Jesus mugs

This week went by quickly! So, one of the recent converts in this area engraves mugs and then paints them as his job. He always makes one for the sister missionaries and he made me one of Jesus! It looks pretty cool though it's not what I would have picked. I am happy to have a mug to remember this area by! Another highlight of this week was going on divisions. It just so happened that my best friend, Hermana Gurley, got to come to my area with Hermana Benson and I while Hermana Nance went back to her first area. Speaking of which, my two companions are both training come transfers next week! So I am going to another area in just eight more days. This will make area number 5 and companion number 10! Lately I've been going through companions crazy fast.

     Well, during divisions we had an appointment with Ana Lilia, the former Evangelist I talked about last week. We visited her on Wednesday and she started out strong, listing all her doubts and concerns. We just listened to her questions and testified and then left lots of chapters to read. Hermana Benson and I were really nervous to go back on Saturday but it went better than we ever could have imagined. We got in there and she started off talking about how she never thought the Book of Mormon could be true but after reading she thinks he was really a prophet! And everything that she didn't like about the Church, she loves it now. It all makes sense to her! The best part was that her friend stopped by part way through the lesson and she introduced us all. She quickly told her friend that she has to listen to us, has to come to church and has to read the Book of Mormon. We just sat there with these huge smiles on our faces. We could hardly believe it! She is so ready and just soaking up everything we teach. I love it!

     I know this Church is true, that everything we do in this life determines our eternity and how we will live. If we do our best now and help those around us to also achieve their divine potential, we will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus and our families. Forever! I can't even imagine what that means but I want it more than anything else in this world. I love you all so much and I hope you have this desire. If not, try and obtain it. It is the only thing that really matters in this life.

     I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

trios

[William's note: Katherine's e-mail this week comes on the heels of some uncertainty over where she would spend the remainder of her missionary service after some concerns over the sister missionaries' safety in Katherine's area and in the Mexico City region in general. She made the choice, along with her mission president, to stay in the mission and move to a safer area, rather than be transferred to a U.S. mission.]

Buenas noches!

Well this last week was full of surprises and changes. On Tuesday my companion Hermana Lopez and I switched areas—including an entire apartment full of items. It was a lot of work and we were happy that our new zone and district leaders were waiting at our new apartment to help us move in! We had one night together as a foursome in our new area. Then on Wednesday Hermana Lopez flew home due to some family issues. I got to take her to the airport with the President and it was fun but sad. It was weird saying goodbye to her since we came here together but I know it's what she needed. And I love going to airports—all those people travelling around the world. I can't wait to travel again after the mission! Anyways, when I got back to my new area and companions we went out and worked a bit. My new area is called Lucero and is right next to my old area, Heroes. I'm back in Nezahualcoyotl and it's the same chapel and everything. It's been so nice to see my old converts and the members, and my companions are just awesome.

All four sisters prior to Hermana Lopez' departure.

My two new companions are both from Utah. Hermana Nance is from Salt Lake City and she is 20. Hermana Benson, 21 years old, is from Provo and is the 11th child in her family! Crazy! They are both so fun and while this week has felt like the longest in my entire mission, I know these next two weeks are going to fly by. We've been working hard and yesterday we had five investigators in the church. This area is definitely easier to find people in, plus the chapel is so close everyone can walk there. It's a huge change from my old area where you had to take a bus or taxi and it took 20 to 30 minutes. I love it! One of our new investigators is Ana Lilia and she has been Evangelist for about a year now. She is not certain her church is true so we've been teaching her this week and so far she loves it. In our first lesson she prayed standing up, wearing a veil and she spoke for about ten minutes, trembling the entire time. In our third lesson, on Saturday, she already had changed her prayers to be simpler and she is doing so well!

Katherine and her new companions.

Speaking of church, remember how I haven't given any talks so far in the mission? Well on Sunday a member of the bishopric came up to us after we sat down and asked me to share a message. I figured he meant my testimony, which is what they always ask for your first Sunday. I said yes and he then mentioned he needed a ten-minute talk from me about something I learned this week! I spent most of my time freaking out and trying to think of something I could share. I ended up talking about a Liahona article about a potato along with some scriptures from 3 Nephi 27—my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon—and my testimony. I felt like I didn't make much sense but my companions said it was good. So I got my first talk done and it wasn't too bad!

     Overall this week has definitely been more stressful than earlier in my mission due to what happened in my old area. All I can say is that personal revelation is 100% true. You can learn more and understand better through prayer, through the scriptures and through church attendance. It all requires effort, but I know, if you have a question and you need an answer, you will receive one. I know this church is true, that our leaders are inspired and that they can help us if we let them. It is not always easy but it is always worth it. 

     I love you all so much and I hope you have a successful and happy week!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

rosca de reyes

Buenos días mi familia!

     This week we had a few surprises and things have gotten complicated. But to start, happy news! January 6 is día de los reyes magos which is actually more important than Christmas here. It is the day celebrating the wise men's gifts to baby Jesus and is when the gift giving is done. We were invited to celebrate with a traditional bread, rosca de reyes, which is circular shaped. Hidden inside are tiny plastic, baby Jesus figures. Starting with the youngest child, each person has to cut a piece of the bread and if you have a baby Jesus, you have to make tamales for everyone present on February 2nd. It is a fun tradition and we loved being a part of it. My companion and I didn't encounter a baby in our first go but they had us cut again and this time Hermana Lopez cut into a plastic Jesus! So according to tradition, she has to make tamales for the twelve people that were there! But that brings me to the sad part about this past week.

Getting ready to cut into the rosca de reyes dessert.

We've had some issues with safety in our area and since I've been here it's been pretty constant but last week we had a few incidents. Drunks grabbed us in the street, we were followed in the street and men tried to get us in their cars. We decided to talk to the president and just explain the situation and he told us he'd take us out this week. We had our interview on Saturday and by Sunday evening he already had it planned to take us out today. So last night we had to say our goodbyes and pack up our entire apartment, beds, desks, everything. It has been really sad and I've cried a bit. I love this area, despite the safety issues, the members really are awesome. When we went back to say goodbye to our favorite family, the Pichardos, they surprised us with confetti, pizza and drinks! We had fun for an hour just talking and enjoying being with them. I really will miss them and this area! We're still not entire sure where we're headed but next week I'll have more stories to share. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week, that this new year brings lots of new memories and that we can all continue to help this work move forward. I love you all and am so thankful for your prayers—they really do help so much!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

chilly

This last week was hard. People were celebrating through the night most nights and it was hard to find people at home. We also had quite a few days of constant catcalling and one more serious incident involving the men in the streets. Sometimes I'm amazed that I live here and that nothing bad has happened! But it's an adventure and this last week we got to celebrate the New Year and my companion and I made lots of treats. I inherited a mini oven from the Elder who went home and so I made cookies and muffins. 

The hermanas making treats at home.

This last week has also brought cooler weather. Today is actually really cold and while I love it, I am so used to warm temperatures. They say the cold only lasts until the end of this month so we'll see if I can last until February!

     I don't have much to say other than I do love this work, I know it's the Lord's work and that we can all be a part of it, if we work hard to have the spirit with us. Just know that I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful new year and that you've made some new goals. 

     Have a wonderful Monday!

Love,

Hermana Bennett