ups and downs

We had a rough week and today I feel like I'm getting energized for what's coming up, hopefully this week will go little more smoothly! But I wanted to tell you a little more about my companion! She is 19, went to BYU for a year, studied nursing and played a lot of sports in high school. And she is really good. Like she almost signed to play for a Division I school but it didn't feel right. It's always crazy to hear everyone's story about why and how they ended up serving a mission. We all have such different pasts and stories but I know we are all meant to be here at this time and I am so grateful I get to serve with them and make new friends.

     But a few random facts about my area. There are so many missionaries in my mission, over 200, and our area is tiny, probably 30 miles by 30 miles, at the most. Our ward boundaries and thus proselyting area is about 1 kilometer by 1 kilometer. But several wards have multiple sets of missionaries. My district is made up of our ward and one other ward, and they have three sets of missionaries. One district in my zone, four companionships, are all in the same ward! It's so crazy. Especially when my companion talks about the fact that in Utah, one set of missionaries is over an entire stake! I can't even imagine it. 

     Last week I accidentally gave my companion a heart attack. We were walking down the street and a guy stopped me saying he wanted to learn more. I of course stopped and called out to my companion but she was already really far ahead. So I just talked with him, figuring she would realize pretty quickly I wasn't behind her. It actually took her about five minutes, when she went to cross a busy street. I kept peeking out from where we were standing to make sure I could still see her and soon enough, I saw her heading back, looking scared, with the phone in her hand. I got the information from the guy and went out to meet her. She told me she walked past some creepy guys in the street and shortly after realized I was gone. She thought they had taken me and was about to call the President and tell him she had lost me. I started laughing but I felt so badly! When I explained why, she calmed down a little but still was uneasy. When we walked past the creepy men, we could hear them laughing and commenting that she had lost me. Oh Mexico. 

     Anyways, it's definitely the rainy season here. We know to expect rain in the late afternoon and have started bringing our jackets and umbrellas with us. It rains all through the night and sometimes in the morning, luckily stopping before we head out to work. But last week we had some great lessons, especially with the family Lopez that we've been teaching for three weeks. They've come to church twice and they are awesome. The dad is a less active but the wife and kids are not members. They are doing so well, they read and pray and you can tell they truly want to know for themselves if it's true. When we were in Gospel Principles yesterday, the wife was already answering questions and explaining to other members. I don't think the teacher realized she wasn't a member until the very end! Their baptism is set for two weeks from yesterday and I am so excited for them.

Hermana Lopez.

Last story from this week. So our baptism from last week, Liliana, got confirmed this Sunday and her uncle was able to confirm her. It was a tender experience and I just know she will be a strong member. Their family is pretty poor and we wanted to get her something for her 15th birthday, which was yesterday. We couldn't get to the temple to buy anything so instead we bought a cake! It ended up being quite large but it was beautiful and I wish you could have seen her face. She just lit up and got so excited, she couldn't stand still. We got some pictures with her and the cake and left them to eat it.

Katherine, her companion, and Liliana with her cake.

Sorry this turned out to be a long email. But last thing I will say is that, after the difficulties we've had with some ward members, I've realized the importance of working together. While we might have different expectations or methods of doing things, if we work together, we can do a lot more and really strengthen the ward. I know this Gospel is true, it can change lives and will change yours if you let it.

I love you all!

Hermana Bennett