LLAMAS!!!!!

Today I saw LLAMAS for the first time since I´ve been in Bolivia. I thought they would be all over the dang place. I thought I would befriend them, ride them to my appointments, and be Queen of the Llamas. But, I´m really more like Queen of the Stray Dogs... But, this morning we went looking for llamas, and walked like all morning. A member of the church told us we would be able to find a ton, but there were only 6 in total, and they were faaaaaaaaaar away. Worth it.

This week we met a family of 2 parents and 5 sons. The mom of the family was a reference from the Elders. They talked to her in the street, and she said we could come visit her. The first time we just talked to her for a little bit, and she told us she had talked to missionaries before, about a year ago. Then, the next time we came to visit her, she told us her husband, and 4 of her 5 sons are members of the church, but are inactive. THEN, she talked to us about like 10 different members and families in the church who were her relatives. Like, basically everyone.

We have a family home evening with them tonight, and I am hoping it will go well! They are a really fun family. They would be really fun to have at church, too! We´re going to keep visiting them and seeing what we can do to help them want to go to church, and help them remember how much God loves them.

I heard it´s getting a little chilly in Ohio. I am a little jealous. It´s gettin´pretty toasty here. My arms got really sunburnt today when we went llama hunting. But it´s good, because it doesn´t feel too Christmas-y. Because Christmas is coming up! But it being hot,makes me feel not tooooo homesick. Haha. I hope everyone is doing well at home!

Go Shawty, it`s ya Birfday

Sydney's 20th Birthday!

So, this week was my birthday! Thank you so much to everyone who

Presents from Great-Grandpa and Great Aunt Dayna!

emailed me to wish me a happy birthday! And, the secret is out... I
can`t get on Facebook while I am in the mission. BUT, my mom sent me
an email with everyone who posted on my Facebook wall. Thank you all
so much! For my birthday, my companion and the elders in my area
surprised me with a birthday cake! It was really nice, and a great
birthday. And for my next one I will be home! So, I expect double the
presents. Haha. Just kidding. Well, not really...

This week we went to visit the family we met last week again, the one
I danced with. And we visited them with a member of the church. When
we went to introduce him, the mom of the family already knew him! It
turns out that she and her oldest daughter are members of the church,
but just had not been attending for a while. But her younger daughters
and her husband are not members. But they really like having us there
to visit and listen and ask questions when we teach. They are a really
great family.

Also, this week my family has emailed me about a lot of great things
that are going on at home! I can really see the blessings my family
has received from my work here. I know that God is taking care of them
while I am here far away.

I hope everyone is doing well and has a great week!

Person who cooks for Sydney and her companion.

P.S. Pictures And yes, it`s cake. They do a thing here where you bite the cake when it`s your birthday, and usually someone just shoves your face in it when you get close. My comp shoved my face in.

Elders and her Companion bought Sydney's cake!

Dancing Queen and Thank you for the Birthday Wishes!

French fries, ketchup, guacamole! Yum!

Thank you so much to everyone who emailed me this week to wish me
happy birthday! I really appreciate it! I am not sure if I will have
time to reply to everyone this week, but just know that I got them and
I love you all!

So, this title to my blog has two meanings. One, in the internet where
I am, the lady who works here is blasting ABBA, and it is...not my
favorite. The other, I dance this week! At a 1 year old's birthday,
with a bunch of little kids. It was just as adorable as you can
imagine. My companion took a video of it on my camera, but I do not
know how to send it.

We went to visit someone who was a reference from the Elders from our
branch, and they were about to start a birthday party for one of their
grandchildren. So, we were going to ask if we could come back another
day, but they were like "Come in! Don´t be shy!" So, we went in, and
they gave us birthday cake. And there were a ton of little kids there,
and music playing, but they were all sitting down. Then a song came
on, which was kind of like a Spanish hokey pokey, that tells you what
moves to do, came on, and I had all the little kids get up and dance
it with me. And the parents played it like...5 times. Haha. And then
when we were going to leave, the parents didn´t want us to, because
the kids were being entertained. Haha. Babysitting is in my blood.

So, this was Saturday, and Sunday we came back and taught the whole
family. The grandparents, their two daughters, and their nephew who
lives next door. They were all very nice, and we are going to meet
with them all again.

It really is funny sometimes how we meet people. The Lord puts people
in our path for us to teach, and we just have to take every
opportunity we get. Even if I have to make a fool of myself dancing
with little kids.

I hope everyone is doing well! And again, thank you so much to
everyone who wished me happy birthday!

Great sun tan!

Oh NO! ABBA again!

Todos Santos

So, this weekend in Bolivia was Todos Santos, which is basically Dias
de Los Muertos, for those of you who are familiar with Latin American
Culture. I don´t know why it is called Todos Santos here, but my
companion said in Peru it´s called Dia de Los Muertos, too. Basically,
it is a day/weekend where people remember their family members who
have passed away. They visit the cemetery and put flowers and food and
stuff on graves. And they make like, shrines in their houses of people
who have died, with food and drinks that the person liked, and
masitas, which are like cookies and breads. And little kids can go
door to door and come into people's houses, do a Hail Mary or
something in front of their shrines, and take the masitas.

It is an interesting tradition, and a lot of people gave us free
cookies. But, the down side of it was that we could not visit a whole
lot of people, because no one was really home, or they were busy with
family stuff. And there were a lot more drunk people in the streets
than usual.

Also, something really cool, I went to the doctor this week, and they
said I have chronic amoebas (parasites), or something like that. Basically, when I
was sick like 5 months ago in Cochabamba, I never really got better.
And the amoebas invited their parasite friend to party in my tummy.
But don't worry! I got medicine and I am better now! I just have
some...bathroom problems for a while.

This weekend was transfers, and Hermana Rumualdo and I are staying
together in Tupiza for one more transfer, and I am very happy. So, at
the end of this transfer, I will have been in Tupiza for 6 months. And
I am happy to be with Hermana Rumualdo for another transfer, because I
can learn a lot from her. She is a really great missionary. I have
already learned so much her, and I know we are together another
transfer for a reason.

I guess being a missionary is a little more than just wearing
midi-skirts and living in Bolivia. Who knew? Just kidding, I knew
that. But it can really be hard sometimes. You really put all your
heart, might, mind and strength into helping other people. I am very
grateful for this opportunity that I have to be here, and to learn.

I know that this church is true, and I know the the gospel of Jesus
Christ can bless us and our families, if we choose to use it. I am so
grateful to have the gospel in my life, and to be able to share it
with others.

I hope everyone at home is doing well!