What I've learned so far....

I have now been out for over a year!! Crazy business!!

 I have learned so much!!

Mexican food rocks!

There are many gross bugs here!

Grasshoppers do not taste good!

Neither do chicken feet!

Mexican clothing is the most pretty clothing in the whole world

We have a Savior that knows and loves us personally.

The GOSPEL IS THE TRUE ANCHOR FOR US IN OUR LIVES

Loving people is the most important thing we can do in our lives

I love the mission so much!! 

WE FOUND A NEW FULL FAMILY THAT CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY AND HAVE A BAPT DATE!

Poisonous caterpillars that you should never touch...they fall out of
the trees here!!

They were a contact in the street! We contacted them about a month ago, and we left a lesson, and I thought that we should go and look for their house. It was so cool, because when we got there they were just like coming to terms (the parents) after a long time without talking or living together. They have like two days together again, and are look to make things better in their family. It was so so cool. The spirit was so strong. I will keep you updated on their progress.

I am really happy. Good week.

Bad news is that I want to chop my foot off.

I know it is a pretty doloroso (painful) thing to have to deal with, but I am walking for the whole day!! Really, at this point, I do not want it to slow me down. When I get home we can get everything figured out well. I think it is really normal that it hurts. But, I have some good pain pills too.  It looks black now so I think that is a good sign???. I think that it is all alright, have faith!! It is only a pesky wart. :)

 

Today I bought a new skirt for MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!! It is the 16 but the ward is celebrating Friday. So we are excited for that!!

The weather is rainy, but really hot too. I am excited for Christmas again! We also have transfers next week. Next Monday I will be telling you if we have transfers!

Not the time to slack...

The truth is that my foot is the most annoying thing that I have ever had in the world. It is on an area that I put weight on, it bothers me a ton. When I walk it hurts, but there is not a whole ton I can do. I think that going in may help just to keep it small or under control and when I get home we can get it taken care of. I am not worried about it at all, just annoyed by it. Wednesday at like 11is when I’m scheduled to go back, I am really not worried. I think that it is going to hurt a lot but I think it will all be good. 

Also, we went to EL DF, Federal District  THIS WEEEEEKKK!!! It was a blast. I went to renew my visa. Don't worry, they're not going to deport me yet.   It was really fun. We talked to people from everywhere. It was really fun, a little get away from small little Conejos. It is SO different from where I am. 

The companion is good, the day that I went to immigration, she was put with another companion for the day, and we got back at like 5 and they had not visited really anyone. We had like 4 appointments and they blew them all off.... it was frustrating. But yesterday we finally had a new investigator come to church and accept a baptismal date!! It was a good little pick me up!

They are two sisters, both young. and they are great. Anahi is 18 and Maria de Jesus is 15 and they are super interactive in lessons and really just bubbly. I love them.  And we found them because they have family that are members:) Members are a GOLD MINE. Give them References

But, something that is so important  is the basic things. It kills me when investigators do not do what we tell them to do (Read, pray...) IT IS SO IMPORTANT. This is not the time to slack. The Lord is moving forward with HIS work and he is letting those who want to and are willing to 'prove their covenants by sacrifice' will 'eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days' Dyc 64:36

It is so real, and sometimes we take it for granted. But, the promises are there. We need to be the ones to take advantage of what we have!!

Dad, thank you for sending me out with The Infinite Atonement. It is an amazing book and has helped me so much to understand more. I think that the correct word to describe me is ignorant, but I am working on that! With the lack of ignorance, comes the required action. So I am trying really hard to be better!!

Letter to the youth in my ward

I was thinking the other day about when I was your age and facing some of the same things that probably that you are all facing right now. All the time I basically just wanted to get advice from someone who knew how to counsel me, and being on a mission, I think that I have come to understand a little bit more about that counsel. 

First, you should all know, that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He went below everything, and took upon Him our imperfections so that we might live fuller and purer lives. It is a knowledge that should push us to act. It is a knowldege that helps us be better. I remember well my days at Morgan High. I loved high school, but I think that all of you can take advantage of all of the people that need YOU guys every day. There are many that feel alone, who very likely do not have the same assurance that you have. They need to feel the savior's love in their lives, and each one of you are the means of that love! I love a scripture in Alma 17:11, where it says that we can become instruments in the hands of The Lord. That should be your greatest and highest goal right now. 

I promise you, as you are all starting up school once again, that if you believe, obey and act, The Lord will put someone in your path each day that you may be able to lift, sustain, and be a true friend for that person. I testify that we can be these types of people because we have the greatest example of all eternities to look to. We must look to Him and live. I know that He suffered personally for each one of us. A God, the God of all creations knows us personally and one by one. Good luck in school to all you young ones, and may you each have the blessings of The Restored Gospel fully in your lives. 

I pray and hope each  of you are well.

Sending much love from Mexico, 

Hermana Beardall

Good news....bad news....

Hey everyone! 

We are writing early today because we just got back from Cuautitlan, for a foot appointment that I had at 9!

Bad news, that it is totally back and they are gonig to try to freeze it off.

Good news, they think they know what it is.... planters wart and nothing more!!

All here is well, I have been working extremely hard this week, and we had few results. Last night, our district/zone leader brought the whip down on us because no one is coming to church, but I really do believe that The Lord works through us in misterious ways and that my companion has been a large part of my assignment right now in Gazelem. He spoke really strongly, which I am just trying really hard to be humble and take it on the chin. He asked me if I am just waiting out or suffering through this transfer. Uh, rude. But it's alright, I can definitly work harder this week!

Anyways, things are going slow here, but we have to keep working on!! I truly am trying so hard, and miss you very much. Last night I was a little bit just dowe and wanted my mom and dad to be here with me and to tell me that everything is alright, but I think that it is an important part of being a missionary. 

All in all, everything is well. 

One day I decided that I had enough with doubt....

Hi family!! Everything is going well.

A sister in the Ward has a daughter with a birthday close
to mine.  The cake was for her, but I pretended it was for me!

My birthday was great!! My familia galletas made me a cake and last night we ate it and elotes (the corn like in nacho libre).  You would not believe how Nacho Libre it is here. It makes me laugh pretty hard sometimes. Last night a sister asked us to help her cut down some Tuas, the fruit that cactuses give. And, as a result, I was covered in SLIVERS. But seriously everywhere. Not fun, but hey, service is service. :) 

The day of my birthday was not too fantastic, but it was a good day nevertheless. I am happyyyy!! And now i am heading towards one year on my mission, crazinesss!!!!!

We ordered pizza for my b-day!!

We have a Zone Conference tomorrow and I asked if I could talk with the Mission President.    So I think that all will be well. I am trying really hard just to WORK hard. It is a little bit discouraging sometimes, but I am trying the best that I can. I am happy to be here and I know that it is for a specific reason!  My companion is going to have an interview with president tomorrow, and all I know is that she wants to go home:(. It has been hard!

20 years old!!!

The foot is all better from the operation. The bad thing is, is it looks really similar, like the same thing is happening again. But, I am also going to hang on and just tough it out. It will all be fine!!  Yeah, I am not too worried at this point about the foot. It is just really annoying! 

I think that everything happens kind of funnily sometimes. Like, my mission has been very 'not my own will' which is good. 'if I were to have it my way' has become a swear phrase to me. 'Our way' is Satan's way. We must learn to accept the will of The Father in this life (especially while I can be His special servant) if we are to have success. It is frustrating sometimes, but also, everything seems to always work out well. 

Alma 17 is so applicableright now, but it was verse 11 that stood out:

 11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

I love that verse because the work is not easy, but the greatest thing we should desire and that we can receive in the mission, is to be an instrument in his hands. 

Well, it is still like super hard. It is cause we don't understand what is going to happen next. One day I decided that I had enough with doubt. I think that sometimes when we are in a lesson or contacting, or basically whatever, we doubt. I decided that I didn't have time for that, and even though people still rejected us, we had someone who accept a new baptismal date. Which is great. And, at the end of the day, I truly believe that if we have the tenacity to just work a little bit, things work out how he needs them to. I think sometimes also that the little things taht we do each day are not the most important in the grand scheme of things (or who knows, maybe they are) but if we do them diligently, we will be super super blessed. 

This is a moth in our bathroom.  It is not connected
to our house so all the critters find their way in...