Semana Santa

Dear Fam,

Feliz Dia De Pascua a todos!!!

Remember how I said that last week wasn’t super eventful, well this week was the opposite. This week was Semana Santa for all of the Catholics out there and since I am in a highly Catholic populated area, we had some adventures. Firstly, Semana Santa is a HUGE deal. All of the Part time Catholics become fulltime Catholics for a week and to be honest it was a little frightening sometimes to be running around in the streets. It gets a little intense. So intense that Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we had to be in the house by 7pm and we also had to get a member escort us home from the Conference. At first, i was thinking, "What`s the big deal?" but Friday I learned that the intensity was real. We were at home, preparing to go out for the day when I started to hear some chanting and went to window to see a parade, with three women carrying a giant cross around. My companion is a former Catholic and said that we couldn`t leave the house until they left. Super interesting to say the least.

This week we also had the opportunity to go to the hospital twice because my companion ended up coughing up a storm for two nights in a row which meant neither of us slept well. So to the hospital we went and found out that her lungs we super inflamed so shots, three types of pills and a liquid medicine was her luck for these past couple of days. It`s been fun being more o less a nurse this week, taking care of Hna Rossalino. I loved it.

The Women`s Conference was awesome. Charity is by far one of the most important things I need to learn. I learned that to spend a moment listening to someone and showing them that I care is way more important than all of the scheduling and planning I do here in the mission. Being there and being the instrument in the Lord`s hands to help someone else is the best thing I can do right now. As we develop Christlike attributes, we become better representatives of Him. So striving to be more like Him is my goal from now to forever.

And to top off the week, today a member named Hermana Rosa Aurora invited us to the best ice cream I have ever tasted in my whole life. Not kidding, better than any type of ice cream i`ve tried at home. She saw that it had opened, thought of us, and decided to take us out. I got a pine nut flavored ice cream and strawberries and cream. Let`s just say I`m extremely blessed. I love my life as a missionary!!!

Love you all! Until Next week!

Hermana Hyer

General Conference is Coming!!!

Dear Fam,

Glad to know that life is still rolling on back there in the States. I think I am officially Mexican now because I eat more salsa than my Mexican companion. It´s a pretty big deal, just saying. So anyways, my new companion is super awesome. She and I get along super well and I know that things are going to work out great between us. She´s a super hardworker and we have fun together running around, looking for people and teaching. It´s great!!!

Well this week hasn´t really been all that exciting. Hermana Rossalino got sick so I´m washing my hands and eating oranges like a maniac so I don´t end up getting sick because I ain´t about to let some silly virus put me down for the count. That´s just not gonna happen. Being sick is probably a missionary´s worst nightmare. Forget about people slamming doors or telling you that God doesn´t exist, getting sick to the point that you are trapped in the house is the worst thing ever. Especially if you are the companion who is well. I mean it sucks for the sicky because you feel gross and everything hurts but you are asleep all day long. The companion who is not sick very quickly gets super anxious because the only options you have are read scriptures, eat, craft, or clean. I cleaned quite a bit the other day when Hna was not doing so hot. And ran around our little apartment like crazy until it was time to leave for lunch. Let´s just say that I learned a lot about myself that day, about how I am not one to stay indoors of my own will. It makes me anxious.

So, guess what? General conference is coming up!!! WAHOOO!!!!!!!!! Oh man, it is difficult to believe it´s been 6 months since last conference. It feels like 2 months ago at most. And I´m super excited to see what the General Authorities have to say to us this time. I´ll be writing a list of questions and looking for the answers this Conference and hope you all will do the same. I know that anything and everything that we need to hear will be said in just over 12 hours of talks and revelation. So, get ready for the Spiritual uplift of the season starting this weekend for the women!

The Gospel is true. The Lord loves us, and anything is possible with His help.

Love you all!

Hermana Hyer

Cambio and I'm still here!

Dear Fam,

Hey!!! Good to know the sports life goes on and on. Super sweet that Lacrosse is up and running. We never really need a sports break do we? And guess what dad; you were totally on point. I`m staying in Cafetales and I get a new companion. Her name is Hna Rossalino and she`s from Vera Cruz Mexico. I finally get a Mexican Companion!!! Woohoo!!! She`s a tiny little thing and I`m a little scared to be running the Cafetales show after a short time of six weeks trying to learn the area but I`ll be alright.

So Nicolas got baptized! Yay!!! It was so exciting! A bunch of non-members came and some of them were friends of Nicolas and their mom. She`s not a member and after the baptism she agreed to go with Hermana Yescas to the temple`s visitor`s center next saturday and learn more about the church!!! Super awesome! I`m so excited for them and for the work to continue.

Another part that was super awesome is that Nicolas bore his little testimony and the spirit was so strong. He said that he`s excited to keep learning more and to get the priesthood in 3 years.

Unfortunately, I`ll have to upload the pics next week. The computer im at doesnt like SD cards... But all is good!!!

More miracles this week include the less active youngins, Daniela and Carlos came to church on Sunday and we`ll be meeting with them more often to get them back on track. This is super exciting because nobody had any idea that they were in the area except for us and so now the Hombres Jovenes and Young single adults will be helping us fellowship them.

Let`s just say that the mission is awesome and be done with it okay? cuz i`m loving it here and growing and learning and becoming more and more the person that i should be. The ward loves us, the work is coming along and I`m seeing miracles every day. What more could I ask for? Nothing. The Gospel is true and the Lord is in charge.

Hope you all have an excellent week!!!

Cambios are in a week...but we're doing well!

Guess what? Highlight of this week is fasting. What? I know you never thought I´d say this but I have grown to LOVE fasting. Holy smokes, it is literally one of the coolest things in the world. No longer is it seen as a sad moment where we stop eating for 24 hours but as a spiritual strengthening exercise that has benefits beyond the 24 hour period. Fasting is amazing. I had the opportunity to fast this week and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every moment of it. I have been able to feel the focus and power that comes from fasting and the enlightenment that comes from it as well. Studying the scriptures during a fast or giving service are probably some of the best things you can do to make you fast meaningful. The hunger pains completely disappear when you are focused on learning or on helping other people. It also heals the spiritual holes that we sometimes feel. Prayer and fasting are amazing. Just trust me on this one. ;)

Something else awesome that will happen this week is that Nicolas will be getting baptized! Yay again! He is a sweet little 9 year old whose mother is recently coming back to church and its super fun to see him, his sister Miranda and their mom all grow close together because they all want to help him get baptized. Nicolas is probably the sweetest little boy with the biggest heart in the whole world. I am so happy to see his family grow with him. The Gospel truly brings us all happiness!!!

Just to let you all know again, I love Mexico and I love having this opportunity to serve the Lord. I get to learn new things from Him every single day and it´s such a blessing in my life. I know the world keeps turning while I´m out here but for me it feels like time has stopped moving. This week I´ll have 8 months in the mission and I have no idea where the days have gone. Time flies when you are having fun I guess. The Gospel is true and if we live by it I know we can truly be happy for eternity.

Love you all!

Hermana Hyer