July 21, 2014- Week 4 in Ameyal!

Good Afternoon!

First thing first, I can't believe I completed 8 MONTHS in the mission yesterday! WHAAAAT?!?!?! Haha

So...this week was another patience-developer! We are still in the process of finding... but the good news is that it has hardly rained at all this week! So we've been able to spend a lot more time out and looking and contacting in the streets! I know the Lord is definitely teaching us some things here, so I'm grateful for every moment. :) 

I guess I should tell you about the dogs...

So two weeks ago, we were attacked 3 different times in one day by large groups of dogs - we're talking like 6 dogs or more here. After the 3rd time and bursting into tears on the side of the road, we finally called President and asked him what more we could do. We were already carrying around giant sticks and picking up rocks when they came running, but none of that fazes them. He told us to go buy super-duty pepper spray! He's a funny one, President Stellmon :) But we did it! It did help us feel better...until Wednesday, when we actually had to use it. :/ Let's just say that the dogs here are SUPER determined and really want to eat sister missionaries. That's what we think anyway. Good news is that...we only have 2 more weeks in the transfer and I'll be super surprised if President keeps us here for more... so we just have to get through the next two weeks alive and then we're good! Please pray for us! :)

This week, we had one pretty awesome lesson :) Hermana Rookstool and her first companion helped to reactivate a couple here in the ward. Their names are Rita and Juan and they are super great :) The thing is... their four married daughters are all inactive, and they want to help them get to church again. This week, we went to visit Rita and for the first time, all four of the daughters (and all their kids) were there! And we happened to prepare a lesson about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy :) But it was really cool because we could tell that the Spirit got them all thinking hard about why they need to go to church. It's hard because none of their husbands are members...but we can tell that now, they really want to go. We're hoping to hear some good news from Rita about them in the next coming weeks :)

Funny story for the week! So on Wednesday, our district leader asked me to teach the class at the district meeting, about teaching people, not lessons. I prepared this super awesome object lesson that involved fruit. The fruits represented different people and their receptiveness to the Gospel. :) Anyway, so the point was that they were trying to break the different fruits with just their hands. (I had a cherry, a banana and an apple). The first two were easy, but the apple is kinda hard, obviously. :P (But I had a knife ready to cut it, which would have represented things like inspired questions, listening, etc.) Anywho...Elder Hafan, an Elder in our district, destroyed my object lesson - literally. He got up, grabbed the apple, said "Well, I like apples!", put it on the desk...then started smashing it to bits with his fist! I don't know how long I just stood there in shock. (Looks like instead of helping the hard-hearted to soften their hearts...we can just force it out of them?) It was pretty funny though :) Not what I had hoped, but we all got a good laugh out of it.

Well, that's really all for this week :P Not much happened...but hopefully next Monday will be a bit better! I love you all so much, and I hope y'all have a great week!!!! 

Love always,

Hermana Smith

Pictures:

- Beautiful Puebla/Cholula!

- The Volcanos :) The one of the left is Popo - the one that is actually active :P Our area is actually pretty close to it...I'll try to get a better picture this week :)

- Hermana Rookstool and I :)

Quote of the Week: 

"There is no age barrier when it comes to Christlike service. … As we look beyond our differences in age, culture, and circumstance to nurture and serve one another, we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and the inspiration which leads us to know when and whom to serve."

- Bonnie L. Oscarson, YW General President