Wow! P-Day already and what a perfect day it has been! I love being in Guatemala. CCM life is pretty cool and very busy, but I have learned so much and drawn so much closer to my Heavenly Father. This week I was able to memorize the missionary objective as well as learned to pray and bear testimony in Spanish. How cool is that! The gift of tongues is real.

My Companions and I have started to teach our first investigator, Cathy Lopez. It is hard, but she has a great spirit and I have had so many amazing experiences as I have followed the spirits promptings during our lessons. I have learned so much more about prayer and I can definitely see my relationship with my Heavenly father grow as I have strengthened and deepened my prayers. My heart is always on fire and I love it!

The food here is great, except the horchata, but my favorite part of meals is when we get to talk with the Latina Hermanas. They are so hilarious, and though we cannot understand everything that they say, they have taught us so much and have such a sweet spirit about them. I feel it most every night at orracion, when all the sisters get together to sing a song and pray. Spanish hymns are so beautiful, and I feel so strong when we are all singing together.

This past Sunday we had sacrament meeting all in Spanish and it was a little hard. The Latina Hermanas asked us about five minutes beforehand if we would sing Oh my Father for the musical number, alternating English and Spanish verses. We were so nervous and I was the only one who remembered the tune but as we sang the spirit was so strong and I didn’t completely embarrass myself. I just love being here.

There have been hard days, definitely, and la lucha es real [the fight is real], but every night I am filled with love and gratitude as I pray. Today we went to the Guatamala Temple and it was truly a beautiful experience, whenever I begin to doubt the lord is right there with a bucket filled with tender mercies. Time goes so fast, and I cannot wait to be out in the field. I think one of the greatest things I have learned is not to teach before it is time. The gospel is key and we need to teach the lessons, but first, we need to teach people and recognize that we are all children of Heavenly Father with different needs and desires.

I love this gospel. I love my Savior. Change the world! The work is truly a glorious cause! I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel

Hermana Hipol