birthday songs

Hello, hello!

This week has passed by quickly with lots of events! Last Tuesday my companion left the area and I received a new one, Hermana Turcios! No one thought she would come here since she spent seven months here the beginning of the year and actually trained my friend Hermana Lopez (red-head from MTC) in this area. It was a bit strange for her and she took it kind of hard when the President first announced it but she's doing a lot better and we are working hard! This is actually her last transfer in the mission so on December 16th I will have yet another companion! This is the fastest I've changed companions my whole time here.

Katherine and Hermana Turcios, her new companion.

Anyways, a little bit about my companion! She's 20 years old from Honduras and studied and worked before the mission. She also used to play soccer but after some accidents and surgery she can no longer play or even run. Walking a lot tires her out and our area is, unfortunately, the largest of the hermanas in our mission. But, only four weeks left since this transfer is a week shorter (with the following a week longer) to accommodate for Christmas. 

     As most of you realized, Thursday was my birthday!! It was a fun day and I loved each and every one of the seven times people sang to me. My district bought me a delicious chocolate, chocolate cake, former companions called—with one telling me where she had hidden a birthday gift for me in our house. One of the families I baptized in my old area, the Ayalas, called me to sing happy birthday—Mexican style, of course. Another family in this area bought me a cake and tonight I got permission to go back to my old area and have dinner with another family we baptized, the Lopez family. So next week I'll have more stories to share! One of my favorite parts of birthdays here is that the birthday girl (or boy) has to bite the cake and that is usually the opportune moment to smash the face into the cake. I'm fully expecting it to happen tonight too!

The birthday missionary enjoying a cake from her district.

A birthday celebration with the Pichardo family.

This week we've studied obedience a lot. It is a simple principle of the Gospel but one that I think many overlook. But in my studies two things stood out to me. One, that everything is based on obedience, especially blessings. And that when we do what Heavenly Father says, that is, when we are obedient, he is bound to do his part. If we obey, we are promised the blessings and they will come. Heavenly Father will not, and cannot back out on his part. It is only when we fail to do our share that we cheat ourselves of the blessings. So, be obedient! Receive the blessings, and be happy!!

     I love you all and am so glad you're all doing well. Stay strong in the Gospel and remember to smile!

Love,

Hermana Bennett