June 23rd e-mail, with pics

This week was a bit unusual. There was a crazy protest or something in the city and the leaders of the mission decided that none of the missionaries could leave their apartment on Wednesday. So on Wednesday me and my comp just sat, eat, read, sang, And I wrote letters!! Woot! I rarely get time for that. And so I apologize if I don’t respond to some of the things that ya´ll write to me about. It is just that I rarely have time. But on Wednesday I did, so that was cool.

Also I have never been sooo grateful for BOOTS!!!!!! It rained all of the rest of the week. And everything turned into crazy mud. I actually would love it if it was warm and we played Futbol in it or something! Haha. But we walked in it and my boots are no longer black but brown but they rock. I felt really bad for my comp because she no longer has boots and her shoes broke. It was sad stuff. So I would walk in front of her and try to find the best ways to go.

T, I think I have talked about her before for ya´ll. Well, She (along with her bro and uncle) has a baptismal date in 2 Saturdays. She really wants to learn Spanish and so on Friday we went to teach her some. She has a lot of drive. And really wants to learn. Well we were with her the entire morning, but only talked about English for about 30 minutes. For the rest of the time she completely opened up to us about her life. Let me tell you she has had a tough one. She cannot really rely on her family and she has been on roller coaster rides in relationships. It is all just really sad. After about an hour of her talking to us about her concerns, she said something on the lines of “I just don´t know what to do?” and looked at us for the answer. We of course turned to the scriptures. I cant remember the reference now but there is a scripture of how we shouldn´t worry about what we are going to eat, or what we will wear; Because God knows us and he knows what we need. If we put him first we will have the things that we need. After we read that together and talked a bit about how God loves her (Because He does!). She seemed so much calmer. We then asked her how she felt. And she said that she felt more tranquil and calm. There was a great difference in the feelings between before and after we turned to the scriptures for a little guidance. One verse. One verse is really all needed to help us realize how great God is.
I am completely amazed by T. Dad, I took your advice of telling people that I love them. And actually the week before this all happened - I knew that there was something bothering her (we had a lesson with her, her bro and uncle, and her little daughter was running around all crazy) well afterwards, I went over to her to tell her that I loved her and if there was anything that she needed she can talk to us.

I really believe that there is no coincidence that T randomly shows up at church after we handed her a pamphlet. And now she has received an answer that the Book of Mormon is true. That she moved from Peru and that missionaries are sent by God to tell certain people about these truths. This was supposed to happen. I love her.

Well, family I am about out of time.
I love you all so much. Hope Kendra’s room turns out sweet! What color???
Bethany I am glad that you and Casey have reunited. You are so cute.
Tell dad to tear up those mountains!!
Mommy you are the bestest!
Janelle you rock!
Seriously.

I am grateful for all of you in my life. And I am grateful for your support and love and emails. Just remember that I am still in the beginning of this whole mission thing. (I have to remember that myself) So keep up the good work of letter writing and prayers.

Hermana Urban

pictures:

the pride and prej one:

This is me going to write ya´ll today! Sitting in an internet dealie:

the goat eating out of trash. not an unusual thing to see in El Dorado:

June 16th E-mail from Elissa!

This week was a good one. A tiring but a good one. We do everything that we can to teach as many people as possible, it is disappointing when we walk almost half the day for someone and they aren´t there. But that is the life of a missionary. Almost everyday we had that sort of experience but it is ok we still taught a ton.
M and N are still cute. N talked with his boss about work on Sunday and his boss said that he has to work "si o si." SO basically we are keeping our eyes out for a sweet job for him. and praying.

This little kid/guy named C is awesome. He is 19 and all of his family lives in Peru. He is here working. Actually me and hna G found him. He fell in love with her. texted us all night and day. We had to not talk to him for awhile. It was hilarious for me. Well hna T and I have started to teach him again and he is de diez! (of ten! - an argentine phrase). He also works on Sundays. But yesterday just as everything ended he walked in! Yay for him. He really is great, it is sad though because he just misses his family. In a prayer that he gave he asked for a blessing on his family and all. It just broke my heart. But hey with the gospel they can be together forever!

Well so everyday we would get home and just have total exhaustion. But today I am sleepy still bc I didn´t sleep all that much. This is why:
a couple nights ago Hna D called me and said that she talked to Hna Asay (mish pres wife, whom I LOVE!!) and how we should do an hermanas day or something and watch a movie. Hna Asay said yes!!! yay! well then hermana D asks me what movie I thought it was and right away I said: "dont even tell me that it is Pride and Prejudice" (b/c Hna D and I both are in crazy love with jane austen - you all know the obsession). So anyway today is the day. and last night I felt like a kid on Christmas eve because I was so excited! Whoo-hoo! Can you believe it? I think that it is a great way to end a tiring week and start a new crazy week.

There are 3 weeks left in this transfer and we are working with about 7 people to get baptized within the time frame. SO we have a lot to do. It is just the beginning.

Ok so I recieved dearelders last week and it was sooo great!

well family I just love you. And am jealous you are all living together. It hasn´t been like that since 2002 so I feel a bit left out. But it is all good. The mission is great. A lot of work but I am having good experiences and the gospel means so much to me. It is true. We are here for a purpose. And this life is happier with the knowledge and peace the gospel gives.

Pictures and The Joy of Care Packages...Small Children Give Light and Hope!

Hola mis amores!

How I just love all of you sooo much! I feel like this week We saw some miracles. We have been working really hard because there is just some insane amount of work in El Dorado. When we taught M and N about the plan of Salvation we snuck some baptism pointers in. By the end of the lesson M was planning for a baptism on Saturday! Haha! Well we really want them to get baptized as a little family and for that to happen N has to go to church as well. He works on Sunday – which he doesn´t like to do at all. So he is working on finding a different job. It is hard though bc they are so young and have the smallest baby and yeah work is very important. But they are amazing.

Also we have just been asking everyone if they have prayed to know that the Book of Mormon is true; which is a very important step in the process of learning about religion. Well anyway, either our investigators haven´t prayed yet (sad!) or they received an answer! Isn´t that great?! When you pray to God with a sincere heart and listen to the Spirit you will receive an answer. People seem so much happier after that.

Mommy guess what?!?!?!? I got your package!!!! WOOT!!! The greenie one! At first I was like "when was it st. patty's day?" But then I read the cute poem thing and it all made sense. But I cant even explain to you how excited I was to get scissors, tape, paper and pens! How did you know? Also I have been enjoying my Celestial Seasoning teas almost every night. The chocolate didn't last too long! Haha but it was fully enjoyed. So yup I got it and it is still making me smile. Also for English class for the little chicos that me and my comp have, we handed out stickers! And then on Sunday yesterday one of the kids came still with his stickers! So cute! The little kids love you here too mom!

It is starting to get cold and I am not the biggest fan of that. But the sleeping bag has been great as well as knit tights and layering. My comp is sooo nice and cares so much about helping people come unto Christ. It is amazing what I learn from other people. I learn so much about myself and how I need to improve. This transfer we are concentrating on Christ like attributes. When I read this chapter in "Preach my Gospel" I once again realize how much I lack. But the thing is is that everyone is invited to become more like Him. We have the potential to have attributes that He has. I think this is something I will work on my entire life. Not just my mission.Bethany – your email makes me cry. So I actually had makeup in my eye for a bit there! Haha. But loved the pic of us talking!!!


A and A are engaged?? Haha! Actually I thought that would happen with them. I have to see pics I can even imagine the gorgeousness. Keep me informed with all that good stuff, por favor. Say hi to Colorado for me and just soak up those moments at home! Living with the ´rents again! They are the best!

If you desire to send a package I will GLADY accept it! Seriously I can´t describe that joy. Let see really just anything makes my happy inside from you! So anything you would want I guess. If you want you can slip in some shirts for my boxes of clothes I have decided that you´ll should just send me clothes that I already own and wear those out, instead buy clothes. My t-shirts from urban (blue and and orange one) 2 long sleeve thermals (purple and pink) and really what ever else you find. That is just an idea though.Well I love you.

The Church is True I am so greatly for Christ in my Life and His atonement. I am excited that I will be with all of you forever. I love family so much and gracis a the gospel I have an amazing family.

Hermana urban

...Mom we had a meeting with this cute old man in the ward. You would love his clothes they are so nice and old man-like and they rock. His wife is a seamstress so his clothes are always nicely pressed. At the meeting he served us hot chocolate with these cute cups and I thought of you. I snapped a pic during the meeting for you.Happy birthday!

mother's day phone call

by bethany

something funny i've been meaning to post...

an embarrassing picture of myself. :)

this is me when elissa called our family for her late- mother's day phone call home. (we couldn't get through on mother's day). casey thought it was comical that i was crying at Smiths.


i couldn't even take a natural picture when we brought her to the mtc in february...

haha. i happy-cry a lot, just like the rest of my family. elissa is that way especially.

i love her and miss her! she is amazing. :)

We are now into June 2008!

Hola familia and friends!

How is the life of yours? Things are good here. It is a little weird bc I am not the senior companion but I am the one that knows everyone and every place that we have to go to. It has been stressful for me because I have to lead the way and remember everyone that we have to teach and all that good stuff. But I have been forced to use more and more Spanish so that is good. And my companion says that if I keep going at the rate that I am going that soon enough I will be fluent. That would be sweet.

Well, Grandma, I too have kept up with the reading of Enos for a month. I love it! We will read it with people who need a little faith boost. I really love verse 12 well it says that AFTER he labored with diligence, then the Lord Blessed him. It is soooo true as long as we continue to labor and be diligent and show our faith through our efforts, THEN we will be blessed and God will grant whatever we need to us. How great? But yes we do have to be diligent.

Well on Saturday night my companion told me that she wasn´t feeling well. Next thing we know she is throwing up all night long. It wasn´t fun for the either of us. Well, the Sunday came and we had to go to church bc we have investigators and we were actually picking up an investigator with a taxi. So I called everyone I knew that could be my companion for the morning. E, this young girl said she could come and so she walked to our pension which is very far from her. Bless her heart. And we picked up M (invest.) and went to church. Well, I was full of all these nerves bc My comp - who understands for me and talks for me – wasn´t there. So it was just me and the Lord. But I got through it and actually it was good for me.

She and her husband are great. Married and young. I think I told you all about them. But N (husband) cant go to church bc he has work. SO we are going to really work with him to try to be able to come. But she was there with her cute 1 month old. And there were babies being blessed in sacrament and she asked me if B (her son) could be blessed and was like "YES!" So we are going to work that out for her. I am really excited to teach her about the plan of salvation and how her family can be together forever. And then, who knows in a year I could go with them to the temple. That would be the most rewarding thing to experience.

Well, I know that package got here soooo fast! GO EXPRESS MAIL!! But what went even faster was the cereal. Haha. At our next English class with the little kiddies I am going to bring the stickers and they are just going to go up the wall! And how did you all know that I needed some earrings?? I read the letters over and over again too.

Dad- your new gel pen rocks! I love it! And yes dad, I have been eating occasionally at mcdonalds. Things that I never really liked before – like mcdonalds has become a lot better. And my comp liked it so yeah we would eat there. To be honest it is delicious now. But yes only occasionally.

Kendra- just think of your job right now as finding a job. Just keep looking. And thanks for writing me the funny things that go down. Those are the things I miss the most. Seriously!

Janelle- you are going to be Belle! I am jealous – I want to be in it!Mom- I know that you did a great job at landon´s baptism. The kids love you! As well as everyone else!Well loves to all of you!Hermana elissa urban