to us. he speaks english because he works at a call center and begins to ask a lot of questions and talk a lot in general. I basically taught him the restoration. about Joseph Smith, God in general, etc... I say I because it was english... which was weird because im so used to teaching it in spanish that i actually had to translate it from spanish to english in my head. never thought thatd happen lol. anyway he asked if it was a coincidence that we met and i told him i didnt think so. that really things happen for a reason.

 

i do truly believe that. That God, our Loving Father in Heaven is control and that He has a plan for us... and that "His ways are higher than our ways". That we really cant even begin to imagine how it all works.

 

God is real. God loves us. He hears our prayers. He answers our prayers, it's usually through other people He meets our needs but he takes care of us.

 

I am so exhaused and its crazy to think i'm only halfway through because i feel so old and achy... but its worth it. we we are obedient and work work, relying on God.. He guides us in the right way.

 

I have a quote on my desk I like that reads:

"when we focus our efforts on helping others, we're joyfully exhausted instead of irratingly tired."

 

this is God's work. He's in control. I love and trust Him. I'm not perfect but i'm striving to be.

 

I love you all! 

 

<3. Hna hildman 

Conference Week Oct 6th

I had a really good week (and took a lot of pictures.. you guys will have to check my blog for them. hermana.hildman.blogspot.com)

some highlights this week:

1.tried my first tubi. aka a weaving cap. all the dominicans wear them. i like to use them (only in the house of course) when its really hot. i like it too because it prevents kinks in your hair.. unlike just pulling it up with hair ties.

2. we made dumplins.. dominican style yummy.

 

3. had a really cool lesson with a new investigator named Elizabeth. She had a lot of questions and actually had read the pamphlet we gave her... shes really interested.

4. my comp hit 9 months... haha youll have to see the blog for those pics

       (stay tuned for this picture)

5. contacted a mute man.

6. made cinnamon rolls with hna beaukers for conference.

7. General conference.

8. ate lunch at bishops with his family.

9. oh a i tried a china. its technically an orange but instead of calling it naranja they call it china because if its called china its ready if its naranja its not ripe. also theyre green here. i like them though... but more in a juice... less work on eating it ha.

10. i got mail!.... always wonderful.

alright, so i feel a lot of people are going to talk about conference so ill be brief. i thought it was cool there were a few speakers who spoke in their native language. spanish was the coolest because then it didnt have to be translated. huge martinez if the the 70 who talked is the 2nd counsler for the carribean... aka my area lol.

i also discovered that richard g scott translates his owns talks into spanish so that was neat.

as for talks i liked, its harder to follow in spanish than in english.. go figure right? however, the overrall theme that i picked up on is that we live in hard times. were going to have rapids, however we have the tools to secure us, secure our safety so we can get passed it.

1.prayer

2.following the example of Christ

3.establishing strong families by doing things together

4.recognizing whats more important (fruit or prayers? see talk by l. tom perry)

5.going to the temple.

6.following the prophet. (d&c1:38)

7.listening to the holy ghost

8.loving others

9.strengthening your testimony

i love conference and feel so blessed to have had the change to watch it but more importantly i feel blessed knowing we have a living prophet today to guide us.

he really is a prophet of God. I have prayed and received a wtiness to my heart that he is Gods prophet. It wasnt anything big, i just wanted to know if he really was because i believed he was. One day (before the mission) after having prayed to know.. i was listening to a few lds talks. when i heard his voice... the spirit bore withness to me in my heart that he really is a prophet.

im no scholar or anything nor know a whole lot but i am tahnkful to know a few truths.

one being, i dont know nor do i need to know all things because God does. And just like it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, God's ways His thoughts, are higher than ours. He knows... whats best andw e can trust Him because He loves us because we are His children.

ive had it mentioned to me before that no one really knows fopr sure if theres a God or wahts going to happen untilo we die and find out. However, i feel if we have that kind of mindset were going to come face to face with God and either be like "i didnt know" or "i always believed.. but i never knew". to which i feel He would say in a loving fatherly way... "why didnt you just ask me?"

I'll admit... asking is much easier to do than receiving an asnwer, but i promise you that youll always receive an answer. sometimes its not in a way you expect, sometimes ita not a yes of no answer. but when we pray wanting to know with real intent.. God will answer us.

I love the scripture found in 1 Samuel 16:7 that says "..for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart".

God knows us. He knows our intentions, our dsires, our fears, our doubts, our weaknesses, our strengths... and He loves us all equally because we are all His.

At times that statement has troubled me. How could He love me the same as a murderer, a cheater, a robber? or how could He possibly love me the same as the prophet, Jesus, or Mary?

Because we are His children... all of us. It doesnt matter what weve done or will ever do... His love is always there. always. Hes only waiting to bless us. .. were the ones that push Him waway but He's only ever an arms length wawy because thats only as far as we CAN push Him.

I testify that God lives, loves us and sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for us so we could return back to Him... if we want.

I love you all!

con amor,

Hermana Hildman.

First week in Villa Aura II

Alright so this has been like the weirdest week of my mission life.

monday (pday)- was super chill. it was hna buhrleys last day and we threw her a surprise little party with empanadas and ate some no bake cookies

tuesday- hna burhley and mayfield left for new adventures. burhley homeward bound and mayfield off to the yuka. we spent all day cleaning and packing and then went out for a few hours.

wednesday- we waited a long time to move to our new house (the elders old one). to pass time we slept, played cards, read, slept, ate, etc. Finally we got moved... well taken to our new house. Well, we were super saddened/upset when we got there. Remember how i mentioned we cleaned like all day? well we left our house BEAUTIFUL and came to a house that wa far from it.. however i feel so thankful that both the assistants and office elders were there to help and the old elders to help us clean it all. so wednesday we spent another day cleaning. (12 of us)

thursday-

we showed the elders our area so they knew members, recent converts, and investigators we were working with.

friday-

they showed us around their area.

Saturday- in the morning we went out with the elder to see our NEW HOUSE... well i say new house because i want it to be. it was super nice. the day we moved into our new house we were told we were gonna move no more than a week... so that wa nice.. they dont like us living above the guys who live below us so they want us out of there pronto so we should be moving sometime this coming week so a new place.

then the rest of the day we went out on our own and didnt get too lost.

Sunday- our first sunday. church was awesome. it was ran very punctual.. which is rare here in this country so that was cool. we had a meeting with the bishop and other leaders on how to help the ward and it was super cool. then the bishop and his wife went out with us for 2 lessons and it was great. We ended up visiting who needed our visits.

Anyway, so that was my week. out new area is HUGE... and full of hills. butt work out for sure. Its also full of some mixed feelings. Some are super excited to have us hermanas here but also some were attached to the elders... they havent had hermanas here in over 10 years.

so yah, im excited to work in this area though. We have a lot of area to cover and i hope a lot of work.

Work work work... its hard. however, i recenrly rediscovered a quote i have that says: "if it wouldnt be hard, it wouldnt be worth it".

its true. have to really show Heavenly Father how willing you are to help His children. He loves them and doesnt want just anyone toiling with them. He wants hardworking, obedient missionaries to teach His beloved children because only through those kind of missionaries can He teach them the Gospel. Those kind of missionaries teach with the Spirit, which is the key to missionary work, the key to teaching in the way God wants.

I know that this is God's work and that the only way to really have success in helping people come to Christ is relying on God to do so. I know im not a perfect missionary but i really do want to help people be happy and the Gospel is the greatest joy ive received and i want to share it.

I love you guys and i miss yah but the time is short until i see you again.

con amor,

hermana hildman

ps. General conference is next week! im so stoked!

Transfers came... SURPRISE - Sept 29th

What happened this week? haha this week for me is kinda a blur. I am glad i wrote in my journal for that reason.. .shoot! ha... I feel like that happens though when transfers come. My mind just keeps thinking on that.

 

So big news... im packing. well actuall our whole house is. Well hna burley is ending her mission so shes packing to go home. Her comp is being transferred somewhere else in the captital and the rest of us four are staying together but we're switching houses with the elders in the zone next to us. So we're whitewashing... sort of. We're gonna show our area to the elders and they're gonna show theirs to us since we live so close. but yah... a complete elder area is now getting hermanas and a complete hermanas area is getting elders again. 

 

Im really excited for the new area. i will miss this area though even though i was only here for 6 weeks. the members here are so great. We also just started to teach this guy named Hamlin and he came to church yesterday! ahh! I hope the elders keep working with him. Hes really cool. We also have some other investigators that are guys that i think we'll be better/easier to have the elders teach because we cant/dont teach them alone so itll be easier for them to teach. so im excited for that. in my new area im told there are a lot of young women that have been recently been baptized so were gonna be working a lot with them so that should be good. 

 

Anyway, sorry this email is shorter than usual but i love ya'll and the you are Grrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! 

 

God loves us and He is mindful of us.

 

love you!

 

Hna Hildman

8 months......Sept 15th

KLK. Hey family and friends,

 

I had a great week this week. Tiring week but it was good. my companion and i contacted demasiado... a ton. we hve a few people who we think would beinterested in learning more. :) 

 

one cool experience i want to share has to do with how neat it is in how God is aware of us. We were contacting in one of our areas where we have no progressing invesigadors. we go to an apartment building (after having contacted a few houses before) and use the he intercomn to beep. One responds and asks wo it is but before we can respond the door is unlocked, we say thanks and walk in. We very quickly were met by a little boy about 8ish. He then runs back up to the house so we follow up after him. We then hear people inside the house ask who it was. He's like I dont know. So we are in the front of the door and they invie us in in, have us sit down, ec. It was like we were kinda carried in.. .like pushed in to the house. it happened really fast. 

We introduced who we were, asked who they were and just started having a natural conversation,. come o find out the one lad: Rosemil knows quite a bit about mrmons because growing up she had a good friend who was mormon and she would go to church with her. The other lady: Francisca (rosemils mom) is always open to hear "the word of God". Anyway we shared with them. It was cool. One thing I though was really interesting was what Rosemil said before we had left. She said she never lets anyone in she doesnt know. however she thought maybe we were her brotherinlaw and then her son ran down and it just happened so fast.She wouldnt have let us in but I truly believe God wanted us to visit this family. 

 

Anyway i was not expecting to be let in. Alwas hoping but never expecting. Just hoping that everyone we talk to will just give us two min to hear us out. 

 

Well, I thought this lesson we had was cool. I truly believe God brought us to this family. I dont know if much more will come from this family (while im here) but i believe we needed to be there. We are going to visit them this coming week. ill let you guys know what happens. :)

 

As for the rest of my week, it was good. I have learned my companion and is biggest strength (or helper) is laughter. When were laughing, were happy and were full of love/happiness and can teach with the Spirit because theres no contentions to scare it off. Hermana Molina and I have become good friends. were kinda goofy. One da she wanted to see if we could put our fists in our mouths and come to find out... i could. not flattering to say the least so im not sending pics haha... but i discovered another weird talent i have.

 

she also had me try chips and crackers with ketchup... gross right? wrong.. it was actually kinda good haha... so weird.. maybe ive been here too long :p

 

we have tried coconut icecream bars this last week and shoot man theyre divine... i really like coconut. we helped a member grade some coconut tis last week and its not super hard, just gotta be careul to not cut yourself... too much, ha. No one likes bloody coco.

 

anyway, hna beaukers and hna mayfield tried malta morena this alst week (a dominican drink...which is not super tasty) so that was fun to watch.

 

Anyway, this was m week. I hope you guys had a great weak and know i love you! I know I dont share EVERYTHING or a lot some weeks and my time is short right now due to losing power twice since ive been in internet... but i just want to leave with my testimony that even though missionary work is hard. It really is worth it because the church is true. The more i learn the more it just makes sense. The bible and book of mormon are true. This is Christs restored church, and really... if someone wants to know for themself it its the true and God's only true church... or if there is only one true church... Well they can know.. they can ask God Himself through prayer... and i promise.. promise promise promise He'll answer. Isnt that neat? I know God loves us, that we are His children. 

 

I'm not here to convince the world, I'm here to invite the wold to discover the truth for themself because thats how i gained my testimony: being invited, being befriended, excercising faith and trusting God. I know this is church is true and I know, if you dont right now, you can know too.

 

Love Hermana Hildman (JAMES 1:5)

Acia was baptized :)

Okay... i sent a lot of pics to my mom so they should be placed on my blog soon (http://hermanahildman.blogspot.com/) so i hope that is sufficient in my quality of writing because my time is superrrr short right now but this week was a good one. it went by really fast. 

 

We went to the temple this last week and it was sooo great. i seriously love the temple. 

 

Acia, one of our investigators, got baptized this last saturday. Shes sooo cute. Shes like 56ish. Short round lady haha. Shes cute. She was so so happy at her baptism i loved it! the day was the rough one but her baptism was definitely a highlight! 

 

Today we had a huge zones activity playing all kinds of games and it was super fun.

 

It's been raining like usual but not super bad. however yesterday we were stuck inside for 2 hours because it was wayyy too strong to go outside. but that was really the only day that it really rained like that. we thought it was gonna rain super crazy one day but it didnt. just a little and i had my umbrella. 

 

.

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As for the main message i want to share before having to get off is that life can be become really routine and we can be doing all the right things... and still be sad. Still feel alone. I had a great experience that just help lift my sprirts. It was yesterday coming home from church. It was fast sunday which never really helps with being the most cheerful person (im sorry.. .but its true).. and i just wanted to go home. I had felt invisible and i couldnt really help participate in church and i was just feeling super lowwwww. We came home and i just layed down and had a good long talk with God... i cried and just vented to Him. It was really good for me because i really dont like to vent to the people in the house or in my journal because i dont want to be negative or bring others down, but we can ALWAYS vent to God because He's always listening and He gives the best advice and gives us comfort.... Hes the best source to go to and I really relearned that yesterday. 

 

Please remember God loves you and He really is listening. 

 

I love you guys sooo much! 

have a great week!

 

 

Love,

 

Hermana Hildman