Hum Your Favorite Hymn

Hey family!

I have officially become a hummer.....This morning I was making the
famous Hill homemade brownies and found myself humming hymns. Also as
we walk down the streets, I hum. Uh oh I´m becoming one of those weird
sister missionaries :S. Speaking of brownies, can you send me the
recipe to make german pancakes? Random, I know, but as the brownies
were cooking, they smelled like german pancakes and thought it would
be a good idea to make them sometime. Also could you send me a picture
of Cade and Kaylee and the temple at their wedding? Since we´re always
talking about eternal families, I would like to show the investigators
the perfect example :) Mom, they other day I was showing a recent
convert a picture of the family and he said "That´s your mom?! I
thought it was your sister! Qué joven!" Whoa spanglish to the max.
Haha I thought you might like that comment.

This week was de diez. We did divisions with the hermanas in Congreso
and I went there with Hna Quispe, from Peru. It was lovely. We went to
ask permission of the mom of a boy that is preparing for baptism. He
lives with his grandma who is a member but the mom lives in another
area. At first, she didn´t think that he should get baptized, but in
the end the spirit was able to touch her heart and she gave the
permission and also wants to learn about the church and have the
missionaries teach her.

On Saturday, the four of us hermanas were able to give small tours of
the chapel in La Boca. It´s really cool....there is a missionary
couple from the US who are in charge of doing these tours called
vistors center in the chapel. They have an image of Christ, like they
big marble statue in the visitors center in Salt Lake, and a recording
of the words he says. After, we take them on a small tour and teach
the basics of the gospel. At first I was super nervous but it was a
cool experience to be able to testify of Christ for four hours
straight. This week we will be doing the same thing but in Almagro! In
La Boca, they recieved more than 50 references. Woohoo! SO many people
are SO prepared!

I´m not sure if I have already written about Estela? She is one of our
investigators who has been to church with us a few times. She had
polio when she was younger and is now in a wheelchair. Her husband,
Claudio is also in a wheelchair. They have two teenagers, Sandra and
Vicente. Anyway, she is so awesome. She has so many challenges but she
is always so happy. Right now she´s studying English and
computacion...computers? But anyway we are hoping to help her to be
baptized this Saturday. Right now she is working on receiving a
testimony of the Book of Mormon, but I know that she will receive an
answer and know that her family will be so blessed by following the
example of Jesus Christ and being baptized.

There is so much work to do! It´s great!

I have to go because we´re going to go to the Boca staduim and
hopefully see all the colorful houses.

LES AMO!!!!!

Hermanita Hill

HLJ

Familia,

¿Qué tal? Mamita I hope you had the best cumpleaños ever. I love you!

No we havent seen the colorful houses yet. We were going to go with our district the last two pdays but it hasnt worked out yet. Hopefully next week!

Cam cam, good luck with tryouts! Remember to have fun and as mom says "smile big!"

Guess what? William got baptized! Wow, de diez. After church, we set up an appointment with him, where we found out that he had been investigating the church for three months in Colombia, but never got baptized. We felt that we should invite him to be baptized that Saturday. He didnt give us an answer right away because he wanted to be sure. (I cant figure out where the apostrophe is on this computer and its driving me crazy). The next day we had another lesson with him and he said that he thought and prayed a lot about it and he felt he was ready to be baptized on Saturday. Woop woop! All I can say is thank you to those missionaries in Colombia who planted the seed. All we had to do was invite and then the spirit did the rest. He is so happy and the ward is helping out a ton to make him feel welcome. The same day was the baptism of Santiago Campos, whose family are members. He turned eight that same day. It made me think a lot about my baptism because his dad baptized him. I love seeing families together in the church! (Oh and I even played the piano for the service. Im sure mom is so proud ;))
About Olenka, Vidal, Kiara, and their families....sadly we had to stop teaching them because they werent progressing. Their parents want them to go to church, but arent willing to take them each week. So the only way they would be able to go is if the members take them every week, which makes it tricky. Also someone who lives with them started telling them false things about the church. We decided we need to dedicate our time to those who are prepared and will progress. Its tough because I love those kids, but maybe we were able to plant a seed...just like the missionaries did with William. Its crazy how hard you work with one person, with little results, but then a miracle comes around the corner. A lot of times we dont understand why things dont work out the way we want, but our loving Heavenly Father always provided another opportunity and will always bless us if we are doing all we can. 

The church is true.

I love you!

Hermana Hill

P.S. They are playing the beach boys right now! Not that I am listening. Its just that I cant plug my ears and type at the same time....

Santiago and his dad, Ezequiel.  So precious.

My cute comp with Hermana Elisa

Ohhh the ladies.  Elisa, Monica, Doris.  They are amazing
and help us a ton in the obra.

Bautismo de William!

Let's not forget about McDonalds

Somewhere over the rainbow...

Greetings earthlings!

 

Today Hermana Peralta and I were studying English and she learned the word "greetings." I told her that that word is usually only used if it´s for something formal like a speech, for Christmas cards, or aliens. She´s lucky to have a great teacher like me! Also she loves the song over the rainbow. She knows most of the words and was singing it but accidentally sang "somewhere over the rainbow, we are high....." Oops! Also the other day some people behind us were talking in English and we started talking to them. They´re from Holland and are studying Spanish here. I tried inviting them to church, but I sounded like English was my second language! And then Hermana Peralta was describing to them where the church is and said "walk 7 blocks, turn the corner, and then walk one more week." We struggle sometimes but are grateful for the spirit.

 

We are continuing to teach all of the cute kids and their families. Olenka, Vidal, and Kiara will be getting baptized this Sunday. It´s tricky with the parents because most of them have to work, and none of them are married, and need to get married before getting baptized. We have a lot of help and support from the ward members, especially those in the Primary. This Sunday Vitaly, a member from Russia, brought his friend Rodrigo to church. They are both 17 and Rodrigo is excited to learn more and Vitaly is excited to share the gospel with him! It´s really awesome. Two future missionaries sí o sí. Also a man named Wiliam came to church all by himself. He is from Colombia and has only been here for a little over two weeks. He received the missionary lessons in Colombia and has been to church a bunch of times, but never got baptized because he always moved around from place to place, but says he is looking for a change in his life. Also as we were walking to church this week a man yelled down from his apartment building and asked where the church was. We told him we were on our way and told him to join us. He ran down to the street as fast as he could. We found out he is a member and has been living here for 10 years but never knew where the church was. He is twenty and said he wants to prepare to serve a mission in a year. Woooow. Miracles are happening left and right. So many future Priesthood holders!

 

They always say that you can´t help but love the people you sacrifice for. It´s true. The more we work and study and put our all into helping others, the more we will love them. Can you imagine, then, how much Christ loves us? In 1 Nephi 20:13-14 (Isaiah 49) we learn that the Lord will NEVER forget us. And how could he? Just like we could never forget the ones we love, He could never ever forget about us because sacrifice ------->love. We are literally engraven in the palms of His hands. He loves YOU! No matter how hard the trial, or how forgotten you might feel, know that you are never abandoned.

 

And that´s my spiritual thought for the email. And I know it´s true!

 

<3 U

 

La Hermanita

Aylen (10) and her sister Mayori (15)

President Arnold's wife :)

President Arnold and Elder Nash and their wives.  President Arnold
is the area president of South America South.  A bunch of really
cool people came to visit our ward this Sunday! (P.S. Elder Nash
is from Centerville, do you know him?)

With Hna Peralta and Hna Elisa, one of the ward missionaries
who helps us a ton.

El Campo Blanco Está YA‏

Hello hello hello helloooo!

 

Well I survived my first week in the concrete jungle! So different but I love it. Although I do kind of miss my helmet. It´s a lot different walking instead of biking. For example, the first two days we ran down the sidewalk full speed, dodging pedestrians to arrive safely in our apartment on time. But let me tell you that my companion is a champ. She has a hip replacement and still walks faster than I do! We always say hi to everyone who passes by. It´s funny because in Zárate, almost everyone said hi back. Here, the people don´t have a lot of confidence in other people and most of the time ignore us or are really surprised and ask where they know us from. The pre existence, of course! But our ward is so so great. It is a lot bigger, that´s for sure. And the members help us a lot. We had to give talks this Sunday....kind of short notice. It was a sacrament meeting of missionary work. I´m really excited to work here and find and help new people! I know that the field is ready for the....siega? Shoot I can´t remember the word but you know what I mean. There are soooo many people prepared here! I can just feel it. We recently started teaching a bunch of families that all live in this one big place. It´s hard to explain, but it´s like a building with a big gate, and inside are all these rooms with different families. Last week, Hna Peralta and her companion were looking for a reference and ended up talking to a girl named Ailen and her friends. This week we went back to talk to them and their families and are now teaching a bunch of people all in this little space. (Oh and we got locked in on Sunday for about 1 1/2 hours because the door got stuck...long story). It´s so fun because there are so many kids. They are the best to teach. Five of them went to church on this Sunday and we are going to continue working with them all and their families! We have also started teaching a woman named Estela, who was a referral from one of the less active members in our ward. She is in a wheelchair, so on Sunday we wheeled her to church. We got there about a half hour late (other long story), but she loved church and is preparing to be baptized. There are so many people to teach and so little time! Three members also brought their non member friends to church. Members are so important in missionary work!

 

About the train wreck, it was in our area. President Gulbrandsen called us to make sure we were alright and that there wasn´t any possibility that any other missionaries were on the train. It happened at about 8 in the morning, so we were all inside studying. One of the members has a friend whose sister was killed and whose brother was in the hospital in critical condition and they are also members. So we have been praying for that family and everyone else involved. It was a really unfortunate accident and I´m sure all your prayers would be appreciated! Don´t worry, we hardly ever take trains, and will never have a need to take that train. I know that we are always protected!

 

I don´t have a lot of time but I would like to leave you with a scripture. Today I was reading 1 Nefi 17:50-51 and contemplating how cool Nephi is. I know that when the Lord commands us, we need to do it, no más. There is ALWAYS a way to follow the commandments. It requires faith and work, but it CAN be done and it WILL bring blessings. Exact obedience is so important and gives us so much strength. 

 

Okay I really have to go. 

 

I love you lots!

 

Nos vemos

 

Chaooo

 

Hermana Hill 

Hasta ve-e-er!

Family!

 

We had transfers today! Drumrolllllllllllll

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Chao, Zárate....Hola Almagro!!!!!!!! It´s a small area in capital. Like 1/17 the size of Zárate. Okay not really, but it´s super small in comparison. And it´s all city-like. So definitely a change, but I´m really excited for this new experience! Also, in our zone is "la boca", where all those crazy colorful houses are. And the staduim of the soccer team Boca. (Sorry, Hna Jones, but I think I´m going to become a Boca fan...)Wow, I can´t believe I am leaving my home in Zárate. I have really come to love that place and the people, Hermana Vargas, and especially....my bike (which didn´t have breaks for the past few days. FUN!). But the time has come for me to move on and I know that the Lord knows exactly where I need to be. I am serving now with Hermana Peralta! She is from Cordoba, Argentina and arrived in the mission the same day as me. She is super happy all the time and I am very excited to be her companion! It was funny because I had a feeling that I was going to leave Zárate, but then our district leader called us about a week ago and said that we will not be seeing many changes because 15 missionaries from the states would not be able to enter because they don´t have their visas. So then I had in my mind that I was staying. But the other day I said to Hermana Vargas that I think I´m gonig to leave because I am starting to feel really comfortable in Zárate. You know what that means...change! But I am grateful that we are constantly being molded and put in situations of growth.

 

Walter is continuing to progress and this Sunday we were able to find a new investigator, Joana, who is 17. She says she has never had a belief in anything but as we were talking to her, she was very interested. We ended up reading a scripture with her--Alma 37:37 (my fav) and she was enthralled and read it over again. We left her with a chapter to  I am excited to her from Hna Vargas what happens!

 

Thank you for letting me know about Boone, he will be in my prayers! I can´t believe Grandpa is in Guatemala, and Hna Vargas isn´t her for me to tell her about it. Wow, dad, you´re famous! Pretty soon you´re going to be one of those scary G.A.´s haha. I can´t believe you´re going to go to Nauvoo! You´re going to love it! There is definitely a strong spirit there, especially in Carthage Jail. Oh my goodness, you need to go visit Kenzie on her mission! I think right now she´s in Liberty Jail, but who knows where she´ll be when you go.

 

Okay I have to go but I love you all a ton! Keep enduring to the end and never let trials get you down. Press forward and learn and always think toward the future. (All these thoughts came to my mind in Spanish, and I had to translate them into English. Weird.) Love you a ton. Okay. Bye.

 

Hermanita Hill

We ate some asado in our last district meeting. Yummm.

Maxi y Joaquin

Chao distrito!

La sociedad de socorro

¡Feliz día de Cariño!

HI! 

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine´s day!  I don´t have a lot of time so this week´s email is going to be....the week in fotos! But first I have to announce that Maxi passed the sacrament this Sunday!! I couldn´t stop smiling. He had on his white shirt and tie and jeans because he doesn´t have suit pants. He was so nervous but it was awesome. I´m like a proud mother. Speaking of being a proud mother.....congrats CAM CAM! First chair??? En serio. No puedo creerlo! And HANNERS BANANERS! State swim champpp! Please send me your autographs.

Walter and his girlfriend Katy. He is 18 and his parents kicked him out of his house. One day he found an article of faith card on the ground and knew it was a sign that he needs to look for Christ. Katy is a less active member and is helping him and she is returning to church! Wow it´s amazing how the Lord prepares people.

Hna Coronel. We eat lunch with her every Thursday. Her husband isn´t a member which is really hard for her but she has always been super active in the church

On Saturday we went to an area in our Zone, Lima, to help invite people to church because they only have like 8 people in the chapel every week. It was a stake activity and small groups were assigned members to visit. I was with two girls from Zárate I. We went and visited one family, but were only able to talk to the daughter because the parents were sleeping. We headed back to meet up with everyone at the church but were the first ones. So we decided to talk to the people next door. It was a woman who we found out was a less active member. We invited her to go and she was really excited and has a daughter and granddaughter who aren´t members who are excited to go as well. It was a small miracle!

Hna Alfaro took me for a spin in Lima. Ouch..... 

Flia Lopez. The hermano is blind and has an artificial leg. But they are at church almost every week and his sweet wife always helps him get around.

Every morning a lady passes on our street on her bike blowing a whistle and yelling "Pan CASEROOOO!!!!!!" So the other day we decided to buy some. Best decision ever.

Well there you have it! My life in a nutshell. I love the gospel. Every single answer to life´s questions and every single trial is solved through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don´t ever lose faith! This morning I was reading in 1 Nefi 5 when Saríah was going through a really hard time when she thought her sons would never come back. Instead of looking to the Lord, she began to doubt. She didn´t realize that it was a trial of her faith. In verse 8 is when her sons came back and she looked back and realized that she had nothing to worry about. Her testimony was strengthened through this hard time. There are so many times when I look back on my life during a time I thought was hard and can only laugh because I realize that it wasn´t life ending at all. That if we stay strong and continue keeping the commandments and trying our best we have the Lord´s promise that He will guide us in the right direction. 

I love you!

La Hermanita

P.S. We have transfers next week! Wish me luck!