#DaBestWeekOfMyLife

This week I went to Copacabana! I got to nap all day, every meal brought to me in bed, and I even lost some weight!..

Actually, I should probably clarify, I was in CLINICA Copacabana (Hospital). I was there all week, and it pretty much sucked. It was one of the harder weeks of my life, actually. It turns out that the doctor who we talked to on Sunday was pretty much wrong. And the first 2 days I was in the hospital they didn`t really do much, because they wanted to wait until they knew exactly what I had before they would treat me. And all the doctors talked to me like I was faking. It was pretty frustrating, and nurses would come in and ask if I was feeling better. Like, no, girl. I`ve just been laying in a bed in the hospital. It definitely was a patience trying experience.

Get well card from Sydney's Zone.

So, 3 days later, they found out that I have amoebas in my stomach! And they gave me some medicine and sent me on my way. I still am not 100%, but I am getting there. It`s really hard not to be able to work. I really miss my area, and I`m worried about the families we have been teaching.

This week has been pretty stinking hard. There is a sister here who came out 2 years ago, got sick, and was sent home. It was over a year before she came back out. The first few days, when they didn`t know why I was sick, I was so afraid that I would be sent home. Don`t get me wrong, I LOVE home. But I`m not ready. I`ve only been out 3 months. Heck, I can`t even really speak Spanish yet! And I know my work here is not done.

I still feel a tad bit sickly, but I feel ready to work. I`m ready to get back to my area, and get back to work. The Lord has lives that He needs to change, and he has called me here to help.

And they said once I get completely better, I should be able to eat everything with no problem! That should be pretty sweet.

I am grateful for all of the prayers from home, and all of the support I have from everyone! I love you all!

Hermana

Sydney's  and Sister Santeco's companion looking for new apartment .

Elder that is their Zone leader going home!

* But I am doing better now! And Hermana Lily ( Sydney lives at her home) has helped me so much. She brought us to the hospital both times, and has been really worried about me. And she stays with me while my companion goes out with the other sisters. And I can only eat like, chicken and rice for a week, so she makes it for me everyday.

Wingate

There is one with our zone leader before he went home

one of me in the hospital with a sign Hermana Santeco made for me that all my zone signed

and one of Hermana D. and Hermana T. looking in the classified for apartments for Hermana Santeco and Hermana D.

I got a shot in my butt...

This week has been pretty good! Yesterday we found out about transfers, and my companion and I are staying together. Which is good, so she can finish my training. And we get a long really well. I also feel like I am starting to really understand Spanish! I can usually understand almost everything. Like, we had a lesson with a less active family my first day here, and I couldn`t understand anything, really. And we just had a lesson with them this week, and I could understand almost everything! There are still some people who I can`t understand. Like, people who don`t have a lot of teeth...

We did service for a family this week. And I`ve come to learn that "service" really means clearing fields of plants and grass with machetes... But if that`s what they need, we can do it!

Not last Monday, but the one before we had exchanges. I don´t think I talked about it last week. It`s where we change companions for a day with the sister training leaders. So I went with Hermana Flores to her area and had lessons with her investigators, and our companions were together in my area. It really was fun and I learned a lot, about how other areas are and how other missionaries work. Because I had only really been with my companion.

I`ve been a little sick since Saturday night. Well, pretty sick. I`ve had a lot of pain in my stomach/intestines and...bathroom problems. I went to the hospital last night. It smelled like a pool. The doctor said it wasn`t a parasite or anything, because I don`t have a fever and haven`t thrown up. He said it is from the change in my food, coming from the US. Specifically, I have been eating too many FRUITS AND VEGETABLES! So I got a shot in my butt for the pain, and a bunch of nasty medicine to drink.

My doña de casa, Hermana Lily, has been really worried about me. She takes good care of me. And she told me that she wants to be sick, too, so she can lose weight. She is ridiculous. Haha.

So, other than people enfermita,

everything is going well here.

I miss everyone and hope you are all doing well!

Dia de la Madre

I got to talk to my family yesterday for Mother`s Day!!! Well, Mom and Alexis. Mark was at work. But that`s okay, I`ll catch him at Christmas. It really was great to talk to them. I miss them so much. And they are so funny. It`s nice to hear what`s going on at home, too. And to tell stories that are better in person than in an email. And I have literally the best mom, so I`m glad I got to talk to her for her day.

My companion is from Cochabamba, and she got to see her family IN REAL LIFE on Saturday. We had permission to see them at the temple for a half hour. Because her Grandma, who pretty much raised her, can`t hear very well, so there is no point in calling her. And she is an old Cholita, so I assume they don`t email each other. It was really great to see her grandma`s reaction, because she didn`t know Hermana T. would be there. I think I cried more than they did.

Sydney and her stuffed animal pick out by Alexis.

We got a referral last week from a sister in another ward. Her friend`s husband was in a bad auto accident and can`t walk. She introduced us, and told her friend that we can help with whatever she needs. Which is true, that`s what we`re here for! So, we have been helping this family, as well as teaching them. It turns out her husband is already a member! He`s been less active for about 15 years or so. But he and his family are really great. They have this great trial right now, but are always looking at the blessings they have. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to be helping them.

I got a package this week from my mom! It`s weird to eat Esther Price candy in Bolivia... But oh so delicious.

And I am excited for Edwin! He reports this week to the MTC! Gotta represent the HH ward!

Gift from Hermana T.

Companion and Son of Hermana of the Casa

Stuffed animal and Esther Price Candy!

Sydney's tag!

This is where Sydney washes her clothes! Thinking about getting her one for our house!

I miss everyone and hope you all had a great Mother`s day!

About One Month

I`ve been in the field for about one month now. Ayyyyyyy. We did a lot of service this week, mostly manual labor. Pretty cool. On two separate occasions and two separate locations, we just kind of cleared land of dead grass and trees. And after one service with our whole zone we played soccer. I played and wasn`t completely terrible. So, I think I am officially Latino now... I just can`t speak Spanish.

This week the middle son of the family that was baptized last week, A., was baptized. I was a little worried about him, because he is 15 and super teenage angst. I really did not think he was ready to be baptised, or know if he really wanted to be. But our last lesson with him, before his interview, he seemed different. He seemed more excited and interested. And after he was baptised he bore his testimony about what a beautiful experience it was. He really seemed happy, and his mom seemed very happy. And I am very happy for them!

This week has been a little hard for me. I feel frustrated with myself because I am not fluent in Spanish yet, which I know I should not be. And my companion has been training pretty much her whole mission, so she hasn`t really had anyone to correct her, and has picked up some bad habits. But I am trying to be as obedient as I can be.

The people of Bolivia really are great. They are humble and hardworking. I am glad for the opportunity to be here. Other missionaries have assured me that it is always hard at first, but it will get better. I really do believe that.

I appreciate everyone who has been writing to me and I really can feel your prayers.

I love and miss everyone!


MY scripture cases! The front of both look the same, just about. I bought nice scriptures at the temple when I was in Colombia. I think I forgot to tell you. And I got the scripture cases here. They

are beautiful!

Title: Flipping Galletas

Sydney's church building

Let me tell you something very misleading about the Spanish Language: Galletas is the word for cookies AND crackers! So, someone offers you a galleta, and you`re like, heck yeah, expecting a delicious chocolate chip cookie, and it`s a flipping CRACKER! Why is that a thing?

Also, aside from walking, trufies are our main mode of transportation. They`re like vans that drive along the main roads, and are 2 Bs per person, no matter how long you are in them. They fit about 9 people, but usually contain about 15 people. And I am larger than the average Bolivian, so it`s pretty ugly when I try to crawl out. It`s like when little kids try to pull themselves out of a pool, but they end up just kind of rolling out... Yeah. Just like that.

There is this place here called "La Cancha", and I`m pretty sure a cancha is a gym, or a basketball court, or something sport related. But it`s like a giant flea market. It`s pretty neat. We went there the first p-day, last p-day we ate PIZZA and this p-day we went to a waterfall.

P-day waterfall.

This week a family we have been teaching was baptized, and I am SO HAPPY FOR THEM! They seem to be really happy, too. The Lord really prepared their hearts to receive the gospel. My companion asked me if I was happy about my first baptisms, but they really are not mine at all. The baptisms were the family`s, and the conversions are the Lord`s. I was only blessed with the opportunity to help them receive the gospel.

This week has been pretty rough. I`ve been frustrated with myself and the language, I`ve been sick, and people here are far too comfortable calling me fat. But it really is worth it, to have the opportunity to help people, really great people like this family. My brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father.

I know this church is true with all of my heart. I know that God knows every single person on this Earth personally, and knows what we need, and when we need it.

I am pretty happy.

 Sydney lives in this city.

I love and miss you!

P-day at the waterfall!

Waterfall P-day.  Mom can't figure out how to make it upright!

On the way to the baptism

 Scary Bridge!

Sydney and companion's room. Sydney sleeps in the left bed!

Outside shower.

sorry sideways outside shower

Sydney"s outside shower!