Last Blog/Testimony from Bolivia-Homeward Bound

Family And Hermanas at the Bolivian LDS Temple.

Well, this is the last time I will really be writing home. Next Monday, I leave Bolivia, and next Tuesday, I will be home. It is bitter sweet. I am really excited to see my family and friends, but sad to leave behind all the people I love here in Bolivia. I know I will come home to you guys, but I don`t know when I will come back to Bolivia.

I wanted to write my testimony out for everyone today. Through this time in the mission, I have learned so much about the church, about myself, and about my Savior Jesus Christ. I have become more familiar with the scriptures, and found strength and comfort

   

in them. I have learned to really, sincerely pray and speak with my Father in heaven.

I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ on the Earth. I know that we have a living prophet in these latter days, who guides us, under the direction of Jesus Christ himself. I know that families can be together forever, and that temples are literally the house of the Lord. I don`t only believe these things, but I know them, with my entire heart.

I am leaving a lot behind here. I am probably coming home to a lot of changes, and with a lot of changes. But I know that God has a plan for me. This was a refining process. I am so grateful that I served a mission. I can`t imagine my life without it.

I hope everyone has a great week. I will see you soon.

..."and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting." Ether 3:19

Some people are really starting to progress here in Cala Cala! First, our ward mission leader`s friend, J, is really progressing! He has been reading the Book of Mormon, and has a lot of desires to be baptized. He wasn`t able to go to church this Sunday, because someone in his family was in an accident Saturday night. But, on Saturday in the afternoon there was a ward activity, and he danced with the other YSA in a traditional Bolivian dance.

President and Hermana Hansen!

Then, the family we found a few weeks ago, C and N, went  to church together for the first time yesterday! We starting teaching them, and they were really excited, but then they were having some problems, and we lost contact with them for a few weeks. But, we found them again, and they are still really excited about the church and getting baptized. We are going to go to the temple with them this week to be in the gardens, and talk about eternal families. 

Also, this week we went to the temple, and then had a zone conference. it was really great! I love going to the temple. Even if we have to be there at 6 in the morning. And in the conference, all of the missionaries going home in the next 3 months gave their last testimonies. And, of course, I went last, because my last name starts with W. And the spirit was already pretty strong from all the other testimonies given. So, you know... I cried. Not a big deal.

I really cannot believe I have so little time left! Next Monday will be the last time I write home! I am so grateful for this experience of being a missionary. I have learned so much about myself, about the church, about the world, and most importantly, about my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone has a great week!

North American Food

Calzones!

This week Hermana Giles and I made the best decision of our missionary careers... We changed pensionistas! (the sister that gives us lunch and dinner) And our new pensionista is PERFECT! It is right in front of our house, the sister is super nice, and... she cooks AMERICAN FOOD!!! She lived with a North American couple for a few years and cooked for them, and learned how to cook every thing they liked. This week we ate roast beef and mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and pie!!!! We are seriously in heaven.

Also, this week a young man came to church by himself, and told us he wants to get baptized!!! We were like... Okay!!!! Haha. He said he just moved to our area this week, but where he used to live he knew the elders and went to church. He knew a lot about the church, and is ready to get baptized. So we have an appointment with him this week to visit and get to know him better. But what a miracle!

This week we are going to temple, and we have a Zone Conference. And it will be the last time I go to the temple here in Bolivia. The last time in my mission! So I will have to take advantage and pray for my future husband this week. ;)

I hope everyone has a great week!

Exchanges.

Hmn Hullinger and Hmn Wingate.

The three of four Hermanas from beginning to end of their mission.

Exchanges Two by Two

This week we did 2 exchanges with sisters, and next week we will also do 2. And every week for the rest of my mission basically! Haha. I am pooped. But it is really fun! I love doing exchanges with all the sisters. And I got to see Hermana Lopardo this week! She is so fun.

Cochabamba Temple

Also, we have a new ward mission leader who just got back from his mission like...3 week ago. He is really excited to work with us and help us out. And we are very excited to work with him! He served in Santa Cruz, which is still in Bolivia, but his mission was WAY different than here. It is crazy how different it is, and it´s in the same country! I can´t imagine how different missions must be throughout the world.

We got to meet a lot of great people this week, and we are hoping that some of them will really be able to progress. We just keep talking to everyone, and trying to find the people who are prepared to hear the gospel.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Exchanges, So fun!

36 Days until Homecoming!

This week went really well! We didn´t do any exchanges, since it was the first week of the transfer. So everything was pretty calm. Just working in my area with Hermana Giles like normal. But, starting this week, we have 2 every week. We have to do 7 exchanges in the next 4 weeks, plus we have a zone conference, and a leadership counsel. It will be SO BUSY!

 And we have to get it all done before the last week of the transfer, because it will be my last week in the mission, and I will get to go visit my old areas, and do some activities with President and Hermana Hansen, and the other people who are going home this transfer. So, we want to get everything done before that happens. We´re going to be so tired! Haha.

This coming week we are going to go on exchanges with Hermana Lopardo, the sister I trained. I am so excited! She is so awesome! I won´t be going with her, I will be with her companion. but I will still get to see her for a little bit! It will be fun.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Final Transfer in My Mission!

This week was transfers week, and Hermana Giles and I are staying together! We are so excited! And, I`M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!!!! my daughter (the sister I trained) is going to train!!! I will live to see my future generations. And she is going to a different zone, and she will be one the sisters we are over to do exchanges with! I am so excited!

So, on the 4th of July is was rainy and cold here all day, and nobody wanted to receive visits from us. We knocked on one door, and this lady came out of her door, but said she couldn`t come out of her house because it was raining. We talked to her a little bit from her door, and it turns out that she is from Hungry, and her husband is Bolivian, but lived there to study. She didn`t seem super interested, but said we could come back another day.

So, this week we went back. She was very surprised! She was like, I didn`t think you guys would come back! And she let us in her house. We talked to her, and her 2 sons, who are 15 and 18 years old, and spoke English

really well! It was really cool, and they seemed really interested, especially her sons.

But, then the next time we came back there dad was there, and he said we could talk to his wife, but we were not allowed to talk to his kids. Which is kind of lame. So, I don`t know what will happen with them! But it was such an interesting family. I never would have thought we would meet someone from Hungry here in Bolivia.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Tunari

Well, it´s winter here in South America. So, for the 4th of July, it was really cold and raining ALL day. And this weekend it snowed in the mountains! It is really pretty. And today we went to a place called Tunari, which is basically the top of some mountains, to see the snow. It was cool, because some of the other missionaries from South and Central America had never seen snow before! But, it was really cold! Haha. And I got to see a ton of llamas on the way up! It was pretty cool.

This week we had another leadership counsel, and I got to see all the girls from my group. And eat cinnamon rolls. It was really fun! My companion and I had to give a class about doing the area book. And President Hansen talked a lot about the importance of the family. It was really special.

Also, my sister made fun of my English today while I was emailing her. I am sorry if the things I write don´t make sense sometimes! Haha. I no speak English!
 I hope everyone is doing well!

...

Monday, P-Day again?

Hermana on Exchanges.

This week was great! So, a few weeks ago we met a young family who had listened to the Elders before. They lived in a different area, and moved here a few weeks ago. They are a young couple with 2 kids and one on the way. And they got married in the church about a year ago, so they could get baptized. But, I don`t know what happened, and they didn`t end up getting baptized. And the wife, Natalie, told us she wants to get baptized as soon as possible, so they can go to the temple to be sealed as a family. They are so great! The dad is named C., and he is a tattoo artist. And is covered in tattoos! Which is kind of weird to see here in Bolivia, because tattoos aren`t that popular. And he is super nice. They are seriously the best family!

So, we are pretty happy with the family we are teaching. And we did 2 other exchanges this week. they make the time seem like it goes by so fast! Seriously, I cannot believe it is almost July! We have another leadership meeting this week with president Hansen, so I will get to see the girls from my group again!

I hope everyone has a great week!

P-Day Volleyball with zone.

We built a fort in our room.

And shared popcorn!

Mission: SO FAST

This week went by SO FAST! I seriously cannot believe it´s already Monday again! And we were running all over the place! I am pooped. We had exchanges with 2 sets of sisters, it was another sister´s birthday, so we teamed up with her companion and got permission to go to their house to make her breakfast! It was super fun! Theeeeen, one of the sisters we were with got sick and was in the hospital, so we went there to check on them. It was crazy!

I also got sick this week. On Saturday, I woke up dead... I literally slept all day. Haha. It was pretty rough. But it was just a 24 hour bug, I think. But now I am pretty much better. It was really good timing, and also bad timing. Good, because we didn´t have any exchanges planned that day that we had to cancel, but bad because Saturday is one of the best days we have for working, because we´re both together and in our area. Oh well! Haha.

This week we have 2 exchanges planned, too. So it should be pretty fun! 

I hope everyone has a great week!

Sydney and Hna Giles

Exchanges.

Celebrating Hna Wing's Birthday!