Week 26- "Not Only Do We Live In A Hobbit House, It Came With A Hobbit For Free!"

HEY y'all so this week was pretty awesome! It all started Monday evening, we had dinner with a less active couple, and they told us when they saw us at church we had a lot of light shining from us. So at the end of dinner they pulled our gift bags for each of us and they got Sister Shirley these super cute black pointed strap up shoes. Earlier that day a lady saw us at Payless because we both had been needing shoes. So she starts chatting with us. Her son got back from his mission, is getting married, and she said since people were so nice to her son she wanted to be nice to us. So she made us pick out two pairs of shoes and bought them! So I got 2 new pairs of shoes on Monday. Pretty stellar, I love the Utah Provo mission, we are way too spoiled.

Then that evening Sister Shirley and I both got emails from two boys from the Orem mission who are companions. Apparently they know one of our sisters who is our friend in the mission, and they got the group 4th of July picture and the Elders circled all of the hot sisters from our mission, (I know... elders..) and made Sister Perez give them both of our emails. So both the ELDER and his companion emailed me, but also emailed Sister Shirley saying the same thing. Pretty sure they don't know we are companions, so that's hilarious!

Then we actually got a phone call telling us that a lady in one of the wards just had her nephews move here from Guatemala, and she wants them to take the discussions! This has like never happened to us before. So we were thrilled. Harry and Hansel are 10 and 11 AND to die for! We knocked on their door and they were SO excited to see us and talk with us! It was super cool because they had no knowledge about Christ, and I explained how His atonement could save them, and their eyes got all big and they gasped. It was so cute! The first lesson went super well and they were very behaved and loved to laugh! I haven't worked with little kids in awhile so it was fun to do it again, and reminded me of how much I LOVE working with kids! So now Sister Shirley calls them her little boyfriends and they just giggle about it.

We got to have another lesson with them this week and it was really cute because we talked a little about baptism and while looking at a picture of Christ's baptism they asked.- "Are they dancing?" Hahaha, now they are on date for the end of August! Sure love those cute little boys.

We got to go on exchanges and I got to be with Sister Reynolds, but then ALSO with Sister Fenn for a little bit. Sister Reynolds is seriously so strong, spiritually and physically! She has been through a lot but has overcome everything placed before her and I really look up to her for that! Her and Sister Fenn are awesome supports for each other. I will really miss Sister Reynolds when she leaves at the end of this transfer. She is such a special, soul and brings light to everyone around her and she's an amazing musician.

I think, one of our investigators, Sergio is warming up to the idea of coming to church, baby steps! We are going to try to take him to the MTC open house and then to the temple grounds. Super excited!!

Something I've come to think about this week is how life throws you so many curveballs but it's all for a reason and there is a purpose and lesson lying behind every twist and turn. All God asks is that we just trust Him, because we aren't capable of understanding his higher, perfect, and complete ways. I think that's something I've come to know and see time and time again on my mission.


Con Amor,

Hermana de Benito

P.S. I've been out officially for 6 months today and it's a holiday here in Utah (Pioneer Day) so it's like everyone is celebrating with us who have reached the 6 month mark! Woohoo:)

Week 1 AND 2- Mexico CCM

Cómo se dice...?

O Que significa...? 

Hable su idioma!

After the first day these are probably the most important things you use in the CCM.

Its been an amazing 2 weeks but it has also been a huge change! I've learned a lot and have had a lot of teaching moments. Im here but it really hasn't hit me yet still... it almost feels like a really spiritual and intense EFY or church camp. hah

My companion's name is Hermana Harris and she is from San Diego, shes going to Provo Utah as well! She's awesome. She loves art, dancing, and is very good at memorizing! These are all things I'm terrible at but i can say we've found that we both love Nacho Libre!! hahah I room with 2 other Hermanas, they are both going to Redlands, Cali. Their names are Hermana Caldwell y Hermana Bradshaw! They are so sweet.

We got our first investigator the second day here and have been teaching him everyday. We soon learned that our investigator Manuel is also our teacher in the afternoon! That was sure a surprise for all of our district! It has all been a definite learning curve since we only talk in Spanish. We committed  Manuel to baptism the other day and even though it was all pretend it was such a good feeling to hear him say sí! 

My districto is awesome we've become so close! we have 6 hermanas and 4 elders! It's uncommon to have more Hermanas but lets just say that's what make districto 12B so cool;)

We've really become close as we sit together at every meal (by the way the food here is really good!!! they have watermelon/fruit here at every meal!!!), we help each other in study time and try to play as much as we can together during gym time! Gym time is everyday and since Hermana Harris doesn't really like what I like to do that much we go on splits and I go with Hermana Caldwell and we'll play sand or indoor volleyball! We haven't done anything else. We keep saying we will but volleyball is just so much fun!!! 

Our teacher Hermano Gonzalez is really good at teaching us and tries his best to keep us entertained. Its hard to sit for 3 hours at a time and try to grasp everything we can. Its amazing to see the change already in my districto! We may have only been here for almost 2 weeks but we have learned so much en español! The gift of tongues is sooooooo real! I love seeing it happen

As the new group of missionaries came in this week, I saw how much my district has changed and grown so much already.

I miss all of you guys a ton and i still haven't found anyone from Houston yet but hopefully soon enough i will;)

This gospel is true and with what I've felt and seen, my testimony of this gospel has grown so much already. You could say these 2 weeks have been a huge reality check for me! Its work but its completely worth is. Like they say, you have 1 1/2 (or 2) years to live it and an eternity to look back. I love it.

Hermana deBenito

 Flying Over Mexico

 Elder Bullough

 Flashcards Have Become Everything

 Going To Breakfast

 Hallway to our Classroom

 Going Over a Bridge, Finally!

 Looking Out to Our Entrance

 Looking Out Our Class Window

 Morning Personal Study View

 My First Companion

 Going to Get Lunch

 Some of the Girls in Our District 12A and 12B

 Traffic!

 Walk to Our Building in the Morning

 The Tower of Babel

We Try to Make Studying As Fun As Possible