Well here we are, another Monday. I am not quite sure where to begin. This week went by so fast, we have had to run to be able to keep up with the time.

We have been working so hard this week. We are trying to talk to more people, taking advantage of the opportunity to talk to families out Christmas shopping, and try to share a little of the Christmas spirit with them. It’s funny, because we get a range of responses. Sometimes they are super friendly and we are able to schedule an appointment, other times they are really friendly, but only because they are a little drunk (I think it would be great if the church made a word of wisdom card to hand out), others are shocked when they hear that we celebrate Christmas, and then…. some well, it is not their time.

On Wednesday we had a super long zone meeting. President and Sister Spjut came and we learned so much! President was doing interviews, and Hermana Spjut gave a super fun class about directing music, even more fun because we got to lead with candy canes! But, the two hour meeting ended up being five hours and I did not get to meet with President….. Because in a couple weeks I will be having my last interview… AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Anyways, we are going into the week of Christmas. Here in Tazumal there is some serious lacking of the Christmas spirit. The ward is not doing a program, dinner, nothing. At first I was a little shocked but I had some beautiful insight into that first Christmas. There was no fiesta, no special program, the world wasn’t even organized enough to give our Savior a place to sleep. And this year Christ is not in a stable, or on a cross, or even in a tomb. He is in the hearts of those who truly seek him and make place for him in their hearts. Wise men still seek him. So lets seek the Christ this Christmas, not in the presents, the trees, the lights or all that superficial stuff. Seek him by seeking to be like him, and you will find that the more you make room for Emmanuel, the more he will fill us up and the more his infinite atonement will bless and enrich our lives.

Have a Merry Christmas!! I love you all!!

Hoorah for Israel!

Love, Hermana Hipol

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Here we are again, another Monday…. It seems like only yesterday I was here telling you about this last week, and yet, time keeps on flying and we are left as spectators.

This week was filled with a lot of personal growth. My companion and I worked our butts off, and we almost doubled the number of lessons that we normally have. (Gotta sprint to the finish line!) We have kept branching out to areas that we have not visited as much, in hopes that we could find someone that the Lord has prepared. Though we might not have seen the fruits that we specifically wanted, the Lord definitely put us in the right place at the right time many times.

On Saturday night we were leaving the church after baking cookies with the young women when we heard someone trying to get our attention. Sketchy, Right? Well, we turned around, and a young man came up to us. First words out of his mouth, “Do you have a Book of Mormon?” His name is Peter, or Pedro, or The Rock (depending on your version of the bible). His sister was investigating the church and after she recently passed away he also began to listen to the message of the Gospel. He was so excited to get a Book of Mormon, and was going to begin to read it right away. Oh, he also lives in Costa Rica…… a little outside of the area.

On Sunday we also had a beautiful experience. We were making our rounds, trying to bring investigators to church when a young woman walked up to us and asked what time our meetings started. We told her and when we got to the chapel, she was there too!! Her name is Ivon and she was super positive! She stayed the full three hours and had a lot of questions…. But turns out, she is from another zone, and receiving the lessons…. But hey, cool that we could be the Lords hands. It was a beautiful confirmation that though we may not be seeing the fruits we want to see, that we are still successful missionaries and the Lord loves us.

On Friday a young man in our ward came home from serving a mission in Colombia. The ward interrupted our English class and pulled us into his “Welcome Home” party. SOOOOOOO bad for my focus. It was so crazy to see everyone there, taking pictures and all that jazz. Ay no. It does not help that this week I also got my final papers. Here in the mission when someone is going to finish the mission, we are given a packet where we review our work in the field, and we set very specific goals for the future in respect to things like school, careers, and yes, even eternal families. It was a nice smack in the face from reality.

It’s kinda funny, part of the reason I came on the mission (I admit it) was to avoid having to make these big life decisions. I was afraid, and like Jonah, made a run for it. But now, my 18 months in the whale’s belly are almost up and it’s time to be an adult. AAAAHHHHHHHH! Really though, I feel so old, and it is as if I have been caught up in a weird bubble. I feel like the mission has become a dream, and I must be unconsciously stressed because I have had some WIERD dreams this week. But, time to put that aside, along with the three packets and work #procrastination

Oh, the angelitas…. a less active sister has a little girl that loves all things fancy. when she saw her little friend in an angel dress going caroling, she had to do it too…. they are so cute!!

Anyways, I love you all, Thanks!!

Hoorah for Israel!

Love, Hermana Hipol

The beginning of the end….. It’s the end of the world as we know it… and I feel…. well weird. I cannot believe this marks the start of my last change. How weird….

I have been thinking a lot about what I could share from this last week, nothing super huge happened. We got up, we studied, and we worked, we came home, planned and prepared to do the same the following day. Being the last week of the change, the time seemed to move like Jello, and we are in the search for “escogidos” which often ends in walking in big circles. But, I love my area and I love my companion so I can’t complain. We have been super anxious, wondering if either of us will have changes, but all fears were hushed when the zone leaders called last night and told us that we don’t have changes. Woo Hoo!!!

I am so glad that I get to finish with Hermana Reyes. She is so amazing! Ironically this last Thursday I caught the same cold that she had last week.  We stayed in Thursday morning, but despite the fever and sore throat, we went out to work, the greatest cure!!  I am feeling a lot better now, so no worries. We are still working on English, and I think that Hermana Reyes is teaching me more than I am teaching her. I am having the hardest time remembering basic grammar and I am just a Spanglish wreck. My comps favorite phrase is “I’m sorry for you”…. he he he.

The other two companionships in the area had baptisms this week and it was beautiful to see these wonderful people enter into the font. On Friday, English class was cancelled due to the baptism of a young man, but we were surprised when our investigator from the Peace Corps showed up! Granted, she came to learn English but she stayed to see the baptism instead. She loved it! When the service was over I walked her over to the baptismal font and asked her how she felt. She said that she felt the spirit, and she asked me what she would have to do to be able to be baptized! We put some goals with her, and hopefully before the end of the year, she can also take this step!

On Sunday, we did not have investigators in church again, but we had a bunch of wonderful things happen. I walked into church, and right in front of us was Elder Lopez from the Area Seventy and his wife. It is the same Family that I met in my training, and saw again in Juayua. I wondered if they would remember me. As soon as she saw me, Sister Lopez literally ran over and through her arms around me! “How funny,” she said, “we see you at the beginning, in the middle and now at the end of your mission.” Thanks for the reminder Sister Lopez…. I also received a phone call from the Bishop in my very first area, and guess what?! A family that I baptized is preparing to be sealed this month! Words cannot even begin to describe my joy!!

We are also full into the Christmas season…. Since the stake center is kinda far, our Relief Society president invited us over to see the Christmas Devotional in her house. Listening to the choir and the messages brought tears to my eyes…. wow. I love Christmas!!

Love you all!

Hoorah for Israel

Love, Hermana Hipol!!