activities

This week has just been packed full of ward and district activities! On Tuesday we went on divisions and I stayed in my area with one of my old companions while Hermana Tirado went to another area. She was pretty nervous about it but it all went well! We also went and contacted in another area to help out some Elders in our district one morning. Then on Friday we had a Family Home Evening in our ward and it was great. We had some investigators show up and they really enjoyed the lesson and activities. There were two games. The first was called Choco Krispies and you have to dance/walk from one end of the room to the other with a lime between your knees, and then you have to drop it in a cup on the floor. It wasn't too hard but the lime kept bouncing out of the cup! Then we hosted a game where we asked random trivia questions and the teams had to make a tower of empty soda cans on a plate that was floated in a bowl of water. It was surprisingly hard to do but one team finally won with the last question!

     On Saturday we had an all-day activity with the youth in our Stake. All the missionaries serving in this stake met up with all the youth who wanted to participate. We had some training and then we got assigned a new companion for the day! It was crazy to see so many people packed together but it was a fun day. In our ward we often eat together with all the missionaries, so this day we were 18 missionaries eating posole all together. Two Elders were assigned two youths each as so many wanted to come. My little companion for the day was so cute, an 18-year-old studying biology, preparing for the mission. She was so nervous to speak but I think it really helped her understand what it was like to be on the mission.

Katherine's companion for the day, Kitzia.

Today we had a district activity as one of the hermanas is going home tomorrow! We had a BBQ and we played volleyball plus water balloon ball. It was so great and relaxing. We made hamburgers and just enjoyed one last event altogether before we have changes tomorrow.

The elders prepared a special send-off for the sister headed home.

The district playing water balloon ball.

This week went by fast with lots of contacting and teaching and lots of really hot days. It has been hard but also 100% worth it. I know this Church is true and there are so many people who have no idea what they're missing out on. I love you all and wish you a great week!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

seven weeks

Well! Time is flying by! As one Elder in my district is always reminding me, we only have seven weeks left. This week we had some service projects with all the missionaries in our ward. One day we helped a family move potted plants from one side of their patio to the other and then cleaned the entire area before putting them back. The next day we helped paint the front gate of a house! Before it was entirely black but the member, Lolita, asked us to paint it white and black. It took a while and we actually didn't finish. But it was a fun morning! Lolita also fed us a ton—more food than we ate at lunch!

Lending a hand for service.

Also last week we had a meeting for those that are in the midst of training and for their trainees. We learned some tips and then the newbies had to teach the Restoration lesson to the trainers. I didn't have to do that when I first got here and I'm really glad—I don't know if I knew enough Spanish to do it! I'm happy to say my Spanish has improved by leaps and bounds and now that I have a Mexican companion I'm learning Tijuana slang. That way, when I go to visit in another year and a half, I'll be all set!

Atop their apartment at sunset.

I love being here as hard as it's been. I've learned so much and I feel like I've grown up as well. I know this Church is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that thanks to him, we have the power and authority here on earth to be baptized, to partake of the sacrament, to be sealed as eternal families and countless other covenants. I love this work—I know its true!

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

bautismo

This last week went by really fast! I think it was due to the fact that on Saturday we had a baptism! We had their interviews plus last minute planning for the actual service. It all went perfectly!! It started late but they were so happy and yesterday they got confirmed so they are all officially members of the Church. I also made cookies and brownies for after the baptism and some Elders made a licuado from milk and cookies that was really tasty. It was a great way to start our Saturday!

Happy baptism!

The rest of the week we spent contacting and finding new investigators. Some of our contacts have been really great. We had an appointment with one contact that I had high hopes for—I had even put a little star next to her name because I thought she was golden. When we stopped by, no one answered and we were really bummed. We went to find another family and about ten minutes later we got a phone call from her! She apologized and asked if we could go by and teach her. Well, of course we did! That is the first time a contact has called us up for missing an appointment. 

     During the week we went with a less-active member who is very busy taking care of her father. She is older and we always try to help her out with something but she always says no. This time I was really persistent and even offered to teach English to her family members. She looked at me and asked me how I was going to teach it. I was so confused and questioned her. She repeated the question and I realized that she thought I didn't speak English! I told her I knew English, that we speak it at home and that I only learned Spanish in the mission. She was kind of confused and just looked at me with skepticism. I'm still not sure she believes I know English. Maybe that means my Spanish is better than I thought!

     I hope you all have a great week and that you are enjoying the warmer weather. It is really hot here—I'm already looking forward to the rainy season in the end of May. Today we got permission to go to Center and see some sights since my companion has never been. We met up with my friend, Hermana Gurley, who is training my companion's MTC companion. It was perfect!

Seeing the sights in downtown Mexico City.

MTC friends reunited.

Love you all!

Hermana Bennett

General Conference

Hi!

Well this last week went by fast! For safety reasons we didn't work Friday, Saturday or Sunday and couldn't even leave the house on Friday. Within our mission boundaries they reenact the crucifixion of Christ and people go a little crazy. So we really only worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and we mostly focused on contacting and passing out as many of the cards advertising #BecauseHeLives. I think we gave out about 70 cards and this week we have lots of appointments with people we contacted. Hopefully we can keep sharing the video for a little while longer. 

The highlight this week was definitely conference! On Friday I made lots of cookies and brownies and then we gave them to different families in the ward. The last two times I've watched conference I've done so in English but this time we had investigators coming and so we didn't go to the stake center. Instead, I watched all four sessions in Spanish! And I understood (almost) all of it! It was a great time and the talks were perfect. I was surprised by how many of the speakers on Saturday focused on family and marriage. I know it's always been an issue but it seems like the opposition has grown only more intense. We have no idea what's going on the world but I assume something along those lines! It's a fine line between accepting and being kind to those with such tendencies, but I know what the Prophet has said is the Lord's standard and to say otherwise would be apostasy. I know Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and that he and his counselors as well as the Twelve talk with Heavenly Father and they tell us what He wants. It's our responsibility to follow their direction and act in faith, following the Holy Ghost as our personal guide. I know this Church is true and that only by following Jesus can we prepare and do what's necessary to progress. It's hard but its always worth it.

I love you all and wish you a happy Monday!

Love,

Hermana Bennett